Caffeine fix worth your dollars - Korea

Thanks to more exposure to good coffee and expertise sharing during my working holiday in Hualien, I have come to realize what is bad or mediocre. However, I am far from being a connoisseur. Below is just a sharing of my observations and experiences. :) 

The coffee culture is extremely popular in Korea, especially with the working crowd. Holding a takeaway coffee cup seems to be part of the Korean fashion these days. Being a coffee lover myself, I am glad to get my caffeine fix easily in K land. Other than franchises like Starbucks Coffee, Paris Baguette Cafe, Holly's Coffee, BeansBins, A Twosome Place etc, many other independent cafes are sprouting up all over Korea. Some sell everything from pastries to shaved ice to smoothies and finally coffee, others are dedicated to serving just coffee. The prices at the franchise cafes are not cheap. Considering having a cup of caffe latte over a week, one would probably be spending about 350000 won (about SGD42). 

Often, the best coffee places are hidden in the alleys or smacked between shops selling random items like household ware or traditional rice cakes in the traditional markets. I was surprised to find caffe latte at affordable prices ranging from 2500-3000won a cup, almost half the price of franchise cafés. Some shops only offer take-out coffee which explains the lower price. 

Here's a list of noteworthy cafes I visited during my recent Korea trip:

Busan
Bupyeong Market is an interesting market which sells virtually everything. Immerse yourself in the local culture as you check out the little coffee shops. There was no English name for this take-out cafe. All I have is pictures. ;p

 

Drinking it the Korean way - not quite the way I like it

 Other interesting coffee shops I spotted along the way in Busan: 

Seoul
There are plenty of coffee shops in the alleys of Hongdae area. I chanced upon Table-A Branch 2. It is a cozy little cafe with only 12 seats and a bar counter. The young lady preparing coffee is fastidious and probably experienced in coffee preparation. The two Persian cats in the shop are nice companions to customers on a lazy afternoon. :)

This place offers one of the best cafe lattes I had in Korea thus far. Over a span of half an hour, there were about 7 customers who came in, mostly regulars. The lady was also busy refilling her coffee beans, a sign that business is good. Besides the usual espresso coffee, this shop also offers single origins like Kenya AA, Ethiopia Yirgacheffe and Colombia.

There are just too many recommended cafes in the Hongdae and Seogyo-dong area. A pity there is a limit to my caffeine intake and the dollars in my purse. 

The other noteworthy coffee shop is Belief Coffee. I like the spacious seating area and welcoming service by the staff. There is a roastery in the shop where they roast their own beans. Like Table-A, they too serve single origin hand drip coffee. Coffee beans are freshly grinded upon order. Oh, how I love the sound of beans being grinded. Haha. 

Thumbs up for smooth milk foam

Address	마포구 서교동 339-5 1층 Seoul, Korea
Phone	+82 2-332-6700

Gyeongju
If you are in Gyeongju, do take a relaxing stroll along Lake Bomun. The cherry blossoms were really lovely during the time I visited. If you are tired from the stroll, take a pitstop and have a cup of coffee at Cafe Mattina along the lake. The caffe latte was pretty good. My friend ordered grape juice which also received a thumbs up.

If you are looking for a caffeine fix worth your dollars, give the big names a miss and you might be pleasantly surprised. :) 

Travelling on a budget - Accommodation (Seoul)

Travelling is one my biggest expenditure. I think my dear R cannot agree more. In this aspect, we are rather different but I am thankful that he understands and respects my interest. I guess compromise is the word. For him, diving is something he probably finds hard to give up and I am glad to give him the nod when he plans for dive trips.

My job does not allow me to travel any time I wish (make a guess). Sad to say, I can only see summer and winter at peak prices! :( Nevertheless, I still want to travel!

Sometimes I wonder what will happen if my earnings are reduced, say, I change my job. Does that mean I have to stop travelling? Actually, that will just mean travelling on a budget.

Some costs are fixed and there isn't anything I can do about it. For example, entrance tickets and sometimes, train tickets. The amount spent on accommodation and air tickets can be greatly reduced if some effort is put into comparing the various deals available. This is part of the planning which I enjoy but R just cannot make himself go through the hassle of poring over numerous websites.

Here, I would like to introduce the idea of staying in guesthouses / Bed & Breakfast Inns rather than hotels. It is generally cost-saving and provides a platform in meeting new friends from all over the world and interacting with the local hosts.

Total cost for 2 people for 1 night's stay: 70SGD

Free internet

Common kitchen

Free local calls

Our stay at the guesthouse includes breakfast. A pity we were not there on a Sunday!

Our lovely host, Reena

Chatting over breakfast

Reena helping us to find our way to Yongsan Spa

Though we have only stayed for a night, Reena wrote a card for us. :)

                                       
At 35SGD per person per night, we had a comfortable stay and a hearty breakfast. On top of that, Reena gave us some tips and we also met interesting people from different countries. Lee & No Guesthouse is located in Hongdae, a vibrant neighbourhood with lots to explore.

I have booked my accommodation at Hongdae Guesthouse for my upcoming trip next week. Check this space for my review. :)

Lee & No Guesthouse

Address: 561-29 Yeonnam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Website: http://www.lnguesthouse.com/default/

Tripadvisor Reviews

Off the beaten path

One of the advantages of planning my own trip is that I am off the beaten path. 

