Sunday, March 17, 2024

Beauty: Top 4 Products from Empties 2023 Part 2

 


Hello, I finally give the Empties 2023 an end with this post. You can watch the full products that I have emptied in 2023 here. The following post is the top 4 products that I liked from this second batch of empties in 2023.

Du’it Dry Foot & Heel Roll-on Heel Balm

As I get older, my heels get dry easily and cracked. I hate my ugly feet, so I searched a “heavy-duty” heel cream. And then I came across this product, which is the best finding I ever had in 2023. I came across this product in a drugstore and saw that this is an Australian brand. So, when my brother went to Melbourne, I asked him to buy one. The packaging is nothing flashy and it somehow looks like a stick-glue. But, this product truly shows to not judge a book by its’ cover. This convenient roll-on heel balm costs around 15 AUD for a 50ml.

I really love the product. It smells good and is pretty effective (if constantly used). The key ingredients are vitamin E, natural AHAs, and dimethicone. It is free from parabens. But, a heads up, this product contains alcohol. I use this product before sleep and I put on some sleeping socks. The next morning, my feet is softer than before.

Hera Sun Mate Leports SPF 50+ PA+++

I have zero expectations for this product when I get this as a gift from my aunt. She was a Hera avid customer and she got lots of freebies and gave this sunscreen to me. The sunscreen is very similar to the La Roche Posay Anthelios sunscreen that I used to use. From the color, scent, and application. The difference is that the Hera sunscreen is a cream type while the La Roche Posay one is a fluid type (based on the one that I bought). Since the sunscreen is a cream type, it might feel thick on the skin compared to the La Roche Posay one. But, actually, it is very easy to blend, so I don’t really mind about it. I really loved the product until I scooped out all of the products from the tube.

Etude House Dr. Mascara Fixer Eyelash Serum

This is my first eyelash serum. I was watching a makeup tutorial by Red Velvet’s makeup artist and she used this product. I bought one and I was very satisfied with the result. I’ve never had an eyelash extension in my whole life, so I rely mostly on mascara or sometimes a fake eyelash. So, I was surprised with the result after applying some layers of this product. This product is definitely a cheat key. The price is cheaper than a mascara, so I can leave out the mascara step. Also, since the color is clear, goodbye to messy eye makeup. Applying mascara is also much neater since the lashes have been coated. This product has a high rating on the Naver store, which is a 4.8/5. It is quite popular in the Korean market and many of the reviews sound the same like mine. A very awesome product!

Tony Moly Luminous Perfumed Face Powder

When I was a teenager, I had to attend lots of birthday parties and that’s when I got into the makeup world. I started to watch beauty gurus on YouTube and I learned that a face powder is key to flawless makeup. At that time the beauty gurus were mostly Western and the products they used were mostly Western brands like NARS, MAC, Laura Mercier, and many more. At that time, I thought that having a high-end face powder was not suitable for a teenager, so I bought this face powder from Tony Moly, which is much more affordable.

But, apparently, the product was pretty good, at least for me. The downside of this product is the puff. I don’t really like the puff, so I use a brush to apply. The face powder costs $18.00 (based on Yesstyle) and now the packaging and formula have been renewed. The current formula includes some pearls that could create 3-D effects. The product really lasts for a long time. It’s been in my vanity for 10 years or more, so I had to throw it away despite there being still lots of products left.

Geez, I should have thrown it away 5 years ago. This is not a good example, so please don’t follow it!

Is there any product that you have tried among the products mentioned above? If so, what is that and what is your verdict?

I’m slowly getting rid of the old and expired products and getting closer to a minimalist beauty life. I only buy a new product when it’s finished. It’s easy for face & body care, but I’m still struggling for the makeup one since I don’t use makeup every day. But, I found an organization that receives old makeup products for makeup corpses, so I’m going to send off the remaining old makeup products to them.

I hope that you can do the same as well in this fierce consumerism era. And don’t forget to recycle and reuse the bottles if you can.

Thank you so much for reading until here, peeps!

See you in my next post!

Monday, February 26, 2024

Beauty: Facial Cleanser A-Z - Part 3

The skincare routine has developed vastly over the past few years. But still, the most important thing is the cleansing step. I had a great time trying out different brands and types of cleansers for this section even though, it took 5 years this time, longer than the previous one. Maybe, because most of the product is more than 150ml, it took longer than before. I liked almost all of the products listed below. 

So, let’s get started!

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser

This product is the first product from Kiehl’s that I ever bought. I’ve been eyeing Kiehl’s products since 2015 and finally got to try them in 2019. I chose this cleanser because this product is the most general cleanser out of all the other product lines. Kiehl’s has a lot of product ranges for different skin types.

Texture

It is really a gentle cleanser. It has a clear gel-type texture. I like this kind of texture for skincare. Even though it’s like a gel, it foams quite okay. This product is suitable for any kind of skin type, especially sensitive skin.


Scent

This product has almost no scent, which is quite a down-turner for me because personally, I like nice scented (not fragrance) cleanser. The product itself didn’t include any fragrance, so it is really suitable for sensitive skin.

Result

At times when I had an oily face due to the hormonal cycle, this cleanser isn’t really effective. But, on regular days, the product really did well enough to clean my face. The product doesn’t strip too much oil, so it doesn’t make tingly skin. I had quite an alright experience while using this product.

Repurchase?

Yes! I would definitely spend another 20 dollars (if I got to buy it outside Indonesia) for this cleanser sometime in the future. I really recommend this cleanser.



