Last year, I finally got my Multiple Korean Visa. It took me 7 tries to finally acquire one, I was only granted Single Entry Visas during my last visits. This was during the time when you can still apply directly at the Korean Embassy in Manila. A lot has changed in a span of a year, so I am sharing here an updated version of my post on Korean Visa Application for Philippine Passport holders. I hope you get your visas in time for Winter!

I cannot deny that a Line Friends store can be considered a tourist attraction when you visit Korea. Most of the people I know who went to Myeongdong or Itaewon will drop by this playful store to have their photos taken with the giant BROWN character plushie that welcomes the guests to come inside. There was a time that even Incheon International Airport has a giant Brown bear photo area at the departure area! Lagi pinipilahan ang Line Friends! 

Aside from the cute characters of this popular Korean messaging app, they also carry Kpop group BTS BT21 original merch--some stores even have BT21 cafes!

Stayed in the Golden Phoenix Hotel Manila last night. I've been looking for another hotel with a good central location that can accommodate our family's annual Christmas salubong (coz we're only 2 families in our mom side, one from the south and the other one from far north!). 

I am considering Golden Phoenix Hotel Manila for several reasons:

I think I have unboxed 2 official Astro merchandise, but this 3rd one is even more special because it's a surprise from my best friend. He bought all the Cha Eun Woo Just One 10 Minute merch right after I took a screenshot and sent photos of them in our friends' Facebook group chat!

I had no plans of buying these official merch since I already have the Astro light stick to use during the show, plus the VVIP ticket that I bought for Cha Eun Woo's first fan meeting already created a hole in my pocket. So imagine my surprise when @paultheprguy showed a screenshot of his purchase from Global Interpark! THANK YOU!

Hokkaido is more known as a travel destination during winter season (December to February). For Filipinos, we visit the northern side of Japan to experience the thickest snow, wear our heaviest coats, and participate in snow activities like skiing, snowboarding, and even just to create a snowman and snow angel! 😁

The second popular seasons to visit Hokkaido is Spring-Summer, where you can see fields of flowers in full bloom either in Furano or Biei. Fall is often the least traveled months as people opt to go to main cities like Tokyo or Osaka.

The cutest partnership we never thought we needed!

    Are you thinking about visiting Germany this year? 

It’s is a beautiful place to visit during any time of year, but winter is thought to be Germany’s most magical season. The temperature stays pretty comfortable, but the mountains and forests are covered in a blanket of pure, white snow. 

On my third time in Hokkaido, there is still so much to see and do.

What I like about this trip is that I was able to experience new things, and even new things from sites that I have already been to before but in a different season. I still find it amusing that any changes of the colors of leaves, a drop in temperature, or the appearance of rain or clouds changes a whole place in its entirety. It's always as if it's my first time! I will always be a fan of the magic of four seasons.