Hmmm....I think I prefer 닥터 이방인 to 너희들은 포위됐다 afterall!! 이종석 can really act!

Fell in love with 이종석 after watching the first episode of 닥터 이방인 but the drama was too sad for me. Its not healthy to go to bed with a heavy heart so I'm now watching 너희들은 포위됐다 to make me feel better *excuses*  Been looking forward to this drama becos of 차승원 and 이승기 ㅋㅋㅋ 

Interesting to know and learn

Came across this article from Hansik.org a while ago.  Here are three Korean table manners which I find rather interesting :
1) Don't put your spoon and chopsticks down on the table while someone's still eating. (Oopss...I can easily make this mistake cos I tend to eat fast! My dear Korean friends, please pardon me if I have made this mistake without realising it! 미안해 )
2) Put your spoon and chopsticks on your plate and put them down on the table once the other person's done eating.  (I think this is rare for me since I eat fast.  Actually, I am trying to slow down my eating pace in order to be slim!! But it is so difficult to eat slowly ㅎㅎㅎ )
3) Don't blow your rice or soup to warm it even though it may be hot. (Oh dear! I think this came so naturally for me!!)

25 Mar 2014 - 너의 모든 순간

Once again, I am seated on OZ751...
I always keep myself awake to watch the beautiful sunset.

너의 모든 순간....

I will be back in a few months' time.
Alright, I have come to the end of my updates for Spring trip 2014. 
Hope my updates will be of some help to you in one way or another.
So looking forward of planning for my upcoming trip again!

25 Mar 2014- Confusing tax refund

Tax refund as usual. I didn't claim back my cash refund at downtown in this trip. Hence, I got to queue twice in the airport. The first time was at the custom before entering into the transit area. The second time was to claim back the cash inside the transit area near Gate 28. However, this time beside the usual two tax refund companies(Global Blue and Global Tax Free), I had another different form from koreataxfree.com. 

This is the one. Is this a different company or what? You can read more about it from its website. The custom stamped on all the receipts for both Global Blue or Global Tax Free but did not stamped on the receipt from this "company". I was told by the custom to proceed to the counter, "Tax Refund" (beside the pillar as shown in the above picture) for assistance.

I walked towards the counter as advised. A staff at the counter took my receipt and walked towards these kiosks. She was so fast and busy helping me and two other tourists at the same time. I didn't have the chance to ask her or observed what she was doing. When she was done, she told me to go to Gate 27 to claim back my cash.

I thought Gate 27 has a counter for tax refund just like the ones near Gate 28. Nope. No counters but only these kiosks. Fortunately, there was a staff to help me cos I did not understand what I was going through. Why can't the custom stamp on all the receipts, so that I don't have to go to the kiosks(outside the transit) again? Or the other way round, why can't I do everything at those kiosks instead of joining the queue for the custom to stamp on the receipts?  

As mentioned in koreataxfree.com, "When you purchase goods at affiliated stores, your purchase data is transferred between the tax refund counter and the customs offices in realtime. This helps to receive a refund without filling in a refund application form." Hmmm.....Maybe everything will be done at these kiosks in future.

Well, I am still a bit blur with the whole process. The staff who helped me with this kiosk at Gate 27, had to ran to somewhere to get something done before I can get my cash back. Don't ask me why cos I had no chance to ask her. She only told me to wait for her. She came back and continued with the screen. This was where I got my cash back from this kiosk for my purchases issued with tax refund form from koreataxfree.com. On the other hand, I saw another tourist getting her cash back from this kiosk almost immediately without any hassle. After I am done with my tax refund for koreataxfree.com, I walked over to Gate 28 to claim back my cash for Global Blue and Global Tax Free.

My experience probably sounds confusing. Well, I think you don't have to worry too much. Just give yourself ample time at the airport for your tax refund. 

25 Mar 2014 - 서울애인 단팥빵

No queue??? 
좋아!! I shall buy one to try ^^
Passed by 서울戀人 단팥빵 on my way to take the Arex.
This outlet is inside Hongik Univ Station.

Cream cheese is always my first prority ^^
It looks like 菠蘿包 to me.
Anyway, I bought this cream cheese bread at KRW2300.

And now it looks like a giant cookie to me ㅋㅋㅋ

Should be blueberry cream cheese??
Cream cheese will never go wrong for me ^^
This was nice but not super duper fantastic.
There's always a long queue whenever I passed by the bakery.
That's kinda misleading.
I think the long queue could be due to the generous fillings in the bread.
I shall try other flavours next time when there is no queue again ㅋㅋㅋ

Hmmm.. Why is it called 서울애인 단팥빵?

25 Mar 2014 - Disappointed ㅠㅠ

Its my last day back home today *Sob
Decided to check out a cheap noodle place at 망원시장 Mangwon market before heading out to the airport.
Took the subway to Mangwon Station, exit 2 and reached here around 8am.

Turn right as soon as you come out from exit 2.
Walk straight down.                     

I saw another cheap noodle shop, 장모림 멸치국수 (As shown by the red star) on my way to Mangwon Market. The noodle shop that I wanted to check out was 홍두깨 as indicated by the green star.

