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Great food and very satisfying, except for the poor accessibility.

You definitely have to check out Italianni's by the Bistro Group, located in the parking tower behind SM.

Everything is delicious. It's a bit pricey, but totally worth the money!

Looking around here and there.

While traveling in Angeles, Philippines, one of the things that felt completely different from Korea wasn't the unexpectedly grand tourist spots, but rather the neighborhood commercial districts I'd accidentally stumble upon while riding around the city in a car.

As you drive around in Angeles, small alleys endlessly appear on both sides of the main road. At first, you just think of them as ordinary residential streets or neighborhood alleys. But if you mindlessly turn your head to look inside an alley, you strangely see people. Not just one or two, but quite a few people coming and going.

If you look a little closer, small shops are gathered there one by one. There are restaurants, small bars, convenience store-type shops, barber shops, laundry places, and shops selling everyday items. In some places, people pull chairs out onto the roadside and eat food, while in other places, motorcycles and jeepneys bustle in and out, overflowing with their own kind of life and energy.

The funny thing, though, is that just a few dozen meters further down, there is a much larger commercial district.

It makes you wonder if there's even any need to go all the way into that alley.

If you walk just a little further, there are bigger shops, more restaurants, and wider, cleaner roads, yet people insist on gathering in that tiny alley. When I see that while driving past, my head turns before I even realize it.

What on earth is in there?

At first, it was just simple curiosity.

But to the friend driving for me, even that seems fascinating. As we're driving along and I suddenly turn my head to stare down an alley, my friend laughs. They probably think to themselves, "He's looking at that thing again." They've even asked me before why I keep looking. I told them I do it unconsciously, without even realizing it.

However, I found those alleys quite interesting.

It's hard to see sights like this easily in Korea. Of course, neighborhood alleys exist in Korea too, but most of them are somewhat known commercial areas or places with a specific purpose. In Angeles, though, people gather in completely unremarkable places. Just a short step away from the main road, another small neighborhood appears, and inside that neighborhood, there is its own way of life.

And right there, there are the local people.

Strangely enough, I found that amusing.

Do these people actually live here?

How long have these shops been here?

Why did people start gathering in this alley?

With a larger commercial district just a bit further away, what on earth is the reason they come all the way here?

As I watch the scenery passing by outside the car window, I end up lost in these trivial thoughts.

Sometimes, rather than just a small alley, a surprisingly decent-looking commercial district pops up. That's when a momentary sense of anticipation builds.

Oh? This place looks pretty good!

Whenever that happens, I ask my friend to pull over for a second. Then I get out of the car and take a slow walk through the alley.

In truth, I'm not going in because there's something specific I need to buy. There are no famous tourist attractions. It's not a famous restaurant I found by searching the internet. It's just a place I happened to discover while passing by.

Yet, strangely, walking through places like that is enjoyable.

Watching what people are eating, seeing what kinds of shops are there, venturing a little deeper into the alley, and heading down another path when it opens up. Before you know it, you even temporarily forget the fact that you're a tourist.

It feels like getting a brief glimpse right into the middle of the everyday lives of the people living there.

I suppose this might be what the real fun of traveling is all about.

Visiting famous tourist spots and taking pictures is travel, too, but so is finding an alley that strangely catches your eye while driving around with no particular plan—and then getting out of the car to walk it yourself because you're curious why people are gathered there.

The alleys of Angeles seem like they have nothing special, yet they have something.

They aren't flashy, nor are they perfectly neat. At times they are narrow, crowded, and by Korean standards, many look quite worn down. Yet, there are definitely people living in them, people running businesses, people eating meals, and people meeting friends to chat.

On the main road, you see the city; in the alley, you see life.

I think I came to realize this little by little while traveling in Angeles.

So now, when I'm traveling by car, I find myself looking at the alleys rather than large buildings or famous spots. What might be at the end of that alley? Why are those people gathered over there? Might another small commercial district I didn't know about appear once again?

And whenever I actually discover a place like that, it inexplicably puts me in a good mood.

Travel doesn't always seem to be about heading straight toward a destination.

Sometimes it's about turning your head on a road you used to pass by mindlessly, feeling a sense of curiosity about a single small alley you accidentally found. And following that curiosity by getting out of the car to take a slow stroll.

Looking back, some of the most enjoyable moments I had in Angeles were precisely those kinds of moments.

Stepping into an alley where you know nothing, and gazing upon the everyday lives of people you know nothing about.

That alone made the trip more than fun enough.

Miss Jin is still Miss Jin

I went there because they said remodeling was done, but I guess it was just the kitchen. The dining area looks the same. I only see two weird dolls.

Sometimes the free drinks from Chanel KTV are tasty too.

Even though the radish kimchi wasn't fully fermented, it's still good.

If anything, the cabbage kimchi seems a bit different.

Woke up and checked the community, and since new posts were up, I was trying to reach the next level, Village Elder. Since liking posts gives 1 point each, I was just spamming likes to farm points, and suddenly this popped up. "Empathy Angel"... What is this? So I checked it out, and apparently they give it to people who like a lot of posts..

