Moments In My Life

Charming Samcheong-dong in Seoul, Korea

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 10:35:00 +0000

I've been wanting to visit Samcheong-dong since my 1st trip to Korea this year, yet I didn't find the time to do so. I was told that it is a charming area with nice cafes, restaurants and lovely shops scattered along the street.

Bukchon Hanok Village and some palaces are also located in the same area.

Somehow, I managed to venture there by squeezing out some time at night. Sadly, it was dark and I couldn't see the beauty of the many artistic and interesting buildings in their full glory. It was enough though to see that the shops have their own distinctive character and unique charm.

It's also interesting to see new and old traditional buildings side by side and how they seem to sit so well together.

And if you walk into the alleys, you'll discover more shops. It makes one feel like being on a treasure hunt.

With the many cool cafes and restaurants around, we easily found a Korean restaurants for our dinner.

I asked for the recommended dishes and was told that we have to try their Traditional Korean Meal. And oh, what a spread it was!

I must say it was really 맛있어요 (delicious)!

The rice was prepared in a special way; it was served with oysters! So good that I could even eat it on its own, 진짜요 (really)! I had a really hearty meal that night in Samcheong-dong. =)

One of the shops I really love there was Accessory Kitchen. I bought myself a ring and a scarf from there as keepsake.

If I were to visualize what my ICING Accessories would look if we were to have a retail store of our own. This would be very close to it. Moreover, the brand colour is green! In almost the same shade as ICING's and it's my favourite colour! Yipee!

The only drawback about Samcheong-dong is the slight difficulty in locating it. We were walking for a while not knowing whether we were on the right track or not. Thankfully, the directions given by a passer-by was easy to follow.

If you exit from Exit 1 of Anguk station (green circle in map), just turn your right and walk straight all the way. In about 5 mins, Gwanghwamun Gate will come into sight. Once you see it, just turn to your right and walk for another 5 - 10mins.

At the end of Samcheong-dong gil, the road will split into 2 and just keep to the right one (follow the purple arrow) that'll lead you into Samcheong-dong.

I've also uploaded how the view of Gwanghwamun Gate looks like from the 2 streets that intersect. If you want a clearer map, just drop me a note here.

On a positive note, there's many art galleries and interesting shops from Anguk Station to Samcheong-dong.

It's indeed life's little pleasure to enjoy a a cool autumn night while appreciating artistic creations as I stroll along the streets.

Best Website To Learn Korean - Talk To Me In Korean

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:44:00 +0000

I discover an online gem recently: www.TalkToMeInKorean.com

This website is not like the usual language website. It's more interactive, engaging and interesting to listen to the lessons. Best of all, the lessons are free!

I really love how easy it is to navigate and how well laid out the pages are. And the graphics and pictures are so nice!! It's cute and makes me want to surf the site.

The lessons are clear and easy to follow through. With the workbook exercise, you can monitor how well you've learnt after each audio lesson. The teachers welcome questions and feedback too.

I'm so happy my fellow forumers introduced this website to me and I just want to share with everyone out there who is learning Korean. Take a look for yourself! And if you're happy with what you can gain from them, do donate. I think they truly deserve it!

감사합니다 to the awesome people at TalkToMeInKorean.com! =)

Too Cool For School Skincare & Make Up from Korea; Love it love it love it!!

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 15:52:00 +0000

When I discovered Too Cool For School in Myeongdong, I fell in love with it almost instantly.

It's a make up and skincare brand that carries a range of funky and experimentation products. Looking good should be fun like this!

I simply love it! The packaging is fun and the make up is really good to use. It's has an art school concept and the products are comfortably priced if you want to buy them as gifts too.

The red Art Class Lip Crayon on the bottom left of the picture is a red lip gloss that glides easily on my lips and the colour come out strong too. You can take a look at the other shade here. It's the best red "lipstick" I've found so far. Because it's a gloss, it's real easy to apply unlike the usual red lipstick; you won't need to worry about lining your lips etc.

The Rolly Doll is a handy perfume roll that smells oh-la-la~~

Well, you gotta check it out yourself if you're heading to Myeondong. The shop is numbered 23 on the map above. It's cute and it's cool...

Hotel Skypark Myeongdong 1 Seoul Review

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 14:12:00 +0000

Seoul's Hotel Skypark Myeong-Dong 1 is a really interesting hotel and it's easy to locate. The nearest exit from the subway is Exit 6. Just walk down the street after exiting Exit 6 and turn left on the first turn you come to. The hotel is right next to the retail store SPAO. Map can be found here.

I find Hotel Skypark Myeongdong 1 interesting because the hotel entrance is small and the lobby is actually situated on the 11th floor!

From the street, it's seems uninteresting but when the lift opens up to the lobby on the 11th floor, you can see that it's a pretty neat hotel that utilizes whatever small space it has.

The weighing machine at the lobby is a plus point too. The lobby decor gives me a retro chic feel.

The hotel is pretty new and there's several nice Japanese drawings hung around.

One of the niceties is this outdoor roof garden. I spent a few nights here drinking and chatting while enjoying Seoul's cool autumn air. **Bliss**

When I first checked into my room, I was pleasantly surprised that there's a small space decorated by Etude House that allows you to try on their nail polishes for free. Cute right?

The room is a little small, just like those of Japan's hotels but the hotel's superb location more than made up for it.

Even the toilet is small and the shower space is from where the shower curtains are to the other end of the wall (ie. half of the small bathroom) But the presence of the bidet is great! There's pressure, water temperature and even angle controls.

As you can probably tell, the hotel has some ongoing promotions with Etude House and it was a bonus to me that hotel guests get to enjoy a one time 10% off for Etude House purchase. Just head to the reception and ask for the coupon if you want one.

Overall, I really enjoyed staying at Hotel Skypark Myeong-Dong 1 because of its excellent location. It's so close to the train exit and the shopping street is right at its door step. Lotteria is right opposite too in case you get hungry at night.

There's even a supermarket to the left of the hotel. It's about 700m away. If you don't mind the space, this hotel will be perfect. I had a really comfortable stay there and find it value for money. I'm going to stay here again when I next go back to Seoul!

Peppa Pig Sticker Book

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 10:14:00 +0000

Have I ever mentioned how darn cute I think Peppa Pig is? Check out their site here.

It's simply snorty cute!!

Musee Platinum Singapore Hair Removal : Upper Lip IPL

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 13:20:00 +0000

I went for my Musee Platinum IPL session today and tried something new! Guess which area I went for today?

I had to use this sticker to cover a mole near the treatment area. The therapist pointed out that the it'll be painful if my mole isn't covered.

And that's the mole besides my lip! Yes, I finally got down to trying IPL on my upper lip using my free coupons. You can try it out too! Simple quote my membership no: 81005130 when you sign up with Musee to enjoy a free upper lip session.

