Travel Adventures of Kevin Yeung

New York City, United States

2013-07-12T13:45:00.000-07:00

A three day mid-week getaway to the "Big Apple", New York City for me, and a nine day US trip for my two noonas from Seoul. It had been six years since my last visit to NYC, so I was excited to visit and be not only a tourist but also a guide to the (North) American way of life as opposed to the culture in Korea. So I booked my stand-by flight to Newark (EWR) with Porter Airlines and we booked our stay at two hostels in Manhattan.

For their first visit to America, the culture shock was apparently there from the start. Our meeting point and time was for Wednesday morning, but their flight arrived from Seoul on Tuesday night. Their slow and odor-filled subway ride from JFK and their sights of countless homeless people could have already scared them away from this adventure, but they were fine after some reassurance by myself that its just the way of life here. There were also many firsts for myself as well: Getting around NYC without a car or coach bus, understanding how the subway lines work, and staying at hostels.

Getting to Manhattan from Newark International Airport was quite easy; going back to the airport from the city, now that's another story. After taking the airport train to the NJ Transit Station, the ride to Penn Station was $12.50, a direct train ride with easy to read signs and announcements. The return trip...well, no signs or indications of which trains from Penn Station would get me to the airport. After some assistance by some nice passengers, I was told I would still be able to get to the airport on that train but I would need to make a transfer.

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

2013-04-11T10:32:00.002-07:00

A shot of the Toronto skyline while lining up to take-off

So I finally found some time after working everyday consecutively for the past three months to have a short getaway outside of Toronto and use my travel benefits with Porter Airlines. Initially the plan was to go to New York City, but the holiday flight hours during the Easter weekend and still having to work that weekend made it difficult to plan. Therefore, the best alternative was to just visit Montreal, as Porter Airlines flies to that destination most often.

It was my first time flying stand-by, but we booked the earliest flight out, and the latest flight back on the same day- to save on cost because I didn't really wanted to spend too much money in Montreal- being there numerous times in the past, but the last time being in 2010 with my little cousins. Our plan was simple, purchase a metro day pass which is $8 and includes all buses and subways including the 747bus from the Montreal Airport to Downtown Montreal in around 30-45 minutes depending on traffic.

So the first stop was the L'Avenue Restaurant near Mont Royal Station for some of their highly acclaimed brunch menu, but unfortunately a long line up ensued, and had to give up on that dream. So we just proceeded to the farmer's market- Marche Jean Talon at the Jean Talon interchange metro station.

There was so much fresh fruits, meat, cheeses, wine, pastries, and even sea food in this market which is one of the more popular ones in Montreal. There we settled for a turkey quiche panini at the bakery, tried some apple cider ice wine, and ended the meal with a chocolate banana crepe at their famous creperie. We then ended our trip by making it back to Mont Royal for some Montreal bagels, and we passed by the L'Avenue again and still there was a long line up outside.

Anyways, it was nice being in Montreal again, but New York in 2 weeks time!

Lotte World, Seoul, South Korea

2012-10-27T20:00:00.003-07:00

Lotte World is located on the green subway line (2) at Jamsil Station, which was quite far from where I was staying near Hapjeong. It took about 45minutes by subway. Having seen Lotte World in many blogs, movies, and Korean dramas, I knew I had to plan a day to visit and enjoy myself there. Luckily thanks to my friend, we were able to purchase discounted students tickets using our George Brown student cards, which meant our admission was only 26,000 KWN which is around $20 CAD. This was extremely cheap compared to Wonderland in Toronto, or other amusement parks in North America.

The park itself consists of an outdoor and indoor phase for rides and attractions. Unfortunately, the roller coaster was under maintenance the day we visited and there were many students visiting on field trip so it was busy and longer line ups. The rides we went on were all enjoyable including the Conquistador, The Adventures of Sindbad, Flume Ride, Boong Boong Cars, and the Gyro Swing to name a few.

