Travel Guide South Korea

Courtesy of pwllmd

I don't know where in Seoul did he/she take this photo at. This is just so neat! Yes, I know..it's somehow a minimal vandalism but in a pretty scale. Who cares! Hehe. I wish to know this excellent artist but probably they will do their 'activity' in the wee hour of dawn right? Arghh..it's too dangerous to wander around Seoul to catch them in action around that time I think. Better stick to my bed..hehe.

Here's another one.
Courtesy of Harmonic Paroxysm

Don't you feel the heat? Oops..my blunder. The 'HATE'. The red, white and black concoction really brings out the feeling don't you think. Where is this place anyway? Any koreans out there would care to give me a tip? Is it in dark, grimy alleys somewhere in Seoul/Busan/Daegu? This artist probably a graduate with metaphysic as one of his subject. Most 'HATEFUL' subject. Hahaha..I am at subpar level too when it comes to any 'PHYSICS' word related. My physics teacher can vouch for that cause I often made her life hell when my tests always came with red marks

Finally, my favourite... Hangang Park


Courtesy of mlkozlowski

Wow! I have always love beautiful, well tended park. But..a park with cool graffiti like this is hard to ignore. Go to mlkozlowski Flickr Stream for more of Hangang Park's graffiti. Will try to include this in one of my list for a lovely evening stroll.

To go to Hangang Park:

- Ttukseom district: Exit 2 or 3 of Ttukseom Resort station (Seoul Subway Line 7).
- Gwangnaru district: From exit 1 of Cheonho station (Seoul Subway Line 5 & 8), walk 20 min.
- Yeouido District: Exit 2 or 3 of Yeouinaru station (Seoul Subway Line 5).
- Yanghwa district: From exit 4 of Dangsan station (Seoul Subway Line 2), walk 10 min.

Bong! I'm coming to Seoul! Goshh..I felt like a teenager already. Aigoo..aigoo..at this ahjumma age. Hahah..Anyway, the countdown is nearer. My heart can't handle it anymore. Everyday looking at July calendar with Bong's picture like that waiting for me in Seoul. Haha..Wake up, girl!

Today I have sent WWOOF Korea's membership details to jade and made USD50 payment via Paypal. Within 2 weeks the document will arrive and Jade will seek the appropriate farms for me in another 2 weeks. By middle of august I would confirm with the hosts.

Middle of august, will tender my resignation. End of August or early September, will book the hostel and confirm on couch surfers location.

27th September -- The D Day!!

Yeayy!! Halal Food in Korea is coming! Well, to some it's easy to find food there but to me upon hearing this news I felt like finding my lost item, at last!! Thank you so much Korea Tourism Organization (KTO). I am starting to imagine, I could eat that bulgogi anyway. Yessss!

KTO had organized a session of 40 travel agents; explaining to them about Islam and Muslim's way of life to attract them to travel to Korea. Hence, Halal lunchbox created and Muslims can enjoy their holiday with no worries of food.

It's pretty wise of them to do that cause muslims will come in flocks to Korea, not only because of Hallyu influence. KTO also recently opened a prayer room at the Tourism Information Center (TIC) on the first basement floor of its headquarters, so that Muslim tourists can visit. There's another reason why I should visit TIC this coming September.


Source: Korea Timesrahnita@koreatimes.co.kr

This time, I'm hunting on Budget Female Dormitory in Seoul. Why? Hmm..sometimes a lady need privacy. What if it's just like in my situation? I'm a single lady traveling alone on a budget. To rent a single room is a bit expensive but to stay in mixed dormitory? I would like some personal space please. Please..I am not a feminist. Don't condemn me for that. It's just because a Muslim lady need an extra special space. Hehe..

So here are the options of female only dormitory with budget less than 25,000 Won/night (in no particular order/rating). Reminder: The rate may change based on season/off-season/weekend :

1. G-haus in Mapo-Gu



Rate: 20,000 Won/night

By subway
8 mins from Hongik University exit 5 - Line number 2
5 mins from Hapjeong exit 3 - Line number 2 & 6


