닭한마리, Dak Hanmari; Must Eat Chicken Meal In Korea!!

We arrived in Seoul on a cold and rainy day. My Korean friend even warned us about the possibility of the rain being radioactive due to the Japan Fukushima Nuclear Plant situation.

By the time, we reached our hotel at around 6pm, it was dark, wet and gloomy.

We quickly got changed and ventured out for a hot meal. We thought that there must be food around Dongdaemun area so took the train 2 stops to Dongdaemun Station. When we exited, it was deserted except for a few roadside stores that didn't seem very appealing.

We just followed the lights and saw an alley that looked bustling and boy, were we lucky! We found the extremely yummy 닭한마리, DakHanmari on our first night in Seoul. A must eat when in Korea!! It's left such good memories for me that I've decided to dedicated 1 post to DakHanmari, which literally means "One Whole Chicken".

Enjoying A Hot Steamy & Soupy Meal On A Cold Night

The restaurant that we chose was served by a few Chinese speaking staff which weren't exactly the most friendly restaurant staff. Between the 4 of us, she insisted that we take 2 whole chickens! We kept rejecting 'til she finally relented with 1 and 1/2 chicken instead.

To eat this dish, it's really simply although there's quite a few steps:

1) Let the staff know how may chicken you want and the whole chicken will be served with potato slices in a soup base.

2) Cut the chicken up to cook with the scissors provided.

3) Put in all ingredients mentioned below (except soju and beer of course ;)) together with the Korean Red Pepper Paste available on every table into the pot of chicken soup. If you prefer the soup to be more spicy, just add more of the Korean Red Pepper Paste. 

4) While waiting for the chicken to cook, mix all the ingredients below that will form the marinade / dipping sauce.

Final Product: The Yummilicious Dipping Sauce

5) Put in the handmade noodle that has to be ordered separately into the boiling soup below.

6) Tuck in and feast away!!

Everything can be dipped into the dipping sauce before eating.

Best Rice Cake I've Ever Eaten

The rice cake is the only one I like after trying so many time in Singapore and Korea. It's the softest ones that I've came across and it tasted like the handmade noodles. I don't like Korean Rice Cake but I really think the ones here are nice!

The restaurant also serves very good Gingseng Chicken Soup aka Samgyetang.

2 Different Kinds of Seating

The place is usually packed but we went close to 10.30pm, the closing time. Which explains why the picture  shows a pretty empty place.

The Restaurant We Went to Twice

We enjoyed the dinner there so much that we went back a second time to the same restaurant before we left Seoul.

Supposedly Famous Restaurant, I Guess

Both Times, We Emptied Everything

For those interested as to how to get to this DakHanmari Restaurant, here's the name card for you to show the locals or the cab drivers. You'll be spoilt for choice with the many DakHanmari restaurants in the same area.

If you prefer to take the train, take Exit 10 of Dongdaemun Station on Subway Line 4 (Blue). After exiting, just walk straight until you come to a big T junction, the DakHanmari alley is situated diagonally across where the subway exit is.

Just walk into the unsuspecting 2nd alley after crossing the road and continue on, before you know it, it'll be a bustling place with lots of locals enjoying their whole chicken meal.

Hope you'll enjoy the meal as much as I did! =)

Cheap Seoul Hotel, Astoria Hotel Review, Near Dongdaemum, Highly Recommended!

I am very happy with Astoria Hotel, the hotel we stayed in Seoul this trip 'coz it was cheap and good! 2 thumbs up!!

The usual rate for 1 double room is 226SGD I think but we managed to get a very good rate of 75SGD per night from Agoda. That's a steal right??!!

Astoria Hotel Lobby

For this extremely low price, I think the hotel is perfect, no complains. The staff were friendly and helpful and the place was clean, neat and well maintained. Most of all, the location of this hotel is good. It's located in between Myeon-Dong and Dongdaemun.

Cabbing back in the wee hours of the morning from Dongdaemum cost us less than 4,000KRW. And it's less than 10,000KRW from Gangnam at night too.

Internet and Resting Area in front of Hotel Lobby

They even have a public phone in the lounging area above. It's pretty hard to find a public phone in Korea except at the train stations.

Double Room

Bathroom with Multi-Function Toilet Bowl

I like the to go back to a warm toilet bowl when the weather is cold, hehe...