Namsan, Seoul, South Korea

2012-09-26T17:34:00.000-07:00

Namsan also known as "South Mountain" features the Seoul N Tower is the highest point in the city of Seoul and offers residents and tourists a panoramic view of the city, offering hiking, recreation, work out machines during the day, and is a very popular location for couples at night.

This was the first place we visited the first time being in Seoul, as our flight had arrived early in the morning at 6AM from Hong Kong, and was brought here by bus to explore the park and hike up the hill. It offers a beautiful trail flanked with green trees and flowers with older citizens exercising and hiking along.

The second time visiting Seoul, I wanted to explore it in a different view, at night. Also instead of taking the bus up or hiking up, I chose to take the cable car up.

Once up to Namsan Park, you will see locks of love placed all over trees, and the fence which symbolizes the love between a couple that their love will never be unlocked as they toss the key over the mountain.

I don't know why, but I went up on a Monday night and it was really busy. I remember most just lining up to go up the elevator to the N Tower, then again lining up to come down the elevator, and the cable car. But the views were breathtaking and the night lights of Seoul can be clearly seen for miles out.

I was most impressed with the view of the Han River and the bridges that crosses the river. I remember hanging out by the river, and looking up upon this mountain and the tower, the beautiful view reciprocates. By the end of it all, I was really tired from all the standing in line as I took the cable car back down, and a short walk from the station back towards Myeongdong.

Cars Land, Disneyland, Anaheim, California

2012-09-19T17:32:00.000-07:00

The much anticipated opening of Cars Land was exciting for me and my little cousin being that he has a great admiration for Lightning McQueen and was dressed accordingly. We went on the second day of the park opening and arrived at the park early in the morning and was greeted with the new Buena Vista Street and the new trolley.

All the rides had long line ups, over one hour, but nothing came close to the Radiator Springs Racer, which was nearly two hours long! The first time, my uncle had lined up while we went on the Luigi's Flying Tires ride where the waiting area featured Luigi's store as close as seen in the Cars movies. The Mater's Junkyard Jamboree is also similar to the famous Tea Cup ride where the rider can control the spinning of the Mater's.

The main street of Route 66 is beautifully depicted and is flanked by various restaurants and shops displayed as a motel and gas station. At the end of the street was the City Hall of Radiator Springs.

By the end of the day and night, having lined up for the Radiator Springs for the SECOND time but was WELL worth it, we were all exhausted, especially the kids, but was lucky enough to have a picture with Lightning McQueen himself!

Paju, South Korea PT. 1

2012-09-12T17:31:00.000-07:00

Visiting Paju to meet up with a friend for a day to visit a couple places the area offered. Luckily there was a long distant (red bus) from Hapjeong Station that goes to Paju including the Premium Outlets and Heyri Art Village. Similar to the Premium Outlets in North America, this one offers 160 outlet stores from around the world for shoppers. Unfortunately, the prices were relatively higher than what I was accustomed to from shopping at US Premium Outlets because of its import status.

The next place we stopped by was the Heyri Art Village closeby to the Outlet Mall. Surprisingly, it was so similar and after awhile, I finally realized "Hey, I was here before!" And I was right, I did visit this place the year before. The village offers many art galleries, displays, and scenic nature scenery.

We ended our day at a French style village that offer beautiful gardens, cute shops, and a light show at night. We spent around two hours just waiting for the night show, and it was well worth it. By the time the night was over, journeying back home was a mission, but luckily a nice Korean couple in their BMW picked us up and dropped us off at a bus stop to catch my bus back towards Seoul and my friend back home in Paju.

Legoland California- San Diego, California

2012-09-05T17:28:00.000-07:00

On our trip to Los Angeles, in addition to visiting Cars Land at Disneyland Resort, it was a choice between Legoland California and Sea World to visit. But the temptation of enjoying a hot summer day in California at a water park was hard to refuse. Unfortunately, the day we were there, it was nothing but hot, just borderline warm at best.

The park features many different rides, mainly targeting children, but adults like myself are still able to enjoy most of the rides. There was a driving school ride for kids, a boat ride, and a water gun boat fight- pirate style as well where you get wet.

