4 Oct 2013 - Off to my second home!!

I thought I was only given free vouchers to access to Asiana lounge at Incheon airport upon departure back to SG. Only get to know that I can also access to the Premier lounge at Changi Airport before my flight. Out of curiosity, I went to take a look ㅎㅎ In Hokkien, you can say that I am "Sua Ku" (ie something like frog in a well 井底之蛙) ㅎㅎㅎ

Shhhh.....

Just a quick snap so that I don't disturb anyone.

Basically, its a simple spread which consists of pasta, sandwiches, assorted mini cakes, rice, cup noodles of Kimchi and a local flavour. There were quite a varieties of drinks including beer.  I took a cup of apple juice and found myself a corner to watch the last episode of "주군의 태양". Unfortunately, the downloading was soooo long that I had to give up ㅠㅠ

I was given some free mileages to travel in business class for this trip.
Much more spacious and comfortable indeed.
Of course, service rendered was also very much different.
 I can understand how challenging it is to work in the business class cabin...

A menu will be given to each passenger.
They even indicate the calories intake beside the meal ^^
Three different meals to choose.
Grilled Snapper, Roasted Chicken or a Korean meal of Bibimbap.
So which meal did I choose?

I am of no wine connoisseur....

But camomile tea for me ^^

They served course by course...
This is the appetiser.
I hardly eat salmon becos I hate the fishy smell but this was delicious!
Some passengers preferred to sleep first and requested to have their meals served when they wake up. 

I ordered the roasted chicken meal but it was more like braised chicken 찐닭 to me ㅎㅎ

Was that the Kikorangi cheese on the left??
I really like that a lot ^^

Red Bean Pudding.
진짜 맛있다 ^^

Actually, I am looking forward to this rather than the main dish and it was good.

I am not used to travelling on business class but the overall experience was good of course.

I am back...

Time flies and I am back...Zzzz...zzzz...Just got back last nite and I'm so sleepy now. If you are expecting some exciting updates from me, you will be disappointed cos this trip is supposed to be relaxing..Then again, I managed to do a few things which I always wanted to do but never have the chance to do until this trip. Nothing special to most people but simple little things which makes me very happy ^^

I woke up naturally most of the days but hmmm...my natural wake up time tends to be early too ㅎㅎㅎ  Most of the days, I was held back in my hotel room becos of "런닝맨", "아빠 어디가?" and "1박 2일".  My favourite of the three, is "아빠 어디가?" becos the kids are sooo adorable. 

The OST "Touch love 터치 러브" in "주군의 태양" was played in many shops! I thought I can finish the last episode in Spore but the downloading at Changi airport was so slow. My heart was left hanging there until my first night in Seoul. I stayed in Hongdae for this trip and I find that the sales assistants are of two extreme types. They were either very helpful or they bochap aka can't be bothered at all. Nevertheless, I still met many kind and helpful Koreans ^^ Maybe I am too used to Myeongdong. I still prefer staying in Myeongdong to Hongdae ㅋㅋㅋ

In this trip, I also notice that the drivers in Seoul were pretty scary. It could be green man for pedestrians to cross the road, but there will still be one vehicle that cross the traffic light right in front of your eyes. Sometimes, I will hear 아줌마 cursing and swearing when there's such reckless drivers. Therefore, don't assume it is safe to cross the road when you see the green man. Stop and look out first before crossing the road.

Last but not least, I thank god for the good weather. There were 2 days of rainy days which wasn't too bad. Towards the end of the stay, it was pretty chilly in the morning until about 11am. Afternoon was hot until it got cold again around 6pm. 

Bear with me for slow updates as I am still feeling kinda lazy ㅎㅎㅎ  Got to go now cos my 감자탕 Gamjatang is boiling. I brought back the essential ingredient, 깻잎 (Perilla leaves)  ㅎㅎㅎ  Cos without the leaves, the soup is just like any other pork bone soup. I also bought the seedings back for my sister to grow ㅎㅎㅎ  Yes. Not me to grow but her. Not sure whether they can grow in our weather but we shall see.

Feeling unbalanced...

OMGGGGggggggggggggg!! 왜????!!
Why did episode 15 ended in this manner??? 너무 슬 ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠ
괜찮아요!!  I believe the ending will be a happy ending!!
Next Friday, at this time, I will be at the airport all set to go HOME!!!  I think I can still catch the last episode before my flight ^^

너무 그리워

                                 
                            

효린 sang this song so well that I feel like crying every time I listen to it. Omggg...tonite is the 15th episode. I felt choked and tears just welled up in my eyes when I was watching episode 14 just now. Thank goodness things started to take a turn now. I dun watch horror shows or anything to do with ghosts. NOPE!! This drama however was so funny and every story seemed to have a good moral behind it.

