Seoul 2012 Sinchon-Ehwa-BonJok

Day 4 was shopping day. Normally people will goes to Myeong dong for shopping but my cousin sister's friend recommend me to Sinchon and Ehwa instead. Sinchon is full with different typical Korean restaurant which is cheap and cute stationery shop while Ehwa is place for fashion shopping. Everything are relatively cheap since their targeted market are students from nearby universities.

Lunch of the day is Korean BBQ (First korean bbq in Seoul) even though we started to have sore throat. Coca cola turns out to be our cure for sore throat. Initially we enter one BBQ restaurant at a tall building and only realized that they only served beef. So we sneak out secretly and went to another restaurant along the street that has a piggy picture on the banner. 

Korean BBQ tastes the best in Korea. I can't find back such a nice BBQ back in Malaysia although the restaurant is owned by Korean. BBQ in seoul is all self service compared in Malaysia where there are people to cook for you. Continue our shopping spree after brunch in the direction of heading to Ehwa. We basically entered every different cosmetic shop we pass by and bought at least few masks from the shop.

Found myself a ankle boot that cost only 10,000won inside M plaza and few clothes that cost less than 10,000won. Along the street to Ehwa university, there are a lot of shop selling cute and lovely designed socks and earrings. Prices as low as 1,000 won! The socks are the best souvenir you can get for your friends.

At the end of the street, we reached Ehwa University. The university is famous for it building design.  How I wish I can study in such an amazing environment. Not to said Nottingham is bad, but the design just way too simple.

Ehwa University 이화여자대학교Address: 서울특별시 서대문구 이화여대길 52
How to get there: Ewha Womans University Station Ext 2 or 3, 5 mins walk 

We shopped too much that we need to drop our thing in hostel due to it's too heavy to carry around. Dinner was spent in Bonjuk right opposite of Chungmuro Residence. It's an korean traditional porridge francaise since both of us were in the mid of falling sick.  I ordered the pumpkin porridge which tastes like dessert rather than porridge. Peiwen ordered tuna porridge which is surprisingly tasty.

Bonjuk 본죽 (Chungmuro)Opening hours: 8:00-22:00
Address:서울 중구 충무로2가2층
How to get there: Chungmuro station Exit 1, walk straight and turn right when you see the cross road

There are more than 1000 franchise in Korea. So you can find it easily everywhere. They offered variety of porridge from the traditional one to nutrition one. The porridge is prepared after order instead of ready made. It's definitely worth trying and escape from spicy and heaty food in Korea.

----------------------Activity after dinner will be continue on next post. :)-------------------------------------

Seoul 2012 KINTEX/3D art exhibition + IMAX cinema + SUKIRA (KTR)

If you think that the previous days are too fangirl, we will show you the definition of real crazy/hardcore fan girl more on Day 3. We woke up at 4.30am KST in the morning so that we can catch the first train at 5.30 to Yeouido to reserve a standing place for Kiss the radio broadcast at night. The broadcast is in KBS, Yeoido. Spent an hour on train with two transit to travel from Chungmuro to Yeouido. We reached there around 6.30am and the front row is fully reserved by others.

The recording studio

What to write to reserve a place:

1. Your name  and your friends' name
2. Date and time
3. Number of people
4. Programme "Super Junior kiss the radio".
If possible, leave down your contact number too.

Reminder: Remember to take a picture of your reserve paper cause on and off there will have staff remove the paper. Bring a pen and cellotape along to stick your paper. We actually bought one on your way in the convenient shop. Lol

Breakfast was spent in a random restaurant in City hall station. City hall Station is a place where all office located. It is full of people dress in smart office attire and tall office building. The  restaurant is famous for it bibimbap and from the portrait on the wall it is interviewed on TV before. Unfortunately I can't remember the name of the restaurant.

Next we headed to KINTEX which stands for Korea International Exhibition Center . A 3D art exhibition of K-pop idol was held there during our period of visit. So we decided to visit it rather than normal Trick Eyes Museum. The entrance ticket was 12,000 won which is more or less the same with Trick Eyes Museum too.

KINTEX(킨텍스)Address: 경기도 고양시 일산서구 한류월드로 408 (대화동)
How to get there: Daehwa Station (Subway Line 3), Exit 2. Go straight for 65m, and cross Juhwa-ro Street. Follow the walkway through the apartment complex (450m), and cross Hosu-ro Street. Go straight for 120m to arrive at KINTEX.

We spent around 3 hours here playing around with all the 3D arts.My favourite piece of 3D art is definitely the angel and demon TVXQ with me. (Since I fail to bump into them in Seoul as they are in Japan.) We rushed to IMAX theater at Suwon station after it. Reason behind, Sungmin and Kyuhyun were promoting SMTown I AM movie there!!! Both are my biased in Suju. Meanwhile we have our late lunch at the food court of Suwon.  First experience to see a artist in cinema and first time watched a movie in Korean (Thanks god I still can understand half of it). 

This was indeed a very special experience. The hall is full with fans equipped with professional camera like a reporter. The flash light is never ending throughout the 10 minutes when oppa were there. (kind pity their eyes) and Yes! They only there for 10 minutes and proceed to next hall after this. Surprisingly most of the fans follows leave for the next hall too. The movie is just like documentary. The funniest part I remember was Victoria filming for SHINEE's music video. She can't speak Korean at all at that time and now she is the leader of fx. This motivated me to learn Korean language.

We watched the movie till the end and rushed back to Yeouido for KTR broadcast. Once we reached there, it was Yoo In Na broastcast time. We saw few fanboy standing infront of the glass and shouting noona saranghae. The power of fanboy. Meanwhile there are a lot of ELFs were there on the bench. Our place is took by another group of fans from Taiwan and we compared our picture to see who arrives first. Anyway we shared the benches together at the end since we hardly can see without standing on it. That's how close we can see our oppa. Sungmin keep walking out and eating the snack provide by fans and dancing while eating the pudding. (Super fanservice). Ryeowook keep himself inside the studio throughout the broadcast. 

