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)

Here's a review on Hongdae Guesthouse, my recent accommodation in Seoul. :)

My friends and I stayed in the Family Room meant for 3-4 people. However, this room is spacious enough to take in a bigger group. There is actually an attic as well. Besides a worn out mattress and an electric fan, there was nothing much. 

We had a great view on the 19th floor. Not that we had much time to enjoy the view, it was a bonus to us nonetheless. :) We also had a PC and free wireless in the room. The password was pasted on the wall. So much for privacy eh. ;p Other than that, breakfast was a loaf of bread left at the kitchen counter. Good for those who prefer not to join other guests at the common area. Drinking water was abundant and we could refill our bottles in the morning. 

The toilet was in decent condition. Nothing fanciful though. Only toilet paper and a bottle of shampoo were provided. This was lacking as compared to other guesthouses in Seoul. Usually, shower gel, hand soap and toothpaste are part of the package.

The room was cleaned on alternate days. Basically, rubbish was cleared and the floor swept. The toilet floor could have been washed though. 

Location and safety are my top considerations when I select my accommodation, followed by cleanliness. 

In this aspect, Hongdae Guesthouse fits the bill. Being next to Hongik Univ Station and accessible by the Airport Commuter Train, the location is excellent! The security lock worked fine too.

See my review on Tripadvisor. 

At 44SGD per person per night, this may not be the cheapest deal around, but I would still rank it 4 out of 5. 

Hongdae Guesthouse

159-6 Donggyo-dong Mapo-gu, Seoul 121-816, South Korea

http://hongdaeguesthouse.com/ 

Same?

December 2010

September 2012

Have I changed? :)

Seoul Revisited

Although this is my third visit to the city, I realized there is so much more I have yet to experience.

Some of my adventures this time round:

1. Eating raw (moving) octopus at Noryangjin Fisheries Market

Getting there: Noryangjin Station (Line 1, Exit 1)

Purchase fresh seafood at Level 1 and take your purchase upstairs 

Cheap and fresh seafood. Everything here costs about 40 plus SGD,
including restaurant charge

2. Handphone lost & found adventure 

It is almost a miracle that I got my handphone back. Thanks to two kind souls, one ahjushi and one young guy. The most memorable experience thus far! Thank you ahjushi and Jungho!

3. Checked out the nightlife at Hongdae

The sudden downpour did not dampen our happy mood on the last night of our trip. One of our Korean friends brought us to the supposedly famous NB Club. It was way too crowded and I can't help but say that safety is compromised. It was an experience nonetheless, with Oppa Gangnam Style ringing in our ears.

4. Drinking makgeolli with my girlfriends and a new Korean friend

Makgeolli

5. Making my yangmori headgear

Till then, it is time to reminisce the wonderful memories of my short but adventurous Seoul trip! Perhaps I should sign up for a language and cultural program the next time round? :)

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!