This caught my attention when I was casually browsing in a shop.  

It called out to me becos it means something to me.  

Yes. Unknowingly, you become the joy in my life. 

 너무 그리워.

너와 나

                                  

Another one of my favourite OST from the drama.

터치 러브

                

                                                                 이 노래를좋아.

Can't wait to go home once again!

At last, I have completed the updates on my Spring trip. It took me longer than usual to update this time becos I was distracted with my research for this upcoming trip in Autumn Hahahahaa. I can now finally concentrate on my research. Can't wait to go home once again! 

24th April 2013 - Leaving my heart in Seoul

Went back to the hotel for last minute packing.
This is one of my favourite shower gel which I bought from Lotte Mart.
There are a few types of scents.
My favourites are Cotton Flower and Rose.
Cheap and nice ^^
On the whole, I enjoyed my stay in Nana Residence although the room is small.
Definitely much better than Green Residence(Myeongdong).
Many thanks to all the staff of Nana Residence who have been very helpful and friendly.
정말 감사합니다 ^^

Boarded the airport limousine bus with a heavy heart.
Its always so depressing for the trip to Incheon Airport.....
안녕...I hope to be back soon.

Saw this at Incheon Airport.

It looks like a traditional Korean wedding for foreigners to experience Korean tradition.

My Asiana inflight meal consisted of fish and rice for dinner.
The other standard option is Bibimbap.
If I order Bibimbap, I will mix everything except the beef.
It tastes good.
For foreigners to enjoy Bibimbap, they also provide instructions on how to eat Bibimbap ^^

From day...

to night....

Under the same sky...You are so near yet so far...

24th April 2013 - Breakfast at Namdaemun

I took the subway to Hoehyeon Station, exit 5 for breakfast before checking out.

This is the place where I wanted to have my breakfast. I am always curious about this place whenever I pass by.The stacks of tray seem to be telling people that this is a popular eatery. This eatery is opposite the Kalguksu Alley. Direction to Kalguksu Alley as stated in my previous post, Namdaemun Kalguksu Alley.

The 아줌마 working here are perhaps from China.
I wouldn't know they are Chinese if they had not spoken Mandarin to me!  
What a surprise ^^

1) 손칼국수 Handmade noodles KRW5000

2) 냉면 Naengmyeon Cold noodles KRW5500

3) 쫄면 Jjolmyeon KRW5500. 

Click Aeriskitchen to see what is Jjolmyeon. Looks a bit like Bibim Guksu to me ㄱㄱㄱ 

4) 잔지국수 Janchi Guksu KRW5000. 

Click Topchefkorea to see how it looks like. Looks like our "Mee Suan" where its supposed to be eaten traditionally on birthdays. 잔지국수is also eaten during weddings, birthdays and festive events. Interesting ^^ 

5) 보리밥 Boribap KRW5500. 

From 10mag.com, I learnt that Boribap is a dish of steamed rice and barley that is often served with Doenjang Jjigae. I remembered eating Bori bibimbap at the Kalguksu Alley in my previous trip. It was delicious ^^ 

6) 찰밥 Chalbap KRW6000. 

From Aeriskitchen, I came to know that Chalbap is the stuffing used in Samgyetang. Something like sticky rice or rather glutinous rice. I wonder how is Chalbap served in this eatery. Could it be something like bibimbap in this case?? I don't know.

I ordered 손칼국수.  Looks good but I don't like it.
I preferred the noodles in the Kalguksu Alley.
Naengmyeon was served as a complimentary dish.

After I am done with my noodles, I walked over to Kalguksu Alley.
Nah...not to have another bowl of noodles.  I just wanna walk through this alley.

Bought a Kimchi mandu outside Kalguksu Alley.

Yum Yum!!
As good as before ^^

Hahahahaa...Guess what??  
I took the subway to Euljiro 1 ga for my Guma Guma again! 

Sweet Potato Latte....slurppp...I simple love it so much!!!

The sweet potato pastry or kueh was a bit too much for me though Hahahaaaa 

It was made of mainly sweet potato and I was so full.

Bought it becos the 아줌마 told me this is their top seller. 

I would prefer if 아줌마 had warmed it up for me. 

