I Bump You Bump.

Just a note when it comes to roaming and being on your way anywhere. 

While I really hope that this is not the case, I notice that my shoulder hit counts have hit a sky high record in my life after being here. 

RM75/USD25 Passport Photos, Anyone?

Yesterday, I got my photo taken (I say passport photo cause it's that size, BUT I was about to have it taken Korean Passport status, which I will address later) for my Alien Registration Card application.

So of course, in any photo, you want to hide any large & tiny flaws, so you seek the professional help of who I call (and all of us know as), Make up. With the help of my friend, make up, I head out to the studio with an appointment already set up. I get there, the whole place looks super pretty, as if it were a smaller version of a studio for weddings  (I was so distracted by him taking photos of a girl who was also taking profile sized photos I forgot to take pictures of the place).

The atmosphere in the studio was pretty lively, with people moving around, and  music playing and another person editing the photos. Then I was told to "get ready" at the make up table that was located in the corner, equipped with hair spray, combs, hair ties, and a shit ton of mirrors.

As I was already ready to go, I just sat there watching her shoot. The photographer was really animated as he was giving directions to her. She kept laughing from being so amused. The shoot was fast, but boy did they take a lot of photos. She also took quite a lot of time picking the photo of her choice...

Eons later, she's finally out, and it's my turn. The photographer was super down to every littlest detail, fixing my hair with the comb, holding up the mirror to ensure my hair is properly arranged, so meticulous! I guess that's why my wallet has a big hole in it now. 25,000₩ for all this, and of course the said energy and amusement as the photographer directs your shoot. Everything ended in 15 minutes. The photo taking, the selection (where he narrows it down to 4 main photos and you pick the ONE. HAHA what is this, SayYesToTheDressPhoto?). Afterwards, I was out. Super efficient.

\Later in the evening, I was emailed the soft copies of the photos.

Before I go on, allow me to say, that no matter where you go in Korea, they photoshop ALL your photos like this to make you look flawless and perfect. (I blame the workforce requirements for judging a book by it's cover but that's for another day) AND SO, THIS IS ALL VERY NORMAL IN KOREA.

My verdict?

HOLY COW. 

Imma quote Cindy Crawford: "I don't look like Kimberley Ng*"
*names have been edited to fit the article.


Prepare yourselves...

WHUT?

Talk about Photoshop. I can't even. Now I know why they charge you so much for a friggin passport photo. Golly gee. 

Was it worth it? 

I don't even know. I don't think that looks like me. That looks like a digital version of my doppelgänger. But man, what an experience! 

남산타워 Uh, LEE MINHO! DUHHHH

I know I said I would do a video review but uhm... that has a shit ton of work to be done to it before it can be shown to public... So bare with me (: hehe

Instead, today, I'll be talking a bit about 남산타워 aka Namsan Tower! or N Seoul Tower! Super famous landmark, gives you a pretty good view of Seoul (towards Myeondong and all), and it's a pretty known place for couples to visit and have their personalized locks locked onto the rails of the look out point.

How to get there:
Kay, honestly, a friend drove me to the National Theatre of Korea, and we bused it up the hill to the tower!

So, I'm gonna pull out my cheat sheet and show you some ways of getting up there (instead of you having to google it and all hehehe)

Alright.

How to get there by:


BUS
First, get to the bus stop by subway.
Your options include Myeondong Station (Line 4), getting out at Exit 3 or Chungmuro Station (Line 3 or Line 4), getting out at Exit 2/ if you're looking at the map, in front of Daehan Cinema)
From there, you can take the Namsan Sunhwan Shuttle Bus #2 (02번 남산 순환버스) up to the tower.

Running Hours: 0700 -2400 (aka Midnight)
Intervals: 15 minutes
Cost: 950 won with cash, 850 with T Money card.

Route/ Using the same bus, you can also board it at the following locations:
N Seoul Tower (N서울타워) → Namsan Public Library (남산도서관) → Seoul Education Research & Information Institute (교육연구정보원) → Namsan Walk B Course (남산산책로입구B코스) → Seoul Animation Center/Soongeui Women's College (서울애니매이션센터,승의여대) → Teogyero 3-ga Hanok Village (퇴계로3가하녹마을) →  Daehan Cinema (댈한국산) → Teogyero 5-ga (퇴계로5가) → Dongguk University Station (동대입구역) → National Theatre of Korea (국립극산) → Namsan North Side Circuit Entry (남산북측순환로입국).

Option 2 (subway and Namsan Sunhwan Shuttle Bus #3)
Subway stops: Seoul Station (Line 1/ Line 4) getting off at Exit 9, Itaewon (Line 6) Exit 4, Hangangjin Station (Line 6) in front of Exit 2

Namsan Sunhwan Shuttle Bus #3 (3번 남산 순환버스)
Running Hours: 0730 -2330 (aka 11.30pm)
Intervals: 20 minutes
Cost: 950 won with cash, 850 with T Money card.

