Day 1:
Hello! Time for my last trip of the year and can you guess where?
But first thing first, heading to Changi Recommends to rent a Wifi router device!
And yes! I'm heading to Korea and via Jeju Air. First time taking this flight and we choose it because it is cheaper choice as we planned quite last minute and since we choose end of November, it's considered as travel peak period already.
Oh ya and we will be flying to Busan from Singapore instead of the usual Singapore to Seoul first.
The travel buddy for this trip, Faye and Joyce!
Red eye flight and we are ready to board.
And ready to sleep! Since it's a budget airline, there will be no food served unless you purchase it but not a concern for me as I usually sleeps till I reach the destination.
I woke up to this view!
Jeju air does not serve (free) food, but they do serve free water, unlike most of the budget airline who usually charge you for drinks.
Not in Seoul so not taking the usual airport train but we are taking the airport express bus to Busan KTX station and the bus is at berth 3.
You can pay directly on the bus using your transportation card.
Look out for this bus!
You can store your luggage at the luggage compartment underneath.
Off we go!
Here we are at my familiar KTX station, Busan Station! The airport bus journey from airport to Busan station is about 35min.
Got our KTX ticket and quickly grab a coffee to bring on board!
Train journey is 2.5hrs!
We are using the Korail Pass and got it from Klook this time round.
What is Korail Pass? If you often read my blog on Korea trip, you know I always travel somewhere else beside Seoul and I will always get this Korail Pass.
Basically it's a unlimited train (that is not subway) ride within the day.
You can check both their official website and Klook to see which has a better price.
Klook Website: https://www.klook.com/en-SG/activity/2847-korea-rail-pass-seoul/?spm=Home.SearchSuggest_LIST&clickId=e8e08122a2
Korail website: https://www.letskorail.com/ebizbf/EbizBfKrPassAbout.do
The pass comes with different option :
- Single or group purchase, and I suggest you buy together as a group (2 pax and above) because it is cheaper.
- You can choose flexible or consecutive days of 2,3.4 or 5 days. If you just need to take train on 2 different days which is a few days apart, I would suggest you choose flexible 2 days.
Eg: Day 1 you need a KTX ticket from Seoul to Busan and Day 4, you need another KTX ticket from Busan back to Seoul, so the flexible 2 days pass will works.
But if you will be taking KTX or other Korail train on Day 1, Day 2 and also Day 3, then you can choose the consecutive 3 days pass.
For consecutive pass, I see Klook is always unavailable so I assume you can only get from Korail website. - You can make your seats reservation from Korail website (even if you buy your pass from Klook), max 2 seats per day. If you are not very confident reaching the station on time, you can always bring your printed pass to the ticket office to exchange your train tickets according to your timing.
Checked in our Airbnb right after we arrive in Seoul, thanks to the host for the early check in!
I booked the apartment at the same building I usually stayed because I think that it's the best location!
The lower level living room + sleeping area.
The kitchen area and wardrobe area.
The upper sleeping area.
Toilet is clean.
Finally settle down and can relax and enjoy the mini kimbap we bought from Seoul KTX station.
We are basically staving because we have not been eating since we board the plane.
Off for lunch and I love the weather!
And of course, another reason staying at this apartment building is because of this Gamjjatang!
Operating Hours: 24hours
Super hungry so we are going to order the large one!
I've been waiting to eat this! I miss this taste so much!
Still as tasty!
After a hearty late lunch, we head off to Hongdae. We are going to the Dongjin flea market, so we took the subway to Honggik university station and exit at exit 5 (exit 3 is do-able too).
Walk about 10mins to Dongjin Flea market.
It's only 5pm and the sky is already dark due to the rain.
Operating Hours: 5pm - 9pm (Friday)
1pm - 7pm (Saturday and Sunday)
Close on Monday to Thursday
Not yet 7pm but seems like many stalls has already close for the day. I guess is due to the rain?
Anyway I bought a few accessories here last year so thinking that I could find more new items but unfortunately nothing much interesting this time round so I ended up getting only 1 ring.
After shopping, time for some coffee break at snowing café! Came here last year and love their snowing coffee so here I'm again!
Address: 387-10 Yeonnam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Operating Hours: 11am - 10pm (Monday to Sunday)
Bought the wavy ring to match with the other ring I bought from the same place last year! The black square ring with my name engraved is from the Hongdae Free Market.
Ordered one Tiramisu to share.
And here comes our coffee performance!
The staff will come pour in the "snow" into our coffee!
Tada! Snowing coffee! The "snow" is actually sweet cream. The sweetness is just nice once you blend together with the coffee but if you drink just the cream part, it will be a little too sweet.
Hot matcha for a raining evening.
Coffee, dessert and people watching.
Almost forgot to pour our coffee onto our Tiramisu.
So empty that we can take many pictures without people looking at us! Haha!
It's almost ends of Autumn when you see all the yellow/red leaves start falling.
Shopping continues!
Went into this accessories shop to have a look.
And books?
Anyway, continue shopping around Hongdae!
Joy = Joyce?
Went to Style Nanda to grab some 3CE cosmetic.
This Style Nanda here should be the biggest store if I'm not wrong. Usually, people come here for the 3CE cosmetic (like me), but they do sell apparel at the upper level.
Operating Hours: 1pm - 9pm (Monday to Sunday)
If you are here, don't forget to take photo at the photo booth because it's FREE!
Tada! We took 1 group picture and each of us took 1 solo picture too.
And we went over to Chuu which is just right opposite of Style Nanda. Saw people saying that their denim jeans will make our leg look slim so let's try!
