Dear readers,
I'm truly sorry for this long overdue Korea Trip post, it should be posted before the new years but I was too tied up! So, here it is like FINALLY. & sorry for not keeping this blog alive as I only update when I'm away for a vacation or special occasions to boast about. Anyways, I hope my blog will keep you entertained. *wide smile*
DECEMBER 2014, indeed a good month to end 2014 with. Spent this year end holiday at Seoul, Korea with my lovely family for a 7 days 6 nights getaway. It was my first holiday spent in winter season & first time experiencing snow in my life!
I must say, by far this would be my most spontaneous getaway yet. Thank goodness I've a Korean friend that brought us around town and explored different areas.
P/S: Choi JW, thank you so much for your great hospitality during the whole trip. Much appreciated! xx
First thing first, let me introduce you to this Subway app that'll make your life way easier if you plan to travel by subway & without any guidance. It's called Subway Korea.
1. Type Subway Korea in App Store. You'll see a blue background with a subway logo, as below:
They have every lines of the subway & stations as well. You just have to click where you want to depart from and the place you want to arrive at. It'll calculate the approx. time to get there & how much the fare is. Yeap, as easy as a piece of cake!
You can purchase the subway card at any of the station and choose either single route or you can reload money into it before getting to another place. Also, there'll be 500W refund after returning the card to the deposit machine.
Day 1 - MYEONGDONG
Arrived at Hilton Seoul Millenium Hotel around 5.30pm odd. After settling down with check-ins and organized our stuffs into place, we had dinner at our hotel's buffet. Needless to mention, the dishes were delicious.
Then, we went to Myeongdong as it's nearby our hotel. We wanted to go Lotte Department Store but it was closed as it's already 8.45pm by then. The malls usually close around 8.30/9.30pm during weekdays if I'm not mistaken. We then head over to Lotte Young Plaza. Did a really quick shopping, got myself some earrings from Redeye & makeups from 3CE!
Later on, we stroll around myeongdong area & had another meal which idk to claimed as supper or not 'cause it was just 10pm Korea time. Haha. Anyways we had Korean's Shabu Shabu.
Seafood steamboat
Pork BBQ as well
We then end our day by getting kinda lost otw back to our hotel & bought some hot cups from 7ELEVEN to store in the room. Yeap, this trip's all bout bulkin'. :p Anyways, in the end we managed to find our way back by walking all the way back to the hotel. ( burn those calories! )
Here're the pics from DAY 1:
Snapped while otw to our hotel in the bus
Buildings
Night view from my room (Y)
Welcome treats : Box of chocs, banana & mandarin orange 👌
X'mas deco along the street // so pretty, x
Street foods along Myeongdong street
#2
Lotte Young Plaza // surrounded w/ X'mas deco
Lotte Department Store
Pretty lighting along Myeongdong street
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| No idea what this is but love the lighting! & there's a 27 (lucky num) haha, what a coincidence. |
Tried this famous ice-cream macaroon along the street, mashita! (delicious)
Green tea macaroon + Choc mint filling = mouthgasm
SNOWING! Yay yay yay!
First time experiencing snow, happy girl! The snow was quite heavy that I barely can open my eyes.
Taken in LYP, Line store! // cute teddy bear 🐻
That's all for Day 1!
DAY 2 -- MYEONGDONG > HONGDAE (Hongik Univ.)
Woke up around 9am, after getting ready we had bfast buffet at our hotel. Choi, my Korean friend met up w/ us at the hotel. So glad that I got to meet him after god knows how long! He's always been my fav Korean boy. Saranghae~ Haha.
We started our day by going to Lotte Department Store @ Myeong Dong. We first walked to Seoul station, 10 mins away from our hotel then we took the subway, 2 stations away from Seoul Station.
Look, how precise this app is. Love it!
Arrived at Lotte Department Store, basically it's similar to Pavilion, KL. All luxury brands can be found in the mall. First stop was MCM, of course. I'm pretty sure if you're a shopper you'd probably heard many tourist will hunt down few MCM bags in Korea as it's cheaper than their local store. So, daddykins bought me a small backpack as an early X'mas present (which I eyed for a long time)! Hehe, happy Tane!
Explored the mall & did some window shopping. Didn't see anything eye catching so we left the mall. We then took the subway to Hongdae, (Hongik Univ.) stop. About 11 stations from us & there's a line transfer from Blue Line [1] to Green Line [2].
