Day 3 :
Good morning! We are ready to head back to Seoul now!
After getting our tickets, got our take away coffee to drink on the train.
And of course not forgetting getting some sandwiches for breakfast too.
Saw quite a lot of people inside this shop so out of curiosity, we went in and have a look too!
They are actually selling fried fish cakes and many others fried food! Of course you know that we bought some to try right? How can we miss good food right?
Finally breakfast time and train to Seoul now!
The fried fish cake we bought out of curiosity is actually nice!
This is how much we eat for that 2hr journey to Seoul!
Oh wait! Not forgetting some tidbits too!
Reaching Seoul soon!
After reaching Seoul, straight to our first Airbnb which is location at Anguk area! Anguk is famous for their palace and not forgetting the Korean traditional house, Hanok. Personally I stayed in Hanok before but since it's Katharine and Jingpei's first time in Korea, I recommended to stay one night in the Hanok to have a local experience.
Check out the Hanok from https://www.airbnb.com.sg/rooms/10551038
This is one of the room in the Hanok for just 2 person, and it comes with a private toilet.
The lady in black is our host, Okki! She can actually speak a little bit of English and Chinese too! Totally no problem with communication!
The common kitchen area.
Free breakfast in the morning!
Okki actually gave us the biggest room which includes two room and a living room!
Room 1. We didn't sleep here so this becomes our wardrobe to put our luggages.
Living room area.
Okki provides the Korea traditional costumes, Hanbok, for guest to try on! You can wear it to just take pictures around the Bukchon Village or you can actually wear to one of the palace to get free entry to the palace! Yes you are right! Free entry! For your information, you can enter the palace for free if you wear the Hanbok in!
Room 2 and this is where we slept!
Toilet is actually not inside our rooms but located at the common area. Okki actually covered the toilet so that people will not use it. Our room has a super small door that can lead us to the toilet. I guess if we are fatter, we might not be able to use the toilet!
Huge toilet with bathtub!
Had some welcome drinks from Okki and we are ready to explore!
Because we did not have lunch yet so we eat along the way!
Heading to Samchongdong, one of my favorite street too.
You are at the right way when you see this tiles art.
Hanbok for rental! Many Hanbok rental shop around because of the palace. If I'm not wrong, you can do a photo shoot with the Hanbok in the studio but of course with a price.
I love this street because there is a lot of unique shops and cafe around!
Ok time for some really late lunch! For first timer friend I think Miss Lee cafe is a fun place to bring them to and so here we are! For those who see my previous post on Korea will know what is in Miss Lee cafe but for those who don't know, continue to read.
Address : 34-2 Sogyeok-dong, Jongno-gi, Seoul, L2
Website : http://www.missleecafe.com/index.html ( In Korean )
This outlet interior is very different to the one I went before at Myeongdong!
Two little kid playing with the mini arcade game!
Ok, these section only for kids to go in?
As usual, no matter which outlet, there is always notes hanging around. Ofcourse if you want, you can just grab the paper there and write a wish or note and hang there!
Ta da! Our lunch is here!
Wait! Why is the sky dark already after our "lunch"? Haha! Anyway, continue our shopping after the meal. I guess we gonna skip our dinner already.
Another reason why I love this street called Samcheong-dong is because I get to see modern cafe and shops in a traditional building! This wall just look like one of the wall in the palace but there is a cafe above!
My favorite shoe shop! They sell many nice shoe that is made in Korea! Sales item at level 2, going for only 19000won (SG$23.40) per pair!
Operating time : 11am - 9pm
Another unique shop!
My favorite Beans Bean cafe but we are too full for their yummy waffle!
Strong massage from the cafe so, Shut up and drink coffee! Haha!
So what can we do when it's late already? Yup! ( still ) Shopping! Not other place but ofcourse Dongdaemun!
Shopping and more shopping! The night is still young ( to shop )!
One of the palace gate is actually located at Dongdaemun and it looks prettier at night because of the lights.
We didn't had dinner so we decided to have supper! Shopping make us hungry! Haha!
So guess where does this Dongdaemun station exit 6 leads us to?
Ta da! Yup so once you exit from exit 6, look to your left and you will be able to see the Hotel Kota building and the famous Korean fried chicken, Kyochon is just located at the same building!
Operating Hours : 24hrs
Been to other outlets before but this Kyochon is actually 24hrs!
Yummy fried chicken! Totally love it!
After a happy supper, time to head back home before the train service ends!
Good night!
Day 4 :
Good morning! We happen to know that this two little doll is actually made by Okki herself and she has a workshop near by her Hanok. People are allow to make a reservation to go over her workshop to learn or just to have a look!
Breakfast time!
After breakfast,we change to the Hanbok provided by Okki and start taking pictures in the Hanok! We are too shy to wear it out so we can only enjoy being a Korean in the house! Haha!
Going to Tong In traditional market for our lunch. Took train to Gyeongbokgung station and from the station exit 2, walk straight for about 10mins.
You will pass by a Paris Baguette after some walking.
Here we are at the Tong In market, a local market that you let you feel like you are back in the olden days of Korea. Why do I say so? Continue to read and you will know!
Operating time : 7am - 9pm
Many food stall to choose from but first thing to do is not to buy the food but....
