Sublimeholic: My Wander Bubble

7 Must-visit wellness destinations in Korea

noreply@blogger.com (Lucky) — Sun, 16 Apr 2017 12:23:00 +0000

Endless deadlines, daily OT at work, poor diet, and lack of exercise are just some of the things that characterize the lifestyle of many young urban professionals today. I can speak from personal experience because I am part of that workforce.

There are days when these things just take a toll on you and the last thing you want to do is get out of bed. You lack focus and motivation, and the drive to get tasks done simply isn't there anymore.

Believe it or not, these may be signs of burnout and stress. I am no medical expert but I do know that it's best to listen to your body and take a break when you experience these signs.

I believe travelling is a good way to relieve yourself from stress. It shifts your focus away from what usually makes you anxious and gives you many things to look forward to. And what better place to visit than top wellness destinations where you can relax, unwind, and receive treatments that will rejuvenate not just your body but also your mind and spirt. This way, you can come back to 'reality' renewed and with a positive disposition.

Fortunately, I have a planned trip to Korea a few months from now, and I've heard of several must-visit wellness destinations recommended by Visit Medical Korea (VMK). I've researched on each of them and would like to share them with you here. Read on to find out what wellness destination in Korea suits your needs and style. :)

SEOUL

Cheongkwanjang SPA G (정관장 SPA G)

Type: Hot Springs/ Bath Houses/Spas/ Jjimjilbangs

Photo Credit: Spa G & Visitkorea.or.kr; Photo editing by me :)

If you've been through a lot of stress lately, then Spa Centers are one of the best places to relax and experience wellness rituals that revive the body, mind, and spirit. One of the most popular spa centers in Seoul is Cheongkwanjang Spa G, which is famous for using 6-year-old ginseng roots that went through strict quality management and thorough testing.
Red Ginseng is a popular medicinal herb in Korea that's rich in vitamins and minerals, essential oils, amino acids, and enzymes. It is known to improve the body's vitality, enhance brain function, relieve stress, increase blood circulation, and boost the immune system.
Launched by a high quality red ginseng (also known as 'hongsam') brand named Cheongkwanjang of the Korea Ginseng Corporation, Spa G has 4 individual hongsam therapy rooms:

Hongsam Spa Room: This is where guests can receive water massage to stimulate blood circulation
Hunjeungyok: Guests who like steam treatments may go here and even have red ginseng concentrate applied in their body. These are great for detoxification and providing body nourishment.
Foot Spa Zone: Want to relieve stress via a foot massage? Then this is the hongsam therapy room for you.
Head Spa Zone: Relax your mind and give your crowning glory a boost with restorative scalp treatments using red ginseng products at this therapy room.

Photo Credit: Spa G & Visitkorea.or.kr

Reservation is required for all spa programs. The length of each session vary from 1-6 hours, depending on the choice of treatment.
Spa G offers single (KRW 110,000/PHP 4,400/USD 97) and package (KRW187,000/ PHP7,480/ USD165 and up) programs for the face, body, foot, and head. There's also a Spa G Signature package for the face and body (KRW 473,000/PHP18,920/USD416.25).

Address: 416, Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
서울특별시 강남구 영동대로 416 (대치동,(주)케이티앤지 서울사무소)

Directions:
[Subway] Samseong Station (Seoul Subway Line 2), Exit 2.
Go straight 200m to arrive at the SPA G (Kosmo Tower, B2) on the left.

Contact no.: +82-2-557-8030 (Available languages: English, Japanese)

Operating Hours: 9:00am-11:00pm

Branches: Gangnam, and Myeongdong

Website: http://www.spag.co.kr/

Nearby tourist attractions: Prugio Valley, Park Club Spa, Korea Culture House (KOUS), Baekam Art Hall, S.J. Cho Korean Paper Art Gallery, Coex Mall

You can also visit HERE for more details.

Sulhwasoo Flagship Store

Type: Beauty Complex/ Spa/ Boutique/ Culture Lounge

Photo credit: Sulwhasoo.com; Photo editing by me :)

Sulhwasoo is a premium beauty brand in Korea. In order to let their local and international customers experience the essence and journey of beauty in its deepest sense, they've built a beauty center, which became their flagship store, that has a spa, a boutique, a culture lounge, a gift wrapping center, and a roof deck.
The store boasts of an exceptional architectural design by Neri & Hu Design & Research Office, and was inspired by the concept of a lantern.
They offer 40-minute guided tours for visitors. Tour groups of more than 10 people should make a reservation at least a day before the visit.
The store consists of the following:

- B1F- Sulhwasoo Spa- This is a premium Korean Herbal Medicine Anti-Aging Spa which

uses premium anti-aging skin care products, traditional methods, and special treatment

tools like Jade, Amber, White Porcelain, and the JAUM balancing complex bowl.

- 1F- Heritage Room & Boutique- This is where guests can explore all of Sulwhasoo Flagship

Store’s exclusive and new products, and seasonal offerings.

- 2F- Gift Packaging Service & Boutique- Guests can test Sulwhasoo products and also get

personalized consultations here. The exclusive gift wrapping service uses the Ji Ham Bo

which means a box and cloth containing wisdom.

- 3F- VIP & Culture Lounge- The VIP Lounge is an intimate space for premium Sulhwasoo

Clients while the Culture Lounge is where guests can try various cultural and beauty

classes.

Photo Credit: Sulwhasoo.com

- 4F- Sulwhasoo Balance Spa- This is a contemporary Korean Herbal Medicine Balance Spa

that uses traditional techniques in a treatment room filled with natural sunlight and relaxing music. There's also a Relaxation Lounger and a room overlooking Dosan Park.

Photo Credit: Sulwhasoo.com

- 5F- Rooftop- Guests can also relax and enjoy the view at the outdoor lounge at the top of the

building.
Address: Sulwhasoo Flagship Store 18, Dosan-daero 45-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea

Contact no.: 02-541-9270
SPA RESERVATION
Sulwhasoo Spa(B1) 02-541-9272
Sulwhasoo Balance Spa(4F) 02-541-9273

Operating Hours:
BOUTIQUE AND SPA HOURS
Mon-Sun 10:00 - 21:00
(Closed every 2nd Monday, Chinese New Year’s Day, and Chuseok)

Website: http://www.sulwhasoo.com/

Tea Therapy (티 테라피)

Type: Cafe/Tea Shop/Health Center

Photo credit: Korea Tourism Organization; Yoribai.com

If you like unique cafes like me, then Tea Therapy might just be your 'cup of tea'. A fusion of a cafe, a clinic, and a school, it boasts of medicinal home-brewed teas and a relaxing foot bath that gives you a remarkable experience of Korea's tea culture.
The owner is a certified Oriental medicine doctor who believes in making his craft more accessible to people via teas and diets. He uses traditional herbs in tea-making and focuses on ingredients and flavor as well as aroma in creating his healing brews.
The cafe has been featured in KBS's "Muhanjidae Q" for its interior design and unique programs for visitors such as meditation, diet consultations, tea-making class, and rejuvenating foot bath experience.

Interior of Tea Therapy Samcheongdong Branch
Photo Credit: mysourlsearching.com

The foot bath, which is free for patrons and is done at an area outside the cafe, gives visitors a chance to choose among 3 basins and soak their feet in either hot or cold water. You can even add a medicinal mixture to your foot bath for KRW 5,000 (PHP 200/ USD 4.40).

Photo Credit: Korea Tourism Organization

The cafe offers all sort of tea blends from stamina boosting teas to hangover-curing blends. The most popular ones are the Weight Loss blend, which combines the zingy scent of dried tangerine peel with the toasty notes of buckwheat, and the Stress-Free blend, which imparts the refreshing scent of mint.
Aside from tea selections, Tea Therapy also offers coffee, desserts, and brunch (KRW 7,000/ PHP 280/ USD 6.16 and up).

Address: Ago Building 1F, 616-6, Shinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 135-894, Korea

압구정 본점

Directions:

[Subway] Apgujeong Station (Seoul Subway Line 3), Exit 2.
Go 300m to arrive at the first corner, and turn left.
The cafe is located on the left.

Contact no.: +82-2-518-7506 (Available languages: Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)

Operating Hours: 10:00am- 11pm (Mon-Sat.) and 10:00am- 11:30pm (Sun.)

Branches: Shinsadong (Gangnam) and Angukdong (Samcheongdong)

Website: http://teatherapy.com/

Nearby tourist attractions: Hallyu K-Star Road, Apgujeong Rodeo Street, Amore Spa, Coreana Art & Culture Complex, Hill Spa

You can also visit HERE for more details.

Yakdabang Bomdong

Type: Tea house / Traditional Korean Medicine Clinic

Photo credit: Visit Medical Korea; @tourmatekorea; Timeout.com

Yakdabang Bomdong is more than just your average tea house. Situated at the vibrant and hip neighborhood of Hongdae, it's a unique "traditional medicine salon" that has 2 areas: (1) Bomdong or a Tea room and (2) Saenggang or a Traditional Medicine Clinic at the basement.

This tea salon is founded by 16 Oriental medicine doctors who wants to make traditional herbal medicines, which are perceived to be 'bitter and painful', more appealing to the masses and their palate through aromatic and healthy herbal teas.
Patrons are allowed to choose their drink based on their current health condition or mood. They offer 6 basic medicinal teas or body medicinal teas to relieve physical pain or illness, and 48 customized tea blends to soothe the mental well-being and attract a positive state of mind. Free snacks are also served along with the teas.
Price range: KRW 8,700 (PHP 348 /USD 7.66) to KRW 14,800 (PHP 592/USD 13.02)
Guests can get consultations and tea prescriptions from the on-site qualified and professional traditional medicine doctors while having their tea. They will be asked to fill out a 16-item questionnaire, and also indicate their birth dates because each individual's physical and mental well being are unique, depending on when they were born.
Popular teas in the salon are as follows:

Immunity Tea- for people experiencing skin troubles; This tea blend enhances natural immunity and firmness of the skin
Detoxification Tea- for people who are constantly stressed; This tea blend lightens up the body by discharging toxins
Rejuvenation Tea- for people who are gaining weight and feeling sluggish; This tea blend has an anti-aging effect that restores youthful energy.

Aside from tea, Yakdabang Bomdong offers over 20 medicinal liquors, which are served in teir bar during the evening. The alcohol in these liquors help deliver the active properties of medicinal ingredients deeply into various body parts that normal brewed teas fail to reach.

Another popular service of this tea salon is the foot bath (KRW 10,000/ PHP 400 /USD 8.80). Since the state of our feet can reveal a number of health issues, a good foot bath can be very relaxing and have healing effects. In Yakdabang Bomdong, patrons can choose or have onsite doctors prescribe the herbs that will be infused in their bath water, and they can also choose between a steam or just hot water for their 20-minute foot bath.

Photocredit: @tourmatekorea

Reservations are needed if you want to consult a doctor at Saenggang.

Address: 12-13, World Cup buk-ro 6-gil Mapo-gu, Seoul 03992

Directions:
[Subway] Hongik University(Line 2, Airport railroad ),exit 1.
Exit Gate 1, Hongik University Station (Metro Line 2). Turn right at the Hongik University Intersection. Cross the first crossroad and walk straight on. Turn right at the alley marked by the convenience store “Ministop”. Turn left at the building right next to Hanmi Pharmacy on the first three-way junction you encounter.

Contact no.: 070-4639-2221

Operating Hours: 11:00am-11:00pm

You can visit HERE for more details.

Cheongna Sparex

Type: Hot Springs/ Bath Houses/Spas/ Jjimjilbangs

I've always wanted to try a Jjimjilbang (Korean Sauna), having seen them often in the Korean dramas that I really love watching. If you want to experience the typical Korean Jjimjilbang, then Sparex is the place to go.
People can stay here overnight or up to 24 hours. Hence, travellers on a budget would sometimes use it as cheap lodging or at least a place to spend the night.
Upon check-in, guests are given locker keys, a shirt, a pair of shorts and 2 towels. Shoes aren't allowed inside the spa so you'll have to walk around barefoot.
Sparex facilities include a locker area, various bathing rooms, hot and cold saunas, pools infused with herbal blends, a lounge area, a gym, an internet cafe, a food court and a sleeping area. Although people usually sleep just about anywhere they want in a Jjimjilbang.

Photo credit: jorninseoul.blogspot.com

The lounge area, where people can nap, watch TV, or just relax while eating , is designed like a traditional Korean village.
If it's you're first time in a Korean spa, be prepared and don't get too shocked to see everyone stark naked at the bathing area.
Entrance Fee: KRW 10,000 (PHP 400 /USD 8.80)

Address: Good Morning City Shopping Mall, 247, Jangchungdan-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul,

Directions:
[Subway] Go to Dongdaemun History and Culture Park (Line 2 or 4 or 5)
Go out at exit no. 14 and look for Good Morning City Building. Enter the building and go downstairs to B3 floor where you will see the entrance to Sparex.

Operating Hours: 24 hours

Nearby tourist attraction: Dongdaemun Design Plaza

BUSAN

Cimer Ocean Spa, Paradise Hotel Busan

Type: Hot Springs/ Spas

Photo credit: busanparadisehotel.co.kr; everydaykorean.com; Photo editing by me :)

Get a fantastic view of Busan's Haeundae Beach while relaxing at an open-air hot spring at Paradise Hotel Busan's Cimer Ocean Spa. This spa facility has a serene ambience brought about by the perfect combination of a hot bath, calming waves, and the gorgeous view of the sea and sky seamlessly merging into the horizon.

Photo credit: Everydaykorean.com

The spa floor is designed to be a little higher than the existing spas so guests can enjoy the horizon view of Haeundae.
Cimer can be found at the hotel's 4th floor (main building) and is the best place for guests to enjoy the seaside view while pampering themselves at the spa.

Photo credit: everydaykorean.com

The spa has several pools/'baths' that will help relax and rejuvenate your body (e.g. Red Ginseng Bath, Cinnamon Bath, etc.)
The spa also has an Aqua Bar, where guests can order and, enjoy drinks and food without leaving the pool (a bar in the pool).
Cimer Ocean Spa is open for the hotel's staying guests only, and additional fees are required to be able to use the facility. The guests can however invite friends and family to join them at the spa for higher admission fees.

Photo credit: everydaykorea.com

Fees are at KRW 16,500 for adults (PHP 660 /USD 14.52) and KRW 8,250 for children (PHP 330 /USD 7.26). For invited guests not staying at the hotel, admission fee is KRW 33,000 (PHP 1320/ USD 29.04). This may be increased during peak seasons.

Address: 1408-5, Jung-dong, Haeundae-gu, Busan

Contact no.: +82-51-742-2121

Operating Hours: 8:00am-10:00pm

Website: https://www.busanparadisehotel.co.kr/spa

Centum Spa Land

Type: Hot Springs/ Bath Houses/Spas/ Jjimjilbangs

Photo credit: cnn.com; Photo editing by me :)

Centum Spa Land is one big and luxurious Jjimjilbang at Shinsegae Centum City Department Store, which is the Guinness World Record holder as the largest shopping complex in the world.
Spa Land has 22 spas fed by two different kinds of all-natural spring water pumped up from 1000m underground, 13 distinctively themed 'Jjimjil-bangs' and saunas, and an open-air foot spa, with a maximum occupancy of 1,500 people. The water is sterilized 36 times a day.

Photos by cnn.com

The spa has several restrictions:

Children under 13 aren't allowed inside and minors (18 and below) must be supervised by a guardian (of common gender) after 10pm
People who are drunk, have tattoos, have skin and/or infectious diseases aren't allowed inside the spa.
A guest can only stay at the spa for a maximum of 4 hours. KRW 3,000 (PHP 120/ USD 2.64) will be charged per hour if you exceed 4 hours.
You can leave your valuables in the storage box. No need to bring money inside the spa as everything will be charged to your key. You can just pay everything when you go out.

The 1st floor houses all the 'Jjimjil-bangs' and traditional saunas from all over the world, which have varying temperatures ranging from extremely hot to extremely cold. Some are as follows:

Salt Room (50.5°C)- Using the world-famous rough salt stones from the Himalayas, this facility is said to have a cleansing effect to the skin, promotes blood circulation and increases immunity.
SEV Room (37.9°C)- This facility uses SEV technology which compounds natural ore and metal to generate electrons that help rejuvenate the body by activating cell function and promoting metabolism.
Ice Room (13.7 °C)- It is ideal to enter this room after going through the hot saunas. The reduction of the body heat helps detoxify the skin and promote blood circulation.

Salt Room

SEV Room
Photos by cnn.com

You can find the PC room, restaurant, conference room, and entertainment zone which provides various beautification programs, at the 2nd floor.

Photo by cnn.com

There's also a snack bar that serves bingsu and other vinegar drinks that are said to be good to the skin. Patrons are allowed to eat all around the spa.
If you're too lazy to scrub, you can submit yourself to the capable hands of a professional scrubber ‘ddemiri’ (scrub mistresses). They are trained to give Korean bath house exfoliating treatment called seshin (a.k.a "cleaner than clean" scrubbing).
Admission Fees:

- Adults- Weekdays: KRW 15,000 (PHP 600/ USD 13.20);
Weekends & National Holidays: KRW 18,000 (PHP 720/USD 15.84)

- Students- Weekdays: KRW 12,000 (PHP 480/USD 10.56);
Weekends & National Holidays: KRW 15,000 (PHP 600/ USD 13.20)

- Early-visit ticket & Nighttime ticket-

Weekdays: KRW 10,000 (PHP 400 /USD 8.80);
Weekends & National Holidays: KRW 13,000 (PHP 520/ USD 11.44)

*Guests who spend KRW 10,000 (PHP 400 /USD 8.80) or more inside Spa Land (excluding

admission fee) may stay up to 6 hours

Address: 35, Centumnam-daero, Haeundae-gu, Busan, South Korea
부산광역시 해운대구 센텀남대로 35 (우동)

Directions:
[Subway] Centum City Station (Busan Subway Line 2).
The subway station is directly connected to the complex.

[Bus] From Gimhae Airport, take the Airport Limousine Bus for Centum City.
Get off at the Shinsegae Centum City. It takes about 50 minutes.

* Bus: 5-1, 36, 39, 40, 63, 115, 139, 141, 155, 181, 307 (seated bus), 1001 (rapid bus), 1002 (rapid bus)

Contact no.: (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) • For more info: +82-51-745-2900

Operating Hours: 6:00am- 12:00am (closed once a month)

Website: www.shinsegae.com

Nearby Tourist attractions: Shinsegae Centum City, Busan Museum of Art, Busan Cinema Center, etc.

You can also visit HERE for more details. Thank you also to 2worldwanderers.com and cnn.com.

~~~

Have you chosen your wellness destination of choice?

Currently, Visit Medical Korea is running a poll on all 7 destinations. You can visit their event page and vote for your favorite. You might even win free plane tickets to Korea or hotel accommodations. Just go to the event page HERE for more details.

As for me, my choice would be Centum Spa Land in Busan. As I've mentioned, one of my Korea bucket list is to try the Jjimjilbang and Spa Land is one giant and luxurious Jjimjilbang at the largest shopping complex in the world! I was so curious and really want to try their spas and themed saunas.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed reading. Thank you for visiting my blog and please let me know if you now of other must-visit wellness destinations in Korea :)

~~~

Interested about Korean Tourism? Check out the Korea Tourism Organization Official Website, and follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

For Filipinos, follow Korea Tourism Organization Manila at Facebook, Twitter, and KakaoTalk (@ktomanila) for the latest updates on Korea tourism, events, tour packages and promos. :)

5 useful tips for anyone travelling to Korea

noreply@blogger.com (Lucky) — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 14:10:00 +0000

Are you planning to travel to Korea soon?
I remember being very anxious on my first trip to Korea but I was busy then so I hardly had time for research.
After the trip there was so many things I wish I knew, like where to get discounted tickets, or free services that I could have taken advantage of when I was there. That's why I want to share some of the services, policies and apps that I'm sure would be helpful to anyone who's about to visit Korea.

1. Take advantage of the IMMEDIATE TAX REFUND.

Photo credit: VisitKorea.or.kr

Many countries offer tax refund for tourists, but Korea went out of its way to make things even easier for their foreign visitors by offering an immediate tax refund service. Usually, you need to claim your tax refund at the airport but they made it more convenient by giving the tax refund right after you make your purchase.
Launched last January 2016, the immediate tax refund applies to purchases of less than 200,000 up to 1,000,000 KRW total value per visit at non-duty free shops. The new system seeks to help tourists save time and effort in getting their tax refunds.
For more info on the immediate tax refund service, you may check out [visitkorea.or.kr] or the website of Korea's Ministry of Strategy and Finance [www.mosf.go.kr]

2. Download useful MOBILE APPS for tourists

Photo credit: VisitKorea.or.kr

If you're visiting Korea for the first time, and you're worried about finding your way around, fret

not because there are a lot of useful mobile applications that you can use while travelling in Korea.

Visit Korea Mobile App

- Created by Korea Tourism Organization, this mobile app provides detailed information and

various options for tourist attractions, restaurants, accomodations, shopping, etc. There are

various travel courses and self-guided tours that you can explore too, which can come in
handy especially if you're the adventurous DIY type of tourist.