Almost every other tour group that goes to Seoul ends up at Lotte World and Everland, followed by a stopover (quick) at Dongdaemun which only leave tourists with hearts full of regret, wishing they had more time to shop. Being on my own gives me the flexibility to do what I want and to create my own unique travel experience, which most likely will be a very memorable one. In fact, eating and living like the locals is one of the best way to experience the culture of a country. 

One thing I remember most about Korea is my visit to the Jjimjilbang (public bathhouse). 

Jimjilbangs are one of the truly great aspects of a Korean culture.These are large, gender-segregated public bathhouses complete with hot tubs, showers, saunas and massage tables. 
In other parts of the building, after donning the T-shirt and shorts provided, you can explore the PC rooms, snack bars, KTVs or take a nap on the heated floor. Jjimjilbangs are  a popular getaway for families and considered an important part of family bonding. 

Are you a budget conscious traveller? Want to save money on accommodation?

Tip: For an average of 10,000 won, you can stay overnight at the Jjimjilbang and enjoy the sauna and facilities there. That's even cheaper than a dorm bed in a guesthouse!

There are plenty of jjimjilbangs around. Yongsan Dragon Hill Spa was recommended by our host at the guesthouse and it turned out to be a pretty good experience. After paying the entrance fee, we got a locker key and kept our shoes in the shoes locker. From that point onwards, we are barefooted. At Level 3, we locate our clothes locker. The key comes with a charge tab. All expenses incurred will be charged to it. Just before you leave the place, you can pay at the exit. 

24hrs!

Entrance of Yongsan Dragon Hill Spa

Address:  40-712 Hangangno 3-ga, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea 

Getting there:  Take Subway Line 1 to Yongsan Station. Walk out of the huge terminal and go down the escalators. Turn right and you will see the spa across the street. 

*One thing I regretted not doing is to twist my towel into the famous sheep head (양머리, yeong mori). Check out this video on how to fold a sheep head towel!

Worth the Calories - Korea (Part 4)

Piping hot Samgyetang (Ginseng Chicken Soup)

Samgyetang is traditionally served in the summer for its supposed nutrients, which replaces those lost through excessive sweating and physical exertion during the hot summers in Korea. To make samgyetang, a whole young chicken is stuffed with glutinous rice and boiled in a broth of Korean ginseng, dried seeded jujube fruits, garlic and ginger. 

Too much shopping in Seoul? Have a bowl of Samgyetang to replenish your energy!

Slurps!

I enjoyed the Samgyetang at Baegje. Once again, I chanced upon this place while I was strolling in Myeongdong. ^^ It tasted pretty authentic and I love the soup (the empty bowl tells it all). :D

Tripadvisor Reviews

Address: 50-11 Myeongdong 2-ga, Seoul
Directions: Subway Line 4 Myeongdong Station (Exit 2); walk 5 or 6 blocks and it is on your left, across the street from the Lotte Department Store

Worth the Calories- Korea (Part 3)

This is a cafe that I chanced upon in some back alley in Busan. It has left a deep impression on me as everything was prepared with much sincerity. This is somewhat like my dream cafe. ^^

The cafe serves fusion Western-Japanese food. The onigiri (on the top) was baked with BBQ sauce. It was a tad bit salty for me and I actually preferred the curried pumpkin rice my friend ordered. The accompanying salads and miso soup made it a satisfying meal. The presentation was the best part of all. It looks too beautiful to be eaten, isn't it? Although preparation time took a bit longer, the
interesting things in the cafe made up for it. Check out the cozy layout too!

Something to keep us occupied  ^^

What a cute order chit!

More room upstairs

Books for browsing

Exterior of the 2 storey cafe

Cozy layout

    

This cafe remains one of my favourite cafes of all times.^^
If you are a cafe lover and plan to visit Busan, this place is worth a visit!

Worth the Calories - Korea (Part 2)

One of the highlights of a trip to Korea includes tasting the various types of street food. The crispy  pancake (Pajeon) is a great snack to enjoy with friends. Seafood ones are especially popular. Rice cake (Tteokbuki) and fish cakes are also classic Korean street food.  

  

Those with a sweet tooth will enjoy the sweet Korean pancake (Hottdeok). The one we had near the PIFF Square at Busan was made on the spot. It only cost about SGD1.Yummy!

Worth the Calories - Korea (Part 1)

From the top to the bottom:

바나나맛 우유 (Banana Milk) - Available at most convenience stores. I love the shape of the container and the nice taste of banana. Less than SGD1. :)

Gamjatang (Pork Bone Soup) - Had this at Andong City. Regretted not taking down the shop's address. All I can remember was the piping hot and hearty soup on a cold winter morning. Slurps The big bowl of soup and a bowl of rice lasted me till mid afternoon.

Chodang Soondubu (Tofu Soup) - In the pine forest south of Gyeongpo Beach is the Chodang Soondubu Village. We had the soondubu at Wonjo Chodang Village (元祖草堂豆腐）The dish may not look appealing but it is very tasty and nutritious.

Ottogi Jin Ramen (Hot) - A quick snack or dinner (when we were left to our last dollars) at about SGD1. Love the spiciness.

清Soju - Tastes smoother as compared to the usual soju. I would say this is a lighter version that girls probably enjoy more. It costs less that SGD2. Not always available but it can be found at some convenience stores.

Andong Jjimdak (Andong Braised Chicken) - I simply love this dish. It has my favourite vermicelli and vegetables. The chicken parts are well marinated. A very tasty and slightly spicy dish most Asians will like. Beware of the big portion.