From Tucson with Love (and a visit to the California ScienCenter)

Date of Visit: June 28, 2018
Where: California ScienCenter, Los Angeles, CA
Website: https://californiasciencecenter.org/
Travel Buddies: Hanna, Tonyo + Bruce and Kathy Garrett

The Kelp Forest at the California ScienCenter

Yes, #ThePacuanderers (minus Daddy) are in the United States! (As of this entry, we are still here!) I (Mommy Hanna) attended a 3-week summer certificate course in Berkeley, California and decided to bring the kids to spend some time with Wowo and Wowa, and to see some of our relatives in the US. It has been such a treat to travel with a 7-year old and a before one baby! Hopefully I will get around to writing about our whole experience! 

Visiting the US is also a chance to catch up with friends. I realized during this visit that as we accumulate US-based relationships, it has been getting harder and harder to meet a LOT of people during a trip. There just isn't enough time! 

From Tucson with Love

We were so lucky that my former host parents (from my Up With People stint in 2007) Bruce and Kathy Garrett decided to travel all the way from Tucson, Arizona (9 hours!) to see us in Cerritos, CA last June.  The last time I saw them was more than 10 years ago, when I said goodbye after a week of living in their house (see my UWP diary here: http://bananaspinworld.blogspot.com/2007/08/live-in-now.html)

Hanna and the Garretts
Tucson, AZ (2007)  

I was so happy to see them again! I stayed with more than 15 families during my travel year with UWP, and I can say that I connected the most with the Garretts. I believe we share the same love for adventure, science, and telling stories.

Kathy asked us where we wanted to go during our one day together. It was a choice between the Aquarium of the Pacific (http://www.aquariumofpacific.org) in Long Beach, or the California ScienCenter. Of course, our little scientist Googled both destinations and picked the ScienCenter!

Maia won't enjoy the field trip just yet, so it was really a day for Tonyo.

Our education started from the moment Bruce and Kathy picked us up. The Garretts arrived in a super cool Tesla!(https://www.tesla.com) Tesla is a leading manufacturer of electric cars, and they are known for their innovation and sleek designs. I loved learning about the smart car's capabilities. I was awed at how Bruce pays $1.00 to get the same mileage vs. Kathy's $35.00 worth of gasoline in her car.  I also learned that a Tesla owner can charge their cars for FREE at any Tesla Super Charger stations scattered in the United States. You may also charge your car at home at minimal cost. The Garretts have solar panels installed in their Tucson home, so that makes their car charging even greener!



California ScienCenter 

The California ScienCenter is a state-owned interactive science museum in the heart of Los Angeles. It was huge! According to the website, it spans more than 400,000 square feet and houses four permanent exhibits, with room for special/ temporary exhibits. The permanent exhibits include, The World of Life, Ecosystems, Creative World, and Air and Space.

At the time of our visit, they also had the visiting exhibit, "King Tut, the Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh." We've always been fascinated about ancient Egypt and apparently this was one of the biggest King Tut exhibits ever to go on tour! I also just recently found out that this is the last world tour for the King Tut artifacts (they go to Europe next and around 9 more cities in the next 7 years) before they move everything in its permanent home in the Grand Egyptian Museum.

When visiting the Center, be sure to allocate one whole day (specially if you have a super curious kid like mine)  so you can enjoy all attractions.

King Tut

King Tut's tomb remains one of the most important archaeological findings up to this day. Its discovery prompted a big interest in Egyptology and the artifacts found in his tomb provided a lot of insights for researchers about the life in ancient Egypt.

It was a huge collection, with some items marked as "first time out of Egypt." Tonyo had a great time going from item to item, insisting to read all the descriptions. A lady saw him and kindly offered to give Tonyo her audio guide. It was a welcome bonus for us (and quieted Tonyo down a bit...)

The exhibit was fascinating. It was a treat seeing the items that we used to only see in documentaries. I personally loved the jewels - I found the intricate designs and the colour combination of gold/ blue (lapiz)/ red/ black very beautiful. I also liked learning about the Book of the Dead, where spells were written so King Tut could bring to life the miniature warriors that were buried with him inside the tomb.

Tonyo liked learning about the multiple coffins where King Tut was buried in (sort of like Russian Matrioshka dolls). He also liked the display about the jewels and accessories that were placed upon King Tut's mummified body.

If you are interested to see this exhibit or its future tours, you may learn more at: https://kingtutexhibition.com.