- My favorite feature is the step-by-step guide in reaching a certain destination. For example, if
I'm done shopping in Myeongdong and want to go to Insadong, the app will tell you exactly

how to go there from your current location.

- Various discount coupons are also offered in the app to make your journey more enjoyable.

The app is offered in English, Chinese, and Japanese.

- For detailed information on the Visit Korea Mobile App, you can visit [visitkorea.or.kr]

i Tour Seoul Mobile App

- This mobile app is the official travel guide to Seoul, which was launched in 2009. It offers
comprehensive travel information for anyone travelling in Seoul which includes Top 10 lists,

recommended tourist attractions, accomodation options, events and festivals, a subway map,

and real-time bus information, among many other features.

- My favorite feature are the reviews from real travellers, as well as reservation services,
which are very convenient especially if you're always on the go.

- The app is offered in 5 languages, which includes English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese,

Traditional Chinese, and Korean.

- For more information on the i Tour Seoul Mobile App, you may visit [visitseoul.net]

Smart Tour Guide

- The Smart Tour Guide is an audio guide service that gives you information on the history and

culture of Korean tourist spots for a more enjoyable tour experience.

- The app offers various themed tours like the Silla History Tour, Baekje History Tour, and

Gaya History Tour. There are also walking and city tours, traditional temple trips, and

UNESCO World Heritage Site tours among many others.

- The app is offered in English, Japanese, Chinese and Korean.

- For more information on the Smart Tour Guide App, you may visit [visitkorea.or.kr] or

[apple.com]

3. Buy the DISCOVER SEOUL PASS to get discounted entrance fees to various tourist attractions.

With this special tourism pass, you can get great discounts on entrance fees to 16 amazing attractions in Seoul! You can also use this card to pay at convenience stores and as transportation card (like the T-Money Card).
The card costs 39,000 KRW, which lets you save 70% on admission fees. It also allows you to save 10-20% on Seoul City Tour Bus tickets.
You can buy the pass online, in Incheon Airport, as well as in various offline sites in Seoul. For more information on the Discover Seoul Pass, you may visit [visitseoul.net]

4. Visit ONEMORETRIP.NET and get amazing deals on travel-related packages.

If you're looking for travel-related packages, and activities in Korea, then Onemoretrip.net is a good and reliable website to go to. It's an online open market platform, which is operated by Seoul Tourism Organization.
You can mix and match travel-packages, or make your own custom tour. It's a good place to look for unique activities for a more remarkable experience in Korea.
The website is user-friendly and offers really economical prices. You can book themed tours, cultural activities, tickets to performances, and many more.

5. Try and take advantage of the HANDS FREE SERVICE to spare yourself from carrying heavy luggages.

If you've just arrived in Korea, and are worried about your luggages, you can take advantage of their Hands Free Service. It features delivery service for purchased goods, luggage storage services at major tourist areas, and luggage delivery service from the airport to your hotel. This is especially useful if you're too excited or have limited time and want to start touring right away.
You can check out vkc.or.kr, http://www.khandsfree.com/ and their FB page for more details.

Hope you find these tips useful, and hopefully, these will help you enjoy your trip more! :)

~~~

Interested about Korean Tourism? Check out the Korea Tourism Organization Official Website, and follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

For Filipinos, follow Korea Tourism Organization Manila at Facebook, Twitter, and KakaoTalk (@ktomanila) for the latest updates on Korea tourism, events, tour packages and promos. :)

KTO Manila announces new Wow Korea Supporters for 2017

noreply@blogger.com (Lucky) — Sun, 02 Apr 2017 13:11:00 +0000

Last March 30, 2017, KTO Manila finally announced their new Wow Korea Supporters for 2017, and I'm so happy that I was once again given the opportunity to be one of the 50 supporters.

Wow Korea Supporters are tasked to promote Korea Tourism and KTO Manila through their SNS accounts. They can share KTO Manila's post or create their own posts, blogs, and promotional videos related to Korea Tourism or KTO Manila. They are also tasked to submit monthly reports about the said posts to KTO Manila.

This year's selection process for the supporters seem to be more stringent than previous years as qualifications for the applicants have been narrowed down, and the screening committee is also bigger with the addition of partners like Travelers In Progress- TRIP, UST CTHM STS and Ateneo Korean Studies Program.

The supporters are also in for an even bigger challenge as specific themes will be given each week on what topic to promote. They'll be required to have 3 posts related to the theme each week, but they're also free to post other Korean-related topics.

So far, a total of 36 supporters have been announced already and 14 more will be announced in the coming days.

At the end of the year, the Best Wow Korea Supporter among all 50 supporters will win a tour package to Korea. I truly hope to win that package and promise to work harder this year (Fighting!).

Being a Wow Korea Supporter is a truly rewarding experience that requires commitment, determination, and a genuine love for all things Korean. I've certainly enjoyed and have learned a lot from my first year as supporter (2015). I've been consistently promoting Korea (and have grown more in-love with the country) since.

Congratulations to all of the new supporters and I look forward to all the activities of KTO Manila Wow Korea Supporters this year!

Many thanks again to Korea Tourism Organization Manila, and it's partners, Philippine Kpop Convention, Travelers In Progress- TRIP, UST CTHM STS and Ateneo Korean Studies Program, for this wonderful opportunity :)

~~~

Planning to visit Korea? For information about Korean Tourism, you may visit the Korea Tourism Organization Official page, and follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

For Filipinos, follow Korea Tourism Organization Manila at Facebook, Twitter, and KakaoTalk (@ktomanila) for the latest updates on Korea tourism, events, tour packages and promos. :)

One K Global Peace Concert unites Kpop fans in Manila

noreply@blogger.com (Lucky) — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 17:25:00 +0000

It was the usual rush hour on a Thursday evening. I left work early to make it before the show starts. When I arrived, I was actually quite surprised to see so many people attending a concert on a weekday. But well, you can never underestimate the love of Filipino Kpop fans, because this night, seven fandoms gathered to watch their favorite K-idols perform in a very unique and symbolic concert.

March 2, 2017 marked another milestone in the history of Kpop in the Philippines as One K Global Peace Concert Tour, a concert rallying for global support for the reunification of Korea, made its first stop in Manila. Thousands of Kpop fans convened at the SM Mall of Asia Arena to see popular Kpop artists such as BTOB, B.A.P, B1A4, AOA, CNBlue, SHINee and PSY!

Unlike most Kpop concerts I’ve watched, which either starts with a teaser video of the performers or sometimes a front act featuring local artists, One K Global Peace Concert started with a brief overview of the One K Global Campaign, which includes the history of Korea and how war made it the only divided nation in the world.

Korean host Sam Oh was also there to introduce some significant personalities behind the event such as internationally renowned producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who co-produced the One K global campaign song; and Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon, the founder and Chairman of the Global Peace Foundation, a leading international non-profit organization which co-organized the concert tour.

There was also a ‘Dove soaring high segment’ where huge white dove-shaped balloons held by VIPs from different nations were released inside the Arena. This was done while everyone waved their glowsticks and cheered “One dream! One Korea! One World!” as loudly as they can, a symbolic act in wishing for a unified Korea and global peace.

Free lightsticks were given to fans during the concert.

The SM Mall of Asia Arena became a sea of Blue and Green lightsticks, which coincidentally symbolizes the colors of the 2 main fandoms who attended the concert: the Boices (CNBLUE fans) and the Shawols (Shinee fans).

Concert Highlights: It’s show time!

B.A.P.

After the introduction, the fans went wild as they knew that the concert was about to start. Kpop boy group B.A.P. was first to show off their prowess as they perform their hits ‘Skydive’, ‘One Shot’, and ‘No Mercy’, wowing the crowd with their powerful vocals and superb dancing skills.

BAP members Youngjae, Daehyun, Himchan, Jongup, and Zelo stood on the spotlight as they prepare to perform their last song for the night, the crowd favorite ‘No Mercy’.

In between groups, AOA’s Seolhyun and SHINee’s Min Ho also amused fans with their hosting, keeping their energy on a high. The two even excited fans further as they shift roles from host to performer and back again.

B1A4

Of course, B1A4 certainly didn’t let the crowd’s energy to falter as they sent everyone on party mode with their cute dance moves and upbeat music. They performed ‘Beautiful Target,’ ‘Baby Goodnight,’ and ‘What’s Happening’, making everyone fall in love with their charms and endearing performance. They also showed everyone their aegyos (cute poses), and leader Jin Young earned the most screams and was crowd favorite.

B1A4 members Baro, Sandeul, Gongchan, CNU, and Jinyoung doing their cute aegyos in front of the audience.

Tribute to Kdrama fans

The night wasn’t only meant for Kpop fans as there was also a tribute for Filipino Kdrama fans as OSTs from top Korean drama series such as ‘Descendants of the Sun’, ‘Moonlight Drawn by Clouds’, ‘Boys Over Flowers’, and ‘My Sassy Girl’ were performed by the Kpop artists. The crowd was nostalgic as they sang along the familiar lyrics and was even more delighted to see their favorite scenes flashed on screen.

'Descendants of the Sun' OST ‘You are My Everything’ was performed by AOA's Choa. Other OSTs that were performed are ‘Swallowing my Heart’ from 'Moonlight Drawn by the Clouds' by B1A4's Sandeul, 'Paradise' from Boys Over Flowers by BAP’s Youngjae and Daehyun, and Shin Seung Hoon’s ‘I believe’ from 'My Sassy Girl' also by AOA's Choa.

AOA

Girl power is certainly very much present that night as AOA amused the crowd with their girly charms, angelic voices, and sexy performance. They were adorable and eye candy as ever as they performed songs ‘Excuse Me’, ‘Miniskirt’, and ‘Heart Attack’. They also showed some aegyos too, much to the delight of their male fans.

BTOB (Born to Beat)

Perhaps one of the most anticipated parts of the concert, was BTOB’s set as Philippine Melodies (their fanclub’s name) have really missed them since their last visit to Manila in 2015.

Fans sang along while the members perform ‘Pray (I’ll Be Your Man),’ and ‘Beep, Beep.’

“Wow, nice to meet you Manila!..I missed you! How have you been Manila?,” BTOB leader Eunkwang asked.

“Hi Philippines! Long time no see!...Louder! Louder! Louder!,” shouted Yook Sung Jae, prodding the crowd to scream even louder for him. Known to be the group’s adorable maknae (youngest member) and for his famous role as Yoo Deok Hwa in the recently concluded Kdrama hit, ‘Goblin: The Lonely & Great God’, he was darling of the crowd that night. He was so amazed at the fans’ support for him that he later said “I love Philippines!”

The group later on invited everyone to do the peace sign, as they briefly talked about the noble cause behind the concert. They ended their set with their hit single “Wow”.

CNBLUE

Next in line was Kpop star CNBLUE, whose fans comprised almost a third of the crowd in the arena. Having been missed by their supporters for almost two years, the screaming got even louder when it was their turn.

“Long time no see! Thank you for waiting. Thank you for screaming. I love you! Today is 2017 Global Peace Concert One Korea in Manila,” said CNBLUE leader Jung Yonghwa. He’s indeed a total performer as he sent everyone’s energy on a high with his superb vocals and suave dance moves . His fan service also made a lot the girls’ hearts flutter as he threw hearts and kisses in the air while walking around the stage.

The CNBLUE boys made the crowd roar louder with their insanely amazing performance of songs “Can't Stop,” “Cinderella,” and “You're so Fine”.

After this, BTOB’s Eunkwang and Hyunsik went back onstage to perform a special acoustic rendition of ‘Anak’ by Freddie Aguilar, with Filipino actor Cesar Montano on guitar. The audience was surprised with Eunkwang’s perfect Tagalog accent and cheered throughout the entire song.

SHINee

Of course, the night wouldn’t be complete without the electrifying performance from Kpop boy group SHINee, whose energetic dance moves and powerful vocals impressed everyone in the audience. They totally rocked the arena as they performed songs ‘View’, ‘One of one’, and ‘Everybody’.

Thousands of Shawols gave the boys a standing ovation while singing their hearts out to each song. The fans were so happy to see their idols again that they started chanting “Shinee! Shinee!”. The group heard this and joined in the chanting.

PSY

The last artist to perform was Korean superstar Psy with his hits ‘Napal Baji,’ ‘Gentleman’, and of course, ‘Oppa Gangnam Style’, which made everyone jump and dance. He also performed a heartwarming song that speaks about the hardships and sacrifices of fathers for their families titled “Daddy’.

Finale: A Call for Korean Reunification and Global Peace

The night ended with all the artists singing the One K Global Campaign song, which serves as the anchor of the entire concert. There were fireworks onstage and confetti filled the center of the arena as wonderful music filled the air.

After the song, CNBLUE’s Jung Yong Hwa walked to the center stage and started bowing and bidding everyone goodbye. His example was followed by the other artists as everyone soon started bowing and waving to the audience.

It was indeed an awesome and unforgettable night as fans were all smiles as they left the venue. All the artists not only showed exemplary showmanship but also great love for fans with their excellent fan service.

Moreover, aside from just fun and entertainment, this concert served as a call for continued support for the dream of a peaceful reunification of the Korean people and global peace, a noble cause that’s truly worth supporting.

Now more than ever, the One K Concert attests to the power and influence of Hallyu in the Philippines, as well as the strong Philippine-Korean ties, which goes as far back as the 1950s when the former gave assistance to the latter during the Korean war.

The One K Global Concert Tour is set to take place in other countries like the United States, China, and Japan among others. It’s Manila leg was organized by KBS Media and ONE K Global Campaign Organizing committee, in partnership with All Access Productions. #

[FANGIRL ADVENTURES] Moffatts in Manila: The Farewell Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Lucky) — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 06:57:00 +0000

Before Kpop, or any of the things that I fangirl about, I was a huge Moffatt fan back in high school. They were the first group that made me realize how much of a fangirl I can be. And the best thing was, I shared the entire experience with my childhood best friends.

My favorite was Clint, and each of my friends chose one member too. We'd buy song books, watch MTV everyday so we can see their videos, we'd request for their songs, buy their albums, go to their concerts (and beg our parents to buy us tickets!), and I remember printing out tons of Moffatt photos in a whole rim of bond paper (I first got addicted to the internet because of them). It was all pretty crazy, and one of the best moments of my teens.

I was really happy to see them again recently. Now they're all grown up (we all are). Bob is now married, and Clint has a girlfriend and is becoming a dad. He and Bob now have their own group called Endless Summer. Dave, although he did not attend the concert, turns out to be a yoga master now. And Scott is a solo artist still writing and composing his own songs.

I took lots of photos and videos from their concert here in Manila last February 18 and would like to share some here :) I promise to upload the rest when I have the time.

Korea: A must-visit destination for coffee lovers

noreply@blogger.com (Lucky) — Sat, 28 Jan 2017 20:19:00 +0000

Don’t you just love to sit back and relax while drinking a cup of coffee in a nice, ambient cafe? You can read a good book or two, chat with friends, or even listen to good music while savoring that cup of Americano or Caramel Latte. If you’re like me who can’t get by a day without drinking coffee, then you may want to experience Korea’s infamous coffee culture.

Compared to tea, coffee can be considered a newcomer in the Korean market. Based on historical data, tea has been in Korea since as early as year 661, while Emperor Gojong only introduced coffee in 1896. But unlike many Asian countries where tea is the preferred drink, Koreans are generally coffee lovers. They love it so much that in a recent study (2013), it was said that Koreans consume coffee at an average of 12.2 times per week, which is more than their average consumption of their national dish, Kimchi.

Coffee consumption has also become a status symbol among Koreans. From being a representation of western culture, which was first consumed by the wealthy and elite, to being a trend or a kind of ‘social glue’ that brings people together, Korea’s coffee culture has indeed evolved rapidly over the years, and there’s no stopping the industry’s growth just yet.

In a 2015 study, it was revealed that Seoul hotels were said to have the world’s most expensive coffee with an average price of KRW 10,000, and Starbucks is said to be the most expensive in Seoul than in any other city in the world at around 4-5 dollars at minimum. But despite the surge in coffee prices, Koreans continue to consume coffee.

Seoul hotels have the most expensive coffee in the world- Hotels.com 2015 Club Sandwich Index

Considered as the third biggest coffee drinker in Asia, Korea is home to around 49,600 cafes as of 2015, 17,000 of which can be found in Seoul. No wonder café-hopping, a term that means to patronize a number of different cafes on a single outing, is becoming a popular activity there. Cafe streets, areas that are lined with coffee shops, have also started to emerge and are becoming more popular in recent years.

I’ve had my own share of café-hopping in Seoul, and I’d have to say the experience is nothing short of amazing. There are about 2-5 cafes in every street, so at times you can literally hop on the coffee shop next door. My most favorite places to satiate my caffeine addiction are Myeongdong, Gangnam, Hongdae and Samcheongdong, and I’ve identified at least 4 types of cafes there according to ownership and style:

