Showing posts with label imagine Korea. Show all posts
Showing posts with label imagine Korea. Show all posts

Sunday, 20 December 2015

Visit Korea Special VIP Tour [Day 2-4]

Visit Korea VIP Special Invitation Tour : Making Natural Scented Candle | by Meheartseoul
I was wondering whether we're joining Food Tour around Samcheongdong area which is famous for its unique cafes and restaurants on our second day...

55번지라면 (55 Beonji Ramen) | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com 
My eyes popped out when I read 라면 (Ramyeon) on the signboard
hanging on this traditional Hanok House. Did I read wrongly?!

My tummy still hasn't fully digested the big waffle set that I had for breakfast at Slow Park, and 5 minutes ago, it was loaded with a cup of creamy thick blueberry latte from Wiki Cafe ... Seriously, I'm still very full!

55번지라면 (55 Beonji Ramen) featured in TV channels and magazines| www.meheartseoul.blogspot.sg  55번지라면 (55 Beonji Ramen) featured in TV channels and magazines | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.sg 
But Kim eonni quickly told us that we need to have an early lunch...
(you should know the reason just to see the above photos, right?).
 
Traditional Hanok House 55번지라면 (55 Beonji Ramen)  | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com

 Few people already dining inside when we arrived at 10:45am.

55번지라면 (55 Beonji Ramen)  | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.sg 
Many famous people or celebrities visited this restaurant. 

55번지라면 (55 Beonji Ramen) Menu | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com
55 Beonji Ramen (55번지라면) Menu.

Upss... I just saw the right top corner that they're using beef bone stock as soup base when I cropped the above photo. I just prefer not to eat beef, so it's alright.


 55 Beonji Ramen - Sundubu Ramen (순두부 라면) | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.sg   | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.sg
My order: Sundubu Ramen (순두부 라면) - ₩7,700.

Actually I wanted to order Budae Ramen because I miss Korean army stew much. But, afraid I couldn't stuff those sausages and ham inside my well-fed belly. Therefore, I ordered soft tofu that's  not be so filling.


55 Beonji Ramen - Ojjam Ramen (오짬라면) | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com  55 Beonji Ramen - Baekpong Spicy Ramen (맵다면 ) | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com

Ojjam Ramen (오짬라면) - ₩7,700 | Baekpong Spicy Ramen (맵다면 ) - ₩8,800

Nat ordered Baekppong Ramen (백뽕) because she can't eat spicy food, while Jas eonni and Tere had the same ramen but the extra spicy version.

Kim eonni showed us how to make Jumeokbab (주먹밥 = fist-size   rice ball / onigari)  | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.sg  Kim eonni showed us how to make Jumeokbab (주먹밥 = fist-size   rice ball / onigari)  | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.sg
Kim eonni showed us how to make Jumeokbab (주먹밥 = fist-size 
rice ball / onigari) once the owner served us a big bowl of rice 
mixed with tuna, seaweed and sesame oil.

Video on how to make Jumeokbab start from 0:20.

55 Beonji Sundubu Ramen is very delicious | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com  If you are making a trip to Samcheongdong or Bukchon area, I would recommend this cozy and nice ambiance traditional Korean restaurant | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com
Sundubu Ramen was indeed mouth-watering delicious. 

I seldom eat noddle as I don't really like it. But, I slurped the whole big bowl of flavorful springy ramen with soft tofu and clams. I ended up full up to my neck because I didn't want to waste it!

No wonder so many TV channels and magazines featured and praised the taste of the ramen. Even it's awarded as one of representing restaurants in Korea. As suggested by my tour guide, do avoid lunch or dinner hours, else you might need to queue. 

If you are making a trip to Samcheongdong or Bukchon area, I would recommend to come to this cozy and nice ambiance traditional Korean restaurant.

It's tucked inside narrow alleys, which is quite nearer to Holly Go Studio | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.sg  It's tucked inside narrow alleys, which is quite nearer to Holly Go Studio | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.sg
It's tucked inside narrow alleys, which is quite near to Holly Go Studio.
 
Hakgojae Gallery | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com  Kukjae Gallery | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com
If you come from Samcheong-ro main road,
you'll see MMCA, Hakgojae Gallery and Kukjae Gallery. 

55번지라면 (55 Beonji Ramen) | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.sg
 Website: www.55ramen.com
Add:  55-1 Hwa-dong, Jongno-gu
Phone: 02 722 2997


This trip is made possible by VisitKorea organised by Korea  Tourism Organization. 
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/index.kto   http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/index.kto 





Tuesday, 15 December 2015

Visit Korea Special VIP Tour [Day 2-2]

Visit Korea VIP Special Invitation Tour : Making Natural Scented Candle | by Meheartseoul
 beautiful day to start our activities after hearty breakfast at this lovely cafe. | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.sg
What a beautiful day to start our activities after hearty breakfast at Slow Park Cafe.

~ Holly Go Studio ~

We're so excited because KTO arranged an interesting class for us to make our own scented candle. Actually scented candle is gaining popularity for home decor. The scented candle not only has nice fragrance, it also create calm, relaxing and romantic ambiance.

beautiful and quaint small alleys  | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.sg
We walked down this beautiful and quaint small alleys with
Mr Kang Cheol and Sera eonni from KTO.