Ecosystems

The Ecosystems exhibit was focused on the interconnectivity of all creatures, things, events, activities  in our planet. It was subdivided into several zones: the Extreme Zone, Forest Zone, River Zone, Island Zone, Rot Room, Global Zone, L.A Zone, and the Family Discovery Room.

Tonyo liked the Forest Zone, which featured the Kelp Forest. It was amazing how they showcased a diverse world living amongst the seaweed. My favourite was the Extreme zone, which showed life in harsh environments such as the desert and the Arctic. I also liked the L.A Zone, or the urban zone. Come to think of it, humans and our urban lifestyle is indeed an ecosystem of its own with a huge impact to the environment.



Air and Space 

The Air and Space exhibit devoted a lot of time on space science and how we are able to send humans to space. I found the astronaut toilet very interesting. Tonyo and I also rode a flight simulator (which, for me, is just a shaking box with a TV inside.. exciting for kids, though!)

Tonyo likes the life sciences (biology/ zoology) more than the physical sciences (chemistry/ physics) so he was not very enthusiastic about the techie space stuff. However, this changed a bit when we entered the Samuel Oschin Pavilion to see the Space Shuttle Endeavour!

First launched in 1992, the Endeavour has successfully completed 25 missions into space,  including the first service mission to the Hubble Space Telescope. I was awed by the size of the shuttle! The external body of the main component, or the orbiter (this is the one that looks like a plane...) is actually made of ceramic tiles. Each tile has a different material composition, each one carefully designed and chosen to be exactly where it is needed.

We also saw a film on how the shuttle was transported from the Los Angeles International Airport to the ScienCenter. It was pretty cool to see how they navigated the city streets! It was a huge spectacle for the public, and apparently very expensive - with a $200 Million dollar funding for the move.

An unused External Tank (or ET) was also on display. This is a huge single-use gas tank for the orbiter. This carries all the fuel that a space shuttle orbiter needs to fly to space. It detaches from the orbiter 8.5 minutes after launch, and falls back into the earth (most of it disintegrates in the atmosphere on the way down).

A Day of Learning 

We spent a lot of time in the exhibits above and were pretty much "exhibited out." Tonyo was still energetic and was determined to see everything. We breezed through the other exhibits pretty quickly! The World of Life showed how living things' cells and body systems work.  The Creative World showed implications of inventions and innovations in our daily life. There was even a special exhibit that talked about Fear and Phobias (pretty creepy!)

The California ScienCenter is a great place for learning and sparking young (and old) minds towards science and innovation. How I wish more kids can have the opportunity to visit. It is located at the Los Angeles Exposition Park, which also has the California African American Museum and the Natural History Museum. We hope we can go back and see the other museums some other time.

On our way home, I loved how Tonyo enthusiastically talked to Kathy and Bruce about his favourite portions in the exhibits, and how he'd love to be able to invent something someday. We ended the day in high spirits.

It's Tonyo's turn! In 2007, I enjoyed Bruce's stories about the deserts of Arizona and Native American  art and history.  Now, 2018, Tonyo heard about science, space, and ... really, really bad jokes. 

Thank you so much to Bruce and Kathy for the fun-filled day! 

Hanna and the Garretts plus two (Tonyo and Maia) 2018

My Top Mommy Shopping Sites

Pregnancy has the tendency to "weigh you down" - and I meant that literally and figuratively! By the 3rd trimester, I really did not have the energy to go out to brave the mall crowds. During the few times that I DID go out, I got overwhelmed with the choices but was NOT able to find what I needed. Most of the time, I went home burned out, empty-handed, and with my back and heels aching.

Thank goodness for online shopping. I thought I'd share the online shopping websites that made me want to yell, "Thank you!! Take my money!"

Here's a quick rundown of the websites, and I will post detailed reviews of some of  my favorite items soon.

For maternity and nursing wear: 

Elin Women's Clothing 
https://elin.ph/ 

When I stumbled across Elin through a social media ad, I just couldn't get enough of it! They have a lot of classic pieces that could be worn during pregnancy, for nursing and breastfeeding, and even beyond. I spent a lot of time browsing and had a hard time choosing because I liked them all :)

It is also worth mentioning that Elin has good, close-to-reality sizing. I am a large person, and Pinoy "Free Size" or even 4XLs from the typical tiangge or bargain racks won't fit me. Elin's sizing is more accurate and less disappointing!

The prices of their items were pretty reasonable and almost the same as the cost of the maternity clothes in the malls. I just liked Elin's selection better. I think I bought 2 tops, a maternity pencil skirt, maternity leggings, 2 dresses, and a convertible scarf. Great value for money, I received a lot of compliments. and I am confident that I can use them for a long time beyond the pregnancy!

