Our favourite Moon Jae Shin aka Yoo Ah In. This must be for another magazine spread.
Yoo Ah In's Twitter : Seeksik
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Everland or Lotte World?
Theme parks. I know, I'm too old for this one hahah. But, age doesn't matter if you want to chill out with your friends to be kid again, at heart or chill out with your kids. Hmm..I love theme parks because of the scary, almost peeing in your pants type of rides hehe. I'm game about this but it wouldn't be fun if going alone.
I have tried going to Everland, not once but twice! both attempt failed miserably.
First attempt, me, Tut and Hanim - I have dreamt about the wooden roller coaster recommended by Man Fai, but my friends and I lost our way to find the correct bus stop to Everland.
We waited and waited and after giving up; later we asked a few passersby but either they don't speak English or we don't understand their English..aigoo...ottokke? _ _ ^ We even asked the bus drivers and he said we waited at the wrong bus stop. Since it was almost 10 am and it's kinda wasted to spend only half a day in Everland which is a huge theme park; so we opted for Lotte World. It is nearer and it is in Seoul!
Second attempt, I was with Min Young in Incheon but we couldn't go together because I had to go back to Jinbu and Min Young thought the idea of going to Everland theme park alone was ridiculous! _ _ ^
In the end, I only got to experience Lotte World. T_T
Both Lotte World and Everland has their own reputation to boot but if and only if we MUST choose only one theme park, which one would it be?
Everland
Official website: http://www.everland.com/MultiLanguage/english/
Transportation: By Bus. Here is the Transportation Schedule
Operating Hours: 0900 / 1000 - 2000/2100/2200 (please check the schedule before entering)
Everland Pro and Con
Pro: It is bigger than Lotte World. It has safari so kids love it. There are prayer room and halal food for Muslim
Con: It's in Yongin so have to ride a 1 hour bus
Lotte World
Official Website: http://www.lotteworld.com/Global_eng/Main.asp
Transportation: Jamsil Subway Station, Line 2, Exit 4
Operating hours: Open 365 days a year from 0930 to 2200/ 2300 (please check the schedule before entering)
Lotte World Pro and Con
Pro: It's in Seoul hence very near. It has indoor and outdoor park so if the weather is bad you can still enjoy the indoor park.
Con: It is not as big as Everland. It's easily crowded because it's in Seoul. No prayer room and halal food for Muslim.
Check out my trip to Lotte World Part1 and Part 2.
Tips: Don't come during holiday-season. Both places are jam-packed!
Korea Public Holiday
January 1 - New Year's Day
Seollal - Korean New Year's Day (depends on Lunar calendar and 3 days public holiday)
March 1 - Independence Day
May 5 - Children's Day
Buddha's Birthday - 8th day of 4th lunar month
June 6 - Memorial Day
August 15 - Liberation Day
Chuseok - 15th day of 8th lunar month (3 days public holiday)
October 3 - National Foundation Day
December 25 - Christmas
Source: Wikipedia
Korea School Holiday
In South Korea, the school year is divided into two terms. The first term runs from early March to late August with the summer vacation from mid-July to mid-August (elementary and secondary schools) and from mid-June to late August (higher education institutions). The second term usually resumes in late August and runs until early February. The winter break is from early February to early March.
Source: Wikipedia early March.
I have tried going to Everland, not once but twice! both attempt failed miserably.
First attempt, me, Tut and Hanim - I have dreamt about the wooden roller coaster recommended by Man Fai, but my friends and I lost our way to find the correct bus stop to Everland.
We waited and waited and after giving up; later we asked a few passersby but either they don't speak English or we don't understand their English..aigoo...ottokke? _ _ ^ We even asked the bus drivers and he said we waited at the wrong bus stop. Since it was almost 10 am and it's kinda wasted to spend only half a day in Everland which is a huge theme park; so we opted for Lotte World. It is nearer and it is in Seoul!
Second attempt, I was with Min Young in Incheon but we couldn't go together because I had to go back to Jinbu and Min Young thought the idea of going to Everland theme park alone was ridiculous! _ _ ^
In the end, I only got to experience Lotte World. T_T
Both Lotte World and Everland has their own reputation to boot but if and only if we MUST choose only one theme park, which one would it be?
Everland
Click here for the coupon.
You can also get discount coupon at the official website. But after discount it is 34,000 won.
The best way if you have Korean friends, they could get almost 50% discount if they pay using their credit card.
Transportation: By Bus. Here is the Transportation Schedule
Operating Hours: 0900 / 1000 - 2000/2100/2200 (please check the schedule before entering)
Everland Pro and Con
Pro: It is bigger than Lotte World. It has safari so kids love it. There are prayer room and halal food for Muslim
Con: It's in Yongin so have to ride a 1 hour bus
Lotte World
Click here for the coupon
Transportation: Jamsil Subway Station, Line 2, Exit 4
Operating hours: Open 365 days a year from 0930 to 2200/ 2300 (please check the schedule before entering)
Lotte World Pro and Con
Pro: It's in Seoul hence very near. It has indoor and outdoor park so if the weather is bad you can still enjoy the indoor park.