Shop with colorful mural wall caught our eyes | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com
This shop with colorful mural wall caught our eyes, 
Kim eonni called to check the location and actually Holly Go studio 
is on the second floor of this building~!^^

Small and cozy Holly Go studio | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.sg 
Small and cozy studio perfectly fit 10 of us 
(Taiwanese team was scheduled on another class).

Lovely~! The studio also displaying beautiful flowers candles and soaps | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com 
Lovely~! The studio also displaying beautiful flowers candles and soaps!

The instructor started giving step by step procedures and demonstration. | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.sg  Kim eonni and Japanese tour guide translated the steps in English and Japanese to us. | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.sg 
 The instructor started giving step by step procedures and demonstration.
Kim eonni and Japanese tour guide translated the steps in English and Japanese to us.

 We're super serious and attentive to follow every single instructions given | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com   | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com
 We're super serious and attentive to follow every single instructions given...

~ to wipe the glasses without leaving a single drop of water,
~ make sure the wicks stick steadily on the middle of the glasses,
~ use chopsticks to hold the wick so it will stand straight up when pouring the wax,
~ select natural scent oil and drip 15 drops into the soy wax,
~ stir to make sure wax and essential oil blended well,
~ slowly pour the wax into the glass.
 
 | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.sg   Natural White Musk + Jasmine (화이트 머스크 + 자스민) Candle | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.sg
My first candle with Lime Basil & Mandarin scent
(라임바질 & 만다린), and second candle with 
White Musk + Jasmine (화이트 머스크 + 자스민).

It takes 2 hours for the wax to cool down and solidly harden.  | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com   Holly Go Natural Scented Candle class | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com
We didn't bring back our candle because it need to be stationed for 
about 2 hours for the wax to cool down and solidly harden.

Holly Go Natural Scented Candle | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.sg
 Thank you KTO for this early Christmas Gift.

From the name card, I browsed her blog about our classes. Besides this natural scented soy candle, she also conducting classes for natural soaps and natural cosmetics. Wow~ that's so interesting!

Natural Soap | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com 
Actually, I did learn how to make it at Korea MICE and Culture Festival 2015 in Singapore.

Holly Go Studio | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.sg  Holly Go Studio | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.sg  Holly Go Studio | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.sg
Keen to learn how to make those colorful flowers and cute 
macaroon shapes soaps because they're so sweet!

It's not only beautiful, but all of these handmade products are using natural ingredients, so they are free from harmful chemical.
 
Our instructor Holly Lee (이고운) | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com
With our pretty instructor, Ms Holly Lee (이고운).


Video for candle making class start from 1:40

 | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com   | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com
Holly Go (홀리고)
Add: 서울시 종로구 팔판동 131-1 2층
131-1 Palpan-dong (2nd floor), Jongno-gu, Seoul.
Phone: 070-4211-1406

 | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.sg
Random shots around the neighborhood.

 | www.meheartseoul.blogspot.com 
Oh my... I'm in love with charming Autumn foliage!


This trip is made possible by VisitKorea organised by Korea  Tourism Organization. 
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/index.kto   http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/index.kto 


Tuesday, 24 November 2015

Visit Korea VIP Special Invitation Tour.

Visit Korea VIP Special Invitation Tour | by Meheartseoul
Nothing beats the happiness when you see your name on the winner list. Yes, that was almost a month ago and I'm just back to hot Singapore 2 days back.

For this post, I would like to share to you my experience of our 4D3N VIP Special Invitation Tour. But, tomorrow I'm flying back to Korea with my family, and somehow my itinerary still in a mess because of the transportation problem because Korea is a big country.

I just found out that A-train is not operating on 30 Nov, and we might not be able to go to Auraji for Rail Biking.

I woke up at 4:00 am today to edit photos and create videos so I can post this by today. Just for your info, I have about 3000 photos and 100 videos for this trip. Please stay tune as I will post more detailed information after I'm back from my family trip.

For the meantime, let's check out our VIP Special Invitation Tour:

~ Day 1 (18 Nov 2015) ~

 South East Asia (English Team) arrived at Incheon Airport
early in the morning, but sadly Jas eonni flight was delayed...

 
We're transported to Seoul and check-in at Center Mark Hotel.
 I took a short 30 minutes nap and had a warm bath to refresh
my tired body as I was unable to sleep well on the plane.

Our first meal in Korea -  Hansik Buffet Lunch at Nature Kitchen (자연별곡 홍대점).

 Somehow, when I visited Korea with my family in 2013,  we also 
visited Trick Eye Museum & Ice Gallery on our first day in Seoul.

Tea break and chillax at this pink fancy Hello Kitty cafe

Great that they brought us to Common Ground Pop-up Shopping Mall 
located close to the Konkuk University. I was thinking to visit this 
newly open mall because it's the largest container mall in the world.

