23 Aug 2014 - My accommodation for this trip

I booked my accommodation for this trip via Air BnB.  My accommodation is about 3 mins walk from Hongik Univ Station, exit 4. Very near Boa Guesthouse. My host, Yoni got her husband to help me with my heavy luggage at the apartment building when I arrived on Sunday morning. I really did not expected this. I have communicated many times with Yoni before my arrival and have expressed my concerns over a few things which were not according to what was stated in the website.  For eg, it was stated in the website that there was elevator in the building. However, I was shocked when Yoni sent me the video on how to reach her apartment.  There was two flights of stairs.  It was no big deal if I do not have a heavy and big luggage.  Yes, there was elevator but not direct access due to the structure of the building. Next, it was stated that there was dryer and washing machine.  When I double confirmed with Yoni, she told me there was no dryer but only a small drying rack. It would not be a concern to me if it was a short stay. I don't have a dryer back home in SG and I was worried that drying my clothing indoor will leave an odour on my clothing. You get what I mean?  I am just too used to have my clothing sticking out in the sun on bamboo sticks. Hahahahahahah...I wish Yoni's apartment has a rooftop for me to dry my clothing *Too much drama

There was no iron and iron board but Yoni was really nice to provide me with a steamer ^^  Yoni has been very accommodating with my requests and pretty fast in replying via Kakao talk. Overall, both Yoni and her husband are really nice people. I can feel their sincerity to make their guests at home. 

Yoni's apartment was located on the 11th storey.

I need a security card to gain access to take the lift from third storey and a security password to gain access into the apartment. Yoni will know my password cos she set the password for me.

Yoni's apartment was exactly what I saw from the website.
The place was bright and clean ^^

One of the many reasons why I chose this apartment was becos of the wardrobe. hahahahahaha

That's the small drying rack....

Yoni provides the basic utensils but no condiments were provided unlike my previous host.
Well, its ok for me.  I tried to buy only the necessary condiments. 

I like these mirrors the most LOL

Any idea what is this???

Yoni told me it is a detergent for washing clothing. Not softener. One piece for one wash and your clothing will be pretty clean. I was very amazed by it! During my stay, the maximum number of clothing that I have washed in one go was 9 pieces and they were washed clean. Clothing will smell nicer if you have fewer clothing but of course, that is a waste of water and electricity. One box cost less than SGD $10. Not cheap but it was something new to me. The piece of "tissue" will not degrade or dissolve after washing. It still remain in one piece.

You have to throw your trash into this plastic bag and bring it down to the trash area. 

This is the trash area in the carpark at third storey.

It was a choice between two flights of stairs(about 13 steps each I think) or taking this slope for lift access to 11th storey. During my stay, I took this slope more often then the two flights of stairs becos there were some painting works going on and it made the lift lobby area dark and scary. Once, I stumbled upon one 아저씨 ajoshi wearing his pants at the passageway near the lift lobby. I think he was one of the painting workers. Both of us were freaked out by each other. My goodness...

There was another occasion where the door at the lift lobby was locked when it was only 6pm....

The painting works seem to take forever. It was there when I arrived on my first day and still not completed when I left for SG. A mini Lotte Mart will be opening soon at the ground floor of this building.  Good news for the residents there although there is a GS convenient store outside this building.

Anyway, the sad news is Yoni is selling this apartment in order to focus on her cafe and other apartments in Gangseo. Otherwise, I would love to stay in this apartment again when I come back.  

23 Aug 2014 - MUACKSSS to my second home!!!

I reached Incheon Airport around 7am and went to K Books to collect my EG SIM card.
It is located at the Arrival Hall near exit 7.

You can either top up or rather recharge at GS convenience store or online. I did not want to use credit card so I tried to recharge it at the GS outlet in Hongik Univ Station. The GS staff looked lost but he said with great confidence, "We do not have Sim Card and we do not have top up". Yes. He replied me in English. I was puzzled because the staff at K Book told me I could top up at GS. When I stepped out from GS, I saw a poster on the glass wall that said they have EG SIM CARD  *Faint

괜찮아.  I will try another GS outlet.  Again, I encountered the same problem. The GS staff looked 100% blur and lost, when I mentioned "top up" and "sim card".  Maybe they don't use the word "Top Up" and "Sim Card"???  My classmate encountered the same problem when she wanted to top up or rather recharge at GS outlet in Yonsei KLI.  

