Korea Trip Day 7 and 8

The last two days was spent in Seoul, we stayed in Millenium Hilton hotel. Quite the same as Singapore's hotels so we din take pictures of it. ha. Was brought to the Coffee Prince cafe and well was a little disappointed as the cafe was under renovation hence did not manage to go in for a cuppa and could only take pics from outside. Apparently, the cafe is doing so well that they have 11 outlets altogether.

Then we went to this Beauty Academy to learn about facial massage and all. Opposite it is The FACE Shop and all the women went crazy there. I guess I was one of the more composed ones. :)

This was the best lunch we had before we took the plane back to Singapore. The soup was Di Huang Ya! Really nice but the duck meat was too tough for my teeth.

Here's Esther's and my stuff after 8 days. BIL said we bought the whole of korea but actually, we din la... its just that the boxes look big. Deceiving. :)
Sadly, on the plane, back to Singapore. *sigh* I wanna go back to Korea again.

Korea Trip Day Six

We celebrated Christmas at Everland. FREEZING! I had to warm myself up but guess what? Not much help actually. Cos the wind was far too strong.

Din quite enjoy that place except for the Zha Jiang Mian sold at China Moon restaurant. DELICIOUS!

We went to this Da Chang Jing place to learn to make Kim Chi.

Not too bad for a first try I think. :)

We get to try Hanbok for the first time too. Don't we just look like koreans now? haha

Korea Trip Day Five

How's my complexion after the Ginseng Strawberry Yogurt Mask? Puurrrfect! :)

We then went to the Teddy Bear Museum in Jeju. They showcased the different types of teddy bears in collection. This is the smallest one 4.5mm. It so small that we a magnifying lens had to be placed in front of it.

This one had like diamonds and precious stones studded on on. EXPENSIVE.

Saw these 2 huge bears before leaving the place, think they are so cute. Really cuddly too.

But nothing beats this. Hahahah Its GIGANTIC.

We then visited Yongduam (Dragon Head Rock) We met the Jeju women divers there. Caught them in action. Can you believe it, while we were all wrapped up like buritos, those garung ladies actually dived into the sea to catch sea creatures for sale. They only put on a simple scuba gear and courageously dived into the sea to make a living. Apparently, its going to be a lost trade soon as younger girls nowadays won't wanna do it.

The women divers will catch octopus, sea cucumbers and abalone for sale. Koreans eat this alive.

"Hor.." Its cold.

Even my smile was frozen, I wonder how the women divers did it. *salutes*

Had Ginseng Chicken for lunch. Hot and nice. Then we headed for the airport to return to Seoul.

Korea Trip Day Four

At Phoenix Island, we had one of the most hearty breakfast cos the spread was wide. Given an hour then to explore the back of the hotel. It was a nice stroll down the tranquil path ...

We first approached a huge field. Sitting on this empty field, I was filled with serenity.

Don't we just look cute? Susan was so sporting. Love that part of her.

Clara and I.

Walked on further, this was the first patch of colour we saw amidst the browns and greys of winter. Aren't the flowers beautiful?

I lurve the flowers.!!

After the sea portion, there was a lighthouse but due to time constraint, we had to head back.

Beautiful scenery.

Moving off from Phoenix Island, we past by a Tangerine farm. This was not part of the itinerary but the guides paid a minimal sum and had all of us go in to take pictures and pluck our own tangerines. Sweet and sour. Nothing beats their strawberries. Btw, Korean Strawberries is a MUST-TRY. Absolutely tantalising.

Esther's idea of a Gong Xi Fa Cai pose. Hahah

I like this pic so much cos its so cute though Esther kept saying that it looks like
a honeymoon picture. Oh well! But I like!

We then went to explore Seongeup Folk Village which I spent about $70 just on Wu Wei Zi honey. Apparently for health wellness but of course it tasted yummy if not why would I buy right?

The lady on the right is over 50 years old but her complexion is WAH! :) Possibly the honey she drinks everyday. Anyway I call her the "pillay pillay" lady ('Pillay' - means 'hurry' in korean) She was always in a hurry, spoke fast and has a strong personality. Women in Jeju are strong. They are the breadwinners and have to take care of everything in the household. She was demonstrating how in the past, the women had to carry heavy earthen vessels to collect water from Hala mountain for drinking.

Esther tried and she said it was heavy on its own even without the water.
This was their pre historic toilet hahaah in the open with the pigs. *Oink*

They grew humongous cabbages at their yards. KIMCHI. I miss it.

