[Holiday] day -1 prep!

Can't believe august 1st is tomorrow! Been anticipating this day since I bought my ticket to seoul!! I am so excited!!! You probably know that I am from my previous posts how I did my research etc. I tried to do last minute review on places I want to visit. This time I am trying to factor in the weather. Based on the weather forecast I received from our hotel, it seems like the weather isn't that bad. 25-31 degree celcius seems to be the norm now. I am pretty happy with that. I do miss winter but hey! Summer means shorts and light clothes. I can't complain!

So! I don't know about you but my suitcase is usuallt 80% packed many days before my actual departure. I know Seoul is a shopping heaven and I prolly shouldn't bring too much clothes with me but I normally dont wear new clothes straight away. Mainly for hygiene reason (seriously,  do you think the stores laundry all the clothes before they display it? Even if they did, dust and bacteria have prolly collected after a period of time).

Anyway, so if you want to know what I have packed with me, here it is:

1. Day Clothes x 9 sets
I am going there for 9 days so I guess I wont have time to go back to the hotel and change. So one set a day is enough. What I mean by set is either dress or a pants + top. To be honest with you, I never travel light. I bring my entire wardrobe with me everytime I travel. I just had a hard time choosing what to bring!!

2. Undies x 18sets
3. Shoes
I want to elaborate on shoes a little. With Seoul currently have a monsoon and summer, I am bound to adjust my footwear accordingly.  I am bringing with me:
- a pair of rain boots
- a pair of sandals
- a pair of heels.
- pocket shoes
Heels might you ask?!  I wear heels like I wear flats and it makes me look better in picture too. (I am very petite).
4. Skin care product.
Again, I know Seoul is a skin care heaven butttt I don't use Korean product.  Well, I am yet to embark in one so I have to stick with my current ritual.
5. Make ups and hair curler.
6. Shower gel, toothpaste, shampoo
I don't use hotels shampoo nor shower gel. My hair gets dry when I use a wrong product so I have to use my own stuffs.
7. Misc. Items: charger, camera,  ipad, books,  tissue (?), korea discount coupons (like tons of it)
8. Last but not least: korean won and passport!
Actually some USD would be good too. I exchange some money in singapore (so far I think the best rate is at silver river money changer at marina) but I also bring some sgd and usd with me. I have one coupon that gives me 30% discount on the charge when exchange money.
9. Print your itinerary
Well that or have it ready somewhere in your electronic gadget. I prefer to have a print out version. My itinerary is DAEBAK! lol. You can view it on my previous post but if you want the pdf version, drop me an email or comment below.
10.  Some medicine
Like panadol or ur usual medicine. My mom always pack some medicine whenever we travel so I guess I grow up to think that its part of the necessities. 

Allright everyone! I'm gonna update this blog soon with day to day details!

WATCH THIS SPACE

xoxo,

M

A guide to Korean beauty product

I am most likely the craziest and control freak person there is. I haven't even stepped my foot on Korea and I have already got 2billion pages of notes.

In this blog, I am gonna write some of the must buy Korean beauty products I have read fr various blogs. If you have any suggestions do mention it in the comment.

1. Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Mask
Heard that this thing is so good for its price. I have been looking for a good clay mask for ages and I can't get my hands on glam glow or omorovicza ;( so I hope this wohld be sufficient enough for my face.

2. Tony moly egg pores
Its sooo cuteeee! I saw it the other day and I know I want to have one just for keepsake

3. Laneige water sleeping pack (or mask? Which is it)
This product needs no introduction.  I never actually use Laneige well I did long ago and it didnt work that well with my face, tbh. But I'm open enough to try this product just because all reviews are so good

4. It's skin creme d' escargot (or snail cream)
I know I know it sounds gross but for all the collagens it offers, I would just have to suck it and use it as if its like any other cream!

5. Bb and cc cream. 
I am not sure which brand to get yet. Some say etude house, some say hanskin but I am still deciding which one to get and probably will just be extremely impulsive when I decide later on.