In addition to that, we took a boat tour to view the Lego displays of replicates of world known landmarks like the Taj Mahal, Sydney Opera House, and the Eiffel Tower.

There is also replicates of Hollywood, Las Vegas Boulevard, San Francisco, New Orleans, Washington DC, Star Wars to name a few. All showed great detail and replicated reality to a tee.

Ofcourse I thoroughly enjoyed the replication of San Francisco, but it was the New York City display that truly blew my breath away. It featured the entire skyline of New York City including the soon to be finish World Trade Centre Freedom Tower. Amazing...

Macau, P.R of China

2012-08-29T23:52:00.000-07:00

The Ruins of St. Paul

Macau is a former Portugese colony from the mid-16th century to 1999, and is now one of two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China and is most known for its tourism and gambling at their numerous casinos and resorts.

This was my second time visiting Macau, the first being in 2007 in the scorching heat. Similar to Hong Kong, the weather can be quite daunting, both being hot and humid during most of the year. But being the first time for my cousin to visit Asia, it was really a must to visit here for a two day getaway.

Staying at The Venetian Macau

Having heard from some of our distant relatives about their recent trip to Macau and the promotion deal with the ferry ticket and accommodations at the Venetian. So we booked it with a room with two queen size beds for $1,600HKD including first class high speed ferry tickets. Arriving by ferry, there are numerous free shuttle buses that bring visitors to various hotels and casinos. Inside the hotel/casino, it was very similar to the one in Las Vegas with the artificial sky ceiling and the canals with gondolas.

The room itself was very spacious. It had a sitting/lounge area with a table and television (old one). The room featured beautiful decor and two spacious comfy queen sized beds. The washroom area was also really large, with both a separate bath, waterfall showers and double sinks. The pool area had many pools: regular, warm pool, and three hot tubs/Jacuzzi.

One feature in the Venetian Macau I was extremely interested to visit was the Manchester United Experience. Unfortunately, when I was there, it was under maintenance meaning the exhibits were closed, leaving only the retail portion of the store open for business. We also went to watch a Cirque du Soleil show called ZAIA; the most dazzling spectacle ever in Asia. Finally I enjoyed a meal with my cousin at one of the Portugese styled restaurants called The Madeira in the casino, bit pricey, but delicious.

Hwaseong Fortress, Suwon, South Korea

2012-08-22T21:16:00.000-07:00

Hwaseong Fortress and the skyline of Suwon

The Hwaseong Fortress (화성) in Suwon was designated a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 1997 and encircles Central Suwon; including King Jeongjo's palace Haenggung.

The fortress has four gates: Janganmun (north gate), Hwaseomun (west), Paldalmun (south) and Changnyongmun (east). Janganmun and Paldalmun are the largest of the four main gates and resemble Seoul's Namdaemun in roof design and stone and woodwork. The wall is 5.74km in length and varies between 4 to 6 metres (13–20 ft), originally enclosing 1.3 square km of land.

Suwon, well I didn't know much about this city other than for it's world cup stadium and Park Ji-Sung, but while researching I noticed the city had one of Korea's famous UNESCO Cultural Heritage Sites, the Hwaseong Fortress (The flower of castles). This meant a perfect one day trek there from Seoul, approximately an 80minute subway ride (approximately 30km south of Seoul) from Hapjeong Station with a transfer at Sindorim Station.

Arriving at Suwon Station, I felt a bit lost. The station was huge because it was also a KTX Station, but luckily I found a tourist information centre and the representatives there were kind enough to give me a map and which bus to take towards Paldalmun and the Hwaseong Fortress. Armed with a guide map, I thought hiking it would be no problem, but once there, I was a bit intimidated with the hills towards the west walls.

Suwoncheon

The Suwoncheon is similar to Seoul's Cheonggyecheon (청계천) runs through the centre of the old city towards Paldalmun Gate, with the rest being covered today. Once I reached the Hwahongmun, I was already exhausted and burning in the scorching sun so it was relieving to relax a bit by the stream. I then walked along the stream towards the Hwaseong Haenggung, the former palace of King Jeonjo from the 17th century.

