SK Trip Diary: Food Trip, Seoul style

The first time i tried eating Korean food was when I was still in Iran during my site assignment in 2005. Our joint venture company is Daelim and since they are the major company most of the food in the mess hall are Korean food. At first I didn't appreciate their food but when I tried Kimchi, it was heaven!

It was love at first sight for Kimchi, and from then on I started to love kimchi and crave for it whenever I'm in a Korean restaurant.

During my stay in South Korea I discover many korean traditional food other than kimchi (heck, kimchi is just an appetizer pala!). Here are some of the foods that I tried...

(since i didn't remember their name i'll just specify the restaurant where I ate it)

1. The meal that I ate in Hong-Ik University area. Cost: 12000 Won

It's actually a heavy-gat meal that I ordered one super hungry afternoon (i ate it at around 2:00pm kaya sooper gutom!) Was suprise me is mas madami pa yung side dish kesa sa main course!

Fromt he picture below you can see four different types of vegetable side dish. The orange thingy is  radish kimchi, the far above are toge with some garnishing and sweet sauce while the other one is another form of kimchi. I ordered a seafood style hot pot complete with live baby octopus!!! In fairness masarap sha.

Can you see the baby octopus now cooking?

Oh, I love this vegetable side dish. It's sweet and spicy. Pang mayaman ang peg at arrive. LoL!

2. The unexpected chicken. Cost: 15000 Won


What a weird situation, when I arrived in South Korea I instantly craved for Fried Chicken. Yes, weird isn't. Kung kelan naman nasa malayo ako saka naman ako naghanap ng Jollibee Chickne joy! While looking for restaurant for my dinner I pass by this small pub that offer friend chicken at a reasonable price. No brainer pasok agad ako and immediately ordered Fried chicken.


To my surprise a whole bunch of friend chicken arrived on my table. Parang 2 kilos of chicken pala yung inorder ko! Turns out the pub was a "beerhouse" and the servings there are "pulutan" size kaya madami! Ayun ang ending kinain ko lahat ng manok an inroder ko.


After that I think I didn't eat chicken for the next 2 weeks.


In fairness the fried chicken taste yummy and  the side dish (cucumber and radish, no kimchi) are so-so lang.

3. The common Korean food. Cost 6000 Won

This is the same food which are available in many Korean restaurant in Manila. Typical tonkutso pork, kimchi, cup of soup, rice and some vegetable garnishing. Nothing fancy. Feeling ko pang fast food lang ang mga ganitong food sa Korea.

4. The ginger inspired delicacy. Cost: 10000 Won


Five different types of ginger side dish with fried pork is a good combination pala. This one I got on my last lunch in Seoul. Mabilisang kain lang because I need to get back to Busan for my flight to Manila.

So, what struck me the most about Korean food...


1. Some food are serve in small servings, no wonder they are thin!
2. Some food comes in big servings, which is a plus points for heavy eater like me.
3. Magpakagutom ka then order those big serving foods.
4. No need to order softdrinks, tea is more preferred during lunch or dinner (and it's for free!)
5. Try other coffee shop instead of the usual Starbucks and CBTL. The Angel coffee shop is a must try!
6. For cheap foods, try to visit Hong-Ik University. Since madamins students dito obviously pababaan ang mga restaurant for their food service.
7. Kimchi is bottomless. Get as many as you want. LoL!
8. Most restaurant have credit card machine. Very convenient for people who doesn't want to bring money during trips.
9. Most service crew cannot speak English, so turo-turo system with the menu is the key for understanding.
10. Enjoy. Eat. Burp.

Lessons Learned from Larena (LLL)

So ok, it was supposed to be a sun-filled, exciting and snorkeling trip to Siquijor but unfortunately due to some unfavorable circumstances it was put on hold due to an accident, which I admit is my own fault. Here's my top 10 lesson's learned from that fateful day....

(Ouchness!)

