The life of a crypto investor

Lowest Price Market. The name says it all. It's a discount supermarket located in Yeonmudong, Suwon. They sell products with short expiration dates at low prices. My friend who lives in the Philippines really likes this kind of stuff.

They sell items at unbelievable prices, like 1.5-liter drinks for 600 won, a whole frozen pizza for 2,000 won, galbitang for 4,000 won, a large cup of ramen for 500 won, and small bottles of wine for 500 won. It's about 8 kilometers from my house, so I usually stop by this market when I'm in the area to pick up some things.

I met a friend through playing Tekken, which is a guy's dream, and he told me he set up an arcade at his house and invited me to play Tekken together. Not the home console version, but the arcade version. Coincidentally, this friend lives near the Lowest Price Market, so I went there.

After playing Tekken, I bought galbitang, cup ramen, biscuits, and candy at the Lowest Price Market. Here are some photos of my haul.

The representative franchise of the Philippines. Jollibee, i…

The representative franchise of the Philippines. Jollibee, in particular, is an absolute powerhouse that has even surpassed McDonald's and Burger King in the Philippines, and Chowking is also an affiliate of Jollibee. Jollibee owns numerous food franchises besides Chowking, such as Mang Inasal and Greenwhich, and is a giant franchise company that has truly built an empire, even acquiring Korea's Compose Coffee.

Uniquely, Philippine hamburger franchises sell chicken and rice. They are the originators of chicken and rice dishes.

I ordered the Super Meal there. I don't remember the exact price, but it was around 4,000 Korean Won. It consisted of rice, gravy, spaghetti, a piece of chicken, and a hamburger steak. There were many customers, and according to my friend who lives there, it's considered a somewhat upscale restaurant for Filipinos when they want to splurge occasionally. Chowking is said to be even more upscale than Jollibee.

Hearing my friend say that, my chronic illness of overthinking about social stratification, wealth disparity, economic structures, salaries, prices, lifestyles, and other useless thoughts resurfaced. However, I decided to eat first, and the taste wasn't bad. I was also full. Chowking's combo menu, around 6,000 Korean Won, is also worth trying.

Both are located across from MC Cafe.

It's worth visiting at least once.

It's located across from the Brown Sugar Bar on Fields Avenu…

It's located across from the Brown Sugar Bar on Fields Avenue. The operating hours are up to the owner's discretion. On weekdays, excluding weekends, the owner is usually there. The operating hours are until the food runs out, typically for about six hours starting after 10 AM. Most of the customers are the bar girls from the bar across the street. When the bar girls finish their shift in the morning, the owner also closes up shop. They sell about a dozen menu items like Adobo Minudo Caldereta Pancit and Spaghetti, boasting incredible value for money. Since it's a street stall, it's about 20% cheaper than carinderias that rent a shop. Ordering Adobo and rice costs around 70 pesos. The owner has a generous and warm demeanor, and sometimes offers a discount, charging only 100 pesos for an order that comes to 105 pesos. The taste is similar to that of a regular carinderia. Even if you give a tip, they'll just say "Thank you" with a cynical expression. Still, for some reason, you feel a connection. Since I'm taking shelter from the heat inside a nearby store, I have to call the owner from the front of the stall to get their attention.

The taste is ordinary, but the value for money is insane, so if you desperately need a meal in the Philippines, I highly recommend it.

The photos show the approximate location, and Adobo, Pancit, Rice, Braised Chicken, Grilled Fish, and Spaghetti. When I didn't have change, they kindly gave me a discount.

Badges and armbands are not applicable.

I went to my personal page and saw a list of various items, including badges. I clicked on it. There are badges for my personal records, so I thought I should get one. I clicked to get it, and it said the badge would appear next to my nickname, but it's not showing up.

This is a buffet restaurant located inside Sm mall. As of Ju…

This is a buffet restaurant located inside Sm mall. As of July 2023, I don't remember the exact price, but it was over 600 pesos (15,000 KRW) for weekday lunch. Weekends were even more expensive. For that price, there are side dishes with a diverse selection. However, I hesitated to try them as it felt like an adventure into the unknown. They also have bulalo, with not just broth but also meat chunks. That's to be expected for the price. The spaghetti is deliciously sweet and sour. Overall, many dishes tend to be greasy, and there are only one or two types of drinks. The same goes for the fruit. However, it's worthwhile because you can taste almost all Filipino dishes.

The overall value for money is poor. Unless you're a big eater, I'd recommend the canteen as an alternative.

I traveled to Angeles in the summer of 2018. The nights in A…

I traveled to Angeles in the summer of 2018.

The nights in Angeles were always loud and glamorous.

The neon signs never slept, and the music blared as if to erase people's thoughts. My friend, who was guiding me, and I suddenly stopped in front of a shop while wandering through Walking Street late at night.

Crystal Palace. That was the name of the shop.

As we entered the two-story establishment, dozens of semi-nude women were dancing on the stage on the first floor, while men on the second floor drank and watched the women below.

The women had numbers attached to their thighs. Like prisoners in Auschwitz, they were called by numbers by the customers. "I like number 11." "Number 24, come here!" Without names, the women there existed merely as identification numbers.

