What to buy in Korea

Before embarking my trip to South Korea, I did a bit of reading up to find out what to shop in Korea. Shopping choices in this country is indeed wide, I was quite overwhelmed actualy to the extend I do not know how to start and end. 

Myeongdong is known to be the cosmetics district in Seoul, after visiting this place for the second time. In my opinion this area is way too busy, especially all the shops sales attendant are a bit too aggressive in makIng a sales and they just won't stop asking what you want. Anyway this is no doubt still a 1-stop district for cosmetics shopper.

Another area I went for my shopping is Hongdae, this is a student area, other than shopping there are also lots of night life and food spot as well. Given this is student area, you might also be able to find good bargain too. Take your pick and enjoy your shopping spree!

Sharing of my shopping list:

These moisturizer gel are great for keeping my skin moisture without the sticky feeling. however I have yet to know in terms of whether it is as good as those regular cream moisturizing lotion. Now using the Nature Republic 92% aloevera tub, shall try the Faceshop 98% tub after that. I got these for KRW4,400/tub

Fragrant hand lotion from Too cool for school at KRW7,000 for 2 tube (buy 1 free 1) guess I'm attracted to the packaging

face mask from E-tude and Beyond, each at approximate RM1.50, bought in Incheon airport and a random mall in Jeju city

Argan Oil going for KRW10,000

Too Cool for School CC cream compact with compartment for lip gloss and is going for KRW32,000

Too cool for school egg mouse face pack, KRW12,000

Fun face mist from Tony Moly

Skinfood eye cream KRW15,900 and neck cream KRW6900

Free mini packs from the trip

Now, food stuff:

Seaweeds - the ready to eat on the left is going for KRW2990 for 2 pack, Ottogi cut seaweed is KRW3250/pack

Nicely packed seaweed sheets is at KRW14,000 bought in airport

These energy bars is big time yummy, i love them. Bought them in mini mart, at KRW1,000/bar

The infamous Market O brownie 

Non food stuff:

Socks! I bought a total of 75 pairs, some given away as gift, remaining kept for my art work collection

Now, some of the cosmetics shop issue tax exemption receipt, please don't forget to ask for it and get the return at the airport, due to time, I did not have the time to clear, such a waste.  Anyway, I had lots of fun shopping there, wish to back with friends some day.

Gone walking in Hallasan

After a 3-full days at the Jeju Olle walking festival, I was honest feeling very lazy and was tempted to stay in bed when my alarm goes off at 6am. Anyway, I did drag myself up in the end to get ready for the hike, and here's how it turned out to be.

As I have read that there is strict hiking time in Halasan, so to avoid not making it to the peak on time, my aim was to start hiking up the hill as early as possible, and since the park entrance opens by 7am, I therefore decided on to make my way early to reaxh the park by 7.30am, and thank God the bus ride to the park was less than 30mins away from the Jeju main bus terminal, so I do not need to wake up at ridiculous hours, also I was so pleased with the fact that I'm staying so near the bus terminal.

Now to reach the Hallasan peak, there are 2 trail: Seongpanak (9.6km) and Gwaneumsa (8.7km).

My hike of the day was from Seongpanak > Peak - Baengnokdam > Gwaneumsa. Total time spent was approximately 7hrs (7.30am - 2.30pm).

the grand entrance of the Seongpanak trail

you will see these signages that tells you your location

The summit climb has time limitations, from both trail you are required to reach the mid point of the whole trail before 12noon, any time later, you will not be allowed to continue your hike up. Here's the details: 

Seongpanak > Sokbat shelter > Jindallaebat attended shelter (you are to reach here before 12noon) > summit

Gwaneumsa trail > Tamna valley shelter > Samgakbong shelter (you are to reach here before 12noon) > summit

so, I was timing myself, approximately 10 40am at Jindallaebat

Seongpanak trail is relatively easy to hike, cos there is hardly any steep slope, only a short stretch before reaching the peak (like the one in below pic). The steep stairs start here and end at the top of the hill ahead.

one of the steepest slope you can get from Seongpanak trail, the only challellenge would probably be the chilly wind that can get quite strong and disturbing

here you go, timimg myself again at the peak, made it at approximately 11.50am

some of the turn out that morning, it was a Sunday

It was actually at the peak only I realise the 2 different route leads to the same summit spot. I came up using the Seongpanak then descend via Gwaneumsa. The hike down was way tougher than ascend, it generally has steeper path, it has many sliperry surfaces, there mixes of stones and wooden path. 

the Unattended Samgakbong shelter, you must reach here by 12noon if you uses the Gwaneumsa route

some of the path were quite muddy, so it can get quite messy

the neat mountain view

we were tailing each other, eyes all cannot leave the floor

The same type of signages to tell you where you are at the Gwaneumsa trail

At the entrance to the Gwaneumsa park centre

The bus stop to catch the public bus to the Jeju bus terminal, before coming here to wait for the bus, I stop by a convenient store across the road to get some hot drink, the lady at the shop told me there is only 1 bus herear. I therefore confidently proceed to sit at the bus stop and wait, it took me more than 30mins, I started alone then many others join me later on.
There is no direct bus to Jeju bus terminal from here, get on the bus and ask the  driver to drop you at a bus stop that you can catch a nother bus to town. A map to show the driver where you want to go will help, especially thise with Korean.

Really glad to have drag my lazy body up that morning to do this.