For breastfeeding needs: 

BabymamaPh
https://babymama.ph/

I think it is a great idea to have a store dedicated to breastfeeding. I visited the physical store in BGC and was awed about how much available stuff there were to support breastfeeding.

My first purchase during that visit was the Haakaa Silicone Breast Pump. I had heard a lot of good feedback online and knew that Babymama was one of the few accredited resellers of the New Zealand brand.

After giving birth and while recovering from my C-Section - I purchased via their website the following items: a Spectra 9plus breast pump, Mother Nurture powdered lactation drinks (chocolate and coffee - and I think they really work!), Malunggay capsules, and my best purchase of all, the Upspring Abdominal Binder.

<Update, October 2017> - I also bought a SaYa baby carrier and a portable UV sterilizer from Babymama! Talk about being a one-stop shop!

To help increase breast milk:

Mommy Treats Ph
https://www.facebook.com/mommytreats/

I had my breastfeeding struggles (thankfully, I am over it now and we are breastfeeding beautifully!) and to cheer me up, my friend Yvette sent me some lactation brownies and cookies from Mommy Treats and they were so yummy! I immediately ordered when I finished the batch she sent me.

I believe they work! I think they not only increased my milk volume, but the treats also improved my milk quality. I notice that I produce creamier milk whenever I consume the Mommy Treats :)

I wanted to check out other snacks and that's how I found....

Sweet Delights By Charlotte
https://www.facebook.com/SweetDelightsByCharlotte/ 

Since I wanted to try a bit of everything, I chose the 1 week supply assorted box (Php 490) which has Oat Chocolate Chip Cookies, Brownies, Chunky Chocolate Walnut Blondies, and Cheesecake Brownies.

Her Cheesecake Brownies are the BOMB! Ang sarap! I have to keep them from Tonyo because he eats them! Mag Goldilocks na lang sya hindi nya need mag breastfeed haha.

Again, these treats really work to increase my supply while letting me enjoy dessert. Charlotte, the owner, is really sweet as well and happy to respond to inquiries about her goodies and breastfeeding overall.

If you ask me which among the two (Mommy Treats or Sweet Delights) is better - it's s a tough choice :D Though personally, I prefer Sweet Delights because of the cost and the cheesecake brownies, hehe.


For local, natural, organic bath/ body/ baby products: 

Human Heart Nature
https://humanheartnature.com/buy/ 

I've been an HHN advocate for a long time, more so during this pregnancy when I decided to cut back on chemical-laden body care products. HHN also compliments my newest essential oil fan-mode, and I see their products as a good base for my therapeutic oils!

I also love it that by purchasing HHN products, we are supporting local farms and enterprises. I like the brand so much that I've signed up to be a distributor and advocate in order to take advantage of the discount. Do let me know if you want more information on that by leaving me a message below :)

Online shopping has really evolved over the years! It has made life more convenient for everyone. I wish I had these at my fingertips during my first pregnancy. These websites are also good if you are scouting for a perfect baby shower gift!! Happy surfing and shopping !

Our Birthing Story - Maia

Our birthing story will come in trickles. As I have said before, it was a complicated pregnancy with a lot of side stories!

I am primarily writing this entry for my sisters in the Facebook support group, All about APAS and Immuno-Reproductive Cases. I am part of a small population of women whose immune systems recognize growing babies as enemies, hence attacking the growing fetus. There are several categories of these Immuno-reproductive cases, some are about blood compatibility of the mom and dad, allergic reactions to sperm, etc... It's a frustrating and expensive condition ! I intend to write more about that in another article, but for now, here's my birthing story!

(I will update this entry with links to relevant blog entries as I complete them.)

Samantha Olivia, our little Maia, was born via elective CS last August 2, 2017. OB and Immunologist both recommended to deliver at around 36-37 weeks to prevent labor and stress for both mom and baby.

History:

2009 – missed miscarriage (M/C) at 14 weeks, waited 3 months for natural M/C, had D&C (note: "missed miscarriage" is when the baby loses its heartbeat but stays in the mom's womb) 

2010 – emergency C/S at 37 weeks due to weak/ irregular fetal heartbeat via Doppler. Baby boy was in NICU for 11 days due to low birthweight and sepsis (pneumonia, UTI). I was not yet diagnosed for APAS then, our first miracle-rainbow baby is now 6 years old!