Chungmuro Exit 4

The nearest subway station to Astoria Hotel is Chungmuro, which is sitting at Line 3 and 4 of the Seoul subway lines.

From the map above, you can see how near it is to Exit 4 of Chungmuro station. It's about 150m or so. Just take exit 4 and walk right ahead and you''ll come to Astoria Hotel located on your left.

View from Chungmuro Exit 4

Should you need to use the escalator, take Exit 2 of Chungmuro station instead. Make a u-turn when you step out of the exit and walk about 300m right down.

The only drawback is that the airport bus does not stop at Astoria Hotel. Instead, it stops at Sejong Hotel which is nearer to Myeong-Dong subway station (refer to the map above). And lugging our luggages across the road didn't seem very appealing to us.

But that didn't bother us one bit as we took the new fast and fuss-free A'REX to Astoria Hotel when we first arrived. On our return trip, we got the hotel staff to help book a premium taxi to fit in our many luggages and it cost 75,000KRW + 5,000KRW(toll) to get to Incheon airport from Astoria Hotel.

If you still perfer to take the bus, you can spot Sejong Hotel easily when you stand right outside of Astoria Hotel. It's easy to walk over.

Nice Nescafe

On the way to the subway very morning, I almost always buy a cup of Nescafe as it's nicer than the usual coffee I get outside.

Convenient, clean, cheap with a very good location; I'll definitely stay in Astoria Hotel again if I go back to Seoul. =)

Must Buy Skincare From Korea: Laneige, Etude House etc.

This trip to Korea wasn't meant to be a shopping trip and yet, I hauled back a lot of my first love - skincare!

Products from Etude House were definitely cheaper than in Singapore (Masks are 1000KRW) so I got some back for pressies. Noticed the sunblock on the bottom right of the pic above? It's a unique one that transformed into a powdery texture. I've yet to use it and hopefully, it doesn't cause clogged pores.

This Magic Bubble Peeling Foam is my star product from Etude House. BF tried it first and got everyone else excited when he showed them how effective it is. I tried it at the hotel and quite like it so I got 4 bottles, some for presents again.

Basically, it's a foam that can be applied directly to the face for rubbing. Dead skin will be removed in the process and after cleansing with water, my face felt really smooth and looks brighter! It cost around 9,000KRW if I remembered correctly.

Another beauty place to grab cheap and good products is Olive Young. Unlike the many other skincare shops in Korea, Olive Young carries a lot of international brands and when I was there last week, some masks were running the 1+1 promo and they cost only 500KRW each! 

And best of all, I finally found my ideal BB cream there. Being a atypical tan skin person in Korea, it was so hard to find a BB cream that doesn't make me look like a white face wannabe.

Moreover, I was quite concerned about the thick texture of most creams (because they contain sun protection and are in cream texture) and found this skin79 oil-free fluid base love! It is shimmery but the shimmer doesn't show when using a thin layer below foundation. The shimmer is meant to give a more radiant complexion.

I was pleasantly surprised when my Korean friend told me that skin79 is the most popular BB cream brand in Korea because it made me feel better about my impulse buy.

For those of you who want to know where to get Laneige, head down to Aritaum. they too are scattered all over the city and they carry brands by Amore Pacific, a mega skincare company in Korea. Other brands by Amore Pacific includes IOPE, Innisfree, Etude House, Hera and Sulwahsoo. I hope to try the latter two premium brands someday soon. We met a Korean lady that use the premium brand Hera and boy was her skin good! 

Laneige is also available in Watsons and they have a flagship store in Myeong-Dong.

My Collected Samples

The good thing about skincare and cosmetic shopping in Korea is that you'll be given tons of samples! To get more, you can either split your purchases or if greed isn't you, just combine your purchases to enjoy tax refund instead. Surprisingly, most shops in Korea allow tax refund for a mere 30,000KRW and above.

For eg, Etude House gives 5% tax refund for combined purchases of 30,000KRW and 7% for combined purchases of 50,000KRW and above. And remember to ask the salesperson about tax refund if they don't give you the form 'coz most times, once they closed a sale, they'll run off to target the next customer.