Alright, its time to go back to hotel for check out ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠ

23rd April 2013 - Nice ending for last day in Seoul....

All in hangul??

Fear not.
The menu is also available in English ^^

The place was not as bright as you see in my pictures.
It was actually quite dim and in orange light settings. Just like a pub.
I brighten the pictures so that its clearer to see.

Yesterday, 재 was telling me about Okinawa and suddenly I saw so many Okinawa dishes here!  

What a coincidence. 

We ordered Venus High Ball and Okinawa High Ball. 

Emily said she felt the kick ㄱㄱㄱ

I ordered Okinawa Home Meal.

Okinawa Shrimp Cheese Gratin and Spicey Garlic Chicken *Spicy ㄱㄱㄱ

Okinawa High Ball and Venus Mojito.

Not bad. Nice.

This was the best Spicy Garlic Chicken 스파이시갈릭치킨 I ever ate.
진짜 맛있네!!!  
It was not spicy at all. The garlic was so delicious and fragrant!
Emily agreeds with me too. Please order this dish if you come here!!
I think this is also a popular dish recommended by many Koreans.

오키나와 새우 치즈 그라탕 Okinawa Shrimp Cheese Gratin.
Very cheesy and comes with lots of shrimps!
Surprisingly, it has Tteok in it or was that Sujebi??
I am neither a fan of tteok 떡 nor a fan of Sujebi 수제비 but Emily likes it.
We could only finish half of this dish becos it gets a bit too much if you know what I mean.
In Malay, it means "jelak". 
Finish this while its still hot or warm at least.

오키나와  가정식 Okinawa Home Meal ^^
Those who loves fatty pork aka "Kong Ba" in Hokkien will loves this.
Very homely meal indeed ㅎㅎㅎ
The waiter who took our order had a look in his eyes. 
Nope. He is not rude but probably thinking where are these foreigners from..
Omggg...They are such big eaters ㅎㅎㅎ
The waiters were quite surprise when they knew we are not locals.
In fact, they looked quite excited to see foreigners Hahahaa
By the way, if you like cute Korean guys, please come and check out this place  ㅎㅎㅎㅎ

Home made Sangria and Venus High Ball.
Emily said this is one of the best Sangria she ever had ^^
Ehh...What is that Kikkoman soy sauce doing in the background?
Hahahaaaa...I only realise it when I upload this picture.

I looked up by chance and realised the ceiling was beautifully lit up ^^
*Picture taken using S3

The washroom is on the second floor.
*Picture taken using S3

I think there are 3 levels but only two levels were opened up when I was there.
*Picture taken using S3

Some decors.
*Picture taken using S3

More decors.
*Picture taken using S3

Venus Kitchen 

I think the manager was trying to tell us they have a few outlets under different names but same management in the vicinity. I think so but I could not really remember what he said ㅎㅎ  I like the ambiance here and will come back again.  Please come here if you happen to be in Hongdae.

23rd April 2013 - Getting to 술파는꽃집

It rained the whole day and I had to cancel my trip to my favourite place, 반포대교
So disappointed ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠ
Morale of the story: Don't wait till the last minute. Just do it.

I brought back my purchases to the hotel room before heading out to Hongdae for dinner at 술파는꽃집 with Emily. Met up with Emily at exit 9 of Hongdae Station. We approached the Tourist Information Centre nearby to confirm the direction to 술파는꽃집. I think 술파는꽃집 is a popular place for the locals. The staff knew the place instantly when I mentioned it. Just walk straight from the Tourist Information Centre and turn left as shown by the dotted line. The staff also confirm that the fountain at 반포대교 Banpo Bridge will not be in operation during rainy days. Sad..

So here we go. 
Out from the information centre. Cross the road and walk straight.
The weather was freaking cold becos of the rain...

You will pass by Ho Bar. Continue to walk straight.
You will see Hello Kitty Cafe if you turn left.

That's Hello Kitty Cafe if you turn left.
Nope. Hello Kitty is not my cup of tea, so I walked straight instead of turning left.

I continued to walk straight and saw "Understar".  
"Understar" is just a few steps away from Ho Bar.
 Turn left as shown.

You will see this small alley after turning left.  The alley will curve to the right.

You will see Caffe고리 once you turn right.

Yay!!  I found it.  
술파는꽃집 will be on your left and its just beside Caffe 고리.

I knew I got the right place when I saw their logo ^^

To what I know, 술파는꽃집is a popular pub cums restaurant among the Koreans.
The restaurant is called Venus Kitchen.
Do correct me if I am wrong.