Lagom Morning Gel to Water Cleanser


I got to know this brand after I watched ‘Get it Beauty’ back in 2018. And I finally bought the product in 2019, right before I went back to Indonesia for good. I really liked the philosophy and design of this brand. I actually liked the product, but to be honest it was quite a hassle to use two different cleansers for morning and evening time.


Texture

The product has a watery gel texture, just like what’s written on the tube. This product is a gel-to-water cleanser. I enjoy this kind of cleanser, even though it is not foamy.




Scent

This cleanser didn’t have any particular scent. I’ve smelled a similar scent in some baby products, so I guess it’s really suitable for sensitive skin types. After all, this product doesn’t include any fragrance at all.

Result

I think it is not really suitable for Indonesia’s weather. Most of us use air conditioning all night long, so we develop dirt even in our sleep. So, I’m not sure whether the product really cleans the face in the morning. But, it surely moist up the skin and prep the skin to absorb the skincare afterwards.


Repurchase?

Maybe. If I’m going to repurchase this product line, I shall buy the evening cleanser as well.


Muji Face Soap


At first, I had no idea of any brand beginning with M, so when I went into Muji store in Tokyo and saw they sold skincare products, I bought them straight away regardless of not knowing the ingredients at all. Price-wise it was pretty much the same with some drug stores’ products, so I don’t have any concern when buying it back then.

Texture

This product has a regular facial foam texture with some scrubs inside. I have no complaints about the texture, but over time it gets too watery. Maybe because I tend to spray some water while in the shower and the water gets into the tube.




Scent

The facial foam doesn’t have any particular scent, even though they included some grapeseed extract.

Result

To be honest, I don’t really have much to say about this product. I don’t really like it or dislike the product. It just cleans my face without having anything special.


Repurchase?

Nope. I don’t feel any special while using the product, so I won’t repurchase.


Neogen Green Tea Real Fresh Foam Cleanser


Personally, I think Neogen is one of the best skincare brands in Korea that produce unique products. They are the first player to release peeling pads with wine extract. I have a great experience with their peeling pads, so I am not hesitant to try this facial foam. There are a few variants of the facial foam and I chose the green tea one. They include real fermented green tea leaves in the facial foam and it blew my mind. It gives the consumer a sense of truth. I just found out that the product has been released since 2015 and I just know about it almost 10 years later. Gosh, where I’ve been this long!


Texture

I really love the foam texture! I love to play with it before massaging it to my face. The liquid cleanser turns into a foam with the pump, so I don’t need to lather the product beforehand and it cleanses my face faster. Facial cleanser with this kind of texture is really suitable for every skin type.


Scent

The green tea scent is really refreshing and I loved it. It’s really subtle but refreshing. It might be refreshing because it also includes sugar cane, lemon, grapefruit, and other tropical fruits. While cleansing my face, I tend to take some moments to take a breath and smell the foam. This scent is really my type.

Result

The two previous criteria have passed, so I also love the result. It’s really gentle on my skin, but it also cleans the oil and dirt without making it squeaky clean. It's even removed a pencil eyeliner in one usage. I could feel my skin moisturized after using this cleanser, though at some time when that time of the month comes and my hormonal oil production increases, the facial foam is not effective enough to hold the oil production for a long time. But, I still love the product so much. Plus, the product has included niacinamide, which is really good for your skin health.


Repurchase?

100% will repurchase! I just love the feeling of using this cleansing foam. The product is packed with so many great ingredients. I love every single thing about this product. Very recommended!


Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash


Ever since I was in the beauty world, I’ve always wanted to try the product from the Origins. I landed my hand on this facial wash as the first Origins product that I got to try. This product looks very ordinary, but turns out this is one of the top lists out of this group. Though this product is the most expensive one in this group, I love it dearly.

Texture

The texture of this product is creamy with some subtle scrub. When it lathers, it is super foamy, just like its’ name. I just need a little squeeze and it could cleanse my face perfectly. I also liked to play with the product while cleansing my face because I liked the texture.

Scent

The second top scent out of the 5 products. It has spearmint leaves and bergamot extract, which I really love this combination. I can really smell that “expensive skincare” scent. The spearmint leaf oil acts as an invigorating aromatic, and I feel quite relaxed while using the product. The facial wash is suitable to be used day and night as it can freshen up the mood thanks to the aromatic scent.

Result

Super satisfied with the result. It cleans your face immediately and gives moisture right after usage.

Repurchase?

The repurchase rate is 80% for now because I haven’t finished using this product and since I had to buy this product from outside Indonesia, it wasn’t easy to reach out immediately. But, for everyone that is accessible to this product, I would recommend this product as a little self-reward in your daily life.


Geez! I thought I had taken the before and after results for all of the products, but I don't where they've gone. I'm sorry that the pictures are not uniform. Some of the products were finished, so I couldn't take additional photos.

Have you ever tried any of the products above? If yes, which one and what is your verdict? I am so excited to try out the next five. I have some products that I’ve been eyeing, but I am open to any recommendations! Send me your recommendation for the brands beginning with R, S, and T.

See you on the next A-Z Facial Cleansing Review!



Thursday, January 18, 2024

Life: Lessons I Learned from the Trips I Had in 2023

In 2023, I had 7 trips to four cities I loved. It’s the most frequent that I’ve ever had in my life. I remembered that I wish to travel a lot in 2023 and God really made it come true. Not only did I get to travel, but it taught me lessons and realize that I was surrounded by beautiful souls. First of all, I wanted to give thanks to the Lord, the Almighty, for granting my prayers and showing me that He is listening. With my grateful heart, I wanted to share the lessons I learned from my trips in 2023.