2. Golden Pond Guesthouse in Jong-no gu




Rate: 17,000 Won/night
*Pls ask for female dormitory explicitly


By subway
10 minutes from the Hyehwa Station - Line number 4, Exit 4

3. Bebop Guesthouse in Mapo-gu


Rate: 20,000 - 23,000 Won/night
*Pls ask for female dormitory explicitly

By subway
10 minutes from the Hongik University Station - Line number 2, Exit 1


4. Windroad Guesthouse and Windflower Guesthouse in Jongno-gu

Rate: 17,000 - 19,000 Won/night
*Pls ask for female dormitory explicitly

By subway
10 minutes from the Hyehwa Station - Line number 4, Exit 4


5. Open Guest House in Seong-Book Gu

Rate: 20,000 - 23,000 Won/night
*Pls ask for female dormitory explicitly

By subway
10 minutes from the Hansung University Station - Line number 4, Exit 5

6. Banana Backpackers in Jongno-gu


Rate: 20,000 - 22,000 Won/night
*Pls ask for female dormitory explicitly

By subway
10 minutes from the Anguk Station - Line number 3, Exit 4

7. Carpe Diem Guesthouse in Mapo-Gu (exclusively for female)


Rate: 20,000 Won/night

By subway
10 minutes from the Hongik University Station - Line 2, Exit 1

8. Beewon guesthouse in Jongno-gu


Rate: 19,000 Won/night
*Pls ask for female dormitory explicitly

By subway
10 minutes from the Anguk Station - Line 3, Exit 4

9. Happy Guesthouse in Jung-gu (Woman and family only)


Rate: 15,000 Won/night

By subway
10 minutes from the Beotigogae station - Line 6, Exit 3 or 1

10. Holiday in Korea Guesthouse in Jongno-gu

Rate: 18,000 Won/night
*Pls ask for female dormitory explicitly


By subway
10 minutes from the Anguk station - Line 3, Exit 4
10 minutes from the Jongno-3 ga station - Line 3 OR 5, Exit 6

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Today I came across Mr Hyun Woo Sun's interesting website : SendMeToKorea while searching on Bungee Jumping in Korea. Incidentally, he has written about this competition for bloggers to rave about their South Korea's experience. Well, I have not had the chance to been there yet but gonna do in this coming September. Oh, nevermind..it's fun to join this kinda healthy competition anyway. Come all bloggers, unite!

Step 1: You may go to here to register: Blog Korea! Visit Korea!



Step 2: Register for Speak & Share Metablog




Step 3: Keep blogging!

It's easy and after that just cross your fingers that you will be chosen.

Initial prizes comprised of LG Notebook, Samsung Digital Cameras, Iriver Mp3 players.
The grand prizes would be: Trip to Korea for the selected 30 active bloggers!

Wow! I wish this competition has started before I've bought my tickets. Arghhh.. I'm already in Seoul in October. T_T

The culprit is the virus. To be H1N1 or not to be H1N1. Life is really fair. Haha..just like yin yang. Due to this virus, the air tickets prices has been cut down extremely. Everyone is scared now to travel overseas but as always there would be risk. For budget travelers, this is a news worth to cheer for.

As usual these promotion would only cover flight to Seoul/Busan only from Malaysia. Taken into consideration all payment can be done online and the site has e-ticketing facilities.

1. Malaysia Airlines (MAS)

Currently they are having promotion for booking from 22nd June - 5th July 2009 , traveling from 29th June - 15th Dec 2009 .

Their one way promo (exclusive insurance and extra baggage):

	Origin	Destination	Travel Dates		All-inclusive Fares
	Kota Kinabalu	Seoul	29 JUN 2009 - 15 DEC 2009		MYR 518
	Kuala Lumpur	Seoul	29 JUN 2009 - 15 DEC 2009		MYR 598

Sample Search: From 30th Oct - 8th Nov (10 days) = MYR1,224

Flight Details
Departure date	Flight
Fri, 30 Oct 2009	MH66 Economy
From
23:30 Kuala Lumpur International Airport
To
07:10 Seoul - Incheon
Return date	Flight
Sun, 08 Nov 2009	MH67 Economy
From
11:00 Seoul - Incheon
To
16:35 Kuala Lumpur International Airport
Total price including tax	MYR 1224.00

Sample search: 14th July to 14th Dec (5 months) = MYR1,224



I like this entry called Stimulus package. They outline exactly when the promotion is on and who is eligible for tickets purchase.


2. Cathay Pacific

I really love Cathay's user friendly website but their promotion travel period normally limits from 14 days to maximum 1 month which makes MAS is more preferrable airline.

MAS allows the maximum travel period eg 14th July - 14th Dec 2009 (5 months) with cheaper price.

Click here for latest promotion departing from Kuala Lumpur

3. Singapore Airlines (SIA)

SIA also bidding for the war price but unfortunately they don't offer Seoul as one of the destination. You can check here for more offers departing from Kuala Lumpur