Tuesday 24 December 2013

Korea - Seoul : Cafes Hopping in Seoul

Korea trip Oct 2013


Cafes hopping is one of the IN things to do in Korea! They have so many interesting cafes to go to. Do you see real sheeps in the cafe before? Been to a Korea-TV-show-filmed-cafe? Cutest cafe ever? A place that you and your pets can enjoy together?

Yays to own time own target from now on! Waking up 5 or 6 every morning for 7 days straight is crazy for a holiday!

Let's roll..!



If you are a loyal follower of the Korean reality TV show "We Got Married", you will know and should visit this Miss Lee Cafe. In season II, couple "YongSeo" (Yonghwa of CN Blue and SeoHyun of Girls’ Generation) filmed in Miss Lee Cafe. The cafe is full of their pictures too.

(source: http://missleecafe.com/) 


We went to the Myeongdong branch as it is very near to our hotel (Savoy Hotel, 5 minutes walk from Myeongdong train station). It is located towards the end of the shopping area. You can ask those student volunteers within Myeongdong shopping street for direction. It is also next to A Twosome Place - a dessert cafe which I will introduce later.


Miss Lee cafe occupies the whole level 2 and 3. The wooden exterior really stands out from the other buildings. 

Saw many students heading in too.


Whole cafe is plastered with little notes. 

Over thousands of wishes hanging on the tree/walls/everywhere. One of them is "I wan be RICH". lol


Miss Lee Cafe is very famous for this metal-container-lunch-box which is called as Bibimbap (6,000 won). The concept is inspired by the Korean children brought metal containers with rice, seaweed, kimchi, fried egg and sausages for their lunch during the old days.

What you will need to do is: stir mix the ingredients first then close the metal container and begin to show off your shaking skill.


Before and after shot.

Okay lah.. its just a korean kimchi rice lor...lol anyway the food variety is quite limited too. 

So what's next??


Miss Lee Cafe
Address: Star Miss Lee Cafe Season 3 Myeongdong Seoul Jung-gu 199-12 Floor
Nearest train station: Myeongdong station line 4, exit 5, 6 or 7

Other branches:
Season 1 by Miss Lee Cafe in Insadong Seoul Jongno-gu, 2nd Floor Gwanhun 144
Nearest train station: Anguk station line 3, exit 6

Star Miss Lee Cafe Daehakro Season 2: 1-74 Dongsoong dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 1st floor
Nearest train station: Hyehwa station line 4, exit 1 




This cafe is highly recommended by my friend. A Twosome Place is a European style dessert cafe that offers wide selection of cakes and premium beverages. Sounds like an atas (high class) cafe.



Myeongdong branch is just beside Miss Lee Cafe. It is located just above Olive Young. We spent around 10 minutes finding the way up to second floor where the cafe is located. We went up the staircases both beside Olive Young but turned out it linked to other shops. The correct way up is to take the staircase in Olive Young store. HELLO, Twosome Place, please put big big sign outside okay.....


Grapefruit cheese mousse (5,300 won)

Tiramisu (5,300 won)

Verdict: Both cakes are good. Grapefruit cheese mousse - a unique flavour that can not find in Singapore. Tiramisu - is the kind of tiramisu that I like. Not too wet, not too dry, just nice, plus a thick layer of cocoa powder on the top layer. 


A Twosome Place
Address: same building as Miss Lee Cafe in Myeongdong
Nearest train station: Myeongdong station line 4, exit 5, 6 or 7



3) Thanks Nature Cafe


Dogs or cats cafe are too mainstream. Korea has a cafe where you can enjoy a cup of coffee in the company of SHEEPS!

Thanks Nature Cafe, also known as Sheep Cafe, located near to Hongik University. Hence, you can expect to see many students there. OH, "We Got Married" also filmed in this cafe as well.


Sheep decoration everywhere

Sheeps are free to roam around the cafe. omg so cute lah!

A mummy still put her boy in the barn to play with sheeps. This shows how friendly the sheeps are. Okay I start to like sheeps already~

Mocha (5,000 won)

Ice Cream Waffle (7,000 won)

Though sheeps is the main attraction for me to check this cafe out, I quite love their mocha there. 


Thanks Nature Cafe
Address: 121, B1F Prugio, 486, Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea
Nearest train station: Hongik University Station line 2, exit 9
Direction: Walk upstreet towards Hongik University. Find "Cafe Cantata" on your left and Thanks Nature Cafe is just at the basement floor.
Opening hours: 11am to 11pm



4) Homestead Cafe


I passed by this cafe alot of times at different locations. Hence, bf and I decided to try their food since they have sooo many branches in Seoul. #ShouldTasteGoodRightSinceSoManyBranches?

I have a conclusion that Koreans are crazy over coffee. I see cafes everywhere. Other than kimchi, their second love is coffee. #Isayone lol


This is the branch near Anguk station.

its like Starbucks in SG


Green Tea Cookie Waffle (12,000 won)

Actually we were quite full from the previous meal and this was our high tea. Bf still managed to finish the waffles because it was so damn good. It was crispy outside, soft inside. With chocolate and honey sauce plus his favourite green tea ice cream *slurp*


Homestead Coffee Cafe
Nearest train station: Anguk station line 3, exit 1



5) BAU House


My camera battery died on me before I reached BAU House. Probably because we reached there quite late already.. 

Only drinks are served there probably because they afraid the fur will drop into the food lol. Anyway, dogs lovers go there and play with dogs right? Nobody would want to have a main course there and chill. 