In the centre of it all is the Hwaseong Haenggung where they had similar architecture and design as many of the other palaces around Korea. I remember seeing the palace from the hills while hiking along the fortress walls and walking there and looking back up to where I once was, I was impressed with myself. After a long day, I ended having some dolsot bibimbap (돌솥 비빔밥, dolsot meaning "stone pot") at a local shop before taking the train back to Seoul.

Jeonju, South Korea

2012-08-15T17:36:00.000-07:00

Standing in front of Pungnammun

Jeonju is a city in South Korea known for its famous Jeonju bibimbap (비빔밥), historic buildings, Jeonju Hanok Village, and innovative festivals. The city has been included in UNESCO's Creative Cities Network which recognizes the city's traditional home cooking handed down through generations over thousands of years, its active public and private food research, a system of nurturing talented chefs, and its hosting of distinctive local food festivals.

Prior to visiting Korea, I never thought of visiting Jeonju, not knowing much about it as a city and what it offered. But on a holiday weekend, one of my Korean friends was going back to her hometown, Jeonju, and had told me a lot about it and it intrigued me to visit. So I booked my ticket for the Korail and made a plan for the weekend to visit Jeonju and Yeosu for its Expo.

Armed with my backpack with a change of clothes and my camera, I set off early in the morning to Yongsan Station to catch the Mugunghwa (connecting train) for 17,400KWN from Yongsan to Jeonju and 9,900KWN for the Jeonju to Yeosu Expo leg. The train ride being around 3hrs long on the Mugunghwa.

Jeonju Railway Station

Upon arrival at the Jeonju Railway Station, I was waiting to meet up with my friend to pick me up from the station. The first thing on the menu? get some food because I was starving. Making our way through the city on bus and a short walk thereafter, we made it to a traditional Korean restaurant selling the famous Jeonju Bibimbap.

Jeonju bibimbap 비빔밥

The Jeonju Bibimbap was slightly different in taste from the regular dolsot bibimbap I usually have. It included many different things like almonds, taro, corn, carrots, mushrooms. It was also served with many different side dishes, which unfortunately, I did not enjoy too much.

After lunch, we made our way to Pungnammun which is the south gate of Jeonju. Closeby is the Jeonju Hanok Village where traditional arts and crafts are available for purchase, unique cafe shops, and other festivals.

It was a tiring day, but I still had to catch the train for Yeosu for my next stop for the weekend.

Chicago, United States

2012-08-08T15:09:00.000-07:00

Going on this trip was something of a different sort- a weekend getaway. The only other times I remember of going on these weekend trips was when I was younger and going on a family trip by car or bus. But this time, with Air Canada's 50% promotion to select eastern United States cities, I managed to snag a cheap airfare to Chicago with a friend. With the flight already booked, finding accommodations for that weekend, the civic long weekend in Ontario, proved difficult as it was also the Lolapalooza weekend in Chicago.

Through researching all sorts of different accommodations from Bed and Breakfast Inns, hotels, AirBnb.com, Priceline.com, Expeida, and hostels. But there were no vacancies available, so it did become a bit stressful. But we always had the backup cheaper option of staying at a hotel by the airport. Luckily, I found a sweet deal of 20% off from the Air Canada website for booking our flight at the Fairmont Chicago- Millennium Park. The location was ideal, just steps away from everything, shopping, Millennium Park, Lake Michigan, and the Chicago River.

Our plans were simple that weekend: See as much of Chicago as we could in the two days, be relaxed and enjoy our time there, and eat deep-dish stuffed pizza. To see the city, we walked around the downtown area along State Street for shopping as well as the 'Magnificent Mile' along Michigan Ave. We also took the train towards the former Sears Tower, now named the Willis Tower and walked back to the hotel from there. We also had the chance to take a river cruise that showcases the architecture of the city and concluded with a fireworks show by Navy Pier. The second day, we also took part on a biking tour which was also very informative and allowed us to explore the northern part of the city.

