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A place I haven't been yet but plan to visit this time

Angel has arrived. After a healing drive like an angel, I've arrived at Candipallas. I've unpacked, showered, and am now lying down. My friend is asleep. I came out to the balcony for a cigarette and a small bird flew into the outdoor unit of my friend's air conditioner. I wonder if it's building a nest there. I'll have to check in the morning. It's sad how empty the fridge is, even for someone living alone. It's a bit hard to understand why he said he didn't need any retort samgyetang or galbitang, but just asked me to bring Bonggus Bap Burger and Daiso stir-fried gochujang. The Candipallas guards open the door with a "Hello, sir" even when you arrive late. I passed them by, looking and walking like I was exhausted after closing a major business deal. The real work starts tomorrow!!

YouTube is all lies.

All that stuff about "teaching a lesson in the Philippines" or "never traveling again" is a lie. They say the airport is empty, but come on! They announced the flight was full, and it's just full of old guys going there to be taken advantage of!

I really need to turn this place into an adult playground quickly and bring joy to many people...

But is that all there is to it....

I'm heading back to Angeles after a long time today. I originally planned to go in the summer, but due to that crazy Trump starting a war in the Middle East, flight prices quadrupled, forcing me to cancel my trip.

Fortunately, as soon as the war ended recently, airlines all significantly dropped their prices. Thanks to that, I was able to revive my canceled plans and am now able to go.

I've put together some grand plans in the meantime.

I'll be channeling Choi Min-sik at Candypalas and a rooftop lounge, pretending to be part of high society. Exploring the slums with a guide. Talking about homepages with a friend. Trying out the restaurants Gray posted about. Staying at the Philippine112 shelter. Visiting partner establishments of Healing Hotel. Revisiting places I found to be good value for money. Pretending to be upper class at SM Mall World Fun. Asking fishermen on the Abacan River about the purpose of the fish they catch. Seeing how people react to game consoles better than the Nintendo DS. Directly asking about and confirming things I don't understand. Contemplating the satisfaction that comes from feeling superior, and so on...

I don't know if I'll be able to do it all, but my goal is to try my best. Angeles has already become a place I go to for something more than just entertainment, something hard to explain in words.

It's a Jeju-style haejangguk (hangover soup),

It's unique, and I ended up finishing a bottle of soju after going there to cure my hangover.

Their galbitang (short rib soup) is also delicious, but the high price is a downside.

Oh~~ It's not perfect, but it's translating Korean/English posts now.

Good, good, good!

On the way from SM to Clark, you'll see a large cemetery on your right.

It's a resting place for American soldiers who died in the Philippines.

What's unusual is that there are also graves for dogs.

You'll find them if you go a bit deeper inside Clark...

And that's...

If this is true, it could even escalate into a diplomatic issue... I'm curious.

It seems like it's best to just avoid getting involved with developing countries altogether.

Why do they do things that are so out of the ordinary so nonchalantly...

Next to SM, where my favorite Santouka Ramen is, is J.Co Donuts!

Before SM Clark opened, they only sold it at SM San Fernando, so it became a must-buy donut whenever I went there.

Then, it first opened at Marquee Mall, and subsequently at SM Clark as well.

The cream donut with almond slice topping is the most delicious, boasting a quality a notch above Krispy Kreme.

I loved it so much at one point that I wanted to open a branch in Korea, but I didn't have the money, so GG.

It might not be for people who like overly sweet things, but as I get older, I find myself needing a sugar boost sometimes, so I have to eat it occasionally.

When I bring it home, it's destined to disappear instantly that day... (often I don't even get to eat one myself)

That's why there are no pictures.

This is a new place that opened where the Paik's Coffee used to be, right at the entrance to Friendship from Clark.

I came here for brunch with a mom friend, but

the atmosphere wasn't great...

I got some bread to go because I heard it was good, and we decided to eat rice at Jinju Guksu instead...

Level 7. I heard that titles displayed next to nicknames are given as rewards, but what are they? I've reached Level 7 but haven't received it yet.

The War in Ukraine.

It has been over four years since the war in Ukraine began. That's more than 625 days.

Looking back now, more than four years later, I believe Russia is indeed a formidable superpower, worthy of its second-place ranking in the world.

The unique reason for this assessment is undoubtedly its capacity for a protracted war.

Initially, everyone thought that the powerful Russia would sweep through Ukraine within a week and establish a pro-Russian government.

However, contrary to public expectations, Ukraine succeeded in its initial defense, prompting the West to begin its support. The war has now been ongoing for nearly four years.

To wage war, one must consider and decide on many things.

Economy, resources, food production, alliances.

And the cost-benefit analysis of these factors, and so on.

Russia could not afford to let Ukraine, its last bastion, fall, and thus initiated the war. Contrary to expectations that Russia would quickly capitulate due to Ukraine's successful initial defense, Western support, and immense sanctions against Russia, seeing Russia endure this long without significant issues makes me realize again that it is indeed a superpower.

In my opinion, apart from the permanent members of the Security Council, India, Germany, Japan, and Israel, no other country could start a full-scale war of this magnitude and sustain it independently for over a year. I believe South Korea would struggle to last more than three months.

Even in Europe, there is immense fear of Russia, and while questions are being asked, preparations against Russia have begun.

