18 Sep 2014 - 짜장면 for lunch

After exam, I took the subway to Myeongdong for lunch at 개화 (開花). Had been craving for this particular food for a long time...I MUST HAVE IT BEFORE FLYING BACK TO SG!!  Oh! How was the exam? Ok. Most of the questions were from the text ^^

I noticed some of the places do not state 짜장면 on their menu but its actually available.

A lot of minced meat.
Did I order spaghetti bolognese ㅋㅋㅋ

Hmmmmm!!! Nice ^^
It passed my expectations of a 짜장면 ^^

개화 (開花) is located opposite Myeongdong Central Post Office 서울중앙우체국.

개화 (開花) and Myeongdong Central Post Office 서울중앙우체국 are separated by a small road. There are quite a number of eateries selling Chinese food along the stretch as indicated by the red arrow.

Route I took from Myeongdong Station, exit 5 to 개화 (開花).

18 Sep 2014 - My watermelon ice cream.....

Have been eyeing at this watermelon ice cream since my first day at school.
Cos I saw this at the GS convenient store at KLI.
It was so hot in Seoul during my stay and I was automatically drawn to this WATERMELON ice cream.
At last, I bought it before I fly back to SG.

Full of anticipation as I removed the packaging.
First impression : So pretty
Verdict : Felt cheated ㅠㅠ
Too sweet for me and tasted more of some kinda syrup.
Of course, I should have expected it....

17 Sep 2014 - 황태구이 for dinner

Went to a popular eatery in Hongdae for my dinner.

It was located a few steps away from Yeongdong Gamjatang. 

 Just follow the direction to Yeongdong Gamjatang. Passed Yeongdong Gamjatang and you will see this guesthouse. The popular eatery is just two steps away from this guesthouse.

That's the eatery, 감나무집.
You can see it from the guesthouse.

                                   

1. 황태구이(Spicy fried fish) KRW7000 
2. 소불백 KRW7000 (I think its grilled beef slices) 
3. 돼지불백 KRW7000 (Grilled pork slices I think) 
4. 생선구이 KRW7000 (Can't remember they fry or grill the fish. Probably fried fish) 
5. 조림 (고등어, 김치) KRW7000 (Spicy Braised Fish) 
6. 두부찌게 KRW7000 (Sundubu jjigae) 
7. 오징어 볶음 KRW7000 (Stir fried squid) 
8. 닭볶음 KRW7000 (Spicy Chicken Stew) 
9. 양념게장 KRW8000 (Spicy raw crab?)

I came here becos I wanted to try 황태구이(dish no. 1 on the menu) becos I seldom came across this dish. It was a bit spicy and tasted like dried pollack fish. Not bad, something new to me cos I only had dried pollack soup before ㅋㅋㅋ 

I think this eatery was popular for its 불백 (Grilled meat), which is dish no. 2 and 3 on the menu. Saw many locals eating 생선구이 (dish no. 4 on the menu) as well.

17 Sep 2014 - 설빙 for lunch

Everybody comes here, so I must come ㅎㅎㅎ
Yes. Its 설빙 Sulbing.
I came here after class. 
It was also the eve of our examination. 
 I wanna have a sweet treat before diving into my revision.

인절미설빙 Injeolmi Sulbing for me of course ^^

Initially, I thought the toppings is just on the surface and wondered why Koreans like to eat the tasteless ice flakes. I was wrong of course. There was also bean paste powder layered in between the ice flakes and sweetened condensed milk at the bottom of the ice flakes. A small bowl of sweetened condensed milk was also given.

Yay! Another item off my bucket list. 

17 Sep 2014 - 내가만든 볶음밥 ^^

My breakfast of fried rice cooked with pork belly, kimchi, shrimps, corns and sliced red chillies fried rice. Can you see I am trying to finish up whatever left in the fridge before flying back ㅋㅋㅋ  No additional seasoning added except for some pepper.  I think this is the best fried rice that I have ever cooked, and I am pretty sure the credit goes to the rice!!

16 Sep 2014 - Trying to clear the fridge...

Decided to cook my own dinner cos I wanna clear my fridge.

