Lucky Stars (random thoughts)

I'm grateful to all the lucky stars in my life who have made my life easier and smooth sailing (of cos I've hiccups here and there too but somehow things managed to work out in the end).

Slightly more than 5 years ago, I came to know one of the lucky stars (probably also the shiniest among all).

This lucky star was there for me all throughout the past 5 years, be it good times or bad times.

Lately, this lucky star seem to be disappearing as days goes by, I can't see its sparkles anymore. Probably it is up back into the sky where it should belong right from the start.

Twinkle twinkle little star,
How i wonder what you are.
Up above the sky so high, 
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle twinkle little star, 
How I wonder what you are.

I love Saturday!

Ever since I started working, weekends are really precious to me. As i age (sad to say), I usually only go out on Saturday and spend my Sunday resting at home (routine: wake up, eat, watch tv, nap, watch tv, eat, sleep).

Last Saturday, Mr Tan and I began our day with brunch at Symmetry.

Ootd:

Romper - Lolliepopbestie

Red flats - Ferragamo 

Sling bag - Rebecca Minkoff Mini Mac

Symmetry 

9 Jalan Kubor #01-01

Tel: 6291 9901

Menu
(Click to view details)

We were spoilt for choices. The staff who attended to us was very friendly and helpful and gave some recommendations.

The standard photo while waiting for our food :)

Flan

Quite similiar to Egg Benedict which I will never get sick of it.

Hickory Corned Beef & Hash

I'm a corned beef lover and I love this! 

Potato Fries (with truffle oil)

This is AWESOME

 The portion is good for sharing between 3-4pax

We enjoyed the food at Symmetry very much, will definitely go back to try the rest of the food on the menu.

Headed to Salonvim@313 to fix my hair. Did soft rebonding touch up for my roots and permed my ends.  The 3hours + butt torturing session is all worth it. 

End result :)

Can't wait for 21 Dec to give my hair a new colour + treatment. I can't stand my black roots and multi faded tones on my head. It would be just in time for Christmas and darling Lily's wedding, and hopefully the colour can last till CNY too (1 stone kill 3 birds. Hehe). 

After all the rush to look pretty for Christmas, CNY will arrive in a blink of eye. Time to start shopping for CNY clothes! (another good excuse to buy more clothes).

Korea (Seoul) Trip Part IV (Gyeongbukong Palace, Tosokchon, Namdaemun, N Seoul Tower, Teddy Bear Museum)

Day 4 (28 Oct 2013, Wednesday)

OOTD:

Two-toned dress - F21

Long cardigan - Dongdaemun

Ribbon prints stocking - Japan

Leopard prints boots - H&M (kids)

Doing what tourists do 1 - Take photo at the subway station

 

 Doing what tourists do 2 - Take photo inside the subway

 

We alighted at Gyeongbukong station to visit Gyeongbukong Palace. A trip to Seoul isn't complete without visiting at least 1 palace.

Gyeongbokgung Palace

Add: 1-1 Sejongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Line 3 Gyeongbokgung Stn. Exit 5 and walk 5 minutes

 

Operating hours*:  09:00 to 18:00 (Sep & Oct)

*Closed on Tuesdays

Fee: ₩3,000 (adult)

 

We were rushing to reach there before 11am to be in time for the English guided tour at 11am. Thank god we made it in time else we have to wait till 1.30pm for the next tour.

The excited Tans

We gathered outside the information center which is located inside Heungnyemun (Gate) to wait for the tour to start.

This is our English speaking tour guide for the 1 hour tour.

She can speak decent English but not too friendly 

(she specifically told us not to take pictures of her while she is talking as she might get distracted).

I would encourage everyone to join the tour instead of walking around yourselves. The tour guide did a great job of sharing with us the history and culture of the old Korea. I've learnt some interesting facts (e,g the king's boring daily routine).

Love these not-that-autumn leaves

Love in Autumn

With the 2 guards at the front gate 

The guard in red has 90% resemblance to Jay Chou. I kid you not.

Left: Jay Chou

Right: Guard

Both of us were famished by the time we left the palace and we headed for our lunch at Tosokchon which is within walking distance from the palace.

Tosokchon (토속촌) 

Add: 5, Jahamun-ro 5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul 

서울 종로구 자하문로5길 5 (체부동)

 

Gyeongbokgung Station (Seoul Subway Line 3), Exit 2.

Go straight about 170m and turn left onto Jahamun-ro 5-gil Road.

Tosokchon (토속촌) is located 10m ahead on the left.