Well, I have never really used Korean product in my life. My skincares are generally consisted of SKII and shu uemura. So this is definitely new. If you have any recommendations do tell me in the comment below!

Xoxo,
M

A comprehensive guide to Sydney best restaurants. PART 1

Sydney is always close to my heart.  It was a place I called home for 7 years and will continue to have a huge sentiment in my life. It is a place where I learn to appreciate good food, a place where I learn to be opened to different kind of cuisines and a place where I met many fellow foodies.

I am writing this partly because I don't want to forget all the sweet memories of Sydney life and well partly to give anyone who is going to Sydney and stumble upon this blog a guide from an insider point of view.

BEST BREKKIE
As I mentioned in my post long ago, brekkie/brunch is my favorite meal of the day. Here is some of my favorite spot:

Kazbah Restaurant, Balmain
Address:
379 darling st
Balmain
+61295557067
(Reservation is recommended for weekends)
To order: their specialty baked eggs with minced lamb thingy (my memory is rusty but you would spot it right away)

Clippers cafe
16 glebe point rd
Glebe, NSW
cash only

Cafe sopra
7 Danks Street
Waterloo, NSW
Only walk-in. The place is extremely hidden and you can only know it if yoy know what you are looking for. The plaxe is on the second level of an organic market called fratelli fresh.

Four ate five
485 crown street
Sydney, NSW.
Only walk-in. The place gets really crowded on the weekend but I love the country and rustic feeling that this place has. I miss Sydney!!

Bills
358 crown street
Sydney, NSW.
Bills has several other outlets but this one is the one I visited most frequently.  Mostly because of its location, it's very near to the oxford street and easily spotted. It could be a challenge for first timer but just follow google map.

Bourke st. Bakery
633 Bourke St.
Surry Hills, NSW
It's not exactly the most convenient place to sit in but my goodness! The sausage roll and the chocolate tart explains the long queue on the weekend. Bourke st has several other locations too but this is their flagship stores. I think there is one that now has a concept of dual functionality: cafe in the morning and restaurant at night.

Three blue duck
143 macpherson st
Bronte, NSW
+6129389 0010
Reservation is recommended as it can get really crowded. This place won best brekkie in 2012 and the chef is ex tetsuya chef. The meal is more on asian-oz infusion so something like roast duck with kailan (totally making the name up).

The winery by gazebo
A/285 Crown street
Surry hills, NSW
+6129331 0833
I really like the ambience at this place.  They also offer a ladies high tea if I remember correctly so perfect place to throw a bridal shower! Actually the most plus point of this place is because it is located righr in front of an organic supermarket. Such a joy to stroll through the huge supermarket with real greens.

This is all for now, I will try to write up the next parts of the best of Sydney instalment.

Xoxo,
M

Brunei: teh c special + ayam penyet

On my recent business trip to Brunei, I had a chance to try one of Brunei local delicacies. My bf has been a season brunei visitor, thanks to his current project. So on my trip, he and some of my colleagues took me to eat one of their favorite lunch place: ayam penyet.

I grew up eating a good share of malay food and so this isn't much of a surprise. Ayam penyet from where I am from is usually fried with crumbs on top. In Brunei, however, they actually grill it with sweet sauce. (Disclaimer: I only try the one so it could be the restaurant specialty)

But! The star of my meal isn't the ayam penyet itself but it was their teh c special! Ohh.. special indeed. I have always been a great fan of gula melaka (I.e. palm sugar) and combining it with teh tarik is one of the most ingenious idea there is!!

So, if u happen to go to brunei, do try this drink. You could find it almost at every eating places.  (I think)

Morganfield, The Star Buona Vista

I am never one who likes meaty stuffs. Dont get me wrong, I am the most carnivore person ever but there is something about BBQ ribs that I don't really fancy. Be it hurricane or ribs n rumps in Sydney,  or the latest addition to Singapore dining, Morganfield.

