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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Moon Jae Shin hotness!

Our favourite Moon Jae Shin aka Yoo Ah In. This must be for another magazine spread.

From his Tweetpic link.

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

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.

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

Click here for the coupon

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.

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