Kindness Wins

I learned and witnessed that kindness wins during my trip to Bangkok in February. I went there to attend Kim Seonho’s fan meeting. In 2022, Kim Seonho was caught in a scandal and he almost got canceled by the society. At that time, he had to quit his programs and some of the brands canceled his contracts. After the truth was revealed, he was able to come back and even had an Asia fan meeting tour! He was really nice and kind in real life so even after those issues, he was still loved by many. I was really glad to watch the fan meeting in Bangkok because, for Kim Seonho, Thailand held a special place in his heart. Thai fans welcomed him when he shot his first movie and showered him with lots of love. It was like Kim Seonho’s second hometown. Watching his fan meeting in Bangkok hits me differently. I was so touched. I learned to be kind every time for everyone because if we are kind no matter what happens, good things will come back to us eventually.


Connection

During my trip to Seoul in spring, I met lots of people, from my high-school friends to seniors. Well, thanks to it my trip to Seoul was less lonely. After the trip, I realized that maintaining a relationship is really important. I never thought that I would have a job as an interpreter if I didn’t go to Korea and meet my seniors. At first, I went to Korea solely to bid farewell to my cousin and her family before they left for the USA. But, it turns out that I was given the key to many more opportunities in 2023. As an introvert, I need a long time to reach out first, so maintaining a connection is not my strongest possession. Well, having a good connection is very useful, especially for introverts. When you are in a new group and you don’t know anyone, they could be your card to open a topic. Through this trip, I got to realize how blessed I am to meet all of them and have them as part of my life.

Having a good boss is a blessing

I went on a girls' trip with my senior high friends to Bandung in June. The trip practically happened thanks to my friend's boss. Her boss was a member of IHG Hotels & Resorts and he has a lot of points that he booked the hotel for us to stay. Having a good boss is like a lucky star. Not everyone got the privilege to have a think-alike with their leader and a leader who could share. So, if you have a great leader, keep them close, because you are blessed! Thank you, my friend’s boss! We had a great sleep (even though the location was a bit far from the city center, but it’s free after all ^^).


Rest and heal

I went to Bali with my third aunt from my dad’s side in July. She took a short break after resigning from her previous workplace and before she started working at a new place. It was my first time to have a trip alone with my aunt and it went pretty nice though on the last two days, I got sick. At first, I thought it would be awkward to travel with my aunt, but it was great. Our appetites are pretty similar and she also liked to do some activities and relax on the beach. During the trip, we had lots of conversations and I learned that taking a rest is important. Even though, I’m not in the position to have a rest yet. But, when my life gets busier, I should remember that resting and healing are important.


Just Do it!

My second trip to Korea in 2023 is basically for fan-girling. I got the ticket for the 2PM 15th Debut Anniversary concert, so I flew to Seoul for a week only. It was the craziest thing I did in 2023, but whatever. I’ve become a 2PM’s fan since 2009 and I really like all of their songs. It was hard to see complete members of 2PM and other 2nd generation K-POP idols to have a concert. So, I made up my mind to just go and watch this precious concert. Even though in September I was a little bit busy, I think this is a birthday gift for myself (I got the ticket before my birthday, so I guess it’s an early birthday gift). I had to enjoy it while I could. I was so happy to see them again after almost 10 years! I learned that it took a long time to see them again, so just go! Whatever your troubles or worries, just do it! You’ll be grateful that you’ve done it and even though it doesn’t work out though you’ve tried it, it’s okay. That is life.

Everyone has their own seasons

I went to Bandung for the second time in 2023 to attend my cousin’s 17th birthday party. The trip was very short because November was full of my friend’s wedding events. The trip was also not as fun as I thought I would have, but nevertheless, I got to learn something. This trip showed me that everyone has their seasons of life. My grandpa had his best seasons of life when he was the top head of his old textile company. My uncle has his seasons of life, and so does my not-so-little cousin. She is entering a new season of life as a lady. It is fascinating to see how my little cousins grew up from baby to this point. When I saw my cousins perform on stage, I got teary. It feels surreal that a little baby girl has grown up as a lady and it hit me by the fact that I’m also getting older. I’m getting closer to 30 now and a new season will come soon. I just came across this song lyrics of Im Jaebum, with the title “Consolation”

“Everyone has their own season

I will bloom in my season”

 

A long-time friend also has some privacy

My friends for 15 years and I finally had our first full team trip together to Bali. With the years we’ve spent, we thought that we’d shared everything. But, I just realized that there are still some parts that we cannot share. We all have some privacy and sometimes we are not aware of it. From this trip, I learned that we should still protect other’s privacy even though the time we’ve spent was pretty long. There are still some thin lines we should be careful of.

So, that’s the 7 things I learned from the trips I’ve had. It might be something you might know already or something you cannot relate to, but I want to share it with you all. I hope what I shared here can help you to have a brighter and happier life in 2024. I always believe that we can learn anything from everything. I hope you have a great new year! Just enjoy the journey and believe that God will provide.

Monday, January 15, 2024

Travel Diary: Four Seasons of Korea – Touch My S(e)oul

After 4 years, finally, I’m finally revealing the full vlog of my Autumn trip to Korea. I went there for a job as I had to guide a family private trip with some slip of healing. This was my second autumn in Korea. I love this season so much! The seasonal food in autumn was really good, though it is not really shown in the video. This trip was pretty special because it was after my mom passed away and my last trip to Korea before the pandemic happened.

