Travel Diary: Korea Winter Wonderland (Part 1)

2016 was amazing! (See other reasons why 2016 are amazing, here) I went to Korea twice and the second trip I did was on winter season. I went there with my friend, which it is our first duo trip ever. We used to be in a same room whenever we went for school trips, but never go for a trip together. We randomly planned for this trip earlier in 2016. It was supposed to be a 3 girls trip, but one of my friend couldn’t join us because she already got a job and she couldn’t take a leave. 

Well since we went by ourselves, without our parents, this trip was kinda spendthrift. Sometimes we bought some useless stuff and procrastinate where our money gone and some other girl problem that only girls know. Nevertheless, it was a very exciting and fun trip. Since, I spend 11 days for this trip, I’ll divided the blog post into 5 parts, each part consist of 2 days. This is the same with the travel diary video. You can watch the video here. And you can read my previous story when I went to Korea last April with my mom, here. 

Day 1

Usually I took Garuda Indonesia flight whenever I go to Korea. But this time, I took Singapore Airlines (SQ) because I got a cheaper price. The departure date I chose was extremely expensive with Garuda Indonesia. So, this time I chose another airline. It is my first time using SQ and experiencing transit. It was okay since we stopped at Changi Airport, one of the world’s best airport. We have 3 hours before we took off to Korea. We got some shopping vouchers, SGD 20, for each of us for free from SQ. So, if anyone of you used SQ and have a stopover in Changi, don’t forget to claim a voucher from them. 

Well, on the first day of our trip was mostly spent on airport and aircraft. Eating, watching, and talking are most of our activities. I think we ate like 4 times a day, until we don’t want to eat anymore. By the way, SQ’s in-flight meals are quite nice. I liked all of the meals they gave. The downside is they don’t serve hot bread. Indeed, that is why SQ recognized as one of the best airline.
My uncle picked me up this time, because we arrived quite late and the airport bus has stopped running. From the airport, we went straight to my aunt’s apartment around Dongdaemun area. I really liked living there, even though I’ve never tried living around Gangnam area or other tourist area. 

Flying with SQ!

Pikachu Christmas Tree @ Changi Airport

Day 2

On our first day, we started our day with a nice and sweet Korean strawberry and some our Burger King take-away leftovers. Yeah, our breakfast was kinda lame, but that’s okay because we can have more space to fill-in our tummy. Actually, we want to go to Gwangjang Market to have our brunch there. But, since I never went there and my cousin doesn’t explain it clearly how to go there, I use the direction from the internet. But then, I was lost. By the way, Google Maps doesn’t work in Korea, you should download Korean maps, such as Naver Maps. Then we just went for Cold Noodles or Naengmyeon, because it is what we saw and I’ve ate there before. It is the same cold noodles I ate last April. 

At Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Exit 13

Then, we off to Gangnam area, specifically, Cheongdam-dong a.k.a Korean Beverly Hills Rodeo. It was my first time to that area by subway and walk through the road by foot. The reason we went to the most luxurious area in Korea is we want to have our hair cut. We are going to have a K-makeover at Jenny House Salon. It is a salon of several Korean celebrity such as, Park Shinye, Song Jihyo, etc. But, unfortunately we didn’t saw any celebrity at the time we visited. It was extremely cold and we lost our way again because of Google Maps again. Actually it doesn’t very hard to find the salon, but the intersections were little bit confusing. We were afraid to enter the salon actually. We are a little bit shy and have a bit of burden, because the salon is quite famous and it charge quite high. In the end, we entered. We were assisted by a nice lady, who can speak English and she used to lived in Indonesia! So, she can speak a little Indonesian. At first we ask about the price, the lowest one is 66,000 KRW. But, we paid 77,000 KRW because the hairstylist handled us were charged at that price. Actually, I’m okay with the price, but I’m kinda disappointed that I didn’t feel really changed my hairstyle. I feel like just cutting my hair, not doing a makeover. Next time, I’ll just go to the salon around Ehwa or Hongdae area. I think they have a better price for a standard cutting.

