Vegan Beatin' in the Philippines, day 2: Jeepney Joyride to Port Barton

     Classic public transportation falls into the groups of buses, trains, cars, bikes, horseback, motorcycles, what have you. I'm used to the webs of Seoul subways, cabs, and buses...stateside, I called to legs and bikes, the Philippines, there are motorbikes and jeepneys!
     Jeepneys are jeeps on steroids...they resemble school buses and make such a jarring noise, they announce their oncoming presence! People are piled into these guys, literally piled!
     Day dos was a mission to Port Barton, we wanted beaches and we were getting to them...there's a jeepney that barrels to Port Barton for about 250p (6,690 원 or $7)!! The bus station is called "San Jose station." It is home to my first public restroom Filipino style...I nearly vomited. This is a short video pre-bathroom story~

       First, there is a charge to use the bathroom, about 20p (535원 or $0.47 USD), there is no toilet paper, no toilet covers, and no flush. The bathroom is covered in an ashy sticky dust that's painted like a Pollack in sweaty water; and outside the crooked metal stalls are giant trash barrels full of water. There are no hanging hooks in the bathroom; balancing my purse on my knees while clutching onto toilet paper and crouching strategically over the bowl and avoiding a potentially fatal fall was my main point of focus... What makes this situation even more uncomfortable is...my body had a calling. (aiii digestion) and being Korean, balancing acts over toilet bowls isn't too difficult but I was dealing with a no flush and body-demand situation. I started to hear laughter and more footsteps brazing with the floor. My heartbeat started to pound in my ears and I was sweating profusely at this point, nerves, heat....

literally how will I deal with this shit.

     So I stood...trying to figure out what to do. I checked out the plumbing mechanics, no help there and after about five minutes of standing in the stall, I hear the women next to me leave her stall (what no flush!) and take a bucket of water out of the trash barrels right outside her stall and manually deal. Aha~ at this point, there was a party in the candy-coated bathroom...I was the only foreigner, feeling like a dog with a tail between it's legs, I poured a couple buckets, washed my hands and ran. aiiii~
        The guesstimate of our jeepney mission is that after a 4 hour drive, we'd be sipping cocktails and basking in the gloriously sunny and salty scented-beaches.

photo taken by VeganBeats

     There were a few stops and more people would nuzzle up together. I saw a lot of painfully adorable kids snuggling up to their parents and grandparents...how did these people rock jeans, crammed jeepneys, AND  a warm snugly kid on their laps?!

lovey snuggles~ photo taken by VeganBeats

     Two hours in we made a bathroom/food/beer pit stop. I used the second grossest bathroom and felt like a pro, I knew what to do... The pit stop stores were caked in dust, left pricetag-less, but still offering some potentially sustainable calories. First though, I played with a mangled kitten...these animals, ai they all need love. I was getting a bit sneered at, not aggressively more like "ech, she touching that thing?!"

love love love! photo taken by Scotty Soul

     Washed hands again and after store searching I got a cashew sugar patty (literally a ton of cashews sticking together through a maple like sugar base) and sweet potato bread, made up of rice flour, sugar, and purple sweet potato! So good~

blurry bread~ photo taken by VeganBeats

     It's hot, I was sweaty, there was a good half of the trip left and my legs were sticking to the chair and the women next to me...Red Horse again, a litro. Energy fuel and drunky jams...game on~

Red Horse, Scotty Seoul, and bread~ photo taken by VeganBeats

     The cashew patty was delicious, is had a smokiness to it and although sweet, was generously filled hugged in cashews, and the bread, was beyond expectations! It was light, naturally sweet, had a strong sweet potato flavor, and it just hit the spot! Red Horse, you can't go wrong...went down nice, and the two hour trip was somehow more fun! (sloppy slurry beats~)

photo taken by VeganBeats

     Finally we arrived....all the shit was worth it....

photo taken by VeganBeats

     Ahh I may have lost original focus....I love jeepneys~

annnnd ~  More to come...aiiiii

Beautiful Stars...The MV is HERE!

     I stated earlier of something Brilliant that was to drop today...