Did this even exist?

The required EXP doubles with every level, so I was just liking posts out of desperation, but I feel kind of embarrassed.

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It's amazing you can still find a nanny for ten thousand pesos in rural areas.

When you go to the Philippines, you notice an unusually large number of burger joints. But they are a bit different from what you would think of as a burger place in Korea. First of all, you don't need to mentally prepare yourself when looking at the prices. They are so cheap that at first, you wonder if you misread the price tag. Many places even have "Buy 1, Get 1 Free" signs posted.

They give you two burgers.

But once you open up a burger, you start to understand why.

There is a bun.

There is a patty.

There is sauce.

That's it.

Lettuce? Nope.

Tomato? Obviously not.

Cheese? Hoping for that is a waste of time.

If Korean burgers are a dish where various ingredients harmonize, budget burgers in the Philippines are a bit different. They are closer to food where the bun, patty, and sauce peacefully coexist without fighting each other.

When you take your first bite, it feels a bit anticlimactic. As you bite into the burger, a thought crosses your mind before you even register the taste.

Huh? Is that it?

Then you look at the price again, and your perspective changes.

Ah... at this price, I can't even be mad.

Budget burgers in the Philippines feel less like food and more like an economics textbook. They fill as many people's stomachs as possible with the minimum amount of raw ingredients. There's no complex philosophy. No need for fancy sauces, and no need for two patties. Just put one patty between a bun, add some sauce, and hand it to the customer.

And when a "Buy 1, Get 1" deal is thrown in, the owner suddenly looks like a philanthropist.

Of course, in reality, it's just business to survive fierce competition. Since the income level in the Philippines is lower than in Korea, many people look for cheap meals, and naturally, with that kind of demand, these shops pop up everywhere.

Walking down the streets of Angeles, this kind of scene is quite fascinating. Right next to a huge shopping mall and famous fast-food chains, just a short walk into an alleyway, a tiny shop is selling burgers for a super low price.

On one side, people are eating set meals in blasting air conditioning, while on the other side, someone on a motorcycle picks up a BOGO burger right by the roadside.

Watching scenes like that, it feels like the country of Philippines shows multiple faces at the same time in a single frame.

And honestly, from a traveler's point of view, places like this are fun. Expensive, high-end food isn't the only thing that makes travel memories. In fact, the moment you order a BOGO deal at some nameless burger shop you stumbled upon while walking, and walk away holding two burgers in a paper bag, often stays in your memory much longer.

Of course, if you were told to eat them every day, that would be a different story.

The first time is a local food experience, the second time is a budget-friendly meal, but by the third time, you slowly start asking yourself philosophical questions like, "Why am I doing this to myself?"

Still, looking at that burger helps you understand a bit of the reality in the Philippines. It's not a meaningless food just because it's cheap; it's a very realistic dish born between what people can afford and the local cost of living.

Bun, patty, sauce.

It's so simple.

Yet, wrapped up inside that one simple burger are the daily lives of Filipinos, the cost of living, income levels, and the survival methods of small business owners.

And most importantly:

If it's a Buy 1, Get 1 Free, it puts you in a good mood anyway.

Taste comes second, after all.

Official safety guidelines officially distributed by the Angeles Police in the Philippines

I translated the one that was posted yesterday into English.

I've been there twice since they opened, and the gukbap is good, except that the portion leaves you a bit wanting.

It's not as rich and heavy with meat as Miss Jin Sundaegukbap, but it has a clear broth base, kind of like the style of gukbap you find in the Jeolla-do region in Korea.

Holiday special meal.

Today is Chuseok day.

As humble as I am, since it's the actual holiday, I prepared a special brunch/meal to go with a drink.

First, I eat a whole cup of Sesame Ramen.

After finishing the noodles and leaving the broth, I crack 3 eggs to make an egg mixture and pour it into the broth.

Then I mix it well and microwave it for 6 minutes.

Sesame egg steamed dish finished. I enjoy it with a Heineken.

The steamed egg is tender, and the savory MSG-rich flavor delights the mouth. The crisp beer is refreshing!

Very nice. Happiness isn't far away.

After returning from the Philippines, I went to Homeplus, but it was closed. When I asked a staff member, they told me it had gone out of business. I was saddened and hadn't been back since, but as I was passing by earlier today, I saw the lights on and went in, feeling hopeful. The parking lot was completely empty, so I thought it really had shut down, but then I heard the Homeplus jingle—"Homeplus, Homeplus, the one that takes care of our dinner table"🎷🎷—playing over the speakers. I went inside, and sure enough, they were open! I was so glad, so I asked a cashier, and they said they managed to borrow some money and were back in business. I looked around the store, but there weren't any other customers yet.

I bought some gochujang pork belly because it was cheap, and a two-serving pack of jajangmyeon for 2,990 won. I also considered the size 12 jumbo chicken for 6,900 won, but it was so huge that I knew I wouldn't even be able to finish half of it, so I passed.

They had a deal where you could get 15 bags of snacks for 10,000 won, but I knew I couldn't eat them all, so I skipped that too.