I was pretty afraid previously simply because it was my face! The therapist that attended to me today was a patient and friendly girl named Claire who put me at ease. She explained what was to be expected and told me that it'll take an average of 12 weeks for the hair to be permanently removed.

The whole process is fast! About 5 zaps in total and I had to blow air into my cheeks with my mouth close, looking just like a chipmunk.

Although it wasn't painful, I jumped everytime I see the bright flash. I guess it'll take a bit of getting used to. Claire mentioned that since upper lip hair is usually finer, it isn't painful for most people.

I thought I must have looked funny with the cooling pads after the session. But trust me, this picture makes it look painful but it isn't the least bit so. Give it a try yourself! ;)

Fishpond.com.sg Review; Great Place To Get Cheap Korean Books

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 10:32:00 +0000

Since I am learning Korean, I thought it's important to get myself a Korean-English dictionary and a handy phrasebook. The choices of Korean Language books is really limited in Singapore, so, I went online instead.

I stumbled upon the website www.fishpond.com.sg and was happy to know that I can readily get the books at a fraction of the price from local bookstores. And best of all, shipping is free too!

I chose these 2 books at less than $10 each! To try out the fast shipping service, I added $3.81 to the Lonely Planet Phrasebook.

This is the order and delivery timeline:

14 September - Ordered 2 books (Collins Dictionary & Lonely Planet Phrasebook)

22 September - Lonely Planet Phrasebook delivered (paid $3.81 extra for fast shipping)

3 October - Collins Dictionary delivered (normal free shipping)

It was stated when ordering that it'll take only 3 days for fast shipping of the Lonely Planet Phrasebook but it took close to a week instead. Hence, if you don't need the books urgently, I think it's more worth it to just wait for about a week more.

I'll give this website a rating of 7/10.

+ Points:

Cheap books
Reliable website
Easy to navigate
Accurate order tracking

There's an additional order history page that'll inform you of the estimated shipping and arrival dates. The date here is very accurate. Oddly enough, even the Lonely Planet Phrasebook was estimated to arrive later than on the ordering page.

Step by step order tracking

As seen below, you can track your orders step by step

- Points:

Hard to reach Customer Service; you can only email them
Product title description was not clear; the Collins Dictionary turned out surprisingly small. It was more of a pocket dictionary and I just realised that I've missed out the "compact, portable format" description.
Limited range of books

Overall, I'm happy and will shop with www.fishpond.com.sg again.

The Lonely Planet phrasebook proves to be very useful and easy to read. As for the Collins Dictionary, I like that it is a 2 way dictionary with examples of phrases on words usage.

Well, looking on the bright side, I can carry this handy dictionary everywhere I go now! I just hope that my eyesight will not deteriorate because of it! ;)

ETUDE HOUSE Collagen Moistfull Essence & Sunblocks Review

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 05:25:00 +0000

Remember those beauty products I bought from Seoul earlier this year? I finally got a chance to try them out and review them now.

One of my best buys is the above Etude House Collagen Moistfull Essence retailing at 15,000KRW in Korea.

Yes, you've guessed it! The reason why I like it is because at this extremely low price, I can still get a quality product that's effective. It's selling at about 40+SGD here but cost me less than 20SGD. The texture is a little sticky but it moisturize well and smells lovely. Sometimes, I use this essence before my moisturiser. Other times, I even use it on its own!

I've been trying out all kinds of sunblock and none has been satisfactory so far. Mainly, It's because I dislike the thick and slightly oily texture of sunblocks. And I prefer those with SPF50 and above.

So far, Etude House Sun Power Cotton Touch with SPF50+ meets my expectations. It's meant to give a cottony finish with its thick and powdery texture. For starters, you may find it a little hard to apply and even out the thick sunblock. The trick is to thinly layer it on so that you won't look pasty with a purplish tinge to your skin.

Somehow, I think the purple tinge will play a part in toning down yellow skin tone. I think this sunblock is great and indeed less oily than most SPF50+ sunblocks in the market. By the way, I have combination skin.

As for the other Sun Toner Water Jelly SPF30 in the bottom half of the picture, the texture is similar to many other sunblocks and feels a little sticky to me. After application, I need to let it settle for at least 15 mins before putting on my foundation. I was attracted to this the Sun Toner Water Jelly because of its "Water Jelly" description. Also, all Etude House sunblocks were having a 1 for 1 promotion in Korea in mid June this year.

How cheap can they get??!! Heh!

Where To Buy Korean Keyboard Stickers in Singapore

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 02:41:00 +0000

From my previous post, some of you may know that I am studying Korean now. Of course, I not only want to speak and read the language, I want to write it as well.

So, I had to get Korean keyboard stickers to start my Korean language practice on my laptop.

I intended to get my stickers from a US seller at ebay. But after adding the postage, it was more logical to get it from a Singapore seller at $1-2 more and who can deliver them much faster.

I chose the transparent stickers with orange letters and am satisfied with the service of the seller. If you're interested to purchase Korean keyboard stickers ere in Singapore, you can email Jayson at imjayson@hotmail.com. The sticker details can be found here.

I combined my purchase with 2 other friends and got a bulk discount too. Just email Jayson to find out more, he responds fast and is a very helpful and responsible seller.

You'll only need to to go the Control Panel on your computer, add the Korean language bar in the Regional and Language folder after sticking on your new stickers to be able to type away in Korean.

Now, I can! =)

Cocotte French Restaurant @ Wanderlust Hotel, Dickson Road

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 13:48:00 +0000

I've been busy but still managed to catch a good meal last week at Cocotte, a french restaurant situated at the ground floor of Wanderlust hotel at Dickson Road.

I just found out that Cocotte means both a round casserole and prostitute in French. It's an interesting play of word, especially since Dickson Road is at shady end of Little India.

Wanderlust Hotel @ Dickson Road

Cocotte serves french cuisine in a casual setting and with a communal dining concept.

See, they even have a communal round dining table that can sit 12.

The food at Cocotte tastes excellent and it goes very well with the relaxed ambiance.

I ordered a set with a French Cured Pork Sausage as appetizer.

Bf had the Roast Pork Collar topped with mustard sauce and brussels sprouts with roasted almond. And the ooh-la-la mushrooms.

Oooo... thinking of that dish makes my mouth waters. It was very delicious and the mustard sauce complimented the roasted pork collar very well.

I had the Bouef Bourguignon, which is a beef stew. The beef was very tender but I still preferred bf's dish. So, it was swapped midway into the meal. heh!

We ended the meal with Chocolate Royal, a Varhona chocolate mousse cake with praline at the bottom and a nice cuppa of coffee. Mmmmm... heavenly...

