Shinhuengsa Temple

Sinheungsa, sometimes spelled Shinheungsa, is located at the slope of Seoraksan National Park (Refer here for my post on Mount Sorak National Park).

Right after came down from Mount Sorak National Park, we directly walk to Shinheungsa...

On the way walking to Shinheungsa Temple

Spotted one hotel called "Seoraksan Tourist Hotel" otw which looks kinda small but quite strategic spot for those who wants to hike the mountain. But, I did googled about it and apparently this hotel already went out of business as of 1st December 2013..so sad..:-(

Seoraksan Tourist Hotel

Reached the gateway:

This is the gateway aka One Pillar Gate to the Big Buddha Statue and Shinhuengsa Temple

The Big Buddha Statue aka Tongil Daebul, is a gilt-bronze Buddha Statue which represents the wish by the Koreans for the reunification of the two Koreas.

In here, you can also pay KRW10,000 to write on a roof tile which the temple will use it when they make any roof repairs.

So many row of roof tiles

The notice board explaining about the Buddha statue origin and its historical facts.

Beyond the Giant Buddha Statue, you will see a bridge which links to the Shinhuengsa Temple.

The bridge that links the Big Buddha to Shinhuengsa Temple and it's built over a creek

The creek is almost dry up as it's almost winter time dee..

Here's a short video to see the beautiful surrounding here:

The Shinhuengsa Temple is built like a fortress and have only a few entry or exit points. To enter Shinhuengsa Temple, we have to go through this gateway opening after crossing the bridge.

There are door of gods, which are the gods that guard the entrance door to scare away devilish beings.

More photos in the temple area:
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Trying to scoop some water to drink and make a wish..

While on the way out, spotted they have very cute caricature sign board on the Shinhuengsa Temple Stay..

How to get here:
1137, Seoraksan-ro, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea 

Check here for the summary of my Korea trip itinerary.

Happy weekend!

Shabu Shabu with Dolsot Bibimbap

I luv Dec month the most! Feels everyone is in holiday mood especially with Christmas atmosphere. Don't you think so? And I do think your working energy is at the lowest peak too :-) Finally I get quite a long break after crazy past few months...and now I can reminiscing back my Korea trip a year ago while looking forward for my Hokkaido trip in another 2+ weeks time..geez..why the time so slow now ya

Btw, anyone planning to go Korea now? You should learn some of the recommended must have Korean foodie if you are visiting there. One of it that I have on the first day when I reached Korea is the Shabu Shabu Dolsot Bibimbap. For the sake of those who din know what is it:

• Shabu Shabu is our Chinese hot pot or called steamboat in Malaysia. 
• Dolsot is the stone bowl or pot used for serving bibimbap that can be heated over fire
• Bibimbap is a Korean dish consisting of rice topped with sautéed vegetables, chili paste, and beef or other meat, sometimes with the addition of a raw or fried egg.

So combine all 4 words together is we had steamboat + hot pot rice :-)

Our Shabu Shabu with Dolsot Bibimbap. So many food rite?

Some of you must be wondering what is the difference between the dolsot bibimbap and the normal bibimbap rite? Well, I just know that dolsot bibimbap is served on dolsot, that's it! LOL. Ok, I read up some online blogs and ppl do recommend to go for dolsot bibimbap since its much better than regular old bibimbap because a) it makes noise (it sizzles) and b) the rice gets crunchy.

Closer shot of my dolsot bibimbap

For those who prefer more spicy, you can adjust it by putting more chilli paste inside ur bibimbap

Boyfie and me..together with our tour group ppl in one long table

Overall, boyfie luv the dolsot bibimbap but I did not have appetite to eat that time since I'm still half brain awake due to jet lag -_-"'. If you wanted to know where we had this, it's the same place as try our Hanbok and DIY the kimchi. Read the blog here for more info.

If you want to have the full itinerary of my Korea trip, checkout here.

Pan Fried Chicken with Tteokbokki

Super duper long hiatus..I will share about what has been making me MIA for so long later.

It's almost year end now and I'm super duper looking forward for my trip next month since everyone starts to have holiday mood now! So excited about Nov and Dec month alwiz....that I looked back at my Korea trip photos and realized that I have not share about Tteokbokki yet! Geezz...

Tteokbokki aka "stir fried rice cake" is a must try food if you are in Korea. It's a popular Korean snack food made of soft rice cake, fish cake and sweet chilli sauce. 

Yummy Pan Fried Chicken with Tteokbokki

If you are a fan of spicy food just like me, you will luv Tteokbokki. It's really very chewy like spicy chewing gum? And in some places, you can add your own spiciness during stir fried. However, I feel...if you had too much of it in a meal, you will feel a bit "bored" since it can really fill up the tummy. So, try not to be greedy and have too much of it in a meal..otherwise it will not taste good anymore.

