MY’s Hostel Stay: Hong Guest House, Seoul

After coming back from Jeju Island, we stayed in Hong Guest House for 3 nights which located near to Dong Dae Mun.

Location
The hotel is located in a small valley behind the main road. It took about 4 minutes walk from Jongro 5-ga subway station to reach the GH.
The GH is roughly 10 minutes walk to the shopping malls such as Migliore, aPM and Doota.

Price
Due to some booking error in their website, the GH gave us a 6 beds dorm for 4 of us.
Price range from 18,000-55,000 Won depends on the room type.

Hotel and Room
The hotel is a 4 storey building without lift, and it is run by a group of friends. They are the receptionist, the persons that do the housekeeping, and provide laundry service.
Every dorms/rooms in this GH come with attached bathroom. The room that we got is in the 4th floor and it is small in size as the room is squeezed with 3 bunk beds. The sun rise at around 4am during the summer in Korea, and too bad is that this guest house do not have curtain on the slightly big window, so I was awaked when the sun rise but I still able to fall asleep back.

Pictures:

Spot the Hong GuestHouse signboard at the small lane. It is easily access to.

Exterior of the guesthouse

Our room, 3 bunk beds for 4 of us.

Every room/dorm have the attached bathroom. They cleaned the room and toilet everyday.

The notice board that gives a brief introduction on those nice spots around the city.

So, my simple review on this GH is as below:

PROS

(1)

Very near to cheap nice foods as compared to MyeongDong area. 

Able to get a plate of kimbap (饭团) at 2500W at a restaurant nearby.

(2)

Near to the shopping malls that operate until late night!!! <3 <3

(3)
The staffs are helpful and friendly.
A pretty lady(I forgotten her name) helped us to find out the ways to Banpo Bridge.
The staffs also throw out a simple party at the rooftop for those who interested to join.

(4)

They did the housekeeping everyday.

CONS

(1)

The room that small in size

(2)

No lift and reception is at the 5th floor so it is not convenient for elderly and those with heavy luggages

For those who interested to know more about this GH, just click into their website at HERE.

PS: All the hotel reviews in my blog are not sponsored, I just write out to share my experience. So, if you appreciate my review, please click on the adverts available on the top, so that I can have more income to travel and share all these wonderful experience with you. Tq.

Travel Tips: How To Pick An Accomodation in Korea

Whenever you go travelling, accommodation play an important part in your journey even though you spend most of your day time outside and only come back to hotel during the night. So, while you are cracking your head in searching a place to stay in Seoul, perhaps my latest blog post can give you an idea on where to stay.

Price
The hotels price in South Korea is quite high compared to Malaysia, which cost around RM170/night for a 2 person room. So most of the travellers will choose to accommodate at Guesthouse or Hostel, where the price will be slightly lower at around RM60 per person. Some of the guesthouses(abbreviated as GH) provide breakfast at the price you paid, but some are not. So, be noted on that.

Room
Since we are staying at the GH,so the room size is not big like hotel room. However, we still have space to walk around when we open up our luggage. 4 is a good number to go travel around because most of the GH in Korea will have dorms to meet the budget travellers’ need. So, if you are travel with 3 other friends, you can stay in a 4 beds dormitory room(with or without attached bathroom), with a cheaper price and everyone have their own bed. If the GH that you picked to stay at have a common area, then you have the chance to meet friends come from different places, which I think is cool.

Location

The very complicated spider web like subway links in Seoul

Places in Seoul are well connected with subways(which consists of nine subway links),so I would say pick a GH near to those subway stations is the rule of thumb. And, from what I experienced, the most convenient places to stay are the GH/hostel/hoetl that near to Jong-no-3-ga station, Euljiro-3-ga station, Euljiro-4-ga station and ChungMuro station. As these stations are the meeting points of 2 or 3 subway links which link to most of the tourist spots, so you can walk lesser and save time to transfer from station to station.

Recommendation
You can book your hotel by running through the review scores in those hotel booking websites(eg Agoda, Hostelstay, Booking.com etc etc)and Tripadvisor or read travel posts from forum or blogs. Now everyone can fly and everyone can travel, so everyone will share their travel experiences on forums/blog, so just appreciate the precious experience that they shared out. 

