Saturday 30 November 2013

Seoul - Day Three



Seoul - Day Three!

Today's itinerary is #Garuso-gil and #Dongdaemun. In case you are wondering why we are so relaxed and only cover so little places within a day, we have decided that this is going to be one of those relaxing trips. No time pressure to sightsee places. I don't mind as I've been here before and I prefer to shop anyway. 

So first stop. Garusogil. This was Ed's choice. I've never been here before. It's just a street with cafes and nice local brand shops. Of course the make up stores are still everywhere. If you like Korean make up like Etude House, Face Shop, Innisfree, Nature Republic amongst many others, you will love it here. They are everywhere! Especially Myeongdong, every street you turn into you will see a repetition. Prices are definitely cheaper than Singapore. I feel less guilty grabbing more new stuff to try, at least they are cheaper than back at home. 





We had lunch at #Bibigo. I've tried this restaurant once in NEX. It was more expensive than I thought it would be and taste is just alright. But.. The bibigo here is ermahgerd.. So yummylicious! Maybe we ordered the right dish, I don't know. Portions are very generous and reasonably priced compared to the Singapore outlet. Am definitely coming back here for another round in April and mom wanted to visit Garusogil anyway. Ed and I got this grey long jacket. Surprisingly very warm. You will see it in the pictures to come. It's flattering, not so thick and warm enough for winter weather. #love.  


We had dinner at one of the road side stall. Ordered kimchi pancake and some gyoza. Very oily. Taste is nothing fantastic. Ordered the rice wine. Most of the server in the restaurants or cafes are chinese speaking. So it makes it easier for us to order and ask for stuff. Ok so the rice wine we tried is the sparkling kind and I don't really like it. I've tried the non sparkling kind in Singapore and it's good! Most Korean supermarkets sell them. If you need to try, please ask for non sparkling. 


Stopped by Dongdaemun for shopping. We bought beanies. Have never been a head accessories person before but I think being in a winter place and somehow that makes my hair look better and my skin feels smoother with no breakouts and I automatically think I look not too bad in a beanie. Hahah. Anyway, the material is soft and comfy. We bought it from Doota - that's the building at the back. Lots of local designers. Korean clothes are really of better quality and better cut. It fits chubbier girls better I feel. Comparing it to clothes from Taiwan, Bangkok and the China made ones, these are definitely value for money. Not cheap but it is a good investment. Maybe as I get older my mindset changes too. I used to get so excited when I find nice cheap clothes. I don't really look at the quality. I realised that for most of those, I will only wear them once or twice and I don't like it anymore. Now I would rather get something more expensive but I would still want to wear over and over again and still looks good.  



We saw this group of boyband offering free hugs nearby Doota. Ed kept telling me to go over for a picture so I did. I picked the best looking one. Hahah. They are trying to promote their group. I think they have yet to debut. Maybe they are the next kpop hottie. 


Oh, hello!



Friday 29 November 2013

Seoul - Day Two





Seoul - Day two!

Had brunch at Paris Baguette next to the hotel. #soyummy! The cafe is so cosy. It's very small with 2 levels (even so) and it gives out this exclusive private cafe feel. After that we headed to #Namsan Tower. Just walked over opposite the hotel and up the hill and the cable car station is around 15-20mins walk away. We went around mid day timing and the cable car queue was not that long. We spent some time outside the waiting area taking pictures waiting for the cable car to arrive. 





The cable car ride took around 5 minutes and we are up on our way to see the tower. There are many steps and it's quite a lengthy walk there so girls please dont wear your heels or platforms unless they are comfortable. Wasn't that crowded when we went. There were some booths nearer to the central area where you can put on Korean traditional costumes for both man and women. I think it's free of charge but there were quite a queue so we went ahead taking pictures in other area thinking we could go back again but guess what, the booths were gone by the time we went back. If you want to catch this opportunity, better go early, before lunch is best I would say. There are a couple restaurants there too if you are feeling peckish. 

There is a Teddy Bear Museum up there but we didn't go in. I've been in there once and I think that's enough. Not sure if they change the display but Ed wasn't interested so we skipped that all together. We spent some time in the teddy shop where he bought few nice notebooks for souvenirs. There is another TB Museum in Jeju I think. I will definitely pop in if I'm ever there. 