Operating Hours: (Update) they are permanently closed.
Cute interior in the store.
Yup! Straight to B1 for the -5kg Jeans!
Got myself a pair but to be honest, not all fit look nice on body.
Pass by this Harry Porter theme café but it's already close so we went for a plan B.
And our plan B is dinner at the Running Man (you will know what show is that if you watch Korean variety show) member, HAHA and Kim Jongkook's BBQ restaurant, Loco Quan 401.
Operating Hours: 4pm - 2am (Monday to Sunday)
Their menu.
The meat looks good!
And not just the look, but it really tastes good!
Ordered kimchi stew too! So yummy and best when the weather is cold now!
And we ordered cold noodle! Haha! The cold noodle here is so good!
A welfie before we dig in!
Anyway, end of day 1! Good night!
Day 2:
Good morning!
Having hungover soup for breakfast!
Address: Google map couldn't find this place, but it's located a few shops away from the Gamjjatang place we went yesterday.
Operating Hours: (Update) It's permanently closed.)
Free flow is kimchi and reddish!
Joyce and I had Hwangtae haejangguk (dried pollock soup) as we don't eat beef
And Faye had the Yukgaejung (spicy beef soup).
I like it with my rice soak in the soup!
After brunch, time for some coffee! Getting our grab and go coffee at Coffee Up which is just next to the hungover soup place.
Operating Hours: 8am - 9pm (Monday to Friday)
10am - 8pm (Saturday and Sunday)
Grab a coffee and off we go!
Next, we headed off to Ewha Woman's University Street for some shopping and trying some hair make over at one of the salons here!
First place to visit is the Olens right outside the Ewha Woman's university Exit 1.
Anyway, Olens is basically everywhere so you need not buy here if you don't wanna carry the lenses (and the free solution) everywhere.
Address: (Update: They are relocated to 14 Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, South Korea)
Operating Hours: 10am - 10pm (Monday to Sunday)
(By the way, not all shop will go that extra mile to help you using the fake eyeball! The service in Olens really depend on your luck...)
Olens are famous for their coloured lenses. I personally have not tried before so I'm gonna get it to try!
Faye didn't bring her lenses (on purpose) so she uses the lenses upon purchase.
Shopping around the street.
What's coming to Korea without buying socks? Haha!
Korea socks is really good quality and comfortable, so usually I will grab some home for myself and for friends!
And we ended up at the Ewha University. Been into the university before so we didn't walk in.
But we still take a welfie outside the university.
And last picture of our hair looking like this! Haha!
Continue shopping!
I love to shop at this street because things and food here sometime are cheap as the price is mainly cater to students.
Here we are at Cecica Hair for a hair make over! This place is recommended by one of my friends who did her hair here before.
Been to Korea multiple times but it's our first time doing our hair here! Let's pray for good result!
Address: (Update: they are relocated to 163 Sinchon-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, South Korea )
Operating Hours: 11am - 8pm (Monday to Saturday)
Closed on Sunday
The staff here can speak basic English. Frist they will bring out the menu to show you the price.
Then they will bring out the Ipad to recommend you what hair style that will suit you and also explain the different perm for you to choose if you wanna perm your hair.
Let's start off with cutting my hair!
Joyce is cutting her hair too! And yup it's the same stylist! She is the boss if I'm not wrong and she do all the cutting while the rest will do the perming.
Applying some liquid on to my hair by another stylist.
And steam my hair. Not sure what are they doing but seems like a treatment to protect my hair before the perming? (I can't remember)
Checking my hair after the steaming.
Here comes the curler!
Ok... I look kinda funny right now! Lol!
Omg look at Faye! Haha!
Now I got the same flying hair as Faye! Haha!
Basically, with this thing on your head, you can't move your head at all!
I wonder how our hair will look after all these!
Again, apply some liquid and waiting to wash our hair.
Look at Joyce's hair! Trust the process is all I can say!
This perm consists of 2 different types of perms, C-perm + S-perm which is recommended by the boss.
Haha look what I found in the salon! A Merlion!
After many hours sitting in the salon, it's already dark outside and it's time for a coffee break at Coffee Mama!
Operating Hours: (Update: they are temporary closed.)
Always so empty!
Purposely come back here to have their cream cheese latte! I had the same coffee when I'm here last year!
Got a waffle to share too.
Off we go and welfie with our new hairstyle!
Can you guess we are now?
Yes! Myeongdong!
Shopping continues...
And it's time for dinner!
Always had An Dong Jjimdak (Korean Braised Chicken) whenever we are in Myeongdong!
Operating Hours : 11am - 10pm (Monday to Sunday)
Here comes our Jjimdak! You can choose the spiciness for it, and I love the glass noodle that comes in it!
Welfie with the food before it's gone.
Street food street!
I seldom eat the street food here because they usually make up the price a lot here.
Oh, and many shops and restaurant in Myeongdong close at 10pm so if you want to shop or eat, do remember to come early!
Back home!
Oh ya before heading back home, we drop by the convenient store downstairs to grab some water and drinks! They even have Tiger Sugar bubble milk tea here!
This hot grapefruit honey tea looks good.
Sharing my loot for today!
You must be wondering how many legs I have right? Haha
I usually buy many pairs of socks here because, 1: they are really comfortable, 2: it's a good gift for your friends and family, 3: it's cheap, 4: I need to wear socks to and at work every day, so I need many! Haha!
And adding my loot from yesterday and today.
Late night "healthy" supper while watching tv!
Bought this red bean porridge and pumpkin (the one Fei is eating) to try.
Anyway, goodnight everyone!
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