I wanted to buy a convenience store-style lunch box, but they were all sold out... Such a shame.

Starting tomorrow, Korea has the Thursday-to-Sunday Chuseok holiday.

It'll probably just be a regular weekday in the Philippines, but... Koreans living there will likely still miss their homeland.

I don't really go out of my way to see relatives for the holidays. I usually just rest alone at home. This time is no exception.

From morning till afternoon, I worked hard to prep two large batches of food to take care of me over this Thursday-to-Sunday break.

Namely, spicy beef and radish soup (얼큰소고기무국) and Japanese curry.

Neither is anything special—for the soup, I just boiled beef and radishes, then added chili powder and minced garlic. For the curry, I just used the big three (potatoes, onions, carrots) plus beef and Japanese curry blocks. Add a cold beer in the evening, and I'm all set.

I have no idea if Koreans in the Philippines observe Korean holidays, just keep them in mind, or completely forget about them... but as a Korean back in Korea, I still hope everyone has a bountiful Chuseok.

Have a wonderful Chuseok, everyone.

Visited in 2023. I bought a glass of juice, but didn't find anything particularly special about it. It was just average.

I've been thinking about the differences between Yankee bars and Walking Street bars.

Yankee bars don't have many bars to choose from. I don't think there are even five or six of them.

Walking Street bars seem to have at least 20 or more.

In short, there are fewer Yankee bars.

Walking Street has a much larger number.

The look of the girls in Yankee bars is also different from what East Asians usually prefer. They're very petite, and to the eyes of Koreans, Chinese, and Japanese, they look a bit monkey-like.

The girls in Walking Street bars have looks that are more tailored to East Asian tastes.

As for the price, Yankee bars are about 1,000 pesos cheaper.

Walking Street bars are at least 1,000 pesos more expensive.

There are also way more tourists at Walking Street bars.

The accessibility is much better at Walking Street, too.

However, I go to Yankee bars more often. It's because there are almost no Koreans there. It feels more "foreign." It has more of a local vibe. I don't really go there for bar fines anyway; I just go to look around, have a beer or two, and head out.

It feels like it's been about half a year since Sarangbang opened..

Already, over 20 people have passed through this place.

With 23 people going through the shelter in less than six months, is life really that harsh out there? Why has it come to this... why are so many people flocking here? What's the plan? Aren't there any other welfare facilities run by public institutions besides this place? I know I'm being a nosy busybody, but I can't help having all these random thoughts.

Ah, seriously, I've been meaning to say this: because of predictive text, my typing keeps getting messed up, and when I read the posts after posting them, there are so many things written completely differently from what I intended..

Hey lady, hey lady~ Time to go home, lady~

If I remember correctly, I went there in November 2917. The food was just okay, and the only things I remember are some fuss over what juice to order. It was my first time ever having coconut water, so I ordered out of curiosity. My friend said watermelon was way better and ordered that instead. But the coconut water wasn't as good as I thought, and my friend's watermelon juice was so much better, so I remember regretting not listening to my friend—assuming I'm even remembering the right place. I also remember something about a 'babae' (bar girl). I took her in the car and asked what she wanted to eat, and since it wasn't her money anyway, she named an expensive place like Angry Crab. That turned me off completely, so I took her to a cheap joint instead.

Kimchi President is back

A few days ago, Kimchi President finally made a comeback on YouTube after a hiatus of over 3 years.

Foolishly enough, when viewers told him to come back to Korea and live an honest life, or else there would be no more donations, Kimchi—unaware that he was wanted as "Bonis Fishing Geon-woo"—confidently bought a plane ticket to enter the country. He was promptly caught, sent straight to Bicutan, and deported.

Word is that he worked at a meat processing plant in Korea.

Anyway, that Kimchi finally made his comeback a few days ago, and he's starting fresh in Vietnam.

I asked him, "Hey Kimchi, aren't you ever going back to Angeles, Philippines—your hometown, your sanctuary, and your mother's embrace?"

Kimchi replied, "My body is in Vietnam right now, but my heart is always in Angeles. I'm going there on November 12th next year." (Hearing that, I thought he's got a way with words.. I was a bit impressed.)

"Next year?? Why next year??"

"That's when my roaming gets lifted."

??? I had no idea what "roaming getting lifted" meant or what it had to do with going to Angeles, but I didn't ask any further and just said okay. My guess is that he meant his entry ban gets lifted.

Around that time next year will mark about 5 years since he was deported... so he probably got hit with a 5-year entry ban. 4 years just sounds a bit odd, so...

I definitely want to meet up with him over a drink someday to hear his life story and find out how he's been getting by. And I'd love to do a broadcast with him too.

I highly recommend Spotify.

I used to only listen on YouTube Music, but to cut down on expenses, I switched from YouTube Premium to Lite.

The problem was that when listening to music in the car, I had to keep my phone on, and frequent ads would pop up. But Spotify hardly seems to have any ads (haven't heard a single one yet), and it plays properly even with the phone screen turned off.

Best of all, you can copy your library from both YouTube and Spotify, so I'm listening to my exact old playlists again. Such a small joy.