Yup! Change money! We went to the customer service counter to change money.
You must be wondering what money are we changing right?
Ta da! This is the money we are changing! This coins are actually used in the olden days and to purchase food here, we need this coins! They will also give us a plate, we can just use up all the coins to fill up the plate for our lunch! Interesting isn't it?
So... Here we start! It's easy, choose your food, pay using the coin and the ahjuma will put it in your plate! Oh ya, not all stalls can pay using the coins so you can either ask before paying or you can see if there is a big black bowl on the table keeping all the coins, if there is, means you can pay by the coins.
Jing Pei is happily filling up her plate at one of the store using her old coins!
Weather is so hot and this rainbow ice blended drinks totally helps!
After filling up our plate, head back to the customer service area to get a seat and finish up our food.
This is how much our coins can buy! It's too much that we can't finish all!
Oh ya, the dumpling is one of the food that can't purchase using the coins.
After meal, everybody have to throw their rubbish accordingly.
Back to our apartment to check out. While waiting for our taxi, we saw more and more people wearing Hanbok walking area the area! Feels like we are in the olden days too!
Haha! When your taxi boot is not big enough for 3 luggage, you hug one at the passenger seat!
Checking in our another apartment for the rest of the days in Seoul! This building looks familiar? Yes! It's the same building that I stayed during my previous trip here! But this time round a different apartment by a different host.
Chcek out the apartment at: https://www.airbnb.com.sg/rooms/3844105
Here's our apartment! Ground level area.
Kitchen cum living room area.
Bed at the upper level.
Bathroom.
After settling down what's next? Nothing but of course shopping and cafe hopping time! Went to Sungshin women's university street. Did I mention before I prefer to shop at university street? Things in any university street are normally cheaper because they have to cater to poor students. Normally I will just exit from exit 1 and start shopping from there.
After shopping, time for some energy intake! Coffee time at Twosome cafe! They serve quite decent coffee.
Head off to Myeongdong next! Jingpei was fascinated with this chocolate balls at the Myeongdong train station!
So she purchase one! We are suppose to use the hammer provided to crush the chocolate ball! If you are not buying for IG purposes, don't bother to buy one because it taste like any other normal chocolate.
Myeongdong street are always pack no matter it's during the day or night! The night is always young in Korea unlike Japan! Japan can only drink during night time while Korea you can still do other things, read my post on Tokyo and you will understand.
Many and I really mean many food stalls and restaurants at Myeongdong! So empty your tummy before you come to Myeongdong!
This Line cafe at Myeongdong is new? I don't remember seeing one during my previous trip? Anyway, yup there is a Line cafe at Myeongdong and fans of Line Friends, embrace yourself and don't lose control here!
Operating Hours : 10am - 11pm
Almost the same as the outlet I went before at Apgujeong but smaller and doesn't have a cafe corner where you get to sit down to enjoy their coffee. They do have a coffee take away corner at the entrance.
I'm not a fan of Line Friends but this wall of bear lamp is cute!
Level 1...
And there is level 2!
Not buying anything so photo session with the famous bear! The super huge bear at the entrance has a long queue so we will settle with the smaller one! After all it's the same bear right? Haha!
Look at the queue...
The same cute macaroons that I had last year!
Look at what this girl is doing while waiting for Katherine to do her payment!
Manage to take a picture of the huge bear what people stand beside the queue! The one at Apgujeong doesn't have that bird ( or is it a duck? ) on the bear's head by the way!
It's dinner time! How can you not eat ginseng chicken when you are in Korea right? Ok fine you can also choose not too but it's one of their famous food in Korea.
The restaurant entrance is just the small ally next to Spao. It is also a restaurant with many years of history.
Love the side dishes!
Here comes our ginseng chicken soup! Yum yum!
Ordered bibimbap too! Taste was good but I still prefer ginseng chicken! I'm a soup lover by the way...
Adidas was so crowded so we join the the crowd and Jingpei manage to but a pair of sneaker!
This strawberry mocha is one of the famous stall in Myeongdong that almost all food blogger will talk about when they are there!
Yummy! They really put the whole strawberry in the mochi and not like the usual one that is just bits of the strawberry!
Went back to our apartment to put our things and its time to feel hungry again! Haha!
Brought the both of them to my favorite 24 hrs Yongshan gamjatang ( potato pork rib soup ) restaurant which is conveniently located below our apartment! This is also why I choose to stay at that same building again!
Operating Hours : 24hrs
The place has not change at all! The only different now is there is a lot of non locals now compared to last year when we are the only non local in the restaurant!
Take a picture with the food before it's gone!
Omg! Taste is still the same! As yummy as before! I have been thinking of this taste ever since I had it last year and finally I'm back for this!
I have not tried gamjatang in any other place because i seldom sees it but this definitely worth eating!
Beside the soup, the main focus is definitely the yummy pork rib! It's so soft that it melts in the mouth! The most surprisingly is Jingpei who don't like to eat pork actually say it's nice too!
Mission Cleared! We literally finish every single drip of soup and totally regret for ordering just the medium size! We will be back for sure! I'm going to eat at least one more time before going back to Singapore since i have missed it for a year!
Anyway after a super good supper, good night everybody!
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