Home to Luxurious Brand, Cheongdam-dong

Infinite Gangnamdol

Getting ready for the makeover

K-makeover on the process

TADA!

excuse our mirror selfie, becos the toilet was awesome

Taking photo infront of Bvlgari Christmas Tree

Pretty Street Lights

Oh! Happy Winter!

On the bright side, we’ve got to try how luxurious Korean Salon is! They gave us robe and they kept our coats and bags in a room. But the downside is they don’t give us free drink. Even in the cheapest salon in Indonesia, give their customer a glass of water. Well, at least I’ve experience it and I will remember how fun it is to have a lot of money, especially in Cheongdam-dong. 

After that makeover, we went for dinner at Sindang Ddeokbokki Town, to eat the ddeokbokki eaten by YongSeo couple. When they shoot WGM, they have visited one ddeokbokki restaurant (watch it here), and that makes my friend wants to try it. She is a fan of Yonghwa, so she wants to eat what Yonghwa have eat with Seohyun on that program. But, after I rechecked, the restaurant we ate was different. I was mistaken by the similar name. The restaurant name I've visited is Maboknim Grandma and the one YongSeo Couple went is Maboknim Grandma Last's Son. But, basically the menu and the food was pretty much the same. The portion was huge! We ordered the 2 pax portion actually, but it came out that big. We barely finished it, but since both of us haven’t ate anything since the brunch time, we finished it all. The food was okay, not really wow like how it looks like maybe, because we didn’t really know how to cook or mix it properly. The server didn’t explained it to us also, so we’re both just mixing it up and then eat it. 

Believe me it's a 2 person portion

Because we thought that it is too early to go back home, we stopped by at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP). We went inside and spotted the design art market shop. Then, we stroll around it, spotted a lot of cute stuff that I wanted to buy. After that, we went back home and we were asked to have chi-maek, or chicken and beer, at home. I said okay, and we both eat again after that spoonful of dinner. HAHA. 

Design Art Market @ DDP

We ate, talk, and watch The Legend of the Blue Sea together (oh yes Lee Minho is such an eye candy!), then we went back to our room. Watching some vlogs in Korea, then we slept. We have a long day ahead tomorrow, since the next day is the coldest day ever.

Thank you for reading it all till this point. Do wait for the next part! See you soon.

Details:

Jenny House

28, Apgujeong-ro 75-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul

서울특별시 강남구 압구정로75길 28 (청담동)

How to: Apgujeong Rodeo Station (Seoul Subway Bundang Line), Exit 2. Go straight for 200m and turn left at Louis Quatorze. Continue for 100m. Jenny House Primo will be on the right.

Ojangdong Hamheung Naengmyun

108, Mareunnae-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
서울특별시 중구 마른내로 108 (오장동)  

Telp: +82-2-2267-9500

Maboknim Grandma Ddeokbokki

5, Dasan-ro 35-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
서울특별시 중구 다산로35길 5 (신당동)

Telp: +82-2-2232-8930

How to: Sindang Station, exit #8. Then just go straight until you see a gate, Sindang Ddeokbokki Town, and the restaurant will be on your left.

 

LIFE: What I’ve Learned and Thankful for in 2016

I believe all of you agree with the fact that time flies so fast. 2016 is coming to end and I thought it is proper to share you what I’ve learned and thankful for this year. I hope things I’ve learned can help each one of you to be a better person. People said that you didn’t have to experience it to learn it. But sometimes, learning by experiencing is much more striking us, I guess. Since not all experience is a good one, so it is better to learn horrible experience without experiencing it, right? 

1. TIME MANAGEMENT

The first thing and most important thing I’ve learned this year is time management. I was terribly disappointed with my self because of my bad time management. I used to do well on my assignment, but this year I felt that I didn’t do a great job because I didn’t do it properly due to bad time management. I also missed lots of things because of it. I just hate my self for managing time badly this year. Guys, don’t waste your time just because you mismanaged it. Learn to be discipline and have the mindset that time is an important asset in your life and once you lost it, you can’t find it back. 

