I was so excited to be on a high speed train. KTX runs at 350 kph or so. Different sources say different things and I don’t care enough to find out how fast it really is. All I know is that it’s the fastest train I’ve ever been on. I first saw it while on a bus to Gyeong-ju from Incheon. It went by so fast I did not have enough time to pull out my camera and take a photo of it. There is no direct train from Gyeong-ju to Seoul. I had to ride the regular train to Daejon. It’s also my first time to be on an old school train that runs on the ground instead of underground or elevated. The trains come and leave on the dot. Some of the stations do ... read more

I need to snap out of my negativity and remember the reasons why I came to Korea in the first place. I love history. At least I think I do. Gyeong-ju is Korea's open air museum with lots of history. So I should be loving this experience. I picked Korea because Korean pop is very popular in the Philippines. Korean songs make it to the top of the weekly countdowns on the radio although nobody understands them. I love Korean movies. I love their type of humor. They can make you laugh without being rude and obscene. I'd hate to be one of those prissy tourists who always complain so I'll put on my happy face. That the landscape is not as stunning is not a problem. You don't get to choose where you're born and ... read more

There were two Korean girls sent to Canada by their father to study. He expected that after finishing their studies they will return home and have successful careers in Korea. The girls finished college, got jobs in Vancouver and became permanent residents of Canada. Their father was so depressed. Things didn't go according to his plan. The daughters felt guilty for their fathers depression. Sent him a ticket to Vancouver and enrolled him in a language school to learn English for one year. As his last day in Canada approached he told his daughters "I now know why you don't want to go back. It's okay. I understand now". It was my last day and I felt so sad to be leaving. On the way back to BC from Alberta I was homesick and wanted to ... read more

I’ve always wondered what -10C and lower would feel like. Now I know! I went to Lake Louise when the temperature was -13C. It was fine at first. I had a thermal jacket and warmers, sweater, bonnet and gloves. I hate winter clothes. I looked so big with all those layers. Dressing just to go out takes so much time. After about fifteen minutes my toes and fingers hurt. Even when I was wearing two socks on my feet and gloves on my hands. I wanted to go ice skating but I couldn’t bear the cold anymore. Good thing they had a bonfire there. The lake was still frozen in the first week of April. It’s already spring in BC. I don’t know if it is already spring in Alberta. But it certainly doesn’t look like ... read more

Just because it's in the list of top ten things to do in Vancouver doesn't mean you should go. I went to Burnaby Village Museum. It's a replica of the old British Columbia. They have old houses, banks, grocery store, cinema, train station, train, etc. There were people in costumes assuming the identities of people who lived in the era that they were trying to portray. It was nice to see the antiques and stuff, but it was really just awkward. It was a place where parents take their toddlers. Yup, that kind of place. I was the only adult there that didn't have a kid in tow. The ticket attendant said I should really try the free carousel ride. What a depressing picture if I did. It would have been okay if I had a ... read more