MY’s experience:

When I was in Seoul, I stayed in Myeong Dong Hostel and Hong Guest House. For Jeju Island, we stayed in HK Jeju I which located at Jeju City(Jeju-do divided into 2 parts: Jeju City and Seowigpo City).
I will elaborate more on the 3 hostels that I stayed in Korea.

That’s all for today. Thanks for reading.

Seoul: Tosokchon Ginseng Chicken 土俗村参鸡汤

Tosokchon, a restaurant specialising in Korean Ginseng Chicken Soup(Samgyetang) is quite well-known throughout Seoul and was frequently visited by Former President Roh Moo-hyun. Well, m33iyin visited the restaurant after my trip to GyeongBok Gung. So, lets the story of Tosokchon Samgyetang begins.

Kimchi is a must on the dining tables in Korea, and they are served complementary with your meals.
Tosokchon served the customers with Radish Kimchi and Cabbage Kimchi.
Kimchi in Korea are more spicy than those I ate in Malaysia.

Ginseng that fermented into alcohol.
Yummy yummy.
It taste strong at the first sip, then when it goes down your esophagus(:-D) you can feel a little bit warm.
Eventually, you will get the cooling soothing effect after the drink.

Haemul Pajeon, pancake with prawns and onion.
Personally think that this is not so worth with the price we paid(15000 Won)

Tadaa…the Samgyetang(参鸡汤).
I ordered the Chicken Stew with Ginseng,15000 Won.

With the price we paid, we get to eat a whole chicken that stuffed with glutinous rice,ginseng, gingko nuts, garlic and etc. The broth is thick and creamy as it is made of about 30 different types of medicinal herbs and grains.The meat is soft and I love their glutionous rice.
Well, I just simply love Korean Rice.

In shorts, I would say Tosokchon Samgyetang is just as famous as the chicken rice ball in Jonker Street.
So, it is one of the must go place for those who want to taste the Samgyetang in Seoul.

Nah, see, lots of people are queuing up to take their lunch at Tosokchon.

Direction to get there

First, take a ride to Gyeongbokgung Station and head towards Exit 2. Then walk straight until you reach a Family Mart, then turn left. It’s about a 5-minute walk from the station. Ask for directions from workers around the area, they will definitely know where it is.

Once you saw the Family Mart, turn left and you will see this traditional hanok style building in front of you.

Tips from m33iyin

a) Do avoid the lunch/dinner time, so you can avoid the long queue.

b) Since GyeongBok gung is near to the GyeongBok station, you can fill your tummy with samgyetang before/after your journey to the palace.

c) A bowl of samgyetang is very full for a girl that have big appetite like me.

d) Last but not least, enjoy your meal!!

P/S: 15000 Won is equal to around RM42, depends on your exchange rate.

My Itinerary to South Korea

Most of my best and good friends knew that I visited South Korea last month, and some of them asked me how was the trip. I would say, South Korea is a nice place that worth to visit!!! AAaawww, I miss my trip. Ok, I shall slowly update my blog site with my South Korea trip posts from today, so that you will know why I am so in love with the Kimchi Land.

 

*I anticipated for this trip for monthsss,

and I was so so excited when the custom officer put this stamp in my passport*

I proudly announce that, the itinerary of my trip is the first chapter of my South Korea trip posts.


15 June 2012
Took the 11pm flight to Incheon Airport, Seoul. I would say, is so difficult to sleep in sitting position. The journey took about 6-7 hours.


16 June 2012
Checked into MyeongDong Hostel at MyeongDong. Without further delayed, we went to Gyeongbokgung and National Folk Museum of Korea.
Took our lunch at Tosokchon Chicken Ginseng and rest at hostel.
Had a evening walk to Seoul City Hall Square, Gwang Hwa Mun Square, The Story of King Sejong Exhibition Hall, Cheongyecheon.


17 June 2012
Flew to Jeju-do at 7am local time. Say hello to our tour guide.
Went to Yong duam, Manjanggul Cave, SeongSan Ilchubong, Sopjikoji, Jeju Folk Village.
We walked around the hotel area at night.