2. BE A SMART SOCIAL MEDIA USER

Social media is important these days, but sometimes I feel that it is the one who took a lot of my time. HAHA. I should reduce my time in scrolling down those timeline on social media. Also, it distracted me a lot. It affected my relationship with real people and created envy toward others. I’ve learned to use social media platform as a bridge to connect with people I rarely met, develop creative content, give impact and share love, and support my friends. So, as a social media user, be a smart one, use the positive side of social media, and have a positive thinking while using it. 

3. DISAPPOINTMENT IS PART OF LIFE

Other things I’ve learned is it is okay to be disappointed, even with other people or yourself. Life is not always perfect, there are some bumpy side. But after all, you’ve got to face it and move forward. The thing is, you should not let the disappointment overcome you. You’ve got to stand up as soon as possible, let your disappointment become your source of energy to do better. 

4. PRAY AND TRUST GOD IN EVERY CONDITION

It is hard actually to overcome disappointment by yourself. But for me, I find God is the only one who can untangle your disappointment and create it as a good one. Pray is the only answer for your disappointment. I am the type of person who is not really like to share my problem to others, even to the closest ones. So, the only one who knows my problem without asking me is God. That’s the reason I rely God whenever I’m happy or sad. 

Oh!I found this thing on Facebook recently, click here. Maybe it help you to grow to be a better person. 

For the things I’m thankful for this year are the opportunity to travel, my friends achievements on finishing their education and got their first job, able to help in developing my juniors’ skill in guiding, and my family keep on being together. 

Hello there N Seoul Tower!

Trying to look cool along the mural in Ihwa Mural Village, Korea

Me with the flowers inside the Gardens Bay, Singapore

Gardens by the Bay, Singapore

Water Castle, Yogyakarta

With the beautiful girls of mine and amazing scenery in Yogyakarta

Ubud, Bali

The "hits" Nalu Bowls. Bali

Winter Wonderland in Korea

Taking photo in -8 degree on the Rooftop of Style Nanda Myungdong, Korea

This year probably is the most frequent I went for traveling. On April I went to Korea (read my story here) , on June I went to Singapore, on August I went to Yogyakarta, on October I went to Bali, and on December I went to Korea again. I really had the opportunity this year to traveling. I can’t wait to have another adventure next year. 

I was supposed to be finished my university life this year, but due to my double degree program, I couldn’t finish it this year. So, some of my friends finished it first. I was happy for them to finally finishing off their school days. They didn’t have the burden to have exam every 3 months and pay the tuition. Most of them who have been in the job world, they want to go back to university. I know how it feels, but the only thing that I don’t like about going to school is the exam. I like taking classes, but hate to do the exam. I think most of us feel the same, right? Anyway, Congratulations my friends! May you have an enjoyable job and great future ahead! 

Not really the guiding part, but it is one part of my Bali adventure with those kiddos

This year I got another opportunity to help my lecture to teach my junior how to be a tour guide and planning a tour. I went to Bali not only for refreshing, but also to be an examiner. Like what I did 2 years ago in Bali, we had to do our guiding for around 20-30 minutes about a particular topic. I help my lecture to do the scoring and train them how to delivering it. It was one of the best achievements I’ve done this year. Travel diary will be uploaded soon! 

Not the best quality of photo, but at least we are together. They are my cousin from my mom's side and my grandpa

My Korean Family

Lastly, I’m thankful for my family. My mom’s side family is still complete. Well, from my dad’s side, we just lost our grandma last August. But on the bright side, my long-lost cousin is back with us again. He cut-off contact with us. But, since my grandma passed away, he came back and connected with us again. After all, people will go and come, but the most important thing is to stick together with your family no matter what. 

I hope all of you have great days in 2016. If there is something you wanted to share with me, you can always comment it down below! I wish you have a great year ahead and live the life you wanted in 2017. God bless you all! Love ya!