(1) Mainstream
(2) Themed
(3) Traditional/Hanok
(4) Celebrity-owned

~~~

Mainstream Cafes

Mainstream Cafes are popular coffee shop chains that have branches all over the world. A good example for this is Starbucks, which has record-breaking achievements in Korea. Currently, Seoul holds the record as the city with the most number of Starbucks branches in the world and Korea is also ranked as the 3rd country with the most number of licensed Starbucks stores at 952 in total as of 3rd quarter of 2016.

Other big players that you can find all over Korea are Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Seattle’s Best Coffee, and Gloria Jean’s, among others.

There are also popular homegrown cafes like Angel-in-us Coffee, Caffe Bene, and Tom N Toms.

If you’re a Hallyu fan, you’ll probably have an idea about how huge the mainstream coffee industry is in Korea. Cafes are a popular meet-up or dating place in Kdramas, and are sometimes also used as filming locations for Kpop music videos. The popularity of some coffee shops is even attributed to their exposure in entertainment shows.

Caffe Bene. Remember the famous foam kiss of Kim Joo Won (Hyun Bin) and Gil Ra Im (Ha Ji Won) in Secret Garden episode 10? It was filmed at Caffe Bene in Seongbuk-gu.☕

Address: 120-2 Dongseo-dong 1(IL)-Ga, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul

Dal Komm Coffee. Some of the best scenes of Descendant of the Sun were filmed at Dal Komm Coffee. In fact, the drama featured 3 Dal Komm coffee branches located in Songdo, Bundang, and Yangjae. The scenes above from DOTS episode 13 (double date and fist bump scene) were shot at the Songdo branch.☕

Address: 23-5 Songdo 2(i)-dong, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, South Korea

Themed Cafes

If you like drinking coffee with style, then themed cafes might suit your taste. These are coffee shops where everything; be it food, architecture, music, etc., revolves around a central concept, which can pretty much be anything under the sun. This is also the reason why each café offers something unique--because the owner’s creativity, individual taste and passion for coffee are infused in it.

Pet lover? Bookworm? Movie addict? I’m pretty sure there’s a themed café that will appeal to your fancy. The cafes feature a wide variety of subjects- from animals/pets, art, fashion, fruits, food, cartoon characters, foreign countries, and even movies.

I’ve seen quite a few themed cafes when I was in Korea. To name a few, I’ve seen a yarn store with a coffee shop, a café with a full banana concept, a vintage-themed café, and a café with a Lego theme. There’s even a Hello Kitty themed café complete with all the pink stuff!

Hello Kitty Café. This café is one of my favorites!

I love how girly and cute it is and how great of a hang out place it can be.☕

Address: 364-14, Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea

You can check out my review of Hello Kitty Cafe HERE.

Slow Park. This small café-cum-bistro in the quaint and serene neighborhood of Samcheongdong offers a unique setting that combines elegance and warmth, as well as modernity and tradition. This place is becoming a popular venue for magazine shoots and TV interviews with celebrities.☕

Address: 15-2, Samcheon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
You can check out my review of Slow Park HERE.

Traditional/ Hanok-style Cafes

The earliest coffee shops in Korea were called dabang (다방). Nowadays, there are only a few traditional dabangs left in Seoul, but probably a good alternative to this is a Hanok (한옥) Café.

The Hanok is the traditional Korean home, which is known for its beautiful architecture. They are usually characterized by wooden pillars and floors (daecheong maru대청마루 ), clay walls and roofs, and Hanji, a traditional Korean paper which can be found pasted on flat surfaces like doors and windows for their insulating capacity and transparency.

A number of Hanoks were renovated and turned into cafes around Insa-dong and Bukchon Hanok Village. These shops are perfect for those who want a unique Korean coffee experience. They even offer traditional teas, snacks, and Korean rice cakes and desserts such as Bingsu, to complement the ambience. Some also offer alcoholic beverages such as beer and cocktails.

Luden Loquen Space (Café LN). A nice Hanok style café with an elegant traditional ambience in Bukchon that boasts of its Korean Black Raspberry Latte and Glutinous Rice Cake Waffle. ☕

Address: 5, Bukchon-ro 5na-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Photo credit: visitkorea.or.kr; kimcheeguesthouse.com

Celebrity Owned Cafes

For Kpop fans and Kdrama lovers, there are also all sorts of celebrity-owned cafes, which reflect the personality of the owners, and often times feature their most prized collections.

Aside from coffee and pastries, most celebrity-owned cafes also sell idol-inspired merchandise like mugs, tumblers, shirts, and even signed posters and albums, which serve as popular souvenirs for fans.

At times, they also have a fan mailbox, where you can leave messages of support to your idol.

Celebrity-owned cafes are a popular hangout place for fangirls as they’re the perfect place to meet and become friends with other fans, as well as get a glimpse of their favorite Korean idols in person. If you’re particularly lucky, you may even catch them hanging out with some of their idol friends. Just make sure to not be too overexcited and not invade their privacy. Picture taking is sometimes not allowed so be sure to ask permission first. If your idol is in a good mood, who knows he/she might even agree to a selfie!^^

Wiki Café. This cute café in Samcheongdong is owned by Super Junior member Lee Sungmin. Being a huge Super Junior fan, I was really ecstatic to visit this café. I was even lucky to have a selfie with Sungmin’s younger brother, Lee Sungjin!☕

Address: 51 Sagan-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
You can check out my review of Wiki Cafe HERE.

Café J Holic. JYJ member, Kim Jae Joong, owns this café. The minimalist feel and modern ambience reflects Jaejoong’s sophisticated style.☕

Address: 3rd & 4th Floor, 8 Myeongdong 6gil, Chung-gu, Seoul or 54-6 Myeongdong 2-ga,
Chung-gu, Seoul

13 Reasons Why You Should Visit South Korea (and why I DEFINITELY want to go back)

noreply@blogger.com (Lucky) — Sun, 27 Nov 2016 01:19:00 +0000

I was 12 when I told myself that there’s no such thing as love at first sight, but I was wrong, because in 2003, I fell in-love at first sight in Korea.

Prior to my visit, my only dream then was to visit Korea to satisfy my addiction for Kdrama and Kpop—buy Kpop merchandise & Korean cosmetics, watch a Kpop concert, and visit filming locations. But after seeing my dream face to face, and realizing that reality was so much better than what I dreamt of, I fell in-love and found a new dream. I want to see and discover more of Korea. I want to share my experience to other people too, especially those who’ve been curious about the country, wondering whether it’s worth the visit or not.

If you haven’t visited Korea yet, here are 13 reasons why I think you should (and why I DEFINITELY want to go back):

1. Eco-tourism

– If you’re like me who loves the calming effect of nature, likes to see and take pictures of breathtaking landscapes, or just to do a little walking, trekking, or hiking here and there, then Korea is the place to be. You can visit nature reserves/national parks, arboretums, botanical gardens, eco-trails and other eco-tourism sites. I’m particularly interested in visiting DMZ, the most dangerous nature reserve in the world, which remains practically untouched since 1953, and also look forward to visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site and volcanic island of Jeju.

What’s on my bucketlist (Places I want to visit)?:

Jeju Island (Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak & Mt. Halla), Seoul Forest, Bukhansan National Park, Seoraksan National Park, Suncheon Bay, Boseong Tea Fields, Jirisan National Park, Garden of the Morning Calm

Seoraksan National Park. Photo Credit: Korea Tourism Organization

2. Hallyu a.k.a Korean Cultural Wave

- Since the 1990s, the popularity of Korean Culture & Entertainment have grown immensely, and this has been greatly attributed to Kdrama (Korean Drama), and Kpop (Korean Pop) Music. Despite the language difference, people all over the world have come to idolize Korean artists. The likes of Super Junior, Bigbang, Girls Generation, Psy, Lee Min Ho, Song Joong Ki, Song Hye Kyo, and Jun Ji Hyun, among others, have all become household names, capturing the hearts of fans from different parts of the world.

There’s just something unique, and intangible about Kpop and Kdrama that draws people to it. The charming visuals, unique concepts and storylines, or the breathtaking filming sites perhaps? Watch a Kdrama and you would most certainly want to watch them again and again. Listen to a Kpop song, and pretty soon, you’ll be trying to memorize lyrics you may not even know the meaning of. And of course, at the bottom of it all, you’d want to visit Korea so badly to see your favorite idols in the flesh, watch them perform live in a concert and visit all those filming locations of your favorite dramas. Isn’t the power of culture amazing?

What’s on my bucketlist?:

Visit the filming sites of my favorite Kdramas--Descendants of the Sun, Moon Lovers: Scarlett Heart Ryeo and Moonlight Drawn by Clouds; Watch a Korean Music Show live; Watch another Kpop concert!^^

Cheonjuho Lake at Pocheon Art Valley, a filming location of Moon Lovers: Scarlett Heart Ryeo

3. Korean Food (Hansik)-

I found Korean cuisine as one of the best I’ve tasted in the world. Before, I had the impression that most Korean dishes are spicy, but when I finally tried them, I found them really flavourful, appealing, healthy and really delicious. There's so much more to it than what meets the eye (or the palate for that matter), because even in their cuisine, Koreans apply the philosophy of balance in terms of colors and ingredients. I also love how each meal in Korea has a lot of banchan (side dishes), which makes the meal more appetizing.

From street food to local specialties and even desserts, Korean food is really irresistible, so be prepared to get a few extra pounds and stray from your diet when you visit Korea.

What’s on my bucketlist (Food I want to try again):

Ramyun, Gimbap, Dakgalbi, Bingsu, Bulgogi, Korean Beef Stew, Bibimbap, Jajangmyeon, Tangsuyuk, Japchae, ChiMaek, Bibimyeon, Tteokbokki, Hotteok, Kimchi, Sundubu Jiggae, Samgyeopsal, Bossam, Samgyetang, Haemul Pajeon (this list is making me hungry!)

My favorite dessert, Korean Bingsu!

Bibimbap :)

One of my favorites, Chuncheon Dakgalbi! ^^

4. Tourist Spots

- Boring is a word that doesn’t exist in Korea. There’s just so much to see and do! You can visit Korean Palaces, take a stroll in a traditional village, meditate in a temple, or have an exciting day at a theme park.

I find Korea also very safe and tourist friendly with lots of tourism centers, downloadable travel apps, and incentives and freebies being offered specifically to foreign visitors. In Seoul, there’s even a helpline specifically set up for tourists.

What’s on my bucketlist?:

Visit all 100 must-visit sites (HERE), some that I really want to visit are Jongmyo Shrine, Blue House, Moonlight tours at Changdeokgung Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village, Petite France, Nami Island, Everland, Suwon Hwaseong Fortress

My photo with the palace guard at Deoksugung Palace

One of our photos at the Trickeye Museum. It's a fun place to hang out :)

5. Weather & Climate

Korea has moderate weather conditions with four seasons (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter). My favorite time to visit is Autumn. I love the cool weather during this time of the year. I remember that it all felt so magical and surreal when I first saw all that color, and natural vibrance. It was like going inside a painting with warm hues of red, orange, and yellow, everywhere.

What’s on my bucketlist:

I also look forward to seeing cherry blossoms during Spring, and experiencing snow, skiing and having a White Christmas for the first time, during winter in Korea!

My favorite picture of autumn taken at Gyeongbokgung Palace :)

6. Art

- Hanbok, the colorful traditional Korean clothing, reflects the unique and expressive artistic sense of Koreans. No wonder the Korean art industry has sparked the interest and gained the admiration of many people all over the world. You can see how artistic Koreans are through their fashion, their architecture, theatrical performances, and everyday lives.

My favorite example for this would be Korean street art. I like how they use art to transform less attractive areas in the community. Try walking around Seoul, and you’ll see attractive murals and amusing structures everywhere.

What’s on my bucketlist:

Mullae Village; Apgujeong Graffiti Tunnel; Songwol-dong Fairytale Village in Incheon; Heyri Art Valley; Ewha Women’s University; Dongdaemun Design Plaza; I also want to watch non-verbal shows like Nanta and Fanta-Stick

LED Roses at Dongdaemun Design Plaza. Photo credit: VisitSeoul.net

7. People

- Koreans are one of the friendliest people I know. They’re warm, genuinely nice, thoughtful and always respectful, especially to elders. It’s really easy to get along with them, even with the language barrier. One of my fears in visiting Korea before was that nobody would be able to understand me, especially if I'm lost and asking for directions. But I was proven wrong because I've encountered several instances where they would go out of their way to help a total stranger like me.

What's on my bucketlist:

Meet up with my Korean friends in Seoul; meet any of my favorite Korean artists in person :)

8. Technology

- South Korea is definitely at the forefront of technological advancements as it is hailed as one of the most wired countries in the world, with the fastest broadband internet that has an average connection speed of 25.3 / 26.7megabits (mbps) per second, and fastest mobile internet speed at an average connection speed of 18.2 mbps. I definitely took advantage of this during my previous visits, as I can upload hundreds of photos in my social media accounts in a matter of minutes via Seoul’s free 5G public wi-fi. There’s also no need to worry about connection, especially in Seoul, because there’s free public wifi access everywhere.

What's on my bucketlist:

Try the free mobile phone rental for tourists

9. Cosmetics

- Don’t we all envy flawless and healthy looking Korean Skin? I’m a huge fan of Korean Cosmetics as I find them really good for skin care. Since Korean make-up is more expensive in my country, I usually shop in bulk for a few months’ supply when I’m in Korea. My favorite place to shop is in Myeongdong because they usually give a lot of freebies along with my purchase.

What’s on my bucketlist?:

Cosmetic shopping spree at my favorite stores--The Face Shop, Etude House, Tony Moly, Innisfree, Nature Republic

Some of my favorite items from Etude House ^^

10. Festivals

- Just like my country, Korea is home to many exciting festivals, some of which really sparked my interest... Ever heard of a Chicken & Beer Festival? How about a Mud, or a Water Gun Festival? If you’d like to try them, better take note of their dates to avoid missing them out.

What’s on my bucketlist?:

Daegu Chimaek Festival, Boryeong Mud Festival, Seoul Lantern Festival, Andong Mask Dance Festival, Jindo Miracle Sea Road Festival, Yeouido Cherry Blossom Festival, Boseong Green Tea Festival, Sinchon Water Gun Festival, Goyang Flower Festival

Some photos I took from the Seoul Lantern Festival:

People were making DIY lanterns and writing their wishes on them.

The lanterns were then set afloat along the Cheonggyecheon stream

11. Transportation

- I find travelling in Korea really convenient as you have a wide variety of options (from trains, buses, ferries, cabs, etc.) to choose from. Their transportation system is really efficient, so driving your own car may not be advisable (plus parking can be expensive). You can go anywhere within minutes just by train, which is cheap, fast, and reliable.

Because of my tight itinerary, I once had to visit a celebrity owned café prior to watching a concert. At first, I thought I would be late because it was rush hour but I made it just in time, all thanks to the super fast and convenient Seoul Subway :)

Also, if you’re a foreigner visiting Korea, and don’t know your way around, fret not because there are a variety of apps that you can use to navigate around.

What’s on my bucketlist?

Ride the KTX train going to Busan (haha, and yes, it's because of the movie 'Train to Busan'); Try the Han River Cruise; Try the Seoul Bus Tours

My friends and I enjoying our train ride at the ITX (Intercity Train eXpress)- Cheongchun High Speed Train

12. Coffee Culture

- I’m a self-confessed coffee addict, and Korea has tons of really nice cafes. From themed cafes, to Hanok-style cafes, and my favorite, celebrity owned cafes, you’ll definitely be in for a treat and have a hard time deciding which to visit first. In Seoul alone, you can find some 50,000 coffee shops. Now, that’s a lot of café-hopping in my itinerary.

What’s on my bucket list?:

Kim Jaejoong’s J-holic Café in Myeongdong; Forresta Book Café; Café Healing 616 in Gangnam; Super Junior Kyuhyun's Mom House & Cafe; Hello Kitty Cafe in Jeju; Dal.komm Coffee in Songdo, Yangjae, and Bundang (because of Descendants of the Sun)

Slow Park in Samcheongdong

Hello Kitty Cafe in Hongdae

13. Medical Tourism-

Korea is becoming a popular place to get essential health treatments. Personally, I like Korea Medical Tourism’s philosophy of taking care of their patients inside and out, improving their over-all health and well-being, and even considering their cultural differences in terms of religion and nationality. With that kind of philosophy, along with world class medical procedures, and top caliber doctors, I believe visiting Korea for medical reasons is worth it. Their costs are also relatively lower, especially as compared to western countries. (For more details on medical tourism in Korea, you can check out the Visit Medical Korea website HERE)

What’s on my bucket list?:

Templestay; Traditional Korean Medicine Detox Steam; skin care treatments that will help keep my skin looking young and healthy (I think these are very appropriate for people like me who experience constant stress)

Photo credit: http://eng.templestay.com/

I hope my list convinced you to push through with your very own #VisitKorea trip! ^^

Through all these things (and MORE!), I found love in Korea--- love from all the new friends I’ve met, love for photography and travel, love for culture, love for adventures, love in pursuing the things that matter to me, love for living and appreciating life more.

My love affair with Korea opened many doors that I never imagined would be there. I’ve met a lot of new friends not only from my country but also from other parts of the world. I gained a lot of wonderful experiences that would always be a source of inspiration and strength. And for all that, Korea will forever be dear to my heart. I may visit other countries, but it will always be my second home, a place that I would always want to go back to. :)

~~~

This article is my entry for Global Wow Korea. I want to be part of it because it’s another opportunity for me to discover more about the beautiful country that opened so many doors for me.

In my own little way, I want to give back by helping promote Korea and sharing my experiences to the world, so that others may also be encouraged to explore it.

If you want to know more about Global Wow Korea, you can check out the post below or visit their website HERE.

Thank you, and I hope you enjoy reading my post!

[SEOUL ATTRACTIONS] 2016 Top 10 Hallyu Hotspots in Seoul

noreply@blogger.com (Lucky) — Sun, 16 Oct 2016 17:21:00 +0000

Seoul Metropolitan Government recently conducted an online survey on the top 10 Hallyu Hotspots in the city, and the results are already out. If you're going to Seoul for the first time, these places may be a good starting point and are surely worth the visit, especially if you're a hallyu fan like me.
I was able to visit some of the places among the 10 hotspots and I'd like to share some of the photos I took from way back 2013, and last 2015. I do hope to be able to finally visit all 10 in the future! :)

Here's the TOP 10 HALLYU HOTSPOTS in SEOUL:

1- N Seoul Tower

I think this deserves the number 1 spot since its one of the most popular, most romantic (and my favorite^^) landmarks of Seoul. Some of Korea's well-loved dramas such as 'My Love from Another Star', and 'Boys Over Flowers' were filmed here.

I was able to visit N Seoul Tower last 2013, and back then, the Bear Museum was still there. It was fun watching the laser light show during the night, and seeing the nightscape of Seoul, however I wasn't able to see the 'Locks of Love' at the Roof Terrace. That's why I plan to go back here during the day and have my photo taken among the thousands of locks attached to the fences at the viewing deck.

Cute bear dioramas were used to tell the history of Korea at the Bear Museum

Photo op with the cute bears ^^

The night view of Seoul taken from N Seoul Tower.

Address: 04340 105, Namsangongwon-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea (Yongsan-dong 2-ga, YTN Seoul Tower)

Operation Hours:

Observatory Hours (subject to change according to weather conditions)
Monday-Friday/Sunday 10:00-23:00
Saturdays 10:00-24:00
Restaurant Hours 10:00-23:00

Entrance Fees:
Observatory
- Tickets: Adult 10,000 won, Child 8,000 won

N Sweet Bar Observatory
- Combo Package A: Adult 21,000 won, Child 17,000 won
- Combo Package B: Adult 23,000 won, Child 19,000 won
- Beer Combo Package: Adult 26,000 won

Character Galleries
- Ssen Toy Museum and Showroom: Adult 10,000 won, Child 8,000 won
- Hello Kitty Island: Adult 8,000 won, Child 7,000 won
- Ssen Toy Package (Observatory + Ssen Toy Museum): Adult 14,000 won, Child 11,000 won
- Hello Kitty Package (Observatory + Hello Kitty Island): Adult 12,500 won, Child 10,500 won
-3 in 1 Package (Observatory, Ssen Toy Museum, Hello Kitty Island): Adult 19,500 won, Child 16,000 won

2- Gyeongbokgung Palace

This is another place that's close to my heart as I was completely blown away by its beautiful landscapes and architecture when I first visited it in 2013. Seeing the palace (together with the 4 others) at the heart of Seoul is an even bigger surprise for me, because standing amidst modern buildings is one of the greatest and most popular icon of Korean heritage and culture. It was well preserved, and it definitely is a must visit for anyone visiting Korea, especially in autumn or spring, when it's really colorful.
I also want to try moonlight tours in Gyeongbokgung! The palace must look even more exquisite at night. That would be one of my goals on my next trip!

Photo op with the palace guard^^ say Kimchiiii! ^^

It would be nice to sit below this yellow tree one autumn morning and just read a good book.

My favorite autumn pic^^ I love the warm hues of red, yellow, and orange all over the palace.

Address: 03045 161, Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Hours of Operation:

January, February: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
March, April, May: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
June, July, August: 9 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
September, October: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
November, Decmber: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Last admission one hour prior to closing.
**Closed on Tuesdays

Entrance Fees:

Age 19~64: KRW 3,000 won / KRW 2,400 won ( group, 10 or more )
Age 7~18: KRW 1,500 won / KRW 1,200 won ( group, 10 or more )
* Free: Children(Ages 6 and under), Ages 65 and above
* With the purchase of a book of Combination Tickets (adults 10,000won, Youth 5,000won), one admission for each of the five different Palaces is available within three month. (Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace - the Secret Garden included, Changgyeonggung Palace, Deoksugung Palace and Jongmyo Shrine).

Check out their WEBSITE for more details.

3- Cheonggyechon Stream

This is an 11km long modern stream running through downtown Seoul, which is considered as one of the city's most popular date spots! Many Korean dramas have also filmed here. I got a chance to visit this during the Seoul Lantern Festival last year, and I couldn't believe when I heard that this stream was covered by a highway once, and have been through quite a lot. If you're in Seoul and just want an afternoon or night of relaxation, drop by the Cheonggyecheon stream to hang out and unwind.

Here are some of the photos I took at the Cheonggyecheon during the Seoul Lantern Festival:

Group photo with Nat and Jas eonnie at the tunnel in Cheonggyecheon :)

People are lining up to make the wish lanterns :)

Hundreds of wish lanterns are left afloat at the river every night

It was nice seeing these Philippine lanterns at the stream :)

4- Namsangol Hanok Village

Namsangol Hanok Village is a collection of five hanoks (traditional Korean houses) from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), recovered from different parts of the city and relocated to the northern foot of Namsan mountain (cr. Visitseoul.net). I've never visited this place before, and I look forward to seeing it and trying all the cultural activities there on my next visit.

Here are some photos from visitseoul.net

Address:
04626 28, Toegye-ro 34-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

Hours of Operation:
April to October: 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
November to March: 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.
**Closed on Tuesdays

5- Yeouido Han River Park & Han River Cruise

This is another place lined up in my bucketlist. Last year, I was finally able to visit Yeouido Park during autumn. Unfortunately, I am yet to try the Han River Cruise. I heard it's a good way to enjoy the scenery of the river, and you can also enjoy live performances and great food at the cruise. I'll make sure to try this on my next trip!

Hangang river is the most important physical landmark of Seoul that divides the north & south.

Here are some of the photos I took at Yeouido Hangang Park:

6- Deoksugung Palace

I like Deoksugung Palace for the unique fusion of medieval and modern style architecture that you can see there. I visited it last year to see the changing of the guards ceremony and it was a delight to see the guards’ colorful uniforms, and experience a part of Korea’s royal culture.

Here are some of my photos at the Deoksugung Palace :)

Address:
100-120 99, Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul

Operating days/hours:

Tuesday-Sunday, 9:00am-9pm

(Last admission 1 hour before closing time)

* Closed on Mondays

Entrance Fees:

Regular Ticket:
Adult: 1,000 won
Children: 500 won

Combination Ticket (valid for three months provides entry to Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, Changgyeonggung Palace, and Jongmyo Shrine):
Adult: 10,000 won
Children: 5,000 won

Free Admission:
Children under 7 yrs. old
Senior Citizens older than 65 yrs. old
Those wearing hanbok
Culture Day (the last Wed. of each month)

Check out their WEBSITE for more details.

7- COEX, SM Town @ COEX Artium

It is my dream to bring my sister here as she's a huge fan of Super Junior and Exo! I'm sure she'll love it. SM Town is a must-visit place for K-pop fans where they can see and experiences various activities related to their favorite SM Enetrtainment stars.

Here are some photos from visitseoul.net

Address:
06164 513, Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea SMTOWN@coexartrium

Operation days/time:

Monday-Sunday, 11:00am ~ 9:00pm

You can check their WEBSITE for more details.

8- K-Star Road

The K-Star road is a popular place for Hallyu culture and shopping. I'm sure Kpop fans like me will enjoy exploring this area as the big entertainment companies SM, JYP, and Cube can also be found here.