We had our pan fried chicken Tteokbokki near EWHA..and you can adjust your own spiciness during pan fried

Boyfie is happy that he can have non spicy Tteokbokki -_-"' which I feel it's not "umph" (satisfying) enuf

Those who knows how to read Korean, let me know what is the shop name? I just know its near EWHA..Sigh, I can't find back the shop name to share with you all

The interior of the shop where I had pan fried chicken with Tteokbokki

That's all, and do remember checkout my full Korea travelogue here.

Shopping in Dongdaemun

Dongdaemun - just one sentence to describe this place: "Gals shopping paradise!" And guys, sorry nah..you will get your pocket burnt a damn big hole when your wife or gf is here. But dun worry..guys too can pick fashionable style here too! Time to have your wardrobe overhaul here if you have a boring closet! So guys and gals, I suggest that you should go shopping hunt separately to save time! :-P

Anyway, before you start your shopping marathon, do note that the price in Dongdaemun is relatively higher compared to Myeondong and of course, for the price you pay..you get better quality item, especially those "Made in Korea" (I strongly recommend that you should get at least 1 piece of "Made in Korea" clothes as they really have superb quality *thumbs up*). The shops around Dongdaemun differs in prices, from mid-scale to high end. And you know what's the best part of shopping here??! Most of the shopping malls here are opened from 10am to 5am daily!!! Isn't that wonderful where you can shop all night long till you are broke! LOL! 

There is a major street that goes through Dongdaemun Market, dividing it into 2 sections. See the map below where the yellow line is the divider.

Section 1 & 2 of Dongdaemun Market

Section 1 (the left hand side of the map) mainly features the retail stores. Major shopping malls in this area include Doota (located within Doosan Tower), Migliore, Good Morning City, Freya Town and Hello apM. Due to time constraint, I just managed to shop only in Doota :-(

Doota Mall

Doota, one of the many large fashion malls located in Dongdaemun Market, has a tax refund system enabling foreign tourists to claim a 10% refund on goods that you purchase here. When visitors purchase goods at shops displaying the "Tax-Free Shopping" signs, they can be reimbursed for the 10% VAT at the "Korea Refund" center located on the 3rd floor of the passenger terminal building of Incheon International Airport. Check here for more information of Tax Refunds in Korea for visitors.

Guess what is my shopping haul from Doota? Well..as the price is quite steep, just managed to get a vest jacket (which cost me about RM100+ after conversion) which I luv so muchie as I saw lotsa of Korean ladies wearing such fashion.

Me wearing the vest jacket the next day (really can't wait :-P) Alvina, the lady in my tour praised my vest is nice *grin* Nice bo?

Section 2 (the right hand side of the map above) mainly features wholesale shops. Like the shopping malls in Section 1, the shopping malls in Section 2 sell both retail and wholesale goods. However, unlike Section 1, most of the items are only available in bulk. The malls here usually open at about 8 p.m. and close at about 5 a.m. the next day. Do note that there is usually no dressing rooms available for the wholesale shops in this area.

Younger shoppers usually shop at Designer's Club, Migliore Valley, Nuzzon and Gwanghee Fashion Mall, while middle-aged shoppers tend to prefer shopping at Jeil Pyeonghwa, and Heungin Stardom.

How to get here?

Transportation: 

Seoul Subway Line 2 Dongdaemun Stadium Station, or Line 1 or 4 Dongdaemun Station. You can alight either at Dongdaemun Station (동대문역) or Dongdaemun History and Culture Park Station (동대문역사문화공원역).

End this post with a photo of me in Dongdaemun :-)

Outside Doota mall

Remember to checkout my full Korea travelogue here.

Flights To Jeju Island From Seoul

For those who are planning a visit to Jeju by yourself from Seoul, there are couple of ways to go there. One of the most recommended ways for sure is by taking flight since its fastest rite? Why do you want to waste your time in the train or ferry as when you are traveling, you try best to cover as much places as possible rite? And if you take flight, its only about 1 hour journey long.

There is quite a number of domestic flights from Seoul to Jeju Island. However, you will encounter language barrier as some of the online flight booking websites are in Korean and some only accept Korean Credit Card for payment. Perhaps you can use Google translator or get someone who knows Korean to translate and help you in booking the flights.

Here is the list of airlines flying out from Seoul city to Jeju Island:

(Note that you are supposed to fly from Gimpo Airport and not Incheon Airport to Jeju Island. Dun go to the wrong airport..lolo).

* If you need info on how to get to this airport, check the link here.

Can you see all the airlines listed here?

1. Asiana Airlines 

Website: http://ea.flyasiana.com/Global/EA/en/index

(Asiana Airline formerly known as Seoul Airlines is one of South Korea's two major airlines, along with Korean Air.)

This is the flight which I took for my last trip to Jeju. The website is available in English, so no problem in booking it.

ASIANA AIRLINES

2. Korean Air

Website: http://www.koreanair.com/

*NOTE: Website is available in English. 

(Korean Air is the largest airline of South Korea)

KOREAN AIR

3. Jeju Air

Website: http://www.jejuair.net/

* NOTE: Website is available in English.

