Category: Asia
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SEOUL DIARIES 021: DONGNIMMUN GATE 독립문
In late 19th Century, the King was many-a-times escorted through Dongnimmun Gate, thereafter to demonstrate personal reception towards visiting Chinese envoys. Dongnimmun is 独立門 in Mandarin, the gate that signifies independence and free will of a country’s people. Built in 1897, the gate served to concretize South Korea’s sovereignty. Planted aesthetically in areas surrounding the independence gate are…
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SEOUL DIARIES 020: SIJEONG CITY HALL
Found: fresh fruits at Sijeong’s Yeongchun market! Got myself this box of seasonal strawberries which were so fresh and sweet. The ahjummas at the market even let you taste the strawberries before any payment. I’ve had really good strawberries in Germany earlier this week as well. Good food makes me feel so blessed to be…
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SEOUL DIARIES 019: A DAY OF ARTS AND CULTURE
March 24, 2014: DAY FIVE Itinerary [09:00AM] Arrive at Anguk Station [09:00AM] Explore Insadong streets: from Anguk Station, walk towards Jongno-3-ga via Gwanhun-dong, and back towards Anguk Station via Gyeonji-Dong [11:00AM] Lunch @ Miss Lee Cafe 별다방 미스리, Insadong [12:00PM] Bukchon Hanok Village 북촌한옥마을 [01:30PM] Coffee Break @ Cafe 5Ci Jung 까페오시정 [02:15PM] Explore Samcheongdong, walk back towards Insadong (Anguk Station) [02:45PM]…
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Cafe Comma | 카페꼼마
For book-lovers like myself, this is somewhere akin to heaven! With a two-floor occupancy, this cafe boasts more than 3,000 books stacked from floor to ceiling, with a ladder allowing visitors to peruse the books on higher shelves. Run by Munhakdongne publishing group, Book Cafe Comma is known in Seoul for its investments in talented young writers. Most books in-store are sold at half-price. Some of them are not even available anywhere…
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Cafe Miz Moren | 카페 미즈모렌
When I take my coffee black with no sugar, I know I’m tasting the results of seriously good cocoa beans. If like me, you loathe the acidic aftertaste that only milk or brown sugar can eliminate, and you would much rather down a dozen cups of cappuccino or caffe latte over multiple espresso shots, you’d be glad to know that gourmet black coffee can…
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Paul & Lina’s Living Cafe | 폴엔리나 리빙까페
Doubling as a furniture store, Paul & Lina’s is a place patrons do purchase chopping boards and pepper shakers with sweet potato lattes. The sign says it all: furniture, fabrics, coffee and desserts. Though small, this underrated cafe seems loaded with ornaments and homeware for sale. The owners are a homely couple with an elementary school son who was…
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SEOUL DIARIES 018: SAMCHEONGDONG 삼청동
At the peak of Bukchon Hanok Village overlooking Samcheongdong, I couldn’t wait to get to its bustling streets! Samcheongdong is geographically the lane right next to Bukchon Hanok Village. It is the trendy mash-up neighbourhood with hipster cafes, luxury goods, private art galleries alongside traditional Korean diners. Not a showroom for cars but an art gallery. In Seoul, many motor…
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CAFE 5CI JUNG | 까페오시정
Post-lunch coffee at Cafe 5Ci Jung is akin to spending the afternoon at a friendly neighbour’s home. A very warm welcome awaits you the moment you step through its doors, right up till you leave its premises. Each barista made an effort to greet every guest, and never seemed to stop smiling. I was further impressed when the…
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SEOUL DIARIES 017: SSAMZIEGIL ARTS AND CULTURE 쌈지길
Indeed, Ssamziegil is the ‘Special Insa-dong within Insa-dong’. This arts and cultural heaven is made of over 70 shops, including handicraft and souvenir stores, art galleries, restaurants and eateries. Following a spiral-like staircase, you’ll arrive at Haneulmadang at the top of Ssamziegil, where you get a really good sky-view! Found: the legendary DUNG-BREAD! Bread shaped like…
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Miss Lee Cafe | 별다방 미스리