Wanderlust Hotel Lobby

I had a great meal that afternoon and it was entertaining to watch the chicly dressed hotel guests streamed into Wanderlust Hotel lobby.

Cocotte serves up quality food made with fine ingredients and the whole meal cost us about $80. It's a great restaurant to go to with friends and it's one of the rare places in Singapore with good customer service. Definitely a recommended place to try out at least once!

iHerb.com Promotions & Reviews

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 02:30:00 +0000

In addition to the existing promotion whereby first time buyers get a 5USD off when using a member's code on iHerb.com and that member earns a 4% of commission of the purchase, iHerb.com has another promotion!

From now until 17 August 2011, there's free postage for purchases of 40USD and above as long as the weight doesn't exceed 1800g.

Just last week, I received some unexpected free samples from the generous people from iHerb.com. What a pleasant surprise!

It consists of the following:

- 1 box of 25 bags of organic Mandarin Orange Green Tea

- 1 Strawberry Champagne Lip Balm

- 1 tin of Natural Stress Relief Rescue Pastilles in black current flavour

- 1 sachet of Cafe Cordyceps

After dinner, we tried the Mandarin Orange Green Tea and it was simply lovely. It has a tinge of vanilla mixed with mild orange smell to me and the taste of the orange rolls in your mouth as I sip the warm tea. I really love the smell of the warm tea when I brought the cup up to sip.

It was also the first time I came across stress relief sweets and it tasted nice! I don't know whether it worked as I wasn't feeling particularly stressed out after dinner, hehe... I'll definitely keep this tin close by for stressful emergencies. Maybe the sucking action of the pastilles is enough to focus your mind a little off your problems. Who knows? ;)

The Strawberry Champange is divine. It tasted really heavenly with the mild strawberry smell and the texture wasn't too oily or waxy. Besides days of needs, I'll use this every night so that I can be reminded of strawberry fields before I sleep. Ah... what bliss! =)

Read about my first purchase from iHerb.com here.

Where To Learn Korean In Singapore? Which Korean School Is Good?

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 16:18:00 +0000

My title says it all. I read that...

Singapore Korean School is good but the location is bad
NUS Extension (known as NEX) is very structured but super ex
Cambridge School of Education is good and not so ex but really basic

And I narrowed it down to the Community Centres which seems good enough but I didn't get to find much feedback on it.

Help help! Any recommendations and reviews to share? I just want to converse and write/email in basic Korean.

Tokyo Tsukiji Fish Market Food Adventure

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 06:12:00 +0000

Here are some pictures of my first trip to Tokyo Tsukiji Fish Market in May this year.

I stayed at Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku which has a Tokyo Subway Station elevator right next to the hotel entrance, making it exceptionally convenient to stumble my way to Tsukiji Market in the wee hours of the morning. Read more about the hotel here.

We reached Tsukiji Fish Market early in the morning when the sun has just risen. We didn't make plans to experience the tuna auction 'coz it was way beyond my waking ability. If you want to do so, click here for more information.

So, we only walked around the outside market looking at all the fresh seafood catch of the day.

Then, we came upon this shop that hung up a lot of wild life! *Gasp*

I quickly took some shots. Look at the bear, eagle, crocodile etc! I don't know what were they selling exactly but I think it's dried seafood.

We also came across quite a few Tamagoyaki specialty shops in Tsukiji Fish Market like the one below.

And one little interesting fried fugu store where we had a little pre-breakfast snack.

This whole shop sells Fugu aka Puffer fish.

We also had a Sashimi breakfast, the must do in Tsukiji Fish market even though I wasn't really up to it; eating raw food for breakfast.

It was the best Sashimi we had that trip.

A Mix Of Raw & Slightly Cooked Fish & Horse Meat

You can read more about my food adventures in my last Tokyo trip here too.

I really miss Japan and posting up these pictures make me relief the happy moments all over again! Yeah! =)

iHerb.com Website Review: Quality, Low Priced & Reliable Health Supplements Online Website

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 16:26:00 +0000

I've never tried buying health supplements online until 2 months back. iHerb.com was introduced by a Korean friend who uses it regularly and a stranger who recommended the natural herbs website in a forum I frequent.

So, I casually surfed the website and realised iHerb.com has a very wide range of heath supplements for both health and beauty needs. A Vitamin B&C supplement that suits mine and bf's needs caught my eyes:

::Stress Relief::

It was priced at a very value rate of 10.92USD and had many good reviews! So, I click on the "buy" button and opted for normal international airmail.Not knowing whether the website was reliable or not back then, I didn't want to pay extra for UPS postage. The normal international airmail cost is very low and seem like a lower risk at 4USD only.

You may be surprised to know iHerb.com has tracking service for USA, Japan & Korea so I guess their business is huge!

I've been taking Hi-Stress B&C and would say that it helps for me. I don't feel so lethargic if I start my day with 2 tablets of this.

They even gave me a free sachet of Cococeps with my purchase.

The only drawback with iHerb.com is that using the normal international airmail took the product more than 2 weeks to reach me here in Singapore.

But it's not a big issue 'coz I'll simply opt for UPS mailing in future. I've decided to just buy most of my health supplements from iHerb.com now if they're cheaper. I'm sure it'll be more value to use UPS the more I buy each time.

Pros
-Low Priced
-Wide Range of Health Supplements
-Quality
-Reliable Website
-Stock Status
-Free Sample
-Loyalty Program

What is there not to like yeah?

For you 1st time buyers, you can save 5USD for your 1st purchase if you quote my code: VEW578. What's in it for me? I can earn monetary commission off my future purchases with details here.

So, why am I recommending iHerb.com? Just because I'm one happy customer. Hope you'll find it a good deal like me. Yeah to health!

Read here for 10 reasons to use iHerb.com which will answer most of your concerns

Read here about other iHerb.com products reviews.

Great Shopping Buys From Tokyo - Ni

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 02:34:00 +0000

I didn't buy as much beauty products this trip since I still have a lot of beauty products from my last Japan and Seoul trip.

So here is what I got in May from my Tokyo trip:

The hydration paper sheet mask was so good and cheap that I just had to get more. When in Japan, do scout around and you may soon notice some toiletries shops or even pharmacies sell the same item at lower prices.

I just started using the blue bottle of pore minimizing Cleansing Express make-up remover on the left. The texture is not bad and I love it for it's clean and refreshing feel. Even though it's not oily, it removes my make up very well.

As for the eye-shadows, you'll be surprised at how much I've paid for it. I got them from Daiso and it cost me about 1.60SGD each!! But low priced doesn't mean low quality in this case, the colour pigments turn out strong and the feel is smooth and soft to touch. I am loving the 12 colours palette; spoilt for choice at such great value!!

By the way, samples were given out so freely on the streets. I got several free skincare products and a pack of tissue on the way out from Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku to the JR Shinjuku South Exit every morning. Haha..