I made this series because I finally experienced all four seasons in Korea. It took a long time to complete the series and got the time to fully edit the videos. Hopefully, I can do the other four seasons series for other countries. I’m expecting to complete my experience in Japan or Australia. Well anyway, a more detailed story of my ‘Touch My S(e)oul’ can be read down below.

Disclaimer: Since a lot changes after the pandemic, some of the places I’ve visited in 2019 might no longer be available or not up-to-date. I will write the full information of the places that are still available up to 2023 (since I visited Korea twice this year) and the ones that I really recommended only.

I left for Korea a month after I went to Japan. That time, I was really happy. Even though my family just had lost our beloved mother, I was given this opportunity to be a guide in Korea. I was very grateful for this opportunity. (Full experience of my first-ever private tour will be uploaded separately some time) I flew with Singapore Airlines and finally got to fly on their refurnished aircraft. On my way to Singapore for transit, I watched the live-action ‘Lion King’ and I cried while watching the movie. I remember that ‘Lion King’ was the first animated movie that I watched. My mom bought the original DVD for me. Even though I’ve known the storyline and how the story ended, I still feel touched. I can finally understand the feeling of losing someone we loved. I also felt a bit guilty after my mom passed away, just like Simba. Thankfully the airplane was quite empty and I got the back seat, also it was a night flight, so I didn’t mind crying inside the plane.



As soon as I touched down at Changi Airport, I looked for my next flight’s gate. It was in the other terminal, so I had to take the sky train for transfer. As I’ve mentioned before in my Bangkok travel diary, the BOOST Juice store hasn’t opened in Indonesia. So, after I transferred, I went to have my Boost juice intake and then I took my transit voucher. But, the transit voucher is no longer available since the pandemic. I used the voucher to buy my aunt TWG macarons. At that time, Korea didn’t have any TWG stores yet and the Korean fat macarons were not a trend. After good cardio by walking around Changi Airport, finally, it’s the time to fly to Incheon. As soon as the plane took off, I fell asleep.


Early in the morning, around 4AM, I woke up and ready for breakfast. The sky was so pretty up there. I finished up my omelet and orange juice and watched some movies to kill the time. 

I arrived in Incheon just on time. Oh how much I missed the smell of Incheon Airport. After the immigration and picking up my luggage, I took the bus to my aunt’s place. I slept for a while inside the bus. Then I arrived at my aunt’s place just in time for lunch. I had my lunch at my Aunt’s eatery and then I went to Myungdong and went some window shopping and exchanged some dollars for Korean won. Myungdong is no longer a tourist spot for me, but it’s more like a nearby shopping street. I almost remember every shop there, though after the pandemic it has changed a lot.

After finishing my things to do in Myungdong, I went back to my Aunt’s place and had Kyochon fried chicken for dinner. My niece bought it with her pocket money. She’s been talking about it since the beginning of the year and finally, she could keep her promise.


On the last day of October, I went out by myself to explore Seoul city. But first thing in the morning, I send off my niece to school. I had lunch at my aunt’s eatery and then helped her out before stepping out to explore Seoul City. 

My job of the day, cleaning jjokpa (a.k.a chives)

I went to the Seochon area to survey my guests’ accommodation around that neighborhood. Gyeongbok Palace is surrounded by a few Hanok villages, and one of the most famous villages is Bukchon Hanok Village. Bukchon means village on the north and there is another Hanok village on the west side of Gyeongbok, called Seochon. This area was less popular than the other one, but it was really worth visiting.



After surveying the accommodation, I walked down the alley and then I passed by Daeoh Bookstore. I’ve been wanting to visit this bookstore for so long, but I didn’t get the chance to do so. Finally, I got to visit one of the oldest bookstores in Seoul and it is one of the most famous bookstores in Korea. Even though it was by chance and I didn’t get to go inside, it was a really great experience. I bought a postcard that was for sale in front of the store. It cost 1,000 KRW. The profit from the postcard will be used for the bookstore's maintenance. It turns out that they also have a café that is connected to the bookstore. Definitely, I will come back to see the inside of this bookstore, which is featured in IU’s ‘Flower Bookmark’ album.





I was going back to Euljiro-5-ga, where my Aunt lives, but I didn’t use any maps and kept walking with my intuition only. I came across cute cafes & restaurants along the way. And then, I got to visit Tongin Market. This market is quite unique compared to other traditional markets in Seoul. Tongin market is famous for using old Korean coins for payment (at the Dosirak Cafe only). I just walked past the market to reach the bus stop. But next time, I’m going to explore the stalls there. 




From there, I went to pick up my niece at her school. After that, we went to a café near her school for some break time and I needed some space and time to organize my commentary for commentary. I ordered a sweet potato latte because it’s the season for goguma (sweet potato in Korean). Too bad, now the café has run out of business. It was quite nice though.


I felt so great that I got to spend the first day of November in Korea. On this day, I went to the Gangnam area to visit the House of BTS Pop-up. For your information, I am not an ‘ARMY’, which is the BTS fandom name. I went there to buy some of the merchandise and was just curious about what the pop-up looks like. Before I went to the pop-up, I made a quick stop at ‘Smoothie King’. I am obsessed with their smoothies. But too bad, they have closed the outlet in Gangnam and are only available inside terminals or shopping malls, like Lotte World Mall, COEX Mall, etc.


I sipped my smoothie while waiting in line. It was a sunny day, but it was really a good day to be outside. I waited in line for around an hour and some of the merchandise was sold out while I was waiting.