Personally, I want to try the trendy cafes here. :)

Here are some photos from visitseoul.net

For more details, you can check out their WEBSITE.

9- Lotte World & Lotte World Tower

I was able to visit this last 2013, but unfortunately I wasn't able to explore much of it because it was the day of our flight. So if you're coming here, make sure to allot at least 1 whole day here.

Lotte World Adventure is a major recreation complex located in downtown Seoul. It consists of Indoor Adventure, the world's largest indoor theme park, an outdoor theme park called Magic Island, a luxury hotel, the Korean Folk Museum, shopping malls, department stores, sports facilities and a movie theater, all in one place.

Address: 138-220 240, Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul

Entrance Fees:

You may visit their WEBSITE for more details.

10- Sevit Floating Island & Banpodaegyo Bridge Moonlight Rainbow Fountain

Some Sevit, with the meaning ‘three shining islands brightening the Han River’ is the world’s first floating cultural space. It is made with four artificial islands including Some Gavi, Some Chaevit, Some Solvit and Some Yevit, with wedding halls, Italian restaurants, buffets and cafes, and is being utilized as a space for various exhibitions, performances and events. It's a popular filming site for Kdramas such as 'She was pretty', and even for Hollywood films such as 'Avengers'.

Here are some photos of Some Sevit from visitseoul.net

Address:

SOME SEVIT- 06500 683, Olympic-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul, Korea (Banpo-dong)

You can visit their WEBSITE for more details.

The Banpo Bridge is a major bridge in downtown Seoul that connects the Seocho and Yongsan districts. The bridge is on top of the Jamsu Bridge, forming the upper half of a double-deck bridge and is the first double deck bridge built in South Korea. It is famous for its Rainbow Fountain which has the Guinness World Record for being the world's longest bridge fountain.

Watch this video to see all 10 top Hallyu Hotspots in Seoul:

~~~

Other Hallyu hotspots that didn't make it to the list are as follows:

Grevin Museum
Sangam DMC and MBC World
Seoul Global Cultural Center
Seochon Village
Hongdae Playground
Dongdaemun Design Plaza
Gwangjang Market
City Hall of Seoul & Citizen's Hall
Tongin Market
63 building

I was fortunate enough to be one if the winners of 100$ Amazon gift card for this online voting event (you can check the list of winners HERE). Thank you so much to visitseoul.net, and I look forward to visiting all these places on my next visit! ^^ [Credits to Visitseoul.net for some of the photos and infos on the tourist attractions]

Let Korea visit you!

noreply@blogger.com (Lucky) — Sun, 02 Oct 2016 14:46:00 +0000

If you've been wanting to visit Korea, or miss Korea badly like me, and want to go there again, then this might be your chance to make that dream come true! Recently, Korea Tourism Organization once again launched an online hashtag event that gives participants a chance to visit Korea. Titled 'Korea visits you!', the event invites foreigners to post photos they've taken in Korea (if they've been there) or images of experiences they wish to have in Korea (if they haven't been there yet) in their SNS accounts (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Weibo).

Here's Korea Tourism Ambassador Song Joong Ki, inviting you to visit Korea! ^^

The step by step guidelines in joining are as follows:

KTO even provided a guideline for copying the URL on your SNS posts, which you can check out HERE.

In posting on your SNS accounts, please don't forget to use the following hashtags and to make your posts PUBLIC so KTO can track them:

After posting on your SNS accounts, please don't forget to register at the event page. Just click on the 'PARTICIPATE' button at the event page HERE:

Then, you're all set to register!

KTO will choose 1 winner for 5 weeks (September 27- October 31, 2016), and each winner will get 2 roundtrip tickets + a hotel voucher for 3 nights and 4 days stay in Korea. Winners will be announced weekly (every Friday) in the event website and will also be notified via email individually. Their trip to Korea will be documented daily and may be used by KTO as video content.

If you intend to join, do take note of this schedule for the sending of entries and announcement of winners for each week:

If you have questions regarding the event, you may contact info@koreavisitsyou.com and they will reply to you within 5 working days.

Please don't forget to read the complete terms and conditions for more details on the online event HERE.

You can also check out these videos to give you some inspiration! I feel happy for these girls, their stories are really touching! I'd cry my heart out if I'd experience this:

Now, I wish everyone (including myself) all the luck! I hope to win this event so I can visit Korea with my sister! ^^

P.S.: Photo Credit: Korea Tourism Organization (I just photoshopped it with a photo I took when I was in Korea. No copyright infringement intended :) )

How to use custom fonts in blogger

noreply@blogger.com (Lucky) — Sat, 01 Oct 2016 21:23:00 +0000

Out of whim, I decided to change the font type of my entry titles, as well as my sidebar and footer headings tonight, and thought of creating a post on how I did it to share to those who want to do the same for their blogs. Years of blogging have taught me that fonts play a role in creating an impression for your blog and making it stand out. They help bring out your personality in your blog and may either help attract or turn off readers.

Now, you can actually control what fonts to use on your blog, and you can do this with the following easy to follow steps:

Decide which typeface and font you want to use. When I first started, I didn’t know that typeface and fonts are actually 2 different things. The typeface (sometimes also referred to as a font family) is like a collection of related fonts, while fonts refer to the digital file that has the specific weight, width, style of a typeface. The most common types of typefaces are as follows:
Serif- a typeface whose main feature is a small line added to the beginning and end of the main strokes of a character.

Sans-Serif- a typeface without serifs (‘sans’ is a french word meaning ‘without)

Script/Cursive Fonts- a typeface characterized by fluid strokes similar to a hand writing.

Display/ Decorative Fonts- a typeface that can be artistic and eye-catching, they are made to stand out on a page and are perfect for headers and titles.

Monospace- a typeface that has fixed character width and pitch, making them occupy the same horizontal space.
Add a custom font. Now, adding a custom font from Google Fonts is easy. Here's what I did:

First, use the filter on the side bar to make your search easier. You can set the typeface, number of styles, thickness, and other font characteristic that you want to see in your custom font. You can also sort them alphabetically, by popularity, etc. If you’re looking for a particular font to add, you can also type its name on the search bar. Once, you’ve set your filters, browse through the gallery, and if you want, you can even type on the text box if you want to see how a particular letter will look like in a certain font type.

Once you’ve decided which font to use, click on the ‘+’ button at the top of each font type to add it to your selection.

A small rectangular box will appear at the bottom of your screen and it will reflect how many font families you’ve added.

Once you’re done, you can click on the rectangular box to expand it and you’ll see this:

a. Your Selection: Shows the names of all the fonts you’ve added
b. Clear All:An option to clear the selection & start over again
c. Load Time: Indicates how fast the fonts will load on your page
d. Embed tab: Contains the code for embedding the font in your HTML document, as well as
the CSS style to apply to your CSS stylesheet
e. Custom tab: Gives you the option to choose want font style you want to include per font
family, as well as what language to use.

When you click on the rectangular tab, you will see this.

This is what you'll see when you click on the 'Customize' tab

If you’re all set with your font of choice, open Blogger and go to ‘TEMPLATE’ and click on ‘BACK UP & RESTORE’. Download a full back up of your template before customizing anything to make sure you can revert the changes back to your original layout in case anything goes wrong.

Now that you’re ready to edit your template, click on ‘EDIT HTML’. Click on CTRL + F (PC) or COMMAND+F (MAC) to open the search box and look for the <b:skin> tag, which will be highlighted in yellow. Then, copy the embed code from google fonts and paste it directly above the <b:skin> tag. Add a forward slash (/) right before the closing bracket (>) to prevent any errors.

This is how your template will look like and the <b:skin> tag is usually easy to find at the top of the template.

This is the embed code that you need to copy from google fonts

This is how it should look like when the embed code is pasted above the <b:skin> tag. Make sure to click the black triangle beside it to expand its contents, where you'll see the CSS styles.

To apply the font on specific parts of your blog, you’ll need to find the CSS selector and add the CSS style to it. Here’s an example:

This is what you'll need to copy in Google Fonts and apply in your CSS stylesheet

This is where it should be applied.

‘H1, H2, H3 and so on refers to header. In my case, H1 & H2 pertain to post titles and sidebar and footer headers. It may be different with your template so to cross check which part of your blog they stand for, you can click on preview and see to which parts the custom font has been applied to. Once you’re sure of the changes you’ve made, you can click on ‘SAVE TEMPLATE’ and you’re all set!

Aside from the font type, you can also change the font size by changing the number values as shown above.

Hope I was able to share something useful to you (If I did, a link back would be a great way to say thanks ^^). Do you know other ways to add custom fonts? Please do share them with me in the comments section :)

My Happiest Memory in Seoul

noreply@blogger.com (Lucky) — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 17:12:00 +0000

There's nothing quite like the excitement of winning a trip to your most favorite place, and meeting new friends for the first time. Both of these happened to me during autumn of last year, an experience which I consider my happiest memory in Seoul^^.

It was November last year when I was fortunate enough to be one of the participants of the Visit Korea VIP Members Invitation Tour. There were 13 other winners from other countries like Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand, and I was excited to meet all of them. I was part of the English team, and was the only one from the Philippines. Coming from different countries with different languages, it was amazing how we all easily got along so well, and remain really good friends till now.

me and the rest of the participants of the tour at Trickeye Museum

I love all the yellow leaves scattered around Deoksugung Palace <3

Autumn is my favorite season, and I was so ecstatic to be back and see the familiar shades of fall. We visited a lot of tourist attractions in Seoul like the Trick Eye Museum, Kondae Common Ground, Deoksugung Palace, Samcheongdong, Yeouido Park and Grevin Museum Seoul, where I ‘met’ a lot of famous people and handsome oppa. We also dropped by some famous cafes like the Hello Kitty Café in Hongdae, Dore Dore Café in Kondae, and Wiki Café, which is owned by Super Junior member, Lee Sung Min (Being a Super Junior fan, that is one item off my bucketlist!). We even met his brother, Lee Sung Jin, and we took a lot of photos with him.

Our group photo at Kondae Common Ground

Photo op with the guard at Deoksugung Palace

My selfie with Lee Sung Jin, who is so nice and adorable^^

Ironically, my second visit to Seoul is a trip of many ‘firsts’ for me. For one, it allowed me to visit Myeongdong Cathedral for the first time. I regretted not being able to visit it before especially when I learned it’s the birthplace for the Roman Catholic Church community in Korea. That’s why I was happy to finally be able to see it on this 2nd trip. I really loved its unique architecture, serene ambience and the grotto of Mother Mary at the back. I said a short prayer and lighted a candle too.

My visit to Myeongdong Cathedral

Other first time experiences for me include learning how to make candles at Holly Go Studio, as well as playing the Janggu drum at Jeongdong Theater. Being a newbie in playing a Korean musical instrument, I was surprised at how easy it was. At the end of the workshop, each of us were given certificates and our guide even teased us that now we can teach others how to play the Janggu drum at our respective countries. After that, I was able to watch a Korean traditional musical performance for the first time too. It was titled ‘Miso’ ('The Story of Secretary Bae' 배비장전), a traditional performance showcasing Korean dance and music like Pansori (traditional vocal performance with drum), and Samulnori (traditional percussion quartet). I really like the dance routines, colorful costumes, and interesting plot. We even had the chance to take pictures with the main cast after the performance.

Hanging out with Marilyn Monroe at Grevin Museum Seoul

My Janggu Drum experience at Jeongdong Theatre

Our visit to Jeongdong Theatre and photo op with the casts of Miso

This trip also allowed me to try out a lot of Korean food like Dakgalbi (Grilled Chicken) and Makguksu (Korean buckwheat noodle dish), Bingsu, Ramyeon, Hameul Pajeon, and Grilled Mackerel. I was also able to drink Makgeolli for the first time in Seoul. The food is really great, and I like that they’re also healthy.

Eating ramyun at 55 Beonji Ramen

My new favorite, Dakgalbi!!!

With good food, life-changing experiences, and captivating tourist attractions, a guest just couldn’t ask for anything more. I really appreciate the hospitality and generosity shown to us by our host, Korea Tourism Organization during this 2nd trip, and for all that I’ve experienced, I will forever be grateful to them, and the city of Seoul.

Seoul is my happy place, a city that warms my soul, and every time I think of it, I am only reminded of wonderful memories that never fail to inspire me. Of course, there’s a lot more to explore so I will definitely keep on coming back to my home away from home.

another group photo at Jeongdong Theatre...say kimchiiii!

Beast 1st Fan Meeting is a dream come true for Philippine fans

noreply@blogger.com (Lucky) — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 07:51:00 +0000

Published in Inquirer.net :)

For Philippine fans of multi-awarded Korean boy band Beast, their 1^st Fan Meeting in the country which is organized by Cube Entertainment, Butterfly and All Access Productions, is worth the wait, because after almost 6 years, their idols came back to Manila and gave them a night they’ll never forget at the SMART Araneta Coliseum last March 19, 2016. Thousands of ‘B2uties’ (collective name for Beast fans; pronounced as ‘Beauties’) flocked the Big Dome to see the boys showcase their talents, and flaunt their charisma in a night of musical madness, fan interaction, and entertainment.

Media photo op with Beast! ^^ Thank you All Access Productions and Inquirer.net for this :) If you will see all media photos, Dongwoon and Yoseob has the same pose all throughout. So cute!

Unfortunately, vocalist Jang Hyunseung was unable to attend the event because of some personal reasons. But even with one member missing, the remaining Beast members, which consists of leader, vocalist and sub-rapper Yoon Doojoon, main vocalist Yang Yoseob, main rapper Yong Junhyung, visual and vocalist Lee Gikwang, and rapper and maknae (Korean word meaning ‘youngest member’) Son Dongwoon did their best to return the love of their fans through their powerful performances, high energy level and heartfelt sincerity.

The boys warmed up the night with hits like “Good Luck”, “Yey”, and “I Think I Love You”. The fans were all ecstatic and screamed their hearts out as the boys performed one song after the other. After that, they all bowed and introduced themselves to the audience. Gikwang was all smiles when he addressed the fans and said “Hello to all Philippine B2uties! It’s been a while since the last time we’ve been here, so it’s nice meeting you guys.”

Member Dongwoon, who previously studied English in Laguna, amusingly introduced himself and said, “Hello Philippines! Mabuhay! I’m Dongwoon from Sta. Rosa.” Yoseob went along with him and responded “Hello! Nice to meet you! My name is (Yoseob). I’m from Korea.”

Junhyung assured the fans that they prepared a lot for that night and won’t let them down. Gikwang thrilled the fans even more by saying “Hello! What’s up Philippines? I missed everyone. Long time no see. I love you!” Leader Doojoon followed him by saying “Mabuhay! Enjoy tonight!”

Since a fan meet offers more fan interaction than the usual concerts, some lucky fans were selected via raffle to play games with Beast members. The 1st game was the cup stacking game where each Beast member was paired with a fan. While choosing the players, Beast learned that one of them was celebrating her birthday so they immediately sung a cute rendition of Happy Birthday for her in acapella, and even hugged her.

For the 2^nd game called ‘Kick for Gifts, Beast prepared presents for some lucky fans, which include a Starbucks tumbler, a teddy bear called ‘Yoseob Edition Teddy Bear’, their 2016 Seasons Greetings Calendar and a signed album. Selfies with the members were also included as prizes. The game required Beast members to kick a mini soccer ball into a numbered board that contains the names of the prizes. Since not all the numbers have prizes in them, the members had to try again a few more times, and after several futile attempts, the members started playfully rigging the game to make sure all their gifts are won by the fans.

All the fans enjoyed seeing their idols’ fun and competitive side. They were screaming and laughing at the boys’ crazy antics, and playfulness. The members also impressed the audience with their excellent fan service, enthusiasm, and charm. They interacted with the fans without reservations, hugging fans onstage, singing ‘Congratulations’ songs to winners, and taking their selfies using fans’ cameras while they roam around.

After the games, Beast continued to fill the night with musical frenzy as they performed hits like “Gonna Go To Work,” “Midnight,” “On Rainy Days,” “Suite Room,” “12:30,” “Beautiful Night,” and “How to Love” for encore. Check out the boys' photos in action (and guess who my favorite member is):

The fans also returned the love they got from Beast by singing and dancing, and waving their rose-shaped light sticks all throughout the night, creating a wonderful sea of dark grey among the audience. They also surprised Gikwang with a special cake as an advanced present for his birthday in March 30, and came up with various banner projects and a special video presentation for the boys.

At the end of the show, Beast thanked their fans for the wonderful night and their heartfelt support. “Thank you for coming tonight…I love you. We will come back. Please wait for us and our songs. Until we meet again,” said Junhyung.

This is the cake that Beast Philippines prepared for Gikwang. Credit: Beast Philippines

“…I am really happy to meet my Philippine fans after a long time… Thank you guys for being here today. To be honest, we really missed you too. We don’t know when the next time would be, but we’ll try to make that as soon as possible. This time, not just a fan meeting but an official concert. Thank you!” said Gikwang.

Dongwoon also followed and said “Did you guys have fun today? For us also, this will be an unforgettable memory.” He then recalled his experience while studying in Sta. Rosa, Laguna and said, “I’m hoping to see you guys again at a concert and enjoy taho (Pinoy street food made of soft tofu) with you. During my study at Sta. Rosa, I really enjoyed taho… Thank you everybody. Mahal kita!”

The fan interaction did not end there though as selected fans were able to take advantage of meet and greet perks that include a high-touch session, group photo ops, and signed photos which were given by the members themselves.

A day after the concert, Doojoon posted in his instagram account, “Seeing a placard saying that seeing us is a dream come true kind of touched my heart. Thank you so much! Thank you, thank you Philippines. Bye. See you again.”

Note: Photo has been translated already :)

Truly, good things come to those who wait, and in the case of Philippine B2uties, all the years of anticipation only made their reunion with Beast even more special.

Beast first visited Manila in 2010, when they were still rookies, for a charity concert. Despite being considered underrated, the group has proven their exceptional talent and resilience by winning several awards, which includes the Bonsang Awards at Seoul Music Awards, as well as Artist of the Year at the Melon Music Awards in 2011 and 2012.#

~~~

Thank you very much for All Access Productions and inquirer.net for giving me the chance to cover this event and to get to know Beast! I arrived as a mere spectator but came out a fan :)
Please don't forget to credit me when using my photos. Thanks!

KTO Manila begins search for next batch of Wow Korea Supporters

noreply@blogger.com (Lucky) — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 10:09:00 +0000

Wow, how time flies so fast! I can't believe that it's been a year already since I first applied as Wow Korea Supporter 2015. It's been an awesome year filled with a lot of discoveries about Korea's tourism and culture, and I can say being one of last year's 50 supporters was a remarkable experience that made my fondness for Korea more profound.

Just recently, Korea Tourism Organization Manila once again launched their search for the most avid Koreanophiles in Metro Manila, and this time, they will be choosing only 20 Wow Korea Supporters for 2016 (instead of 50 supporters like last year).

Do you have what it takes to be a Wow Korea Supporter? Apply now to find out and you might even get the chance to win a roundtrip ticket to Korea. The qualifications needed are as follows:

1. Must be a Filipino citizen aged 18 and above, residing in Metro Manila
2. Must be an active SNS user
3. Must be a member of an affiliated PKCI (Philippine Kpop Convention) fan club. Check out the list of PKCI Affiliated fan clubs HERE
4. Like KTO Manila's Facebook page (www.facebook.com/koreatourismmanila), follow them on Twitter (@KTOManila) and KakatoTalk (@ktomanila)

To apply, just fill out and submit the application form found in this link: http://goo.gl/forms/soISULzuCd

Once you've passed the form, walk the talk and start being an active Korea tourism supporter (if you aren't already one) by promoting and sharing the announcements, activities, posts and events of KTO Manila on your respective SNS accounts (Facebook, Twitter, blog, etc.)

KTO Manila will be monitoring the accounts of qualified applicants and choose the most active ones from there. Please make sure all your accounts and posts are set to "public" so they can access and track them as well.

The application period as 2016 KTO Manila Wow Korea Supporter is from February 26 to March 25, 2016. The announcement of winners is on March 29, 2016.

~~~

Credits to Korea Tourism Organization Manila for the details in this post. Check out their original announcement post HERE.

Nuffnang Philippines to hold Blogopolis 4D

noreply@blogger.com (Lucky) — Sat, 20 Feb 2016 19:44:00 +0000

There's an exciting event for all Filipino bloggers, and social media enthusiasts next week! It's Nuffnang Philippines' 'Blogopolis 4D', a rendezvous of the country's top bloggers, social media influencers, marketers, advertisers and members of the press. It's set to happen on February 27, 2016 at the AXON Hall, Green Sun in Makati. There'll be plenary sessions at 11:00am-6:30pm and a Nuffnang Awards Night at 7:30pm-10:00pm.

I was fortunate enough to win 2 tickets to this event via Nuffnang PH's #Blogopolis4DGiveaway on Instagram, and I'm excited to know more about the current trends in today's blogosphere, as well as meet my favorite top bloggers like Arisse de Santos, and David Guison.

Being the fourth installment of 'Blogopolis', this year's conference aims to enlighten its audience about the Dimensions of the Blogosphere – Dialog, Diversity, Device and Direction. Various speakers and panelists have been invited to share their insights, tips, and experiences about blogging and social media, such as RJ Ledesma, AJ Dee, Jim Paredes, Abe Olandres, and The Soshal Network among others. At least 350 attendees, mostly comprised of students and yuppies, are expected to take part in this much anticipated event.

Tickets, which already cover entrance to plenary sessions with snacks and viewing of the Nuffnang Awards Night, are priced at Php499 for regular rate and are discounted (30% OFF) at Php349 for students and senior citizens. Tickets are available at the Blogopolis website. #

~~~

Thanks again Nuffnang Philippines for that giveaway! So excited to see you all there!

