[Korea]Go Guan Studio

Initially, I wanted to do day to day entry but I haven't sorted all 1 billion photos that I took. So, I am now writing about Go Guan Photo Studio.

This is a popular hanbok photo studio located at Insadong offering over 300 types of hanbok for males, females, babies, you name it!! Unfortunately, a mere google search won't bring you to their homepage straight away (somehow) and not many people feature them in blogs. I found some of very useful blogs that mentions their whereabout (i.e. Address) but not many pictures testifying how good they are!

Anyway, went there a few days ago for some proper hanbok photos. The reason why I don't just take it at free counters was because I feel that if I want to do it, I want to do it right. This place offers makeups and hairs (you'll see it later, keep reading).

I made a reservation twice with no reply so I just went there and told them I tried to e-mail them but they didn't reply. They seem to know what I was talking about (maybe they just can't speak english or reply in english so they didn't reply) but the most important thing is, it didn't take us too long to get attended. We were brought to the 2nd level of the studio where we were asked to wait for the owner to consult us with their "photo menu". The room has plenty of papers hanging with previous visitors penning their memorable moments at Go Guan.

I chose the couple set that comes with 2 dress + 1 album + 1 cd + 2 pages photo + 4 pocket size photo for 150,000 WON. Price for couple starts at 90,000WON if I'm not mistaken. Oh, also, if you choose a hanbok other than the normal looking ones, you need to add an extra 5,000WON. I think its worth the money so I took that option.

So, after you decided which dress you want, they will bring you down to their make up studio to get your hair and makeup done. I had lotsa fun with the photographer. She can't really speak English nor Chinese so I used a lot of hand signals and broken Korean to convey my messages. We got to have our own time in their set too. The professional photos are taken in their studios while the set are there for you to take with your own cam. I was ever so grateful I purchased my Canon! I had a heck of a picture which I might will share after I edit them.

So, here the long awaited pictures!

Go Guan
143 Insadong-gil, Seoul
website: www.goguan.net
Direction: From Anguk Station exit 6, walk straight on the Insadong-gil (where ssaemzigil etc located), keep walking straight, the place is almost all the way at the end. If you happen to see the red volunteer tourist guide, ask them for more guidance but this place should be easy enough to spot!

The good thing about this place is they don't just let you choose everything blindly, they would give their recommendation as well. I was confused with so many hanbok selections and they help me pointing out the best and to choose different shade for the 2 outfits that I have. I always wanted the Queen outfit so I opted for that one and cost me 5,000WON more but it's sooo worth it. I love it to bits. Plus, the material is so good, I really want one :(

Anyway, hope this helps. If you have any question, feel free to comment below or email me.

Cheers!

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