And here is Black Ilumin's music video for "Beautiful Stars"~

     You can download Beautiful Stars at http://soundcloud.com/blackilumin/beautiful_stars Black Ilumin's Soundcloud Enjoi ^^~

You are Awesome

Lenny Kravitz Seoul 2012: Video

Here are the two short videos of Lenny Kravitz in Seoul that I gathered, as promised~

The next video is while he decided to "see everyone" and I messed the shot up because...well we were intertwined~ ㅎㅎㅎㅎ

LMFAO Seoul 2012

     This was another amazing, great, and party-rockin' weekend! My uncle's here, so we started it out with a reunion, caught up, exchanged idea,s kicked it...so good!
     Then Saturday night, Jaxs and I went to LMFAO! Give me all the crap you want, I will lovingly take it because I LOVE LMFAO. They pump me up, make me feel damned GREAT, get me moving, make me more efficient, and kicked off my very own Seoul tour.
     When I first got here...I kicked it a lot...A LOT in 홍대, usually at Gorilla, right! And the music that got my hips rockin'round were the very lickin'n lyrics of Red Foo and Sky Blu! These guys are having fun, partying out, and are confident! Naturally...super sexy, fun-busting, dancing, shuffling spreaders!
     This was the FIRST time they were hitting Seoul and when the rumor hit the facebook wave about three months ago...tickets were purchased on the get go. On the way to the show, Jaxs and I scrounged around to find something to throw back, yes liquor~ no shots and Party Rock? phbbbt....get with it!
We hit up 7Monkeys cafe and double fisted wine...ahhh, we're such classy women!

We'll have the house wine AND a sparkling...(photo taken by VeganBeats)

     I took a bunch of video, a load of photos...all whilst smiling like a dopey-eyed Disney princess, and 'put my ass to work.' Jaxs was awesome and got standing tickets and due to good'ol Korean organizational- sloppiness, we were caged into a section closer to the stage. Then we met up with a friend who helped us out even MORE and brought us to the closest section. I'm so glad I hit up the bathroom several times before this, I was so excited...well you get it!
     My crummy iPhone photos do no justice, neither do the video clips but..when I mean great show...GREAT SHOW!!! (I'm still right up there with Belle currently)

     Considering how frequently LMFAO's songs are played in EVERY club, I surprised that this is their first time!

photo taken by VeganBeats

     I'm sorry in advance for cutting the video, this Veganbeater had some shufflin' to do...deal with it~

photo taken by VeganBeats

    I expected a fun performance but more so due to the music, but these guys, the WHOLE crew was AWESOME! Such wonderful, fun, positive, performers....ugh~ I want to be on the Party Rock Crew~~~

     We all know one of the most popular songs flowing through Seoul's nights...read, get them shufflin' pants on~

     They played 'Champagne Showers' and literally showered the crowd in champagne...of course all the audience ducked down and protected their perfect hair and glow-sticks...I stood shaking around, mouth open~ I don't care how sticky and rank I'm going to be, plus...more champagne for me^^*

Shufflin' snow~ photo taken by VeganBeats

     Okay, so this is my only guilt I have about my love for LMFAO...I didn't know who they were for a whole year after partying to them! I found out who they were after seeing their music video...and falling in love with that. I remember kicking it with friends and on a widescreen were crews of men shaking their junk and being confident sexy guys...then, right then..I fell in love. Sure, seeing the gyrating pelvises of an all male crew was great (O;- but it was the confidence that these men had...zebra speedos, ridiculous bright attire, goofing around...instant love~ Know the video?