Anyway, the GS staff was more helpful this time. She checked and finally understood what I wanted.  Recharging requires only your cell phone number and tell the staff how much you want to top up/recharge. My classmate told me 10000 won is the minimum. 

So after all said and done, I dropped a feedback to EG Sim card via FB.  They gave me this message so that I can show it to the GS staff and they will recharge without any question ask. The only question ask is how much.

"GS25 포스 충전 방법 : 서비스 상품>편의점 캐쉬>알뜰폰 선불 충전>이지카드 바로 충전>동글이 충전"

By the way, you can only transfer your money from voice data to data plan only when your data balance becomes zero MB. You can only transfer if you have enough money in your voice data. Of course, you can also choose to terminate your data plan before it hits zero MB. As shown in the picture below, there is not much balance left in this case. Hence, it is up to individual whether you want to terminate the data plan and transfer the money from voice data to data plan or wait for it to become zero. Once you terminate your data plan, you can transfer the money from voice data to data plan.

Adjusting my momentum

I'm back! Damn sian.....Hahahahahaha...Still adjusting my momentum. Just now, I called up the bank to ask about some banking matters. The operator asked me a question and I replied,"네" without second thought....omg...

It had been a good learning experience in Yonsei KLI and certainly a good break away from work.  I wish I can study there for a longer period. BTW, don't ask me why I chose Yonsei yeah.  

I spent most of my days in Seoul and felt the air was so polluted with smokers. Smokers were everywhere on the road and it felt 진짜 suffocating. Imagine you are walking up a slope or taking a flight of stairs.  Someone in front of you is smoking as you tried to catch your breath. Usually, I will try to overtake the smoker. However not long later, I will met another person smoking...

Anyway, I am still feeling groggy and sleepy.  Give me time to update my post. If you are expecting many new and exciting happenings for this trip, sorry...NO. Like I said, I spent most of my days in Seoul ㅋㅋㅋ Most of my posts will be on food and a few new places which I have not been to in my previous trips ㅋㅋㅋ  I felt that I have put on much weight despite all the walking!  괜찮아 Diet starts the moment I reached SG.

My biggest regret for this trip was unable to meet up with two of my friends. 정말 미안해 ㅠㅠ

지금 자고 싶어....

To my second home once again ^^

Heading out for the airport in a few hours! Yep!! Tonight is the night ^^ Will be back on 21 Sep. I will be mainly in Seoul for this trip, taking up a 3 weeks Korean language program at 연세대학교. How I wish I can take up a longer course...I have been thinking of taking up this short term language program for the longest time and finally I went for it! Tired of working, I want to experience the life of a student once again.
BTW, I won't be replying any enquiry when I am away. Okie, chao & take care!

둥지 에서 점심식사

I met up with the couple for lunch two weeks ago.
We went to 둥지 at East Coast Road. 

The place was quiet on a Sunday afternoon.

So excited to see so many Korean food on the menu ^^

어떻게???!!!
우리 모두가 먹고 싶어!!

Lunch set was rather affordable ^^

Free flow of banchan. 

This 해물 파전 seafood pancake smells really good but no pancake can be on par (so far) with the ones from 낙서파전. I can only tell myself to lower my expectation whenever I eat 해물 파전...

We are great fans of 감자탕 Gamjatang but we were also looking towards to their seafood hotpot. It was a tough decision trying to have the best of both ㅋㅋㅋ

In the end, we decided to order a single portion of 감자탕 Gamjatang, which I thought its rare to see in single serving. We found two or maybe three potatoes in such a small pot! The meat was pretty generous as well but we just can't identify the taste that we miss so badly ㅠㅠ  This 감자탕 Gamjatang does not taste like gamjatang at all but it was still a decent tasty soup..The soup does not come with rice. You got to order the rice separately. I thought that was strange. 

Yeah!! We were aiming for this! I think this 해물전골 seafood hot pot is very popular becos of its generous serving of seafood at a much affordable price($39.50). 

HUNGRY!!!!
We felt this pot of soup is enough for three person without ordering other dishes.

