Saturday 29 October 2016

Korea 2016 Day 7 & 8 : Lotte Outlets -> Hongik University -> Trick EyeMuseum -> Racoon Cafe -> Free ( Flea ) Market -> Back Home

Day 7:



Morning greeted with a cup of coffee and ham and melted cheese from the cafe below our apartment!

I've been to Korea a few times but honestly speaking, I have not really shop at the Lotte mart before although I will always pass by since my apartment is usual at the same location.

Beside the mall, outside the outlet there is also sales item for certain brands.

I got my eye on a pair of Adidas sneaker and just happen that they only have my size so it's a sign for me to buy! And ofcourse I did! Haha!

Guess where are we heading to next? Today is a Saturday and by looking at this crowd...

If you are a frequent visitor to Korea, you will know we are at Hongdae university street! 

Hongdae is as crowded as always and the crowd will increase even in the evening! 

Bringing Katherine and Jingpei to the trick eye museum at Hongdae. Easily reachable by walking straight after Hongdae station exit 9. When you reach Spao, turn left.

After you turn left at Spao, walk to Tonymoly and turn right.

After you turn right, walk straight abit and you will see a "man" standing on top of the museum entrance. The museum is at the basement. 


Here we start all the pictures taking! 

The entrance fee includes the carnival street, ice museum and ofcourse the trick eye museum.

We got excited once we walk in! Yes I got excited too even though I've been here before because some of the pictures changes and I've not seen before! 
( you can skip the next few pictures if you are bored! Haha! )









Oops! R2! 





My favorite picture of the day! And finally a group photo! 





And lastly, this is the feeling when you are in the toilet!

Since the entrance fees includes ice museum so we went in too.





It's crazy to remove the (doesn't help at all) cape provided because it's crazily cold inside! ( but the cape is too ugly for photo taking)

What's next? But of course it's lunchtime! We have this Yoogane Chicken Galbi in Singapore too but it's crazily expensive! Of course I'm not gonna stop you from eating in Singapore because it's yummy! 



We ordered the medium size fresh cheese chicken galbi set at 19500won ( SG$23.90 ).


The staff helped us with the cooking.

Here comes our cheeeeeeeese! Omg! 


I can't wait to tuck in! Looking at that cheese, how can you resist it right? Ok... at least I can't! Haha! 

After a yummy lunch, shopping starts! 


Jingpei and her long softy ice cream! Always have room for dessert after meal!

We happen to pass by a raccoon cafe, yes a raccoon cafe! Not the usual dog or cats cafe but a raccoon cafe and so we decided to go in! 

The raccoon cafe is called Bonita Di which is located at on the 5th floor.

When we were there, the staff told us that it's full and we have to come back later but when we are about to turn and walk away, he told us to wait for a few minutes as someone is leaving. How lucky! 

Look at the cutie!

Beside raccoons, they still have some cute dogs there! 


Look at those naughty raccoons trying to cling onto the staff! 


And this raccoon actually cling onto me! So naughty look but at the same time cute!

Please take not : do not leave your bags and drinks unattended! This is what will happen! Raccoon thief got caught! 

People "chop" ( Singapore way of saying reserve ) table using tissue packet and I use a raccoon! 

Look at this! Raccoon and dog are friends! So sweet! 

Yup this raccoon successfully climb to my back while I try to help a lady who this raccoon is trying to climb onto! 

The raccoon says please for food! 

This raccoon is trying to say ' I'm sexy and I kill it '?

A lot of people thinks that pet cafe are not recommended because the staff will bully the pet and train them to do stunts but I can see that the raccoons are quite attach to the staffs! Even the dog cafe I went before, the dogs are full of freedom. 


I see a 'Give me my food' face! The staff give me some of their food so that I can feed them! 


Food please! 

Holding my hand ( finger )! 

Dogs are still my favorite!

Another naughty raccoon trying to dig into this lady's backpack! They steal openly! Haha!
Anyway, time to head off to another place after playing with all this naughty cuties!

Coming to Hongdae on a Saturday mainly is because of this Free Market ( flea market ). 


Basically this flea market are to encourage students ( and of course non student ) to set up their business and also sell their creative ideas. Every time I come, I will always discover new creative items.


This is something new for me. I have never seen this stall before. This master here can craves the traditional stamp with your name for just 10mins! 

I'm sold! So each of us order one from him. Coming back later to collect our stamp! We choose the simple stamp at 10000won ( SG$12.20 ) each. 

Live drawing of you and your loves one can be found there too!

Another hand craved item which is pencils and key ring this time! 

Ok this stall selling cigarettes boxes has been here for the longest time! 

Yeah! My stamp is done! If you are wondering what does that Korean words means, it means Olivia! Haha!

The master still hand written a card for each of us! 

This is how the stamp look like and the hand written card which I don't know what did he wrote. I'm so loving this stamp! 

All of us requested to have our English and Korean name to be crave! 

This stall along the boarder of the flea market offer personalize jewelry! 

