To South Korea – Biyahe ni Josemanuel

Café Hopping in Hongdae, Seoul

Published on January 12, 2014January 28, 2016 by iamjosemanuel1 Comment

Probably one of the best time I had in Seoul was the chillax “No Particular Go See” day. We woke up a bit late and just spent the morning in our backpackers’ lounge to chit chat with other guests. In the afternoon, we went strolling on Seoul’s university belt near Hongdae , which also has a lot of bookstores, quaint shops and boutiques. The afternoon ended up into a Cafe Hopping experience.

Koreans are quite fancy with their Coffee and pastries . Interiors are fun, tastefully embellished and usually interactive , as there are corners and boards where you can post your sketches and thoughts or anything that comes in mind to leave something by.

Here are some of the quirky Cafe’s we’ve visited in Hongdae , and all over Seoul .

Coffee Prince , Hongdae – where the Kpop TV Series was shot , famous to Filipinos and other Asians. A bit pricey around 4.5 USD per cup, but its worth the money for Yoon Eun-hye fan like me. haha . Coffee was so-so. Cheescake was great. Ambiance was awesome !

https://foursquare.com/v/%EC%BB%A4%ED%94%BC%ED%94%84%EB%A6%B0%EC%8A%A4-1%ED%98%B8%EC%A0%90-coffee-prince/4bebcf36a9900f47a02f1840

Hello Kitty Cafe , Hongdae – Just for Fun. haha

https://foursquare.com/v/hello-kitty-cafe/4c904694352da1cd9f9110b2

Cats Living Here Cafe, just a stone throw away from Hello Kitty Cafe . The whole loft is a play pen for cats and is heaven for Cat lovers . This place is actually a foster home for cats, and customers can also bring with them their loves to play and socialize with other cats, which is cool ! Truly, the korean owner is doing this out of passion =) Entrance fee to the loft is 8000 won (around 7 USD , and that includes a fix ). My friends were not into cats so they had to leave me here for an hour while they go shop hopping.

https://foursquare.com/v/cats-living-here-cafe-%EC%84%9C%EC%9A%B8%ED%8A%B9%EB%B3%84%EC%8B%9C/4bd2ca0bb221c9b64d49d8d0

Baus Haus Dog Cafe , near Hapjeong Station . This time a heaven for Dog lovers ! This place is a foster home, and is also day care center for dogs when people go on vacation.

https://foursquare.com/v/dog-cafe-bau-house-%EC%84%9C%EC%9A%B8%ED%8A%B9%EB%B3%84%EC%8B%9C/4ce79f67678aa093278ae3ea

The Rooftop Cafe at Ssamziegil Shopping Center, Insadong . With it quirky Ambiance and a great view at the Deck .

https://foursquare.com/v/%EC%8C%88%EC%A7%80%EA%B8%B8-ssamzigil/4be3950f1dd22d7f5c2e97bd

Tous les Jours , Myeongdong . Heavenly Sandwiches !

https://foursquare.com/v/latelier-tous-les-jours-%EC%84%9C%EC%9A%B8%ED%8A%B9%EB%B3%84%EC%8B%9C/4e2505c1ae6035bd16f23442

Baskin and Robbins . Great ice cream , fun and quirky cake pieces , practically located everywhere in Seoul .

Eat Korean Food like an Emperor

Published on December 18, 2013January 28, 2016 by iamjosemanuelLeave a comment

Probably the largest share of expense during my travel to Seoul went to satisfy my tastebuds and fill my tummy. Personally , I believe that it’s ok to spend a little extra on food; After all, its not like every month, you are in Seoul to enjoy real authentic Korean cooking.

Trip to Seoul , October 23 to November 3, 2012 .

Bibimbap fit for a king. probably the best meal i had during my the trip, prepared by our Korean Friend Jinny

cherry tomato , and some rice snacks with meat filling

Seafood Salad – Korean Style, with bits of Kimchi

Rice Roll with Tuna in Sesame Mayo Topping . Koreans put sesame in almost everything.

Haemul Sundubu Jjigae (Seafood Soft Tofu Stew)

Sang gyeopsal Meal. Lean Pork strips grilled on stone.

