Life is Beautiful!

It’s really fascinating how a brief and shallow experience of sightseeing in a historic landmark can affect me in such a deep emotional way. I’m a big Korean drama fan and I love the historical ones in particular, so my visit to Seoul, Korea definitely had the palace tour in my itinerary. However, beyond the typical fangirling from seeing the actual palaces in person, walking the grounds and listening to the stories behind the marvellous buildings and walls, was a very emotive yet calming experience to me.

You see, traveling alone and being surrounded by lots of strangers who are laughing or having fun with their friends and family can be quite lonely sometimes. It’s true I was missing my family while I toured by myself, but those moments when I couldn’t share my fascination to someone, I was able to immerse fully in the experience of imagining what life was like during the different historical eras in Korea. Every time I felt at awe with what I was seeing, I feel better knowing I had the opportunity to marvel at such beauties while I’m young. And this is part of the reason why I keep sharing my travel memories (and feelings) in my blog.

Gyeongbokgung Palace Address: 161 Sajik-ro, Sejongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

The spring air and sun helped a lot in setting the mood for my trip. Even with a brief drizzle on day 4 and the freezing cold air that had my face numb for days, it was still one of my favorite travel experiences. The cherry blossoms did a wonderful job lifting up my mood, despite my cravings for company.

I bet it would be such a blast if I could watch a drama filming live (and see some handsome K-actors too) and fangirl with my friends. So if you’re a big culture/history geek and a K-drama fan just like me, you shouldn’t miss some of the biggest palace grounds in Seoul. Too bad I only got to visit two of the great ones. Angkor Wat still holds the highest spot in my most unforgettable places to visit, but Seoul is definitely up there in the top 3.

Deoksugung Palace Address 99 Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul

But what’s with my post title? Well if you didn’t know, queens and concubines (both) lived within the palace walls but didn’t share the same roof and bedroom with the King. They had their own quarters, own servants, own garden, and seldom saw the King during their days as part of the royal family.

I can only imagine how lonely their walks were while being a subject of the crown. But that was their fate, whether they chose it or not. And this is mine. To walk the palace grounds in Seoul with just myself and my own thoughts as company. The flowers were in bloom and I’ve captured them in my memory. Life is fleeting and so is solitude. The beauty of spring will forever live on no matter how short the season. I saw them for myself. I waited for no one under the cherry blossoms.

Here's a short slideshow of some photos from Gyeongbokgung and Deoksugung Palaces in Seoul

This is post #2 of my Seoul, Korea blog series. Please standby for my next story =)

Boracay is an island full of life and beauty. All over the world, publications and travel blogs hailed it as one of the best islands on earth. And it’s not hard to understand why. I may not have the best adjectives to describe this Philippine gem, but I will try just the same.

On my third time vacationing in Boracay, its charms hit me the same way when I first saw the island. It may not be the most beautiful island in the whole Philippine archipelago (I have to give it to Palawan) but there’s nothing like a day of energetic fun from Station 1 to Station 2. Everyday is like party-like-it’s-the-end-of-the-world nightlife in Boracay. The island is buzzing of life from sunrise to sundown.
People go here because it's fun with a capital F. And if you love drinking and partying, you will never run out of places to go to in Boracay! Try Epic if you feel like dancing till dawn, and Bom Bom Bar for some chill and energetic live reggae music.

It’s true the island has changed a lot in terms of physical appearance because of commercial developments over the years. And some people get turned off because of this. But the smiles, the amazing sunset, the friendly faces, and the excitement are all the same—activities have gotten even better and the parties, louder. These, plus the fact that what you carry with you once you leave the island is what’s really important when you visit. You could gain a new-found friend, another unforgettable adventure, an epic night out, an embarrassing tale, or the wonderful rest that you could only get from your time off in a beach paradise. Yes, Boracay is still a beach paradise. And it's up to you how you enjoy your stay. I’ve been here for work, for play, and for a holiday. And every time, I get an awesome time and feel satisfied with my experiences in Boracay. It’s like getting a renewed sense of positivity towards life. Travel does that. The beach does that. Maybe it’s because I love the beach so much—it’s a place where I get an opportunity to spend the whole day relaxing and not thinking about life's demands and worries.

Not to mention, Boracay offers gorgeous sunsets for your cameras and personal enjoyment. Don't forget to capture it.It doesn’t really matter where you go in your travels—may it be the top 10 islands in the world, or a humble off-the-beaten-track in your neighbouring town. The memories you make and who you make them with make it all worth your while--make your travel top class.As for me, even if I’ve been to Boracay three times already, I still won’t hesitate to come back again in the future. And hopefully with another person worth sharing more wonderful moments to remember. Namaste, Boracay!

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WHERE QUEENS WALKED TO THEIR LONELY BED CHAMBERS (SEOUL BLOG)

Making More Boracay Memories