 The pop-up store is three stories high and quite spacious. After finally got to get inside, I looked around and saw the merchandise’s real product before paying and heading upstairs. On the 2nd floor, which is actually the main lobby, there are some showcases of big BTS dolls and some replicas of the background of their music videos. There are also some interactive installations and of course, some TVs that play their music videos continuously. Since I couldn't really relate to the exhibitions, I only looked around and took some photos if it was an attractive one. Unlike their fans, who took pictures of themselves at the installations, I only took around 30 minutes to look around all of it. 





On the rooftop, they displayed a few huge versions of their light sticks, which is my favorite one out of all. It’s just so cute! Too bad, I came here alone, so I couldn’t ask anyone to take a picture for me.



One of my favorite installations

views I had on my way back

After experiencing a day as an ARMY, I went to meet my cousins. We had dinner at Hyundai City Outlet Dongdaemun, at a restaurant named Haechoseom (해초섬). We had a special set of Suyuk (a boiled pork belly), raw fish, and some sort of seaweed, called Segosi Bossam. It was a new combination that I ever tried and it was pretty okay, even though I don't really like raw fish. But, thank you cousins for the treat!

I dedicated this day to fangirling. I went to Lee Dongwook’s 20th Debut Anniversary Fan Meeting. I regretted not going to his fan meeting in Jakarta back in 2018, so when I found out that he held a fan meeting in Korea, I decided to go. Since I hadn’t bought the ticket, I planned to go to the venue early. I stopped by Gwangjang Market to have my brunch first. I had kalguksu, known as a knife-cut noodle soup. Gwangjang Market became famous for Kalguksu thanks to the Netflix series ‘Street Food Asia’. Even before the series, I frequently go to the market and have the noodles. But, I didn’t get the one from the series because I have my go-to stall there recommended by my aunt and the one featured in the series was so crowded.

After finishing a bowl of hearty warm noodle soup, I went to Kyunghee University, where the fan meeting was held. The university is located not too far from the market, so I arrived there in less than 30 minutes. I’ve been to the university a few times for fangirling purposes. Lol. The first one was when I watched 2AM’s concert in 2012 and the second time was when I watched Song Joongki’s 10th Debut Anniversary Fan Meeting. So, I’m quite familiar with the venue. As soon as arrived at the venue, I went to buy the ticket. I got a quite good seat, it was on the third row from the stage, on the aisle, and quite on the center side. Very strategic seat, me likey!


I waited for quite some time until I could enter the venue, but I fully enjoyed the autumn breeze. I took pictures and daydreamed under the maple tree. I should have grabbed some drinks and snacks, but I didn’t know where is the convenience store, so I kind of hungered myself. 



taken with a disposable camera

But, all of the hungriness (?) was gone as the fan meeting started. I will make a complete experience of my fangirling journey in a separate post, so just wait for it. Well, I really enjoyed the fan meeting and I was so lucky to get the flower from Lee Dongwook himself! Maybe this is the “good thing” that I got after the bad luck I got in Japan before (read the story here). The fan meeting was very interactive and entertaining. No wonder Yoo Jaesuk acknowledges his talent in entertaining others. He really has fair skin and is super handsome in real life! Glad I watched his fan meeting, as the pandemic took over 3 years of my fangirling moment.


One of the best moments in 2019

After the show, I went back home and had a Shake Shack for dinner with my cousin. It was really great to have Shake Shack near my aunt’s apartment. I really love their fries and the burger is juicy in every bite. But what I like the most is that their bun is really buttery, but not greasy (well sometimes, and depends on the branch). Their milkshake is really great. I kind of miss it now.


The Dongdaemun Gate at night that I pass through after the show

Ever since global warming gets hotter, the autumn season has become shorter than it’s supposed to be. The leaves have started to fall down. My cousins (whom I met on day 4 and they are sister and brother) and I went for a day trip to Namyangju. But first, I started the day by attending Sunday mass at Myungdong Cathedral. The cathedral is the closest Catholic church to my aunt’s apartment. I went there on foot through an underground pass and came across these lamp installations with city names on them. Maybe it's because Euljiro is known for selling lamps & other lighting stuff they installed theses.

Then, I headed to the Sookmyung Women’s University area and met my cousin there. He works at the MRT company and that time was positioned at the Sookmyung Women’s University station. While waiting for him to take out the rental car that he booked through Socar, my other cousin (his sister) and I went into the Taegeukdang Bakery. It is a well-known bakery in Korea and has been established for a long time. It is not owned by a big company like Tous Les Jour or Paris Baquette, but they have several branches throughout the nation. Have I told you that I really love bread? If not, let me tell you. I really love going to the bakery and I like bread, cake, and pastry so much. And I found out recently that it runs in the DNA. My dad’s side really likes bakery stuff. We bought a marble sponge cake and a fresh cream roll cake for our snack inside the car. It was really a great choice. I really love both of them! The fresh cream roll cake was not too sweet even though the fresh cream was so thick. Just be careful with the sugar rush after eating the two pieces of it.


The journey to Namyangju took around 2 hours. There was some traffic at some points. I guess the others were also going out to see the remaining autumn trees before the leaves completely fell down. We decided to see the autumn scenery at Gwangneung Royal Tombs. Yes, you read it right. We went to the cemetery of King Sejo and Queen Jeonghui. Apparently, this place is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage. 




Unlike regular cemeteries, the Royal Tombs is serene and romantic. The tombs were quite far from the fence, so they looked small, but I believe it was quite big. Maybe because it’s where the King and Queen rest, the place is quiet and gives you a serene feeling. Besides the two royal tombs, there is a very Korean pavilion and a Hanok house.




