South Korea road trip

We continued on our South Korean adventure. So far we went to Seoul and Jeju; now that we got used to driving on the right hand side, we were ready for the road trip.

We left Jeju by ferry to Mokpo. It is a 4.5 hours ride and cost ￦68,000 for both of us. We went to the international pier which is about 1 km up the road from the local ferry terminal. Lucky we had enough time to catch another taxi to the right terminal.

To say that it was a ferry is actually selling the experience short. It was more like a cruise ship. It was fully equipped with a supermarket, massive restaurant & bar, game rooms, massage room, karaoke rooms, business class rooms and economy rooms. I booked us an economy room. It was pretty much an empty room, and there were five other people in the room with us - all laying around on the floor.

Very interesting and different experience

Mokpo

We arrived at Mokpo around 6.00 pm and caught a taxi to Lotte car rental located in front of Mokpo train station. Taxis are quite reasonable and cheap in South Korea; the journey from the ferry terminal to the train station only cost us around AU$3.00. We hired the car for 5 days, dropping it off in Busan - where we will leave South Korea and head to Osaka, Japan.

We booked Yujeong Hanok Guesthouse, a traditional Korean accommodation; i.e. we slept/ate on the ondol floor - with Western style bathroom. This was the beginning of our struggle to communicate, as barely any English was spoken outside the big cities - my sign language proficiency was 120% challenged on this leg of the trip.  

In saying that the locals tried hard to communicate with us. When all else failed, they would indicate us to follow them and walked us to our destination. The landlady in Mokpo walked us to the restaurant when I asked for dinner recommendation. She also kept telling us to check out Yudal mountain, which we did in the morning. There was no one else in the guesthouse, so we had the place all to ourselves. 

Dinner spread with Korean rice

View from the top of Yudalsan

Boseong Green Tea Plantation (보성녹차밭 대한다원)

Entrance fee ￦4,000 per adult

After Yudalsan we drove for 1.5 hours to the green tea plantation. It was really quiet for such a beautiful place! 

The flowers were just starting to bloom

Rolling hills of green tea

Even though it was cold, we had an ice cream anyway

Naganeupseong Folk Village (낙안읍성)

Entrance fee ￦4,000 per adult

We continued on our drive to Naganeupseong Folk Village. According to the internet, we could stay inside the fortress village, but we had no idea how. So, we decided to just rock up, go to the i-centre and see how we go. After various body movements, maximum use of google translate and numerous phone calls - an elderly man popped in to the i-centre. He then gestured us to follow him to (I assumed) his house, opened the bedroom door, continued to speak Korean to us and left. Accommodation sorted! 

The guesthouse that we stayed

It was a hanok style guesthouse, so again we slept on the floor. Funnily enough, I slept really well!

In one of the alleyway

Drone footage of the folk village

Suncheonman Bay Wetland Reserve (순천만습지)

Entrance fee ￦8,000 per adult

Suncheonman Bay has the biggest colony of reeds in Korea that attracts large number of rare birds. The many trails around the wetland are gorgeous; though we didn`t see many birds. I believed they were still hibernating.

So brown and so fine

Daraengi Village (가천 다랭이마을)

We stayed a night here. The drive from Suncheonman Bay to Daraengi was very picturesque with mountains all around us at all time and flowers lining the streets. The village is famous for terraced rice paddies - we booked a studio nearby called Montmartre (with spring bed this time, Fabs had enough sleeping on the floor) that overlooking the sea and mountains.

Terrace fields by the sea

Stunning!

Spot us

German Village (독일마을)

Yup – there’s a German village in a countryside of Korea. It felt like a theme park with overpriced bratwurst with tasty beers.

There were German flags EVERYWHERE

Tasted OK... beer was yum though

Yeojwacheon Stream (여좌천-벚꽃명소)

We came here a week too early - there's a yearly sakura festival for 2 weeks from 1st of April. The cherry blossoms has just started budding; they already looked beautiful, but in full blooms I think it would be magnificent. Especially since the entire city of Jinhae is filled with cherry blossoms; not only the stream area. 

