Korean handphone : Is it a must?

It is an option; for me at least.

Jang Geun Suk or Samsung Corby? You can only choose one! ^^

The red or the blue pill..hehe.

Why?

1. The process of buying/renting is tedious
2. You have cheaper option; Skype!
3. Wi-Fi is FREE almost everywhere in Korea.
4. Try to be WIRE - less for a while folks! ^^

Handphone buying/renting process in Korea


1. At the Airport
Check online -> book -> pick up handphone in Korea -> use

Once you reach Incheon Airport, you could rent a phone. After you pick up your luggage, just walk towards the airport limousine pick up area and you will see the phone rental counter right before the exit. Check KNTO site for Incheon Airport layout here.

List of rental phone services which might help you:
SRoaming - Phone rental 1,400 won to 2,700 won per day.
SKTelecom - Phone rental 2,000 won to 3,000 won per day.
KT Show - Phone rental 1,800 won to 2,700 won per day.

2.At the Guesthouse/Motel/Hotel
Some guesthouses/motels/hotels have the phone rental facilities. Namsan Guesthouse offers one time fee 5,000 won per rental and you return after you use. You need to pay the consumption based on your usage.
Say if you stay for 7 days: 5,000 won/7 ~715won per day!
Cheaper than the airport rental.


3.At Mobile shop
I bought a Samsung flip phone for 15,000won and credit 10,000won. It lasted for 3 months. Just walk into any mobile shop/center and inquire for used handphone. Some are FREE phone and you just need to pay the credit; if you don't mind about NOT having a fancy/up-to-date gadget.
However, you may need to show your alien registration card before you can purchase one OR like me, I just tried my luck and showed my passport.

Samsung Corby anyone? I want pink!!

Skype
Those who have Wi-Fi enhanced handphone, make full use of Skype. In Korea, Wi-Fi service is FREE almost everywhere. Just login to Skype to make a call/sms back home. When I was in Korea, the internet speed for home was 100Mbps. Talk about downloading HD Movie of 4Gb in less than 15 minutes! OMG! You can't compare with that measly throttled speed UNIFI promotion which only caters maximum 20Mbps. Malaysia still has a longgggggggggg way to go.

What I did was a call or two in a day to my friends/family members via Skype. Check Skype rates here.
A minute call to land line in Malaysia costs about 20.119won ~ 5 cents
A minute call to mobile line in Malaysia costs about 75.815won ~ 20 cents
One sms/text to Malaysia is 91.443won ~ 25 cents.
For Maxis/Celcom/Digi roaming, international sms/text cost about RM2 if I'm not mistaken.

I'd rather do calls because it's cheaper than sending text. ^^
Note: Rates may change.

WIRE-LESS to be STRESS LESS
I know that you want to be reachable anywhere and anytime but unless you are a businessman or you are a VVIP and your presence is needed every single second, then try to be wire-less at least for your trip/holiday. It doesn't hurt to be wire-less for a while. Life is all about bonding more with what you are presented with in front of you rather than frequently updating your tweets or facebook's wall posts. Hehehe..no hard feeling to those twitter or FB addicts out there. ^^

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Travel to Manila with Mi Hyeon

We reached Manila NA3 Airport at about 0030 in the morning. Once we were in the arrival hall, a few guys approached us for taxi. There were two methods to hail taxi. One was from the front of arrival hall or another from the departure hall entrance. Taxis from arrival hall was a fixed rate of 500pesos while the other one you could haggle the price down to 350pesos.

So we dashed to the departure hall for the obvious reason: budget ^^. There were a lot of people sleeping at the cozy and spacious departure hall which I should had done too but I discarded the thought (hehhe..I slept in Hongkong Airport before). Since Manila was cheaper than Korea; I didn't mind the price so much for another night stay.

We stayed in Malate Pensionne which was walking distance from Robinson. Checking into economy room for 750pesos per night was not a wise decision. I didn't check the weather ahead before arriving in Manila. The room only had a fan and it didn't help that much when the air was so humid and temperature was around 34 degree celcius at 2 in the morning! Apparently, we went during the hottest summer season in Manila. So guys, help Mother Earth. Let's reduce this global warming effect together.

The bathroom was shared around the floor and we stayed at the highest level which was 4th. We should have booked an air conditioned room. Other than that, Malate Pensionne was really a nice place to stay. The interior was nice with antique ambiance throughout the place. There was a Starbucks cafe' attached to the building, next to the receptionist and the coffee price was much cheaper than in Malaysia! I love that ^^.

Sugar coated fried banana and sweet potato. Nice ^^ I felt back in

Malaysia except that we don't have this version of banana fritters.

I didn't try a lot of food in Manila because not all food was HALAL. 

Pedro Gil Street. The metro station is just behind Mi Hyeon.

Pedro Gil Station's ticket booth.

Somehow, this reminded me of Patong/Phuket, Thailand. The feeling

was almost the same. 

Our trishaw guy. Paid 200Pesos for an Intramuros Tour. Actually,

you could enjoy Intramuros more if you walk, but the heat was

killing us so we decided not to. The same thing here, you should

haggle the price and tipping was a norm. 

In front of Intramuros's entrance. What I like about staying around

Malate was because of old historical buildings. There were so many

to appreciate and marvel at. 

