Seoul 2013, Day 1

Am back from Seoul for almost a month and I still haven't get down to blogging about my 3rd trip to Seoul in a year. This trip was awesome and I gained like 4kgs from this trip with all the nomnom-ing :( But it's okay. I'm so glad I started 2013 with a bang in kimchi land :')

So I spent 8 days in Seoul this time round and I can't stop complaining about how 8 days in Seoul is not enough for me at all. Well uhm even 8 years in Seoul won't be enough for me HAHAHA all my friends are saying how I should just migrate there. I REALLY REALLY WANT TO! I even googled "how to be a PR in South Korea" and uh lol i can forget about being a PR. To be a PR in Korea, you have to be either damn rich or damn smart and I'm neither boooooo :'(

Alright so here's my travelogue for my 1st trip of 2013.

Arrival >>> 홍대 (Hongdae) >>> 명동 (Myeongdong)

Celine and I only had 3 hours of sleep as our cousins and relatives came over to our place to countdown to 2013. I was so excited so I had no problems waking up altho I only slept for like a few hours HAHAHA Mum, aunt and my youngest sister sent us to the airport and we met the rest at around 6ish am.  I did all the online check-in stuff so checking in was a breeze.


Seoul Mates (L to R); Rachel, Stefanie, Jacintha, Myself and Celine

Celine and I did some shopping at DFS before we went to eat. We were taking our own sweet time enjoying our breakfast before Jac and I realised that our boarding time is 7:20am and it was already 7:05am!!! Dashed to the boarding gate and thank god we made it in time. The plane was only half filled and we got all the attention from the air stewardess/steward. Felt like we're taking business class instead of economy hahaha! I knocked out for 4hours after eating and before I knew it, it was 30mins to landing!!! I was so excited and couldn't stay still at all. When we arrived, I was literally skipping and hopping around and everyone had to ask me to "maintain".

Korean customs are really efficient. Didn't really have to wait, took us less than 30mins to clear the customs and collect our luggages. I've decided to rent my phone again from SK Telecom. As Celine & I had rent their phones before, we get a 50% off the daily rental rate.

Rental rate: 3,000won/day (we got 50% off so it's 1,500won)
Data: 6,000won/day (1GB free data a day)
Daily rate: 7,500won
Deposit: 700,000won (payable by CC/Cash)

Make your reservations online and you will get 50% off too! For more details about the rental of phone click here! I've used both Olleh and SK Telecom. Olleh only provide iphone 3 which is really laggy. The last time I checked, SK telecom is the only one with iPhone 4. Their rates are pretty similar but somehow I prefer SK Telecom. Oh yes, do note that reservations are to be made AT LEAST 3 days before your arrival.

I always rent a phone because I simply can't live without data on the go. Also, my mum wanna know my whereabouts when I am in Seoul so having data on the go makes it easier. It's not that expensive anw :) Most of the places in Seoul are equipped in Wifi so if you wanna save some money, just use the Wifi that's available almost everywhere!


도 to the 착



We then took the AREX to Hongdae Station. It's actually my FIRST time taking the public transport to my guesthouse. I usually get an international taxi. Since it's gonna be my 2nd stay at BOA Guesthouse and Celine and I know the way, we decided to take the AREX instead. BOA Guesthouse is really your number 1 choice if you're taking the public transport to your accomodation. BOA Guesthouse is situated at Exit 4 (which has escalators) so you don't need to worry about lugging your heavy luggages! Yes BOA Guesthouse is that convenient! Takes about 45mins from Incheon Station to Hongdae Station. Checked in at BOA and am so happy that Boa (the owner) recognize me! Makes me feel at home :) She also gave me the BOA Membership card which allows me to earn mileage whenever I stay at BOA. Thank you so much Boa! :)

We washed up and touched up a little and guess where's our first stop? YEOLBONG OF COS!! It's Jac's first trip to Seoul and all of us have been telling her how awesome Yeolbong is hahahaha and now she's addicted to Yeolbong too. I think I had Yeolbong 3 times in 8 days.




HOLY YEOLBONG JJIMDAK (열봉 찜닭) BABY



After dinner, we decided to walk around Hongdae before we head to Myeongdong to go Namsan Tower. It started snowing the moment we left Yeolbong. We were so excited and start snapping photos etcetc. Then..... the snow got really heavy and we were all wet -___- We decided to head to Myeongdong since it's impossible to "stroll" in Hongdae.






Rach and I happily instagram-ing under the heavy snow hahaha





Took the subway to Myeongdong and the moment we arrive at the Myeongdong station, GUESS WHO GREETED US? BIG BANG HAHAHAHA the entire station was filled with posters of BIGBANG for Gmarket. We were happily taking photos and saying how BIGBANG is welcoming us to Seoul ;)





Buy TOP and get GD free? What an awesome deal!






My sampat face whenever I take a photo with TOP hahaha


You guys are not gonna believe this but the moment we arrived at Myeongdong.... IT STARTED SNOWING AGAIN. Snow was so heavy that we had to give Namsan a miss and it was so heavy that we couldn't walk along the streets anymore :( Went to Krispy Kreme for some donuts and coffee while waiting for the snow to stop. And guess what, the snow stopped right after we got our coffee -___-  So after enjoying our donuts and coffee, we continued walking around Myeongdong.










나쁜 Jac trying to kiss my husband

Hahaha a must to take photo at BSX and Fubu. BSX for the mega huge G-dragon poster right at the entrance (the poster is a different one from the one I took when I was there in August) and Fubu to take photos with the TOP standee.

We continued roaming around Myeongdong as Rach was looking for CD stores and Celine got A LOT of socks. That crazy woman bought like at least 2 pairs of socks at every single stall that sells socks. Socks are really cheap in Seoul tho. Price range from 1,000won to 2,000won (SGD1.10 to SGD2.20) and they have cute designs and of good quality.

If this is your first time in Seoul, you will love Myeongdong as you can find everything here! The never-ending streets filled with all the korean cosmetics  brands, 2 H&M, 3 storey Forever 21, Bean Pole, Fubu and street food. It's really a one-stop shopping place. I used to think Myeongdong is my favourite place in Seoul until I went Hongdae/Edae. Things are much cheaper and it's less crowded than Myeongdong. Things are slightly more expensive in Myeongdong as it is a touristy area. I will talk about Hongdae and Edae in my upcoming posts :)

We left Myeongdong at around 11plus? Went back to our guesthouse to rest and recharge ourselves. That's it for my Day 1 in Seoul. Till the next post!