So the bike tour brought us to the northern part of the city where we rode past Streeterville, Near North Side, Old Town, and to Lincoln Park. Our guide had instructed us to rub Lincoln's shoe as a sign of good luck. We stopped by at a cathedral which was unique and beautiful. We then had a break at Lincoln Park, so we quickly walked around the free zoo in the city and it also had a nice view of the skyline in the back. We then rode along Lake Shore Drive with its beautiful beaches and skyline (shown as the first picture), most notably known as the world's third most beautiful skyline after New York City and Hong Kong respectively.

As our tour concluded, it was almost time to go home; but we had to just make one more stop on the way to the airport, and that was to Giordano's for their famous Chicago stuffed pizza. It was so much more delicious than expected, (we had it as a midnight snack the night before) but eating in and having it freshly baked, and in tropical Hawaiian (my favourite) was just so mouthwatering, also considering we didn't have much of a breakfast and after a 3hour bike tour.

I had a wonderful time at Chicago, truly amazed with its beautiful architecture, green parks, its river, and its food (stuffed pizza and Chicago hot dog). If we had one more day, it would have been perfect to just spend it at the beach or to explore the south side of the city.

Gyeongbokgung, Seoul, South Korea PT. 2

2012-08-01T15:23:00.017-07:00

Personally, I thought the Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul was one of the most beautiful palaces I have been to. Inside its fortress walls lies a garden of tranquility that is nestled peacefully with its surroundings.

This was the second time visiting Gyeongbokgung, but this time was a music ceremony performance on the weekend. I had my two friends bring me to experience some Korean culture. Not surprising, the place was filled with people eager for the chance to experience the local culture of dance and music as replicated from the past.

This garden was also beautiful, like a floating island with a bridge and lilies flowing in the pond. This was really something, and would be one of my favourite places in Seoul for its historical significance and its amazing beauty.

Yeouido, Seoul, South Korea

2012-07-17T16:12:00.006-07:00

Yeouido is a large island in the Han River in Seoul, South Korea. It is Seoul's main business and investment banking district. The island is located in the Yeongdeungpo-gu district of Seoul, and contains the National Assembly Building, the 63 Building, and the headquarters of LG, KBS, and MBC to name a few.

But what I love about this island is the public parks within the island, most notably the Han River Public Park and the Yeouido Park. I was unfortunate to be unable to see the cherry blossoms bloom in mid-April but if you're lucky enough, it is truly beautiful. I spent many days here, mostly because it was close to home and on hot afternoons, relaxing by the river is very refreshing and cool.

I rented bikes there and rode along the Han River which was also very relaxing and affordable to be honest (about 3,000KWN/hr). You can also board the Han River cruise here that sales along the river all the way to Jamsil.

Of all the places I visited in Seoul, this is in my top three favourite spots especially on a hot summer day and you're looking to escape the heat and humidity. There are also tandem bikes available for rent for couples, a great family park for picnics and barbecues, and wading pools in the fountains are especially busy on weekends.

Gyeongbokgung, Seoul, South Korea PT. 1

2012-07-11T16:51:00.011-07:00

Gyeongbokgung, also known as 'Gyeongbokgung Palace' or 'Gyeongbok Palace', is a royal palace located in northern Seoul, South Korea. First constructed in 1394 and reconstructed in 1867, it was the main and largest palace of the Five Grand Palaces built by the Joseon Dynasty. The name of the palace, Gyeongbokgung, translates in English as "Palace Greatly Blessed by Heaven." The nearest subway station is Gyeongbokgung Station (Station #327 on Line 3) and the palace is also easily accessible by bus or on foot near Gwanghwamun Square.

Upon arrival at the Gyeongbokgung Station you will see a wide array of historical Korean/Chinese prescripts as you exit the station and walk towards the palace, you are greeted by the Heungnyemun Gate and the National Palace Museum of Korea.