1. Don't pretend na marunong mag motorbike. Nakamamatay!
2. Don't travel in solo anymore. If ever maaksidente sa un-friendly location patay kang bata ka! At least pag may kasama ka may makakatawag sa bahay nio para sunduin ang mga labi mo (insert knock on wood here).
3. Always wear a helmet when riding a motorbike. It's a life-saver.
4. Di bale nang magasgasan ang TNF na bag, wag lang masira ang DLSR.Pack your DLSR in good position. Anticipate impact when storing it in your bag.
5. Thank the person who will clean and will put bandage on your wound.
6. Sabihan mo na yung mga taong mahal mo ng "I love you" before it's too late.
7. Bring betadine, bandage, cotton on your trips.
8. Bring comfort foods. Eating your favorite toasted bread or Chips ahoy will surely be a good way to heal your wounded ego.
9. Call your best friend. 
10. P.R.A.Y.

SK Trip Diary: Lost in Beomeosa Temple and Finding a New Friend

The second day of Busan City tour brought us to the historic Bokcheon Museum, Geumgang Park and the last stop is Beomeosa Temple. The trip was memorable because I met a new friend, Ms. Erica who's whole family is Korean but they resides in QC. Cool noh?!

According to Erica, most of the temple in Korea are located near the sea or up in the mountain para daw di sila maistorbo on their prayer time =D.

OK so sila na ang mahilig sa peace and quiet. 

Serenity by the river

While walking around Beomeosa, Ms. Erica serves as my personal tourist Guide. Swerte much! The gate to the temple are decorated with very colorful lanterns (as seen below), and it turns out that Buddha's birthday is upcoming (during the month of May daw). Well for me seeing this colorful lanterns is a feast int he eyes.


Makulay ang buhay! 

Pick you color =)

The temple is located far from the main gate so it was a relief to finally arrived at the temple ceremonial gate. Kapagod maglakad ng paakyat na lugar kaya!
(nagrereklamo lang kasi pagod na at gutom pa)

Again, details details details!!!

Since the place is located halfway in the mountain lot's of birds and animals abound the temple. Parang park lang peg. Soshal!

While me and Erica are discussing the history of the temple, we just let her husband and boys to go ahead and roam the temple. Erica told me that most of the people go to this temple since it is one of the veneered temple and not commercialized unlike Haedongyonggungsa Temple.

This temple house the century old drum and ceremonial bell. They rang this bell during New year celebration according to Erica.

I had good time listening to Erica's story and that's why we we're separated from our tour group. Yikes! Thank God the complex is not that huge and it's easy to navigate. We found our way back in no time (and finding her family as well).

Since the place is a temple, the people go here to pray. It's like a pilgrimage in the Philippines. I got a chance to see what's inside the prayer room but out of respect I didn't take any picture nor took picture of the people who pray inside. But the place is well decorated and well designed and very cozy for praying. 

House of prayer, bawal magpcituran sa loob =P

Oh, here's our official tourist guide, whom I mistook as another tourist passenger of the bus. Very courteous lady and very funny as well. We just love her.

It's one of the most memorable trip in Busan. Meeting new friends, the serenity of the place, the exciting culture and how the people are also as religious as ours. It was magical. And the colorful lanterns makes me reminisce the banderitas during fiesta here in our country. Makulay na makulay ang buhay!

The lantern reminds us that even though we are are bright and beautiful on the outside, if we never lit a single fire inside we will never really serve our purpose in life. Kaya we should be beautiful both the inside and the outside =).

SK Trip Diary: Toyoko-Inn Busan Station 1 Review

It was my first time to book a hotel on my own. Most of the time when I travel it's my friends who do the booking stuff. But this time since I'm traveling alone I have to do it by myself. 

Thank God there's Trip Advisor, choosing the best budget hotel (plus with reviews from previous guests) has never been this easy.

And it's no brainer to choose the number 1 Budget hotel in Busan...the Toyoko-Inn!

Welcome to Room 1517

The hotel is conveniently located in the heart of Busan. It's a stone throw away from Busan KTX station, the subway and the airport limousine has a bus stop near the hotel. Cool noh?!