Nevertheless, I had a hearty meal there and since we ordered 2 plates of gigantic platters, I was madly stuffed. A platter could easily feed 5 people (don't believe the waiter when they said its to be shared among 2-3 people. 2 to 3 people with humongous appetite and haven't eaten in 20days, maybe). 

Overall, I guess it is a great if you love bbq ribs or to have dinner and have to feed hungry guests at a decent price.  the place is quite crowded, I would recommend a reservation (as I always will do to any restaurants I am heading)

Xoxo,

M

Morganfield

The Star Vista, #02-23

Reservation: (65) 6684 3635

Website: www.morganfields.com

Tim Ho Wan Singapore

I don't knowat is it about yum cha or dim sum in general but it has the power to wake me up on the weekends (I an heavy sleeper and I sleep most of the time. *piggy >. <*). Last weekend I managed to drag my feet from the bed very early to queue up at the new yum cha establishment, Tim ho wan.

For those of you who don't know what it is. Its a hyped yumcha place in Hong Kong where people would queue for hours just to eat yum cha. And knowing that Hong Kong is practically a yum cha town, this place has got to be really special. Tim ho wan is also the cheapest michelin star restaurant in the world. (Yes! The place has 1 Michelin star. Pretty impressive tbh)

Anyway enough about the boring facts. I went there with some of my office colleagues. We all wanted to queue by the time it opens and being the smart ass that I am I told them it opens at 10am. Apparently though, they open at 9am and by 10am the queue has snaked all the way to the corner. Luckily one of my colleague was a much earlier riser than I and started to queue at 9+. We queued for around 30 - 45 mins before we got our table of 7. I guess its all due to their efficiency.  We were given the menu to fill in while we r queueing and by the time we were seated we only waited like 5mins before our foods were served.

We ordered almost everything on the menu, from their famous bbq pork bun to the vermicelli roll to congee.  To my surprise the bill was relatively cheap, we paid around sgd 20+ each. Really living to their cheapest michelin star reputation. 

Food wise though. Apart from their bun, there is nothing much to rave about. If I were asked to queue again, I might wouldnt jump at the opportunity.  But I have tried it and I can finallt say I have tried it (yay).

Here is some of the picture from that day.

Tim Ho Wan

#01-29A Plaza Singapura, 68 orchard rd

Singapore

9 Days 8 Night Korea Trip - PLAN

I haven't gone to Korea yet so do not read this expecting a review of places there. I, instead, am giving my well-planned itinerary on this post.

I am taking the August long holiday to escape to Seoul, a country that I have never visited and know I should have long ago. For this trip, I will only go to Seoul, mostly because after reading reviews and asking a friend who lived in Korea, I deem that I might will regret going to Jeju or Jeonju or even Busan.

Here is how I plan my trip:
1. I use the following link to learn about Seoul and where to go:
VISITKOREA
 I then divided the area into 8 groups (based on the 8 days I plan to stay).
2. I read tons of blogs about places to visit and have rough idea what to do and where to go. (yeah, I'm that much a control freak)
3. As a huge foodie, Korean is one of those place I know I am going to go mad about, and even while compiling the list, I had trouble juggling everything in.

Anyway, for those who are going before my trip and have no time to do the research. Well, someone has done it and you can enjoy the fruit. Do tell me if you do so we can share our experiences.

Here it is:

9 Days 8 Night Foodie + Shopaholic Korea Itinerary

Day 1: Korea-bound + JUMP!
Flying from Singapore airport at 08:00am and reach Seoul at 15:00. We will be staying at Westin Chosun at Myeongdong and I arranged an airport transport on my bf request at 145,000 WON. (Recommended for people like my bf who wants to see someone holding his name at the airport, yeah he is vain that way). Alternatively, take the airport limo bus at a fraction of that limo transport.

