Tag: wanderlust
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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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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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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 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]…
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Cafe True Us @ Insa-Dong | 인사동맛집 카페트루어스
Lemon and Mint-ade after spending a long afternoon exploring Bukchon Hanok Village and Samcheongdong. Cafe True Us 카페트루어스 is located along the antiques street of Insadong, with the nearest station being Jongno-3-Ga Station. Its triple-storeyed interiors are furnished to match its physical location – Insadong is home to cultural arts and crafts that go way back in time. Polished teakwood tables and…
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SEOUL DIARIES OO6: SHOPPING @ IFC MALL & LOTTE OUTLETS
MARCH 22, 2014: DAY THREE Despite my frequent travels, I don’t do a lot of shopping overseas. Seoul is probably the only place where there’s never enough space in my luggages for my shopping loot! Hongdae’s open-till-late vintage and indie stores are just about my favourite places to go. Right up there on my favourite…
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SEOUL DIARIES OO5: HANGANG PARK
March 22, 2014: DAY THREE I picked the perfect day with a gorgeous weather to explore the Yeouido Park! The trail cuts off at an intersection before leading to Yeouido Hangang Park (여의도 한강공원), which faces the Han River. Following this park trail, you can choose to jog along Han River or cross over to…
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SEOUL DIARIES OO4: YEOUIDO PARK
March 22, 2014: DAY THREE Bright and early, I was up and headed for Yeoinaru Subway Station. When I found Yeouido Park (a short walk away), the place was already filled with morning joggers, cycling couples and the brisk-walking elderly! The park is divided into theme-based sections: the Traditional Korean Forest, Grass Square, Culture Square, and Nature’s Ecosystem Forest.…
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SEOUL DIARIES OO3: CAFE-HOPPING in GANGNAM
Gangnam is, altogether, a fantastic spot for cafe-hopping. I spent the entire day here from morning till early evening, until I headed to KYOBO BOOKSTORE at Sinnonhyeon Station. The area is close to the Jamwon section of Hangang River Park, so take a walk to the famous South Korean river if you feel up to…
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SEOUL DIARIES OO2: GANGNAM
On my second day in Seoul, I travelled to Apgujeong in the district of Gangnam. To catch a trendy side of Seoul without the unexaggeratedly touristy appeal (aka Myeongdong), head to this part of town. Gangnam has been revolutionized by a wave of new-age Koreans. What I loved: this building dressed in a coat of…
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Travel Cafe Hongdae | 트래블 카페 @ 홍대
비행기 타기를 즐기십니까? Do you love plane rides and travelling?Personally I’m a huge fan of the Travel Cafe in Hapjeong/Hongik University district. Amongst an abundance of travel inspirations and books on various attractive destinations, this is the perfect place to plan for your next trip, or simply to relive the excitement of a plane ride. When you order something to…
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Book Cafe Jaeum and Moeum | 자음과모음 북카페
Major Korean publishers Jaeum and Moeum (자음과모음) releases the latest bestsellers via their flagship bookstores, as well as this dainty and elegant book cafe situated in central Yanghwaro, Hongdae. An all-day set menu includes a cup of coffee bundled with new releases. Book cafes are where publishers highlight noteworthy books that haven’t received much publicity or marketing opportunities.…
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Ways of Seeing | @ 한남동 이태원
A perfect collision of art and coffee culture – what better way to kick back in appreciation of art installations with a coffee in hand! Ways of Seeing is a cafe slash art gallery along Itaewon. The local indie artsy-types would definitely know this place – it’s probably their favourite hangout. They have the standard coffee menu plus sandwiches,…
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Glamorous Penguin | 글래머러스 펭귄
Glamorous Penguin is established within the expat-friendly Itaewon locale which is home to a myriad of private and national art museums, and also a walking distance from Hannamdong Cafe Street. Despite being a weekday mid-morning, Glamorous Penguin was already bustling with a caffeine-hungry crowd! Itaewon is the artsy-fartsy neighbourhood similar to Gangnam, but with less self-established private corporations. The entire Itaewon is more or…
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Thanks Nature Cafe | 양카페
Only in Seoul, you get to dine with a lamb! With the proliferation of overrated cat and dog cafes, Hongdae’s first and only sheep cafe (양카페) has been making headlines. Owner of the cafe, Kwang-Ho Lee, is spotted feeding the frisky little ones in their outdoor enclosure. Much to my surprise, the sheep didn’t smell…
Viktoria Jean 