Anyway, the paltry tax refund amount collected from the airport allowed us to shop a wee bit more on our last moment in Korea. Happy happy! ;)

**Read about my Etude House products review here.**
**Read about the new found Korean brand that I'm loving**

Seoul Spring Fashion 2011, Dongdaemun Shopping Haven in Korea

Going to Seoul in Spring means the city will be a shopping haven for fashionistas. The city is so vibrant, even in the middle of the night. I don't understand why would anyone wants to shop until 4am though...

One friend got more than 20 pcs of clothings in a few days! And each piece averages around SGD30+.

In early April, most shops are selling thin long sleeve (i.e. Chiffon material etc) tops, sweet dresses and loose thin tops meant for layering for the cool Spring weather. It's great for Singapore's weather if you don't mind wearing a tube inside. Most of the clothings come in free size so be prepared to wear them loose if you're a S size.

And jackets are cheap in Seoul too. You'll be able to easily get chic ones at less than SGD40. Guys will also be spoilt for choice with the many sweaters available.

Just take note that at places like Doota, if you pay in cash, you'll be able to get some discount and ask for your tax refund if the salesperson forget to mention it. 

For myself, I didn't manage to get anything until my last night in Seoul. That was when we finally located the night wholesale market in Dongdaemum meant for retailers. And the great thing is they seem to be stocking more summer clothings with short sleeves and tighter clothings too.

To locate this area can be a little tricky. It's more obscure and cannot be easily noticed from the main Dongdaemum street. Follow the area in pink in the map above and when you past the few building in front, you'll be transported into a world of midnight shopping madness.

Shops here open only from 8pm and close only at 8am. I was told that they are catering mainly to retailers and it's interesting to see bags and bags of clothings in front of the shopping complex waiting to be picked up and shipped to various places. 

So, don't even bother to bargain as some shops may not even sell 1-2pcs. If you're lucky, you'll be able to buy loose pieces at a cheaper price than shops like Doota.

Only KRW and RMB cash is accepted here. It seemed to me that clothings here are a step ahead from the ones retailing in normal retails shop in Seoul.

Although the shopping queen in me came alive only on the last night in Seoul, I only managed to get 2 tops (I had to buy 2pcs of the same design at one go) and 2 pretty skirts. The tops weren't cheap at 29,000KRW each but I so love the green. :P~

BF got some shirts at 15,000KRW and the material is good!

The one below cost only 26,000KRW and pardon the badly taken pic by the lousy iPhone...

The other pieces that caught my eyes were meant for wholesale, meaning I had to buy several pcs at one go. Oh well, at least I know where my first shopping stop in Korea will be the next time I go back.

I just love the energy of this place and it's interesting to find that RMB is actually a accepted currency there.

Other good buys I found in Seoul were scarves and tights. these I got from Myeong-Dong and the scarves below cost me only 7,000KRW each. Now, I love Zebras!

If you are looking for international brands like H&M and its likes, Myeong-Dong is the place to be.

For the latest hip place to shop in, one must head down to Gangnam by exiting Sinsa Station on the no. 2 green subway line.

Night Shot of Gangnam

The shops here are more upmarket and at night, it's lovely to have dinner here and chill at one of the many coffee houses littered along the street. 

As usual, I didn't forget the little ones and got them sneakers made in Korea. For cheap children wear, head down to Nandaemun Market instead. You'll get a better chance of getting inexpensive items. 

Seoul Subway/Metro Map & T-Money Card

It is cheap and convenient to move around Seoul using the subway. And it may be more convenient to get a T-Money Card to get your way around the city.

You can grab the Seoul subway map and even plan your routes from these 2 sites:

http://www.seoulmetro.co.kr/station/eng/linemap.action

http://www.smrt.co.kr/Train/Subwaymap/Eng/Subwaymap.jsp

I printed the map out and it proved useful for my trip.

The T-Money Card cost abut 2,500KRW and can be purchased and topped up with amount starting from 1,000KRW at the top up machines in the subway stations. It's used just like Singapore EZ-Link card, scanning the card as you go pass the gantry and it saved us a lot of time and hassle to buy single trip tickets each time we use the subway.

What's more, every trip made using T-Money Card cost 100KRW less than if you purchase a 1 way ticket.

It can even be used at several convenience stores like Family Mart, 7Eleven which are scattered around Seoul.