My first shake-em-up Korean lunchbox meal, also known as dosirak 도시락! At Star Cafe Miss Lee (별다방 미스리): I didn’t exactly shake it, because the lady who served my lunch told me I didn’t have to unless I wanted the egg yolk to explode, and I dislike my rice soaked in yolk. But damn, this was sooooo…
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SEOUL DIARIES 016: SNAPSHOTS @ INSADONG
You know you’re in Insadong when traditional imperial-entertainer masks are sold at every corner. And you find loads of antiques at pretty good prices. There’s the occasional fabulous art gallery. And tourist traps with iconic Korean souvenirs. Not forgetting name-stamps! I think these are just so cute. When I get to graduate school, I’m getting one…
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SEOUL DIARIES 015: ART @ CHEONGYECHEON STREAM
Discovered this underground cave of an artwork gallery at Cheongyecheon Stream 청계천 and thought it was worth a mention! Don’t miss it if you’re strolling along the picturesque waterway. xoxo, Viktoria Jean
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SEOUL DIARIES 014: CHEONGYECHEON STREAM 청계천
For serenity and peace in Seoul’s busy boulevard, Cheongyecheon’s mini waterfalls, crystal clear stream and quiet walking lanes is where I found clarity for my thoughts. Honestly this 8.4 km / 5.2 miles long stream wasn’t as grand as what I had in mind, but still a picturesque sight in the city! Many couples were seen holding hands, strolling leisurely as…
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SEOUL DIARIES 013: BUKCHON HANOK VILLAGE 북촌한옥마을
For history buffs who wish to experience a well-preserved slice of Korean history, Bukchon Hanok Village is where you need to be! The residential district of Bukchon (literally meaning north village) housed high-ranking government officials / nobility during the Joseon Dynasty. Here, traditional Korean houses known as Hanok (or Joseonhouses) were re-built or re-furnished from the olden days. Tourist information centers are tactfully located in all…
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SEOUL DIARIES 012: ART @ ANGUK STATION
The thing about travelling alone is this: you’ve got to find ways to entertain yourself. Every empty street and silent alley is a selfie moment… or in my guesthouse room, every morning, before I see the world. On my way to Insadong and Bukchon Hanok Village, I captured these paintings at Anguk station’s underground platform. To…
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SEOUL DIARIES 011: SOONDAE 순대
Introducing Korea’s traditional blood sausage: What it is: pig’s intestines stuffed with fermented soybean paste, glutinous rice, kimchi, cellophane noodles and pork blood. To this date, I can’t believe I had eaten this!! It’s pig intestines and I actually finished this whole plate of SOONDAE without knowing what it is!! Having walked across Han River…
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SEOUL DIARIES 010: HAN RIVER 한강
Mission Crossing the Hannam Bridge 한남대교 Accomplished! With this incredible view of Seoul’s Han River before me, the feeling is indescribable. Basically, I walked from Hannamdong (Itaewon district) to the other end of Hannam Bridge, which connects to Sinsa-Dong and Gangnam-Gu. The closer I got to the bridge’s midsection, the wind got crazy. I swear it’s…
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SEOUL DIARIES 008: CAFES IN ITAEWON
Along the glorious and vibrant district of art museums and galleries are laid-back cafes offering all-day breakfasts and a myriad of flavoured coffees. In close association to the indie Hannamdong Cafe Street, coffee culture in Itaewon is self-directed and expat-friendly. Expect top-notch Americanos and loads of Seoul Design-Spot cafe galleries! Here are some of my favourites! For more…
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SEOUL DIARIES 007: ITAEWON
March 23, 2014: DAY FOUR Itinerary [10:00 AM] Breakfast @ Thanks Nature Cafe 양카페 – Hongdae [10:59 AM] Grabbed Kyeran Bang 계란 빵 from a street stall! My favorite street food from Korea! [11:00 AM] Travel to Itaewon! [11:20 AM] Sat down for a strawberry latte at Glamorous Penguin. Also to leech onto their WiFi for Google Maps. [12:00 PM]…
Viktoria Jean 