18 June 2012
Went to Teddy Bear Museum, Trick Art Museum, Jusangjeolli Cliffs, CheongJeYeon Waterfall, Mount Songak, O’sulloc Green Tea field, Glass Castle, Hallim Park.
We walked around the hotel area at night.


19 June 2012
Took the 8am flight back to Gimpo Airport, Seoul. Checked in to Hong Guest House at Dong Dae Mun.
We were so tired after the long hour trip in Jeju do, so we just have a brief walk around Dong Dae Mun. Then we had a nap at the guest house. We went to Banpo Bridge for the rainbow water show at night.


20 June 2012
We went out early in the morning(around 10am) so we can fully utilize our day. We went to Insadong and bought some souveniers for our friends. Then, we went to Myeong Dong for our Nanta Show date(My dear friends, this is epic weeeiiiii~~~) and shopped for cosmetic products (I am so broke now~~) After that, we went to N Seoul Tower.


21 June 2012
Went to Bukchon Hanok Village, then took a brief walk from Cheong Wa Dae to Sam Cheong Dong. Visited ChangDeokGung and its Secret Garden. Went to Edae aka Ewha Women University before we heading back to Guest House. Then, we shopping at Migliore, Doota, and aPM at night time until 1am.


22 June 2012
Have our final shop at the Dong Dae Mun area then took the 5pm flight back to Malaysia.

So, this is my itinerary. I saw lots of nice places that worth to visit but due to several reasons I missed the chance to visit them. (So sad, anyway, I know I will step into the KimChi Land soon!!)
If you wish to get some details for my Korea trip, do email/facebook pm me and I will try my best to help you.
I will slowly update the pictures that we took at those tourist spots, and turn my experience and feeling into words at here!! Stay Tune!!!

Wat Pha Sub Tavee Tam Ma Ram,Khao Yai的美好

因为我的曾祖母是KhunThai（泰国话，意思是泰国人） 所以我有4分之1的泰国血统，因此就总是觉得跟泰国特别的亲近~哈哈。。我真的很喜欢泰国人的热情和无私的布施于僧团和在家人~


由于我在KhaoYai的日子是LuongPor Yai的生日，所以很多信徒都到寺院去布施供养僧团，有些人甚至一家大小到寺院去开档，他们免费供应食物和饮料给到现场的在家人~同学们，我说的是免费哦~就是我们可以任拿任吃~就算你不拿，他们也会很热情地“怂恿”你拿那些食物吃~


首先映入眼帘的是Jagung，看到Jagung就特别的兴奋，我对Jagung的爱遗传自我妈妈~Ngai love Jagung-卡~

一堆还没被蒸的Jagung~
有金黄色的，也有紫色的~
个人还是prefer金黄色的，因为紫色的有点黏牙~

熟了的Jagung~超想咬一个的说~

Corn in plastic instead of Corn in cup~
Swedish roll cake and the sponge cake were FOC too~

其他好吃，且让人垂涎三尺的食物：

N杯的矿泉水~ 也是任拿任饮~

娇小可爱的包子~ 吃上四五个还是不觉得的说~

蔬果肉的串烧，好吃的说~

当地的粿条汤，现在看起来干干的是因为还没有加汤啦~

上图：泰国美女在煎蛋
下图：泰国美女煎的蛋

四个字：好吃的说~

寿司不是日本的专利~

我喜欢吃的PhadThai，泰国的炒粿条~

一种道地的Pancake

这个StrawberryCake有够力好吃到咯~
够味而且每一块的上面都有草莓~

sibeh好吃+够味的coconut icecream~

100% 的blended fruit juice
没有加水的说！！

除了食物好吃，饮料消暑之外，KhaoYai的狗也特别惹人怜爱：

街边照：

泰国小孩准备上学去~很单纯de neh~

看到左边的女孩吗？

就算他们没有供养食物，他们也会礼貌的蹲在路边等僧团经过了继续上学的路程，
小小的动作可以看出他们是多么的尊重僧侣~

有些泰国人甚至在机场/路上看到僧侣，也会向他们顶礼以示尊敬~

最后送上KhaoYai美丽的花朵：