Sakura everywhere! 

We continued to Gimhae and stayed in the Terrace Hotel - I have a feeling that it is a 'love hotel', but since everything in Koreans I can't be sure. It has themed rooms, there was (pretty much) no lobby or receptionist, you can get a room with some sort of vending machine and the biggest giveaway is, it provides condoms. It even has the 'premium' rooms with its own garage, vending machine in front of the room and private staircase to ensure complete anonymity!

The room itself was spacious, clean (I hope so) with a massive bath, and nicely decorated - so I had no complains.

Busan

After breakfast we continued on to Busan and checked into Queens Hotel - the room somehow looked similar with Terrace Hotel though slightly dated. I don't know whether it is a love hotel as well, since I couldn't find any condoms. 

The hotel located in the shopping strip - so we just went for a walk in the rain, shopped for some more clothes and skincare. 

ANOTHER shopping street in South Korea

Spa Land Centum City (스파랜드 센텀시티)

Weekdays ￦15,000/ Weekends & National Holidays ￦18,000. After 8.00 pm ￦13,000

Spa Land is located in 'Shinsegae Centum City', the largest department store in the 🌏 Here's the proof.

The scale of the mall is ridiculous. And the Spa Land itself is humongous. As mentioned, we went to a Korean spa in Seoul; but it was a local one near our accommodation. After a quick browse on the internet, I thought this spa looked good after all that driving and walking. It wasn't good. It was brilliant. 

The first floor housed 22 spas (!!!), 13 distinctively themed Jjimjil-bangs and saunas, and an open-air foot spa; while the 2nd floor has 'entertainment zone', with a range of beautification programs, a theater, and a conference room. There are restaurants on both level, resting areas, massage chairs and many more. 

The pictures don't do it justice since I can't show the spas - some outdoor spas with their own waterfall!!

We could've spent a whole day there. But we got there after dinner and the place closed at 12.00 am. We contemplated to miss our flight the next day so we can go back to this heavenly place. 

This place was THE perfect place to close off our South Korean chapter!

Road trip finds

I highly recommended a road trip in South Korean countryside. It is way less touristy, the landscape is breathtaking, and much 'entertainment' along the road. Like this fake traffic controller.

Fake - the arm just went up and down

Some only had one arm. We also passed a speed bump that sprayed water onto our car! Driving in South Korea required international driving license from your home country which is really simple to get.

Once more, this country doesn't disappoint! To anyone that hasn't been to Korea, I highly recommend it. It's very modern whilst still keeping its very own traditions and quirks, clean, mecca for anything related with beauty and shopping, gorgeous sceneries with many trekking trails, yummy food, and it's still somehow affordable.

It had been an amazing 2 weeks and a wonderful start for our trip.  There were times I almost pushed Fabs off the cliff for being a nuisance we're all capable of, however love prevailed. Kamsahamnida South Korea for the memories - Konnichiwa Nihon! We are off for our week long pilgrimage trek at Honshū: the Kumano Kodo. Hopefully I survive to write about it!

South Korea – Jeju island

Transportation

Jeju island or Jeju-do is a volcanic island and a designated UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. It is also known as the Hawaii of Asia and apparently the honeymoon destination for South Koreans; good enough reasons for us to check it out.

After our Seoul adventure, we took the one hour flight to Jeju. It is the busiest air route in the world with flights almost every half an hour between the two cities. We flew with Asiana Airline, one of my favourite airlines – their seats in economy were probably the same size as Jetstar's business class seats. We spent 5 days/4 nights in Jeju; which I felt was plenty, since it was still pretty cold. The island boasted beautiful white sandy beaches, which I can only assumed in summer it will be chock-a-block with humans.  In March though, it’s still too nippy to dip our toes.