Con: It is not as big as Everland. It's easily crowded because it's in Seoul. No prayer room and halal food for Muslim.
Check out my trip to Lotte World Part1 and Part 2.
Tips: Don't come during holiday-season. Both places are jam-packed!
Korea Public Holiday
January 1 - New Year's Day
Seollal - Korean New Year's Day (depends on Lunar calendar and 3 days public holiday)
March 1 - Independence Day
May 5 - Children's Day
Buddha's Birthday - 8th day of 4th lunar month
June 6 - Memorial Day
August 15 - Liberation Day
Chuseok - 15th day of 8th lunar month (3 days public holiday)
October 3 - National Foundation Day
December 25 - Christmas
Source: Wikipedia
Korea School Holiday
In South Korea, the school year is divided into two terms. The first term runs from early March to late August with the summer vacation from mid-July to mid-August (elementary and secondary schools) and from mid-June to late August (higher education institutions). The second term usually resumes in late August and runs until early February. The winter break is from early February to early March.
Source: Wikipedia early March.
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How to Order Korean Foods
I was asked by Muslim readers to list out Korean delicacies that do not contain meat. Rather than that, I will list out :
- Food with/without meat
- The method to request the cook to exclude meat from the order.
- Survival phrases in Korean restaurant
First of all, you could always go to any seafood or vegetarian restaurant to try Korean food. Check out this link for vegetarian/Halal restaurants in Seoul:
- HappyCow
- Seoul Vegetarian Club
- SeoulEats
- KNTO Vegetarian Restaurants
- KNTO Halal Restaurants
- The Daily Kimchi
- Seoul Style
Otherwise, use this sentences to remind the cook to exclude meat (beef, chicken, pork and etc) if you are not in a vegetarian/seafood restaurant.
Survival phrases in Korean restaurant
고기를 놓지마세요 - gogi rel nohjimaseyo - Please do not put in/include meat.
햄을 놓지마세요 - hem el nohjimaseyo - Please do not put in/include ham.
얼마예요? - Olmayeyo - How much (price)?
이것 뭐 라고 해요? - Igeo mou ragu he yo? - What is it called?
김치 점 더 주세요 - jeom deo juseyo - Please give more *You can change with rice - bab/ side dishes - banchan
이걸로 주세요 - Igeollo juseyo - Please give me this
Some of the cooks do not understand that 'ham' is made from meat so you need to inform them too.
Tips: Nowadays, there are many restaurants having menu with pictures and explanation in English. Just point to the picture and make your order.
Bibimbap is a popular Korean dish. The word literally means "mixed rice." Bibimbap is served as a bowl of warm white rice topped with namul (sautéed and seasoned vegetables) and gochujang (chili pepper paste). A raw or fried egg and sliced meat (usually beef) are common additions. The ingredients are stirred together thoroughly just before eating. It can be served either cold or hot (Source: wikipedia). Check out the bibimbap that my friends and I had for about 7,000 won in Hongik at BAB restaurant.
Kimchi jjigae is a variety of jjigae or stew-like Korean dish made with kimchi and other ingredients such as scallions, onions, diced tofu, pork, and seafood, although pork and seafood are generally not used in the same recipe. (Source: wikipedia).
As wikipedia explained that normally the serve it with pork or other meat, so if you request this, you may need to remind the host not to include meat.
Sundubu jjigae
As wikipedia explained that normally the serve it with pork or other meat, so if you request this, you may need to remind the host not to include meat.
Sundubu jjigae
Normally it is cooked with seafood and sundubu means soft tofu. It looks similar like Kimchi jjigae. Sundubu jjigae is a hot and spicy jjigae (Korean stew) dish made with uncurdled dubu (tofu), seafood (oysters, mussels, clams and shrimp are common ingredients), vegetables, mushrooms, onion, scallions, and gochujang or gochu garu (chili powder) in Korean cuisine. A raw egg is put in the jjigae while it is still boiling. This dish is eaten with a bowl of cooked white rice and several banchan (side dishes). It is widely eaten and one of the favorite meals in South Korea.