Route: N Seoul Tower (N서울타워) → Namsan Public Library (남산도서관) → Beokbeom Plaza (벅범광장) → Huam Intersection (후암삼거리) → Namdaemun Police Station (남대문경찰서) → Seoul Station (서울역) → Namdaemun Market (남대문시장) → Namsan Tunnel 3 (남산산3호터날) → Yonghan Hanshin Apartment (영한한신아파트) → Haebangchon (해방촌) → Itaewon Yongsan-gu Office (이태원 녕산구청) → Hamilton Hotel (해밀톤호텔) → Itaewon Fire Branch (이태원소방파출서) → Hangangjin Station (한강진역) → Beoti Gogae (버티고개) → Songdo Hospital (송도병원앞) → Yaksu Station (약수역) → Dongguk University Station (동대잎구역) → National Theatre of Korea (국립극산) → Namsan North Side Circuit Entry (남산북측순환로입국) → N Seoul Tower (N서울타워)


Option 3: Namsan Sunhwan Shuttle Bus #5 (5번 남산 순환버스)
Running Hours: 0730 -2330 (aka 11.30pm)
Intervals: 15 minutes
Cost: 950 won with cash, 850 with T Money card.

Route: N Seoul Tower (N서울타워) → Namsan Public Library (남산도서관) → Beokbeom Plaza (벅범광장) → Hilton Hotel (힐톤호텔) Namdaemun Market, Accessory Arcade (남대문시장, ) → Entrance to Myeongdong () → Teogyero 3-ga Hanok Village (퇴계로3가하녹마을) → Daehan Cinema (댈한국산) → Teogyero 5-ga (퇴계로5가) Teogyero 6-ga (퇴계로6가) → Gwanghui-dong Crossroads (광희희동사거리) → Chungmu Art Hall, Jungbu Fire Station (충무아트홀, 충무소바서) → Sindang-dong Tteokbokki Town (신당동 떡볶이타운) → Sindang-dong Cheongo Station (신당동, 청구역) → Yaksu Station (약수역) → Dongguk University Station (동대잎구역) → National Theatre of Korea (국립극산) → Namsan North Side Circuit Entry (남산북측순환로입국) → N Seoul Tower (N서울타워)


CABLE CAR
Operating Hours: 10.00-2300
How To Get There: Get on the Subway and take Exit 3 at Myeongdong Station (Line 4), when you see Pacific Hotel, go on the road to the RIGHT of it, and walk for 10-15 minutes to the stop.
Price:

I would recommend taking the cable car (especially if you watched Boys Over Flowers) cause it's a different view I believe (:

There are other means of getting there that are less common. But if you wanna go how to get there by Seoul City Bus, or by driving, click here and here individually.

When you get there by bus though, you'll have to walk up this super steep hill up to the Tower (the night view is quite breathtaking actually) itself. Then when you're there, you can just follow the crowd to the look out point. If you're there with your significant other, you can either purchase those love locks and/or love magnets and do your message thing. For the locks, couples write their names on the lock and hang them on the railings of the look out point, they say that its so that the relationship will last. And the magnets is an extra, after writing a message, you get to hang it up in the gift shop (also where you buy the lock and magnets), though the lock I'd recommend buying it BEFORE you go up, but the magnets, they only allow the store bought ones. 

And when inside the tower, you can walk around the shopping area and check out some souvenirs (POSTCARDS! I'd recommend getting them here cause it was a rather difficult task trying to find postcards in the city itself) while being silly like me...

these little deco things are just too cute not to take photos with haha

or go UP the tower (something I didn't do cause I didn't have the money) for an extended view though the open look out point has a good enough view. 

Here's Sun and I (: It was a pretty good night. 

Sorry for the late late LATE updates ): 

I know I apologize a lot, but my time is seriously so limited I barely have time ): 

Samcheongdong!

Forgive my negligence!

I have been so busy, not necessarily in the way I had initially intended but busy nevertheless!

But yesterday I was lucky enough to have been able to go out to Samcheong-dong for some R&R and to do a little shopping. If you're wondering how to get there, it's really simple, just get on the Subway (Orange Line 3) and get off at Anguk. Exit 1 is where you wanna get off. If you get out and see the Jongno Police Station across the street, you're on the right track. Turn right once you get out the exit and you'll pass and Starbucks at one point (which will be on your right) and Olive Young on the corner. At some point you'll see (on your right) the entrance to the area (it'll be pretty crowded) so follow the crowd and keep walking. As you walk, you'll see street vendors selling little trinkets and things then as you walk, you'll start to see little cafes and small eateries  as the road kinda gets narrower.

