Wednesday, July 20, 2011 ;
I shall update about my most recent oversea trip, a 10 days trip to korea~!! =D
Day 1, 9th July, Saturday:
- Touch down at airport at around 11pm korean time (It's 1 hour faster than SG)
- Took pictures, brochures, then off to take taxi to the traditional house. Korean traditional house is called Hanok(한옥), and I booked a room online with Yoo's family (Website: http://www.yoosfamily.com/eng/sub08/a1.html)
- Taxi driver had a hard time locating the house, plus it was already midnight when we arrived at the destination, and typical korean man, he refuse to ask for help or call the house for direction. Instead he left us, the 3 girls in the taxi while he walk around finding the place, and it took him like 15-20 minutes =_= with the fare on the metre still jumping -_-; And finally he gave up, and call the owner of the hanok to ask for directions.. Turns out that we were just actually 1 door away from the Hanok!! (speechless...) And the taxi fare was over 100,000 dollars.. and the kind owner of the Hanok help us bargain, and the driver return us 10,000.. Not that much of a difference, but better than nothing.. Upon reaching our room (Room of youth), we put down our luggages, took picture of the room, and wash up.. And then realize.... we're hungry.. Haha! Decided to walk to the 24hr mart to grab some supper, instant noodles and drinks~~ Back to the Hanok, cooked, eat, then finally sleep~ (*ps. the WIFI at the hanok is fast!! But the laptop provided in the room is like snail...慢到一个不行)
Day 2, 10th July, Sunday.
Cloudy in the morning to noon, started raining at evening:
Woke up at around 9 i think? (didn't take note of the time) And went to take a shower.. There is 3 bathrooms and their guest are already out, so we each took one bathroom and showered =D After that, we had to go to the main guest house to pay for the stay, so after asking for the direction, we set out.... only to get lost T^T In the end, no choice I called the staff for help, and a lady from france who works there came to bring us to the main house.. And pabo us, it's just another cross junction away but we didn't think it was that far, so didn't go that way..
After paying the rental, all of us were hungry, so we look around for places to eat. There are small korean restaurants that do not have any single english wording and the ajumma and ajeossi there probably don't speak english either.. So we gave up and walk further down, and saw a cafe called Nescafe. We decided to had that for our lunch. Price is not very cheap, $5 and above for all drinks and sandwiches (Something like starbucks) After lunch, we visited the nearest palace, Changdeokgung Palace.. Grand place indeed, took lots of pictures and walk around, but didn't know the meaning of individual infrastructure as we didn't have any guides with us. After that, we waited for the English Tour group for visiting the Secret Garden (a BIG BIG place IN the palace, which in their time, no one is allowed to go there except for the royal family) A lot of walking, climbing, etc, but it was an eye opener to see what kind of lifestyle the king used to live. After the tour ended, we head back to the Hanok (Which is like 5 mins away), rest for a while, and proceed to Apgujeong(압구정), the place famous for the multiple plastic surgery clinics and of course fashion and shopping district in the Gangnam district. It is also said to be a place where artist/idols will probably be spotted as there is their agency near that area too. One example is the SM entertainment building. I wanted to take a look, but because it was raining, and also because it's quite far (Plus my friends are not interested), I gave up the idea. We were supposed to find the Seven Monkeys Coffee (It's popular because of the cups they have on display that is signed by various artist i think?) After walking around for like 40-55 minutes under the rain then we finally found the cafe. =_= Saw a cup signed by Eunhyuk, and other artists~ After having Dinner (Sandwiches again), we head to apgujeong rodeo street, for Everysing and Cofioca bubble tea. Cofioca is located at the left turn from Everysing, about 2 shops away.
Try their Taro milk tea! It's very nice! (KRW 5500 if i remember correctly) After that, went to Innisfree to get some facial products. Highly recommend this store than those at myeongdong, because at that time, the sales staff give us 10% discount plus lots of free gifts (Whereas when I buy at myeongdong, the staff say because got discount, so no free gifts =_=) Back to the Hanok after that, and wanted to eat the street food, but those are mainly seafood, and my friends don't fancy seafood, so we ended up eating instant noodles again =/
Day 3, 11th July, Monday, rainy:
Work up later today, at about 10 plus.