2014 – another missed M/C at 16 weeks, 2 weeks before natural M/C, had D&C

2017 – positive pregnancy test, searched for a new OB (who referred me to an immunologist), got tested for RID, diagnosed Cat 3, and subsequently treated as APAS. Elective CS at 37 weeks, healthy (though small at 5.2 lbs) baby girl.

Hospital: St. Luke’s BGC

OB Gyne: Dr. May Anne Tabaquero

Immunologist: Dr. CJ Gloria

Vitamins and Medication:

Folart

Duphaston

Caltrate

Trihemic

Solgar 5 Billion 2x a day / Culturelle 15 Billion once available :) 

Clusivol OB

Aldomet (gestational hypertension manifested during 2^nd trimester)

Aspirin (up to 33 weeks)

Innohep .35 (1 shot a day, up to 2 days before surgery, and then resume 2 days after surgery for 10 more days)
Betamethasone, 2 shots 24 hours apart at 24 weeks for baby’s lung development

Aminovita (from 34 weeks onwards, increased dosage from every other day, to daily, to twice – 3x a day!)

Intralipid transfusion (once at 35 weeks due to low birthweight of baby)

Additional support that I think helped:

Oatmeal (whole oats) for breakfast to manage constipation

Other probiotics such as Yakult and yogurt

Essential oils for immunity and allergy support  (click to read more) 

I really felt well taken care of during my pregnancy! Perhaps it was because I knew already that we had the immune disorder, and was doing something about it -- unlike the previous pregnancies when were always guessing.  I also had the privilege of knowing Dr. Tantoco (OB/ Perinatologist/ Sonographer) who did most of my Doppler studies, and also Dr. Young (Anaesthesiologist) who helped make the whole C/S process as “comfortable” and less traumatic as possible. 

The whole experience at SLMC-BGC was also pleasant. The nurses at the 8th Floor (I think it's the maternity floor) were all nice, approachable, and had good bedside manners. 

My Pregnancy and Essential Oils

There are so many stories to tell about this pregnancy, but let me start with this one!

Being pregnant is definitely a significant stage in a woman's life. For me, it is also a time for self-love and self-care. I am now at the tail-end of a complicated pregnancy (Baby Girl popping out tomorrow!), and I just wanted to share the oils that helped me get through its ups and downs.

Preggy Support (and our BaoBao!) 

During this pregnancy, I had about 9 different pills to drink each day - capped off by an injection I administer myself through the tummy. None of these to prevent "normal" preggy woes such as nausea, dizzyness, allergies, back pain, stretchmarks, and anxiety. I decided I had to find natural ways to cope with these to prevent further abuse to my body!

That's when I considered using aromatherapy. Instead of popping pills for colds/ allergies / flu - why not be proactive and use therapeutic oils? I figured I'd be hitting two birds with one stone, since Tonyo also needed immunity and allergy support.

Before I share with you the oils I used throughout the pregnancy, some reminders:

• If you are skeptical, please consult with your healthcare professional. What I am sharing with you are based on my own research and personal opinion. I've been asked about the safety of these, and I have been very careful and use them in moderation. I also thought that if my body could tolerate the tremendous amount of pollution I inhale and toxins I ingest everyday, some therapeutic oils won't hurt. :) 
• I only use one brand which is Young Living, a US-based company which stands by the integrity and authenticity of their oils. Upon checking websites and testimonies, I find YL's brand promise a definite stand out among all other oils. (Feel free to ask me about my "why") 

Anyway, here are my PREGGY oils and how I use them! 

What I DIFFUSE (I have an electronic diffuser, also from Young Living, which I fill with water and a few drops of essential oils so it releases the wonder vapor into the air in my room.) 

• For Good Sleep - 2 drops Lavender, 2 drops Frankincense. Really, best sleep ever! 
• For Allergies - 2 drops each Peppermint, Lemon, Lavender. When I feel like popping a Claritin, I just diffuse this seasonal blend and the sniffles go away! 
• To invoke a General, Happy Feeling - 2 drops Stress Away and 2 drops Orange. Imagine sipping a cocktail at the beach! 

What I ROLL (I blend essential oils with sunflower oil as carrier/ filler in a 10ml roll-on bottle and use when needed!) 