Most of the dogs there were brought by their owners so dogs can interact with one another.

If you have no dogs, just walk in, sit down, order a drink and play with other people's dogs.




Singapore should have open more pets cafe! I would want to bring my snowy there and cold stare/bark at other dogs or maybe the owners lol #justkidding 


BAU House
Address: 394-44 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul (Je-il Building, rear entrance, 1st floor)
Opening hours: 1:30pm – 11:00pm weekdays, 12:30pm – 11:00pm weekends
Nearest train station: Hapjeong Station line 2, exit 3 or 4
Direction: Make a U-turn after exit 3 or 4, turn in to alley next to a black shiny building. Walk for 1 minutes and you will see the cafe on your right.



6) Capi Capi Loom Loom (Rilakkuma Cafe)


Everybody! Here's the Rilakkuma Cafe I have been wanting to go since last year~

For the benefits of those who do not know what is rilakkuma, its a japanese character produced by San-X. According to wikipedia, true to his name, he enjoys relaxing and his favorite things include sleeping, lying around, watching television, listening to music and soaking in hot springs. Just like me ^.^



Two long stretch of rilakkuma products. So cute how to resist??



I want to buy one giant rilakkuma bear and put on my bed. Oh wait, then where do I sleep?

It is really a very cosy cafe. I can spend all day there lazing just like rilakkuma. This is truly my favourite cafe in Korea =D I would want to go back again next time~

Green tea latte and cheesecake. The latte is so-so but the cheesecake is surprisingly nice. 


Capi Capi Loom Loom (Rilakkuma Cafe)
Nearest train station: Sungshin Women's University Station line 4, exit 1
Direction: Turn right into the alley before KB bank and walk straight until you see a cross junction. Turn left and keep right. The cafe is on your right. 




LAST BUT NOT LEAST, this is a MUST TRY in Korea! Banana milk!! Go to any 7-11 store and buy it! If I'm not wrong, it is priced at 1,100 won. No regret trying. Out of 10 days in Korea, I drank for 4 or 5 days. #kiasusingaporean




Back to Korea - Jeju : Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise Peak) + Seongeup Folk Village
Back to Korea - Jeju : Cheonjeyeon Falls + Jusangjeolli Cliff + Teddy Bear Museum
Back to Korea - Jeju : Mysterious Road + Yongduam Rock
Back to Korea - Namiseom Island
Back to Korea - Mount Sorak (Seoraksan)
Back to Korea - Seoul : Making Kimchi + Everland

Saturday 14 December 2013

Korea - Seoul : Making kimchi + Everland

Korea trip Oct 2013


The disadvantage of joining a tour group is that they will bring you to those places you do not mind skipping... like kimchi making workshop lol 

oh well... at least you get to experience their kimchi culture.. 



What you will need to do is to spread already-prepared-kimchi-sauce onto the lettuce.. lol damn fun~ 


Just noticed "no photography" sign just behind us. lol and also bf's lettuce was untouched.

Kimchi tasting time! While they were hard selling their kimchi, I was busy eating all the kimchi sample. LOL typical singaporean...


After kimchi making session, we proceeded to Korean traditional dress (Hanbok) wearing session.


Got da zhang jin feel anot? Ok dont have..


Everland 


We were so so so lucky to be in time for Everland's halloween theme this year! They have similar halloween night party event as our USS halloween night but we did not manage to go though... 

Everland is Korea's largest theme park and is operated by Samsung Everland.. Everything also related to samsung.. #winliaolor lol














See in the background is the T Express rollar coaster. It is the first and largest wooden rollar coaster in Korea. It is also the world's steepest wooden rollar coaster - 77 degrees! ~.~ give me $10k I also dont want lah.. ok lah maybe I'll consider if 100k. #soulsoldtomoney




Looks like our Singapore Flyer

SO CUTE RIGHT THEIR UNIFORM!

We went to this Safari World where is similar to our Night Safari where animals are free to run about.

Even their bus also so cute

Bottom right picture is the product of a lion and tiger. 混血儿 lol


So crowded on a Thursday afternoon! 



Excited much!



I got to take picture with PSY! lol #fakeonealsohappy


Good night, Everland~ I wish I have more time to play with you.

Everland
Address: 199, Everland-ro, Pogok-eup, Cheoin-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do
Opening hours: Weekdays 10:00-22:00 / Saturdays 10:00-20:00 / Sundays, public holidays 9:30-22:00

Admission Fee:  
Daytime: Adults 33,000 won / Teenagers 28,000 won / Children 25,000 won
Nighttime: Adults 26,000 won / Teenagers 24,000 won / Children 22,000 won

Direction:
1) Gangnam Station (Seoul Subway Line 2 or Sinbundang Line), Exit 5 or 10. 
Take bus 5002 to Everland. (Travel time: 50 min) 

2) Gangbyeon Station (Seoul Subway Line 2), Exit 1. 
Take bus 5800 to Everland. (Travel time: 50 min) 

3) Sadang Station (Seoul Subway Lines 2, 4), Exit 2 or 3. 
Take bus 1500-2 to Everland. (Travel time: 80 min).



Back to Korea - Jeju : Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise Peak) + Seongeup Folk Village
Back to Korea - Jeju : Cheonjeyeon Falls + Jusangjeolli Cliff + Teddy Bear Museum
Back to Korea - Jeju : Mysterious Road + Yongduam Rock
Back to Korea - Namiseom Island
Back to Korea - Mount Sorak (Seoraksan)