Dwenjang / Doenjang jjigae
I ate this a few times at Kimbap Nara and once at one of the back alley restaurants in Insadong between 3,000 to 7,000won. I really love dwenjang jjigae. Dwenjang jjigae is a variety of jjigae or stew-like Korean traditional dish, made with dwenjang (Korean soybean paste) and available ingredients such as vegetables, mushrooms, seafood, or dubu (tofu).It is regarded as one of the representative dishes of commoners' food in Korea. (Source: Wikipedia)
Rabokki/ Tteokbokki
Tteokbokki is a dish of korean rice cake with spicy red sauce and sometimes egg. You could easily eat this at any pojangmacha - street stall for around 2,000/ 2,500 won. If you put ramen/instant noodle it is called rabbokki and set you off for 3,000/ 3,500 won. (Source: Wikipedia)
Hobak juk / Squash porridge
Juk - Porridge / Congee
Juk is a predominantly Korean porridge made of grains such as cooked rice, beans, sesame, and azuki beans. Juk is often eaten warm in Korea, especially as a morning meal, but is now eaten at any time of the day. (Source: Wikipedia)
There are so many varieties of juk. My favourite is pat (red/azuki bean) juk and there's korean rice cake inside too. You could try eating juk at any Bonjuk restaurant in Korea for about 6,000 to 10,000 won.
Kimbap behind Dongdaemun
Kimbap, samgak kimbap
Gimbap or kimbap is a popular Korean dish made from steamed white rice (bap) and various other ingredients, rolled in gim (sheets of dried laver seaweed) and served in bite-size slices. Gimbap is often eaten during picnics or outdoor events, or as a light lunch, served with danmuji or kimchi. It is similar to the better-known Japanese sushi. (Source: Wikipedia)
Rest assured, it is nothing like sushi at all. I love packing some kimbap and strolling along Han River. The feeling..hmm like at home? Hahah..that's too much to put it that way right? One evening, I packed chungmu kimbap from Myeongdong and went straight to Yeoido Park (it's far). Stayed at the park for a good one hour watching people flying kites and riding bikes. The weather was cool and I felt contented, a perfect day.
You could pack kimbap from any kimbap house like kimbap nara/kimbap jongguk/kim ga ne in tuna, vegetables or kimchi. It varies from 1,000 won to 2,500 won. Cheap and filling. Another variation is samgak kimbap, in a triangle shape. A lot of it sold in convenience shop like 7-Eleven, Mini Stop etc for 600 to 1,000 won.
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| Miju with samgak kimbap at Yeoido Park |
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The Lure of Europe - Travelling Tips
Falling in love in Paris, eating grilled octopus in Greece. The books to explore Europe's stock.
Ilana Tan
"Autumn in Paris" is the second novel of the quartet of novels written by Ilana Tan themed season. It is a love story between Tara Dupont and Tatsuya Fujisawa. They met in Paris and, like people in love, each of happiness, until finally they separate the bitter truth. The theme basically normal, but the plot is difficult to predict. Romantic literature which invites you to fly to Paris and feel the joy of falling in love.
Sarah's Key
Tatiana de Rosnay
This fiction novel tells the dark history of French government arrest and lock up 13 thousand Jews in the Vel 'd'Hiv for later deported to Auschwitz. The focus of the story is Julia, a young journalist from America who wanted to write a story about the 60th anniversary of the event. "Sarah's Key" helps us understand the black Babakan in French history, a story which is then recognized by President Jacques Chirac in 1995.
Jamie does ... Spain, Italy, Sweden, Morocco, Greece, France
Jamie Oliver
Through this book, Jamie Oliver offers a culinary perspective to understand Europe and Africa. He traveled to Spain, Italy, Sweden, Greece, and Morocco in order to pursue the specialty of each country, ranging from risotto, paella, tagine, grilled octopus unique to Greece. Each chapter explores the menus from one area, complete with name and recipe. Accompanied with slick photographs, this book is worth reading the adventurers so tongue.
The Art of Travel
Alain de Botton
This book provides an important tips for travelers: open your eyes and observe the surrounding environment. Alain de Botton explore the inner impulse that makes us always want to escape from the routines, as well as explaining why the disappointment is an inherent part of every trip. A fundamental question posed book is quite simple: what is the purpose of traveling?
A Mosque in Munich
Ian Johnson
336 pages thick book is based on research into and interviews with more than 30 people. Ian Johnson, Pulitzer Prize winner, presents the fascinating story about the existence of a mosque in Germany is touted to be "home" for the Islamic radical group, a story that was begun in the era of cold war in which America plays a role in "nurturing" the militants in Europe. Written by investigative journalism approach, Johnson dug the perpetrators point of view without any ideological bias.
Novel Destinations: Literary Landmarks from Jane Austen's Bath to Ernest Hemingway's Key West
Shannon McKenna Schmidt & Joni Rendon
Hundreds of tourist destinations that inspired great authors in this book beautifully written. Interestingly, the unique facts behind the scenes also inserted. Example of Agatha Christie who got the idea of writing "Murder on the Orient Express" after a flood trapped in Greece on the way up the train. Or building Westminster Abbey in London that inspired novelist Robert Browning and Charles Dickens. This book also provides information on more than 500 museums, homes, restaurants, bars, lodging, parks, cemetery, and festivals related to the novel, poetry, and the authors.
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