[REVIEW] Visit Korea VIP Invitation Tour Day 2: A Visit to Super Junior Sungmin’s Wiki Café

noreply@blogger.com (Lucky) — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 06:01:00 +0000

If you’ve read my past posts, you’ll know that I’m crazy over cafes. For me, there’s unique joy in discovering an interesting new place to hang out, where you can listen to music or read a good book or chat with friends while drinking your favorite coffee, frappe or tea. That’s why I’m so glad this tour allowed me to visit several cafes in Seoul, and luckily, our next destination is one place crossed out in my Korea bucket list.

Now, one of the reasons why I (along with my sister) became a huge Hallyu fangirl is Kpop group Super Junior (the real Kings of Hallyu in my opinion :)). If you’re a fan too, you’d probably know the cafes owned by the members’ families, and how they are a popular destination for fangirls wanting to give gifts and letters to their idols, or even meeting the members themselves and their families in person. Hence, I was so excited when I learned that part of our itinerary is to visit Wiki Café (위키카페), which is owned by Super Junior Lee Sungmin’s mom.

Photo credit: www.wikicafe.net

Sitting at a high spot in Sagan-dong, one of the neighborhoods in the area of Samcheongdong (along with Anguk-dong, Sogyeok-dong, and Hwa-dong), Wiki Café offers a great view of Gyeongbokgung Palace and the National Museum of Contemporary Art. Although the café can be seen from the main road, the actual entrance can be reached after passing through some interesting museums, art galleries, and Hanok houses scattered around Samcheongdong’s alleys. There are directional signs that help visitors find their way though, so it should be easy to find.

Here are some of the buildings and landmarks we saw on the way to Wiki Cafe:

The Hakgojae Gallery is well known for its elegant and classic Korean architecture infused with a refined modern structure.

The Hakgojae Gallery actively introduces Korean artists into the international art world by hosting various joint exhibitions with various foreign artists. Info source: english.visitseoul.net

The National Folk Museum of Korea is located inside Gyeongbokgung Palace and presents over 4,000 historical artifacts that were used in the daily lives of ordinary Koreans. (info source: visitkorea.or.kr)

세 움 Art Space and Gallery

The café has 2 floors, a veranda, and a roof deck. The lower floor consists of a photo op wall, an exhibit area for all things related to Sungmin, an office area, and a washroom. The 2nd floor is the main café area that has the counter and the entrance to the roof deck.

Panoramic view of the facade of Wiki Cafe's 1st floor :)

Saw this flower wreath from Elfs! [Super Junior fans are known as ELFs, which stand for Ever Lasting Friends]

Since Sungmin is currently in the army, of course, I didn’t expect to see him at the café. But I met someone who’s as charming and has the same good looks too—his younger brother, Lee Sungjin^^. When we arrived at the café, I immediately saw him getting some fan letters from the mailbox at the exhibit area. I had a hint of who he was, but wasn’t quite sure as he left right away, probably because the other participants have arrived beforehand and are about to take their orders upstairs.

Messages from Sungmin's fans. Next time, I'll make sure to leave a note :)

Since Sungmin is in the army, this photo op wall is a good alternative to take a pic with him:)

The ambience at the 2nd floor is very cozy and relaxed. The place is small with a contemporary and youthful vibe to it. It’s the kind of place I’d choose to study or work on a project on a weekend, and I really like the area near the windows, and the veranda, because of the scenic view that instantly greets you. And of course, you can see Sungmin’s handsome face all over the place. No wonder it’s a huge hit among fans. This place may be like a shrine to them, which they visit whenever they miss their idol or whenever they want to hang out with other fans.

Wefie with the English Team members^^ Vera eonnie is in the background so we're complete (LOL, my face is so huge!):)

After we settled to our seats, the girls started lining up to choose their orders and they all asked Sungjin if he’s Sungmin’s brother. That’s when I confirmed my hint was correct. When it was my turn, I asked him if it’s true he studied in the Philippines, and he said yes and mentioned that it was in Ortigas. I told him that’s where I was working at that time, and he smiled. Too bad I wasn’t there yet at the time he studied there.

Sungjin at the counter, surrounded by Japanese team members :)

Here’s my detailed review of Wiki Cafe in Samcheongdong:

Food: 8 ☕☕☕☕☕☕☕☕

I wasn’t able to try the pastries, but the drink I ordered, a Blueberry Latte is pretty good.

Blueberry Latte made by Sungjin :)

Those cakes certainly look yummy!

I saw pictures of food they serve online and they look really delectable. They even share the recipes, so if you’re curious of the types of food they serve, you can check their website first before going to the café. Most of the food offered there are light meals though, so don’t expect something as heavy as a rice dish or pasta :)

Eat your hearts out for this collection of food photos from Wikicafe.net

Ambience: 9 ☕☕☕☕☕☕☕☕☕

As mentioned, the place is cute, cozy and relaxing, and a perfect destination for students especially for Sungmin biased Elfs :) Non-fans may not be able to relate as much though, so I’m not giving it a perfect score.

Super cute collection of gifts from fans. From artworks, stuff toys, and photo collages, Elfs really do know how to show their love for their idol.

Nice sketch of Sungmin, right? And oh, there's a handful of fan letters too :)

Photos of Super Junior members were hung on the windows. This made me miss them more.

I really like this super cute Super Junior polymer clay chibis! I saw a similar one in Mouse Rabbit and I wonder if they're done by the same person/same group of fans...

I noticed this huge piano, and wondered if Sungmin ever played this for his fans.

Of all of Sungmin's photos in the cafe, this one's my favorite. He is so handsome here, right?

This cute door decorated with potted plants can be found along the staircase going to the 2nd floor.

Saw these little cuties just as I got to the 2nd floor. This entire cafe is filled with cute stuff, which definitely reflects the personality of aegyo prince, Lee Sungmin.

Don't you just want to stay in that area and hug one of those pillows?

Can you recognize anyone from this photo wall? I'm guessing they're messages of support from Sungmin's friends for his mom's new cafe.

Do you recognize anyone from these photos?

The fans must miss Sungmin so much, and in this place, they somehow feel his presence. Looking forward to your return, Sungmin-ah!

The wonderful view from the veranda :)

Value for money: 8 ☕☕☕☕☕☕☕☕

Here are some of the photos that I got from the Wiki Cafe website:

This is the roof deck, which we weren't able to see when we were there. Nice view right?

This is another view of the veranda/terrace.

I noticed the furnitures here are different from the ones we saw, but this is the area just after the staircase, near the entrance to the veranda :)

This is the front lawn that greets you just after the main entrance. I think the chairs and big umbrella were removed when we were there.

I wasn't able to explore this part of the cafe but this seems to be at the 1st floor so I'm guessing this is somewhere at the back.

This is the photo wall right after the staircase.

A view of the counter and photo wall from the veranda.

With ample lighting, cream colored walls and wooden furniture, the cafe offers a relaxing ambience.

Their price range is as follows:

Coffee (Hot or iced)- KRW 3,500- 5000
Tea (Hot or iced)- KRW 4,000-5,000
Ade & Juice- KRW 4,200- 5,000
Other beverages (mostly lattes)- KRW 4,000-4700
Alcoholic beverages- KRW 5100-5800
Cakes- KRW 1,500-5,500
Bread- KRW 6,500
Ice Flakes- KRW 6,000- 6,500

Comparing it with other cafes in Seoul that I’ve been into, this is on the affordable side, and with good food and drinks, it’s a good deal already. I guess, most of their customers are young fans and students, so they tried to price it as low as they can, which is a good thing.

I bought a tumbler though as a souvenir for my sister, which is priced at KRW 21,000 won. I thought it was really cute but quite expensive (LOL! That’s PHP 840), because I bought an equally cute tumbler at Yesung’s Mouse Rabbit Café in 2013 at only KRW 16,000. But hey, that was 2013, and Starbucks here in Manila have tumblers that are way more expensive, right?

Accessibility: 8 ☕☕☕☕☕☕☕☕

Since you have to go through some alleys, there may be a tendency of getting lost, so pay close attention to the signages. ^^

When you see this signage, you're close to the alley where you should make a turn

This is the alley to Wiki Cafe, and we saw these Hanoks along the way.

There's a cute Wiki Cafe mural near the actual entrance.

And there, you've arrived at your destination!

Service: 10 ☕☕☕☕☕☕☕☕☕☕

It’s definitely a perfect score. Sungjin was soooo accommodating, and sweet. He had photo ops with each one of us, even though he’s busy at the counter. I’m sure any fan would be flattered that her idol’s brother, who is equally cute and charming, is serving her coffee. So, 10+++ for your excellent fan service Sungjin-ah! He was definitely the star of that afternoon :)

Sungjin was quite shy but he's so humble and courteous, he even bowed in front of everyone when we asked him for photo ops.

Here's one aegyo [Korean word that means cute, funny, or innocent] pose for all of us! ^^

And here's my turn to pose with him^^

And of course, I'll never leave Wiki Cafe without a selfie with Sungjin!^^

Will I go back to this place? : Yes, I promised my sister I will take her there!

Overall, Wiki Cafe is a good hangout place because of the relaxing and modern ambience.

See you again, Wiki Cafe!

PROS:

Good drinks, great ambience, moderate prices, and excellent service

CONS:

Accessible but with tendencies of getting lost

Other important details about Wiki Cafe:

Operating Hours:

Monday-Sunday, 10:30am-9:00pm

How to get there?

[Subway]

From Line 3 at Anguk station exit 1, turn right and go straight. Turn right again in front of GMA Gallery and walk straight. Turn right at Gallery ON and go forward. Turn left in front of a white building and walk straight until you reach Wiki Cafe.

Address:

서울시 종로구 사간동 51번지

51 Sagan-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Phone: +82-2-720-9073

Nearby Attractions:

National Museum of Contemporary Art
Gyeongbokgung Palace

For inquiries, you may check out the following sites:

Official website: http://www.wikicafe.net/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wikicafe/

Instagram: @wikicafe_samcheongdong

Kakaotalk: @wikicafe

~~~

If you want to know other places we visited during this trip, you can check out the following related blog posts:

Visit Korea VIP Member Invitation Tour
Slow Park (Samcheongdong)
Omoni Saengson (Insadong)
Kondae Common Ground

Dore Dore Cafe (Common Ground)

Hello Kitty Cafe

Trick Eye Museum

Nature Kitchen

Many thanks again to Korea Tourism Organization for making this trip, the Visit Korea VIP Member Invitation Tour, possible. You can check out the KTO official website and follow their accounts on Facebook and Twitter for the details on tour sites and packages, as well as helpful tips on travelling to Korea.

For Filipinos, follow Korea Tourism Organization Manila at Facebook, Twitter, and KakaoTalk (@ktomanila) for the latest updates on Korea tourism, events, tour packages and promos. :)

[REVIEW] Visit Korea VIP Invitation Tour Day 2: Delightful Brunch and more at Samcheongdong Slow Park

noreply@blogger.com (Lucky) — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 17:12:00 +0000

Yay! I’m finally back with my Visit Korea VIP Members Invitation Tour Reviews. We're now at Day 2. If you want to know other places we visited during this trip, you can check out the following related blog posts:

Visit Korea VIP Member Invitation Tour

Kondae Common Ground

Dore Dore Cafe (Common Ground)

Hello Kitty Cafe

Trick Eye Museum

Nature Kitchen

Visit Korea VIP Invitation Tour Day 2:

It was a cold and sunny autumn morning, and we’re all set to have breakfast at Samcheongdong (sam means "three"; cheong "clean or good"; and dong means "neighborhood"), a small neighborhood in Jongno-gu district. This place is near Insadong, Cheong Wa Dae (Blue House), Gyeongbokgung, and Changdeokgung Palace. I’ve never been there before, but I’ve heard of its peaceful atmosphere and streets lined with museums, craft and antique shops, restaurants and cafes. I thought it should be an exciting morning because I really love discovering new places, especially cafes in Seoul, and our destination that morning seemed like a pretty good addition to my collection.

On our way there, our guide already asked us for our orders and we were given 3 choices: waffle set, French toast set, and sandwich set. I chose the waffle set, because coincidentally, I’m crazy over waffles and pancakes, and all things sweet for breakfast.

It took us around 20 minutes to get to Samcheongdong from Centermark Hotel, and I instantly loved the quaint, stylish and serene atmosphere that greeted me. The neighborhood looked kind of laid back, and the streets were lined with yellow trees. The architectural designs of most of the buildings, which are either cafes, restaurants, museums, or craft shops, are quite unique and unlike any of the usual structure of the houses in Seoul. They exhibit modernity infused with traditional Korean architecture, which over-all creates a trendy yet homey and comfortable environment. Street art is also prevalent in the area, and if only we had the luxury of time, it would have been nice to take a good stroll and explore the quiet and nostalgic Samcheongdong even more.

A panoramic view of an area in Samcheongdong

We parked beside a 5-story building with a small café-cum-bistro at the ground floor named ‘Slow Park’ (슬로우파크), which is famous for serving brunch all day, and is just across ‘Slow Garden’. The place looks very stylish, kind of like an American lodge with marble walls, unvarnished wooden floors, wooden ceiling, mixed wooden furniture, and some plants and flowerpots to accentuate some areas. There are also a lot of interesting antique pieces inside, which adds a vintage feel to the classic, homey ambience. No wonder this place is becoming a popular venue for magazine shoots and TV interviews with celebrities (You can check out their instagram account for all the magazine features). It offers a unique setting that combines elegance and warmth, as well as modernity and tradition.

The signage outside the cafe is quite small, so better keep an eye for it :)

Since our trip was in November, I think that's the reason why there were a lot of Poinsettias around

I tried to translate this: 아름다운 ㄱ대들의 쉼터 and its says 'Shelter of beautiful teenagers' :)

Took a selfie by the veranda because I just love the colors of autumn in the background

Group photo with the Japanese Team! ^^

Here’s my detailed review of Slow Park in Samcheongdong:

Food: 10

The food here is really delicious, and they have huge servings too. I like that they make sure their food is healthy as well.

When we finally got our orders, we were so delighted to see them that we started taking pictures right away. They all look so scrumptious, and I like how well they styled the food too. The waffle set I ordered came with scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, and salad. The waffle was perfect with a slight crisp to it. The salad is also a mixture of sweet and sour flavours. I think this is because some of the confectionary sugar on my waffle must have mixed with the salad dressing, and it is a good combination. It was altogether a delightful breakfast for us all, a good start for an activity-filled day for us tour participants.

My waffle set^^ Looks really yummy right?

Sandwich set with with fries (not sure what the filling of the sandwich is)

Waffle and sandwich sets

Aside from brunch sets and waffles, Slow Park also offer pasta, pizza, salad and steak, so you can pretty much eat here any time of the day, whether it’s for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They also offer a wide assortment of drinks from coffee, tea, ade, juices, fruit shakes, beer and soft drinks, and different kinds of baked goodies like croissants, bread buns, etc. Their menu is in English too :)

There's a whole variety of baked goodies to choose from^^

Ambience: 10

I just love this place. I think this reminds me of ‘Café by the Ruins’ in Baguio here in the Philippines. I love how comfortable, relaxing and warm the ambience is while also being very stylish. It’s also a huge place that can accommodate around 50-80 guests. And I think it’s conducive to creative thinking too, so it’s a great place to hang out, especially for writers, artists and students.

Jas eonni went in first and smiled at me as she was about to enter :)

This is what the entrance looks like from inside. This ahjussi was about to leave when I took this photo.

This cafe has a veranda but they covered the sides with plastic to prevent rain from coming in and avoid inconvenience

The furnitures aren't matched, but hey they all still look great together. I think they add character to this place.

Panorama shot of the interior

The counter where we get our orders

wow, can you feel the Christmas vibe?

Another thing I like about this place is that it has interesting furniture and antique pieces

Wow, this fireplace is way older than my great, great, great grand parents :)

Look at everyone busily taking pictures :)

We were the first ones to arrive so we had more time to chat and eat

I was wondering if those acorn photos are only there to add to the Christmas feel...

This is the main dining hall, which is the closest to the counter and comes after the veranda

This ones at the back portion of the cafe

Interesting art pieces and signages were hung as wall decors

There are plants and flowers all over the cafe, which gives the interior color and sparkle

Value for money: 10

I’m giving this place a 10 because you definitely get your money’s worth with Good Food + Good Ambience. Prices start at KRW 2,000 to about KRW 15,000. Their detailed price range is as follows:

Drinks: KRW 2,000-6,000 (Php 80-Php 240)
Waffles: KRW 7,000- 12,500 (Php280- Php500)
Pasta: KRW 13,000-14,000 (Php 520- Php 560)
Pizza: KRW 13,000-15,000 (Php 520- Php 600)
Salad: KRW 10,000 (Php 400)
Brunch sets: KRW 12,000 (Php 480)

Here's their menu for the complete price list :)

Accessibility: 9

This place isn’t hard to find, but the signage outside is quite small so there’s a tendency to miss it.

If you see this building, then you're in the right place.

The entrance to Slow Park is near the road and at the right side of the building

Service: 9

Although I didn’t have a lot of interaction with the staff, I find them pretty nice and accommodating. They serve really fast too.

Will I go back to this place? : Definitely :)

PROS:

- Good food, great ambience, affordable prices

CONS:

- I really can’t find any :)

Other important details about Slow Park:

Operating Hours: 8:00am-12:00 midnight

How to get there?

via Subway

From Anguk station (Subway Line 3, Exit 1), walk opposite the direction of Insadong until you reach the main street near Seoul Selection Bookshop. Turn right to that street and walk straight for 10-15 minutes. Across the entrance of Gyeongbokgung Palace and near The National Folk Museum of Korea, you'll find Samcheongdong-ro ( ro means 'street'). Walk straight ahead and at the left side of the street, you’ll find Slow Park.
From Gyeongbokgung Subway Station (Line 3), take exit 5 and then walk along the entrance of Gyeongbokgung. Turn left into the adjacent road next to Gyeongbokgung and walk straight for about 10-15 minutes until you reach Samcheongdong-ro . Walk along that street and you'll find Slow Park.

If you're bringing your car, valet parking is available at 2,000 won for 2 hours.

Address:
Slow Park (슬로우파크)
15-2, Samcheon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
(서울시 종로구 삼청동 15-2번지 슬로우파크)
Phone number: 02-739-8797

For inquiries, you may check out the following sites:

Blog: http://blog.naver.com/slowpark8797

Instagram Account: http://instagram.com/samchungdong_slowpark

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Slow-Garden/178934788832475

Google: https://g.co/kgs/R1x7if

~~~

For Filipinos, follow Korea Tourism Organization Manila at Facebook, Twitter, and KakaoTalk (@ktomanila) for the latest updates on Korea tourism, events, tour packages and promos. :)

[REVIEW] Visit Korea VIP Invitation Tour Day 1: Omoni Saengson 어머니 생선

noreply@blogger.com (Lucky) — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 16:23:00 +0000

Grilled Mackerel a.k.a Godeungeo-gui (고등어구이) is a popular fish dish in Korea. It’s not only tasty but is also a good source of protein, vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D, E and K, various minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, and essential oils such as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which are all good for the body.

I’m glad I was able to try Grilled Mackerel during my latest trip to Korea via the Visit Korea VIP Member Invitation Tour, sponsored by Korea Tourism Organization. It was my first time to try a Korean fish dish, as I’m a meat lover who usually orders samgyeopsal.

It was dinner time, and because we didn’t push through with plans to try Kondae Common Ground’s food trucks because of the rain, our very nice guide, Kim eonni brought us to Omoni Saengson a.k.a Mother’s Fish (어머니 생선) in Insadong. The name of the place pretty much gives you a hint about what to expect from it- home cooked dishes and cozy ambience. It’s a pretty small place, but the food is good.

Here’s my brief review on Omoni Saengson (어머니 생선):

Food: 8/10

- The food is really good. I love how tasty the grilled mackerel is and the serving is big enough for two. But each of us got one order each so we ended up really full.

Aside from the mackerel, we also had Hameul Pajeon a.k.a Korean Seafood and Spring Onion Pancake (해물파전), seaweed soup, rice and various banchan a.k.a Korean side dishes (반찬) such as Kimchi, and fried anchovies. We also had Makgeolli, and it was my first time to drink it in Korea.

May favorite is the Hameul Pajeon as it’s so delicious and really filling. Their serving is bigger than the pajeon I’ve tried here in Manila.