• SLEEP - Lavender/ Frankincense
• NAUSEA - Orange/ Peppermint (really helped combat icky smells, i.e. riding smelly cabs. Also uplifts the spirit, i.e. "HAPPY" oil 
• CALM / ANTI-ANXIETY - Peace and Calming Oil ; a combination of Tangerine, Orange, Ylang Ylang, Patchouli, Blue Tansy. I can put a drop of the pure oil between my hands and inhale for a feeling of calm. These were specially useful when I needed to have blood extractions or other nerve-wracking tests (or tasls!) 
• FOR DECONGESTION - When we have clogged noses, or bad icky coughs,  I blend RC and Lemon in a roller bottle and use it as I used to use Vicks Vapor Rub. I usually rub on mine (or Tonyo's) bottoms of feet , back, and chest area. 

For MASSAGE 

• BACK / FOOT/ HEEL PAIN - all that weight gain and changing center of gravity causes pain in several places :D in a 15ml dropper, I blended 15 drops Panaway and 5 drops Peppermint. Seriously, a drop of this rubbed along my lower back or across my shoulders takes the pain away. Also along the heel! (Note: I only used this when it got really, really uncomfortable because some oils in the blend should be used with caution when pregnant)

That's about it for now and the next time I blog, I'll be a new mommy and I do look forward to sharing with you the oils I brought to the hospital in preparation for my C-Section and the oils for welcoming the baby! 

Hanna 

St Lukes BGC (8 hours 'til C/S. Please pray for a safe delivery and a healthy baby!) 

Trying out the Blogger App for iOs

Hmm. Does it work? 

Let me try posting pictures....

Greetings from Washington DC! 

You can type in bold. Or in italics. 

Can't seem to add captions to photos or change fonts or colors too. But good enough for quick blogging for old school bloggers like me. Check out Blogger on the AppStore. 

(Solo travel for work, Jan 9-15, 2016) 

Taking Gifting to the Next Level

It's November! And it's our last chance to do "advanced Christmas-shopping" and be considered responsible enough and prevent to be panicky and stressed when December enters.

I have to admit that I am a perennial last-minute shopper. If I buy way in advance, chances are I find something better for a loved one closer to Christmas! Though I think for this year, I have a good strategy in place :)

Sam and I agreed to gift the family with a game console. No individual gifts for husband and wife! We're leaning towards an X-box One with Kinect. Though we've been hearing about PS4 and the PlayStation Camera. As first time console-buyers, we are basically stumped. Which do you think is a better buy? Last time I touched PlayStation was way back in college - with Tekken, Sonic, etc...

Eenie-meenie-minie-mo

For Tonyo, his acceptable "wish list" includes (1) Jake and the Neverland Pirates Lego (Duplo) or (2) a Lego Duplo Truck set, or (3) any Lego kit that has animals in it. (Oh, in case you were wondering, his "non-acceptable" wish list includes a trip to Japan, or to Italy... maybe next time, anak!)

Our little vet wants animal Lego sets

For "worthy" friends and loved ones, I have photobook vouchers on-hand and ready for layout! Photobook printing is a really nifty online service where you layout your own photos and they will print them out, coffee table book-quality! I plan to go on a photobook and layout frenzy in the coming month to produce albums and personalized notebooks. (watch out for my post on photobooks soon! FYI, I order from www.photobookphilippines.com.)

Physical books are better than photos saved in hard drives

Christmas is also time for us to give thanks to God for the blessings that he continues to give to the family. It is also the perfect time to share those blessings! From my family to yours, here are some ideas to spread some cheer this season, and take gifting to the next level!

• Pack "Noche Buena" gift packs for distribution to selected families. You can opt to choose families closer to your home, or maybe link with a church or an NGO to determine recipients. Last year, our family "raffled off" packs that had spaghetti, spaghetti sauce/  fruit cocktail, cream, condensed milk/ 2 kilos rice/ cookie cans!
• You can also make little snack packs (water/ juice, cookies/ crackers, maybe a small face towel) and bring these in the car for distribution to anyone who might need them, such as kids knocking on car windows, traffic aides, or (my favorite) toll personnel. 
• Pledge a gift to your favorite charity. This can be a one time donation, or you can commit to a monthly commitment. Check out the following organizations :
• http://www.caritasmanila.org.ph/  - you can give a cash donation or you can also donate old but still useful stuff for their Segunda Mana campaign, where they can sell your goods in their second hand shop. 
• Sponsor a child through https://www.worldvision.org.ph and help change his life

Or, you can also hit "two bears" with one stone ;) by checking out the SM Cares Bears of Joy campaign and learn how you can take part in the season of "gift-ing" (http://smcares.com.ph/newsevents/?p=993) 

For Php 200, you get to keep one bear, and donate another one to children from various orphanages and other institutions through the SM Cares Program 

For sure, my family will be spending a lot of time at SM Sta. Rosa or SM Aura Premier this season for other holiday needs. We always take advantage of the sales and promos. Not to mention soaking up the holiday vibe with all the fun events that they come up with:-)

 Let the holiday shopping and responsible gift-ing BEGIN!