The Gwanghwamun Gate from the Joseon Dynasty is an iconic feature of Seoul and is at the northern tip of Gwanghwamun Square in the Sejong Belt area. It has gone through numerous reconstructions and restorations in its history, most recently in 2010.

Sindorim-dong, Seoul, South Korea

2012-07-08T14:50:00.018-07:00

Sindorim-dong is located in Guro-gu in Seoul, South Korea. It is primarily used as a transfer station between Line 1 and Line 2 in the southwest region of Seoul in Guro-gu. It makes this location highly convenient and accessible to live in and I was not disappointed with staying here for five nights for the first part of my trip in Seoul.

Connected to the subway station at Exit 2; is a large department store "Techno Mart" and a Korean supermarket "E-Mart" making purchasing goods and groceries very easy. Within the Techno Mart, there is a multiplex cinema showcasing Korean and foreign films, a floor with a wide range of restaurants, and each floor dedicated to a line of products like computers, cellphones, home furniture etc. On the roof is a Korean garden, it really was a place of tranquility and peacefulness. Also newly opened is the D-Cube Shopping Centre on the other side of the station at Exit 1. It was actually featured on an episode of Running Man which you can watch here. At this shopping centre, you can find the latest fashion trends, foods, art center, Pororo Park, and the Sheraton Hotel. The basement features a food court with many different Korean dishes and other Asian cuisines.

The place I stayed at was a 10-15minute walk or a 2minute bus ride from the subway station exit 2 and is a relatively safe neighbourhood. Just watch out for the cars and scooters who frequently drive through red lights when crossing the street. Even after moving out, I found myself visiting the area many times, whether to eat, or to buy groceries at the E-Mart. It really has everything you need and is now more than just a transfer station.

May - June 2012- Seoul, South Korea

2012-07-04T19:06:00.066-07:00

WARNING: This post will be more of an introductory post about my adventures in Korea whereas the later posts will be more in-depth of the locations and places I visited while in Korea.

안녕 Hello! What can I say about my travel adventures in South Korea (mostly Seoul). It is really hard to explain with words but to travel there and live amongst the local on my own was one of my favourite travel experiences ever. I had a couple of friends here and there in Korea, but the majority of the time I was on my own. I learned a lot about myself: learning to overcome being homesick, being alone in a foreign country, and just getting out of my comfort zone to explore, learn, and experience new things I otherwise wouldn't be able to do back home.

I was able to somewhat learn some basics of the Korean language and its hangul alphabet, from listening to others, practising on my own, conversing with locals, and studying phrasebooks and Korean language books in the bookstores. However, sometimes I would still feel intimidated to speak Korean or to try to order food without any English, but I was able to. Learning some basic food words was really stomach-saving.

And yes, this was not my first time traveling to Seoul, I had gone the year before for a five day tour while I was in Hong Kong in the summer. A completely different experience nonetheless. Sitting in a tour bus being brought everywhere compared to finding the right transit bus, subway, route to take on your own. Or having food ordered for you and everything in the itinerary being planned out in a schedule. You can view my previous posts about my first trip to Seoul here:

http://blogeachday.blogspot.ca/2011/05/seoul-1.html

The Planning: Flights and Accommodations
Well to say the least, there wasn't much planning. Only a budget of $5,000 for 7weeks. I had originally planned to go with my cousin but his indecisiveness delayed any progress (and he ultimately flopped). The flight would have been around $1500 - $1600 from Toronto to Seoul with Air Canada or Korean Air which for me, is really expensive. Luckily I had found a deal with Singapore Airlines for their flights to Seoul from San Francisco were starting at around $690USD. What a deal! It was perfect because it allowed me to "stopover" at SFO to visit my cousins and go LA with them for 5 days in June. Perfect!