Upon arriving, we hired a car and started driving around the island. The size of the island is probably comparable to Bali, as it is pretty big and quite busy even in the low season.  South Korean drives on the right-hand side, with drivers stop whenever and wherever as long as they put their hazard lights on immediately. I was scared shitless the first day, then kind of gotten used to it by the end.

Accommodation

I gave Fabs the reign to book all the accommodation that hasn’t been booked for our trip. He found this hotel by the beach, overlooking the water. That wasn’t the major draw for him though, the hotel also provides all you can drink beer from 6.00 pm to 11.30 pm. You would think we would be docked there at the specified time every night, but for one reason or another we ended up utilising the bar only for one night. Shocking, I know. 

Attractions

All sights in Jeju charged an entrance fee, and/or parking; ranging from ₩500 to ₩2,000 each. Maybe that's why they're so well maintained.

Mt Hallasan

2070-61 1100(Cheonbaek)-ro, Nohyeong-dong, Cheju

Hallasan is a shield volcano and the highest mountain in South Korea. There are several trails around the mountain, with 5 hours return as the shortest trail and 12 hours retun for the longest one. Fabs was toying with idea to go for the longest (hardest) one, but I shut it down. So, we ended up doing the 5 hours’ trail – the Yeongsil trail.

Really beautiful view throughout 

Korea's only Alpine plain - just gorgeous!

Not pictured is the ramen shop at the top of the mountain! We sat around basking on the sun after we ate our instant ramen before descending down.

Seogwipo Maeil Olle Market

22 Jungjeong-ro73beon-gil, Seogwi-dong

After morning well spent hiking a mountain, we went to the market to get some lunch.

Jeju famous black pig

Served with bonito flakes

Crab rice with cheese

Jeongbang Falls (정방폭포)

36 Chilsimni-ro214beon-gil, Donghong-dong, Seogwipo

Since we were in the area, we continued to this waterfall. Hailed as the only waterfall in Asia to fall directly into the ocean, it was quite a sight to see.

The waterfall enormity made humans looked like ants - courtesy of Fabs's beloved drone

Jusangjeollidae

Jungmun-dong, Seogwipo-si

Close by from the waterfall is Jusangjeolli. They are hexagons shaped stone pillars of various sizes piled up along the coast. It is formed when the lava from Hallasan Mountain erupted into the sea of Jungmun. Fabs kept banging on about how a hexagon is “nature’s perfect shape” whilst I was eyeing up the oranges.

Hexagons everywhere

So, the orange wasn't an orange after all. This is actually a massive mandarin - seedless(!) and quite sweet. It is sold everywhere in the island, so I assumed it is Jeju's specialty. If this mandarin was available in my office, it would be demolished in no time.

Black Pork Street

25 Gwandeong-ro 15(sibo)-gil, Geonip-dong, Cheju

This is pretty much a strip mall selling local black pig, which is a breed of smallish domestic pig with a black skin and smooth coat of hair. We headed to Dombedon (돔베돈) - the Michelin starred restaurant (as you do) after Jusangjeollidae. We also checked out the (not a Michelin starred) restaurant next door to Dombedon on another night to compare. I felt Dombedon's pork were nicer, but the next door restaurant included abalones and steam egg for the set menu! 

Dombedon spread - nom nom nom

Spot the differences

Manjanggul Lava Tube (만장굴)

182 Manjanggul-gil, Gujwa-eup, Cheju

It was pouring all day on our third day, so we thought it would be the perfect day to check out the lava tube. It formed around 300,000 to 200,000 years ago and stretches approximately 8.9 km; though only 1.0 km is open to public. Due to the rain, it felt way colder and damper inside the underground cave.

Very dark and spacious!

Seopjikoji (섭지코지)

262 Seopjikoji-ro, Seongsan-eup, Seogwipo

As mentioned I had all the attractions/eateries etc as stars in my map. I saved them sometime ago, so by now I don't even know what half of them are. This was one of them. It is a famous filming site for Korean dramas for good reasons.

