South Korea: COEX Mall

COEX Mall is considered as the largest underground shopping mall in Asia. With an area of 85,000 square meters, the mall houses an aquarium attraction, a multi-cinema complex, Duty Free shop and the Kimchi Field Museum.


This has been our first stop during our 1-week trip to South Korea. From Euljiro Sa(4)-ga Station, the nearest station from where we stayed, we rode the Seoul Metro Line 2 (Green Line) going to Samseong Station, which is connected to COEX Mall. Getting to the Mall, which is 15 stations away from our origin cost us KRW1,350 (Around Php50. I've already deducted the KRW500 deposit for Single Journey Tickets). From Samseong Station, take exit 6 which has a direct passageway to COEX. You'll then find an open space which has stores bordering it--Zara, Baskin Robbins, Dunkin Donuts to name a few. 


Since it was almost lunch, we went to their food court and bought our meals. We didn't miss the chance of trying out Korean foods and ordered at a local stall. Since the cashier hardly speak English, the best way to place your orders it through pointing at the pictures on the menu. We had rice roll (KRW3500=Php130), topokki (KRW3000=Php111), bibimbap(KRW3000) and sundae(KRW4000=Php148) for our main course and stock and yellow raddish for the appetizer. [A Korean meal isn't complete without a set of appetizers. These are given for free when ordering at any Korean restaurant.] Expect Korean foods to be spicy, nevertheless, the meal was sumptuous and left us with contented tummies! Well....except for the 'sundae'. In other parts of the world, a 'sundae' is a cold, sweet dessert that would want you to indulge every lick you made as it melts in your hand. But Korea's version is the exact opposite. Sundae is made of pig's intestines stuffed with cellophane noodles, barley and pork blood. (Source: Wikipedia) 


Though we're too full and lazy to walk, we began to explore the place. We decided to separate with my cousins and aunt since we have to buy some things. First on our list is to head to Etude House to look for cosmetic items. The prices in Korea are almost 50% cheaper compared to the price in the Philippines. We also went to several electronics shops since we're planning to buy iPhone and iPad. Unfortunately, their units are only set in Korean language and cannot be used outside Korea.


In the event that you wish to look for a certain shop, an interactive map can be seen for every 15-20 meters. We tried the map to look for the Duty Free shop but we thought that it is located in a different building so we end up in their performing area. The mall have performers who plays music almost every hour at this area and people could sit and relax while listening to the performance. My parents sat down and enjoyed the music while my sister and I went to this thrift shop which was not really that thrifty. Haha!


The mall is indeed HUGE and would really drain your energy. Though several vending machine are scattered around the mall and could quench your thirst. Numerous coffee shops and restaurants can also be found.

After 2 hours of roaming around, we finally ended the LOOOOOONG walk and headed to our next destination.

Black Over White

Black Over White.

I've been playing the piano for 15 years now. From classical pieces to rock songs.:)

Shot details:

Manual, F/5.3, 5 sec., ISO-1600 

Project 13/366

Project 12/366
Week 2: Pattern/Texture

Veiny.
Full of or exhibiting veins; veined.

Shot details:
Manual, F/5.6, 1/20 sec., ISO-3200

Project 12/366

Project 12/366
Week 2: Pattern/Texture

Stones.
A naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids.

Shot details:
Manual, F/5.6, 1/80 sec., ISO-200

Project 11/366

Project 11/366
Week 2: Pattern/Texture

Wooden.
A natural composite of cellulose fibers (which are strong in tension) embedded in a matrix of lignin which resists compression.

Shot details:
Manual, F/5.6, 1/10 sec., ISO-3200

Bad type ng kahoy. Daming butas. Hihi.

Project 10/366

Project 10/366
Week 2: Pattern/Texture

Fluff.
A soft, light, downy mass.

Shot details:
Manual, F/5.6, 1/10 sec., ISO-3200

Hello everybody!! Meet Coco!:)

Project 9/366

Project 9/366
Week 2: Pattern

Spiky.
Having one or more projecting sharp points. 

Shot details:
Manual, F/5.6, 1/10 sec., ISO-1000

Mura siya ug baby boobs.:)))))))))))

Project 8/366

Project 8/366.
Week 2: Pattern

Radial.
A radial pattern is one that appears to radiate from a point, like the spokes from the hub of a wheel.