Mission accomplished for being a day of hardcore fangirls! It was tiring but a once in a lifetime experience. At the end of the day, we are too tired that we only bought sandwiches from convenient stall as our dinner. 

Seoul 2012 SinSadong-Apgujeong/Kona Beans-GyePan

After visiting the star agency, we went to Shinsadong Garosu-gil that is a station away from Apgujeong. Garosu-gil stands for tree-lined streets. It consists of fashion and restaurant along the tree lined street. It's like a street where the korean drama main lead will walk around when they feel sad or on their way to work and meets their lovers.

Sinsa-dong Garosu-gil 신사동 가로수길
Address:서울 강남구 신사동
How to get there: Sinsa Station Ext 8, walk straight for approximately 250m and turned left.

The street is short where you can finish walking to the end of it within half an hour. Provided you didn't went in to every shop. Then we back to apgujeong for high tea in Kona Beans. This shop is opened by the mothers of SungMin, LeeTeuk and KyuHyun from super Junior. Once in a blue moon, you might find them helping out in the coffee shop. The coffee served is normal that sell at the same price with Starbuck. When we were there we saw one of the member mother in the shop according to PeiWen but i have no idea whose member is. 

KonaBeans코나빈스
Opening hours: 7:00-23:00
Address:13 Apgujeong-ro 42-gil (640-9 Sinsa-dong) Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
How to get there: Apgujeong Station Ext 2

Once we recharged inside the coffee shop, we went back to SM Entertainment to meet with PeiWen's friend. A very pro kpop fans where she can remember the idol car plate number. While talking with her there, we bump to SHINEE Jonghyun and Super Junior KangIn. I can't get a clear picture from it as they just walk pass for like less than a minutes waving to fans and enter the building immediately. SHINEE Jonghyun looks tiny and Kangin totally doesn't has idol feel. haha

Our dinner was spent in GyePan restaurant and bar.A very hidden restaurant owned by Shinhwa's member Minwoo. I managed to find the shop thanks to the direction given by one of the unnie on Weibo. 

Gyepan개판Opening hours:19:00 till midnight
Address:서울 강남구 신사동 647-4 1층
How to get there: With you back facing KyoChon Chicken, go to the second small road and walk straight till you see the shop. (Another detailed tutorial refer here.)

We ordered a Deobokki Stewed and Kimchi Pancake because these are the only words I recognised from the munu. Now they have a English and Chinese menu done by China's ChangJo.  The food is really good although it is slightly spicy. The portion is big. They served us free hot seaweed soup too!

Occasionally Shinhwa member will spend their night here if you are lucky. There is a large screen inside the shop showing variety show. It's a place for people to relax after their work with soju and food match with soju.

Seoul 2012 Apgujeong/KyoChon-Everysing-SM entertaiment-JYP

Day 2 in Seoul was spent in apgujeong (압구정/狎鸥亭) in Cheondam dong. Took Line 3 MRT to Apgujeong station from Chungmuro station. Another thing I love about staying in Chungmuro, it has two MRT line which is very convenient.

Apgujeong is a places full with branded shop, plastic surgery clinic, cafe and Star Agency. Apgujeong in the morning is similar to Bukit Bintang in Malaysia. You can see coffee shop everywhere in Korea. Our first stop of the day was brunch at Kyochon Chicken that is endorse by our favourite Super Junior. The shop didn't open sharp in time that cause us waited outside for some time. Previously Shinhwa was the shareholder of this shop thus you can find shinhwa palm print and signed poster inside the shop. 

Kyochon Chicken 교촌치킨 (Apgujeong압구정)
Opening hours: 11:00-24:00
Address: 640-5, Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu | #1, 1F, Daesung Bldg., Seoul, South Korea
How to get there: Apgujeong Rodeo Station Exit 6. or Apgujeong Station Exit 2. Walk straight for approximately 5-10mins and turn right after han bank. The shop is located at the right. 

The fried chicken cost us around 15,000 won but worth the price as it tastes awesome. Although it is weird to eat it as brunch. After brunch at Kyochon, we went to Everysing which is just few steps away from Kyochon. It is a merchandise shop owned by SM Entertainment. They sell official goods of SM labelled artist and also some merchandise of other artist. 

Everysing에브리싱 

Opening hours: 11:00~23:00

Address: 31 Seolleung-ro 161-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea

How to get there: Apgujeong station, take exit 2. Above GS25. 

Other than selling merchandise, Everysing also has photosticker booth where you can take picture with your idol literally. We went there for their Karaoke too. Singing for an hour cost us 14,000won, comes with two cans of drink and a snack.  A good looking oppa taught us how to use the remote control to order songs. He is surprised that I can read Korean words. Karaoke in Korea doesn't comes with the original MV of the songs. Instead they will show you other except SM artist songs. 

Whenever a songs finished, the system will awarded you with a grade. Not really based on singing skill I guess since the lowest mark I got is around 60+ due to I can't rap in Korean. LOL It will laugh at you if your score less than 80 and the laughing sound sounds like SuperJunior Shindong. haha

Next we walked to SM Entertainment and JYP Entertainment. You can see a lot of fans standing outside the building waiting for their favourite artist outside. Not only korean, but Japanese, Chinese etc. The SM Entertainment building we went was an old building. Now they shifted it to the new building which is somewhere in somewhere nearby JYP Entertainment. 

Along the street, there are a lot of plastic surgery centre and beautiful bridal gallery. 

Dear future husbands, I want our wedding photoshoot to be done in Korea in the future. :) Please makes my dream come true.