 

It reminds me of some Saeguk (Korean historical) dramas and at that time the sky was so blue. The quotes from the drama ‘Goblin’ came up in my mind.

I just realized how come we didn’t have a single picture together. I do have some photos, but my sister couldn’t really take a good picture. It’s either the lightning was off, or it’s not straight, or out of focus. But oh well, I really enjoyed the trip. 



From Namyangju, we went to Hongdae to visit my oldest uncle & aunt at my aunt’s workplace. She works at a Korean BBQ place in Hongdae. Turns out that the place has been featured in some Korean dramas. But, I forgot to take a picture of the restaurant. At my aunt’s place, they cook the meat with a hot stone instead of a regular pan. It’s quite uncomfortable and somehow the meat’s juice went out. Since it’s a free meal, I couldn’t complain. The dinner was just okay, nothing special.


From November 4 until 11, I became a guide for a family trip in Seoul and Jeju. I will make a separate story of the trip later on.

I flew from Jeju Island early in the morning and sent off my guests to the airport as they flew back to Jakarta in the afternoon. After finishing my duty as a guide, I went back to my aunt’s place. I took the airport train and transferred to Hongdae station. While on the transfer I stopped by at a Kimbab parlor and had my first breakfast. Before I arrived there, my bag’s strap came off. It was quite sad, but I got a reason to buy a new bag!

My super simple breakfast

I arrived at my aunt’s place at around 10 AM and my cousin told me to come by to her workplace neighborhood and have lunch together. But since I was watching ‘She Was Pretty’ before meeting her, I ran late, and in the end, I had lunch on my own. My cousin has to go back to the office as soon as I arrive at the meeting point. I had a noodle soup known as Janchi Guksu for lunch. I was told to not film inside the restaurant, but I managed to sneak one video of the meal. The shop I went to was owned by Paik Jongwon, one of the most famous Korean chefs & food & beverage entrepreneurs. The shop is called Mijeong Guksu 0410 and it is located nearby Insadong.



After lunch, I strolled around Insadong, then passed the walk to the Gyeongbok Palace, and then I finally arrived at the Kwani store. 

The one that stays the same, Insadong

Random findings of the day: Anguk Bakery


There is always a demonstration on weekdays at Gwanghwamun. 

Kwani is a Korean bag brand that was quite popular among Koreans in 2019. I’m not sure for now as fashion trends keep changing. I looked around the flagship store and finally, I got a new bag. I bought a bucket bag, something that I didn’t have at home and I like the material’s finish.


me & ma nu bag ^^

After shopping for a new bag, I strolled around the neighborhood and then came across a random café, named Namu-sairo. The café has a Hanok-style building and it was quiet and less crowded. Even though this café has received two Blue Ribbons (it’s like a Michelin guide but a Korean version), at the time I visited, the café was less busy than usual. If you happen to be around Gyeongbok Palace and want to sit down at a café, you can visit there. I ordered a hot latte and sat down after walking for quite a long.



It was quite a long day, but I really enjoyed my time. I headed to meet my other cousins. This time are both sisters. My sister had a daughter and at that time, she was carrying her second child. I met my other niece at her aunt’s CVS. We had dinner together there. I missed out on putting it inside my vlog, so here is the documentation of our dinner.

Korean version of Haagen Dazs ^^ so goood!

On this day, I met my friend from the Korean language school. We decided to meet at our school's front gate. I used to attend Korean language school at Sungkyunkwan University (Seoul campus). Sungkyunkwan itself was a school for scholars. That is why Sungkyunkwan University became the oldest university and still has a Confucian influence. There is Myungryundang, a hall that used to be the place where the scholars studied. Across the hall, there is a 700-year-old ginkgo tree. While studying there, I visited the tree almost every season, except spring season. If I get a chance to visit Korea in spring again, I’ll make sure to pay this grandpa ginkgo tree a visit. But the best season to visit is in autumn. The foliage is pretty in real life.

Sungkyunkwan University Intersection

Myungryundang in autumn


We paid a short visit to the gingko tree and then we headed to have lunch. We ate Nakji Bokkeum or known as Stir-fry Baby Octopus. We used to have it after exams and it brings back the memories we had back then. It was a hearty meal, especially the fried rice. Every time I eat this kind of dish, my favorite part is the fried rice. It’s just love. The Koreans love to have fried rice for dessert after eating the main dish. So, you have to try this hack when you eat this kind of dish. Very recommended!


We passed by Changhwadang, the dumpling restaurant that was featured in the drama 'Hotel Del Luna', which is located near Sungkyunkwan University. We tried the dumplings way before the drama aired and it was really good. Very recommended! This place also holds a great memory.

Source: Korean Dramaland

Just like Koreans, a coffee after lunch is a must. I’ve been wanting to visit Ikseondong, so we went there for coffee. The weather was not really good to walk around and take cute photos, but we managed to find a very interesting new café. The time we visited, Signature R, just opened for a few days. The café mixes Korean traditional and modern touches. It was really my style. The coffee was really nice and even though I couldn’t remember the taste of their cake, looking at the visuals, it was good. It was my first time trying British Latte and ever since then, I have fallen in love with Earl Grey. The moment we entered the café, rain poured heavily. We caught up on the things we’ve been missing for the past 8 months.