Lovely though super windy coastal walk 

My jaw dropped when I saw this beautiful field of yellow rape blossoms

Seongsan Ilchulbong

Also called ‘Sunrise Peak’, it supposed to be THE place to see sunrise. We couldn't get up to see the sunrise - I was glad that we didn't get to go, because it was

1. Freezing, and 
2. It was gale force windy-as

Nonetheless, the view was still pretty good. We were there at the perfect time as there was a 'women's diver performance' at 1.30 (and 3.00) pm. We got to watch these ajoomma wearing '80s diver suits and picked shellfishes straight from the seabed to your plate. We also got to hang out with bunch of school girls on their field trip. Fabs was thoroughly entertained.

The view half way from the top

Pretty impressive ladies had to do the job because the men all fled from the island

Hyeopjae Beach (협재해변)

329-10 Hallim-ro, Hallim-eub, Cheju

Another great idea of ours was to check out the sunset by the beach on the western side of the island since we missed out on the sunrise. And again we were WRONG. The drive took one plus hours, half the beach was closed and there was no other crazy person on the beach beside us.

As mentioned above, the wind were wild that day - but Fabs insisted to fly his drone. The day ended up with me yelling 'Call it home!!' (meant to get the drone automatically fly back to the controller) and Fabs ran around chasing it as the wind were so strong the drone couldn't fly back (against the wind). Lucky for him, it didn't drown in the ocean.

Picture can be deceiving indeed!

Eateries

Haenyeo Chon (해녀촌)

1638 Dongbok-ri, Gujwa-eup, Cheju

Fabs stumbled upon this place online - famous for its sashimi noodles and sea urchin ramen. This was our first time tasting sea urchins, and I daresay it's delicious.

We were done in under 30 minutes

We had many meals at random restaurants in Jeju that I didn't mention here, as I wouldn't really recommend it. Overall Jeju was great - I believe in summer it will be a totally different experience as the beaches do look stunning. Though I felt that it is quite a touristy island; I can't imagine how crowded the beach will be!

We continued on our South Korea adventure - off to Mokpo and road trip to Busan next!

South Korea - Seoul

I am changing the layout of the blog a little bit – so others will be able to refer to activities/eateries easily. If anyone can enlighten me on how to add a ‘Page of Content’ to enable links directly to headers within the blog, it will be much appreciated!

Below is my experience in Seoul with 6 days and 5 nights to spend in this fabulous city. This is my second stint in this city, and I am still loving it. For a first timer such as Fabs, he was amazed of how clean and organised everything is; whilst still maintaining its sense of character and edge. Moreover, he used to dislike Korean food - now he loves it.

Transportation

We flew to Seoul from Sydney via Kuala Lumpur (KL) with Air Asia; a Malaysian low-cost airline, so there was no entertainment, food, or anything other than the slightly cramped seat. It was pleasant enough for me, not so much for Fabs’s legs. One of the few shortcoming being over 1.9 metres.

Sydney → KL took 8 hours + 4 hours’ layover + KL → Seoul took additional 6.5 hours! I thought it would only take 2/3 hours from KL to Seoul. I was gravely mistaken.

Ps. Sydney direct to Seoul only takes 10.5 hours. Double the price (if not more) though.

Remedies to lessen the layover pain – congee with youtiao from McDonalds!

And amazingly tasty laksa eaten at 5.00 am from Toast Box

Once arrived, we bought T-money card; a transportation card that can be used on public buses and subways in several different metropolitan cities and locations throughout South Korea. More information about travel card can be found here.

We caught the ‘all stop’ subway from the airport to our accommodation since it stopped directly at our stop. Alternatively, there’s an express train straight to Seoul station.

Accommodation

Though most articles I stumbled upon suggested Myeongdong as the best area to stay, when I mentioned this to my friend who is living in Seoul, she straight away recommended Hongdae. “Don’t be a tourist” was her line. And mentioned that Myeongdong ‘ONLY opens until 10 pm’ whilst Hongdae is ’24 hours’.