The ride will probably take us around 1 to 1.5hour and foreseeing that my bf would want to chill, I decided to go easy on the dinner and eat at the vicinity of our hotel at Nolboo Jjigae. Note to self would be to order their army stew + cheese.

I have also arranged my hotel to book JUMP for us at 8 PM. (yes, our hotel concierge are the best, assisted me in most of my bookings).

I assume that after the show, both of us would be too tired to do anything. But if we do have the energy, I would say we could go to Dongdaemun for a glimpse of what they have.

Day 2: Samcheong-dong + Gwanjang Market
I call this a palace day because I am visiting all the palaces at once. For brekkie, I decided to eat nearby at Jaws Food or School Food. What to order:
Jaws Food: Ddukbokki + Odeng + Gimbap
School Food: Maki (i.e. Gimbab) + Carbonara Ddukbokki + Soy carbonara Ddukbokki

First palace would be the Gyeongbokgung since their english tour runs at 10.00am. According to my hotel, it would take around 1 to 1.5 hour. I assume that would be enough time for us to fill our morning.

For lunch, I decided to go to Tosokchon, the famous Samgyetang or Darakjeong, a famous mandoo shop. (will decide on the day)

In the afternoon, we plan to go to the Secret Garden tour which arranged by our concierge at 15:30 pm.
I do hope we have sometime in between so I can visit the Bukchon Hanok Village and take pictures. If not, I will do this on day 8 when I visit Insadong.

For tea break, I plan to go to Mukshidonna for awesome ddukbokki so that would be that.

I plan to visit the gwanjang market for evening activity and dinner. From reading tons of blogs, some of the dishes I must try include: Bindatteok, Hoddeok, drug gimbap and Sundae. Maybe try their bimbimbap. If you don't know already, gwanjang is very famous for their hanbok too. I am planning to get one to add to my collection of clothes mountain at home (not that I know when I would wear it, lets just say one day I would have a friend who marries Korean and I would happily bring it out to wear).



Day 3: Ehwa University + Hongik University
Today, we will relive our university memory and head to Ehwa + Hongik. Blogs say that they are great shopping place with affordable tags and really good quality stuff so I'm pretty excited to visit.

For brekkie, I would want to eat the Egg Muffin that I have seen many times from blogs and friends' pic.

Lunch would take place at Cheonchunjip Dakgalbi. For more info about this place, visit:
KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL

For tea, I have set my heart to Hello Kitty Cafe. To be honest, I am one of those person who denies she likes a Hello Kitty but when there is a craze (like the recent maccas hello kitty), I would be one of those crazy people who queue.

After tea break, we will then head over to N seoul tower to see the sunset and put on some love lock (HAHAHA). I'm kidding. My sole purpose there is to see the teddy bear museum that I, otherwise, wont be able to see because I'm not going to Jeju.

For dinner, I want to eat either Jeonju Bimbimbap or Kyochon Chicken. nomnomnom.

Day 4: Sinsa-dong + Apgujeong + Gangnam-gu
The day I wait the most would probably be this one. I am very excited to visit Apgujeong and shop some luxury items. dayum!!

For brekkie, I opted for something near our hotel and decided to go to Kim Ga Ne, a gimbab restaurant chain.

Obviously, activies include shopping till drop and I secretly want to try on Vera Wang wedding gown while there if my bf permits. lol

For lunch, I opted for Mapo Sutbul Galbi, a BBQ restaurant that is apparently full of celebs. I might don't know most of them but heck, if they go, I guess the food must be exceptional.

For tea break, after a thorough research, I have set my eyes to Hanchu for best Kr Fried chicken. Another must try includes stuffed pepper pork. I have another must try and that is Solbin's Hotdog.

In the evening, I might want to visit COEX mall but heard they are under renovation so we'll see. I am pretty sure I can find somewhere else to shop.

For dinner, I have made a booking at Min's club so I probably need to cab over for that. Also writing this reminds me that I might have to move Hanchu or Solbin's to another day because Min's club offers degustation menu and I plan to enjoy it with empty stomach.