Fancl is another beauty brand that's totally worth buying in Japan. Unlike brands like Sheseido and SKII which are priced the same in Singapore. So, I bought some pretty eye-shadows and a blusher. The small eye-shadows cost about 9SGD each only and the blusher about 12SGD.

As for the Fancl Eye Serum, it costs less than 18SGD! In Singapore, it is selling at 37.50SGD. I'm almost done with 1 tube and it only moisturizes slightly; I didn't see any significant improvements on my fine lines. It's good for those who wants light hydration. It's moisturizing enough without being oily.

I also shopped quite a bit in Daiso this trip and found many cute items. Above are the 2 dish washing sponges for my family. So cute that you want to squeeze their cheeks right?

Other great buys from this trip were mainly sport items. I didn't have the intention to get any but it was cheap so I just got myself a new pair of Nike sneakers. I simply couldn't resist the yummy orange coloured tick! This pair of Nike sneakers is from L-Breath in Shinjuku, a 7 storeys of sports stuff shopping. The discounted items were displayed outside the shop by the street and I was obviously tempted. It cost 3419JPY after tax refund and do remember to ask for tax refund by showing your passport.

You can check out how the L-Breath building look like from this blog.

Bf got a same pair in green from our last Japan trip from Osaka Rinku Town Premium Outlet. Now, we're matchy matchy!!

Another place with cheap sportswear find is one of the streets at Asakusa. I cannot remember where exactly but it was one of the streets that is perpendicular to the main Nakamise Street and on its right when walking away from Senso-ji Temple. Maybe it's Shin-Nakamise-Don...??

Anyway, it's the same thing. Heavily discounted items are placed by the streets and Adidas cap was going for about 12SGD each only. The top cost me around 15SGD and I ended up getting things I don't really need. But hey, it's co cheap right? ;)

If Adidas is the brand you like, do drop by Ameyoko Market for cheap Adidas sports shoes. The babies and children sports shoes are aplenty there and you'll probably find something for yourself too.

Mum wanted a small casual tote bag so I bought her this mini Agnes b tote in maroon and grey colour. It's not the latest collection but it's a nice colour for her age. Heh.

**Shopping Tips**

If you want the older Agnes b designs or the more popular one that get sold out very fast, go to the lesser traffic malls like O|O| departmental store in Ueno. The Ueno O|O| departmental store is just right opposite the JR train station and it was there that I finally found a suitable Agnes b bag for my mum.

For Burberry Blue/Black Label or other brands available in Takashimaya, do go to the Takashimaya departmental store for your purchases if you own the Takashimaya credit card. Cardholders are entitled to a further 5% discount. Head to the information counter to exchange for the shopping vouchers before making your purchases.

Another cute and value outlet is called 3coins. The concept is like the 100yen shops but the items are of higher quality and better designs. With just 500yen, you can buy many interesting and lovely gift items. Just take a look at their website and blog and you'll know what I mean. I got myself many items yet I wish I could lug back more.

Lastly, one of my favourite shopping discoveries this trip is Jiyugaoka(自由が丘). I've written one whole post on this fashionable residential area that has many charming shops. If you can spare the time, I strongly recommend Jiyugaoka. I'm sure you'll understand why I love it so once you've been there.

CA*California Restaurant At Dempsey Hill Review

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 16:37:00 +0000

Bf had an unexpectedly free Saturday this week so we ventured to Dempsey for a relaxing weekend lunch.

Lovely Picture From Jones The Grocer Main Page

It seems like Singaporeans all flock to the same few places on weekends and our first choice of Jones The Grocer was packed! Being the impatient girl that I am, I couldnt bear to wait for 10-30 mins just for a meal that is not that fabulous IMO.

So, Culina was next and it was packed too with some chi chi people eating oysters and sipping white wine. Well, we had to wait for about 20 mins so I crossed that place out too.

We conveniently hop by to the next door restaurant which turned out to be CA*California.

I didn't know what to make out of the restaurant and what it serves exactly but the friendly waiter and available seats were just so inviting. Without hesitation, I walked right in to take shelter from the hot hot July sun.

My initial thought was to have a serving of salad since I wasn't even hungry. Somehow, the ambiance had an effect that made me greedy to try the many sandwiches and wraps they serve (and I'm not even a bread person to begin with).

I ordered the recommended BBQ Chicken Burrito at $15.80 and it was tasty! The wrap was so fragrant and perfectly toasted. Stuffed with chicken pieces, mushrooms and melted cheddar cheese, I just couldn't stop chomping away. This dish is yummy and the portion is just nice. The only thing I didn't like about it was the green sauce. What is this sauce?? Do drop me a comment if you know what it is.

Bf chose the In-coming Burger. It cost $14.80 and you can add ingredients by topping up more (for eg, $4 for cheese which we find pricey).

Anyway, he didn't add anything to it and he felt that the burger was a little bland without sauce or cheese. It helped by adding some salsa / taco sauce to the burger. But I really like the way the dish was presented with 2 slices of orange. It made the whole serving more appetizing and seemingly more wholesome.

So, we had a good dish and a not so good one. Overall, I would say this is a pretty decent and cozy place to go to at Dempsey, especially when the other places are always so crowded!

The indoor seats are pretty limited and I was surprised that we could get a seat immediately. The booth that we were seated in was quaint and provided some privacy with the curtains.

In fact, CA*California shares the same space as Ben & Jerry's which is located right on the other side of their kitchen.

I was happy enough with the orange as my dessert that day.

Tasty Snack From Korea

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 13:40:00 +0000

I was back in Seoul just 2 weeks ago and my friend simply love Dr You's snacks. I must say the prawn crackers is really not bad. If you are going to Seoul, do give it a try. It is easily available from Family Mart, 7 Eleven or other major supermarkets.

It goes well with beer and make a good snack on the road.

And of course I bought my favourite Korean Black Raspberry Wine from the DFS inside Incheon Airport again.

Instead of the above, I bought the cheaper alternative from another DFS shop. It comes packed in 200ml x 5 bottles, making it easier to drink or to give away as a small gift.

Moreover, if you buy 2 boxes, you can get a 5% discount from the 22USD/box. For 3 boxes and above, it'll be a 10% discount.

But... I prefer the bottle I bought from my April 2011 trip. The wine doesn't taste so acidic and has a fuller body. For about $30 more, I think it's definitely more worth its price! It's a perfect family drink that even old folks like! ;)

Good Food Finds in Tokyo, Japan

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 08:38:00 +0000

This trip to Tokyo, I discovered a few restaurants and eateries that I really love.

AMEYOKO / UENO

One unexpected discovery was found in Ameyoko Market.