I stayed in this Airbnb – a clean cosy studio perfectly located only metres away from Hongik University subway. The host recommended many delicious restaurants in the area, I wish we went to all of them!

Attractions

Cheonggyecheon Stream

Line 5 to Gwanghwamun, Exit 5

Cheonggyecheon Candlelight Fountain

Until it was restored in 2005, Cheonggyecheon Stream existed only as a neglected waterway hidden by an overpass. Today, it has been transformed into a beautiful walkway - it passes close to Deoksugung Palace, Seoul Plaza, the Sejong Center, Insa-dong Street, Changdeokgung Palace, and Changgyeonggung Palace. Though we only had a stroll to the next subway station heading to Gwangjang Market for some more food.

Gwangjang Market

5am -11pm Mon – Sat; Line 1 to Jongno5ga, Exit 7

The Gwangjang Market is the nation’s first market and continues to thrive as a popular tourist destination today. The second floor of the market mostly of silk, satin, and linen bed-sheet stores, which are the largest and most famous in Seoul. The best time to visit, though, is the evening, when the end towards Dongdaemun morphs into Seoul largest food alley.

Vegetables pancake with assorted pickles + soju for ₩8000

We also had this octopus that was still wriggling around even though the ajoomma already chopped its head off and cut it into bite pieces.

Changdeokgung Palace; Palace of illustrious virtue

Tue – Sun Line 3 to Anguk exit 3

We actually stopped at Gwanghwamun subway station as we thought we were going to go to Gyeongbokgung palace. Unfortunately, we visited on Tuesday morning and this palace closes every Tuesday. So, to fulfil our palace craving – we walked towards Changdeokgung Palace which is next door (10 to 15 minutes walk).

What we saw on the way - honestly not sure what was happening here

We got the combined tickets for the Palace and its secret garden for ₩8,000. There’re supposedly English tours which run at 10.30 am and 2.30 pm but we were too late for it. There’s audio guide as well for ₩3,000 but we didn’t get it either.

The secret garden though, only accessible via guided tour. So, we roamed around the main palace until our allocated time at 2.30 pm. 

Main palace

There are many hanbok (traditional Korean dress) hire around the area

Only the main buildings have colours

Tradition and modernisation co-exist in the middle of Seoul

The lake shaped as Korean Peninsula - the guide added '... the dream of united Korea, North & South together'

Ikseon-dong

We stumbled upon this neighbourhood on our way to Insadong from Changdeokgung Palace. We were hungry and I saw rows of restaurants looking hanok in an alleyway so we turned into the road. It is hailed as “Hidden Gem”, an up and coming area full of cool cafes and beautifully decorated shops. I read about it afterwards here.

One of the many cute alleys

Unfortunately, we passed the area around 4.00 pm and most cafes are closed from 3 – 5 pm.

Insadong 인사동 Market

Line 3, exit 6 Anguk Station

By the time we hit Insadong we were both pretty knackered. We headed to Ssamziegil mall which is located along the shopping street in Insadong and covers 42,700sq. ft with over 70 shops including handicraft stores, souvenir shops, art galleries, restaurants and more. 

Full of independent shops selling different knick knack 

Lotte tower

Line 2 or 8, Exit 1, 2, 10, 11 Jamsil Station

As Fabs loves towers, we went to check out the tallest building not only in Seoul, but in OECD and is the 5th tallest building in the world which has 123-floor. Though the 554.5-metre (1,819 ft) supertall skyscraper finished its external construction on March 2016, when we popped in on 15 March 2017 the observation deck is still closed for public.

The tower is part of an impressive complex with at least 2 massive malls. One luxury mall and one for the plebs with aquarium, concert hall, cinemas, multiple food court and so many shops. The scale of these shopping malls is incredible.

Gangnam District

Well, who hasn’t heard of Gangnam. We were just wandering around here aimlessly. The whole neighbourhood seems to be filled with (more) shopping and plastic surgeries clinic.