For more updates about this year’s “Merry SM Christmas” campaign, visit SM’s official Christmas microsite (https://www.smsupermalls.com/merrysmchristmas2015) and follow its official social media accounts at Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/smsupermalls), Twitter (https://twitter.com/smsupermalls), and Instagram (https://instagram.com/smsupermalls/); and get an insider access to all the fun happenings at SM Supermalls nationwide through Viber (http://chats.viber.com/SMsupermalls). Shoppers can actively share their holiday merriments inside the SM Supermalls by posting their photos on social media and adding the hashtag #MerrySMChristmas2015.

Songdo, South Korea (now it can be told)

Date of Visit: April 2015
Where: Songdo International Business District, Incheon, South Korea
Website: http://songdoibd.com/
Solo Travel (job interview) 

In November 2014, I applied online for a post in a new international organization based in South Korea. After waiting a few months (and then giving up waiting.. because I thought they hired already..).. I finally heard from them in March 2015! I was thrilled to be scheduled for some online interviews, a writing test, and then another writing test. And then, lo and behold, I was invited for an all expenses paid on-site interview in South Korea!

I printed the photo of the Songdo Central Park and skyline for "visioning" while I was doing the online interviews and tests. 
 When I was given the opportunity to visit, I spent an hour looking for the exact spot.

I really, really tried to curb my innermost feelings so I would not jinx my application. I had to tell myself, over and over... being invited to an on-site visit does not mean I was getting the job. It just meant that they were seriously considering me for the job. They sent me my schedule, and aside from my interview,  it included some time with a real estate agent to visit apartments and see the nearby community, as well as some international school options for Tonyo!

Travel opportunity aside, it was by far, the most enriching interview experience I've ever had. Twenty-four hours before I left the Philippines, I received a topic for a presentation that I had to prepare for my interview panel. On the day of my interview, I made my presentation, and they asked me questions about the presentation and also about my thoughts on the organization's mission. I was also given the opportunity to ask questions, and I really had fun getting to know them. After my panel interview, I spent some time with the hiring manager, who talked to me about the local culture, the expat community, schools, and bringing your family with you. At that time, I also disclosed that I was pregnant (yep, while preparing for my trip, we found out about Baby #3... which we lost a few weeks after, but that's another story)

"Would-be Apartments" - I loved the playground of one compound.

After my discussion with the hiring manager, I was turned over to the real estate agent for the tour! We looked at 2 apartments (and met the landlords and current occupants) and drove by the international school. Eek, sino ba ang hindi aasa? We talked about the cost of the apartments, the space requirement, etc.. it felt so real and within reach!


I had a lot of free time after my company-prescribed schedule (and before my flight the day after), so I opted to roam around Songdo  which was a fascinating city, especially if you are doing climate or green-related work. I heard Songdo literally means "Island of Pine Trees" - but also nicknamed "City of the Future," and aspiring to be the "World's Smartest City." Indeed, the architecture was very modern, yet punctuated by pockets of nature (highlighted by its Central Park) I felt like I was in a real-time Jetson movie, and couldn't help but feel excited how great it would be to raise a family in all that fresh air and open space.

Songdo is a new city. Wide open spaces yet to be "occupied".

In stark contrast to its "sustainable city" aspirations, Songdo International Business district is actually 600 hectares of reclaimed area! (This part gives me mixed feelings about the place), and some articles say that the project disrupted the natural migration patterns of the visiting birds. But still, Songdo was built to promote low carbon green growth, and boasts of green, intelligent buildings, water recycling systems, and a centralized waste system. So, points for the effort. Let's judge its success once it is fully occupied. 

Walking from my hotel to "my" building ;)

Lower left... a real solar-powered electric car charging station!

Enjoy the photos ! (more below) I look forward to the opportunity to visit again. It is a good educational trip for people who are into sustainable cities.


Oh, and just in case you were wondering... I didn't get the job. Much to the dismay of Tonyo, who was already practicing his "Annyeong haseyo" and eating his Bibimbap ;) No bitterness though, I firmly believe in the organization's mission and wish them the best for their challenging tasks ahead! And if they think another person could help them get there faster, so be it.

Caption says, "Anyone who seats (sic) here will have luck." I probably sat there for 30 minutes :D