To make things a little sweeter, the cards come specially designed for tourist to bring home. Discount coupons will also be given together upon purchase for some tourist attractions like Lotte World, N Seoul tower and Dragonhill Spa etc.

It's really simple to move around Seoul on your own as the ticketing machines all come with English instructions selection.

In some stations, there's even huge touch screens for tourists to find their way around.

And when you get tired, you can always hop into a cab instead. It costs about the same as that of Singapore's BUT without the hefty midnight charges and ridiculous ERP charges. Just do not get into the expensive premium black cabs that cost much more when there's so many cabs available in Seoul.

To find out how to get from Incheon / Gimpo Airport to Seoul City in a cheap and convenient way, click here.

A'REX Rail Review: Cheap Alternative From Incheon / Gimpo to Seoul

If you're looking for an alternative to get from Incheon Aiport to Seoul City, why not try the newly completed A'REX? Just recently completed in Dec 2010, there's now a direct train from Incheon or Gimpo to Seoul  Station in Seoul. 

Previously, to get to Seoul, 2 changes of train lines would be needed. Now, you'll only need to get on the A'REX train and in about 53 min's time, it'll comfortably get you to the heart of Seoul without a change of train.

Upon arrival at Incheon, just follow the signage that shows where the A'REX is, it is located at the basement. The signs aren't all the clear, so it may take you a while to follow the route to the new platform. 

A'REX Ticketing Machines

There's 2 types of train, the "Express Train" or the "Commuter Train". For comparison:

Since we probably would need a premium taxi to fit in 4 luggages, we thought the new A'REX looks like a better choice of airport transfer to Seoul City and decided to give the Commuter Train a try. It was easy to purchase the tickets with an option for English instructions.

A'REX Entrance to Platform

Moreover, there was no toll charges and no traffic jam. Only lugging of luggages across platforms when we reached Seoul for transfer to the train line that goes to our hotel.

I just cannot understand why anyone would choose the Express Train that comes every half an hour and reaches the city only 10 mins faster. And it cost more than 3 times as much as the Commuter Train!

I think the A'REX is really new and not many people are using it. Look at the deserted Incheon Airport platform on a Thursday afternoon.

Very New A'REX Train Interior

The trains are clean, new and really comfortable. And if I'm a solo traveler, I'll definitely choose to take the A'REX again for its value and convenience. 

Read about getting around with Seoul subway here. 

How I Cope With My Embarrassment for Brazilian / Bikini IPL

I went for my 6th IPL session today! It's the 6th for my underarms and I was told that I probably need another 2-3 more sessions to have all hair permanently removed. Now, there's only about 5- 6 stray hair that grows out every few days. I'm happy with the results so far.

As for the down under IPL, it's my 3rd time. In case some of you are wondering what's a full Brazilian, it consists of 5 small parts down under, namely: 

• Bikini Line 
• Upper Triangle
• Lower Triangle
• Inside
• Lower Butt Crack

Even though I've done this 3 times, it's still as embarrassing every single time. So, how do I cope with my embarrassment?

• Firstly, the therapist will cover your eyes with a towel, tissue and a pair of shades. That's enough to give me the "ostrich head in the sand" feeling for a while.

• And I keep telling myself that I am just one of the many customers of the therapist doing this so it's no biggie for her. I'm probably feeling it's such a big deal when it's nothing much to her.

• And when doing the IPL for the lower butt crack, I'd have to lie on my stomach. I usually put my iPhone on the chair below the bed and play with it to further distract myself.

For today, I only did the last 2 small parts. So, it took me only 45 mins for the whole session and it wasn't as hard to bear. I'm pretty happy with the results as it only take 2 sessions to see a difference for the bikini line and the triangles already.

Yipee!

Read more (member no.: 81005130):

1st IPL Session at Musee Platinum Tokyo Singapore

2nd IPL Session at Musee Platinum Tokyo Singapore

3rd IPL Session at Musee Platinum Tokyo Singapore

4th IPL Session at Musee Platinum Tokyo Singapore

5th IPL Session at Musee Platinum Tokyo Singapore

7th IPL Session at Musee Platinum Tokyo Singapore
First Upper Lip IPL Session at Musee Platinum Tokyo Singapore