You can be Audrey Hepburn or whoever you like. World is your oyster

Happy Day Spa

112 Yanghwa-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul

I had to take Fabs to experience Korean spa. It is pretty similar to Japanese onsen, where upon entering the spa; everyone would be in their birthday suits. Fabs described many ‘dongs’ he saw ‘floating’ around. He wasn’t game to get the full body scrub (additional ₩20,000) – I had it, and it was amazing feeling every time. I felt so clean!!

The spa is located next to Marigold hotel and consisted of female and male spas, gym, restaurant and resting area where you can sleep and relax afterwards. It also has some kind of heated igloo rooms with 40 ++ temperature. It is a 24 hours spa, where I assumed some people sleep overnight here.

This spa is the closest from our airBnB. There are many spas in Seoul, with the most famous one being Dragon Hill Spa. My friend recommended a spa near Seoul Station called Siloam Spa, however we didn’t have enough time to check it out. Another famous spa is Itaewon Land – this is an infamous gay spa where everyone known to hook up in the resting area.

Namdaemun Market

Line 4, Hoehyeon Station Exit 5

This is the largest traditional market in South Korea where various goods in store are sold at affordable prices if you have profound haggling skills. The stores in this area also function as wholesale markets. It is closed on Sundays.

Myeongdong

We walked from Namdaemun to Myeongdong - this is THE place to buy Korean skincare and make up products. It also housed a cat café where after much persuasion, Fabs agreed to come with me. I think he had more fun than me.

Our favourite cat - just chilling

Dongdaemun Design Plaza & Market

Line 4, Exit 8 or 9, Dongdaemun Station

Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) looks like a giant UFO from the outside and comprised of five halls: Art Hall, Museum, Design Lab, Design Market, and Dongdaemun History and Culture Park. There are many 'out there' building designs in Seoul, but this one is the epitome and crown jewel of the city.

If you like design and building this is the perfect place for you

The market is South Korea’s largest wholesale and retail shopping district which consisted of 26 shopping malls, 30,000 specialty shops, and 50,000 manufacturers. You can spend the entire day at Dongdaemun if you so choose. I was so spent after 3 hours, mentally, physically and monetarily.

Hongdae 

Hongik University Station

As mentioned, we ended staying in Hongdae area. It is full of restaurants/bars/night life/shopping, everything a city can offer really. My friend who lives in the same area took us to where locals go. Apparently, shooting, baseball and escape rooms are on the top of the list. Since we thought hangul riddles would be too challenging for us, we opted for shooting and baseball.  Fabs did very well in baseball. All those cricket sessions paid off - we got a key ring as a prize!

Learnt how to defend myself

Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)

The zone is only accessible by tours; we used www.koridoor.co.kr to take us there. The DMZ is a buffer zone established after the Korean war, bordering 2 km on each side between South and North Korea; technically they are still at war with each other. I found it very sad for a single nation of people with the same language and ethnicity being divided in two. Both guides; from the palace and DMZ voiced their longing for one Korea. 

The bridge used to exchange prisoners after Korean war - there are barb wires everywhere

Hello from the other side - you could hear North Korea blasted their propaganda songs from their speakers. That's how close we were.

Noryangjin Fish Market

Line 1, Exit 1, Noryangjin Station

Here you can buy live seafood from the Ground floor and on Level 1 there are restaurants that cook them for you. Everyone told us to bargain hard for a good price (for the seafood itself + cooking and preparation fees), but we failed miserably. To be fair, in Sydney we would've paid double. It is open all year round, 7 days a week.

Very orderly fish market

I believe we over ordered - all of this for approximately AUD100 (seafood + prep)

Eateries

The first meal that Fabs insisted on having was Korean BBQ. His wish is my command (when it's aligned with mine). 

One Sirloin (일편등심)

52 Hongik-ro 6-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea $$$$

The price is quite steep comparatively with other eateries we had, but omaigad, it was worth it. The beef just melted and it was so good! No English menu, so fluent Korean/body language is required from all parties involved. I highly recommend this place. Hands down the best restaurant we ate in Seoul.