I really like my own version of pork belly with kimchi Hahahaha

Although its more or less the same ingredients but I kinda enjoy my own simple homecooked meal ^^

16 Sep 2014 - Wishing you a blessed year ahead!

Went to Shinhan Bank in Sinchon to exchange for some won.
Since I am travelling with Asiana, I made use of my boarding pass to get a better exchange rate.  

This is the second floor.
I went in.
Everything was in Korean and everyone was busy attending to customers.
어떻게............

I went to the third floor to see if I can ask anyone where to exchange some currency. Ermmm..."Premier Lounge". No choice. The office layout on the third floor was different. A young Korean guy stood up from his workstation to greet me as I stepped into the office. I told him that I probably came to the wrong place cos I didn't understand all the Korean words in the second floor. He smiled and assured me its ok, told me to take a seat as he processed my request for currency exchange. Yes, he can speak some English ^^ At the end of the transaction, I asked him again if this should be done at the second floor. He smiled and replied, "Yes". Omgggg so embarrassed but so grateful to him at the same time. He could have easily referred me back to the second floor but he didn't. He took up the responsibility to help me. Thank you so much!!  I should have wrote in a compliment for him! Arghhhhh...I forgot to ask for his name. From the bottom of my heart, I wish him a smooth career advancement and a blessed year ahead ^^

16 Sep 2014 - Crepe cake at 고르드

 Can hardly take my eyes off those cakes whenever I passed by this cafe on my way to school.
Finally, I stepped into the cafe after class today ^^

Cravingssssssss....

It was hard to make a choice ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠ

Got my order and went up to the second level.

The 수박 스무디 Watermelon Smoothie was exactly what I need for the hot weather!!
Yup. I ordered a crepe cake but contemplating of having a red velvet as well!!!

HAPPINESS is when I get to eat what I want ^^

Counting my calories intake if I ate two slices of cakes....
I decided to forgo my red velvet ㅠㅠ
BUT IT WILL BE ON MY BUCKET LIST WHEN I COME BACK IN WINTER!!!

15 Sep 2014 - Gonna be back for more!!

I made my way down to Yeonhui-dong for dinner. Yeah. I had a place in mind but I didn't end up eating at the place I wanted to. I like this residential neighbourhood a lot cos its quiet but unique in its own. Walk straight from Hongik Univ Station, exit 3.

Walk straight from exit 3 for about 2-3 mins and you will see this cafe "Travel Maker".
Pass "Travel Maker" and continue to walk straight.

Actually, there were many good online reviews on "Travel Maker".
It was also one of the places that I wanted to go in this trip.
Unfortunately, I did not make it.
I like this cafe for its early opening hours.
 Very few brunch places open so early. 

You will see this at the end of the road.
Cross the road as shown.

You will see this playground.
Pass the playground and continue to walk as directed.       

Not long later, you will see this apartment block 106.
The eatery I went for dinner was across the road, opposite this apartment.

Tadaaaa!!! This was the place!! Actually, I wanted to eat some baekban 백반  but when I saw they served single portion gamjatang, I quickly went in!

1) 뚝배기 감자탕 Ddukbaegi Gamjatang 7000 won

2) 부대찌개 Budae Jjigae 6000 won

3) 청국장 Cheonggukjang 6000 won 

4 ) 뼈추가 - Additional bones 10000 won

The big pot of Gamjatang comes in 3 different servings, (big serving at 30000won, medium serving at 25000won and small serving at 20000won). I think 3 people can go for the small pot. There are two different levels of spiciness. 순한맛 being mild spicy and 매운맛 being the very spicy(not sure how spicy is that though).  이모 was very very kind. I don't know how to describe her kindness and sincerity but I can feel it from the way she attended to me.

Looking at this picture makes me swallow my saliva...
BTW, the garlic banchan is very nice!

*Slurppppp
One 아저씨 requested for more soup and 이모 really refill it!
Wowww!! 
I strongly recommend you to try this if you are in Hongdae ^^
이모 told me they are closed on Sunday.