This is the noodle shop, 장모림 멸치국수. 
It was closed and I couldn't find the operating hours.
Here's a blogger who blog about this place, 장모림 멸치국수. 

As shown by the map above, I turned right into the market street. Omg..about 98% of the stalls were closed ㅠㅠ My plan was to have breakfast at 홍두깨 but I couldn't locate it. Here's a blogger who blogs about 홍두깨. 

The street leads to another market, 월드컵 시장 Mangwondong World Cup Market.

안돼!! I still want to eat my noodles!!
So I went to 마포만두 Mapo Mandu at Hapjeong Station, exit 2 for my breakfast.
Thought of eating 멸치 국수 but they don't have it.
I ordered 잔치국수 instead.  
It costs KRW5000.

24 Mar 2014 - Dinner at 비스위트온 Be Sweet On

I reached Hongdae around 4pm and did some last minute shopping since I will be flying back to SG the next day ㅠㅠ  괜찮 아요!!!  I know I will be back SOON!!! 

Don't know why but I craved for something sweet and cold...
아이스크림???  I had a cafe in mind.
 The name of the cafe is, "비스위트온 Be Sweet On".
The nearest subway station exit to "Be Sweet On" is Hongik Univ Station, exit 8 as shown in the map.

오모! I saw this cafe again! This cafe, Mobssie Chocolate Cake 몹시초콜릿 케이크 is one of those cafes on my priority listing ㅋㅋㅋ  However, whenever I tired to look for it, I ccouldn't seem to locate it. It always appear when I am not looking for it -__- Mobssie Chocolate Cake is diagonally opposite "Be Sweet On". Yay!! I can remember where you are now!  If you are coming from exit 8, you will reach "Mobssie Chocolate Cake" first before "Be Sweet On". 

Be Sweet On ^^

타르트타탄 Tarte Tatin(KRW10900)is very popular here and I have been thinking about it for a long time!!  Need to wait 20mins for this?? I don't mind since I have already waited long enough to eat it!! Another popular item on the menu is 말차핑수 Green Tea Kakigori. I will try this popular 빙수 on my next trip back home!

My orange ade with lemon orange sorbet ^^
Omggg...one of the most refreshing and thirst quenching drink I ever had!
I didn't drink much the whole day, fearing that it will activate the "washing machine" inside my stomach again..

Sweet moments come suddenly.  I agree.

The waiter who brought me this 타르트타탄 Tarte Tatin was having a hard time becos i could see that he was struggling not to let the food topple over. It would be a waste if it gets toppled, 맞죠?  Poor waiter, he heaved a sign of relief as soon as he placed the plate on the table ㅋㅋㅋ

진짜  맛있어요!!
This was so soooo nice!!
Not too sweet ^^

Total bill.
How I wish I could try out every single item on the menu!!
I will be back here in my next trip!!

I was getting better becos I felt hungry again that night!!!
I craved for FOOD becos I was feeling HUNGRY!!
Jiwon's 라면 will make do for the time being to satisfy my cravings ㅋㅋㅋ

24 Mar 2014 - Beautiful 두물머리 Dumulmeori

두물머리 Dumulmeori is 0.9KM away.
Walk as directed.

Keep on walking straight after you turn left into this road.
Omgggg!! There were so many tiny flies flying around here.
I tried to shoo them away but more appeared!!

I think that bridge leads to 세미원 Semiwon.
Feel free to correct me if I am wrong ^^

Closed??

There is an Information Centre opposite the gate and I went up to ask the staff. The staff does not speak English. I said," "세미원 Semiwon??" She crossed her hands, gesturing a big "X". I assumed she meant that 세미원 Semiwon is closed for the day. I have forgotten that it is closed on Monday unless it is a holiday on Monday ㅠㅠ

Admission fees.......

And so I walked on.....straight to 두물머리 Dumulmeori ...
I fell in love with the place as I walked on.
It was really beautiful here.
Please come here with your date okie ^^

ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠ ㅠㅠ
You will be beautiful again in Summer!

미안 해요.
Pictures are almost similar but I can't help it  ㅋㅋㅋ

Many people wrote their wishes on these pebbles and left them in the river. 

Poor lotus flower ㅠㅠ

I left the place about an hour later.
Can't bear to leave and I hope to come back again one day.

I detoured a bit when making my way back to the subway station. You will see this on your left while walking towards the big traffic junction mentioned in my previous post. Nothing much here though.

Its time to make a move.
Byee Yangsu-ri. I will miss you.
*I miss you already*

Puzzled..I thought these 3 stations are in the same direction.
So which platform should I go??
I simply hoped onto the subway that arrived at 2.44pm!

Oh, they have a timetable! I reached here around 2.15pm, so the next available subway on a weekday will arrive at 2.44pm. Therefore I have to wait about 30mins...zzz...If only I have checked the timetable. The subway arrived at 2.46pm instead. Despite the long travelling time, I personally feel that the beautiful scenery was well worth the trip ^^