However, only one of them had a small phrase instead of a number: "Drink Me!!"

What is this???? Why does only this woman not have a number?

At first, I thought it was a joke. I asked my friend. My friend said he didn't know either. I called a staff member and asked. "Why does only that woman have 'Drink Me' written on her instead of a number?" The staff member replied with a blank, emotionless face.

"She's ugly, so no one has chosen her so far!!"

Ah! Hearing that, I unconsciously looked at her again. Indeed, she was unattractive. Even under the bright lights, she looked somehow shabby, and her forced smile seemed even more forlorn. While the other women showcased their beauty, drawing the attention of customers, she was ignored by everyone, as if she were invisible in that glamorous space.

I stared at her for a few more seconds and then left the bar without being able to say anything more. As I stepped outside, the loud music faded into the distance. The trip ended, and time passed. Strangely, while other memories of the glamorous fun have faded, and I can't even recall her face, the memory of her existence occasionally comes to mind.

I don't know why. Is it pity, guilt, or just a sense of sorrow felt as a human being? The fact that she was never chosen among so many people lingered in my heart for a long time. It seems like only beautiful and glamorous people are remembered in this world, but perhaps what truly remains unforgettable are such lonely expressions and a single, indifferent, sad remark from a staff member.

If I ever go back there again, and if she is still somewhere on that stage, this time I don't want to just pass by. I want to tell the staff member, "I like 'Drink Me.' I choose her. Bring her to me." It's not a grand reason. I just want to tell her from that day that at least one person in the world saw you. I want to tell her that I still remember her forced smile that night, driven by a vague expectation and a small hope that she might still be chosen, and I just want to offer a little help.

Kimchi Korean Restaurant

A Korean restaurant near Brown Sugar bar, at the far end of Fields Avenue just before you enter Red Street. It has quietly held its spot for a long time and is a fixture of the area. The big plus is a varied menu at prices about 50-100 pesos lower than similar Korean restaurants. It is not a place you go for great food, though. The taste is ordinary, like what a mom quickly throws together with 50 years of seasoning tradition and her own touch when you complain you're hungry. Not a taste you'll miss. If price matters most, it can be a good alternative. You can also order a large portion for +50 pesos. The basic gimbap is very cheap, but it is not the gimbap we know. They literally give you rice, seaweed and soy sauce; a strange dish whose intent is hard to understand. Not recommended. Still, since it is cheap overall with a varied menu, I recommend it when you have a large group. If the timing is right, you can also see old Korean men with the local women they brought out, trying to relive their younger days. A sight of its own. Recommended if you want to eat reasonably cheap. Not recommended if you want a proper meal even for just one meal.

A local burger joint near Angeles Eurotel. It's affordable. …

A local burger joint near Angeles Eurotel. It's affordable. Some menu items, like the Angels Burger and Minute Burger, are buy-one-take-one. They also sell sandwiches, and have various snacks like drinks, cigarettes, and chips. I tried the most expensive item, the Special Burger, for 85 pesos (around 2000 KRW). As expected for the priciest burger, it was generously loaded. It seemed like they put every ingredient available in the store: bun, patty, bacon, egg, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, sauce... It's not an extraordinary taste, but it's the kind of flavor you'll crave occasionally. Even though it's in a busy area, be cautious of the brave beggars you might encounter. The downside is the poor hygiene.

Ad Copywriting - Backlink Display Name

'Business Information' seems more appropriate, but it's displayed as /directory

Please check the search logic

I searched for 'Adobo' in the search bar...

And it's showing results starting with 'A', is that normal?

Who can register for the event?

Maybe I'm not experienced enough yet, so I can't register for the event.

Cannot Join Small Group Issue

Please fix the issue where I can't join sub-groups.

There's an issue with linking event registration dates to specific dates on the event calendar.

When I try to register an event by selecting a specific date on the event calendar, the event date is registered as today's date instead of the selected date.

Common Russian Demolition Methods

Reflections on the Abacan River in Angeles.

There's a river in Angeles. It's the Abacan River, which flows through the city. On both sides of the river, you'll find newly built roads and communities of people living in poverty. As with civilization, commercial areas tend to spring up along rivers. Angeles is no exception. The Korean town also ends at the Abacan River.

Every time I visit, I realize it's not the kind of river we're familiar with. It's a dead river, like those you see in documentaries. It's the epitome of environmental pollution. Crossing the river on foot releases a foul odor, and even visually, it's closer to black than dark. It's certain that domestic wastewater and sewage are being discharged without treatment.

Yet, life continues along such a river.

I had the opportunity to drive along the floodways and interior streets that have sprung up on both sides of the river with a friend, giving me a chance to observe it closely. The roads are quite long, and driving slowly allowed us to examine them for a considerable time. Children were swimming and playing in the polluted river, a sight that made me think no one would care and that there would be no solution unless the government intervened. Just as the thought of heavy metals and skin diseases crossed my mind, I saw a few anglers leisurely fishing. It was an unbelievable sight. Perhaps this is something you can only see in the Philippines.

