The previous post, I have been updated the story about the Winter Birthday Holiday to Seoul, Korea in January 2019 (Part 1) within 3 days, which is from 19 – 21 January 2019. Then, in this part 2 – I will continue the story from 22 -24 January 2019. On next day [22 January 2019 (Tuesday)], we're going to the Namdaemun Market for shopping some souvenirs. This place is quite popular among tourist and local too. Most things sell in this place is quite cheap too.
Then, we going to the Itaewon to taking lunch at the Plant Café & Kitchen. As the title of this café, they provided the vegans' menu to the customers. The themes of this café are tropical, unique and creative with a lot of plants on every corner in the café. Its make me feel like in Bali sometimes. I like it so much and I can relax enjoy my meals in this café. This café looks quite small on the second floors but it's nice. Maybe this café can fit around 20 – 30 persons in one time. The operation hours from Monday to Saturday, 11:00 am until 10:00 pm (Kitchen closes by 09:00 pm). This café closed on every Sunday.
I have been ordered our lunch – start from the drinks, I order the Hot Apple Ginger Tea (KRW 7,000 ~ RM 26.00) and Yuja Citron Tea (KRW 5,000 ~ RM 19.00) from the Specialty & Seasonal Drinks in the menu. Then, I order the Caesar Salad (KRW 12,000 ~ RM 45.00) and Mushroom Burger (KRW 14,500 ~ RM 54.00). My mom chooses the Yuja Citron Tea and Caesar Salad. The Caesar Salad comes with the green salad mix, herbed croutons, tofu cubes, cashew-based Caesar dressing, grated parmesan cheese, fried onions, and toasted multigrain bread. This salad is quite normal for us and nothing special.
I choose the Hot Apple Ginger Tea and Mushroom Burger. The Mushroom Burger comes with plant veggie patty, topped with creamed mushrooms, mozzarella cheese, red onion, lightly pickled paprika, and garlic mayo. This Mushroom Burger is new in the menu and I like to try it. My mom and I like a mushroom but this mushroom burger not really suit our taste at all. The plant veggie patty inside the burger is like the variety of nuts and its mix until it looks like meat burger but it's just a mix nuts. The topped creamed mushrooms are delicious but I don't like the plant veggie patty.
Address: 2nd Floor, Itaewon-dong 130-43, Yongsan-gu, Seoul.
Direction: [Subway] Itaewon Station (Line 6), Exit 4.
After lunch, we are going to the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) area. Just for shopping again before we take our dinner at the Yang Good Restaurant in Gangnam. This is my mom first time take a dinner that the Yang Good Restaurant. We order some BBQ Lamb but I already forget the menu and the price. Then, we straight go back home and rest.
On next day [23 January 2019 (Wednesday)], we're going to the Insa-dong area. The focal point of lively Insadong is its pedestrianized main street, which is crammed with teahouses and Korean eateries, plus shops selling traditional goods like pottery, tea, and handmade hanji paper. The offbeat Ssamziegil complex has cozy cafes and mural-lined stairwells leading to a roof terrace, while the Hakgojae gallery shows modern art. Leafy Tapgol Park has a massive stone pagoda. I like this place, especially at the Insadong Ssamziegil – where the place, I could find anything related to the Korean Traditional goods and also the goods from the local artist. Most stores are open every day from 10:30 am – 08:30 pm.
In this place, I can buy the most items I wish to have in my life which is Modern Hanbok (the traditional dress of Korea but in the modern style), and Korean stamp (knows as Dojang). I never imagine that I could have these items when I visit the Insadong. I bought the 1 set of modern hanbok with the price is KRW 137,000 (RM 508.30) and the Dojang of my Korean name (니나 이나니 – Nina Enany) with the price is KRW 30,000 (RM 111.30). Maybe from some of you will see these things are petty expensive but I love to have it as my personal collection of Korean culture. After that, we're going to Myeongdong and early dinner and walk around before going back home to rest.
Address: 44, Insadong-gil, Jong-no, Seoul
Direction: [Subway] Anguk Station (Line 3), Exit 6.
On next day [24 January 2019 (Thursday)], we're going to the Ikseon-dong area. This is a new popular place among local and it mostly looks like Hanok Village (known as Traditional Korean House Village). It is a nice place to take a lot of photo for Instagram even to hang out at the café in this place also nice. But the alley is quite small so it is quite difficult to take photos because of a lot of people. Just be patient if you wish to take the photos in this place.
Address: Areas of Supyo-ro 28-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Direction: [Subway] Jongno 3(sam)-ga Station (Line 5), Exit 4.
Then, we're going to Hongdae area to taking our late lunch at the Big Guy Lobster, Hongdae Branch. My mom and I are love seafood so much. We take this chance to eat lobster at this restaurant just close by with the subway of Hongik University Station (Line 2), Exit 1. We're ordered the Grilled Lobster (KRW 33,900 – RM 125.80) for me and Cheese Lobster (KRW 33,900 – RM 125.80) for my mom. The drink we choose Pepsi 2 cans (KRW 2,260/each – RM 8.40).
After lunch, we decided to walk around the Hongdae area. I also never miss visiting the Stylenanda Store and Chu Store. I just want to look at the new collection if something nice for me to buy.
Lucky, I found the Carin Hongdae Lounge + Café even I not really have intention on that time to find this café. The funny things, we're just walking around the Hongdae area for looking something nice to buy – then, we're passing-by this café and I'm immediately recognized this café. Lucky, it does not have many customers in this café on that time so we decide to hang out there.
The Carin Lounge is a pink and gold boutique that sells sunglasses. I just knew this Carin Lounge was upgraded their store to new fancy pink and gold in the last year 2018. Then, it's become trading on Instagram. I like this beautiful and elegant space store, where I can hang out and relax with a cup of coffee – at the same time, I can look some sunglasses in that store.
The desserts and coffee come from collaboration with JL Dessert Bar and come with a hefty price tag. I just order the Hot Rose Latte with the price is KRW 6,500 (RM 24.20) and the Hot Choco Latte for my mom with the price is KRW 6,500 (RM 24.20). I like the taste of hot Rose Latte and its suit to my taste. I never fail to snap a few photos in this store, while I relax with my Rose Latte. Its nice place to hang out after tired shopping in this area. The Hongdae area is never making me feeling boring if I plan to go there every day during my holiday. It is because this area has a lot of café and unique stores. I will miss this place so much.
Address: 7 Hongik-ro 2-gil, Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul.
Direction: [Subway] Hongik University Station (Line 2), Exit 9.
In this post, I just combine the stories of the three days trip to Seoul, Korea. Even it's my seventh time traveling to Seoul, Korea. I'm sure that I will back again to South Korea in the future with more new destinations to explore. I'm will continue to do the project of #CaféSeries; #UniqueStore; and #HalalRestaurant; or maybe I will do the combination of this project if I'm going to Japan or in different countries in future. If you have any questions, just comment down below or email to me.
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