Love Locks in N Seoul Tower

My visit: January 1, 2012

Day 10 (5th day DIY Seoul Tour)

Love Padlocks (Love Locks)

N Seoul Tower

Korea

Our flight back to Manila leaves at 8:00 in the evening, we have plenty of time in the morning so we hie off to N Seoul Tower where Love Locks is located. 

brought our own lock and key; N Seoul Tower as background

 Love Padlocks are a custom by which padlocks are affixed to a fence, gate, bridge or similar public fixture by sweethearts to symbolize their everlasting love- Wikipedia

We brought the oldest lock & key we could possibly find in our house and a pen to write down our names and the date of our visit.

Want to know how to get there? Read after the break...

Charlie Brown Cafe Korea

My visit: December 31, 2011

Day 9 (4th day DIY Seoul Tour)

Charlie Brown Cafe Korea
Hongik University,
Hongdae, Korea
02-26520106

You would think that after eating several cakes at Hello Kitty Cafe, we would proceed to Myeongdong to have our money exchanged, right? No, instead we went looking for another famous cafe in Hongdae- Charlie Brown Cafe ; p

I <3 you, Charlie Brown!

You would not miss this cafe because it has several character standees (I don't know the right term, heeelp!) outside like in the photo above. Cute, huh?

These characters are almost the same height as me ; p

Hello Kitty Cafe Seoul Korea

My visit: December 31, 2011

Day 9 (4th day DIY Seoul Tour)

Hello Kitty Cafe Coffee & Dessert
Hongik University
Hongdae, Seoul,
Korea
02-3346570

Remember my post about Hongdae where we don't have enough cash for that one day? Before leaving for Myeongdong to exchange more WON, Korea's currency, we see to it that we first visit Hongdae's cafes. It was a good thing that we brought our credit cards, we were able to seat and relax at two of the most famous cafe in the university- Hello Kitty Cafe and Charlie Brown Cafe.

Happy New Year written on Cafe Latte W3, 800 (PhP152) ; p

It was hard to look for the area where the cafe is located, it didn't help when we asked the woman in the Information Center for directions because she can barely speak english. We did not bother to ask the people around us, we decided it would be better to explore the area by ourselves.

Korea Chronicle: Myeongdong

My visit: December 30, 2011

Day 8 (3rd day DIY Seoul Tour)

Myeongdong
Seoul, Korea

A few days before, I was disappointed when we visited Dongdaemun with our tour group as part of our itinerary. It is much like an open air market place. The place is huge, there is one area that sold meat, an alley that sold cameras and another that sold dry goods. During winter, you can't possibly stay outdoors long enough without getting chills. Needless to say, during our DIY tour, we never went back ; p We choose to visit Myeongdong instead.

at Myeongdong eating chestnuts

Myeongdong is big too. Sure, some wares are also peddled on the streets but at least here, you can go inside a department store or in my case beauty stores whenever I felt shivers because of the cold.

Korea Chronicle: Lotte World Korea

My visit: December 29, 2011

Day 7 (2nd day DIY Seoul Tour)

Lotte World
40-1, Songpa- Ku Chamshil- dong,
Seoul, Korea
02- 4112000

Weekday: 9:30am to 7:30pm
Weekend: 9:30am to 8:30pm

We were already in Lotte World around 11:30am but decided to wait until it was 4pm before buying a ticket. The After4 Special Pass entrance fee is cheaper- W23, 000 (PhP 920) per person ; p

There were ticket booths/ticket vending machines located on all 4 levels. It was not even weekend- it's Thursday but the line was really long when we got there. We saw a lot of tourists flocked near the entrance and also visitors in their teens plus families with kids in tow. We assumed that the waiting time for rides is going to be longer in the morning than in the afternoon.

welcome to Lotte World

While waiting, we had lunch at Lotteria. It's like Korea's version of McDonald's. We spent like W5, 900 (PhP236) for lunch- a meal consisting of a burger, fries & drink. We shared 1 order ; p Pa sweet effect! The rest of the afternoon was spent shopping looking around  Lotte Department Store and Shopping Mall for cheap finds.

How to eat Sangchu-ssam

When in Korea, learn how to eat the Korean way. On our first day, our tour guide, Mike taught us how to eat Sangchu-ssam.

DH holding sangchu-ssam

Cooked rice and other food wrapped in Korean lettuce is called Sangchu- ssam- Wikipedia

sangchu- lettuce

ssam means wrap

We ate at Korean Restaurant- what a creative name, huh?- when we went to check out in advance our ride for our trip back to the airport using KORAIL Seoul Station.

Korea Chronicle: Ramada Seoul

My visit: December 28, 2011 to January 1, 2012

Ramada Seoul

112-5 Samseong-dong

Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea

02-62022000

Located an hour's drive from Incheon airport, Ramada Seoul is 40 minutes away from Kimpo Airport and 20 minutes from down town by car. Approximately, 10 minutes walk from Seolleung Station Subway Line 7. 