Up the stairs above 7/11 on level 3

All sort of salt - we shared the ₩99,000 set menu

Amazing looking beef right there. Cooked on charcoal in front of you!

Aoitory Bakery

327-17 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea $$

Most places in Seoul opens at 11.30 am. This place opens at 8.00 am, a rarity we were glad of. 

Fresh buns out of the oven

Bread and sausage was delicious, I love the texture of the bread. We thought the other bread had katsu chicken in it but it was actually potato croquet! It was yummy regardless

Cafe Bora

75-3 Yulgok-ro 3-gil, Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul $$

We went here on the way to Changdeokgung Palace. This place is famous for its purple taro ice cream. But as it’s still pretty cold here, so we opted for lunch/snack. It was by far the spiciest food I’ve eaten for a very long time. As Fabs eloquently said ‘my ass will regret this later’.

Seemingly innocent menu - we ordered number 11 & 31

The rice cake was incredibly spicy - we tried to finish it. We failed.

Vons Chicken

Insadong $$$

We were craving chicken and beer after all that walking - and we saw 'Chicken and Draft Beer'. Sold. 

We both thought that it would be like Peking duck pancake but with chicken. When it arrived, we realised the ‘pancake’ were actually radish sliced very thinly!

Ddo-Ong Cafe

67 Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul $$$

Located at Insadong on top level of Ssamziegil mall, we tracked down this poop theme café. This shit did not disappoint. Mind the pun.

My mojito latte was way too sweet, but everything else was yum

Approved

Rural Restaurant 시골밥상
549-9 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul $$$

Funnily enough we had our traditional Korean food in Gangnam, the ultra trendy suburb. It was really yummy and a lot! We had the set menu with beef bulgogi and steam egg.

I love Korean side dishes, they are plentiful and they're all refillable for no extra charge

Ginger Pig  

128 Yanghwa-ro, Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul

I met up with my friend at this Korean BBQ restaurant. She hadn't tried this place but had heard good reviews about it and always wanted to try. Both of our verdicts were that it is so so, it's pretty good, but for me the meat was a bit tough. 

Another set menu - seems like most come with some sort of stew as well!

Chicken in the Kitchen

4-42, Wausan-ro 29-gil, Mapo-gu Seoul 

I found this place in Seoul Timeout, and it was REALLY good KFC (Korean Fried Chicken). We had to wait for about 45 minutes where we spent it in the bar next door. The chicken was crispy, tender, and juicy. I had no idea how they also made it NOT greasy - can anyone please explain?

How are Koreans not obese with these type of food I have no idea

Tips and trick

• I purchased EG sim card online before arrival – I only purchased the 1 GB for ₩30,000 + ₩5,000 for nano sim card. As anything above 500 MB top up gives free access to Olleh wifi, I pretty much didn’t use any of my data as wifi are literally EVERYWHERE in Seoul. I saved all my data for when we are in the countryside as I don’t think wifi will be freely available then.
• When changing line in the subway, try to avoid the lines without numbering (airport line for example) as the transfer inside the subway would’ve taken us 10 minutes sprint from one line to another. 
• If you really love coupons, remember to print discount coupons from the Visit Korea Committee (VKC) to get discounts on selected stores. I love coupons, but not that much so I didn’t print any. 
• http://english.visitkorea.or.kr provides comprehensive information about South Korea.
• Don’t be surprise when you ordered croque monsieur and it has sugar on it. Seems to me Koreans love putting sugar on savoury stuffs. Like this sausage donut



And apparently on garlic bread as well!

• There are street vendors selling varieties of food on every corner of the city; fried, boiled, sweet, everything imaginable. Like this one

Fairy Floss!

Hope this blog helps anyone that is planning/wanting to go to Seoul or just simply entertained by reading it! Buzz me if you have any comments or questions 😊