(Budget airline)

JEJU AIR

4. T'Way Air

Website: http://www.twayair.com/

*NOTE: English language not available in website. 

(Budget airline)

T'WAY AIR

5. Jin Air

Website: http://www.jinair.com/Language/ENG/

*NOTE: Website is available in English

(Budget airline - fully subsidiary of Korean Air)

JIN AIR

6. Eastar Jet

Website: http://www.eastarjet.com/book/index.htm

*NOTE: Website is available in English

(Budget airline)

EASTAR JET

7. Air Busan

Website: http://www.airbusan.com/AB/airbusan/english/main.jsp?loc=en

*NOTE: Website is available in English

(Regional airline which is a subsidiary of Asiana Airlines)

AIR BUSAN

Before booking online, some of the above airlines will require you to register as a member first. 

If budget is a constraint, check the budget airlines (which I have tagged above) like Jeju Air, T'Way Air, Jin Air and Eastar Jet. These airlines might offer the best deals especially if you book few months ahead. You can probably get KRW77,000 (which is ~MYR218+) round trip tickets inclusive of taxes. I read couple of bloggers post before who recommended Eastar Jet as the first choice for cheap flights to Jeju. Perhaps you should check that option first?

That's all. These are our Asiana Airline boarding ticket

Hope this post is helpful for those of you who want to plan a trip to Jeju Island from Seoul.

*Remember to check here for the summary of my 2012 Korea+Jeju Trip itinerary.

Kimchi Making DIY and Hanbok Wearing

On the very first day we reached Seoul, our first tour destination is sending us for classroom training. You will be thinking what kinda of training rite in a holiday? Well..is to train us to be a typical Korean by DIY ur own kimchi since the remaining days in this tour, we hafta starved ourselves with lotsa of kimchi! kimchi! AND kimchi every single meal...lolol. Like it or not..you have to learn to eat like Korean as Kimchi is an absolute necessity in every Korean meal!

Here is our Kimchi Making DIY classroom

Oh..btw..we cut short most of the process in this class..by not showing you where to get all the ingredients. I won't be showing you also how to be an ahjumma to haggle for cheap cabbage price in the market.

Here's wht on the table in my place: cabbage and some hot sauce?

Before that, did you all know wth is kimchi? For the benefits of those who din know about it, Kimchi is pickled cabbage covered with hot pepper sauce and it is the most popular dish in Korea. According to health magazines, it's one of the most healthiest food in the world?! And Koreans are very proud about the health impacts of kimchi, which causes them to make up outrageous claims like kimchi will prevent people from getting the Bird Flu. I'm not sure how true is it..but I luv kimchi so muchie. I dun mind taking Kimchi every single meals too! I used to stay with Korean family before and the she told me that Korean in the outskirts make lotsa of kimchi and kept it underground for winter as their stock up food in case too heavy snow and they can't go downtown to get any food..they have kimchi to survive on.

Sorry poor cabbage..I shall take a photo of u before I mess u up..lolol

Hmm..Boyfie looks like professional cook that goin demonstrate how to make super kimchi dee..shall see whose DIY is more successful later

That's our instructor

I know I'm a slow learner esp in catching up cooking instructions, so here are the videos which I have recorded that tells you how to DIY your own kimchi. It's always the best to learn from the sifu directly than learning from half pail water rite? Go watch it and try out urself:

This is part 1:

And this is part 2:

Pro boyfie in action making super kimchi?

And at last....TA DAAA....shall see whose kimchi looks more nicer?

Guess which is mine? Erm..the one of the left one *why looks like "kiam chai" one?* OKIE, THAT'S NOT MINE...lulu

Closer shot of this ugly looking kimchi..I wonder who is goin to eat this kimchi volcano mess? :-P *no eye to see*

Ok..I dun care la..start tasting the snacks on the table first..

Not sure what is each of it..just gobble each of it la

One shot of boyfie tasting the snacks

Now my turn

On the instructor's table, there is this cutie vege..unique hor the shape?

The ingredients used for kimchi..dun ask me what is each of it. I'm ingredient blind one.

After we have done messing with poor kimchi, time for us to dress like a Korean now - Hanbok costume time! In this same place, they do provide variety of hanbok costumes for guys and gals to try out. The typical and usual of me..luv pinky pinky for sure!

So me in pinky hanbok. Look like korean bo? I think looks more like chubby korean lady -_-"'

Another chubby shot

Boyfie looks cute in this hat..but nono on the sport shoes

Luv this shot of us

I could not find out the name and address of this place which is why this post is a long due one. But if you are visiting Korea, perhaps you can try out free hanbok costumes wearing at 

Seoul Global Culture & Tourism Center
Directions : Myeong-dong Station, Seoul Subway line 4, Exit #6 >> 200 meters from the station

 

*Check here for the summary of my 2012 Korea+Jeju Trip itinerary.