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Shopping in Korea

I don't adore shopping or even window-shopping per se. Really hate to dilly-dally and waste my time (sorry shopaholics, cause I am not in that group, definitely). Do I sound so nerdy? Hahaha..I am half a guy here.

But, here I am telling you about my shopping experience in Korea for autumn and winter. I hope I don't sound too boring though. Verdict: I had two coats prepared for winter but after getting some advice from my korean friends, it would be better if I shop once I reach Seoul.

When I came around end of September, the weather was temperate and warm like in Malaysia so if you're coming in to Korea around this time, you don't have to bring thick clothes. If you feel cold, cardigan or thin jumper will do. You could layer your clothes if you are prone to cold weather. Sneakers are fine but bring more socks. Your feet will be smelly because you will walk a lot. Trust me on this one. Korea's landscape is 70-80% mountains so you could imagine. You can't escape fatigue!!

However for middle-October, you may need thicker jumper. My two cents - just bring one good jumper and layer. The rest, buy the clothes in Korea. Due to global warming, autumn span is shorter than winter and the weather drastically change unknowingly. minus 2 degree is normal but if there's wind, you gonna die in the cold. Yikes! Buy a good pair of gloves. They sell it almost everywhere, on the street side and don't forget to bargain the price!!

November and December are cold ranging from 10 to minus 10 degrees. On some days it would be colder depending on the region you are in - Gangwondo, Seorak mountain are will be colder compared to the southern part. Maybe, you could buy cheap winter clothes in bundle shops in Malaysia and buy a better one in Korea.

Why? Because you're gonna be green in envy when you see Korean are so stylish in winter. They wear fashionable clothes, pretty scarves, winter boots. Arghh..they have SALE almost everywhere! If you look around in Migliore, Doota, APM and Lotte shopping complexes, they have huge price slashes for autumn and winter clothes!!

My case - we bought winter clothes from Basic House, where Hyun Bin and Yoon Eun Hye are the ambassador for 50,000 won.

Later when we walked into Young Plaza (next to AvenueL)in Myeongdong - we saw a very stylish winter coat for 29,000 won because they had SALE there. Darn!

Clothes are cheaper in Dongdaemun (compared to Malaysia) and you could haggle the price (in most of the shops). Just try your luck!

How? (if you don't know Korean..it's ok!)
1. Smile
2. Greet anyonghaseyo
3. Ask - olmayeyo
4. If you find the price is too ridiculous - haggle/bargain - kakka juseyo
5. If the price cut is reasonable - buy. If not, just walk over to the next shop. There's loads of shops selling similar stuffs. Don't worry!
6. Don't forget to say - Kamsahamnida.

Learn the basics

1- il
2- i
3- sam
4- sa
5- o
6- yuk
7- chil
8- pal
9- ku
10- ship

baek - hundred
chon - thousand
man - 10 thousand

eg. 100 won - baek won
1000 won - chon won
10,000 won - man won

varieties:
200 - i baek won
300 - sam baek won
the rest follows

2,000 - i chon won
3,000 - sam chon won
the rest follows

20,000 - i man won
30,000 - sam man won
the rest follows

For example, if the price is:
8,500 - pal chon o baek won
60,250 - yuk man i baek o ship won
9,700 - ku chon chil baek won

Interesting?

Listen to FREE podcast from KoreanClass101 before you travel. Life will be a lot easier. Trust me! ^_^

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Wat Thammikarat (วัดธรรมิกราช)

Wat Thammikarat is a working wat, but also contains the ruins of a large chedi and a huge wiharn which has a large tree growing picturesquely out of the side of one wall. It is a temple in the Mahanikaya Sect, Wat Thammikarat was formerly known as Wat Mukkharat. When King Sainamphueng had Wat Phananchoeng constructed before the establishment of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya, King Thammikarat – his son, had this temple constructed in an old town called Sangkhaburi. The temple had successively been restored by later kings. In the reign of King Songtham (1610 A.D.), the temple was renovated and a Wihan Luang constructed for sermon hearing. The Wihan Luang once enshrined an enormous bronze head of the Buddha of the U Thong period, now exhibited at the Chao Sam Phraya National Museum. The temple also houses a Reclining Buddha hall called Wihan Phra Phutthasaiyat built by his queen consort following her wish made for her daughter’s recovery from an ailment. The Wihan is located to the north of Phra Chedi with a base of 52 surrounding Singha or lions, and houses a north-facing reclining Buddha image measuring 12 metres in length, with both feet gilded and inlaid with glass mosaic. No entry charge.

Wikipedia.org

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Korean clothes


SOLD




SOLD

SOLD


SOLD



SOLD


SOLD

Hi Malaysians, anyone interested to buy korean t-shirt?
Each is only RM45, not inclusive of postal.
Postal -RM5
Once sold is not refundable.
Items sold on first come first serve basis.

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Wat Phananchoeng (วัดพนัญเชิงวรวิหาร)


Wat Phananchoeng is (on the Bang Pa-in Rd, about 1.5km out of town) is a working wat which contains the oldest large cast bronze Buddha image in Ayutthaya, though it was covered in scaffold in June 2006 for refurbishment. There is a small room to the right of the main hall which contains a nice collection of Buddha images and the room is painted with many individual unique pictures, in bright colours offset with gold. A 20 baht temple donation per person is asked for.

Remarkably, the 19-meter high gilded statue of Buddha in the attitude of submission of the Mara from the year 1334, which is one of the largest ancient Buddha statues in the country. She has a knee-span of 20.1 meters. It is called in Thai Luang Pho Tho (หลวง พ่อ โต), designated by the Chinese, but when Sam Pao Kong (Thai: ซำ เปา ก ง). He is regarded as the protector of trade and seafaring. It is also the legend, Luang Pho Tho shortly before the destruction of Ayutthaya by the Burman "tears from her eyes to the sacred holy navel" flowed. [2]
Mural painting in Northern Viharn Wat Choeng Phanan

The eastern entrance to the Viharn Luang Pho Tho can be reached via a T-shaped, roofed hall, in whose center stands a statue of Kuan Yin. This statue is highly revered by the Chinese believers. The high entrance gate to the main Viharn is flanked by long tables, where golden Chinese characters are displayed on a red background.

North and south are attached to the T-shaped hall, two smaller Viharn. In the southern Viharn there are three statues of Buddha in Sukhothai-style, one is made of gold ( "พระทอง"), one from Nak (พระ นา ก), a Thai copper-gold alloy, one is made of plaster. The walls are adorned with the northern Viharn strange-looking paintings depicting the offerings in the Chinese style.

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