     Damn~ Red Foo (swoon~) They played this and true to their video, and confidence...they were in their skivvies and strong, confident, party rockin' shufflers~

     I don't what it is with my "taste", my mom gives me a LOT of crap for it, but I have serious celebrity crushes on some interesting looking dudes. Red Foo (ughhh), Justin Hawkins (ai ai ai ai), Robert Francis, Giuseppe Andrews...tangent abort...more poor pics of the sexy Party Crew, but mostly Red Foo~

I'm Sexy and I Know IT~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

chyea~ photo taken by VeganBeats

photo taken by Jaxs

wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle yeah~ photo taken by Jaxs

I work out~ photo taken by Jaxs

I'm Sexy and I KNOW IT~ photo taken by Jaxs

     Best show of the year, check..and I still, STILL Party Rockin, yes...
LMFAO cruised me snugly into Seoul, boosts my confidence and mood whenever I'm feeling a little low, makes my workouts more fun, my runs faster, my efficiency improves...my game face is ON when they are providing with a soundtrack...essentially, LMFAO is the garlic to my life~ (If my life was hummus...mmm)

photo taken by VeganBeats

Roliat~ Seoul Fashion Week 2012 Fall/Winter Collection

     This year I was granted an invitation to the Roliat show for Seoul Fashion Week. I've been pumped for this for weeks, and when my buddy Prokop got a modeling gig for it, he was kind enough to give me a ticket!!

tickets~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     Remember on Saturday how I mention he was up to some stuff? He was practicing and prepping for the show!

designers~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

by the entrance~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     Roliat as a designer does some twists on the classy look of the 40's and 50's. The models all wore big bulking jackets with large pockets, and on their feet were big blocky shoes...I really liked the shoes, extenuating some important features and drawing a lot of attention really teases the eyes.
     Here's a video of the runway, can you find Prokop?

     I loved the set up of the runway, "Roliat" (tailer spelt backwards) was gleaming and overlooking the lit strip that WAS the runway. There was no gaudy runway design, loved the pureness of it!

photo taken by VeganBeats

the runway~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     Everyone was packed in and though I was admiring the designs, I got super pumped when Prokop did his strut!

oh hey~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

strut your stuff! (photo taken by VeganBeats)

yeah~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     The following two photographs are professional ones caught of Prokop preparing for the runway. (I've linked the sources)

source

source

      He looks so good!! 

A crew came to support Prokop, we're all so proud and excited for/of him!! 

the crew~ (photo taken for VeganBeats)

Phil and my swag~ (photo taken for VeganBeats)

The show was super short but I'm hoping to hit up some more during Fashion week!

Video of Seoraksan~

     Last week, well this week began playing in the beautiful Seoraksan mountain...here's a video from the lift I got just showcasing the magnificence.

Sorry if the quality isn't doing the mountains justice...iphone~

In Honor of Burgers

Is Pink Slime in the Beef at Your Grocery Store? -abc news

mmm...ammonia~

Kony 2012

     A couple days ago my brother sent me a video that has now been getting a LOT of attention. It's posted all over facebook, trending on twitter, and is growing more widely known by the minute. The video is Kony 2012 (website), which is also a campaign created by the foundation, Invisible Children. Invisible Children aims to make Joseph Kony famous, not to glorify his actions, but to call him accountable for the torture, pain, and suffering he has caused, promotes, and forces. Invisible children aims to raise support universally to get Kony arrested. Here's the video, in case you have yet to see it.

     Who is Joseph Kony? He's a Ugandan warlord that kidnaps children, brainwashes them, forces them to be sex slaves (if the children are females) and child soldiers for his militia, the LRA. He claims that his actions are motivated by divine powers and his evil has left thousands of families scared, and children very unsafe. He is among the International Criminal Court's most wanted.    
     The campaign is calling for universal support and donations to help the Ugandan military. This is what they said:

