Jeju Island: Yong Du-Am

Yong Du-Am(Dragon Head Rock龙头岩) is located around 10 minutes away from the Jeju International Airport. As the name implies, there is a large rock that shaped like a dragon's head at here. There is not much to do and see at Yong Du-Am but it is a tourist spot to do photo taking. Fyi, free admission to this tourist spot.

So, legend story is expected on how the Dragon Head Rock came from. “Legend has it that a dragon stealing precious jade from Hallasan Mountain was shot by an arrow from the mountain god. As he fell down upon Yongduam, his body sunk into the ocean and his head turned into rock, leaving him forever enshrined looking towards the sky.” (I copy paste this from a visitkorea)
Well, if you dislike legend but you love science, Yong-DuAm was created by strong winds and waves over thousands of years.

Besides snapping a picture with the Yong Du-Am, take a picture with this rock is a must too.
My Chinese horoscope is Dragon that’s why I pointing my head. So, Dragon head human come to Dragon Head Rock(Do you get what I means?)

The rock that looked like Dragon Head facing the sea alone.
Due to the shooting angle, it looked like a Bunny head instead.

Jeju-do is a volcanic island so the rocks we seen here are mainly black in colour 

because they are lava rocks.
By the way, do becareful when you are walking on the rocks.
What’s special about the Jeju-do is that I cant smell or sense any salty taste/feeling when I was there, special huh~

There are ahjumas(aunties) that selling seafoods under the tent.

Last but not least,

Dol Harubang at the Yong Du-Am.

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!!!