I also like the rice being wrapped in nori/seaweed wrapper, and then dipped into a sauce.

Grilled Mackerel a.k.a Godeungeo-gui (고등어구이)

Hameul Pajeon a.k.a Korean Seafood and Spring Onion Pancake (해물파전). I miss eating pajeon!

I asked Nat to take a photo of the Makgeolli so I can show it to my friends here in Manila, since we always drink Makgeolli here. Thank you Nat for this photo! Photo Credit: Natty Naza

By the end of dinner, we were all so full because we ate a lot, LOL :)

Ambience: 8/10

- The place is small, but clean and homey.

Value for money: 8/10

- The price range for the food is from KRW 7,000-KRW 15,000 (Php 280- Php 600), although I saw something at KRW 1,500-4,000 (Php 60-Php160), which are probably meal add-ons and drinks. Over-all their price is quite economical, and really worth it for a good meal.

My version of this photo is so blurry. Good thing eonni has it too. Photo Credit: Vera Lee

And thank you too to Tere for this photo^^ Photo Credit: Jeanne Therese Kurniawan

Accessibility: 9/10

- The place is at the 2nd floor, and they have a huge signage at the facade of the building so it's quite easy to find at Insadong.

Service: 8/10

- The staff is nice and accommodating, but can’t speak English.

Will I go back to this place? : Yes.

- I’ll be back to have that delicious grilled mackerel and yummy Hameul Pajeon again.

PROS:

- Good food, affordable prices, homey ambiance, clean surroundings and highly accessible

CONS:

- The place is quite small and may be crowded during peak hours.

- Non-English speaking staff (for foreigners)

Other important details about Omoni Saengson (어머니 생선)

Address: 36-1 2nd floor Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

- The restaurant is closest to Jongno 3-ga Exit 5. I remember seeing a restaurant with the name Siwhadam 시화담.

Contact numbers: +82 -2-7374082 (landline) /010-8499-3225 (mobile)

This is my last review for Day 1 of our trip. Yay!... I know, they're long overdue, but I want to give everyone as much info as I can for each of the places we visited :) Hope you enjoy reading, and that I'm able to impart some useful information and insights to you ^^ I've also added some new heart icons and a PROS and CONS section in the review portion which will serve as an over-all summary. I'll be applying them in my previous reviews as well :)

~~~

If you want to know other places we visited during this trip, you can check out the following related blog posts:

Visit Korea VIP Member Invitation Tour

Kondae Common Ground

Dore Dore Cafe (Common Ground)

Hello Kitty Cafe

Trick Eye Museum

Nature Kitchen

Many thanks again to Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) for making this trip possible. You can check out the KTO official website and follow their accounts on Facebook and Twitter for details on tour sites and packages, as well as helpful tips in travelling to Korea.

For Filipinos, follow Korea Tourism Organization Manila at Facebook, Twitter, and KakaoTalk (@ktomanila) for the latest updates on Korea tourism, events, tour packages and promos. :)

[REVIEW] Visit Korea VIP Invitation Tour Day 1: Dore Dore Café 도레도레 카페

noreply@blogger.com (Lucky) — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 16:48:00 +0000

I was planning to include this in my review of Kondae Common Ground (커먼 그라운드), but I thought this place deserves its own post. ^^

A café known for its yummy cakes, Dore Dore is located at the 1st floor of Common Ground. Dore Dore is a French word that means ‘gold’. Our very thoughtful Kim Eonni and the KTO Manager that accompanied us brought us there to have appetizers first because we were supposed to have dinner at the food trucks, but were unable to do so because of the rain.

The moment we got at the counter, our eyes were glued at the colorful and tempting cakes. We were excited to choose which ones to try, and well, it’s kind of difficult to choose when all of them looked so mouthwatering.

The cakes don’t have English translations though, and have unusual names, as they are named after feelings or greetings like ‘Thank You Cake’, ‘Congratulations Cake’, etc.

Our group ordered Strawberry and Kiwi Cake (촉촉해 케이크), and Congratulations a.k.a. Carrot Cake (축하해 케이크). Both cakes are really good, but the Strawberry and Kiwi Cake really was a little piece of heaven for me. It has just the right sweetness, and creaminess, with spongy and light texture, and I really love fresh fruits in a cake, so I’ll definitely be back to have that again! ^^

Congratulations a.k.a. Carrot Cake (축하해 케이크)

Strawberry and Kiwi Cake (촉촉해 케이크)

Dore Dore’s specialty are its Rainbow Cakes, which has 2 types:

(1) Precious Cake (소중해캐이크) at KRW 8,500/Php340 per slice. It’s made of 5 colorful cake layers, separated and covered with whipped cream so you can only see the colors once you slice it;

(2) Feel Good! Cake (기분좋아! 캐이크) at KRW 9,500/Php380 per slice. This also has colorful cake layers but has cream cheese filling instead of cream. This cake is also not covered with whipped cream, that’s why you can see its eye-catching colors right away.

The sight of these luscious cakes will definitely make your mouth water. Yum!

I learned that Dore Dore also goes beyond just desserts and luscious cakes since they also serve pasta, pizza, and other dishes for breakfast and brunch at their bigger, more popular branch in Garosugil, Sinsa-dong. It’s more like a bistro than just a café, and I’d like to visit that next time.

Here’s my detailed review of Dore Dore (도레도레 카페)- Common Ground Branch:

Food: 10

- Aside from being Instagram-worthy, Dore Dore’s cakes taste so good that I’d probably be addicted to them if only they have a branch here in Manila. To me, they’re the type that can brighten up my mood when I’m having a bad day, like a stress-reliever. I’ve been craving for those cakes since I got back. J They’re light, moist, delicious with just the right mixture of sweetness and creaminess, and I love how colorful and creatively presented they are. The serving size is just right too. (But because they’re good, you might consider getting an extra slice)

Their menu consist of Italian dishes such as pizza, and pasta, with drinks such as coffee, tea, fresh fruit juice, and fruit ade.

For the cakes, here are some of them:

Today’s Cake/Cake of the day: Mintholic Cake (오늘의케이크)

Shooting Star Cake (셔팅스타 케이크) a.k.a Lemon Cream Cake

Thank you Cake (고마워케이크) a.k.a Strawberry Short Cake

Strawberry and Kiwi Cake (촉촉해 케이크)

Oh My God! Cake (오마이갓! 케이크) a.k.a Choco M&Ms Cake

Oh, Look at this! Cake (어머이것봐케이크)- a.k.a Black Forrest Cake

Blue Oreo Cake (not it's real name)

Green Snowman Cake (not it's real name)

Ambience: 8

- The place looks neat with an industrial style to it, with minimalist wood and metal furniture, concrete floors and shades of black and grey on the walls.

Value for Money: 8

- With a slice of cake at KRW 7,500- KRW 9,500 (Php 300- Php 380), whole cakes at KRW 40,000- KRW 50,000 (Php 1,600- Php 2,000) and drinks at KRW 5,000- KRW 8,000 (Php 200- Php 320), the food at Dore Dore is a bit pricey, but the taste does compensate for it. If you don’t mind splurging on guilty pleasures, then go on and indulge yourself.

Accessibility: 10

- This two-storey café is so easy to find at Kondae Common Ground. You can see it right upon entering Market Ground, with glass doors and windows, and a large signage. You can also enter the café from inside the mall like we did.

Dore Dore Cafe in Common Ground during day time. Photo Credit: http://hedonisthk.blogspot.com/

Here's the floor plan of Common Ground where you can see Dore Dore at 1st and 2nd floor (highlighted in yellow).

Service: 9

- The staff speaks English, and are quite accommodating.

Will I go back to this place?: Definitely!

- I will go back and visit their Garosugil branch to finally try those rainbow cakes, and their pizza and pasta, as I love Italian food.

I think Dore Dore Cafe is a good place to hang out, or even have casual dates with friends or your significant others. The food is good and the industrial vibe makes you feel relaxed and cozy. If you’re on a diet though, I'd have to warn you that you'd better have good self-control because their food, especially those delightful desserts are simply irresistible.

Other important details about Dore Dore Café in Common Ground:

Operating Hours: 11:00am-10:00pm (same as the mall)
Branches: around 15 branches in Korea (Seoul, Incheon, Busan, etc.)

How to get there?

[SUBWAY]

First, find Kondae Common Ground by getting off at Line 2 or 7 at Konkuk University exit 6. Walk straight about 2 blocks and you can find it on your left.

Then, inside the main mall, go to the first floor, beside a store named ‘Ádvisory’ and just across ‘Vans’.

Address: 1st Floor, Common Ground, 13-28 Jayang 4(sa)-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, South Korea

For inquiries, you may check out the following sites:

Website: http://www.doredore.co.kr/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doredorec

~~~

If you want to know the rest of our itinerary for this trip, you can check out my first blog post about the Visit Korea VIP Member Invitation Tour.

For Filipinos, follow Korea Tourism Organization Manila at Facebook, Twitter, and KakaoTalk (@ktomanila) for the latest updates on Korea tourism, events, tour packages and promos. :)

[REVIEW] Visit Korea VIP Invitation Tour Day 1: Kondae Common Ground 커먼 그라운드

noreply@blogger.com (Lucky) — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 04:00:00 +0000

Hello! It’s been a very busy first month of the year for me, so I only have time to blog on weekends now. Actually, I kind of miss travelling, and I hope to be able to do so again soon… ^^

Anyway, my Visit Korea VIP Member Invitation Tour blog series continues with a review of the world’s biggest and Korea’s first pop-up container shopping mall, Common Ground in Kondae.

After going to Nature Kitchen 자연별곡 for lunch, having a fun afternoon at Trick Eye Museum and Ice Gallery, and coffee at Hello Kitty Café 헬로키티 카페 in Hongdae, we travelled for an hour to reach Kondae, the name of the area surrounding Konkuk University Station (Seoul Subway Line 2, 7). It was quite a long ride, so most of us slept at the bus.

I read about Kondae before going on the trip and I was so excited to actually be there. But now I realized I’ve actually been there before, during my first trip in Seoul, to visit Super Junior Yesung’s Mouse Rabbit Café. I love the youthful vibe there, as well as all the shops selling lots of cute stuff. At that time, I was hoping to explore more of the area but we only had an hour to stay then because we had to catch a concert. It’s good that I actually made it back. Next time though I’ll allot more time especially for shopping and hanging out at the cafes.

Common Ground is a large blue building made by pilling up 200 shipping containers, each with their individual number codes, in Gwangjin district at Kondae by the Kolon Industries FnC fashion company just early last year (April 2015). The structure was then converted into a pop-up shopping mall. I found their concept really unique, and well, kind of earth-friendly. They have around 70 stores filled with a lot of good finds, from accessories, clothes, caps, shoes, cellphone cases, cosmetics, and a whole lot more! The brands there aren’t the usual ones that you’ll find at the mall, since I heard that they want to support new small, and medium-sized company brands.

My panoramic shot of the entrance of Common Ground

Aside from the main mall area, Common Ground is also consists of the Street Market, Food Truck Market, the Market Hall, a central square called Market Ground, and a top deck (3rd floor) called Terrace Market.

Regularly, they hold various exhibitions, performances, and weekend flea markets as additional attractions for visitors. When we were there, they have the 1000 penguins exhibition, which is a collaboration project between Kolon Sport and Common Ground. We weren’t able to see the adorable penguins though.

If you get hungry, you can check out Common Ground's food trucks which offer various gastronomic treats (I really wanted to try Kimchi Bus!). We were actually supposed to try them for dinner but it was raining then, so we just had a tour of the mall. There’s also a wide roster of trendy restaurants and cafes that you can try inside the mall and at the Market Terrace. I actually like the elegant ambience and view from the terrace.

Common Ground's Food trucks on a rainy night

Photo ops by the bridge. Say Kimchiiii! Photo Credit: Jeanne Therese Kurniawan

Common Ground's Kolon Bridge

Kolon Bridge during day time (credits: commonground.co.kr)

View from the bridge

I think the Market Terrace is good for date nights or Friday Night Outs :)

Here’s my detailed review of Kondae Common Ground (커먼 그라운드):

Ambience: 9 ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

- I like the modern feel of the place, and considering the materials they used in building it, I find it very distinctive and I admire the ingenuity behind it. Although it is not the first container mall/pop up shopping mall in the world, it’s the first of its kind in Korea (and they say, it's the world's biggest).

I also like the little touches of inspiration and art that one can find in certain areas in the mall.

When we were there, there aren't so much people around so it's quiet, probably because it was night time already and it was raining too.

Value for money: 8 ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

I wasn’t able to buy anything, but I was able to do a little window shopping.^^ The prices are quite reasonable for me, I think a bit cheaper than mall prices, which is probably because the brands there are not mainstream brands. Of course, if you convert them to Philippine Peso, they get a little bit expensive because of the difference in conversion rates :)
All items are quite stylish too, I think this is also because their target market is the youth.

Warner Bros. watch for KRW 50,000 (Php2,000); perfume for KRW 7,000/12,000 (Php 280/ Php 480)

(SALE) Customizable Caps for KRW 21,000/ KRW 31,000 (Php 840/ Php 1,240)

Bargain clothes for KRW 19,800 (Php 792)

Accessibility: 10 ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

They cover a huge area, more like an entire compound, and the structural design is quite unique so it’s hard to miss.

Will I go back to this place? : Yes.

- I’ll probably try shopping for clothes, as I find their styles really fashionable. I also think that aside from shopping, it's a cool place to hang out as there are a lot of things to see, and since they constantly come up with things to attract visitors in the area.

Other important details about Common Ground (커먼 그라운드) :

Operating Hours:
11:00am-10:00pm

How to get there?

[SUBWAY]

Get off at line 2 or 7 at Konkuk University exit 6. Walk straight about 2 blocks and you can find it on your left.

Address: 13-28 Jayang 4(sa)-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Contact number: +82-2-467-2747

Nearby Attractions: Dalbongi Hanu 달봉이 한우, Ttukseom/Yeoido Park Snow Slope 뚝섬여의도 눈썰매장, Ttukseom Flea Market 뚝섬 아름다운나눔장터, PoBar 포바

For inquiries and more details, you may check out the following sites:

Website: http://www.common-ground.co.kr

Facebook Account: https://www.facebook.com/commonground.1 st

~~~

If you want to know the rest of our itinerary for this trip, you can check out my first blog post about the Visit Korea VIP Member Invitation Tour.

For Filipinos, follow Korea Tourism Organization Manila at Facebook, Twitter, and KakaoTalk (@ktomanila) for the latest updates on Korea tourism, events, tour packages and promos. :)

[BLOG UPDATE] New look for the new year

noreply@blogger.com (Lucky) — Sat, 26 Dec 2015 22:25:00 +0000

Hello! I've been trying to give my blog a new look for 2016 by getting a new template, but unfortunately, I just can't get a compatible template that won't require me to do a lot of modifications with the CSS and HTML. T_T... And since I don't really have much time for all that anymore, I decided to just edit my current template. I've made the following changes so far:

Updated the images and links to the slider
Change the thumbnails per post to full size photos per post at the home page (I didn't like the photos getting all distorted in the thumbnail versions)
Updated the dead links and titles in the navigation bar
Added a bucket list page
Added some links at the side bar.

I'm hoping to be able to come up with some new posts too^^

2015 has been a tough, yet equally great year, and I want to thank everyone who dropped by and read my blog. Hope I was able to impart something good to you, and I look forward to your continued support next year. ^^

Let's all enjoy the rest of the holidays. Happy New Year to all!

May we all have a brighter, more blessed, and more awesome 2016!

[REVIEW] Visit Korea VIP Invitation Tour Day 1: Hello Kitty Café in Hongdae 헬로키티카페

noreply@blogger.com (Lucky) — Thu, 24 Dec 2015 21:34:00 +0000

Hi! After my reviews for Nature Kitchen 자연별곡 and Trick Eye Museum and Ice Gallery in Hongdae, I’m here again for my Visit Korea VIP Member Invitation Tour blog series to give you my review of Hello Kitty Café, which is also in the same area. ^^

I’m not really a fan of Hello Kitty, but I’m a coffeeholic and I love all things cute and girly, and this café is super cute and more! ☕ This is another item crossed out of my bucket list, so thanks again Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) for including this in the itinerary of our trip.^^

Seoul is home to a lot of amazing themed cafes, and Hello Kitty Café (헬로키티 카페) is one of the most popular. It has branches in Hongdae, Shinchon, Myeongdong, and Jeju.

For our tour, we visited the Hongdae branch, which was transferred to its new location last 2014. According to our guide, the new location is bigger than the previous. It was my first time to visit so I can’t compare them, but I really love how cute this café is. It’s covered in pink and all things Hello Kitty, so if you’re a fan, I’m sure you’ll be ecstatic. I think it’s the cutest and girliest café I’ve ever been to^^☕

The Hello Kitty Cafe in Hongdae has a huge gate at the front, and you have to go up to see the actual café. There are potted plants on the way up, and there’s a tree beside the café. I like how they infused touches of nature here and there into this cute little pink paradise.

The view from outside. Credits to the Hello Kitty Cafe Website

Over-all view of the Cafe on a sunny day (because we came on a rainy day) :) Credits to the Hello Kitty Cafe website

The café is quite big. There’s a spacious front lawn, a gift shop at one side, kitchen and counter area, restroom, and a second floor with a huge area for patrons and a bedroom. It’s really more like a Hello Kitty House than just a regular café.☕

All of us had umbrellas because of the rain. It was getting cold then.

Everything is covered in varying shades of pink and white with some touches of brown.

There's a separate entrance to the gift shop from the outside, but you can also go there from the inside.

Gift shop entrance

The signage that will greet you beside the door before you enter the cafe

The café implements a reserved seating system so you have to wait for the staff to escort you to a seat. When we got in, a staff greeted us and guided us to the 2nd floor where we chose our seats. There weren’t many people at first, but eventually, they started coming in. We came at around 3:30pm.

The rest of our group all busy with their coffee. It was cold that time but I still chose a cold drink ^^

Hello Kitty Cafe Welcome Counter

My cell phone battery was almost dying on me that time. Good thing there was an outlet for charging at the café. They also have wi-fi for those who want to upload their cute pics right away ^^

I read in one of their table top displays that they implement some rules, which are as follows:

Upon arrival, you need to inform the staff about the number of your companions (if you have any).
After receiving a waiting number, a staff will guide you to find your seat.
The staff will escort you to your seat, and give you the menu so you can order.
After you’ve chosen from the menu, you’ll need to pay for your order in the 1st floor, and they will give you a buzzer.
Once the buzzer lights up, you’ll need to bring it to the pick-up area where you will get your order.
After eating, you need to clean up and take all your cups and dishes to the pick-up area.

I read them here :)

These rules were stated there but based on my experience, they didn’t ask us to clean up after :) I also read at the welcome counter that the café implements a “one beverage per one person” policy, but I’m not sure if they are strict in implementing that.

If you’re a foreigner, no worries about ordering in the café because they have English translations of the menu and the staff speaks English too.

I ordered the Cookies and Cream Crunch (KRW 6,500 or Php 260), which was kind of new in their menu, and reminds me a lot of Caffé Bene Cookies and Cream Bingsu. It tastes really good, but not really extraordinary. I was hoping to try their cute cakes but we had to go already. I’ll make sure to go back and try them next time. Here’s my detailed review for now:

Food: 8 ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

- As mentioned, I haven’t eaten anything when we visited, but my drink was quite good. I am yet to find out though what their café specialty is (what people love to order). Maybe next time I’ll make sure to try.

In terms of presentation, they are quite good. Most of the drinks we ordered has Hello Kitty’s face on top. I also found their cakes really cute, and of course, they also have Hello Kitty cake!

They also have a whole variety of cakes, teas, coffee and non-coffee beverages (hot and iced), yogurt, and other desserts to choose from. They have a waffle set, hotdog set, Ricotta Cheese Salad, Croque-Monsieur, and Bread Set if you don’t want cakes and coffee.☕

Look at all those cute Hello Kitty faces! To drink or not to drink?!

My drink is the one at the bottom. It's yummy!^^

All those yummy looking cakes are making me hungry!

But this one is the cutest for me, Hello Kitty Cake! Costs 11,000 KRW

Ambience: 10 ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

- I love this café’s light and, girly vibe. I’m sure my girlfriends would love it there, Hello Kitty fan or not. The ambience looks quite elegant with touches of some intricate furniture accents, small chandeliers, and very relaxing and comfortable too with wooden floors, white and pink walls, nice, and cute pink sofas, and soft lighting. The place is also well-maintained and really clean. I can spend a whole afternoon here just reading a good book, working on a report, or just chatting with friends.

On the first floor, you can find the counter on your right side

It's complete with all the pink boxes and menu :)

Lots of cute Hello Kitties around

This way to the gift shop please!

If you have Hello Kitty fanatic friends, this is the best place to look for a gift as they have all sorts of Hello Kitty souvenir items.

From Hello Kitty mugs, tumblers, cups, stationery, and calendars...

To Hello Kitty stuff toys, bags, etc.

I was so tempted to buy those cute little Hello Kitty head bands for my niece! I wasn't able to check their price list though.

And then on the 2nd floor, you can see the Hello Kitty Bedroom at the right side. How I'd love to sleep here for a night. Sweet Hello Kitty dreams!

And then there's this cute Hello Kitty Sofas right before you enter the main area for patrons.

All the couches are really cute, right?

Looks like a Hello Kitty altar to me :)

To give you an over all view of the 2nd floor. Credits to the Hello Kitty Cafe website

Even the rest room has Hello Kitty in it

I'd love to have a pink bathroom at home ^^

Value for money: 8 ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

- I find their price quite higher than most cafes that I’ve been to in Seoul, like double the price. But I guess the ambience and experience more than compensate for it. And if you’re a fan, I’m sure you wouldn’t mind paying extra.

Oh, and I also read in their website that Hello Kitty Café, under Jacob F&B Co Ltd., donates a percentage of its profits to charity, so buying from them is in a way a support to their noble cause.

Check out their menu, and all the other things you can order aside from coffee, tea, and cakes ^^

The waffle and hotdog set are making me hungry. And yes, I still want to eat you Hello Kitty Cake :)

Accessibility: 8 ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

- The café is located at an alley. We have a guide with us so we got there easily, but if you’re new in Hongdae, you might get a bit lost so please make sure to bring a map.

Hello Kitty Cafe (Hongdae) map from their official website

Service: 9 ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

- The staff is quick, accommodating, well-mannered, and best of all, speaks English :)

Will I go back to this place? : Yeah!

It’s a puurrrfect hangout place for Hello Kitty fanatics and a pink paradise for coffee and tea lovers who love all things cute and girly like me. It’s more than just having coffee or an afternoon snack but having that whole Hello Kitty experience.

Actually after visiting the café and I learned there’s a bigger one in Jeju (Hello Kitty Island), I instantly thought of going there someday. It’s really a wonderful experience to visit such cute and adorable café.☕

Other important details about Hello Kitty Café ☕ :

Operating Hours:

10:00 am- 22:30pm (10:30pm)

Price Range:

KRW 4,000- KRW 12,000 (Php 160- Php 480)

How to get there?

[SUBWAY]
Get off at Hongik university station Line 2 and take exit 9.

Walk straight onto the wide street on the left, and turn right after 2 small blocks.

Keep going straight on the street with many restaurants and cafes.

Cross the street and keep going straight toward Sang Sang Madang.

Turn left into Wausan 19 gil at a corner with Snow Spoon. If you walk into the small street for less than 1 minute, you will find Hello Kitty Cafe on your left.

Address: 364-14, Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea

Nearby Attractions: Hongdae Playground 홍대 놀이터, KT&G Sangsangmadang KT&G 상상마당, Snow Spoon 스노우 스푼, Hongdae Mural Street (Alley) 홍대벽화거리

For inquiries, you may check out the following sites:

Website: http://www.hellokittycafe.co.kr/
Facebook Account: https://www.facebook.com/HelloKittyCafe/

You can also call their Hongdae branch at 02-334-6570.

UPDATE (Jan. 2, 2016): OMG! Good news to Hello Kitty lovers here in Metro Manila^^ I just found out today that Hello Kitty Cafe recently put up 2 pop up stores here. There's one at SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City (open till Jan. 6) and another at the Fiesta Duty Free Mall in Parañaque (open till end of January 2016). And they're opening the country's first Hello Kitty Cafe in March at Bonifacio Global City. Can't wait for that! Check out the original article HERE. (Thanks gmanetwork.com for this good news!)