We were so tired from whole day of shopping that we just stumbled into a Yakitori restaurant that is situated nearer the Ueno end of the market.

In there, I tasted the best Yakitori I had in Japan so far. The Shitake Mushroom is a must try!! It was simply so juicy and succulent!

The rest of the items we tried in that restaurant tasted really yummilicious too. We ended up eating more than we should even though we were to have a Robatayaki dinner in 2 hour's time.

The Sasami no Ume on the top left of the picture above is really good too. This cozy eatery is run by 2 old ladies and it felt quite quaint to see ladies bosses only in a Yakitori restaurant.

My Favourite Yakitori Store In Japan

One side of the entrance to the shop looks like this. It's beige in colour; plain and easy to miss. If you pass by it, do step in and try their superb cooking.

We had about 6 sticks of Yakitori and 1 big bottle of beer. All these added up to only 1310JPY. This is definitely one Yakitori restaurant that I am coming back.

SHIMBASHI

And of course, there's my all time favourite Robatayaki store in Shimbashi. I've dedicated one whole post to it here.

Musashi

HARAJUKU

We also had the best sweet crepe in Harajuku. It was from a store located right at one end of Takeshita Dori; on the other end from the JR Harajuku Station.

Maybe it has got to do with the weather. The crepe skin was crisp throughout and it was slightly sugared. It left such a deep impression 0n us (and I am one girl who lacks the sweet tooth) that we went about searching for a nice crepe throughout our stay in Tokyo.

Sadly, we gain some weight in the process and yet, we didn't find anything that came close to this one. :|

SHINJUKU (West Shinjuku)

We also went back to the same restaurants at Nishi-Shinjuku to have my dry Udon, finally. The last trip, bf added soup unknowingly so we both had the dried ones this time and it was really tasty! We found it much better than the soupy ones.

And of course, we went back to the fresh seafood store by the road at night. The Oyster Sashimi BF had was huge! And the Scallop Sashimi was so fresh and tasty.

Here's a short video that captured the vibrancy of the place. And that's what we love about it; The fresh seafood that they serve up accordingly to the catch of the day and the energy there.

They even have an English speaking staff that can assist in ordering food.

To find out how to get to these 2 restaurants, you can view my previous post here.

This trip, we also found the elusive Yakitori Alley in Shinjuku also known as Shinjuku Yakitori Yokocho or Piss Alley. I believe there's quite few of these Yakitori Yokocho in Tokyo, besides this one in Shinjuku.

Click here and here for pictures taken by other people.

Green Signs Mark The Entrance Of The Yakitori Alleys

We did come across this place the last trip but didn't venture in. It's not as hard to find as some may say. Just take the West Exit from JR Shinjuku and walk past Uniqlo. Right after Uniqlo, turn right and walk down a little and turn left into one of the 2 alleys that run along the JR line in Shinjuku.

I've marked it out with a red circle on the map above. From across the road of the big cross junction, you'll see the bright green signage, indicating the entrance to the 2 Shinjuku Yakitori Alleys.

Having read that some of these eateries cater only to regular and discourage tourists by having a cover charge of sort to sit down, we looked out for a friendly invitation before entering the store.

The one we went to was run by Chinese, so we didn't get the authentic feel. But it was way easier to choose our food.

Yakitori Alley is indeed an interesting place to visit after work hours. It is run down, dingy, squeezy and hidden in some small alleys. Yet, this is where many Japanese working man come to unwind after a day of hard work.

For the price, it may not be worth to eat there but it's definitely interesting to go there at least once to experience Piss Alley for yourself!

SHINJUKU (South Shinjuku)

Another place that I enjoyed was Exceisior Cafe which looks like just another coffee house at Shinjuku.

What I really like about this cafe is the big round table on the 2nd floor. It makes one feel less lonely when enjoying a cuppa alone.

Big Round Table Behind

TSUKIJI MARKET

On the last day, we were still crazily eating away before leaving Tokyo.

We made our way early in the morning to Tsukiji Market and bought some fried Fugu when we spotted this store.

Fried Fugu @ Tsukiji Market

The pieces were rather bony and didn't contain much meat but the batter was really fragrant and it kick started our morning hungry for more food.

Sashimi Breakfast in Tokyo

It is a must to do a Sashimi/Sushi breakfast at Tsukiji so I just went along with it even though the thought wasn't particularly appetizing to me that morning.

We simply ordered a dish without knowing exactly what it was. We only knew it comes with some Tuna Sushi.

Horse Sashimi

But this turned out to be the best sushi bf ever had. On 1 side of the plate is the raw meat sushi and one the other side, the same meat comes slightly cooked. It was very well done with only the top layer cooked and the freshness of the raw meat still well intact at the bottom.

I was kind of shocked when I ate a sushi that tasted like raw red meat. Before bf could ask the chef what meat it was, I gulped it down for fear of confirming that it was raw red meat that I just swallowed. And it was indeed raw horse meat! =O

SHIBUYA
Our last meal in Tokyo was also a fantastic one. It was fantastically mouth-watering and fattening!

The Omelette Rice tasted really creamy because of the cheese and sauce. And it left a lasting impression of our last meal in Tokyo.

I also tried Tokyo Banana for the first time and found it to be overrated. It is nice but there's a lot of other nicer food in Tokyo that's worth a try! I think I simply lack the sweet tooth.

In case you want to know, there's a store inside the JR Shinjuku Station near the South Exit that sells Tokyo Banana. Or you can simply purchase it tax free inside Narita Airport.

I really enjoyed eating in Tokyo this trip! Yumz!

Jiyugaoka (自由が丘), Tokyo: Charming Neighbourhood with Lovely Shops and Cafes

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 15:27:00 +0000

We arrived in Jiyugaoka (自由が丘), Tokyo on a cloudless and sunny morning. To get there, just get off at Jiyugaoka station on the intersection of Tokyu Toyoko Line and Oimachi Lines.

Beautiful Jiyugaoka

This fashionable neighbourhood was recommended by my Japanese friend and there's several nice sweet shops and interesting shopping spots in this area. In fact, I read that Jiyugaoka is ranked in the top 3 spots among young female Tokyolites as the best neighbourhood to live in Tokyo. And it's not hard to see why.

If you can afford to take one day out from your trip to relax and see how Tokyolites spend their time, Jiyugaoka should be your choice.

Gift Shop With Many Lovely Treasures

There's many cute gifts shops along the streets and also many fashion stores that'll catch your attention.

315 Yen Shop With Many Lovelies

There's even Laura Ashley, Gap, Muji and many more big brands in this cozy residential neighbourhood.

Pet Shop

One Of The Many Sweets Shops Jiyugaoka Is Known For

I Love Alice In Wonderland~~

We randomly stepped into one of the many cafes in Jiyugaoka and I was so happy to see the Alice In Wonderland crockery. We spent more than an hour chilling at this cute cafe and taking shelter from the strong afternoon sun.