Packed our luggages, then head over to the main house for our tea ceremony and Hanbok (Korean traditional clothing) experience. Cost KRW 20,000 but as we are the guest at the Hanok, so we got 20% discount. The hanbok is really pretty, and the lady boss let us take pictures freely around on our own for like 30 minutes. It was really fun ^^
After that, we headed to Myeongdong at around 1.30pm to check in our hotel. Korean subway don't have much escalators and lifts unlike Singapore. So there are many stairs to take. And it wasn't good with out luggages with us. Luckily the hotel is a stone throw away from the exit, and luckily because i research about going to SPAO before hand, we found our hotel without any hassle. Our hotel is located just right beside SPAO =) It's call Skypark Hotel, in a building that has 10 stories. Level 1-3 is SPAO, 4th level is Everysing, 5th and 6th is a restaurant and a live bar, 7th to 10th is the hotel, and the lobby is at the top floor. After checking in, we went to put our luggages in the room before going down to find money changer. And My advise is, change your money in Singapore, the rates there is VERY low. We changes $300 each at SG, with the rate of 862 that we think is low. Korea rate is 850-855 only, which is worst. Now that I know, I'll never change money there again. And also, bank rates is even lower. I withdraw some amount, and the rates after conversion is 846. In conclusion, prepare more money and change them at SG before going.
We walked around myeongdong, helped my boss to buy her facial products and some for myself, then walk around more. Myeongdong is a very lively place, cosmetics shops are around every corner. Etude house, Tony Moly, The face shop, innisfree, Holika Holika, Hanskin, Nature republic, etc etc etc. Turn one corner and you'll see at least 2-4 of such shops at every lane (alley excluded of course) And the price here compared to SG is like heaven and earth. Imagine the peach hand cream from Tony Moly is only KRW 4900 each, and buy a pack of 4 is even cheaper. And there is like many face masks and samples given with every purchase, even if you just buy 1 item. Eye mask from Tony Moly is recommended! it's KRW 2000 per pc, not very cheap as compared to other brand (Etude house's is KRW 1500 per pc, quite good to use too) I've also tried the foot mask from Tony Moly (KRW 8500), effect is not immediate, but at the 3rd-4th day after, my dead skin really starts to peel off, and rubbing softly helps to remove them too. I was rather fascinated by it, the skin after the peeling off is softer~~ But it looks hideous when it's at the peeling stage, with dead skin falling off in big patches. After the shopping trip (Which my friends got a whole big bag of Laneige products (KRW 25000 for a bottle of sleeping pack, and a set of 4 at KRW100000, with 4 small travel pack, and 6 travel size toner, and 6 travel size moisturizer, a free bag, and of course, not forgetting other free gifts) Nice grab! After the shopping, it was rather late, so we went to get the street food (fried chicken, ddeokbokki떡볶이-Korean spicy rice cake, sausages, kimbap김밥-a sushi like roll with veggies) it's not very cheap, at KRW3000 per item (SGD3.50 each! Imagine 1 sausage at this price) But it was very tasty thou =)
- To be continue =) -
Day 1, 9th July, Saturday:
- Touch down at airport at around 11pm korean time (It's 1 hour faster than SG)
- Took pictures, brochures, then off to take taxi to the traditional house. Korean traditional house is called Hanok(한옥), and I booked a room online with Yoo's family (Website: http://www.yoosfamily.com/eng/sub08/a1.html)
- Taxi driver had a hard time locating the house, plus it was already midnight when we arrived at the destination, and typical korean man, he refuse to ask for help or call the house for direction. Instead he left us, the 3 girls in the taxi while he walk around finding the place, and it took him like 15-20 minutes =_= with the fare on the metre still jumping -_-; And finally he gave up, and call the owner of the hanok to ask for directions.. Turns out that we were just actually 1 door away from the Hanok!! (speechless...) And the taxi fare was over 100,000 dollars.. and the kind owner of the Hanok help us bargain, and the driver return us 10,000.. Not that much of a difference, but better than nothing.. Upon reaching our room (Room of youth), we put down our luggages, took picture of the room, and wash up.. And then realize.... we're hungry.. Haha! Decided to walk to the 24hr mart to grab some supper, instant noodles and drinks~~ Back to the Hanok, cooked, eat, then finally sleep~ (*ps. the WIFI at the hanok is fast!! But the laptop provided in the room is like snail...慢到一个不行)
Day 2, 10th July, Sunday.
Cloudy in the morning to noon, started raining at evening:
Woke up at around 9 i think? (didn't take note of the time) And went to take a shower.. There is 3 bathrooms and their guest are already out, so we each took one bathroom and showered =D After that, we had to go to the main guest house to pay for the stay, so after asking for the direction, we set out.... only to get lost T^T In the end, no choice I called the staff for help, and a lady from france who works there came to bring us to the main house.. And pabo us, it's just another cross junction away but we didn't think it was that far, so didn't go that way..