A very satisfying lunch at SGD $30 per person.
No dinner for me that day cos I was too full. 
둥지 also have 닭도리당 which is also my favourite!!!
I will come back again for 닭도리당!!!

A happy day!!

The first thing I saw on my table when I reached office this morning!!
It certainly make my day!!!
정말 감사합니다 베로니카씨 ^^
She knew I love 대한민국 and she gave me these ^^

Hmmm....I think I prefer 닥터 이방인 to 너희들은 포위됐다 afterall!! 이종석 can really act!

Fell in love with 이종석 after watching the first episode of 닥터 이방인 but the drama was too sad for me. Its not healthy to go to bed with a heavy heart so I'm now watching 너희들은 포위됐다 to make me feel better *excuses*  Been looking forward to this drama becos of 차승원 and 이승기 ㅋㅋㅋ 

Interesting to know and learn

Came across this article from Hansik.org a while ago.  Here are three Korean table manners which I find rather interesting :
1) Don't put your spoon and chopsticks down on the table while someone's still eating. (Oopss...I can easily make this mistake cos I tend to eat fast! My dear Korean friends, please pardon me if I have made this mistake without realising it! 미안해 )
2) Put your spoon and chopsticks on your plate and put them down on the table once the other person's done eating.  (I think this is rare for me since I eat fast.  Actually, I am trying to slow down my eating pace in order to be slim!! But it is so difficult to eat slowly ㅎㅎㅎ )
3) Don't blow your rice or soup to warm it even though it may be hot. (Oh dear! I think this came so naturally for me!!)

25 Mar 2014 - 너의 모든 순간

Once again, I am seated on OZ751...
I always keep myself awake to watch the beautiful sunset.

너의 모든 순간....

I will be back in a few months' time.
Alright, I have come to the end of my updates for Spring trip 2014. 
Hope my updates will be of some help to you in one way or another.
So looking forward of planning for my upcoming trip again!

25 Mar 2014- Confusing tax refund

Tax refund as usual. I didn't claim back my cash refund at downtown in this trip. Hence, I got to queue twice in the airport. The first time was at the custom before entering into the transit area. The second time was to claim back the cash inside the transit area near Gate 28. However, this time beside the usual two tax refund companies(Global Blue and Global Tax Free), I had another different form from koreataxfree.com. 

This is the one. Is this a different company or what? You can read more about it from its website. The custom stamped on all the receipts for both Global Blue or Global Tax Free but did not stamped on the receipt from this "company". I was told by the custom to proceed to the counter, "Tax Refund" (beside the pillar as shown in the above picture) for assistance.

I walked towards the counter as advised. A staff at the counter took my receipt and walked towards these kiosks. She was so fast and busy helping me and two other tourists at the same time. I didn't have the chance to ask her or observed what she was doing. When she was done, she told me to go to Gate 27 to claim back my cash.

I thought Gate 27 has a counter for tax refund just like the ones near Gate 28. Nope. No counters but only these kiosks. Fortunately, there was a staff to help me cos I did not understand what I was going through. Why can't the custom stamp on all the receipts, so that I don't have to go to the kiosks(outside the transit) again? Or the other way round, why can't I do everything at those kiosks instead of joining the queue for the custom to stamp on the receipts?  

As mentioned in koreataxfree.com, "When you purchase goods at affiliated stores, your purchase data is transferred between the tax refund counter and the customs offices in realtime. This helps to receive a refund without filling in a refund application form." Hmmm.....Maybe everything will be done at these kiosks in future.

Well, I am still a bit blur with the whole process. The staff who helped me with this kiosk at Gate 27, had to ran to somewhere to get something done before I can get my cash back. Don't ask me why cos I had no chance to ask her. She only told me to wait for her. She came back and continued with the screen. This was where I got my cash back from this kiosk for my purchases issued with tax refund form from koreataxfree.com. On the other hand, I saw another tourist getting her cash back from this kiosk almost immediately without any hassle. After I am done with my tax refund for koreataxfree.com, I walked over to Gate 28 to claim back my cash for Global Blue and Global Tax Free.

My experience probably sounds confusing. Well, I think you don't have to worry too much. Just give yourself ample time at the airport for your tax refund.