Amidst this, Carlo Masala, the Deputy Director of the NATO Defense College Research Institute, has published an interesting book. The title is "If Russia Wins." It's a book that speculates on the scenarios that would follow if Russia were to win the war in Ukraine. In the first stage, Russia would invade one of the Baltic states to test the cohesion of the NATO alliance.

If NATO upholds the principle that all members will come to the aid of an attacked ally and declare war on Russia, Russia would withdraw without hesitation, saying "Sorry, it was a mistake." However, if NATO hesitates out of fear, the book posits that Russia would proceed to the next stage.

The final stage is intriguing. The author suggests that since even the United States would find a two-front war against a superpower difficult, China would align with Russia and play its hidden card when Russia plays its decisive one. I was surprised by the author's assertion that this hidden card would not be the invasion of Taiwan, which everyone expects, but rather an attack that would "sweep through the Philippines." However, I was not greatly shaken as it was a move I had somewhat anticipated.

Oh~~ the night mode has been updated.

The logo also looks more sophisticated with the visible color gradient!

Now I can sneak a peek even at night.

Alfamart is next to Healing Condo.

They have doormen here, just like at convenience stores. And unlike convenience store doormen, their family comes out to open the door for you.

I had planned to approach them during my stay at Healing Condo, buy them ice cream and snacks, and interview them beforehand.

Or, I hope to be lucky enough to meet someone willing to be interviewed during the tour schedule.

What is your name?

How old are you?

Where are you from?

How long have you been living in Angeles City?

How many people are in your family?

What is your family composition?

Are you married?

How did you meet your wife?

How many children do you have?

Did you worry it would be harder if you had children?

Who in your family lives with you?

Where do you currently live?

What is your main source of income?

How much do you earn on an average day?

How much do you earn on your best days?

Are there days you earn very little?

What is your average monthly income?

Does anyone else in your family have an income source?

Where does your money mainly go?

Do you save money?

Do you have any debt?

Who do you ask for help if you need money urgently?

Where is your current home, and what is it like?

If so, how much is the monthly rent?

Are electricity and water supply stable?

Do you have problems when it rains heavily?

What is the most inconvenient thing?

How many meals do you eat per day?

What kind of food do you usually eat?

Are there days you skip meals?

Are the children eating enough?

How much do you spend on food per month?

What is your highest level of education?

What kind of jobs do you hope your children will have?

Do you think the current education system can change your life?

Can you get medicine if you are sick?

Is the cost of medical treatment a burden?

Do you have health insurance?

Are you receiving government assistance?

Do you think government assistance is sufficient?

Why do you think you ended up in your current situation?

What is your biggest challenge?

Do you think it's difficult for poor people to succeed in Philippine society?

What is the first problem the government should solve?

Do you feel there is a big gap between the rich and the poor?

What emotions do you feel towards residents of luxury housing in places like Candipales? Do you feel anger or deprivation?

If so, do you have any intention of retaliating or looting the wealthy if large-scale protests occur beyond the government's control?

What do you want most right now?

What kind of life do you want to live in the future?

What do you wish most for your children?

If you suddenly came into a lot of money, what would be the first thing you would do?

Is there anything you would like to convey to foreigners?

Did your parents live a similar life?

Why are you living here and not somewhere else?

What are the reasons it's difficult to find a stable job?

Do you think your children are likely to live the same life?

Have you seen anyone around you escape poverty?

Among money, education, and jobs, what do poor people need the most?

These questions were carefully considered and devised, so please do not delete them.

I casually thought I'd just walk in, but the rooms were all booked...

There were 10 people eating in the main dining area, and it wasn't cramped.

I ordered the menu while watching the amusingly naive service from a waiter who spoke broken Korean.

The problems started after that...

The service was so slow...

It's a Korean custom to have everything served at once so you can eat it together...

It wasn't even a course meal...

The food was decent, but the hospitality mindset has really deteriorated...

Important question.

Healing Hotel affiliated stores.

Various discounts or services.

If I show this screen after visiting a store, will I actually get the discount or service? Or is this just a test?

For example, if I go to the store "R&B" at the very beginning, order drinks and food, and then show this screen saying "Here you go!", will I just get a 15% discount?

Did you get this before?

I've made the changes, but I haven't received it yet.

I can no longer post reviews of restaurants in the Philippines because I've posted all of them. So, here's a review of a Korean restaurant: QooQoo.

It's a buffet. Lunch is unlimited for 23,800 won, and unlimited beer is an additional 5,000 won.

The total comes to 28,800 won. They have Japanese, Chinese, and Western dishes, but for Japanese, there's no sashimi, only sushi. For Chinese, it's just the basics like sweet and sour pork and kung pao chicken. For Western, don't expect steak; it's mostly pork.

Still, the variety is immense.

And there are some delicious items too.

I can't post any more reviews related to the Philippines. ㅜㅠ So sad. I'm also contemplating quests... even sadder.

I'm trying to find a guide to show me around Abakhan River and other areas, but there's no equivalent of "Daangn" (a Korean used goods marketplace app) in the Philippines. They use Facebook Marketplace instead. However, Marketplace isn't available in my current region in Korea, so I'll have to do it once I get to the Philippines.

Raising a child can lead to countless frustrating situations...

And if they decide to lock the door,

the only solution is to pull off the doorknob.

For the person who has to open the door, and no one has locked it,

it's a moment that proves why you need tools.

However, I'll have to buy a new doorknob and replace it tomorrow.

There goes more money...

The good news is that the doorknobs here aren't as expensive as in Korea...