The heaviest downpour in Seoul in 104 years

Zati highlighted me on the flash flood issue in South Korea on the 27th July and I was pretty shocked that Seoul is practically submerged.

In Gangnam courtesy of cnngo.com

For those who are currently in Seoul or other affected areas; please be careful. We can never predict mother nature but we could always learn from this kind of incident.

By yekaterina5

It makes me thinking that I am fortunate to be here in Malaysia and wondering if mother nature is crying a lot because the earth is sick like fever or something like that..hehe my kinda twisted thinking. Moral of the story: Love our mother nature. Do your part to sustain it for our future generation.

Let's pray that South Korea will be better in no time and hopefully no more casualties due to this torrential rain and flash flood. Fighting!!

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War Memorial of Korea

The girls (Iris, Fiza, Nyna and Hanim) visited War Memorial of Korea in Seoul last Autumn and they claimed it was not that bad and quite an exciting place to marvel at. At least we get to know the reason why Korea is divided right? Not only that we know the Kpop idols lalala..but at least we know this much eh? hehehe..

Official website: https://www.warmemo.or.kr/eng/intro/message/message.jsp

How to go:

Samgakji Station, Line 4 or 6, Exit 12 - 5 minute walk

Namyeong Station, Line 1 - 10 minute walk

Check out here for the map.
Admission: FREE
Opening: 9:00 - 17:00

Myeongdong to Samgakji



8 minutes, 4 stops, 3.8km

900 won with T-Money, 1,000 won with cash

More info of War Memorial of Korea at Wikipedia

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Seounyudo Park

More videos of Korea by Michael Arnold

Bun Sok (Wwoof Joy's Farm) told me once that if I have to choose only one park, I should not miss Seounyudo Park. Unfortunately I still don't have the chance to make a trip to this awesome place.

Why Bun Sok; an environment lover herself thought the park is special?

"Seonyudo Park is an award-winning ecological park, created by the conversion of a former water treatment plant. The park successfully enhances Seoul’s liveability by providing a high-quality, environmentally responsible public space which is enjoyable and educational." - CABE

Check out mstrum for pictures and Design Seoul Tour for more info.

How to go

1. Subway line 2,  Dangsan Station Exit 1     Take bus #605, 6623, 6631, 6632, 6633 and get off at Hanshin Apt.     Cross over Seonyudo Bridge  2. Subway line 2 or 6 to Hapjeong Station, Exit 8     Take bus #604, 5712, 6712, 6716 and get off at Hanshin Apt.     Cross over Seonyudo Bridge Source: KNTO

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Beans Bins Coffee at Doota Dongdaemun

If you go to Dongdaemun, you won't miss this skycraper; Doota. Do you know what Doota means? 

Yoona and Seohyun pitching for Doosan Bears baseball team.

두산타워 - Doosan Tower. If you read Hangul, Doota is the abbreviation of 두타. It was first opened on February 26th, 1999 and now is the roof of many Korean own aspiring fashion designers. If you want to know the feel and look of Dongdaemun, I urge you to watch Cinderella Man starring Kwon Sang Woo and Yoona from SNSD.

Kwon Sang Woo and Yoona at Dongdaemun.

From my experience, it is very hard to go against the temptation to buy everything on the floor!! ^^ Korean fashion can be classified from pretty to downright absurd at times but generally the clothes are wearable. However, the choices or sizes available mostly are suitable for slimmer girls and the plump ones might need more time to shop around. There's also an online shopping option : http://doota.ogage.co.kr/

Decoration for Christmas at the entrance door.

After you are done with shopping especially during winter, stop by at 

Beansbins coffee for a sip of hot coffee and to rest your sore feet.

All restaurants are situated at 7th floor.

Official website: http://www.beansbins.com/

Official Website: Doota

How to go

Dongdaemun Subway Station, Line 1, Exit8

Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Subway Station, Line 2/4/5, exit 14

Doota Operating hours

Monday - 7pm to 5am
Tuesday to Saturday - 10.30am to 5am
Sunday - 10.30am to 11pm

More info of DOOTA at Dongdaemun from KNTO
Pictures courtesy of Iris, Nyna, Fiza and Hanim

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National Palace Museum of Korea

If you don't have time to go the National Museum at Yongsan or you are just not interested

to learn the historical site of Korea, at least try this one.

It's fascinating to learn how Korea has become what it is today.

This tiny museum is just next to Gyeongbuk Palace and as of

NOW, the admission is FREE. ^^

Anyone watching My Princess drama starring Kim Tae Hee 김태희

and Song Seung Heon 송승헌?

Check out the scene in Hae Yeong Museum between professor Nam

and Yoon Joo; you gonna see this royal robe ^^

A = National Palace Museum of Korea

Official Website: http://www.gogung.go.kr/eng/index.jsp

Admission: Free (until further notice by Korean government)

Opening hours: 9:00 - 18:00 (weekdays), 9:00 - 19:00 (weekend and holidays)

Closed: Mondays

Free English guided tour: 15:00 at 2nd floor (be there 15 minutes earlier)

Automatic audio guide: 1,000 won

Location: near Gyeongbok Palace.

How to go: Gyeongbokgung Station, Line 3, Exit 5

Source: Wikipedia

Pictures courtesy of Iris, Fiza, Nyna and Hanim

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New Year Celebration at Jonggak

If you are in Seoul now, you might want to be in Jonggak to join the crowd for new year's eve celebration or either do any of the activities for year end suggested by KNTO.