After the rain stopped, we went outside and strolled around the area before parting ways. After parting ways, I went to the Dongdaemun area on foot. I thought it was quite near since I used to walk from Jonggak station to Euljiro 5 ga, but turns out it was quite a trip. But, I really enjoyed my evening walk from Ikseondong to Dongdaemun, including the time I got lost and had to detour. I passed by Changgyeong Palace which was under renovation at that time and then some alley I didn’t know, and an underpass that I never knew existed.

Ikseondong after the rain













After walking for an hour or so, I arrived at the Dongdaemun area. I stopped by at Hyundai City Outlet (again) and bought Auntie Anne’s to fill up my energy before walking back to my aunt’s apartment. Arrived at home, my sister brought the newly released Yukgyejang Ramyun potato chips. So good. I love everything related to potatoes.



I didn’t do much stuff on this day, more likely doing some errands. I went to Shinsaege Department Store and after walking around I found the Korean Cream Cheese Garlic Bread. I really love garlic bread, so when I saw this garlic bread originated from Gangneung, I wanted to try it right away. It was nice, but the portion was too big for me. It should be shared though.


30 minutes after finishing that garlic bread, I ate a late lunch at Myungdong (again). I couldn’t remember the restaurant's name, but it was located inside Noon Square. The last time I visited this place, the restaurant was no longer in business. The only thing that I remembered is the menu that I ordered was Kimchi Chicken Katsu Rice Bowl. After my late lunch, I went shopping at Myungdong and then went back home.


I went outside pretty late today. I stepped outside just to meet my cousin, niece, and seniors. Since only two days left in Korea, I got busy meeting up with my family. So, most of my agenda on my last days was basically meeting. The first meeting of the day was meeting my aunt and her daughters and granddaughter. I went to my sister’s shop and we had a short catchup. My niece has grown so fast.

I went to the Sinchon area to meet my senior for dinner. We had a home-cook style Korean food, where they served you with lots the side dishes with a warm bowl of rice and soup. We ordered Ojingeo Bokkeum (this time is a stir-fry cuttlefish) and grilled fish.


After finished eating, we went to a coin karaoke and shed off a bit of our calories. Then, we went to Tiger Sugar at Sinchon station (no longer on business) and met my other senior. At that time brown sugar fresh milk bubble drinks were so popular. But nowadays, I don’t even order that drink.



I’m spending my time with my friend from high school on this day. She came to Korea to attend Red Velvet’s concert with her fellow Reveluv (Red Velvet’s fandom name). We started the day by having a big brunch at Yoogane. They specialized in Chuncheon-style Stir-fry Chicken. It was so nice to finally have someone to share a big portion dishes. It was really hard to not gain weight in Korea. After we ate, we went around Myungdong and then we moved to Hongdae.

Since it was already dinner time, we ate at Hongdae and we chose Budaejigae (Army Stew). We do eat a lot today. After finishing a pan of Budaejigae at Kongbul, we went into the Kakao Friends Store and then we met up with our other friend from high school at C27 Café. We ordered two types of cheesecake and then we caught up a bit. I’ve been wanting to try C27’s cheesecake, but I didn’t have the chance to try it until that day. The interior of the Hongdae branch is really nice and spacious. Very recommended for a rest stop after shopping and strolling in Hongdae (but, Hongdae branch is permanently closed).



Another Sunday, another church at Myungdong Cathedral. My cousin and I had a hair salon appointment. So, after the mass, we went to the hair salon in Cheongdam. Yes, that is the Cheongdam you think of. The area is studded with luxury brands, entertainment agencies, and hair salons. Apparently, the salon that I visited was owned by a celebrity hairstylist. I heard she talked about Song Joongki with her staff and I guessed that is when he shot ‘Vincenzo’. It’s just my prediction, okay? Every time I visit this area, I’m always excited and nervous if, by any chance, I will meet some celebrities.


New Retro installation I came across after church

Before sitting down for 3 hours in the hair salon, we stopped by the convenience store and had our stomachs filled. I ate a small instant jjajangmyeon and chocolate milk. Not the best combination, but I don't know why I chose those two. Well, anyway, after that we are finally ready for a makeover. Actually, I don’t have any plans to do my hair in Korea this time, but my aunt insisted on using her deposit in this salon, so we went there. I permed my hair for the first time and my sister cut and straightened her hair. It was the longest time I’ve ever spent in a salon. But, I kind of like my new hair and decided to perm my hair again in Korea sometime.


After the makeover, we went to Galleria Mall. It is a luxury mall in the Gangnam area. Since we could not afford to go shopping there, we just had a snack time at the basement food corner. We had coffee and stroopwafel to fill in the time until dinner time. We had a dinner plan with my aunt, niece, and my aunt’s friend at Mapo-gu. Today we really traveled a lot. From Jongro-gu to Gangnam-gu to Mapo-gu and back to Jung-gu. I met my aunt and niece at the station and then we went to the restaurant together. But, it was raining and I really hate to walk in the rain and I wore white shoes. Thankfully, the dinner was so good. I’ve never seen a thick pork belly like that in Indonesia, so I really enjoyed the dinner. The restaurant serves aged pork belly as well, but what we ate was just an original thick pork belly.

Another day, another meeting. My schedule of the day is stopping by my old office where I used to do part-time jobs. But before stopping by there, I went to the Samsung service center first thing in the morning. I need to repair my dad’s phone in Korea because in Indonesia it costs a lot. 



From there, I’m heading to my office in Gwanghwamun. But, since I still had some time for lunchtime, I decided to walk from Euljiro to Gwanghwamun. It was quite a long distance, but it’s not complicated. I walked past the Cheonggye Stream and then I arrived at Gwanghwamun. Apparently, at that time, the Seoul Lantern Festival was held at the Cheonggye Stream. 