After paying the rental, all of us were hungry, so we look around for places to eat. There are small korean restaurants that do not have any single english wording and the ajumma and ajeossi there probably don't speak english either.. So we gave up and walk further down, and saw a cafe called Nescafe. We decided to had that for our lunch. Price is not very cheap, $5 and above for all drinks and sandwiches (Something like starbucks) After lunch, we visited the nearest palace, Changdeokgung Palace.. Grand place indeed, took lots of pictures and walk around, but didn't know the meaning of individual infrastructure as we didn't have any guides with us. After that, we waited for the English Tour group for visiting the Secret Garden (a BIG BIG place IN the palace, which in their time, no one is allowed to go there except for the royal family) A lot of walking, climbing, etc, but it was an eye opener to see what kind of lifestyle the king used to live. After the tour ended, we head back to the Hanok (Which is like 5 mins away), rest for a while, and proceed to Apgujeong(압구정), the place famous for the multiple plastic surgery clinics and of course fashion and shopping district in the Gangnam district. It is also said to be a place where artist/idols will probably be spotted as there is their agency near that area too. One example is the SM entertainment building. I wanted to take a look, but because it was raining, and also because it's quite far (Plus my friends are not interested), I gave up the idea. We were supposed to find the Seven Monkeys Coffee (It's popular because of the cups they have on display that is signed by various artist i think?) After walking around for like 40-55 minutes under the rain then we finally found the cafe. =_= Saw a cup signed by Eunhyuk, and other artists~ After having Dinner (Sandwiches again), we head to apgujeong rodeo street, for Everysing and Cofioca bubble tea. Cofioca is located at the left turn from Everysing, about 2 shops away.
Try their Taro milk tea! It's very nice! (KRW 5500 if i remember correctly) After that, went to Innisfree to get some facial products. Highly recommend this store than those at myeongdong, because at that time, the sales staff give us 10% discount plus lots of free gifts (Whereas when I buy at myeongdong, the staff say because got discount, so no free gifts =_=) Back to the Hanok after that, and wanted to eat the street food, but those are mainly seafood, and my friends don't fancy seafood, so we ended up eating instant noodles again =/
Day 3, 11th July, Monday, rainy:
Work up later today, at about 10 plus.
Packed our luggages, then head over to the main house for our tea ceremony and Hanbok (Korean traditional clothing) experience. Cost KRW 20,000 but as we are the guest at the Hanok, so we got 20% discount. The hanbok is really pretty, and the lady boss let us take pictures freely around on our own for like 30 minutes. It was really fun ^^
After that, we headed to Myeongdong at around 1.30pm to check in our hotel. Korean subway don't have much escalators and lifts unlike Singapore. So there are many stairs to take. And it wasn't good with out luggages with us. Luckily the hotel is a stone throw away from the exit, and luckily because i research about going to SPAO before hand, we found our hotel without any hassle. Our hotel is located just right beside SPAO =) It's call Skypark Hotel, in a building that has 10 stories. Level 1-3 is SPAO, 4th level is Everysing, 5th and 6th is a restaurant and a live bar, 7th to 10th is the hotel, and the lobby is at the top floor. After checking in, we went to put our luggages in the room before going down to find money changer. And My advise is, change your money in Singapore, the rates there is VERY low. We changes $300 each at SG, with the rate of 862 that we think is low. Korea rate is 850-855 only, which is worst. Now that I know, I'll never change money there again. And also, bank rates is even lower. I withdraw some amount, and the rates after conversion is 846. In conclusion, prepare more money and change them at SG before going.
We walked around myeongdong, helped my boss to buy her facial products and some for myself, then walk around more. Myeongdong is a very lively place, cosmetics shops are around every corner. Etude house, Tony Moly, The face shop, innisfree, Holika Holika, Hanskin, Nature republic, etc etc etc. Turn one corner and you'll see at least 2-4 of such shops at every lane (alley excluded of course) And the price here compared to SG is like heaven and earth. Imagine the peach hand cream from Tony Moly is only KRW 4900 each, and buy a pack of 4 is even cheaper. And there is like many face masks and samples given with every purchase, even if you just buy 1 item. Eye mask from Tony Moly is recommended! it's KRW 2000 per pc, not very cheap as compared to other brand (Etude house's is KRW 1500 per pc, quite good to use too) I've also tried the foot mask from Tony Moly (KRW 8500), effect is not immediate, but at the 3rd-4th day after, my dead skin really starts to peel off, and rubbing softly helps to remove them too. I was rather fascinated by it, the skin after the peeling off is softer~~ But it looks hideous when it's at the peeling stage, with dead skin falling off in big patches. After the shopping trip (Which my friends got a whole big bag of Laneige products (KRW 25000 for a bottle of sleeping pack, and a set of 4 at KRW100000, with 4 small travel pack, and 6 travel size toner, and 6 travel size moisturizer, a free bag, and of course, not forgetting other free gifts) Nice grab! After the shopping, it was rather late, so we went to get the street food (fried chicken, ddeokbokki떡볶이-Korean spicy rice cake, sausages, kimbap김밥-a sushi like roll with veggies) it's not very cheap, at KRW3000 per item (SGD3.50 each! Imagine 1 sausage at this price) But it was very tasty thou =)
- To be continue =) -
``With Love ; Jaime-sama *
..:: left at 10:37 AM .