So I booked my "free flight" to San Francisco using my Aeroplan miles (paying around $100 taxes/fees + $50 for round-trip one checked baggage) and I had my flight to San Francisco booked with United Airlines. In the end, I settled for a slightly higher fare with more flexibility (which saved me in the end for rebooking, and earned Aeroplan miles) for $880USD and plus the original $690 price was no longer in sight less than one week before departure. Cheap price, but one hassle: on the way to Seoul, I would have to check-in and go through security twice. But I did have plenty of time while connecting flights as I waited patiently for my Singapore Airlines experience...and what a flight experience it was.
Total paid for flights: $1050.

Departure:
United Airlines: YYZ - SFO @ 06:51 - 09:39
Singapore Airlines: SFO - ICN @ 14:10 - 18:35 +1 day
Return:
Singapore Airlines: ICN - SFO 17:50 - 12:40
United Airlines: SFO - YYZ @ 16:05 - 23:52

It was when I completed making my flight purchase, reality began to sink in that I needed to find a place to live and stay for the duration of my trip. I searched online and found this website: http://www.airbnb.com where it allows locals to rent out a room in their apartment/house, or the entire apartment/house. Similar to staying at a hotel but much cheaper. I decided to choose this one: http://www.airbnb.com/rooms/455393 and was lucky enough to be the first guest to stay at the new studio. So I booked it for 5 nights at $25/night and thought I would find a long term place to stay while I settle in my new city for the first couple of days. The apartment exceeded my expectations, I wished I had just stayed there the entire duration but the host had wanted $1100 for the 5weeks (35nights), so I had to apartment hunt.

There was some difficulty to find an apartment or room for just one month using traditional methods: craigslist, real estate agencies, short term oneroomtels; and the Korean way of handling rentals and leasing, including the need for key money and deposits and first and last months rent. Just too complicated for me especially while I was looking for a place to stay for just one month's rent. Luckily my friend in Korea was helping me look for places to live, but I narrowed my search with Craigslist down to two choices.

The first was a decent villa style house where I would share with a roommate the kitchen and washroom, no AC (which was actually survivable to my disbelief) and cheap (original rent 400,000KWN) and good location for the bus (less than one minute walk) and subway (three minute walk) and closer to Hongdae. The second was farther away and harder to reach because I did have some difficulties finding it when I was going to look at the apartment. It was a studio with AC, really basic furniture and LAN internet but no WiFi. There also wasn't much nearby in walking distance but it was somewhat close to Ewha and Sinchon stations (a ten minute bus ride), and more expensive too (700,000KWN PLUS utilities). It was kind of obvious I chose the first option and I began to warm up to living there and sleeping on the futon on the wooden floor- Something I wouldn't do in North America.
Total paid for Accommodations: $600

Total paid for Flights & Accommodations: $1,650

November 2011- San Francisco, California

2012-04-23T21:32:00.001-07:00

San Francisco, California- The City by the Bay, Fog City, SF; This city no longer feels like a tourist destination for me, but more of a second home, really. I go there nearly every year, with family there, it makes a good getaway from the cold Toronto weather with its all year round warm and cool weather. The city has its iconic features like Alcatraz Island, its cable cars, the steep roads, Lombard St., and the Golden Gate Bridge of course.

I also spent some time at Fisherman's Wharf aka Tourist Land, simply because I wanted to be a tourist for a day. And it turned out they had a really beautiful Christmas tree too, similar to the one I found at Union Square the first day.

So every time I visit San Francisco, I try to do something new and different. This time was no different. With my love for aquatic life, I visited the Aquarium of the Bay where I got to pet a shark, star fishes and sting rays. YES, a shark, it was awesome, cause if you didn't know already, I kinda like sharks.

Also, last year in 2010 visiting San Francisco, I rented a bicycle to bike to the Golden Gate Bridge like so many others, but this year I wanted the awesome, and that was the GoCar. Cruising around the city at 40mph including up the steep roads was sure better than pedaling on the bike. Also caught this gorgeous up close photo of the Golden Gate Bridge (with my phone camera).