And so I bought one too! Haha! This remind me of a silver ring my dad bought for me with my name engraved when I was really young and which I can't fit in anymore.

This is how my ring with my ( again ) English and Korean name engrave looks like! It's a black square ring by the way! Unique right? 

If you are not sure how to go to the flea market, just look for the Hongik university ( that blue building ).

Facing Hongik university, do not cross toward the university, just turn to your right and walk into the ally, the flea market is just there.


Snacks time after shopping! 

Brought Katherine and Jingpei to the natural cafe where the sheep is. Very near to the flea market and easy to find because of the llao llao. Located just below the llao llao.


Second time here but never had any meal here before so it's again saying hi and bye to sheep only. We are just not hungry to eat yet.

I always come to Hongdae during the day and honestly this is my first time to stay at this area till so late and the night seems more exciting! So many street performers here! There is group dancer...

Beat boxing? ( can't remember) 

Solo singer.

Apparently this dance group is the most popular one! Super crowded at their area!


The most popular games among the Korean couple! The Korean guy will try all ways to win those huge bear for their girlfriends! 

Another solo singer but.... No audience though... So we stayed awhile to listen to him! His singing is not bad too!


Time for some tea break! Went to Zoo Coffee to have a cup of tea with the panda! 

 
The popular dance group is just below the Zoo Cafe! Not sure if they are always at this spot or they change every week.

 Everybody doesn't seems to wanting to go home! But it's time for us to head home to pack our luggage...

Time for dinner! And guess where? Yup it's the gamjatang below our apartment again! Haha! 

We seriously will never get sick of it! Ordering the largest one for the 3 of us for the last time! 

In Korea, eat like the Korean! Normally they will order a bowl ( or more ) of white rice and put in into the left over soup to fry again and it's so yummy! 

Back to apartment to start packing our 1 week loot into our luggage! 10 tops, 7 pants, 7 clutch and 2 pairs of shoe for me! 

Not forgetting my loot ( and free gift ) for my face! Yes I know I only have 1 face but.... Things just happen when you know those are good products and you have been using for long! I'm trying to stock up for the whole year though! ( Haha! I know it's just some good excuse but whatever! )
Anyway last good night from Korea! 





Day 8:

Time to check out our apartment and the host don't allow us to leave our luggage in her apartment for just 3 hours because she said that she will need to do cleaning. Most of the host allow but well... We can't complain her for not being flexible like other host.
So, since we can't leave our luggage in the apartment, we find other alternative. There is two travel center at the airport railway station ( which is at Seoul station ) that can let us deposit our luggage but chargeable.
The charges are very high! So Katherine suggest she will just stay at the McDonald to look after the luggage while we go to Myeongdong to do some exchange of my product. 
Jingpei and I went back to Myeongdong again because I need to go back to Lotte duty free to exchange one of the broken cosmetic ( it's still seal up ) that I bought the day before. I didn't check when they pass to me and not until yesterday when I'm packing my luggage, I found all the powder is in the carrier they passed to me. Anyway, they did an exchange for me. After my exchange, Jingpei went to get some last min shopping too and after that we rush back so that Katherine will not be too bored.

Actually 3 days later is Katherine's birthday so we decided to give her a birthday surprise! We bought a small cake, light up ( lucky match stick is provided ) outside McDonald and walk in to surprise her! 

She got shock ofcourse but not sure if she is touch by us? Haha!
Anyway happy birthday Katherine!



Time to head to the airport. Bought our are arex express tickets and rest at the ( free ) lounge area ( basically only sofa ) while waiting for our time to board the train.

We came with 3 luggage and back with these!
 
Goodbye Seoul! 

While on the way to the airport, time to fill up the tax refund forms...

Weight our luggage to check if it's over weight! Korean air only gives 25kg check in unlike Singapore airline which gives 30kg. Anyway I'm safe! 0.5kg over only.

Went to have our lunch at Seoul ( restaurant ) first since we are early and before check in counter opens. Since it's our last meal in Korea so we shall have local food!

I ordered kimchi soup set.


And a cup of ice coffee from Paris Baguette. Look at their cute cup! 

Jingpei got her tea from another cafe which I can't remember what but it's near to Paris Baguette. They have the cutest cup too! 

Pass by their food court and saw a bingsul stall and we decided to have our last bingsul before going back.

Self check in, got our boarding tickets.

Walk over to the tax refund counter to let them stamp our tax refund receipts and also check in our luggage. 

Next, to the tax refund machines. Ok... This is something new for me too... 

So apparently this machines counter is for you to combine all your different ( company ) receipts into one so we do not need to queue for different tax refund company to get back our money like what we use to do. It's easier this way rather then queuing again and again if you have all four different company which is in my case!


So after we pass the immigration, we went to the tax refund counter to get back our money. It's machines again so it's fast to get back our money. If you are thinking the machines only do refund to your credit card, you are wrong! The machines refund in cash! 



Anyway... Goodbye Seoul! See you soon! 

Inflight dinner time!

My holiday has comes to an end and I am already looking forward for my next trips!