My January 2025 Highlights

Soooo I planned to blog my highlights for each month, but it's now March, and I have both Jan to Feb backlogs 🤓 Anyways.... I would still like to do it for a remembrance of my days 💖

My 30+ birthday

Don't ask me my exact age anymore. I'll always say I'm 30 🤣 It's not that I'm ashamed of it. I just feel like I'm still the same old me from my 20s, except I earn more and I give a few fcks now 🤷‍♀️

 

Kidding, age reveal here in my birthday blog post! I'm still bummed I didn't get to celebrate it the way I planned from now on aka go on a trip. But the last few months of last year was SUPER busy for me, so I do think I wouldn't have planned anything good anyway. But I'll treat my trips in the upcoming months as birthday treats (as if I don't treat myself always 😅).

Sex and the City and Trauma Code

My work has me home most of the time, and of course it gets boring. Even if I'm an introvert and like being solo. So I always make sure to have something playing in the background. I've done Gilmore Girls, Young Sheldon and Sweet Magnolias on Netflix, among others, so you can see I'm really into slice of life, chill family shows.

 

I tried Sex and the City and enjoyed it very much!! I'm sad I didn't get to watch it during my 20s, but it's also kinda fitting in my 30s... I srsly wish I had a friend group like theirs~ 🥺🥺

 

While the characters were dating, I love how they were single (not married)— I could relate to that bit. I mean, most of my friends are married, and even if we still talk and have fun, there's still a difference, you know? They have different, more serious responsibilities, while I'll only have to think of myself mostly and watch concerts and go on trips.

 

I don't think I'm missing out on life being not married, but after going on solo trips, sometimes you just want someone to go with you. And honestly, I don't mean a boyfriend here, it could also be a friend. But again, they have other responsibilities now and/or they can't afford my lifestyle 😅

 

Okay, back to the show~ I breezed thru all the 6 seasons so that's how easy it was to watch. You may hesitate because of the title and theme but it's about friendships and relationships— as an older sister, it felt like having my own older sister that I needed in this life 🙁

 

I also found out that some trending TikTok audio is from the show, so that was really cool!!

@kfangirlontour Current watch~ S3E10 if you're curious! 🏷️ #trending #sexandthecity ♬ son original - 𝑀𝐴𝑁𝑂𝑁 🍸🎀

For Trauma Code, I found it trending on Twitter and thought I would try. Medical dramas are not my thing tbh, especially after having experienced my own surgery. Everytime the doctor says, "Scalpel!" I srsly have to clutch my wound 😭

 

A tweet of the above photo was what I saw first, but I didn't really look closely because I planned to watch it then and didn't want to get spoiled. When I started, it was also really a smooth watch. I finished all 8 eps quick, and now I can't wait for S2. PLS COME QUICK I HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO WATCH

 

And now Ju Jihoon is everywhere, even on my TikTok feed, so I rewatched Princess Hours (which I actually do a lot before this craze) 🤣 And I came to find his level of fanservice and I want to meet him!! 🥹

op ini ketemu ju jihoon beberapa waktu lalu di hawaii. emang blio ini fan service nya top tier BGT!! SIAPA YANG IRI CUNGGG 😭 •kdm• pic.twitter.com/vq6tN029ZQ

— K-Drama Menfess (@kdrama_menfess) February 26, 2025

SEE!? 😭😭 I hope he has a public schedule when I go back to Korea and I can see him 🙏

Getting my ears cleaned

This can seem funny... But this was the best decision ever. I've been getting deaf in 1 ear, and as someone who loves listening to music a lot, the experience just isn't the same anymore. Also, it becomes tiring to keep letting other people repeat themselves 😅

 

So I went to the nearest hospital on a Saturday and checked out the EENT. The doctor checked my ears and told me I had to soften the wax first and prescribed me what to use. That cost me ₱500 already + another ₱500 for the medicine 😭 I didn't think it would cost me this much and I didn't spend even 5 minutes in there.

 

Fast forward to next Saturday, he said the wax wasn't soft enough and told me to go back by Tuesday, and I was worried he would let me pay another fee 🥲 Thankfully, his assistant was like, I won't have to pay extra and just pay the ₱1,500 for both ears. WHEW.

 

When I went back, I COULD FINALLY HEAR COLORS, YALL. I'm not even kidding. The world was SOOOO loud, after all 🤣 Especially at home, every movement was in max volume. Also volume wise, for our TV before, I needed the volume to be at 50 onwards, but after the ear cleaning, 10s was enough. See the difference!? Even with my laptop at full volume then, I still felt it wasn't loud enough 😅

 

So if you're feeling deaf, I swear getting your ears cleaned is so worth it. Right now, sounds aren't super loud like that same first few days, but my hearing is back!! It's such an adulting win for me 🤭

Japan tourist visa application

Another highlight of January was processing my Japanese visa. I got promo tickets last year for ₱6k+, and I never book in advance even with Korea. But it was such a deal and I planned to tick off Japan from my travel list this year~

 

I traveled SK and Bangkok December last year, so I planned to build up my bank account first and apply maybe end of January. Compared to Korean visa, I've been seeing that Japanese visa application was faster, like 5 days processing time. But lo and behold:

My travel date was by end of March, so when I saw this notice, I panicked SO hard. Japanese visa isn't like Korea where there are many agencies you can apply thru. They have like, 7 accredited travel agencies only. Plus, I don't live in Manila so there was an extra challenge there. I won't be able to walk into an agency, even if I wanted to.

 

Sooo I couldn't consider the usual UHI, Reli and Attic. I messaged Pan Pacific first, but they say they won't be able to prioritize courier applications. I tried Rajah and thankfully, they accepted my application. I shipped my docs via LBC rush on Jan 16th and they received it the next day.

 

They called me by Saturday and told me they may file mine by February, which was fine but also, still nerve wracking. Everywhere in FB travel grps, the agencies were full so I was nervous. But what can I do anymore, my passport and requirements are with them. All I had to do was wait.

 

So I left this at the back of my mind but by end of January, I just really wanted an update on the exact schedule of filing at the embassy. Like, at least I could start planning my trip and getting tickets and all that.

 

And I finally got some good news! My application was filed Jan 21st. By Jan 29th, the agent called me, saying they already got my passport back! The thing with JP visa, compared to KR, is you can't check your results online. The agency also wouldn't tell you over the phone. They literally show you whether you're approved or not when you come pick up your passport, or in my case, after I receive it.

 

LOOK WHO'S GOING TO JAPAN!? TO SEE CHERRY BLOSSOMS AND NCT127!?

∗˚(* ˃̤൬˂̤ *)˚∗

 

No, actually, it was gonna be a personal solo, spring trip but the timing was right, and NCT127 also has their Momentum concerts there 🥹 So, yassss! 💚 That was feeling of me to apply for multiple entry visa though, but I hope next time I get granted one 🍀✨

 

I still think I spent my birth month well, but I hope next year it'll be even better. But being born in January (+ on the first week too) is a curse because plane tickets are so expensive 😵‍💫

 

I hope your Jan 2025 was good, too. February highlights NEXT!!