Executive Room for $195

We were not as lucky as with our other trips abroad, most of the rooms we got have either twin or double bed. I am very picky with the size of bed I sleep in because I can hardly sleep without anyone by my side. We I have been bugging our tour guide to check and double check the bed that we will be having on our four nights stay in Ramada Seoul. Up until our check in date, my efforts remained futile. The hotel cannot accommodate our request so instead of giving us a Superior Room, we were upgraded to an Executive Room with twin beds... waaaaaah!

Korea Chronicle: Fashionista in Starbucks

My visit: December 28, 2011

Day 6 (1st day DIY Seoul Tour)

Fashionista? Ako yun ; p lol 

The hotel that we stayed in Seoul did not include breakfast in the package. It was a good thing that Seoul have a lot of coffee shops around. But we opted to enter a familiar coffee shop- Starbucks.

me and my signature hot chocolate W4, 800 (PhP192)

It was too late when I saw a menu with calorie count near the cashier. I already ordered a hot chocolate which has around 478 kcal, if I remembered it right. I should have just ordered Starbucks' Coffee Frappuccino which has less than 200 kcal... waaaaaah!

We also ordered Cranberry Chicken sandwich (not in the photo) for W3, 900 (PhP156).

Korea Chronicle: Kimchi School

My visit: December 27, 2011

Day 5 (afternoon)

Kimchi School

Seoul, Korea

02-3089688

After visiting Changdeok Palace in the morning, we went to KimChi School where according to our tour guide, we will make our very own kimchi. 

infront of KimChi School

Kimchi also spelled gimchi, kimchee or kim chee is a traditional fermented Korean dish made of vegetable and varied seasonings.

Korea Chronicle: Changdeokgung Palace

My visit: December 2, 2011

Day 5 (morning)

Changdeok Palace

99 Yulgong- no,

Jongno-gu, Seoul

Korea

02-7629513

Schedule:

April- October 9am- 6:30pm

December-February 9am-5pm

November & March 9am- 5:30pm

Closed on Mondays

The Palace Admission:

Adults W3, 000

Children W1, 500

The Secret Garden Admission:

Adults W5, 000

Children W2, 500

No smoking and No pets allowed within the palace grounds.

Changdeok Palace literally means "Palace of Prospering Virtue". It is referred to as the East Palace because it is located at the east of Gyeongbok Palace.

  It was the secondary palace of Gyeongbokgung, the main palace. All 5 palaces were destroyed by fire during Japanese invasion in 1592. It was restored in 1610 and served as the main palace when for about 270 years until Gyeongbokgung was finally reconstructed in 1868.- taken from back of the ticket

 Injeongjeon (Main Hall)

Changdeokgung is one of the 5 Grand Palaces in Seoul built by Joseon Dynasty. The other four are Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung, Gyeongbokgung and Gyeonghuigung.

In 1997, Changdeokgung was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List as an "outstanding example of Far Eastern palace architecture and garden design- Wikipedia

The Riverside Hotel Korea

My visit: December 27, 2011

The Riverside Hotel

6-1, Jamwon-dong, 

Seocho-gu, Apgujeong/ Cheongdam,

Seoul, Korea

Looks can be deceiving! The Riverside Hotel seems impressive at first because it is a boutique hotel. This is my least favorite hotel. Thank goodness we only stayed here for two nights. Read after the break to find out why I am pissed off...

twin bed ; (

On our fourth night, we still didn't get the bed that we requested for. I would later find out that king size bed is hard to come by in Korea ; (

Our twin beds were neatly tucked. The room is quite small but so are the rest of the hotel rooms that we have stayed in. I like the headboard. It gives the room an added class ; p

Cookin' Nanta Since 1997

My visit: December 26, 2011

Day 4

Nanta

Nanta- Hong Dae

Yellow Stone Bldg.,

B2 & B3, 357-5

Seokyo- Dong, Mapo- Gu

Seoul, Korea

02- 7398288

064- 7238878 (Jeju Nanta Theater)

Schedule:

Everyday including Holidays

2pm (Myeongdong only), 5pm, 8pm 

After Everland, we travelled to Hong Dae to catch the 5pm Cookin' Nanta show. It is a non verbal performance presented through rhythm and beats using everyday tools found in the kitchen like knives, pots and pans. Audience participation is highly appreciated. 

Cookin' Nanta non verbal performance

People, young and old, can relate to the story line no wonder it is visited by tourists all over the world. I am now part of the 7, 000, 000 people around the world who has seen this show since its first performance in October 10, 1997.