     “In order for Kony to be arrested this year, the Ugandan military has to find him.  In order for them to find him, they need the technology and training to find him in the vast jungle. That’s where the American advisors come in.  But in order for the American advisors to be there, the US government has to deploy them.  They’ve done that, but if the government doesn’t believe that the people care about arresting Kony, the mission will be canceled.  In order for people to care, they have to know, and they will only know if Kony’s name is everywhere.”
     Since this campaign and video have gone viral, more and more people have been coming out to criticize it. The records of funds and their distribution is public, and granted, I would prefer everything be put into the victims, a majority of it is put into the founders of Invisible Children, their traveling expenses, paychecks, etc. 
     I understand how important it is to know where exactly your donations are going, these are crucial in terms of being a part of a cause you care for. Parts of me grasped on to this campaign because I am thankful. I am glad that I now know about Kony. I was completely (and admittedly, very blissfully) unaware of the injustice that was happening to children in these terms. I have heard other stories, but the LRA was something that fell naked to my field of vision. 
     People our stating that being aware is a waste of time, we cannot do anything, the Invisible Children are selfish liars, donating is a waste, don't support this, making Kony famous will not change anything, etc. 
     I hear their frustrations and doubts, but for myself, the finances and distribution of money is not my highest concern, in fact...that's not what I feel the importance of this message really is. Not being ignorant is what I find to be the most valuable. Together, as people of the world, we are acknowledging this injustice. We are not falling blind to the truths around us. I'm internationally caring, I'm trying to spread some knowledge about this. What people do with that is out of my hands, but spreading this, making the injustices known; that is one of the most important steps.  
     All too often, when it comes to any cause, others quash it down. Us vegan kids, how many times have we each individually heard that we cannot save all the animals? That people will keep eating meat? Why are we wasting our time? It's exhausting, but do we stop?
     The important thing , the most essential point of motivation and reason behind any cause is to shed ignorance, to further educate, to make things known. Overall awareness, a greater understanding; this is the most important factor in making ANY sort of change. 
     In the end, after education, after acknowledgement, it is up to each person to make the change they are capable of making. Hearing that failure is inevitable is not a worthy means to quit on a project, to throw in the towel. 


I'm bothered by the effort put out there to detach from this campaign and the wrongs that are happening to the Ugandan children and people, the energy expended to quash down a campaign's goal to make other's aware, the redistribution of what is truly wrong in this entire situation. 


The awareness is the most valuable point..do what you want with it. 

credit

Invisible Children facebook page

Kony 2012 website

Invisible Children vimeo page

Fresh Guacomole~ artistic video

     One of my most loved and favorite of people just shared this awesome video~
Check it out!!

check out more videos by PES

Invisible Mercedes: Publicity Stunt

Vatos Urban Tacos on TV!~

Chyeak ye for Vatos~~

If you haven't gone yet....GO!~

Last time I went~
The time I went and THIS was being filmed!  (Hannah and I are getting those maekgolitas!)
The first article I wrote on them~

Just to melt your heart...a smidgen~

      Just some purring from my little lady~

I know the video is poor quality..but hey, the contents are more important on this front~

Vatos Urban Tacos~ chyeak ye

     I completed week 1 of the P90X regular but have switched to the lean workout...so far, still loving it. I've kept with my vitamin schedule, have been present with my family back home (chyea skype), do my stretches, and have been social. I'm finding I have more energy, am overall more present in situations, and I've even gotten back into reading (more than usual). Currently I'm getting into The Omnivores Dilemma, it's been on my list for years (why have I waited so long?) I've been getting into the habit of reminding myself why I chose this lifestyle...am I the only person that does this? I watch the food education films (Forks Over Knives, Gary Yourofsky's speach, etc) only to get upset, but also to keep myself in touch with my reasons...


     Anyways, let's tie this into being social. Last week I got together with some of those Amazing Seouls that bring so much brightness into this country! I spent all day Saturday apartment hunting then wandered to Itaewon to the glorious Vatos Urban Tacos. The restaurant was super busy and buzzing with happy diners (and drinkers)! At first the group was just myself and three buddies, but soon enough we were joined by four more people! Kenny, John, and Jeena were more than accommodating ^^*!~ Pol and David had never been to Vatos and earlier that evening they suggested my showing them some vegan eateries...made the recommendation for this urban taco joint and they were down. We first got some drinks and UGH~ delicious!

my mango makgeolita up front (11,500w) and David's frozen orange margarita (12,000w) photo taken by VeganBeats

     I went with the mango makgeolita (which I got last time) and David went with the orange frozen margarita. The makgeolita is only ONLY available at Vatos and it is too good, I find myself craving this! I love makgeoli, and this just makes it better! Even David (not a makgeoli fan) said it was good. The drinks are generous, massive bowls of tasty drinks~ you can't find any drink this size, for these prices...worth it. And what did Pol get?