So what'as up there in Namsam? There is this whole area that is filled with locks. I think that's the main interest for me when I go there. It's so colourful! Couples will buy locks and bring them up there, write messages on the locks, lock them together and throw away the key. Funny thing is, there are now handphone casings instead of locks. People are getting creative and it's so fun to look at! If you wanna participate, you can buy nice locks from the shop downstairs. I think it even comes with a marker. Kind of an all-in-one package for your convenience. There were a few Christmas trees downstairs and those are also bombarded with locks! I think they are for Christmas. Don't remember seeing these trees when I went last time. I've seen pictures of them covered with snow, so beautiful! It's great to plan your visit there when it's snowing. Everything looks good with snow, no? 


After Namsam we came back down the same way and there is this cafe by the road side near to one of the MRT exits. Cafe name is A Twosome Place. There is free wifi available. #bingo! We had soy and matcha latte and a blueberry sponge cake. Food was alright. But presentation was beautiful! #instagrammoment :) I think that's all we did that day. We spent the rest of the day in Myeongdong and Dongdaemun walking around. Wore the same as yesterday, with the addition of my scarf, thicker lined sweater and changed to thermal jeans. Felt alright - not that cold.  





Seoul - Day One


Day one in Seoul! 

So initially we wanted to go to either Bali or Shanghai but I really wanted to go to somewhere cold. Not sure what is happening to me. I never used to look forward to visiting cold places but this time round, that is where I want to go. 

It was end November. Winter and loving it. Too bad it didn't snow. It did a week later after we came back. #darnit  

I love Seoul! I've been there a few times and it's so convenient there. You just have to take the airport bus to your hotel - of course, make sure your hotel is one of the stops or nearby. One tip when you #travel in winter, make sure this is the case. You wouldn't want to luge your luggage in the middle of winter with the cold air blowing into your face and be clueless looking into the map in the middle of the road. That's one scenario I try hard not to be in if I can help it. 

We took SQ, there was a promo then but the timing we wanted was not in the promo price range. Airport bus operates till 8pm if I'm not mistaken so better check before you go. I will be going again in April and this time I will be arriving around midnight timing. Need to research on how to reach the hotel. Hopefully taking taxi is fine. I've taken taxis within Seoul but not to and from the Airport. 

If you've never been to #Seoul before, I would suggest you stay at Myeongdong. Highlight is the stalls on display on the roads. I love night market settings! Some shops open till late. We walked till 11pm and some of the shops were till open. Most of the small stalls are already closed by then. Food wise most of them were still open too I guess but we eat our dinner at a proper timing and we snacked after dinner from the small stalls so by the time we need to go back to the hotel we weren't hungry. 






First day we just went to Myeongdong. We arrived when it's dinner time - flight took almost 6hours - oh how i dread long flights but being on SQ makes it better.  Had this big wok cheesy chicken fried rice. Anything with cheese, I'm sold! Pricing wise I forgot how much it cost but it's reasonable. The staff will stir fry the rice for you. The water, cabbage, radish and soup you see are free of charge, you have to get them yourself from the counter. 









After that we just walked around #Myeongdong. Had some street food - twister potato my absolute fave! Compared to the ones in Singapore, these are fleshier and though the seasoning looks little, it's just the right quantity. I usually would ask for more but decided adopt a healthier mindset and just keep quiet. Luckily I did not or it would have been too salty! All that sodium and cellulite - #eeks. You have to know which stall to get the potato from because there is this other stall that sells the thinly sliced version too! #bignono. The better stall is somewhere near the main road, to the side and not the one in the middle of the myeongdong area. 



Some shops were still open by then, the market stalls will start setting up once the sun sets and will close probably around 10pm. So if you don't stay around the area and want to look at the stuff they are selling, it's better to visit within that timing. 

So for that weather, I think I wore my thermal, long sleeve top, and my trusty North Face jacket (which has another layer in it). It was cold but I think it was also because we were still adjusting to the weather and also because of the wind. For #winter places I’ve noticed it always feels cold mainly because of the wind. It’s very bearable without the gushing wind.