~~~

If you want to know the rest of our itinerary for this trip, you can check out my first blog post about the Visit Korea VIP Member Invitation Tour.

For Filipinos, follow Korea Tourism Organization Manila at Facebook, Twitter, and KakaoTalk (@ktomanila) for the latest updates on Korea tourism, events, tour packages and promos. :)

[REVIEW] Visit Korea VIP Invitation Tour Day 1: Hongdae Trick Eye Museum & Ice Gallery

noreply@blogger.com (Lucky) — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 20:44:00 +0000

I’m back with my Visit Korea VIP Member Invitation Tour blog series^^

Previously, I wrote about my dining experience at Nature Kitchen (자연별곡). Next up is my review of the Trick Eye Museum and Ice Gallery in Hongdae. This place is just walking distance from Nature Kitchen, and has been in my Korean bucket list ever since my first visit last 2013. That’s why I was so thrilled when I found out that it’s part of our itinerary. ^^

Trick Eye is a 3D interactive museum that’s famous around the world. It has been featured on TV several times and has branches in Singapore (Sentosa), China (Jinan), and Hong Kong. It's also the first optical illusion museum that was recognized by Trip Advisor visitors as the no.1 museum in Seoul.
The word trick eye came from the English expression 'Trompe-l'oeil', meaning ‘trick of the eye’. Unlike traditional museums where you just look at the art and displays and have a guide to tour you around, Trick Eye Museum gives you a unique experience via optical illusion, which makes flat 2D paintings look like 3D images. And you don’t need a guide in exploring the facility (and there are no ‘Do not touch’ signs too!), you can freely tour the museum, touch and interact with the various art creations, and best of all, take pictures with them! You can create your own stories, and come up with creative poses for lots of SNS-worthy pictures. Trick Eye is like a huge and entertaining photo op facility with paintings on the walls, floor, and ceiling, and is a very popular date and hangout place in Korea because of all the cute, unique, and creative art images that one can find there.

The museum also offers a lot of activities. There are fun activities like art toy experience, mask making, and educational programs for children where the concepts behind the art illusions are explained. Then, for adults you can try the Hanbok experience and enjoy all sorts of carnival games. You can even have your own caricature and digital oil painting made!

An artist doing a caricature of a couple visitor

There are several facilities inside the Trick Eye Museum (aside from the museum itself). There’s the Ice Gallery, Carnival Street, and the Experience Hall, which were all in the same floor. There are restrooms, locker rooms, a Greek-styled café, a Greek mythology educational room, and exhibit halls that feature contemporary artists as additional attractions. Also in the same building is the Love Museum, an adult only sensual erotic art attraction, which we were not able to explore.

our ticket to the museum (front and back)

Here's a very cute map from the Trick Eye leaflet that we got there :)

We were supposed to have group photo ops in the museum and we were the first to arrive. We took a lot of photos and it was indeed a lot of fun to pose with all those art. After that, it was time to take photos with ice!

Lol, the giants are gonna get us!

Haha, this is one difficult pose XD

The Visit Korea VIP Invitation Tour group photo

Cute photo, a selfie within a selfie. Photo credit to Jean Therese Kurniawan

Kim eonni taught me how to 'fly' at Trickeye. I was posing my usual pose, when she said, "Oh, there's a better way to do it" and she showed me that super cute pose. Lol, this is my attempt to mimic Kim eonni's pose. :D

It was really cold at the Ice Gallery/Museum (I think around -4°C). Good thing we were wearing our K-Smile Supporter Jackets.^^ We posed with all the ice sculptures, tried the ice slide, laid down the ice bed, sat down at the ice sofa, and even played (well, I tried) the ice piano. There’s even a toilet made of ice (and there’s a toy poop in it, lol!).

Selfie time!^^

I tried to play the piano, lol

Nat, Tere, and me hanging out at the Ice Bar. Photo credit to Jeanne Therese Kurniawan

Here's a video of me trying the ice slide. It was short, but really fun. Hope they'll make a longer one!^^ I'm sure the kids will love this....Haha, it was slippery so its hard to get up :)

Read on for my detailed review:

Ambience: 9 ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

- The museum gives you a light and fun feel. There is ample lighting and the place is also well-maintained. The art masterpieces and the optical illusions are very entertaining. The art displays are divided into several rooms, and I noticed that each room seems to have a certain theme (e.g. under the sea, etc.).
I think I just expected it to be a lot bigger, and didn’t really expect to finish in just 60 minutes or so. The entire facility is 2,314 square metres big and can accommodate a maximum of 700-800 people.

Value for money: 10 ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

- The price of KRW 15,000 per adult (approx. Php 600) and KRW 12,000 per minor is just right for the unique experience being offered by the museum. It’s a very good place to hang out, enjoy, and bond with family and friends.

They accept cash as well as credit card payments (major credit cards), but refund is not possible after the tickets have been issued.

Accessibility: 9 ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

- The museum is very easy to find and is at the second basement floor of the Homi-hwabang building.

Here's a detailed map from the Trick Eye leaflet :)

Will I go back to this place? : Of course!

- Trick Eye Museum and Ice Gallery is a good place to let your imagination run wild, and to bring out the kid in you. It’s a good and unique experience to interact with various art masterpieces, and to create your own stories while taking pictures. I think people from all walks of life will enjoy exploring this museum, and I’m sure it will be a remarkable bonding experience with family and friends.

Other important details about Trick Eye Museum and Ice Gallery:

Operating Hours:

The museum is open every day (Monday-Sunday) all year round.

09:00 am-21:00 (9pm)

*Last admission is at 20:00 (8pm)

Admission Fees:

15,000 won per adult; 12,000 won per minor (under 18)

Special rate for groups of 20 or more: 11,000 won per adult; 8,000 won per minor

50% reduced admission fee for disabled and handicapped (The museum has facilities for the disabled and handicapped such as wheel-chair accessible ticket and information booths, as well as ramps)

Free for children under 3 years old

*Pets are not allowed inside the museum

How to get there?

Address:

20, Hongik-ro 3-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea 121-838
서울특별시 마포구 홍익로3길 20 (서교동)

[Subway]
Hongik University Station (Seoul Subway Line 2), Exit 9.
Go straight 150m, cross the road, and turn left onto Hongik-ro Street.
Go straight 120m, and turn right down the second side street (in between TONYMOLY and Holika Holika).
Continue going 100m to arrive at Trickeye Museum on the right.

If you have a car, parking is available at B3 & 1F of the building. It’s free for the first 30 minutes and costs KRW 1,500 for each additional 30 minutes for Trick Eye Museum patrons.

Approximate length of tour:

60-90 minutes

For inquiries, you may check out the following sites:

Website: www.trickeye.com / www.icemuseum.co.kr
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Trickeye.museum

You can also call these travel hotlines for more details:

• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
• For more info: +82-2-3144-6300 (Korean)

~~~

If you want to know the rest of our itinerary for this trip, you can check out my first blog post about the Visit Korea VIP Member Invitation Tour.

Many thanks again to Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) for making this trip, possible. You can check out the KTO official website and follow their accounts on Facebook and Twitter for the details on tour sites and packages, as well as helpful tips on travelling to Korea.

For Filipinos, follow Korea Tourism Organization Manila at Facebook, Twitter, and KakaoTalk (@ktomanila) for the latest updates on Korea tourism, events, tour packages and promos. :)

[REVIEW] Visit Korea VIP Invitation Tour Day 1: Nature Kitchen 자연별곡

noreply@blogger.com (Lucky) — Sun, 13 Dec 2015 18:52:00 +0000

Annyeong! Finally, I have time to start my reviews. I’ve been very busy the past weeks after my autumn trip in Korea since I have to catch up on a lot of work. Now that it’s almost time for Christmas break, I can concentrate more on blogging. (Yay!)

As promised in my previous post about the Visit Korea VIP Member Invitation Tour, I’ll be reviewing the places that we’ve been to during my recent 4 days, 3 nights trip in Korea, which is sponsored by Korea Tourism Organization (KTO). How I miss being in Korea and exploring all those wonderful places!

I’ll be using a scale of 10 in my reviews, with 10 being the highest and 1 as the lowest.

Hope you will enjoy reading this series of reviews, and hope I’ll be able to provide valuable information to you^^

~~~

Nature Kitchen 자연별곡

First on my list is Nature Kitchen 자연별곡( pronounced as ‘Jayeonbyolgok’ in Korean) , which is located at the 3rd Floor of Toros Tower in Hongdae, Seoul. This is where we had our first full meal and lunch in Korea.

I think meal times are one of my favourite during this trip because KTO really knows how to spoil us with food…and I mean lots of food. Our guides, along with KTO staff would always tell us to eat well, and boy did we eat a lot.

Nature Kitchen 자연별곡 is a Hansik (Korean Food) Buffet Restaurant managed by E-Land Group, that serves a variety of Korean menus, including traditional dishes served in the royal court of the Joseon Dynasty, and claims to “provide dishes from the eight provinces of the Korean peninsula that braces the stories of King and Queens”.

A panoramic shot of the buffet area that I took at the restaurant

There were lots of dishes to choose from (They said it’s about a hundred), and I think you should make sure to have a lot of room in your tummy when you come here because the food are all scrumptious.

I heard that Nature Kitchen started a new trend in the Korean Restaurant industry when it was launched just last 2014. Because of the rising popularity of Korean cuisine, and the desire for healthier food choices, the restaurant came up with a Korean Salad Bar, which not just consists of salad, which became really popular that it led to the opening of 18 more branches.

Here’s my detailed review about the place:

Food: 9 ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

- Because of the huge variety of great tasting dishes that including a huge selection of meat dishes, hot and cold noodle dishes, Korean Salad bar, Korean pancakes, a ‘Patjuk’ fondue (red bean fondue), assorted sweet rice cake balls, Gangwondo-style Tofu Bossam, Gwangyang-style Bulgogi, various kinds of fresh vegetables, Korean sauces, soups and side dishes (banchan 반찬) . You can also make your own bibimbap and bingsu, and order noodle dishes separately.
- My favorite dishes include the sweet and sour crispy pork (Tangsuyuk), bulgogi, bibimbap, and bingsu!

Meat...meat...and more meat! (oh my, I should take better food photos next time!)

Variety of sauces

Noodles!!!

Looks like chocolate fondue right? But apparently, it's Patjuk, which is made from red bean (dried azuki beans).

Full plate for a filling lunch

Our lunch table looks lovely with all these yummy delicacies

My own version of bingsu with all the traditional rice cakes my stomach can take in! ^^

I found their buffet plate (the one with separations) really cute. It's my first time to see it and I think it's good to use if you want to taste everything and yet don''t want food to touch or to avoid too much clutter in your plate.

Service: 8 ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

- Since it’s a buffet, it’s mostly self-service, but you can also order some items in the menu separately like noodle dishes. They’re quite fast, and the staff are quite friendly too.

Ambiance: 9 ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

- The place gives you that luxurious, traditional Korean feel with matching traditional ornaments, like large wooden spoons, jars, and wooden bowls. There is soft lighting, dark marble floors, water fountains, and dark wooden tables. The place is also quite spacious with a capacity of around 212 seats.
- Just like most Korean buffets, the buffet area is divided into sections such as roasted meat corner, hot food corner, cold food corner, vegetable and salad dishes corner, traditional dessert section, and drinks/coffee and tea section (가배와 차).

Drinks section where you can get coffee, tea, etc.

Some seasonal dishes are cooked by the chefs right in front of you at that counter so they are served hot.

Price/Value for money: 10 ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

- This restaurant is famous for serving really good food for a very affordable price. Weekday lunch is just KRW 12,900 (around USD 12.99 or PHP518.66), while dinner on weekdays, weekends, and holidays is just KRW 19,900(around USD19.99 or PHP 800.10). If compared to buffet here in the Philippines, the price can be expensive, but in Korea, that's quite affordable for buffet price already. I once ate a single meal for 20,000 won, so I thought, why didn't I know this place before? (Haha!)
They accept cash/credit card payments (Including overseas cards).

Accessibility: 8 ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

- The place is quite easy to find as it is inside a tower, and near Hongik University Station Line 2.

Will I go back to this place?: Definitely!

- I super love Nature Kitchen 자연별곡 and I'm so glad that the Visit Korea VIP Invitation Tour included this in the itinerary. It's a great place for family (or any group for that matter!) dinners and lunches, especially if you want a traditional Korean feel, because the food tastes great, with lots of variety, and are quite affordable. You definitely get your money's worth.

Our group photo during lunch. Thanks for this nice shot Tere! ^^

Other Important Details about Nature Kitchen:

Price Range:

Adults: KRW 19,900
Youth/Elementary Students : KRW 9900
Pre-school : KRW 6500
Less than 36 month old: FREE

Branches:

SEOUL: Hongdae, Gangnam, Mok-dong
BUSAN: Seomyeon, Kyungsung University * You can check out the rest of their branches in their website.

How to get there (Hongdae Branch)?

Location: Hongdae, Seoul (3rd Floor of Toros Tower)
Address: 159-8 Toros Tower 3rd Floor Donggyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
(서울특별시 마포구 양화로 153 토로스타워 3층)

Directions:

If coming from the subway, take Line No. 2 Hongik Univ. Station Exit 1, then walk to Toros Tower. The restaurant is at the 3rd floor of the building.

If you have your car with you, there’s a Saemoolgyoul on-street public parking lot at Mapo-gu Dongyo-dong 165-1 with 17 spaces at KRW 600 per 10 minutes.

The restaurant is near Hongik University, Shinchon Hyundai Department store and the street of Ewha Women’s University.

Operating hours (may vary per branch):

The store is open all-year round (except otherwise announced)

Weekday Lunch (평일점심) AM11:00~PM4:00

Weekday Evenings (평일저녁) PM4:00~PM10:00

Weekend Holidays (주말.공휴일) AM11:00~PM10:00

For more info on the restaurant, you can check the following sites:

Website: http://www.naturekitchen.co.kr/
FB Page: https://web.facebook.com/naturekitchen11/
Blog: http://blog.naver.com/naturediner

You can also call the branch via this number: 02-332-0540

~~~

If you want to know the rest of our itinerary for this trip, you can check out my first blog post about the Visit Korea VIP Member Invitation Tour.

For Filipinos, follow Korea Tourism Organization Manila at Facebook, Twitter, and KakaoTalk (@ktomanila) for the latest updates on Korea tourism, events, tour packages and promos. :)

[EVENT] Be the next Visit Medical Korea Supporter and win a trip to Korea!

noreply@blogger.com (Lucky) — Sat, 12 Dec 2015 09:31:00 +0000

If you're interested in Korea Medical Tourism, or if you're a Koreanophile who just loves anything and everything Korea-related, then this might be the opportunity for you to visit Korea ^^

Visit Medical Korea (VMK) is currently recruiting supporters who can help them promote their website , as well as actively comment and share their posts on Facebook via their personal SNS accounts (Facebook, Weibo, etc.) from January 1 to June 30, 2016.

Anyone with internet access outside Korea can join this event. Selected VMK supporters will win a FREE round trip to Korea, and a free medical tour package (ex: Korean traditional medicine, skin care, etc.) of their choice. Winners can choose a date in between January 1st to June 30, 2016.

The steps in joining the event are very easy! Here they are:

LIKE the VMK Facebook Page found HERE
Write a COMMENT about 'Korea Medical Tourism' or the reason why you have to visit Korea HERE. Pls also indicate your email address.
SHARE the event on your SNS accounts (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Youtube, or any other SNS platform^^)

Easy right? So be the next VMK supporter and join the event now! The event period is from December 7 to December 14 only. Selected VMK supporters will be announced on December 15.

~~~

Interested about Korean Tourism? Check out the Korea Tourism Organization Official Website, and follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

For Filipinos, follow Korea Tourism Organization Manila at Facebook, Twitter, and KakaoTalk (@ktomanila) for the latest updates on Korea tourism, events, tour packages and promos. :)

An autumn trip to remember: My 2015 Visit Korea VIP Invitation Tour Experience

noreply@blogger.com (Lucky) — Sun, 29 Nov 2015 18:47:00 +0000

The best things happen when you least expect it. :)

Last week I was able to visit Korea for the second time via the VisitKorea VIP Member Invitation Tour, organized by Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) and it was the best, unplanned trip I have ever experienced. It was also my first solo trip abroad, and I call it ‘my miracle trip’ because I kind of felt like all the odds were against it at the beginning. But I guess when you’re given an opportunity, you seize it and do your best (and leave the rest to God), right?

I am very grateful to Korea Tourism Organization for such a wonderful experience. I’ve learned a lot of new things about Korea in those 4 days, and 3 nights special invitation tour, and I’d like to share them in a series of entries here in my blog.

For this entry, I’ll be sharing with you some pre-tour experiences, as well as the summary of our itinerary for the tour.

Pre-Tour Jitters

It was about a month ago when Korea Tourism Organization made an announcement about the VisitKorea VIP Member Invitation Tour. They were calling on avid supporters of their website and of Korea tourism to apply as participants for the tour. I thought it was a good opportunity, so I took a chance and submitted my application.

It was around end of October when they announced the winners and my name wasn’t there, so I went on my usual business. But then, 5 days later, I received a PM in twitter from @KoreanTravel (KTO’s twitter account) telling me I’ll receive good news that morning, and then, I received an email telling me that one participant wasn’t available so they had another round of selection and chose me. I couldn’t believe it at first, and then I finally realized what that meant, and I was like, “O-M-G, I’m going to Korea!”… Haha! It felt so surreal, it did take a few minutes to sink in on me. The next thing I know, I was hugging my immediate boss and telling her that I won a trip to Korea. It was indeed one happy moment.