Thanksgiving Disneyland Day 2- Anaheim, California

2012-03-21T18:05:00.004-07:00

The second day spent at Disneyland Parks was spent at the Disney California Adventure Park, which seems small, but is still packed with beautiful sights and exciting rides. The park features different zones: Buena Vista Street, Hollywood Pictures Backlot, Paradise Pier, Golden State, and the upcoming Cars Land due to open in summer 2012.

California Screamin' pictured above in Paradise Pier pictured below, is an exhilaration of a ride where passengers are launched from the get-go. Other fun rides include Goofy's Sky School, Grizzly River Run, Soarin' over California, and Toy Story Mania! as well as the classic- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. The lines were all long on such a gorgeous day, but that's the sacrifice considering all the fun involved.

Paradise Pier features Games of the Boardwalk where guests can play classic carnival style games for a chance to win a prize. And right beside it is the Mickey's Fun Wheel, which offers amazing views of the entire park.

In the end of this two-day adventure to Disneyland, I was surprised at the quality of rides and attractions at both parks. Having been to Florida's Disney World in Summer 2009 and Hong Kong Disney in May 2011, this park is ranked relatively high. It is still on the small scale of amusement parks, but it makes up for it for its location, attractions, and affordability. Perfect for a weekend vacation, from anywhere in the vicinity, us driving down from San Francisco, it was well worth it.

Thanksgiving Disneyland Day 1- Anaheim, California

2012-03-21T16:17:00.009-07:00

I had the opportunity to visit Disneyland Park in Anaheim California during the Thanksgiving holiday. Instead of the Black Friday shopping frenzy that follows Thanksgiving in the states, spending it at Disneyland is like a fairy tale. This was the second Disneyland I visited in the year 2011, the first being the Hong Kong Disneyland back in May. However, this time was with my two younger cousins aged 6 and 9, and their parents. Let me say, being here with kids, it did help in feeling like a kid myself again.

The park itself is not large by any means but it's effective in its layout. The Disneyland Resort in California is separated into two different parks: Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. This makes purchasing the park hopper pass highly valuable if you plan on staying in the area for a couple of days. It was perfect for us in the sense it allowed us to experience both parks at a leisure pace for two days and allowing you to visit both parks on the same day.

The rides there? There really is something for everyone of all ages! The Astro Orbitor pictured above was our first ride at the park where riders sit in a rocket and are able to control its height while the ride is in motion. Pictured below is the Disneyland Monorail and Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage which are also for all ages. Also, don't forget about Splash Mountain or Big Thunder Mountain Railroad or Space Mountain Ride, all of which are able to satisfy the brave thrill seekers.

Sometimes waiting in line is long, the most being around 60 minutes. The benefit of a Disneyland Park is their Disney FASTPASS Service- a complimentary program that allows guests to save their place in line while they enjoy the rest of the Park. But don't forget a moderate amount of sugar for the little ones for their Disney adventure for the entire day.

Pictured below is the Disneyland Railroad a railroad that encircles the entire park with four different stations: Main Street USA, New Orleans Square, Mickey's Toontown, and Tomorrowland. We hopped on and off this train numerous times, not only because was it my little cousin's favourite, Trains; but because it allowed us to get around the park quickly and some much needed rest as well.

Visiting on Thanksgiving holiday, they had this delicious turkey entree with cranberry sauce, mash potatoes, and veggies. It was rather delicious as well, not too dry, not too sweet, just right. Also featured is their kids meal in a cute Mickey ears inspired plate with Mac & Cheese, and with some healthy treats along.

Mickey's Toontown was a favourite for the kids that included numerous number of kid and pre-schooler friendly rides and attractions. Also, don't forget the Mad Tea Party ride. I still remember the time in Florida with my friends, and we were getting a bit crazy on the ride. Needless to say, I was scarred afterwards. Other than that, it's still a fun ride when spun moderately.

Lastly, once the sun sets and the lights are lit, the scene is truly breathtaking. Additionally, the fireworks at every Disney Park are always my favourite part of the day. And being Thanksgiving, this monstrous Christmas tree shown below was the landmark of Main Street USA.