As I was starving by the time I got there, I went into the first shop that caught my attention. It was upstairs and I had no idea what it was so I sat down and was given this menu. Then I saw the price and could not stomach it. So I left and I ended up here

Meok-shui-don-na

it had SBS on it so I guessed it was good?

Who knew, it was Toppokki made for sharing. Goddamn. 

But I was fucking hungry and toooo lazy to leave again so here's what I got:

Seafood and Beef Toppoki with Ramyeon, Fish Cake, and Eggs.

I think Emma'd agree wimme on this. 

Sad to say the least, I couldn't finish it completely. Dude, it was made for 2 or more! I finished the important ingredients though haha (like the fish cakes, seafood, meat, as much of the eggs as I could, and the veges). I felt like a boss eating it all on my own though ;) hehe. The couple that sat next to me didn't even finish HALF. Watching their figures maybe?

But of course all of that was followed by some walking around and shopping! Gotta sweat it all out. And sweat I did. Everyone did, in fact. It was hot and humid so of course beads of sweat would at definitely make its way at least to your neck. ANYWAY, enough about sweat.

Most of the things on sale were pretty cheap. 

Those pink ones remind me of the ones I had at Soka.

interesting name. Koreans really have a quirky sense of humor when it comes to setting up shop names

The shoes were on sale approx 20,000-30,000 on sale. Didn't bother looking at the non sale items.

I usually do not (or pretty much can't so why bother) roll that way.

My last stop was this vintage store to pick up some stuff I couldn't pay for the night before (we dropped by for a few seconds and I picked out a dress and a skirt) 

most of their stuff in the vintage store was 10,000 ₩ aka approx USD9/RM30

Seriously in love with this place.

In the end, my hauls for the day were:

a ton of jewelry I was too lazy to take photos of 

vintage skirt and dress 

from Retro Vintage

& these beauties from I ♥ Flat

They remind me of my late grandma. 

She only wore these kinds of shoes.

Here are some other shots of the shoes I thought you'd appreciate..

the insoles are pretty soft +1

the sole is pretty sturdy looking. When I wear them the bottom of my feet feel protected +1

not bad for 25,000₩ won't you say?

okay. Let's sum it all up.

My advice from this trip:

1. BRING CASH! This applies to whenever you leave your hotel room (ESPECIALLY if you're going shopping at places that isn't a mall). I mean unless money is no biggy and you don't mind getting charged at least an extra 10% with every purchase. Then in that case, don't. But realistically speaking, why pay that extra when you can pay for whats on the price tag alone?

2. When it comes to food, unless you have a pitless cove for a stomach, I'd suggest bringing a friend. As mentioned with the toppokki, I had to eat it all by myself and was not able to devour all the yummy desserts that tempted me and called my name like mermaids at sea. Pretty much everything except the chicken skewers (which I could not try cause broke as fuck and not hungry partially cause of the thin wallet) were made for sharing

3. Food aside, here's why bringing a friend/another person would be good: One, as mentioned above, sharing, less binging, more variety. Two, second opinions when it comes to shopping cause dude, most of the things there are so cheap/on sale that you literally wanna buy everything and it'll make you go broke in 5 seconds, not even kidding. Lucky for me, I had a small wallet, aka small-ass-budget so I had to control my own spending. Three, the photo taking! If, like me, you're vain (nothing wrong with that) and enjoy being in front of the camera, then your friend would do much much help. Vice versa. Win. Mother-fcukin-WIN. 

4. This point is quite important so remember this well: There is a small drink stall next to the restaurant Flora. You won't miss it. It has fruits in a cup on display and it's pretty red/pinkish on the inside. Take note of this place. You do not. I repeat DO NOT wanna buy anything from there. Heres why: I paid almost USD4 for a tea that didn't even have milk, honey OR sugar in it. I was not offered any condiments and the sad pathetic part of it all was when I asked for some milk, she told me that she'll only put in a little after showing me a sour face and then pretending to be confused. Trust me, you're not missing out on much if you're opting out of this place. With the money you're paying for "traditional Korean tea" (it was stuff you can make at home cause all you need to do is add hot water), you could probably save that money, add a couple more dollars for a sit in nice ice cold cuppa or shaved ice in an AC-ed (or heated depending on the season you're in) cafe that's round the corner. Seriously, refrain from that stall! You're not missing out on much.

5. When you reach Flora, you'll think you're at the end. But you're not. So cross the street, keep walking (follow the crowd) and go up to the Bukchon village (especially during sunset you don't wanna miss the view) and just slow walk. Its really chill and you get to people watch from an elevated view. It's like watching a live dollhouse! 

Like the escaping teddy...

I promise. 

And if you're feeling hungry by then, there's a ton of restaurants/cafes for you to pick from too!

Alright, I feel like I've regurgitated too much. Hope you took at least one thing away from this! :)

Watch out for my next post! I sense a coffee one coming! :) YAY!

I'm out.