After that though, I became more anxious than ever, because that also meant getting a visa in less than 2 weeks, flying to Korea on the day of a major event that we’re organizing, and squeezing in all the preparations for the trip in my really hectic work schedule. At that time, I had my hands full at work and my schedule was filled with meetings. It was almost impossible to gather my documents, and apply for a visa in less than a week. Good thing one of my friends, as well as our admin department helped me. I gathered all my requirements in a week, submitted my visa application to the embassy, and got my Korean Visa after 3 days.

Got my Korean Visa 5 days before the trip :)

And then, there’s the whole APEC dilemma too (and this is more stressful than getting paranoid over bullet planting rumors). The government implemented a no-fly zone in NAIA as well as road closures during the summit as safety precaution for international delegates. This caused a lot of inconvenience to so many, and I heard a lot of horror stories of people going to the airport and being stuck in traffic for 8 hours, or people having their flights cancelled last minute. I didn’t want that to happen to me so I had to call Korean Air here in Manila to make sure they’re not cancelling any flights and also checked travel advisories every day.

On top of that, my event that day was from 3am till the evening of Nov 17 and my flight was on the same day. I was sleepless, ate very little, and was so tired. I had to apologize to my colleagues for leaving at 5pm so I can go home and get my luggage. My dad was with me on the way to the airport and at around 9pm, we were still stuck in heavy traffic. My flight was around 11pm so I was almost in panic since we were still far from the airport. And then, my heart sunk when I learned that 2 Korean Air flights to Incheon before my flight have already been cancelled. I quickly scrolled down my phone, and was so relieved that my flight was only 55 minutes delayed. And then, the traffic started moving too… Wow, I was going to make it to my flight after all. ^^

Traffic was so bad, people would get stuck on the streets for ours. Photo credit: Remate.ph

It took almost 40 minutes to queue for check in. I was able to check in my luggage around 10:30pm. I grabbed a quick meal and then went to the boarding area. Our plane left around 11:40pm here in Manila. At that point, I was just so relieved and tired as well that I slept all throughout my flight (and didn’t even eat! But it was a good flight and the crew were so nice, so thank you Korean Air ^^). Now, on to the tour! Let's #VisitKorea!^^

Photos inside the plane taken by eonni Jasmidar Aziz

Visit Korea VIP Invitation Tour DAY 1

I safely arrived at Incheon International Airport at around 4:40am (KST) of Nov. 18. I was first among all the participants to arrive since my flight was only 4 hours. Took a walk around the airport, got some leaflets here and there and even took a selfie. It was great to be back.

I was also so excited to meet everyone. It’s so cool to be sharing the tour with participants from other countries. My team mates actually added me in a chatroom at Kakaotalk a day before the trip, so I knew their names even before we met. That actually helped a lot because it kind of felt like I’ve known these girls for a very long time already (even though technically, it’s only been a day or two). That’s why when we met, there were no awkward moments. It was all fun already. :)

The assigned meeting place for us was at the benches in front of Starbucks. I went there around 6:30am. I was starving so I bought a sandwich and tea. I made sure not to commit the same mistake of buying Jamba Juice at freezing cold weather (because that’s the first thing I bought during my 1st trip to Korea in 2013 :))

Yay, breakfast!

The first person I met from my team was Vera eonni from Singapore, followed by Nat from Thailand, and Tere from Indonesia. We met our tour guide, Kim eonni from Hana Tours at around 8:30am. It was unfortunate though that our Jas eonni’s flight (from Malaysia) got delayed so we had to leave the airport at around 9am without her, and she will just follow us at the hotel.

Oh my my face looks so huge in this photo. LOL. From L-R: Me, Vera eonni from Singapore, our guide Kim eonni from Hana Tours, Nat from Thailand, and Tere from Indonesia.

The weather that morning was quite cold and a bit windy when we went outside the airport to board our shuttle bus. We were told to bring umbrellas that day because the weather forecast said it will rain.

Nope, that's not our shuttle bus. Our Kim eonni is waiting for our bus.

Our travel time from Incheon Airport to Seoul was around 45 minutes and it was nice to see traces of autumn in the streets. Our Kim eonni told us that our team will be assigned a wifi so we can post and promote the places that we’ll visit and activities that we’ll do at our SNS accounts whenever we want, which is part of our tasks as participants for the tour.

We arrived for check-in at Center Mark Hotel in Insadong at around 9:45 am, which was also about the same time Jas eonni arrived at the airport. We were supposed to leave for lunch at 11:30 so we have about an hour and a half to relax and settle down. Each of us were given a room and my room was at the 10th floor, same as Tere.

I like my room since it was very nice and cozy, and the ambience is very relaxing It was actually big for just one person, and I tried to take a nap, but I was just too excited so I took a nice, hot shower instead.

All of us met at the lobby at 11:30am. That’s also where we met Jas eonni. Now our team, the English Team participants (because we post in our SNS in English), is complete and we’re ready for lunch! ^^

I think this was our first group photo, which we took at the shuttle bus.

It was starting to rain then, that’s why they gave us umbrellas while we were at the shuttle. Kim eonni also gave us our KSmile Supporter jackets^^

We had our lunch at Nature Kitchen in Hongdae, where a scrumptious Hansik Buffet was waiting for us. At the restaurant, we also saw the other participants from Japan (5 people) and Taiwan (4 people). At first, we all thought we’ll all be touring as a whole group, but at that time it was explained to us that we’ll be divided into 3 groups (so there’s an English Team, Japanese Team, and Taiwanese Team).

Look at all that food! ^^

And then, my very own bingsu for dessert :)

Our group photo at Nature Kitchen. Photo Credit; Jeanne Theresia Kurniawan

After lunch, we walked from the location of the restaurant to the Trick Eye Museum & Ice Gallery. Our team was first to arrive, and we wore our KSmile Supporter Jackets for the photo ops.

Look who I 'met' at the street on our way to Trick Eye Museum :)

It was super fun to have your pictures taken with the 3D art in Trick Eye Museum. I’ve been wanting to go there since my last visit to Korea. The Ice Gallery was just as fun, and yeah, it was freezing cold there. I think my phone literally froze and stopped working for a bit while I was there. Good thing I was already able to take loads of pictures before it died on me. When we got out of Ice Museum, it was already time for group photo with all the other participants.

Our group photo at Trick Eye Museum...say Kimchiii! :)

After Trick Eye Museum, we went to the very cute Hello Kitty Café, which is also one of the places in my bucket list. It’s a puurrrfect hangout place for kitty fanatics as well as coffee and tea lovers. I ordered the Crunch Cookies and Cream, which was kind of new in their menu.

Photo taken by Jeanne Theresia Kurniawan

After Hello Kitty Café, we went to Kondae Common Ground Pop-up Store, which can be found in the near Konkuk University Station (Seoul Subway Line 2, 7). I read about it at the VisitKorea website before I went on the trip and it was amazing to finally be there. Common Ground is Korea’s first , and the world’s biggest pop-up container shopping mall. It’s filled with a lot of good finds, from accessories, clothes, caps, shoes, cellphone cases, and a whole lot more! And if you get hungry, there’s a whole roster of restaurants, cafes and food trucks in the area. Actually, we’re supposed to try food from the trucks there for dinner, but it was raining so our Kim eonni and the KTO Manager that we’re with brought us to Dore Dore Café, which offers a whole selection of yummy cakes and beverages.

So for dinner, we went to Omoni Saengseon (어머니생선), which is in Insadong same as our hotel. There it was my first time to try grilled mackerel with rice and nori wrapper and I really loved it. We also tried my favorite Haemul (Seafood) pajeon and Makgeolli. We were all so stuffed after dinner that some of us already decided to call it a night and go back to the hotel, which is just walking distance from the restaurant.

I chatted for a while with my sister that night, telling her of our adventures for the day. Sleep was quite elusive for most of us that night I think, since most of us slept late. Probably due to a little jetlag, or maybe because we’re all just too excited for Visit Korea VIP Tour Day 2. ^^

Visit Korea VIP Invitation Tour DAY 2

Day 2 of our Visit Korea VIP Invitation Tour was quite a sunny day, so no need for umbrellas anymore. It kind of felt like it’s a bit colder than the previous day though, probably because it rained the night before. We’re supposed to meet at the hotel lobby by 8:30 am, and then we’re off to Samcheong-dong for brunch.

I just love the ambiance at Samcheong-dong. The area looks so quaint and serene. The yellow trees along the road and the unique architectural design of most of the buildings there, which are either cafes, restaurants, museums, or some cute craft shop, are quite a sight to behold. I think just taking a stroll there one lazy morning is a good pastime in itself.

Panoramic view of an area in Samcheongdong

We had our breakfast at Slow Park, a café that serves brunch all day. It is just across Slow Garden. The place looks so stylish yet has a homey feel to it, and it’s also quite spacious. I think my colleagues would love to hang out there because it looks like a good place to relax and de-stress...We had photo ops with the Japanese Team before having brunch :)

After brunch, we went to Holly Go Studio, which is also within Samcheong-dong, to learn candle-making with the Japanese Team. There, we also met the very nice and cool Mr. Chul Kang, the Senior Deputy Director of the International Smart Tourism Team, and the very sweet and kind Ms. 양세영, whom we love to call eonni Sera. They’re both from KTO.

Our teacher, Ms. Holly Lee was the one who taught us the steps on candle-making in Hangul, while our respective guides translated the directions to us. It was my first time to do such an activity and I really enjoyed it.^^ Our instructor was also so nice and pretty, and look at all her wonderful creations!

We had to leave our candles though, since they still haven’t hardened. They just asked us to write our names on stickers to identify the owners of the candles.

The next stop in our itinerary is the Wiki Café, which is owned by Super Junior Sungmin’s eomma (mother). I’m an ELF (Super Junior Fan) and so is my 동생 (younger sister), so you can just imagine how thrilled I was to be visiting that café. I’ve visited Mouse Rabbit, which is owned by Super Junior Yesung, on my first visit to Korea in 2013, so visiting Wiki Café is one item crossed out in my bucketlist. :)

Since we had to walk to go to the café, we passed by some really nice and interesting museums. And although the café can be seen from the main road and is near the National Museum of Contemporary Art, we had to go through some alleys in Samcheong-dong to get to the actual entrance, and it was delighting to see some Hanoks (traditional Korean house) along the way.

The café sits at a high spot in Samcheong-dong and has a good view of Gyeongbokgung Palace. It also has a cozy and warm ambience to it that will make any fan feel right at home J The cafe has 2 floors. On the ground floor, there is a photo op area, a wall with messages and letters from fans, a piano, and a mail box where fans can leave their letters to Sungmin. There's a lot of cute stuff around the cafe too. I especially like the miniature Sungmins and the cute pillows with his face.

We also met Sungmin’s younger brother, Sungjin at the café. He was a bit shy, yet so nice, handsome and adorable. He’s as charming as his brother and if he can dance and sing like him, he’d make a good Super Junior member too :) We all had our photos taken with him and I also asked him for a selfie^^

Two people from TBS eFM Seoul also interviewed Jas eonni, Vera eonni, and me at the café. They asked us about the places that we normally associate with Korea, how we share Korean culture, and also about Korean drama. I forgot to have my pic taken while they were doing the interview so I just asked them for a selfie afterwards.

So after that it’s lunch time and we went to this quaint Ramyeon shop called 55 Beonji Ramen (삼청동 55번지라면). The place is a Hanok, so I really like the ambience and their Ramyeon was really good with big servings too. The one I chose has seafood and is quite spicy. It was a challenge to finish it, lol. Not to worry because there are dishes that are not spicy in the menu. ^^ This one is a must try and it’s another item crossed out in my bucketlist!:)

Next stop for day 2 was Grevin Seoul Museum, where we ‘met’ a lot of our favorite celebrities in person, or at least their wax versions. It was a great experience to have your photos taken with the wax figures, and imagine yourself actually meeting the celebrities. There were a lot of games too. I especially like the last room we were in, where we ‘hung out’ with oppas Lee Min Ho, Kim Soo Hyun, Hyun Bin, and Jang Geun Suk. :)

From Grevin Museum, we went to Deoksugung Palace afterwards to witness the Royal Guard Changing Ceremony at 3:30pm. Other palaces have such ceremonies too, but Deoksugung has the biggest ceremony.

As part of the VisitKorea VIP Member Invitation Tour, part of our task is to accomplish 3 missions and one of that is to take pictures with the chief of the Royal Guards at Deoksugung Palace. That’s why when we got there, we immediately looked for him (and he is standing right in front of the gate) and had our photos taken. [Mission no. 2, accomplished!]

I think we experienced autumn best at Deoksugung Palace. The trees and landscape inside the palace were really nice. The structures inside are a mix of both traditional and modern. We saw the parade of the Royal Guards while inside.

Up next at our itinerary is Dongdaemun, where we had our free time. We went to the shopping section while some of us went to the rooftop park of Dongdaemun Design Plaza to see the LED lit roses. Waaa, how I hope I’ve seen them too :)

Flying at DDP^^

After that, it’s early dinner at N table where we enjoyed Shabu shabu Buffet with the other teams and KTO Staff. Bon appetite!

Next and last in our itinerary for our Visit Korea VIP Invitation Tour Day 2 is Jeongdong Theater where we had the Janggu Drum Experience. It was one of my favorite activities in the tour because it was my first time to hold and use a Janggu, a traditional Korean music instrument and is a double-headed drum shaped like an hourglass. It was fun to learn a little about traditional Korean music. ^^

We also watched the Miso ('The Story of Secretary Bae' 배비장전) afterwards, a traditional performance showcasing Korean dance and music like Pansori (traditional vocal performance with drum), and Samulnori (traditional percussion quartet). I really like the dance routines, colorful costumes, and interesting plot. We even had the chance to take pictures with the main cast after the performance.

After that, we called it a day and went back to the hotel at around 10:00pm.

Visit Korea VIP Invitation Tour DAY 3

I slept so well during our 2nd night that I woke up a bit late on our 3rd day. Good thing I was able to get ready in just 30 minutes so I can still catch the hotel breakfast.

Our call time (8:00am) was earlier that day because we’re going to Chuncheon. We travelled by bus with the other teams to Yongsan Station. And then from Yongsan Station, we travelled via the ITX-Cheongchun Train to Chuncheon Station. The ride was very fast and convenient. I think we reached our destination in more or less 60 minutes.

From Chuncheon station, we proceeded to Gangchon Rail Park for the Rail Bike Experience. There we had group photos before riding the rail bikes.

We also met Ms. Hana Lee and Mr. Jeon Han from Korea.net. Since one rail bike only has 4 seats, I was separated from my team and was assigned to ride with them together with Mari Yosumi from the Japanese Team and we were told that they’d be interviewing us along the way. It was a good coincidence though that just a week before the trip, I was also accepted as Honorary Reporter for Korea.net. ^^

**You can check HERE and HERE for posts about our experience in Chuncheon and the interview with Korea.net :)

From L-R: Me, Ms. Hana Lee, Mr. Jeon Han, and Mari Yosumi from the Japanese Team

It was my first time to try the rail bikes and I’d say it’s my favorite activity of all. It’s a good form of exercise while seeing the beautiful scenery of Chuncheon. I love it when we pass by tunnels, because some have glow in the dark things attached to the walls of the tunnels, and some even have music. It’s like having a party at the tunnels, lol. We were all smiles after the ride^^

Photo taken by Ms. Hana Lee of Korea.net

After 40 minutes of biking, we went to 강촌 옛터숯불닭갈비 (Yetteosutbul Dakgalbi Restaurant) for lunch to have Dakgalbi (Grilled Chicken) and Makguksu (Korean buckwheat noodle dish). They’re both so yummy along with all the side dishes :) I also had Makgeolli for the 2nd time in Korea.

We left Chuncheon after lunch to go back to Seoul. I think we arrived at our next destination, which is Myeongdong, at around 3pm. And right after we got out of the bus, we saw some tourist police!... One of the three missions that I mentioned earlier is to find the tourist police and take a photo with them. And there are lots of tourist police in Myeongdong. :) [Mission 1, accomplished]

Since it was our free time, we can do anything we want, so Tere and I visited the Myeongdong Cathedral, the birthplace for the Roman Catholic Church community in Korea. I really like the serene ambience and the grotto of Mother Mary at the back. We also said a short prayer and lighted a candle too!:)

It was all shopping time afterwards. My favorite things to buy in Myeongdong are cosmetics so I went first to TonyMoly, and then The Face Shop. There’s this very nice sales lady at The Face Shop who answered all my questions and helped me a lot in my shopping (too many items on the list!). She even gave me loads of freebies and they gave me tax refund too (TFS is always consistent with tax refund!^^). That’s why I decided to feature her in my 3rd mission, which is to share the experience of being acquainted with the kind hospitality of Koreans during the trip, as part of the recently launched K-Smile campaign. [Mission 3, accomplished!]

It’s either we had too little time to shop, or I just have too much on my list, that I wasn’t able to buy Kpop stuff in Myeongdong. Well, there’s always a next time J

At 6:00, we had dinner at Todai Buffet Restaurant. The food was delightful, and there were a lot of varieties of my favorite sushi and a lot of dessert options too.^^

Since it’s our last night in Seoul, we went to the Seoul Lantern Festival at Cheonggyecheon. Love all the bright, and colorful lanterns! There's even a lantern featuring the Philippine Christmas Lantern a.k.a 'Parol’.

We went back to the hotel at around 11pm. Now, how to pack our luggages after buying so much? :)

VisitKorea VIP Tour DAY 4

Aw, we’re almost at the end of the trip now. :( We had the usual breakfast at the hotel. We went back to our rooms to get our luggages and then we all met at the lobby for check-out. Our Kim eonni gave Vera eonni, Nat and I some cute Line T-Money Cards. Since we have later flights than Tere and Jas eonni, we were given the option to stay at IFC mall (our next destination before we go to the airport) and then just take the bus to the airport when we’re ready to leave. Kim eonni also gave us the very nice souvenir photo from Hana Tours, and the scented candles we made at Holly Go Studio.

The International Finance Center (IFC) Mall is a huge international shopping area at the heart of Yeouido with a lot of shops, restaurants, and brands to choose from. The mall boasts of world class facilities, and modern architecture, and I'm sure shopping there would be a very remarkable experience. It is unfortunate though that we all have full luggages already that we really didn’t have room for more shopping anymore at that time. That’s why, we decided to explore the nearby areas instead.

Just across the IFC mall is the Yeouido Park, where we took some more autumn photos. And then, near the park is KBS building, where we shot a few photos. We really wanted to go in, but no longer

have the time.

When we got back to IFC mall, Vera eonnie, Nat and I, all decided to just go straight to the airport with the other participants since bringing our luggages with us and riding a bus may be a bit inconvenient.

We had our last meal at Lotteria at the airport, where we bid our goodbyes to our Kim eonnie. Shortly, Tere and Jas eonnie also had to leave and check-in their luggages since they have earlier flights.

Our last groupie with Kim eonni

Vera eonnie, Nat and I were able to check in at around 3:30pm. We took our tax refunds first, and then since we had time to spare, we dropped by the Korea Traditional Experience Center at Incheon Int'l Airport before heading to our boarding gates. We painted our own souvenir key chains! This is a good activity for those who have nothing to do while waiting for boarding, and also a good activity for kids. There’s even a short procession inspired by Joseon Kings & Queens to complete the traditional Korean Culture experience.

At around 5:30, it was time to go our separate ways. Aw, time passed by so fast. We took one last group shot of all three of us before going to our boarding gates. :)

~~~

I have won all kinds of stuff from home appliances, to gift certificates, Kpop merchandise, etc. before, but I think this is by far, the best prize I have ever won- to be able to experience a beautiful country’s unique culture, explore interesting and exciting places for the first time, and gain new friends who share the same interest.

My heartfelt thanks to all the wonderful people I’ve met during the tour:

To my four new friends from different parts of Asia- Vera eonni, Jas eonni, Tere, and Nat- thank you for being such wonderful company! It was my first solo trip abroad, and you guys made it such an enjoyable and unforgettable one. We should definitely have a reunion trip! :)

To my new friends from the Japanese and Taiwanese teams, it was nice meeting you all and sharing such wonderful experiences with you :)

To our beautiful and talented Kim eonni (김 언니) and the other guides from Hana Tours, thanks for taking good care of us through the trip and sharing lots of valuable information about Korea and its culture ^^ I’m usually an independent traveler, but after this trip, I’m seriously considering taking on tour packages to Korea because of you guys :)

To all the lovely people from Korea Tourism Organization, especially the English SNS Team (hope to meet you guys next time!^^) and the International Smart Tourism Team, and Mr. Chul Kang, and Ms. 양세영 (our eonni Sera^^) who joined us during the tour, thank you for your warm company and hospitality.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much to Korea Tourism Organization for making this trip possible! It is truly an honor to be part of the fourteen bloggers that you invited for this tour, much more to be able to represent my country. 정말 감사합니다 and hope to see everyone again!

*** Detailed reviews of each place we went to, coming up soon!^^

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Interested about Korean Tourism? Check out the Korea Tourism Organization Official Website, and follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

For Filipinos, follow Korea Tourism Organization Manila at Facebook, Twitter, and KakaoTalk (@ktomanila) for the latest updates on Korea tourism, events, tour packages and promos. :)