Train from Bandung to Jakarta

It was definitely a good choice to travel to and from Bandung using train. Here's some quick write up with pictures.

First of all check the schedule online if you have internet access handy, unfortunately the website is only available in Indonesia language, I have inserted the direct link to it's reservations page, you may want to try filing out the blanks and you should be  getting the result of the available train slots. You may also book your tickets online but do note that it needs to be 48hrs prior to departure. If time does not permit, ticket can be easily purchase on the spot at the counter or any Alfamart in Bandung.

1) Bring alomg your ID card or passport for registration purposes.
2) Make your choice of ticket with the mart cashier
3) You will then be given a receipt that you need to exhange them to boarding pass at the train station maximum 1hour before departure.
4) Exchange your ticket at the customer service counter which is located on the left hand side of the ticket check point of the Bandung station.
5) Next, board the train!

*Please ask the cashier which station you should be getting according to your final destination. In Jakarta there is either Jakarta Kota or Gambir.

This is how alfamart look like

Bandung train station

Customer service is on the left hand side by the entrance of the ticket checkpoint

In the station

The attendance who will check your ticket and give direction according to your seat/car number

The train that I rode on from Bandung to Gambir, Jakarta

This cost RP105,000 per seat

The screen will have  car number and to show passenger how to read their seat alphabet 

Shot alot the way

Another shot

Arrived at Gambir after approximately 3 hrs 15mins

Myanmar - longyi and thanaka land

Yangon - is a city which has a lot of similarity with Kuala Lumpur, there's a lot of cars and flood after heavy rains; how familiar those sight are to us Malaysian!

On currency, USD is widely used in Myanmar, it is even better to use USD rather than the local currency Kyat (pronounce as 'chat'). For example you will be expected to pay USD10/Kyat10,000 whereby exchange rate is at approximately USD1=Kyat971. Just do your own mathematics and you will realize there is a slight differences. It is definitely worth consideting if you are on a long trip and on very tight budget.

Flood scene in Yongon and KL

The other thing we find it so familiar here is food, we stayed in a hostel near china town and   there's this long stretch of night market that sells everything. We like the food here, it is simple yet tasty! 

Seller here would carry their crops in those basket in their shoulder then sell them in the market

The variety of crops, the colour make one happy, don't you agree!

sweets and savory stuff

We ate here twice, cos it is the only stall that at least have got a chinese menu, we have been ordering the food using picture taken either on our phone or camera

Hot noodles always good for raining season

Now, the two significant things that represent the Burmese people has got to be their longyi (wide cloth wrap around) and thanaka (yellowish comestic paste from ground bark). Men and women wear longyi all the time, whether at home or at work as official attire. Women would wear thanaka all the time, cos thanaka is their traditional version of anti wringkles that they paste all over their face, sometimes body too.

This is what I meant, Burmese wear longyi all the time, even when cycling, trust me, it won't be easy to cycle with that costume

Our 2nd adventure to Nepal

Nepal - a beautiful country with super fantastic range of mountains, wonderful people and delicious dhal bhat!

Earlier in May, Julie and I flew to Nepal for the 2nd time, with a very enthusiastic spirit focuses on trekking into the Annapurna Base camp that sit at 4130m above sea level.

This time we sort of did a bit more preparation, especially to the cold in the mountain that we were told to expect and also the unfortunately rainy weather at the end of sprimg. 

But of all the preparation, what I think is most essential to this trip was - the comapany! So choose wisely who your trekking buddy is :)

View of the Annapurna range from Ghorepani (appx 2,600m above sea level), stunning right

We ate many of these typical dal bhat meals, they gives us great energy for our daily trek. We approve that the nepali saying 'dhal bhat power, 24 hours' is true!

If you are into trekking and is interested to trek in Nepal, come back later to read about adventure!

Paku Waterfall at Mulu

One of our original plan was to do the Garden of Eden tour however unfortunately it was fully booked when we enquire a week prior arrival, we therefore had the time for our own and went on the unguided walk ourselves. The walk started at approximately 10am to the Paku waterfall through the so called long valley trail which was suppose to be 6km long where we missed 1 of the 2km walk at a folk pebbles trail that has no sign which causes us missing the 2 km walk and reaches the waterfall with 4km walk. In case you wonder, these trails are pretty much flat so anyone could do it, just do be prepare to get abit messy as the floor gets quite muddy and slippery after rain.

Here's a few shots taken along the way:

There are lots of big and tall trees along the trail, here's one of them

A raja brooke sitting on the ground as if for us to photograph

Julie Climbing into the Paku fall

After spending about half hour resting at the Paku waterfall, the plan was to continue walking to the bats exodus observatory deck via the Kenyalang trail where we were hope to spot some hornbill in the trail.

On the way, we came across this nameless trail where we later reckon that it was where the canopy walk were.

Canopy walk - don't think this is recommended, 

The whole walk took us approximately 2 hours where we took some nap while waiting for the bats exodus at the deck. It was a very slow and quiet afternoon, we saw different group of people starting to join us slowly.

For your info, the bats would usually leave the cave right after sunset,  they are time of the year where these bats leave the cave as early as 4.30pm but that night we waited till 6 plus to see just the few. In case you wonder, you can return to the observatory deck on your own any other day you wishrs, it is about 2km away from the park office and it'll take around 45mins walk.

Some of the early birds like Julie and I