After lunch, we visited Jusangjeolli. Its at Daepo coast. They believed that these are 'god's sculpture made by wave and wind'.

The rocks are oblong, cuboid shape hence a tourist attraction.

Orginally wanted to give this shell a miss. Was called back by the guide to take a picture with it.

Decided to be 'Laughing Pearl' in this top shell hahahhaa. Nothing much here except the sunset was quite lovely. Dropped by a Family Mart (likened our 7 eleven) to buy a small tub of strawberry yogurt. Our tour guide strongly recommended the yogurt mask with ginseng powder for smoother and more refined complexion. We tried. Ha.

We checked into Kor-Jeju Lotte Hotel (2812-4, Seakdal-Dong, Seongwipo, Jeju-Shi) that night and tell you, the room is so my style. English! 100% English. From Furniture to mirrors... gosh! Feels like a princess when staying there.

..Mirror mirror on the wall, whose the fairest of them all?...

With Aigner toiletries, how atas can this place be man? Gosh! But we used neither of them hahahah except for the sponge.

Went to walk around at the basement Duty Free, met Kentaro (Jap boy). He was touring Korea too. He was really cute kept saying 'bus s, bus s'. He is cute to the core!!

Dinner was grilled fish. Slurps!

Korea Trip Day Three

We risked our lives for this pose. Cos its really far too cold for us. Though this was still the penultimate to the NEARLY ice-cube- becoming experience in Everland later.

Back to the 'Bandit' shot cos its really too chilly. Lying on the snow is better than on Tempur. Wooo hoo. SHIOK.

Sudden composed shot? Hahah Cos we were indoors. Needed to defroze ourselves before heading out to take more pics.

Flew off to Jeju in the afternoon and checked into Phoenix Island (Seobjklikoji, 127-2, Koshun-Ri, Sungsan-Eud, Seo Gwi Po City, Jeju Spcl Selfgoverning Province) it is classy and nice. Our bath tub came with a mini LCD screen beside it hence, that night, bathing took a longer time cos I was watching Korean Drama.

Korea Trip Day Two

We were greeted by the snow the next morning. Tour guide said that we were a lucky bunch of people cos its been years since such snowfall. I think its God's grace and favour. Luck is not quite my belief. :) Quite excited to have felt these soft, fluffy stuff for the very first time.

Made friends with Susan, the lady right beside me and her daughter, Clara. We became dining partners thereafter and meals had always been enjoyable with them around. :)

We packed our luggage and left Kor-Sorak Kumho Condo for YongPyong Valley. Skiiing TimE! We had to first rent our Ski jackets and pants. Tell you, those were really warm stuff. It blocked off the wind and the chill. Love the feeling of snow falling on me. Quite an experience. "Let it snow, let it snow. let it snow!"

Had to stop by for lunch before checking into our new Hotel. This time its hot pot with Udon.

These are what I miss.... Ooooo Drools.

Serdap! Of course!

We then checked into our hotel, Kor-YongPyong Dragon Valley (Yongsan-ri, Doam-Myeon, Kangwon) dumped our luggage and immediately headed for ski Valley No time wasted. Look at how pro Esther and I look. aiyah then again, its just for show Hahhahah I fell like 3 times. One of which was an embarrasing AhjuMA style.

By this time, I was a little more stable. No more falling but walking up the slope to ski down can be more strenous than skiiing itself... *argh*

After 4 hours of skiing, we went to the Water Theme park in YongPyong. It was so different from what I imagined it to be. We went to the Jacuzzis in the open. The experience was just so... dun know how to say haahha we had snow falling on our heads and at the same time, we immersed ourselves in 1 of the many flavoured Jacuzzis. They each had their temperature. We did not challenge the 42 degrees celsius and stopped at 38 which to us was the best temperature since we were in the open. The interesting part was when we all went for the public bath. *blush* Felt so warm after all the soaking.

Went to walk around the hotel after dinner as there was this Winter Sonata mock up museum look alike place. Yes! It was still snowing....

Wanted to take the pic on the sleigh but the lighting was bad so... ended up with the lighted reindeers. Not too bad too I guess. ;)

Esther hid her Rock-Melon Popsicle in the snow, afraid it would melt. Smart hor?

Bought this huge apple from the Family Mart in the hotel and it cost close to $1.50. It was packaged in a nice box. So pretty cannot resist. So I bought and shared it with Esther... YUM! Not as sweet though but crunchy and juicy.