My office is located right behind the Sejong Center building and there are lots of restaurants and café. It was a really nice neighborhood, but not in the wintertime. It’s freezing and very windy. Even at the time I went there, it was not really windy, but as I arrived at Gwanghwamun, the wind became crazy. 


Update: Gwanghwamun Plaza has been renovated!



My boss and co-worker took me for lunch at a nearby restaurant. We had Agu-jjim, a spicy braised monkfish. I liked this dish thanks to my mom. The food was quite bland, but since I’m not the one who pay for it, so I can’t complain. 
I went straight to the bus station to go to Garosu-gil after the quite uncomfortable lunch. It’s not that I’m not comfortable with my co-workers, but it’s that I couldn’t participate in their conversation because I don’t know most of the context.

I went to ALAND in Garosu-gil and bought some skincare there (Update: ALAND has changed their concept, so they no longer sell skincare in their store and they mostly sell streetwear and thrift shop). I was going to join my friend who went to SM café inside the SM Entertainment building, but she already saw her bias passed by, so we changed our meeting location to my aunt’s eatery. My aunt prepared beef for our dinner since my friend’s friends could not eat pork. I didn’t realize how thoughtful and big-hearted my aunt is until I edited this video. Kamshamida, Komo. Thank you to my cousin for grilling the beef to perfection.

Finally, this day was my last day in Korea. I took the night flight and will arrive in Indonesia the next day. So, I still have an almost full day to spend in this city. I went out quite early and made a short stop at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP). I used to have stopped at Dongdaemun Culture & History Park station when I went to school or back home. So, DDP holds a special place in my heart. 

captured with a Fujifilm disposable camera

captured with Samsung Galaxy Note 9

I’ve lost count of how many times I went to Myungdong during this trip, even on the last day I still went to Myungdong. I couldn’t remember what did I in Myungdong on the last day, where I should’ve packed my things. But I went to UNIQLO (at that time Myungdong UNIQLO was the biggest store in Korea and now they are no longer open there) and put my old clothes for recycling. I hope it will be useful for the world. Then I went into Ossuloc to have my hojicha latte intake and bought their matcha roll cake to bring home. Honestly, I didn’t remember eating the roll cake after I arrived in Jakarta. Well anyway, after the break time, I went back and packed my things because I had to meet my Indonesian friend from the language school in the afternoon. I had a bad feeling while packing, but the clock was ticking, so I had to pack all of those things.

I almost finished packing before leaving to meet my friend. I met her at the Lotte Department Store to have Tokkijung before I left Korea. I really liked their cream udon menu, but their portion was too big for me. But nevertheless, I finished the cream udon.


After a short meet-up with fellow Indonesians, I went back to my aunt’s place and finished packing my things and my bad feeling turned out to be right. My baggage was overweight! I felt very uneasy and wanted to throw up. My aunt called and told me to come to her eatery and have some of her fried chicken. I went there though I’m still full. I should have said no and continued packing.

I barely packed the baggage and my cousin and niece helped me to take my things to the airport bus station. I brought 1 40” luggage, 1 cabin luggage, 1 backpack, 1 handbag, 1 paper bag, 1 box of breast milk pump machine, and 1 Ikea bag. Definitely, I’m going to get caught, but I have no choice. This is the first time I went to Korea by myself. I used to go with someone. The airport drama had just begun when I checked in. They asked me to cut it to 32kg (SQ still gave a maximum allowance of 32kg in 2019, but after the pandemic, they only can give economy passengers a 25kg allowance and a premium economy 30kg) and I had to repack my things and finally got to check-in. What’s left is my hand-carry stuff. I packed my carry-on luggage as much as I could, but I got caught at the gate to immigration. The lady told me to repack my stuff because I bring too much stuff. I really wanted to cry at that moment. The complete timeline can be seen in my vlog. But really, I wanted to cry and throw up at that time. The stress was real and I couldn’t really think straight. I even screamed in my sleep inside the airplane. What a worse day to end this trip. I’m so embarrassed. The lady beside me, that I hadn’t even said hi yet, calmed me down. I really wanted to run away. It was really a crazy night.

I barely slept after the screaming incident, but a new day has come. And the sky above was so pretty that day. Turns out that I still could digest the breakfast given. How come after that bizarre day, I still could eat? It was a real mystery that I couldn’t solve yet.

Singapore at 5AM View

Well, on this day it was filled with flights and as soon as I arrived home, I cried. After this baggage incident, I got very cautious with the things I packed. I pack as lightly as possible whenever I travel nowadays. It was such a traumatic event for me. Thankfully, nowadays I pack smartly and there is no more airport drama.

For sure, South Korea is very pretty in autumn. I really love this season the most. I’ve been living in a two-season country for 23 years and finally got to live in a four-season country for eight months. It was one of the best experiences ever and I’m still grateful for it. I’ll be uploading another winter wonderland in Korea with my friends soon! Please wait for it.

Thank you for reading this part! Thank you too if you also watch the vlog as well. I really appreciate every view and visit (though I know that most of the time, it was myself). I don’t know what 2024 will hold, but I believe it will be wonderful! I’ll finish this series as soon as possible, so please look forward! Kamsahamida!

Side notes: ‘Touch My S(e)oul’ is inspired by the K-drama, ‘Touch Your Heart’ (the literal translation from the Korean language is “reach of sincerity”), starring Lee Dongwook and Yoo Inna. One of the best romantic-comedy dramas to watch in 2019. If you haven’t watched it, go watch it!

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