Travel Guide For Enjoyable Holiday

Guesthouse in Hongik

All these guesthouses are very near to Hongik University, Yonsei University, Ewha University and Sogang University. Numerous cafes, clubs, bars, restaurants, boutiques and musical playgrounds catering for the university students and there's a flea market at Hongik Universit (Hongdae), opens at 1pm every Saturday from March to November.

They serve free breakfast (bread, butter, jam), tea/coffee. All guesthouses are equipped with 100Mbps internet speed and WiFi.

Hongik to Incheon airport
1 hour 16 minutes, 17 stops, 51.6km
4,500 won by t-Money, 4,600 won by cash
Transfer at Dangsan Station and Gimpo Airport Line 9

Hongik to Myeongdong
28 minutes, 11 stops, 10 km
900 won by t-Money, 1,000 won cash
Transfer at Dongdaemun History and Culture Station

Bebop Guesthouse
Hongik University Subway Station, Line 2, Exit 1
20,000 to 75,000 won

Lee and No Guesthouse
Hongik University Subway Station, Line 2, Exit 2 - 6 minutes walk
20,000 to 80,000 won

Namu Guesthouse (for family)
Hongik University Subway Station, Line 2, Exit 2
Near to Lee and No guesthouse
22,000 to 90,000 won

Hongdae Guesthouse
Hongik University Subway Station, Line 2, Exit 1
22,000 to 120,000 won

Hey Backpackers
Hongik University Subway Station, Line 2, Exit 5
22,000 to 120,000 won

Guys and Dolls guesthouse
Hongik University Subway Station, Line 2, Exit 4
28,000 to 22,000 won

Blu guesthouse
Hongik University Subway Station, Line 2, Exit 1
18,000 to 55,000 won

Grape Garden House
Hongik University Subway Station, Line 2, Exit 1
17,000 to 63,000 won

Stay Korea Guesthouse
Hongik University Subway Station, Line 2, Exit 2
19,000 to 80,000 won

Source: SeoulBestHostels

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Persimmon or Gam/Kam in Korea

You have to try persimmon because it is abundant only in autumn (which is my favourite season) or early winter. Some people called it as 'Pisang Kaki' in Malaysia. Don't mistake it for tomato because it does look like it but the taste is far from same.

I used to frequent Chinese traditional medicine shop with my parents to buy some herbs when I was small and I would ask them to buy some dried persimmon for me too. Never thought that it is the persimmon that I love eating so much in Korea! There are so many shops selling persimmon during autumn. I bought 3 for 1,000 won while visiting Korean Hanok Village near Chungmuro Subway Station.

Dried persimmon

In Korea, there are 2 types of persimmon:

Fuyu - you can eat it when it is not fully ripe and it is still sweet (my favourite) and I like it when it is crunchy just like apple. The shape resembles tomato and in Korea it's called tam kam (단감). The taste is not that sweet. Have you have tried eating sugar cane? Almost like that.

Hachiya - Notice the difference in shape? It's kinda heart-shaped. However, you can only eat it when it's fully ripe. If you eat it before it's ripe, very bitter. I don't like Hachiya persimmon because it's kinda gooey when you consume it. Ack! Just like the picture below.

Persimmon's Health Benefit

source of vitamin A
high in fiber
contains shibuol and betulinic acid that are thought to have anti-cancer properties
A study conducted in Japan showed that the peel of the persimmon contains phytochemicals known as proanthocyanidins which may protect cells against oxidative damage associated with aging. (Is this one of the reasons why Koreans look young?!!)

Source: HealthMad

Get all your Persimmon related recipes at Epersimmon.

Check out my WWOOF trip to Jangheung where I helped the family picking persimmons.

For more information about persimmon, check out Wikipedia

Picking persimmon

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Big Bang Guesthouse

This is not a bad joke but Big Bang does have a guesthouse in Korea. ^^ Unfortunately you're not gonna meet any of Big Bang's member in this guesthouse. Dream on..hehehe.

I stayed in this apartment turned guesthouse 3 times because I totally fell in love with the place. Although I love staying near Myeongdong but Big Bang Guesthouse feels more like home. The owner was like a mother to me, she chatted with me until late at night and even bought me Korean rice cake! Talk about superior and personal service. I got one here.

Big Bang Guesthouse is located about 5 to 10 minutes on foot from Yaksu Station, Line 3/6, Exit 8. Korean fast food restaurant like Kimbap Jongguk, convenience shop, fruit shops and my favourite Korean rice cake shop are walking distance from the guesthouse.

I passed by the beautiful Shilla Hotel (where many Korean artists had their wedding ceremony) and walked up to Namsan Tower from Yaksu Station.

Told ya..it's Big Bang! ^^

Surf internet here and if you have your own machine, remember

to have your own international adaptor.

Very very very comfy 4-bed dormitory room.

Every room is equipped with a TV which you don't get in

Namsan Guesthouse.

I took the time to watch the replay of my favourite ssangchu

couple - Hwangbo and Kim Hyun Joong.

Here in this building, second level is Big Bang Guesthouse.

Halmi Syupo..hehe. A mini mart just in front of the guesthouse.

Me and Hanim walking down the steep lane. You can't see it

here but it is steep, trust me.

Mummy Moon, just fyi this is how it looks like.

So, bring the stroller for your kid ok? ^^

Walk straight until you see..

..this resting place. In the evening, you could find a fruit seller with

his van here. We bought Korean grapes which tasted hmmm..

no comment..hehe.

Yeay! My favourite tteok jib. Korean rice cake shop.

Turned left from here.

Until you see this shop selling meat and chicken. Then turned right.

Walk up the staircase and..

tada..Yaksu Station exit 8. ^^ It is just next to a bakery. See that

red signboard? 빵 means bread.

Me with my favourite omoni = mother. I know that I should

have called her ahjumma instead but she is very very kind!

Arghh..I'm so chubby here. Korean diet didn't work for me

cause I love rice! Blame it all on Korean rice cake..hahaha.

Go to the official website for more details.

FYI, the owner has 2 guest houses. Another one is named Happy Guest House located near to Beotigogae Subway Station, Line 6. I will put up another post on Happy Guest House later.

Just to shed some light, both guest houses are hot cakes. The omoni told my friends who recently visited Seoul that the houses are fully booked by Malaysian tourists until end of December 2010!

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