 

Opening Hours: 10:00-22:00

Tel: +82-2-737-7444

 

If you are looking for somewhere to indulge in authentic Korean ginseng chicken soup (samgyetang), Tosokchon is a place that you should be going.

Thanks to the prepaid card with 3G + google map, it didn't take us long to find the restaurant. 

I knew that we had arrived at the correct restaurant when I saw this long queue.

Despite the long queue, we waited for about 15mins only. Koreans are efficient workers I guess?

Wear something comfortable when you are heading to Tosokchon as you will be eating from a low table and sitting on a cushion on the floor. 

The inside of the restaurant

We chose no.2 (the basic)

The mister waiting for lunch to be served

 

 The complimentary appetizer

We ordered 1 ginseng chicken soup to share which I thought its good enough. Some of the Koreans ordered 1 each and wonder how are they going to finish it.

We waited very long for this seafood pancake, it didn't arrive even after we finish the ginseng chicken soup. Good things are always worth waiting for though.

Both of us left the place with cramped legs, thank god Chinese culture doesn't require us to sit on the floor to dine. We went to Namduemn Market next.

Namdaemun Market 

Near Exit #5, 6, or 7 of Hoehyeon Station (Subway Line 4)

Namdaemum Market reminds me of Pratunam Market at Bangkok. All the stores are selling similar things. I wish it was spring so that I could buy some cheap apparels back.

We hung around at Namdaemum Market for an hour or so and went to N Seoul Tower. 

There are a few ways to get up to N Seoul Tower:

1) by foot (its a no-no for me)

2) by bus

3) by cable car (my preferred choice)

N Seoul Tower (N 서울타워)

Cable car: runs every 10 mins, travel for 3mins

Operating Hours: 10:00 to 23:00

Fee: ₩ 8,500  (return ticket)

        ₩6.000  (1 way ticket)

Yay! We are approaching N Seoul Tower!

I was extremely tired when I got down from the cable car and requested to rest my feet at the open space café before we climb up to N Seoul Tower.

Please buy the twisted potato when you pass by this café.

The twisted potato is nicer than those that I tried at Myeongdong street stalls. It is  freshly prepared on the spot so its hot and crispy when u sink your teeth in. AWESOME.

The steps leading to N Seoul Tower.

We headed straight to the souvenir/gift shop to buy a love lock. Other than lock lock, message tag is also available for sale.

Breathtaking view from the Roof Terrace

The Tans with their love lock

We joined in the fun and did what lovers will do at N Seoul Tower - locking their love

 Sunset view never fail to take my heart away

There is a story behind this bench that we sat on

(a story about bringing 2 strangers together)

We decided to skip the observatory tower and went to the Teddy Bear Museum (also located at N Seoul Tower) next . I'm a big fan of cutesy stuff :p

Paid ₩8,000 to get in

We spent about 40 mins inside. I was too tired to enjoy all the exhibitions inside whereas Jeff was happily snapping away.

The Gangam style bear

We met up with my cousin and his gf for dinner at Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market. It's a wholesale market that you can buy fresh seafood from the stalls and go to a restaurant of your choice to ask the chef  to cook the seafood in your preferred method (with a small fee of cos). 

 

Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market (노량진수산시장)

Add: 13-8 Noryangjin-dong, Dongjak-gu

 동작구 노량진동 13-8

Subway: Noryangjin station, Line 1 or 9. Exit 1 and walk 100m over the bridge

Too many stalls to choose from and we have no clue which stall is better. We were worried that we will be ripped off as we are tourists. We ended up picking a stall randomly though.

This is the restaurant that we chose (see name card  below).
I guess its sort of tied up with the seafood stall as a mandarin speaking staff from the restaurant was the one who helped us to pick the seafood.

In total, we paid ₩127,000 for the seafood and ₩52,000 at the restaurant (for the cooking fee + fried rice + beer).

 

Fresh salmon sashimi for only ₩10,000.

I love sashimi!

8 scallops for ₩20,000

Cooking method: BBQ (recommended by the restaurant)

 

8 prawns for ₩20,000

Cooking method: BBQ (the restaurant recommended to steam them though)

King Crab for ₩39,000

Cooking method: Steam (recommended by the restaurant)

Flat fish for ₩38,000

Cooking method: cook the fish in the spicy soup (taste a little like tom yum but less sour)

Fried rice cooked with the eggs from the King crab that we ordered

 

It was a great dining experience at Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market. I will definitely go back there again for the fresh and quality seafood.

 

Stay tuned to part V of my Korea Trip! :)