 
 We supposed to buy our dinner from outdoor food-truck vendors,
but it was raining. Our thoughtful KTO staff and guides treated  us 
delicious cakes as appetizer before our dinner at DoreDore Cafe

 
Reached Insadong to have grilled mackerel, haemul pajeon and makgeolli
at Omoni Saengseon (어머니생선). After that we stroll back to hotel
as the restaurant is around Insadong area too.


~ Day 2 (19 Nov 2015) ~

 
Group photo with Japanese team before having our brunch 
at this cozy yet elegance cafe at Samcheongdong - Slow Park.  

  Candle Making Experience at Holly Go Studio with pretty and friendly instructor.


 Wiki Cafe (위키카페) is run and owned by Super Junior Sungmin's mother.
It's unbelievable to meet his handsome younger brother, Sungjin.
He's adorable, handsome and friendly. I think his charming
smiles will sure melt everyone's heart! ^^

Jas eonni, Lucky and me were being interviewed by GD from TBS eFM.

Though my tummy still full after big breakfast, but I finished the whole bowl of 
Sundubu Ramen because it's so yummy. No wonder our guide said we have to have 
an early lunch, because 55 Beonji Ramen (삼청동 55번지라면) is very popular,
 and we might not have the seats during peak lunch hour.

 
Teleported myself from National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art 
to old Joseon's era. Ssshh, I need to hide myself from these royal guards of
Deoksugung Palace, I should have disguised myself by wearing hanbok here.


 
When taking photos with K-pop idols seems quite impossible, though I did
wish to meet Lee Min Ho as he's the Ambassador of K-smile campaign. 
I just imagined that these wax statues inside Grevin Museum (그레뱅 뮤지엄)
were real person and happily hold their hands. my HP was so jealous
and decided to off itself... I couldn't take selfie using my camera. ㅠㅠ 

 
Bought this blue backpack at Good Morning City Mall. 
Got it  a 'steal' price because this kind, handsome and 
babyface ahjussi gave me super huge discount. Thank you~^^

 
Shabu Shabu Buffet dinner at nTable (엔테이블) at 
Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP basement 2).

 
We're seriously attending Janggu (and Korean language) class at Jeongdong Theater.
시작~! Dong Dong Gung Ttak Gung...
Dong Ttak Ttak Gung Tak Gung~!!! 

 
I watched Gugak Fantastick show before. Couldn't decide which one I like most,
because both of the performances were excellent. 
  five-drum dance performed by the gisaeng! It's so cool!


~ Day 3 (20 Nov 2015) ~

ITX line runs from Yongsan to Chuncheon station.  It's my second ITX ride.
I traveled to Nami Island (alight at Gapyeong Station) via ITX too because
it's very convenient and fast.

Our coach from Chuncheon to Gimyujeong Station (Rail Park) 

So excited before the ride, and super satisfied after the ride. All smiley faces~!^^

 Nobody could resist this yummy Grilled Chuncheon Dalkgalbi,
especially after 40 minutes of rail biking! :P

Completed my last mission - to take photo with Tourist Police.
Instead of shopping in Myeongdong, I used my free time at 
Juno Hair Salon (준오헤어) to have my hair cut and permed.

 
Gala dinner at Todai Buffet Restaurant.  
It's quite sad as the time sure flies, it's our last night in Seoul~! ㅠㅠ

Since it's also the last night of Seoul Lantern Festival being displayed, 
five of us walked from our hotel to Cheonggyecheon Stream 
to see beautiful lighted-up lanterns the dark night.


~ Day 4 (21 Nov 2015) ~

 
We arrived at IFC Mall at Yeouido, which is financial district and known as
Manhattan of Seoul. It's a giant mega mall, but our luggage were overloaded
and they are currently selling F/W collections which it's to hot for us
to wear in tropical country...

Therefore, we decided to go to Yeouido Park, which is just opposite the mall.
Then, from the map we saw that KBS is located nearby, so we rushed there
to snap few photos of KBS building, as we didn't have time to go inside.

 
Since I didn't have time to shop for my friend in Myeondong, 
I'd time to do last minute shopping at Incheon airport, and
claimed tax refund at this self tax refund machine. 
They're having free craft experience to paint this keychain with dancheong pattern.
 
Then, I quickly rushed out when I heard that there's a procession of royal family.
Of course I didn't want to miss a chance to take photos with King, Queen, 
Crown Prince, Crown Princess, Princess, Royal guards, and Royal Maid.

It's really my honor and grateful to be selected as one of the members of this tour. Definitely memorable trip especially we're traveling with other members from Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand with the same interests and avid Korean lover! ^^

That's ended our VIP Special Invitation Tour. I felt that we're being treated like super VIP from the beginning to the end of this tour. So happy to meet so many kind and friendly locals that showered us with warm jeong that made me smile for the whole trip.

Sincerely thanks KTO officers and staffs, our friendly and pretty guide (김 언니) and other guides.  Thank you so much for everything. 한국에서의 모든일들에 대해서 짐심으로 감사드립니다~! ^^

This trip is made possible by VisitKorea organised by Korea Tourism Organization. 
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/index.kto   http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/index.kto 


Ok, now it's 6:15pm, and I really need to pack luggage... maybe I need 3 to 5 luggage for 4 person. Heol~~~!!!