Day 7:
Good morning!
Breakfast at Paris Croissant located in the Seoul KTX station (main level/ticketing level).
Operating Hours: 7am - 10pm (Monday to Sunday)
We know this bakery is call Paris Croissant, but we are more attracted by their bagels!
No regrets! They have many choices of bagel and both of the bagel we choose is very yummy! The bread is nice too! Feels like croissant but in a stick bread version.
Saw this money changer at the Hongik station, rate is slightly better than the rate we change in Singapore. (in SG = 950, here is 956)
Shopping time in Hongdae area!
S-Market sometimes have good promotion for sneakers!
Let's go!
Operating Hours: Unknown
Saw this Nike high cut sneakers, cost about SGD93 after discount, love the design but not really the colour though so end up didn't get it. Joyce did got herself a pair of sneakers and at a good price too!
After purchase, can just proceed to upper level for instant tax refund in cash.
Since the Nike store, we went yesterday provide a very bad service, so we decided to walk into this Nike store in Hongdae to see if their service is better before we purchase anything.
Operating Hours: 11.30am - 10pm (Monday to Sunday)
So many orders!
Ok, the service here is better.
Staff speak very limited English by the way so don't expect much, you can read the iPad to understand the price and patches.
I picked a tote bag and chose a few patches and start placing around to see if it's nice.
They will also give you a slip of paper for you to fill up for collection later.
Done with my choice and placing!
Bring the acrylic patches to the staff, make the payment and they will bring the actual patch to you.
Like this.
There is tape there for you to secure the position of the patches. Remember to secure it properly if not they will just iron as it is.
Helping my friend in Singapore to make one too.
Oh ya remember to look out for their exclusive patches like this, Hongdae exclusive.
I got myself 3 Hongdae exclusive patches!
The waiting time is about an hour.
Since we need to wait, we decided to have lunch at the Yoogane Chicken Galbi that is nearby while waiting for our item to be done.
The menu.
Our galbi (spicy stir fry chicken) is here!
We ordered the melted cheese for our galbi too!
Ordered cold noodle too but the one at the HAHA's BBQ restaurant is still nicer.
Back to Nike to collect our stuff and we saw a free photo booth inside the Nike store and of course we have to take some photo!
The shopping continues!
Next, we took the train to Ewha Women's University.
I used to come here to shop because it's at the university area and some of the shop here have really good deals but unfortunately, seems like the impact of the covid hits really hard here.
Many shops here are closed and this area seems to be very empty now.
Saw the fresh fruits displayed outside a mini mart and we just have to grab some!
This muscat shine grapes is 6900won (=SGD$7.20) only!
Strawberry at 5000won (=SGD$5.20) only!
Urgh... Even Coffee Mama is closed! I will always order a cheese latte here when I'm shopping at this area.
Since no coffee from Coffee Mama, we walked around and found a hidden cafe.
Name of the cafe is Bella Phraha.
Operating Hours: 11am - 11pm (Monday to Sunday)
Very small cafe.
The coffee menu.
The coffee smell so good!
The seating area are either outdoor or level 2. It's raining now so we went straight up to level 2 and the staff will bring our drinks to us.
Ordered 2 pastry too because everyone there ordered so we are curious too.
Both coffee and pastry are quite good!
Back to Myeongdong for some last-minute shopping!
Helping friend to get MLB hat.
Operating Hours: 12pm - 8pm (Monday to Sunday)
Helping them to model the hat. So many choices here.
After all the shopping, time for dinner!
Since it's Matilda's first time in Korea so we decided to let her try Samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup).
We didn't go to the popular ones (because usually they are tourist trap) but just randomly choose a Samgyetang restaurant that is hidden at a corner and level 2.
Operating Hours: 10.30am - 12am (Monday to Sunday)
Not a big restaurant and it was empty when we were there so we are not sure if this will be another tourist trap or not. Usually when I walked into a restaurant full of locals, I know the chances of good food is higher but when it's empty, I will be clueless.
Please note that the rules here is no sharing allow. Each of the diner have to order one set of Samgyetang but before getting mad with this rule, many restaurants here in Korea are the same!
The side dishes.
Basically, the owner is a one man show who do the cooking, serving and cleaning but he is very fast and efficiency!
Honestly, if not that we wanted to let Matilda try the local food, I will not eat Samgyetang because I didn't like the taste of ginseng.