Miss Tangerine Sweet Shower Lips by Etude House

I hoarded a lot of makeup from Etude House while in Korea. One of the products that caught my attention was the Miss Tangerine Sweet Shower Lips #4 Miss Tangerine Tangerine from the Tangerine line... whew!

Miss Tangerine Sweet Shower Lips in Miss Tangerine Tangerine W8500 (PhP340)

I got the true tangerine color, the rest of the colors are called Shiny Pinkshower, Sweetberry Blossom, Miss Sunny Tangerine and Sweet Peach Shower. 

Etude House's Miss Tangerine Sweet Shower Lips

Glossy, moist lipstick in fabulous shades for juicy, tangy lips

Korea Chronicle: Everland Winter Wonderland

My visit: December 26, 2011

Day 4

Everland Resort

Korea

031-320-5000

After nature tripping, skiing & apple wine making, we went to Korea's biggest playground, Everland Resort. I am so excited even if I despised thrill rides! I am like a kid in wonderland!

Welcome to Everland!

Our tour guide did not follow the sequence written in our itinerary. Instead of going to Everland on the fifth day, we went on the fourth day. We didn't mind as long as we visit every place written in our itinerary ; p

Color My Brows #2 Light Brown by Etude House

My dilemma started last year when I decided to dye my hair. My hair has never been dyed before so I went to a professional salon, Hair Asia to have it colored in red. In less than 3 months, the color has faded. I figured I can't afford to shell out PhP2, 500 every single time so I bought Etude House's Bubble Hair Color in Wine Red. It's inexpensive and I got the color that I desired in less than an hour's wait. My hair color became lighter with every application of dye. The eyebrow pencil that I used did not match that of my new hair color... ack! My continuous search for a matching color for my eyebrows remained futile until I went to Korea.

Color My Brows #2 Light Brown 4.5g W6000 (PhP240)

While in Korea, I had this crazy idea to dye my hair in The Face Shop's Orange Brown. The difference between my hair color and my eyebrow color is more noticeable. That is a very big problem for a person like me who wants everything in terno. I know, I should have just dyed my eyebrows, right?! Then my problem would have been solved lol

Korean Restaurant in Nami Island & Ski Rental

My visit: December 23, 2011

Day 1 

Nami Island

Korea

Our Day 1 on tour includes lunch and dinner only. We spent half a day around Nami Island where we ate an early lunch around 11a.m.

Korean restaurant

I noticed that most of the restaurants in Korea have no English sign available like this one.  I was so excited to try my first authentic Korea feast and I was not disappointed. 

Korea Chronicle: Day 1

My visit: December 23, 2011

Korea bound via Korean Air KE 624

Departure: 12:30am (Manila time)

Arrival: 5:05 am (Korea time; Manila time 4:05a.m.)

I was sleepy sleeping the entire flight so I can't give you a comprehensive review about Korean Air. As far as I can remember, when I woke up a few minutes before landing, a stewardess was already by my side asking what meal do I want to eat. The staff were all efficient and worked their way around sleeping passengers like me. It was not a full flight so DH and I were able to transfer to vacant seats. I was all stretched out on all three seats. It's like sleeping first class style lol

Moving on, we booked this tour through a travel agent only a few weeks back before the scheduled departure date. RUSH- that's how DH & I always travel ; p You know that if you have been a follower of this blog. Remember my Taiwan adventure last December 2010? Or our Hong Kong trip last July 2011 where I bought my very first LV? I was not even supposed to be in Korea, DH and I were supposed to go to Canada along with the rest of his family hehe 

this is Nami Island, Korea during winter

After meeting up with our Korean tour guide at the Incheon International Airport, we went straight to Nami Island. 

Nami Island is named after a controversial personality in Korea, General Nami (1441-1468). It is where his tomb lies. He started his military career at the very young age of 17. At the age of 25, he was officially honored as a Merit Subject and was given the title of Minister of National Defense. Unfortunately King Sejo, General Nami's great patron, died. King Yejong, the new ruler, falsely denounced General Nami as a traitor and was executed together with his mother and his faithful retainers.  In 1818, during King Sunjo's reign, his official positions were restored after the revelation that false evidence was used against him. He was give a posthumous name "Chung-mu".

Winter in Korea Travel Essentials

Your Korean visa was already approved! What to do next? Shopping, of course! Traveling to Korea in December means it's winter season over there. Good thing, DH is used to winter season having lived in Canada for several years. He knows what to bring e.g. travel essentials. We shopped a few days before we left for Korea. 

I want to share with you the items that saved my dear life from the winter cold. Think  negative 15 degree celsius! 

Note that some of the items pictured here were bought in Korea. Nothing beats Korean products, it's inexpensive and stylish! I <3! 

bonnets, hat & earmuffs

DH shopped for his bonnet in Bench. I bought a bonnet and a hat in Korea for PhP1, 040 (W26, 000). The earmuffs, I got it for only PhP400 (W10, 000).