Myeongdong to Hongik Univ
Arrived at Hong Dae, you'll see lots of students strolling around this area 'cause there are universities located at this area & this place was named after a well-known university in Korea ; Hongik Univ. Also, it's known as a fashionable street. Many shops can be found along the street, whether it's branded or not. Such as cosmetic shops, clothing shops and also many restaurants/cafe too.
We had lunch at an authentic Korean restaurant that serves the local dishes. We ordered tobbokki (spicy rice cake), bimbibap, spicy ramen, panjeon (pancake) & another style of ramen. All of it tasted as good!
Taken in the middle of Myeongdong street
After a delightful meal, we then blend into the crowds along the fashion street. Let's skip to the highlight of the day (not to everyone but me only, haha).
HELLO KITTY CAFÈ! Yeap yeap. My dream came true. After seeing so many pics of it from social medias, I finally get to visit it on my own! Another Hello Kitty Cafè crossed out my HK Cafè hunting list! Wheee. Anyways, this cafe is much bigger than the one in Taiwan and looks way more pretty too!
Day 2 shall ends here!
DAY 3 -- NAMSAN TOWER > GYEONGBOKONG PALACE > INSADONG
We head to the nearest bus station that transport us to Namsan Mountain which is just rigg opposite Lotte Mart. Coincidently, we were told that on this day it's the coldest day of the year & we're heading to the mountain! God knows how cold it would be. Thank goodness all of us survived throughout the whole journey to the N Seoul Tower, it was worth it. The view from it, was superb. There's a love lock place which is similar to the one in Paris!
Selfie while otw to Namsan Tower
#candidshot
brother ♥️
Snap countless of pictures as we arrived at Namsan Mountain! Love the scenery, it was too beautiful! Floors were covered with snow, can't believe I'm seeing it in person. Haha.
Choi JW ♥️
We had our lunch in one of the restaurant @ Namsan Tower. They served really good jajangmyeon which I'm craving for it already. I must say it was one of the best I've ever tried.
Jajangmyeon
FAMILY
After eating, we went up to N Seoul Tower, it somehow reminds me of Taipei 101. It has almost the same concept and nothing much to blast about as you know it's all about the city skyline of Seoul. We then went down to the love locks area as well. Everywhere is filled with locks, haha.
After N Seoul Tower, we head to the Gyeongbokong Palace by the bus provided. It was one of the oldest historical place. We went to the museum to explore. Unfortunately it was too cold to snap a pic of the palace and we didn't get to visit Hanok Village as well. The weather was measured as -12 but felt like -20, yeap it's that cold! Freezing all the way!
We then head to Insadong which is another area but nervy the palace's area. According to my Korean friend ; Choi, there are many nice foods can be found in Insadong, it very well suits the local's taste.
We had steam dumplings at a small restaurant that found in a small alley. Apparently, it was a famous dish in a Korea & the one we visited was the main branch in Seoul. As you settled down, countless of customers come & go. They serve not only dumplings but noodles as well but usually people come for their infamous steam dumplings.
After that, we then took the subway back to Myeongdong. By the time we arrive it was already quite late. So we head back to our hotel. While parents were resting, my bro & I went to Lotte Mart to grab some Korean snacks! Lotte Mart close at 12am, yeap just like Tesco. Lotte Mart is just 10 mins walk from our hotel. It's near Seoul Station.
DAY 4 -- GANGNAM-GU
On this day, we're visiting Gangnam area which is where my friend ; Choi lives. Gangnam is known as a high end area where you can find branded stores along the street. It somehow reminds me of Oxford street in London.
We had a Pork BBQ for a late lunch at one of the restaurant along the street. They serve different parts of Pork that you can think of.
After lunch, we head to a mall which reminds me of Pavillion. Oh snap, I forgot what's the name.. Silly me. Anyways, it was really huge. After strolling around the area, we then head to another area within Gangnam. We took the taxi to Coex Mall where all the locals do their shopping. My friend wanted us to experience the local's mall just like 1 Utama's. We also had our dinner at a Western restaurant that serves mouthwatering pastas. Apparently it was a famous western restaurant that the locals claimed. You gotta line up to get a table, yeap it's that good.
After that, we walked to the nearest Cafe Benè. I wanted to try the Bingsu originally from Korea but unfortunately it was winter season so they don't serve Bingsu. In return I tried their ice creams, it was really good! Didn't know they serve such good ice creams but wonder if it'll be the same as the one in KL.
It's getting late, we took the cab back to our hotel instead of taking the subway. All of us too exhausted to walk to the stations. Haha.