A disfunctioned canon on top of Intramuros

Puerta del Parian was named Parian de Arroceros (Chinese Rice Dealer's Market).  

It was the official gate for the governors-general after the British occupation (1762-1764).

Source: Asiatour

Inside Puerta del Parian.

Statue of the ASEAN ministers inside Puerta Del Parian. 

One of them was Malaysia's Tun Hussein Onn. 

Another entrance from behind.

After leaving Intramuros, we walked along the main road to visit

Rizal Park. We passed by Manila Hotel and I thought it

looked like government building. 

Rizal park

Manila Cathedral. I was stopped by the guard from

entering the church. He told me I should open my hijab

before entering. I told him that I am a Muslim. He was

curious and asked me why I wanted to enter. I was 

simply a tourist. ^^

After that, we skipped the heat by entering Robinson Mall. 

When we entered the supermarket in the mall, we were welcomed by

delicious fruits. I was tempted to buy all because in Korea, fruits were

rather expensive and not as much variety as in tropical countries.

This was the first time Mi Hyeon ate a whole mango. Before this

she could only eat mango slices from the top of the cake or mango

juice. I pity her. Koreans, please come to Malaysia. We have so 

many fruits available here..hehe. 

We had buko pandan drink. It was heavenly delicious!

I missed the pandan taste so much!

We found this unique multi handphone charging adapator

in 7-Eleven. I didn't try it though. Should have one of this

in Malaysia too. It is very convenient. 

Clark Airport. We took our AirAsia flight from here. 

Our dinner and breakfast at Clark Airport. 

Outbox by San Miguel. They had only one dish for vegetarian. 

A gift for all Kim Bum's fan out there. ^^ 

I think the lady must be a famous local artist in the Philippine. 

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Travel with Mi Hyeon

Mi Hyeon  언니!

Mi Hyeon met me in Santisuk, Jinbu and we became good friends after that. She has never travelled alone in her life and was surprised when she knew that I travelled alone in Korea. She was hesitant before quitting her 10 years job as a public kindergarden teacher. In the end, she followed her own wish made years before which is to travel by herself. Did I give her bad vibes? Yikes!! Hehehe..

After getting the permission from her husband, she travelled with me to Manila, Malaysia and Singapore . We went to Manila  from Incheon via Cebu Pacific Airways (budget flight in the Philippine) on 22nd of May and enjoyed Manila for 3 days. After having a pretty super hot summer in Malate, we flied back to Malaysia via AirAsia. Why Manila? Initially, there was no direct flight hosted by AirAsia yet, hence the cheapest route was to fly via Cebu Pacific and then back to Malaysia via AirAsia. ^^

Before flying to Manila at 11PM, we went to Myeongdong to watch Nanta and visited art gallery in Insadong during the day.

          

With Mi Hyeon's childhood friend. I stayed one night at her

place. Her house is so pretty with a little Japanese garden in front.

My dream house. 

Both of us are fans of So Ji Sub!

Met this Canadian couple three times; October 2009 in Myeongdong,

December 2009 in Busan and May 2010 in Insadong. Coincidence?
Hmm..I should visit them in Ottawa one day. They told me that it's
colder during winter compared to Korea!

In Holika Holika, a cosmetic shop endorsed by CNBLUE.

I personally recommend the Strawberry BB Cream behind me. 

It is kinda like mouse foundation, non oily and very soft to skin.

CNBLUE!! I met them but not in person.. ㅠㅠ

In the flight, I met a Korean guy who has a Philipino girlfriend in Manila. He didn't look like a typical Korean at all (tall, thin, fair skin and lalala) so I was a bit surprised. He was tanned like Malay, a bit plump and didn't have Korean accent. I was more surprised when he spoke some Tagalog. :O

Once we arrived in Manila, the temperature was 34 celcius and the time was 12.30AM. So hot!!!

Prior to visiting Manila, I was advised by a few friends to be extra careful while in Manila. Hmm..even before embarking the flight I was petrified by this warning. Why? Is it not safe to travel Manila? I have this perception that Manila is just like Malaysia.

 Manila NA3 Airport

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2010 Interactive Campaign - Haru

하루 Haru - for a day in Korea
하루 하루 Haru Haru - day by day for Big Bang..hehe I have no problem with both Harus ^^

A special day of 10 Hallyu star In Korea.
Starring:
Kim Bum
Lee Da Hae
Kim Yoon Shik
Yunho U-KNOW
Han Chae Young
Big Bang

A short clip of Korea from a dramatic style angle; a jumble of IRIS, romance, happy go lucky...hmm..basically predictable Korean dramatic mood summed up.

After watching the blockbuster looked alike clip, my thought:  Lee Da Hae..was that her? She looked different! Kim Bum and Lee Da Hae for noona-dongsaeng relationship? Yunho part with the unnecessary heat seeking missile was ludicrous!! Who was Kim Yoon Shik? Han Chae Young should be Angelina Jolie the second. Both are bombshell anyway. I have no comment on my boys..Big Bang. They are just awesome!

The Haru Clip

ある一日の物語 - aru ichi nichi no monogatari

A story of the day

こころきらめく韓国 - kokoro kirameku kankoku

This one is a direct translation..hehe

Korea Sparkling Heart

Official site: www.haru2010.com
Don't forget to check the event on 24th September 2010!

While waiting, let's listen to Big Bang's Haru Haru.^^

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