Be warned: The weather is icy cold and you gonna be oppressed, hemmed and crushed by the crowd!

"On every New Year's Day, the bell ceremony (Jeyaeui Jong Tajongsik) is held at Boshingak, the nearby bell pavilion. (The name of the station comes from this pavilion, jong meaning bell and gak pavilion.) At those times the area is so crowded with tens of thousands of Seoulites that trains do not stop at Jonggak as to avoid any accidents." - Source: Wikipedia

Stop at Line1 - Jongno 3-ga or City Hall subway station instead to avoid the crowd.

"Bosingak 보신각 is a large bell pavilion on Jongno in Seoul, South Korea. The bell in Bosingak gives Jongno its name, which literally means "bell street." It was originally constructed in 1396 but destroyed many times by both war and fire. It was designated Bosingak by Emperor Gojong in 1895." - Resource: Wikipedia

Picture courtesy of Wikipedia

Bosingak Bell is at Jonggak Subway Station exit 4, across

Jongno Tower

 

Video courtesy: bmxissofun

Check out Justenoughkorean blog for more pretty pictures and if you understand Indonesian language, check out diamondlove blog.

I would like to wish everyone Happy New Year!!
Be happy, healthy, generous and live a blessed life for the coming year. ^^

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Namdaemun Market @ 남대문 시장

I love it when the air is cool and crisp.

The sky is sparkling blue.

One fine day in Seoul.

I can't really remember where the building selling this stuff located.

When I arrived there, I met the place by accident while trying to

avoid the heavy rain. Just when I turned my head to the left, I

saw the bling bling..so shiny and I was almost blinded. The building

has a few levels, I just stopped at the lowest floor where they made

the brooches right there.

According to my friends who love accessories, the design of Korean

brooches are not the same as in Malaysia. I don't know how true it is cause

I don't really do shopping much. I'm a shop-not-a-holic..hehe..

멍게 - meongge. If you like raw food aka sashimi, try this.

The inside of 멍게 - meongge and eat it with gochujang - spicy sauce.

Pretty hanbok for the little ones at home.

How to go to Namdaemun Market

If you stay in Myeongdong area, it is pretty near and walking distance to the market.

It is located near to Hoehyeon subway station. Under Namdaemun-no (the main street to the north of the market) is an extensive underground arcade - Hoehyeon Underground Shopping Arcade

Tips:

• Go to the market early in the morning like 09:00
• Bargain like crazy because the initial prices of the goods are normally much higher. For shoppers like me who hates to haggle, go straight to Lotte Mart or Home Plus if you only want to buy candies or groceries. Cheaper and no haggling needed.  

Myeongdong to Hoehyeon

2 minute, 1 station, 0.7km

900 won by T-Money, 1,000 won by cash

Hoehyeon subway station, Line 4, exit

What to shop at Namdaemun Market
You can shop for souvenirs to bring home but I suggest that you can get better choices in Insadong.

• clothes - I prefer going to Dongdaemun to shop for clothes than here.
• shoes
• fabrics
• tableware
• flowers
• vegetables
• ginseng products - I bought a few packets for friends and family. There's one good brand recommended by Min Young.
• toys
• watches
• sunglasses
• brooch (accessories)
• Hallyu souvenirs

Tourist spot by walking distance from Namdaemun Market

• Namdaemun (Great South Gate)
• Seoul Station
• Deoksu Palace
• City Hall

Video courtesy of Andyhwaiting

Check out more comprehensive details of Namdaemun Market at Asia-Planet.

Pictures courtesy of Iris, Fiza, Nyna and Hanim

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YongSeo Couple Cafe at Insadong

Our favourite couple from MBC's We Got Married variety show

Jung Yong Hwa and Seohyun (dearly called as YongSeo couple),

dined at this cafe when they first dated. 

The girls satisfied their sweet tooth by dining at the same cafe!

Aigoo..Hallyu power really influenced us to visit Korea, doesn't it?

The same card tree.

Peace! The girls..minus the YongSeo couple. Should I photoshop

this photo with the Yongseo couple together? Hehe..

It reads 별 다방 = Byol dabang = Star Cafe

미스리 = Miseri.

At first I thought I should read it as misery? 미즈리?

No way..we don't want misery to accompany us

while enjoying our food here right?

Then I went to the cafe's website: http://www.missleecafe.com/

It should be Miss Lee..ngehehe..

Han gua = 한과. Check out Korea Times for more info on

Korea's traditional cookie.

You can visit Korea traditional cookie Museum too.

The cafe is in front of North Isadong Information Center and it

is on the second floor just above GS25 convenience store.

Picture courtesy of Egloos

 

Based on the map, it's near to Anguk Station, Line 3, Exit 6.

Walk until you see the Crown Bakery.

Address: 서울 종로구 관훈동, 144 번지 2층 - Seoul, Jongno-gu, Gwanhoon-dong, 144 St, 2nd Floor
Opening time: 10:00 - 24:00 (365 days)

Menu ranging from 4,000 to 13,000 won. Check out the menu here (in Korean with pictures). 
For Muslim, there are some menu with rice but they have ham inside, so be careful.

Pictures courtesy: Iris, Fiza, Nyna and Hanim

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