See more pictures of this charming restaurant here.

Award Winning Crepe

Now, you can understand too why Jiyugaoka is so loved right? We ended the visit by enjoying a crepe and drinks along the street above, just like the many mothers spending time with their young children there too. I'm glad we visited this trendy neighbourhood.

Here's some more nice pictures of Jiyugaoka from Danny Choo's website.

Musee Platinum Singapore IPL GSS Promotion

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 02:49:00 +0000

I went for my other round of IPL treatment a few days back and want to share the current promotions.

Good news that the $138 Unlimited Underarms Promo is back for now.

And there's an ongoing June "Get Spoiled in Seoul" promotion as follow:

For those who hav ebeen asking me about the Brazilian IPL, you can check out the rates here. On top of this, you can even get FREE Unlimited Underarms IPL sessions. Such a good deal right??

I looked back and realised it has been a year since I signed up with Musee and I can gladly say that I am a very happy customer so far. And do quote me for your FREE Upper Lip IPL if you intend to sign up with them too: 81005130

For my last session, it was completed very fast in less than 40 mins and I must say that the therapist are getting more experienced in hair removal. Fast and good, I like! =)

Hakone & Mt Fuji & Gotemba Premium Outlets Day Trip with Hakone Free Pass

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 16:12:00 +0000

We have yet to see Mt Fuji so we wanted to view it this trip to Tokyo. Having read that you gotta be pretty lucky for Mt Fuji to show itself to you in Spring and Summer, we decided to visit Hakone (one of the few spots to view Mt Fuji) so that we can enjoy the scenery and visit one of the many Onsens even if the weather let us down on that day.

In case you didn't know, the best times to catch a glimpse of Mt Fuji is during the Autumn and Winter seasons, especially from Dec to Feb when the weather gets drier. Also, visibility tends to be better in the morning so do check the weather forecast before heading to Hakone to view the majestic Mt Fuji.

Anyway, we got our tickets for the 2 days Hakone Free Pass at 5,000JPY each on the 1st day we arrived in Tokyo. Since we were staying in Shinjuku area already, it was very convenient to walk to the West Exit of the JR Shinjuku Station to get more information from the Hakone Sightseeing Service Counter.

Odakyu Sightseeing Service Counter @ Shinjuku

Odakyu Romance Car Ticket Counter

If you prefer, you can also top up 870JPY for a ride in the Romance Car which will bring you to Hakone Yumoto by half an hour faster in 1.5 hours time.

We went for the normal Odakyu Express train, reaching Hakone in 2 hours instead.

Odakyu Line West Ground Gate Entrace @ Shinjuku

To get to the Odakyu Line, just look out for the West Ground Gate which is situated on the ground floor of the JR Shinjuku West Exit. We started our day very early the next morning taking the 7.01am train. To check the trains schedule, just go to www.hyperdia.com as usual.

Shortly after getting on the train, we snoozed all the way to Odawara even though we had a cup of coffee each.

View On Train From Odawara to Hakone Yumoto

You'll need to get off and change train at Odawara to Haknoe Yumoto and this journey is a short 15 mins one.

The journey and rides from here onward are all scenic ones and it was a really enjoyable way to start the day, especially after napping in the first leg of our journey. Hehe...

Hakone Tozan Railway

We took the classic "round course" way up but it wasn't a round course because we didn't take the same way back to Shinjuku, Tokyo. Instead, we were a little more ambitious and headed to Gotemba Premium Outlets after Hakone.

You can refer to the round course and the estimated travel time from here and this is our modified course:

Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto 1150JPY
Hakone-Yumoto to Gora 390JPY (We didn't get off to visit the museum etc. and continue to Sounzan)
Gora to Sounzan 410JPY
Sozan to Togendai 1330JPY
Togendai to Moto-Hakone (we didn't get off the Pirate Boat at Haakone-machi) 970JPY
Moto-Hakone to Togendai 970JPY
Togendai to Gotemba Premium Outlets
Gotemba Premium Outlets to Shinjuku

The transport cost without using the Hakone Free Pass is in red. Do a fast calculation and you'll realise it's cheaper buying the pass and definitely less of a hassle searching for cash to make payment.

On The Way Up To Gora

Gora Station

View From Hakone Tozan Cablecar

It is indeed a scenic route up to Hakone and I would highly recommend you give this a try instead of taking the bus.

On The Way Up!

Smells of Sulphur Surround Us

Famous Owakudani Black Eggs

There's both half boiled eggs and hard boiled eggs available at Owakudani. These eggs have a slight sulphur smell to them and it's believed that you'll live 7 years more with every eggs you eat.

Buying the Hard Boiled Eggs

View From The Top

After buying the eggs, you can eat them on the spot on the many benches available right in front of the black egg store.

Feeling somewhat overloaded with eggs, we traveled on to take the famous Pirate Boat across Lake Ashi.

By the way, all our transport are covered by the Hakone Free Pass and it takes about 30 mins to cross Lake Ashi.

Hotel @ Moto-Hakone Pier

We didnt get off at Moto-Hakone and continued by boat onwards to Hakone-Machi. You can also walk to Hakone-machi from Moto-Hakone if you can spare the time. I'm sure it'll be a lovely walk and it takes about 20 to 30 mins only.

On good days, the magnificent Mt Fuji can be viewed on Lake Ashi but no such luck for us.

As you can see, dark clouds came our way by the time we reached Hakone-machi.

Feeling a little hungry, we had our lunch at one of the many restaurants along the street.

And I have eggs AGAIN for lunch. :S

With a hearty meal, we took our time to stroll along the lake to Hakone Shrine. I think we really enjoyed ourselves that day laughing and just relaxing as we walk along the lake. The air was fresh and the mood was calm. I really had fun!

To get to Hakone Shrine, just walk along the lake after turning left from the pier.

You'll come to a long road leading to the bright orange Hakone Shrine gates.

Purification Fountain

You can read about how to visit a Japanese shrine here.

The Hakone Shrine is beautiful with its bright orange and red colour and I went shutter crazy.

Chinese Influences

Torii Gates

We read about the Hakone Shrine Torii gates here and this was one of the reasons why we decided to visit the Hakone Shrine. The gates can be seen from the Pirate Boat when approaching Hakone-machi and it's bright and grand.

Lovely Path Leading Back To Pier

Satisfied with all our photo taking, we headed back to Togendai for the bus to Gotemba Premium Outlets. Do note the timing for the last boat out from Hakone-machi. If I remembered correctly, it is 4pm. If you cannot get out in time, you may need to spend an a slow and quiet night at Hakone. ;)

Upon reaching Togendai, just check with the information counter what bus to take to Gotemba Premium Outlets. The bus will take you to Gotemba Station where you're required to change to the free shuttle bus to the premium outlets. This bus is yet again covered by the Hakone Free Pass.