Wait... are there fish in a place like this, and can they be caught?

There can't be fish in such a dirty river. They're not fishing for fish, but for time. They're waiting for enlightenment, not fish, in their arduous lives. While I was thinking this, my friend continued driving, and the car moved forward calmly, making my thoughts seem irrelevant.

Then, I saw a group of people casting a net. A net, you say... This significantly increases the possibility that fish are living there. However, the scene I witnessed quickly became the past, and the car had already driven much further. This time, I vowed to stop and ask them if I spotted them casting a net from afar. I fixed my gaze on them from a distance. Indeed, after driving a little further, I saw two people casting a net in the distance, so I stopped the car and approached them.

My friend, perhaps not wanting to get involved, stayed in the car to rest after parking nearby, while I approached them alone and asked. As I reached the river, the foul odor and the sight of the river, which was just black and where a net cast seemed impossible, made me even more skeptical.

Pointing to a box that appeared to be used for storing caught fish, I asked if they were fish, and they confirmed. I asked if I could see them, as I couldn't believe it until I saw it with my own eyes. They readily showed me the box. There were about a dozen fish, palm-sized, and another creature that surprised me even more: a turtle.

I asked if they were tilapia, and they said yes. I asked if they caught them here, and they said yes. I asked how long it took them to catch them, and they replied about 40 minutes. Ten tilapia and one turtle in 40 minutes... I thought it wasn't bad.

It was a sudden encounter and a series of questions, and since I don't speak English, I couldn't continue the conversation. I desperately needed my friend's translation, but it was a pity that I had already walked too far. Reluctantly, I just stared into the box and asked if I could take a video. They readily agreed, and I took a video of the box for about twenty seconds, but unfortunately, either I operated the camera incorrectly, or only my feet were filmed. After saying goodbye, I got back into my friend's car and showed him the photos and videos I took, and he was also amazed.

What do they do with the fish they catch? Do they eat them? My friend asked me, and I realized! I forgot to ask them that. Are they really catching them to eat, or to sell? If they are sold, it would be big news in Korea, considering the fish have consumed 100% concentrated pollutants and heavy metals. I became very curious too. I'll be sure to ask them next time I meet them.

As we drove, my thoughts became numerous. Fish live even in such dirty rivers. People live even in such environments. Regardless, if they are alive, they have no choice but to live their lives to the fullest. There will never be a good day to die until the day they die. We were born in different countries, and simply because of that, we stand on different starting lines compared to them, watching their difficult lives from the comfort of our car, and a sense of guilt washed over me.

Cost of extending Philippine visa for the first 30 days

They're asking for a 2,000 peso EXPRESS LANE FEE...
I thought it would be cheaper to do it online since I didn't want to go in person, but
it actually costs an extra 1,000 pesos online.
You can apply for a VISA WAIVER under the Service section here: https://e-services.immigration.gov.ph/

Filipinos really love pork. Just look at adobo, their signature dish... Korean culture seems to be quite popular too, as Korean-style barbecue buffets are thriving in many places. Among them, the all-you-can-eat samgyeopsal (pork belly) for 199 pesos caught my eye.

Even in a less affluent country, is an all-you-can-eat deal for 199 pesos (around 5,000 KRW) really possible? And there's one or two in almost every neighborhood. If you visit the Philippines, you'll realize that the cost of living for ordinary people is by no means cheap. Everything feels expensive relative to their income. The only things that are cheap are labor costs, due to the overflowing population and lack of jobs...

How can they offer unlimited meat for 5,000 won? I was always curious, so when I had the chance, I visited a couple of places.

The meat was mostly fat with very little lean meat, the kind of cut that would be discarded after trimming in Korea. Whether the 199-peso samgyeopsal places get their meat from the same supplier, I don't know, but both places I visited were the same.

Even so, considering the cost of fresh vegetables, side dishes, rent, electricity, gas, and labor, it remained a mystery. But I decided not to overthink it and just ate. Although I usually eat a lot, the quality of the meat was so poor that I couldn't eat much. I don't think I'll be going back... though I might go just one more time.

On my second visit, I witnessed a truly remarkable sight. A family of three sat at the next table, chatting and laughing happily. If a stranger saw them, they would have thought it was a family who had struck gold. If they were ordinary Filipinos, living a life with the difficulty of hell on earth in the Philippines, could a 5,000 won meal bring them so much joy? Was the burden of their continuous hardship momentarily forgotten by a 5,000 won meal? Or were they from the middle class or above? What brought them joy? Had they learned to find happiness in small, simple things?

I wanted to ask them directly, but first, I don't speak English well, and I hadn't come with a friend who could translate. More importantly, it felt impolite, so I decided against it.

Even though it was a 5,000 won meal, it made me think a lot about their culture, their ways of living in their circumstances, and how they find happiness and joy even there... It was an evening that made me reflect on many things.

Sometimes the staff offers Doenjang Jjigae. When that happen…

Sometimes the staff offers Doenjang Jjigae.

When that happens, I give a little extra tip. haha

It's an insane value at 420 pesos including tax.