DAY 5 -- HONGDAE > MYEONGDONG
Took the same subway routine to Hongik Univ. station. We had our lunch at a Japanese restaurant that serves ramen, thought of trying something different. It was pretty delicious. After lunch, we walk around hongdae and to grab some stuffs since it's our 2nd last day in Korea. They have a 2 storeys New Balance shop in HongDae. & I got myself a pair of 576's model.
We also tried the Karaoke there. My friend Choi brought us there just for experience & my family enjoys music really much. Haha. It's a budget karaoke but they have many songs to be selected! As a comparison to Malaysia's, I must say Korea's budget karaoke is much better & way cheaper. Although it's a budget karaoke but the sound system is better than our local's Loudspeaker. Not only that, they actually count per hour instead of head. If I'm not mistaken, it was around RM15 per hour and bring as many ppl.
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| Taken at karaoke place |
After that, we head back to MyeongDong around evening. I still love the shopping street at Myeongdong. They have everything you need there. We went to few beauty shops to get more masks and some beauty products. You can't deny the fact that it's really much cheaper compare to local (Malaysia) stores.
As for dinner, I had it with my Korean friend at K Express. I must say, by far the best ttobokki I've ever had! The gravy and everything blends so well! Anyways, after dinner we then head to HongDae for a HipHop concert by teenagers who just started off their debut of rap. It was pretty interesting although I don't understand what are they rapping about. Haha. But it was a good experience & it's an honor to experience it!
It was an exhausting day but had lots of fun!!
DAY 6 -- NAMDAEMUN
Guess who I get to meet up with?! My fav Korean girlfriend ; Jung Ho! It's been a long time since we last met & was really glad to meet her in Korea with Choi. It was our last day in Korea.. I wish we could extend our stay but unfortunately no. Sad. Anyways, we spent our last day around our neighborhood ; Namdaemun. It's famous for the market that sells household items, beauty products, fashion jewelry and many more. It's similar to our local's pasar malam but the only difference is they open the whole day.
Bro was suppose to take a good shot of me but ended up they took a selfie. -.- Haha.
Choi, Me, Jung Ho!
As for lunch, we had it at one of the restaurant located in the back alley of the market. I've no idea what's the restaurant called or what kind of Korean food we are having. But I know we had steam fish, steam egg, fried fish and kimchi soup. They were all delicious!
Missing out the steam fish. Took it in the midst of eating already, haha.
After lunch, we stroll around Namdaemun area. We then head over to this huge door which I forgot the historical name of it. Oh snap. Anyways, I took a pictures of it.
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| love how red-ish my hair looks right here! |
Later then, we went back to the hotel and pack a little as our flight will be in the morning around 8.30am flight which means we gotta wake up latest by 5am since it's an international flight. As for dinner, Choi's father fetched us from the hotel and we depart to a government embassy area to have a dinner. The locals will usually know about this area rather than tourists, just like Kota Damansara in Malaysia, it's similar. Anyways, what we had for dinner is rather tradisional. They serve few types of BBQ, ther squid and chicken is the recommended ones. By far, this would be the most spicy meal I've encountered in this trip but it was really scrumptious, it will then transform to a dish. Haha. It's like spicy BBQ fried rice, I don't think you can find this dish anywhere in Malaysia or even in Korea.
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| Spicy BBQ Chicken |
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| when rice added with the left overs |
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| tadaaaaa! Spicy BBQ fried rice. After dinner, we then head to a cafe located near our hotel. This cafe serves really good coffee and ice cream. All of the decorations in the cafe are handmade by the owner's sister and herself, it's really pretty. It gives you the warm and cozy feeling. |
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| just a random shot of this tea leaves holder // it's pretty cute! |
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| part of the decorations |
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| the lady boss |
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| part of the interior |
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| acting cool shot with the dongsaeng ; Choi, haha |
We ended our last day of Korea trip in a memorable way and I'm satisfied with this trip's itinerary as we had covered most of the areas in Seoul. A big thanks to my dongsaeng ; my fav CHOI. Without him, we would have language barrier in this trip and we won't be able to know as much history of Korea's. But most importantly is the restaurants that he brought us to were top notch, double thumbs up!!
So, this is the story of my life in Korea. I'll definitely come back again and it will be a longer trip than before. I'd highly recommend families and friends to pay a visit to Seoul for any upcoming holidays, it's definitely worth it! With the help of the Subway App I've introduced above, you will never get lost!
I hope y'll enjoyed this long-ass post. Hehe.
Thanks for reading, much appreciated! xx
Loves,
TANE