Day 5: Nami Island + Hongdae
I arranged a tour using Sally tour to go to Nami Island at 120,000 WON each. The tour also includes a visit to Petite France.
Since our guide will pick us up early at 8am, I guess brekkie has to be bought the night before and that calls for midnight mart shopping. We stay right across Lotte Mart (HOW CONVENIENT)

I would insist that we eat lunch Dolsirak at Nami because word has it the place has an authentic Dolsirak! The place also have patbingsoo so I guess I would eat that too for lunch.

We will reach Seoul at 5PM and my plan is to visit Hongdae if my bf isn't too tired. If he is, I guess, I would move my Bongchu Jjimdak dinner to this day. If I manage to drag him however, dinner has got to be at Palsaik Samgyupsal. The place offers 8 types of pork belly (how cohld I miss that!!)

Day 6: Myeong-dong + Namdameun + Dongdameun
Yet another shopping day. I would compile a list of what I have plan to buy at Myeongdong (most of them includes beauty products that I never even use before - I use Japanese products like Shu uemura and SKII mostly so getting a Korean product is a start of a journey).

Brekkie has been long decided to be at O'sulloc Tea House since I'm a huge fan of green tea anything.
Lunch at Myeongdong Gyoja
and Dinner would be street food. (yes, I have taken into consideration the vast array of street food at Namdaemun and Myeongdong)

Day 7: Yeoju Premium Outlet + Banpo bridge
I heard some people say that this place is pretty disappointing. But, I saw the list of shops and it includes YSL, bottega, boss, prada and the fact that the place is a joint venture between some Korean dept mogul and Las Vegas premium outlet, I know that I have to visit. There is another outlet called Paju Premium Outlet that is nearer to Yeoju but their shops are not as extensive as Yeoju.

For brekkie, I would want to eat Jaws food or School food, whichever one I haven't tried on Day 2.
Lunch is obviously at Yeoju.

I plan to return by 4PM using their shuttle bus. and visit Banpo Bridge. See: SHUTTLE BUS TIMETABLE INFORMATION

Banpo bridge shows the rainbow fountain at certain timing. For more info visit the visit korea website.

Since Banpo bridge located near the Sinsa area, I have decided to try the BEST GALBIJIM in SEOUL and that is Gangnam Myun-Oak at 588-9 Sinsa Dong. 

Day 8: Itaweon + Insadong
Itaewon is known as a tourist area and one of the must visit place is the Ssaemgil Mall.

For brekkie, I decided that we should travel down and try Bizeun or Jilsiru that serves Traditional Korean Cake.

I foresee I won't take too long here and would go to Insadong by arvo. For lunch, I want to try a Tong-in Dosirak Cafe. It's a market with a street of food to choose from. So the idea is to exchange your cash with the oldies coins and use it to buy the food there. Sounds like a lot of fun.

The whole trip I have not plan any hanbok experience and would squeeze one here. Some of the places I have gathered include:
Hanok Village
M Plaza Tourist Center
and
Samcheonggak (which I have reserved a place for lunch on a some of the day and not sure when. GAWD)

For tea, my plan is to visit the Beautiful Tea Museum.

I have also booked my Nanta ticket through their website and get a mighty 30% discount. They only open the online reservation on the month before the show.

For more info: NANTA

Dinner would be Bongchu Jjimdak. NOMNOM

Day 9
Last day and I hope I have plan everything well. For brekkie, I want to visit Yeolchajip that sells Biddateok. Apparently one of the best biddateok.

Since, I might have time for lunch, I guess I would visit Yoogane Dakgalbi for a quick lunch before heading to the airport. Either that or some crazy last minute shopping.


So, that's all for now. Hope you enjoy this. I tried to make it in a table format but my HTML skill is horrid. So, while I polish on that, I would learn to be contented by this.

and whoever out there following this itinerary, HAVE A FUN TRIP!!!!