Be Careful what You Wish for..

My wish has been fulfilled by my inaction and the force of uncontrollable circumstances, and to the detriment of everyone including myself. Had I acted, things would have just been the same, although in a different vein through which the blood of anger and malice would still run through.
The thought I toyed in my head has come true. It's as if as the wish master had listed to me, that evil jin! How could he have managed to listen to the deepest, shadowy recess of my soul and turn the benign whispers into a heartbreaking cacophonous shout? I don't know. But I'm certain I heard pure despair and it rent everyone's heart, some more than the others. Everyone bleeds.

Your wish. The forces around. The jin. Before they come together, silence the darkness in your soul.

Online Shopping in Korea

On this material peninsula, shopping is a must. Offline and online cart pushing are equally enjoyable. I usually buy from Gmarket and it never fails. The delivery period takes 2-3 days on the average and there was no instance when I wasn't satisfied with what I paid for.
Gmarket, however, started to appear humdrum for me as it was my virtual house since 2007. I started looking for alternative websites when I encountered this page, which lists the top online shopping sites for men in Korea. Paradise! =^_^=

K-pop, K-ballad Translation

어떤 그리움을
Longing


그대를 바라보면 포근함을 느꼈지
I feel warmth when I gaze at you
아직도 나에게 남아있는 그대의 모습
A reflection lingers inside of me
나의 마음 고요하게 해
and it quiets my heart.


지나간 기억속에 그대 모습 생각나
Your traces I remember, the memories in the past
견딜수가 없는 혼자만의 외로움들이
This unbearable feeling of solitude
나의 마음 허무하게 해
My heart yearns in vain.


*언젠가 그대는
눈물을 흘리며 내게 말했었지
There was a time when you told me your tears flowed down
사랑은 슬픈 이별보다 아픈 거라고
They say loving is more difficult than a sad goodbye.
하지만 내 님 떠나고 이젠 나홀로남아
But even if you go and I'm left here all alone
그대의 앞길 비추네
Your light still remains. (Your light shines down on my path)

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Just drop me an email if you want a song translated and I'll post it here.

New Philippine Bank Notes

I really like the design of the new Philippine bills! The colors and the symbols they portray inspires a want for change for the better. Take a look at the slide show and see for yourself.

Scholarship in Korea, 2011

Sejong University is offering a full tuition scholarship grant to qualified graduate and undergraduate students starting March 2011 (graduate studies) and March 2012 (bachelor degree).

Grantees will also be provided with accommodation and a stipend of 400,000 KRW per month.

Interested applicants must have demonstrated English proficiency based on the following table:
TOEFL (PBT) - 600 pts

TOEFL (CBT) - 250 pts

TOEFL (IBT) - 100 pts

IELTS - 6.5 pts

Sejong University will give priority to students who are interested to pursue studies in the following areas:

1. Hotel and Tourism Management
2. Business
3. Natural Sciences
4. Engineering
5. Physics
6. Biosciences



Interested applicants must submit brief résumé /curriculum vitae to Mr. Mylo Fausto, Cultural Officer, Embassy of the Philippines, through email address:

m.fausto@philembassy-seoul.com

not later than 20 December 2010.

-from PiKo (Pinoy Scholars in Korea)

Olive Oil for Dry, Flaky Skin

It's October now and the weather has started to get belligerent towards the skin. The absence of moisture in the air, meaning it would absorb existing water from the skin, definitely made my skin feel itchy, uncomfortable, and rash-prone (you know the tiny red dots that look like ruptured blood vessels). I tried using Aveeno, Neutrogena, and Nivea to keep my skin moisturized especially after taking a shower, but the effect only lasted so long as my clothes haven't rubbed and stripped the creams off my skin.
Two days ago, I went to Home Plus, a local Korean supermarket, and tried out one of the skincare tips I read online: slathering olive oil to the skin would make it feel supple and moisturized for a longer time than paraben-infused lotions. For just under 6,000 won (around 5.50USD), I could practically rid my cabinet of moisturizers as a bottle of extra virgin olive oil would do pretty much all the moisturization I need.
It's my second day using olive oil and I've noticed that the skin on my arms and legs has lesser fine lines due to dryness. The complexion too has improved from being dry, pale, bambooish white to somewhat pinkish-white. I could swear on olive oil for its benefits!
Korean winter, bring it on!

A Chuseok to Remember

Chuseok was a definite week-long break from the monotony of my university life. Not only because I had to go to Daejeon from Seoul, but moreso because I had to brave the knee-high flood in Bucheon area. It was beyond my imagination that Korean streets could be inundated with much water that subway lines need to be closed. But I had to go to Seoul station to catch the express train (KTX) bound for Daejeon. With my feet soaked in muck-smelling water, I went to the Green Line via taxi. It took me about an hour to reach the Light Blue Line, as I can transit from there to Seoul Station. But lo and behold! The Light Blue Line was also closed. Without any choice, I had to literally criss-cross Seoul City's interwoven subway lines so I catch the KTX on time. I didn't. I arrived in Seoul Station two hours behind my time of departure. With my feet icky with flood water and jeans dripping with ewwweness , the thought of just going back to the dormitory had predominated my mind. I had to rebel and I had to win over the situation. Another 22,900 won was painfully extricated from my wallet and I got off Daejeon Station half-irked, half-happy, but a total survivor.