I'm a sucker for excellent service and when I arrive at 11:45 PM (my reservation last only till 11:30PM) exhausted, hungry, cold and cranky (thank you Cebu Pac for the 2 hour delayed flight) the Receptionist sensed that I'm in not in the mood she gave me her best smile and welcome me with warm and gusto! 

Very very very much appreciated!

Oh and they gave me a 3000 Won discount since I avail their membership card as well. Ayos!!

They actually left the receptionist area when I asked them I'll take a picture of it!

While it's freaking 10 deg C outside the building, my room is conditioned at 25 deg C. A little bit warm but it's comforting naman.

Lamp ala IKEA lang?!

I know for someone getting a fluffy pillows and bed is a big deal so it was a big surprise when they have both at Toyoko-Inn! I had a comfy sleep and totally relaxed feeling after the grueling flight form Manila.

They don't have closets for your clothes unfortunately but they do provide clothes hanger and hanger (shempre!) naman. And since I'm soooooooo tamad unpacking my things I just let them inside the luggage and put out only the winter clothes and scarf since I'll be using them most of the time I'm in Busan.

Hello Paddington jacket, it's been a while!

While I was awed by the set-up of the room the Internet connection just blew me away. It was the FASTEST internet connection I ever had in all my life. And I thought the internet connection in Saudi Arabia was the fastest. Imagine loading farmville in just 30 seconds, maygasabelgas, I was speechless! 

LoL!!!

(sorry i'm a mababaw that way)

Farmville lang katapat ko!

The television channels are purely Korean channels except for some International news channel like CNN and BBC. But if you're in a vacation mode who needs television diba??!

Here's the view from my room (taken using Instagram), overlooking the Busan KTX station and plaza. It was marvelous!!!

As a common set-up with other budget hotel, Breakfast is also included in the room rate. Their restaurant is located on the second floor, which still gives you the upper view of the side street outside the hotel. 

Breakfast by the window

The breakfast includes Rice, sausage, bread with jam, togue, and most importantly Kimchi!!!! 

I LOVE KIMCHI!

It's basically the same breakfast everyday, but I don't mind, as long as there's kimchi im good with it!

LoL!

Clean and deserted hallway.

Outside the hotel, you can have a short walk and do "people-watching" in front of Busan KTX station. It's a mini park in the heart of the city.

If you're bored doing nothing, you can cross the street and do some shopping. On the other side have all the Russian controlled restaurant and girly bars. In fairness madaming Russo sa Busan, maybe because of it's close proximity with Vladivostok. 

I mentioned on my previous post that I took the Busan City tour bus, well the start and finish stop-over of the bus is located just outside the hotel. Super conveniently! 

And of course, if there's a hotel near the area, for sure there's a lot of restaurant in the vicinity. I had my lunch and dinner on different restaurant near Toyoko-Inn and all of them didn't disappoint me.  Tip: food cost around 5000- 10000 Won, and super busog na yun!.

And the fun didn't stop when the sun sets. They have this water and light show on the mini park which last for 30 minutes. Ang tagal nia ha!!


The songs that was played includes song form Big Bang (Fantastic), Rihanna, LMFAO, 2NE1, and some mozart inspired classical songs.


Since it was a first time for me to watch it shempre napa-wow ako sa lighting effects! Pang mayaman talaga at free (unlike the one in Ocean park, may entrance ata dun!).

After the show, you can walk around the area and play casino, hang out and drink coffee at Angel-in-us, CBTL, Starbucks, shopping again, people watch at the subway station. Feeling turista level ang peg.

Kape Muna sa malamig na gabi!

Oh and since many guest in Toyoko-Inn surely asked on how to go to the airport, where is the limousine bus stops and what time it arrives, the staff posted this info for all those airport-related query. Para hindi paulit-ulit! LoL!

After spending 3 days at Busan, It's time to travel to the capital Seoul. And since nagmayaman ako for this trip, i took the First class trip of KTX going to Seoul. 

Very impressive train station, mas maganda pa ito compare to NAIA!

I had fun staying in Toyoko-Inn Busan station 1. Will surely be going back here next time!