BUT! To my surprise, this Samgyetang didn't have the strong ginseng taste!
I mean it's all up to individual preference, those who love the strong ginseng taste will not like the Samgyetang here, but I actually prefer this than any other Samgyetang I have tried so far here in Korea!
Anyway, this warm soup is the best for cold weather!
We were given a cup of ginseng wine each!
Cheers for our last night in Korea!
Super strong ginseng taste! I had one tiny sip and gave up the rest of the wine!
Free tea that we can take ourselves from the counter.
After warming our tummy, back to Seoul station!
But instead of going back to our apartment, we went to Lotte Mart for another last-minute shopping!
The have Blue Bottle coffee bean here!
Done with shopping and heading back to our apartment and time to pack our luggage!
Day 8:
Good morning! Today's coffee is just instant coffee from 7-11.
Going to take train to a nearby station for lunch and saw this stall inside the platform.
First time exploring Sookmyung Women's University area and it's just one station away from Seoul station.
Selling clothes by the road?
Googled food nearby and happen to see this Mandu (dumpling) place call Gubok Mandu and decided to try.
Operating Hours: 11am - 11pm (Monday to Sunday)
Only to realise this place is Michelin stars for 6 years!
There are only 4 items on their menu.
And of course, we have to order all 4 different types of mandu to try!
Xiao Long Bao, 8000won (=SGD$8.40).
Their Xiao long bao is so much bigger than the usual xiao long bao we know, and the price is so reasonable!
Shrimp dumpling, 8000won (=SGD$8.40).
Classic Gubok dumpling, 7000won (=SGD$7.40)
Kimchi dumpling, 7000won (=SGD$7.40)
Not sure what to expect from a Kimchi dumpling but I actually like it too!
Dumpling might seem to be a simple dish but to make it tasty, it's not that easy!
Overall, all the dumping and xiao long bao is very yummy!
Continue exploring the place.
Coffee break at Would U Like cafe!
Address: Update (permanently closed)
Would U Like cafe is one of the first cafe that serve drinks in this can bottle, just choose what drinks you want, and they will seal the drinks in the can bottle.
Since there is an Olive Young here, how can we not visit right? Haha!
They sell pet treats in this Olive Young outlet!
SO CUTE! One of them still have blusher!
Back to Seoul station, before heading back to our apartment, we went to the airport train station to get our airport express train ticket first, so that we do not need to rush to get ticket later.
Remember for express train, transportation card cannot be use so it's a must to get the train ticket.
By the way, you can redeem the express train ticket you buy from Klook with the machine too!
And we went to Paris Croissant to take away some bagel and bring back to Singapore because it's really nice! Haha!
Thanks to our Airbnb host for letting us to put our luggage and check out in the late evening with an extra charge of 60000won (=SGD$63) so we can slowly pack and shower before we head off to the airport.
After a nice shower and time for dinner! One last Gamjatang before we bid goodbye to Korea!
Fried rice! Yummy!
I'm so gonna miss this gamjatang again once I'm back to Singapore!
Time to head off to the airport!
Reach airport and first thing to do is to check our luggage weight!
As usual, overweight! Haha! Gonna pack some into my hand carry bag.
The kiosk is very easy to use, just scan your passport.
And scan all your invoice.
Once you are done scanning all your invoice, click scanned completed.
After seeing this, it means the tax refund invoice is confirmed and we will proceed to the cash refund kiosk once we are in.
Pass the immigration and its only 9+pm yet many shops are already closed.
So, this is where we can get back our tax refund in cash.
Same, scan your passport.
All the invoice that you scanned outside will be shown here, once confirmed, click completed.
And tada! Easy!
Gotten tax refund and now since we got some extra cash, we decided to get each of us got ourselves a cup of coffee from Starbucks (not much choice since most of the shop is closed)!
Filling up our arrival card while waiting to board the plane!
Bye Korea! See you next time!
Not bad, still got ice cream!
Every time when I fly red eye flight back from Korea, I will definitely choose a window seat and look out of the window because we will be flying through a sky of stars!
Camera can't really show how amazing it feels so I recommend seeing it with your own eyes!
(The white spot in the picture is actually stars but it's difficult to capture using camera)
Breakfast is served which means we will be home soon!
Signing off now and see you on the next trip!