Exploring Seoul and Paju City, South Korea

Published on September 18, 2013May 7, 2014 by iamjosemanuelLeave a comment

South Korea is one of Asia’s most developed and progressive country , comparable to Japan and Singapore. As such, travelling to this country can be a bit costly and would require some preparation , and research.

Here are my recommendations from how to experience S. Korea without spending so much. As always, I lived by my principle of travelling on a practical note; and Not necessarily going the cheapest option , which can be a hassle sometimes. Hope this can help you in your preparation.

Transportation = Incheon International Airport is around an hour travel by subway to Seoul , which would cost you around 14,300 won (around 14 USD) . Bus options are available for around half the price , but will take you 2 hours or more. Transportation from airport to Seoul is highly organized , and the attendants can converse in english and are willing to assist.

Subway system within Seoul is very efficient, but can be a bit pricey, and would cost around 1 USD even if you travelled just a station away. But then again, I still recommend this , rather than hopping on a bus to roam around the city, which can be a bit confusing. Taxi rides are expensive , and would not go below 10 USD even for a relatively short distance. Moreover, taxi charges go almost double at night , at around 10pm, as soon as the subway operation ceases.

Where we Stayed = Banana Backpackers Hostel, which is very close to Angguk Station and Changdeokgung Palace, Jongno-gu. There were 4 of us and we took a private room for around 15 USD per person. But other options are available. Accommodations are cheaper in Jongno-gu area, which is nearer to the palaces and the old city center.

Where to buy stuff and pasalubong = Daiso branches are everywhere , selling cute items for less than 2 USD. Cheap items can also be bought in the outer streets of Seoul’s shopping districts like Myeongdong and Insadong. The main streets can be a bit pricey.

Freebies = Cosmetic shops in Korea, especially in Myeongdong, are very generous in giving product samples and freebies. Most even give out Face mask packs , which are sold at around 60 pesos (1.5 USD) here in the Philippines. As such, this can also be a good option as pasalubong to friends back home =)

Off the beaten path of Seoul,

Shops and Cafe hopping near Hongdae area and the University Belt

Coffee Prince – Famous for the Korean Drama Series that conquered asia the year 2007-08

Hello Kitty Cafe – just walking distance from coffee prince

Cats Living Pet Cafe

Bauhouse Pet Cafe for Dogs

Interesting Architectural Design of SSamziegil Shopping Complex at Insadong. To reach the upper levels, a gently-sloping ramp winds around the building, from ground-level to roof-top deck.

Explore Gangnam district street scene

Gyeonggi English Village at Paju City, around an hour travel by bus from Seoul . This is where the Drama Series “Boys over Flowers” was shot.

Le Provence in Paju City – cluster of Markets , vibrant and typically Korean.

Autumn Visit in South Korea

Published on September 18, 2013October 13, 2014 by iamjosemanuelLeave a comment

It has always been a dream of mine to experience Autumn in South Korea. The the vibrant color palette of the landscape as the leaves turn red and yellow; The cool breeze whole day long ; Riding a train with courteous Koreans in their stylish fur coats; The smell of freshly grilled Sang Gyeopsal and Kimchi; South Korea is undeniably beautiful.

Last October 2012 , me and 3 other friends were fortunate enough to have booked promo tickets for only 6500 per person round trip from Manila. It was a good catch. We stayed for around twelve days and visited 3 cities.

Paju – where the series “Boys over Flowers” was shot . This city is located almost at the border with North Korea.

Goyang – where we stayed with our Korean friend who hosted us for two nights. Goyang is a good take of point to Everland, Korea’s biggest theme park owned by Samsung Corporation , which is less than two hours away.

and lastly, the charming Seoul .

Here are some of the Highlights of my South Korea trip.

Changdeokgung Palace and the Emperor’s Secret Garden (창덕궁과 후원) UNESCO World Heritage . This Palace of lush gardens, streams and walking trails served as the summer residence of the Royal families. Although it is not as grand as the others , this is by far the most beautiful Palace I have visited in Korea.

Architectural details of roofing , which is probably around 300 years old

Gyeongbokgung Palace , Opened 1395 , is probably the grandest and most famous in Korea. This palace have been the main Residence of the royal families. The exchange of guards ceremony in the morning and in the afternoon is worth seeing. Though grand in scale, the palace is quite tranquil and calm, with the majestic Bukhansan Mountain at the background.