Mexican Martini 15,000W (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     The Mexican martini, "This is three drinks...Jesus that's good!"
I've never been a fan of martinis, too salty, briny, and as wimpy as this sounds~ I'm not a fan of tasting liquor...(unless its a good whisky). But this drink(s) was very well done. It was strong, heated (there were jalapenos in it!) and again, generous. The mixer was full of more drink and it was so good that our table downed about four of them!
     Let's get to the food...I've heard nothing but great things about the kimchi carnita fries, not vegan but I wanted the guys to have a great impression of this joint (they were already impressed with the drinks...so) but so far, not difficult. The kimchi carnita fries (9,900w) are french fries served with shredded pork, salsa, cheese, sour cream, and lots of green~ the guys dug in and literally moaned when the forks hit mouths.

kimchi carnita fries (photo taken by VeganBeats)

      DO NOT FEAR fellow veg-heads, Vatos is SUPER vegan friendly. They have a new chef that has a lot of vegan experience back in the states and he whipped up a super spicy and delicious taco! Everything here is made to order and it's fresh, the quality of the food makes this very clear.

Vegan taco~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     The taco was loaded with heat, well cooked and sauteed veggies (onions, peppers, cabbage, etc) and served in a crunchy fresh corn tortilla. It was served alongside a cabbage slaw that I really can't get over. I'm a bit of purist when it comes to veggies, so having something presented so honestly really makes this Vermont girl smiley (yea yea, I know I'm a Mass woman too)! Back in VT, I ate fresh, always fresh, local, honest food, so when it comes to fresh, I'm a snob. I LOVE that Vatos makes everything to order, and that everything tastes like REAL food. I've had tortillas that just, yech...it tastes like chemicals, old flour, salt...just awful. Having a real tortilla is a treat (Vatos makes them!!), and having veggies that aren't weeping (in Korea)...Awesome!
     The crew I was with were raving, and more than happy with the service, ambiance, energy, food...and drinks! The lay out of the space is very true to Kenny's intentions (check out the NEH article I wrote about it a while back)~ it's urban, chill, and welcoming. Everyone's in a positive state of mind, the food is great, drinks delicious...we left with smiles, happy tummies and:
     "I'll be back here again...many times."
       


This is for sure~

For directions/hours check out their site or my other post
Vatos Facebook site

Lean P90X Workout

PHASE 1 - 1st month

Week 2

• Day 1 - Core Synergistics
• Day 2 - Cardio X
• Day 3 - Shoulders and Arms, Ab Ripper X
• Day 4 - Yoga X
• Day 5 - Legs and Back, Ab Ripper X
• Day 6 - Kenpo X
• Day 7 - Rest or X Stretch

Time is Nothing by Kien Lam

     I think I'm permanently bitten by the travel bug....

check out more at http://kienlam.net/around-the-world

Lindsey Stirling

New girl crush~

Her name is Lindsey Stirling, talented, adorable, and too cute!!

Check her out at http://www.lindseystirlingviolin.com/     

Slut Shaming

This girl is 13...and hits the points with a bullet~

French Horn Rebellion~

The people dancing on stage!!! That's my buddy Todde and myself!!!

Get Up Organization: Marriage Matters~ It's time

     Not only is this video touching (and loving), it's well done, and has a very important and strong message...

Check it out  <~ sign the petition

Craig Mitchell & Motor City

     My crew back home (VT) is undeniably talented. I've been blessed to be surrounded by artists of all sorts.
Check out and support Craig Mitchell & Motor City. My buddies are working on raising funds to make an EP happen~ Check them out and help them out!!

Kickstarter page
Facebook page


Brilliance must be supported!!

Hongdae taps~

     This past Monday while in 홍대 there are always a slew of creators trying to pitch something, practice, show their talents...
     I love seeing artists do their thing!~

And this guy was very skilled with his feet!

    creators inspire me to also get on it!!