My favourite scenic route in Hakone is actually the ride from Togendai to Gotemba Premium Outlets. It is a pity that it was raining then and everywhere I looked was wet... But the Onsens and numerous Ryokens that was situated along the road was charming!

My Japanese friend told me that we should have stayed overnight or give the Onsen a try because Hakone is one of the best places for hot springs. Some Onsens even have views of Mt Fuji. Hhhhmmmm....bliss! But tattoos are banned in Onsens so no hot springs for us.

Anyway, we arrived in Gotemba while it was still raining and the cheaper umbrellas from the vending machine were sold out by then. To cross over from the East side to the West, I had no choice but to buy a cutesy polka dotted brolly.

Ta-da, it stopped raining after a while and I just had to pose with my new super thin brolly.

We had a quick bite before leaving and Mt Fuji came out to say bye. Although we didn't get to see the magnificent mountain at Lake Ashi, we saw its silhouette when crossing the bridge. And I think you can even make out the snow capped tip from the pic.

A surprise goodbye moment from Hakone.... =)

Do note that the last Odakyu Bus out of Gotemba Station to Shinjuku is the 8pm bus. If you miss the bus, you can take the JR train back to Tokyo too. With the Hakone Free Pass, just top up 850JPY for the journey back to Shinjuku Bus Terminal and you can also reserve your seats in advance at the service counter.

I enjoyed my Hakone day trip and hope you'll have a good time there too!

b.liv Off With Those Heads & Got Me Covered Product Review

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 10:44:00 +0000

Oh... I found my miracle product and it has made me so happy that I want to share it with you peeps!

If you have oily skin or combination skin like me, and if you are prone to outbreak, I strongly recommend b.liv Off With Those Heads by Cellnique!

Just last month, I read so many good reviews about this product online and couldn't resist waiting until GSS to buy it with a discount from SASA. So, I bought a value pack from SASA that comes with:

Squeaky Clean 50ml x 1
Off With Those Heads 30ml x 1
Got Me Covered 45ml x 1

The value pack cost me $98 and I am so pleased with Off With Those Heads.

I only apply this product on my problematic T-zone every morning and night time. After using it for a few days, I noticed that my face is less oily and the skin on my T-zone is calmer. After a few weeks, I also noticed that I didn't get my monthly pimple due to changes in my hormonal cycle. Yipee!!

I did get 2 pimples over the 3 weeks of usage but they were small ones and 1 appeared right after using Off With Those Heads for the first time.

See my results:

Before

After

There's lesser blackheads on my nose after 3 weeks and I didn't even need to squeeze my blackheads out. The results is amazing, the blackheads just dropped off!! When I went for my facial a few days back, my therapist said that my complexion looks better and it's easier to squeeze out the impurities from my face. I am one happy girl! =)

Got Me Covered is also pretty good with SPF 35 coverage. It gives good coverage and is non-greasy even though it contains sunblock. I use it before using my normal powder foundation and I love its oil control properties. My face feels less oily at end of day when I use these 2 products together.

In fact, I also persuaded bf to give Off With Those Heads a try and helped him purchase the 30ml at $69 directly from b.liv online shop. The item reached me fast within a few days and was sent using DHL service. The good thing about buying it online is that I can get reward points for future purchases.

Bf has less outbreak these days too and we both think it's our miracle product for now. The best oil control product I've ever tried and I've really tried many, many products since my teens.

For those who are wondering what's the difference between Cellnique Skin Action Sebum Gel and b.liv Off With Those Heads, I think it's the ingredients composition. I did a comparison and the ingredients seem the same but are in different proportion for both. So far, b.liv is cheaper and good enough for me!

There's currently 20% promotion in SASA and on b.liv website so I'll be stocking up with a 45ml one 'coz this is my favourite beauty product of the moment!

Tokyo Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku Review, Great Location, Thoughtful & Great Value!

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Tue, 31 May 2011 04:48:00 +0000

This trip to Tokyo, we were very lucky in terms of booking a good hotel. We thought we had everything settled on the same day that we bought our cheap 384SGD air tickets to Tokyo. Yet, 1 day before departure, I got a shock of my life realising that hotel we've booked was situated in Ikebukuro area instead of Shinjuku area like we wanted to.

Vibrant Shinjuku Night Life

You see, trains stop running in Tokyo at around 12+ midnight or so. And taking cabs is an unthinkable thing to me because it's expensive. Thus, Shinjuku is the best area in my opinion as there's a lot of shopping and good food around.

I panicked and did a quick search on agoda.com, my favourite hotel booking site for now, and found the amazingly cheap hotel Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku.

It was going at a cheap rate of 116SGD per night for the economy double room and of course I grabbed the deal.

With only a night's cancellation charge on the other hotel booking through booking.com (the good thing about booking.com is that they don't charge to your credit card until you arrive at the hotel and there's free cancellation if it's done 48 hours before booking date) and the discount from points accumulation on agoda.com, we ended up paying the same amount for Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku.

And this hotel is located much nearer to the JR station! It's less than 5 mins walk away from JR Shinjuku South exit.

We were pleasantly surprised with Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku, it's new, clean, very well located with a big hotel lobby and the staff were friendly and helpful.

The hotel has ready copies of maps and sightseeing guide that will greatly aid your traveling plan if you're not with a tour group. Just approach the reception for any queries and they'll be more than happy to help.

Sightseeing Guide Provided by Hotel

There's also one exit to Tokyo Subway Station situated right next to Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku. Talk about convenience! This is especially welcoming when you need to take the train to Tsukiji market early in the morning and it's really fantastic to not have to walk much to enter the train station.

The Tokyo Subway entrance is highlighted with a red circle on the map above and the green box is the lovely Shinjuku Southern Terrace. Just cross it and you'll reach the super huge Takashimaya and a mega Tokyu Hands.

Long Escalator Deep Into Shinjuku Tokyo Subway Train Platform

Shinjuku Southern Terrace

The Southern Terrace provides an alternative walk back to the hotel from the JR Station South Exit. It is a more pleasant walk with less hurried people around. Also, it's rare to see so much space in the midst of Tokyo skyscrapers and it can be relaxing to chill in one of the cafes there.

JR Shinjuku Station Southern Exit

Other niceties about the hotel include:

Non-fogging mirror (center portion) in the toilet, a nice and thoughtful touch and the first hotel I ever came across with this!

Sandwich ironing board that saves space in the typical small Tokyo hotel room.

Bf Helping Me With My Top

Innovative and cute magnet signs instead of paper ones.

Every morning, we'll just throw one right outside the door and it'll fly straight and be stuck on tight. Cute!