Shot details:
Manual, F/5.6, 1/8 sec., ISO-800 

Para lang maglaway mo.:)))

Project 7/366

Project 7/366
Week 1: Color Accent

"Ice ice baby
Ice ice baby" -Ice Ice Baby (Vanilla Ice)

Sareh. Wala akong maisip na mag-fit na song. Mga 30 mins ata akong nag-scan.:))

Meet Chikay. Ang batang gustong mag-spa. Cuuuuuutttteeee!:)

Shot details:

Manual, F/5.6, 1/25 sec., ISO-3200

Project 6/366

Project 6/366
Week 1: Color Accent

"You really know where to start
Fixing a broken heart
You really know what to do
Your emotional tools can cure any fool
Whose dreams have fallen apart
Fixing a broken heart" -Fixing A Broken Heart (AZN Dreamers/Christian Bautista)

Shot details:

Manual, F/5.6, 1/25 sec., ISO-3200

Project 5/366

Project 5/366
Week 1: Color Accent

"Let her cry, for she's a Lady
Let her dream, for she's a Child
Let the rain fall down upon her
She's a free and gentle flower, growing wild." Wildflower- Skylark

Shot details:
Manual, F/14, 1/800 sec., ISO-3200

Project 4/366

Project 4/366
Week 1: Color Accent

"Turn it around with another round
There’s a party at the bar everybody putcha glasses up and I drink to that
I drink to thaaaaaaaaat." Cheers (Drink To That)- Rihanna

Shot details:
Manual, F/4.8, 1/10 sec., ISO-3200

Project 3/366

"Don't you think it's time you started
Doing what we always wanted
One day we're gonna get so high


'Cause even the impossible
Is easy when we got each other
One day we're gonna get so high" -High (Lighthouse Family)


Shot details:
Manual, F/7.1, 1/400 sec., ISO-2500


This photo was taken at Sarif Mucsin Elementary School. Today, my family, together with our fellow churchgoers at Our Lady of Manaoag Chapel gave 500+ slippers to indigent elementary students. Nung una, ang weird tingnan na inaamoy nila yung slippers nila. Parang adik lang na inaamoy ang goma. Pero nung na-realize ko na kung bakit ganun, naiiyak ako. It's like happy sila sa scent ng bagong slippers. And in this photo, nagcocompare sila! Isa pa sa nangyari dun na nakakaiyak is yung nakikita namin na after nila sinukat yung bago nilang slippers, pinapagpag nila yung soles para matanggal yung dumi. Ayaw nila madumihan yung slippers. And after nun, excited na agad silang umuwi para i-show sa parents nila ang bagong slippers nila.:')

Project 2/366

"The time has come for me
To break out of the shell
I have to shout
That I'm coming outI'm coming out
I want the world to know
Got to let it show" -I'm Coming Out (Diana Ross/Jennifer Lopez)

Shot details:

Manual,  F/5.6, 1/15 sec., ISO-400

Project 1/366

"Baby, you're a firework
Come on, let your colors burst
Make 'em go, oh
You're gonna leave 'em falling down" -Firework (Katy Perry)

Shot details:
Manual, F/5.6, 1/40 sec., ISO-3200

Welcoming the Leap Year!

Gluttony. A word that would greatly describe our usual New Year Celebration dinner or more commonly known as Media Noche. It would seem like it's the last day of our existence and we have to eat everything before we die. Almost every hour, we would go to the dining table and eat something.

Our Media Noche last year (2010).

However, this year, we had the most simple Media Noche ever. I don't know why it went that way but perhaps because the we were too tired to cook since the family decided to go on a roadtrip to Lake Sebu earlier that day. We invited a couple of relatives to celebrate the night with us. We stayed in our garden while waiting for the clock to struck 12, sipping white and red wine.

Waiting for the 1st day of 2012. (Standing:  Me; Sitting (From left to right): Ate Grace,
Mom, Atchi, Dad, Ate, Manong Bitoy, Kuya, Ate Day)

Around quarter to 12 midnight, the deafening sounds of the fireworks are starting to fill our ears. Rockets are shooting towards the sky and then blasting an array of colorful lights.

Fireworks that lit up the first morning of 2011.

After inhaling the smoke from the fireworks (Haha!), we had a little meal. On the menu were ham, seafood pesto pasta, salad and a chocolate cake (which Ate Grace and Kuya Ching brought).

Chocolate Moist. Nom nom!

After eating, our relatives bid farewell and we all went to sleep!

A simple way to start the year yet it is a great example of pure happiness. Celebrating the New Year with the whole family.:)