Everyone In Tokyo Is Doing Their Bit To Save Electricity After The 11 Mar 2011 Earthquake

Free wi-fi and internet access is available in the guest lounge. More info about Hotel Sounroute Plaza Shinjuku, you can click here to find out more.

Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku

2-3-1 Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku Shinjuku

Tokyo, Japan

Tel: 03-3375-3211

And in case you don't know already, do remember to double check the hotel you booked before your trip. A lot of hotels in Japan belong to chains and they have the same names, just take a look at this.

Just don't end up fretting just before your trip like I did. ;)

Robata Yaki Grill in Tokyo Shimbashi, Great Food & Value

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Wed, 25 May 2011 11:09:00 +0000

The last trip to Japan, my father already told me that I must give Robatayaki a try in Japan. Robatayaki is also known as Robata for short.

Robatayaki is a Japanese style grill whereby the chef sits at a deck surrounded by fresh ingredients. To select the food you want to eat, just point them out to the chef who will serve them to you on a paddle once it's ready. It is really an interesting experience to sit around the open hearth and soak in the lively ambiance of old world Japan.

So began my search for a good Robata Grill restaurant in Japan... but as all would already know, food isn't all that cheap in Japan. And somehow, trying out Robata just didn't materialize when I was in Japan last year.

This year, I happened to come across these 2 online pages with good reviews about a quality and inexpensive Robata Grill in Toyko Shimbashi and decided that I MUST have my first Robatayaki experience in Japan. ;)

The restaurant is called Musashi and is located at Shimbashi Tokyo. I was told by my Japanese friend that Shimbashi is a very local business district and the people around there are very "localized". I'm not too sure I understood her but I think what she meant was that it's a place whereby a lot of local working Japanese go to.

Musashi Shopfront

Musashi

Shimbashi 2-9-17, Minato-ku

Tel: 03 35803550

She also mentioned that when TV stations want to get a feel of the local economic situation or the working people's sentiments, they'll conduct their interviews on streets in Shimbashi. Anyway, I guess there's a lot of eateries and drinking holes due to this fact and it was nice to venture out there.

Musashi Robatayaki is relatively easy to locate and here's some pics to share:

Serving Food With Robata Paddle

Japanese Name of Restaurant Is 武蔵

It was really lucky of us to get exactly 3 seats right in front of the grill where all the cooking is done. We had the following and guess how much it cost us?

Recommended Online & By A Customer Sitting Next To Us

3 scallops
1 stick of bacon and leek
3 sticks of shitake mushrooms
2 tofu
1 fish
1 snail
4 glasses of sake
1 mug of beer

I wanted to eat more but didn't want to gorge myself silly after eating the whole day while shopping at other places. It is really tempting with all the seafood placed right in front of you. :|

Anyway, it cost only....5130JPY and the food tasted great!! That's about 26SGD per person. Really inexpensive for the kind of quality they serve! I don't even think I can have a Robata meal in Singapore for this kind of price. And I highly recommend this warm and charming Robata restuarant in Tokyo.

To get there, follow the directions on this map:

1) Alight at the JR Shimbashi Station on the JR Yamanote Line (it's the light green circle line)

2) Exit from the Hibiya exit

JR Shimbashi Station Hibiya Exit in Tokyo, Japan

3) Walk towards LABI Shimbashi building by crossing the road, you'll see LABI right in front of you when you come out from the Hibiya exit

LABI Shimbashi

4) Turn left and navigate on your own, hee...

Oh yah, and do get there early around 6pm or so to get a seat. If not, you may have to wait until 7pm+ and the highly sought after scallops may be sold out by then.

I was told that Robatayaki is more popular with the older generation and the younger ones generally do not enjoy it as much. But I do love the lively and laid back atmosphere it gives and what an experience! This is my most enjoyable meal in Tokyo this trip and do give it a try if you get the chance to. You will love it!

8 Days Seoul Itinerary & Interesting Things To Do

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Sat, 14 May 2011 07:34:00 +0000

Some of you have been have been asking me about my Seoul itinerary and I'll share it here with you with the interesting bits.

A'REX Platform at Incheon Airport

Day 1

Arrive at Seoul in late afternoon
Dakhanmari dinner at Dongdaemum

Day 2

Dongdaemum shopping at Doota & Pyeonghwa market

Dinner at Gangnam

My Best Meal in Seoul This Trip

Drinks at Once In A Blue Moon Jazz Club

Day 3

Nandaemum market shopping
Sinchon for coffee

Ewha Woman's University campus visit

It's worth a visit as the architecture and scenery is beautiful

Ewha Woman's University shopping
Hongdae for Korean BBQ dinner
JJ Mahoney's at Hyatt Hotel (located at Namsan) for drinks

Day 4

Korean Folk Village

There's restaurants serving breakfast there so you won't have to worry about food if you want to go early
Do note the performance schedule if you want to be in time for the shows

Dinner at friend's place with food from Shinsegae Dartmental Store basement deli

We celebrated my friend's birthday and mine too with a cake from Apres-midi; it has THE BEST macaron cake I've ever eaten. The texture was soft and moist and before we knew it, the whole cake was gone!

Apre-midi Strawberry Macaron Cake

Apre-midi is located at the basement of Shinsegae Departmental Store, at a corner near the washrooms

Day 5

KTX to Gwangju, then a bus to Damyang

Damyang Bamboo Forest visit
Check into Hanok at Samjicheon Village
Soswaewon Garden
Dinner & drinks at Damyang

Day 6

Morning tour of Samjicheon Village aka Slow City and House of Kim Yeong-Bong Hanok

Rustic Beauty

Check out of Hanok

Hanok's Common Dining Room

Head back to Seoul from Gwangju
Myeong-Dong shopping

If you need to exchange currency, Myeong-Dong is the place to go to. There's a lot of money changers to choose from.

Korean Spicy Rice Cake On A Chilly Night

Dak Hanmari dinner again at Dongdaemum; it shows how much we enjoyed it
Late night shopping at Doota and Miglore at Dongdaemum

Day 7

Lunch and shopping at Insadong
Siloam Jimjibang experience
Shop at Lotte Mart at Seoul Station
Dinner and coffee at Gangnam
Late night shopping at Dongdaemum wholesale area

We also tried the roadside tent supper food and it wasn't nice. We got misled by the K-dramas.

Day 8

Last minute shopping at Myeong-Dong

Last Meal At Myeong-Dong

Bye bye Seoul before heading to Incheon Airport

New Found Love Bought Available at DFS

The above kimchi brand is supposedly the best available at DFS. I personally think that it'll be wiser to buy your kimchi from Lotte Mart where you can sample and select the one more suited to your taste bud. Moreover, it'll cost less than the 10USD pack above.

Hope this helps! =)