SBS Gayo Daejun!

One of the main things I told myself I must definitely do this time when I come to Seoul is to go to a year end music show. It is the biggest show of the year, and having watched how grand it is on TV, I have always wished to experienced it live myself for once. So that was why I wanted to stay past the new year in Korea before returning back cos the shows are all at the end of December.

Lucky for me I had friends who wanted to go too and knew where to find tickets and all. I tried applying online but did not get tickets, so we went on twitter to try and buy tickets. I think it was pretty fun and exciting haha, never did this before and its like some bidding and auction; don't find a suitable price, move on and find another seller. Find a suitable seller, settle down and try to bargain for cheaper LOL. I actually was bargaining with 2 people and both were initially reluctant to reduce the price but nearing the show as no one bought it they agreed to reduce to my price. But just as they reduced I found a better option and just did not reply them and bought from the other person LOL. I was afraid they will kill me or something so I quickly unfollow them and locked my account LOL. basically everyone does that la actually, like you dont wanna buy or not interested just dont reply hahah.

The show was awesome, but I did not expect the venue capacity to be so small, considering how it always seems to be so grand on TV. And sadly, many of the performances were pre-recorded so a lot of time I was just watching the screen zzz. But nevertheless, it was an amazing experience!! So many stars I got to see! But SHINee where are youuuuuuu :'(( haha I saw Winner though so at least better than nothing!~

Couldn't take pictures inside so all I have is a picture of the ticket LOL.

 

SO CUTEEEEE!^^

Tried to get tickets for the MBC gayo daejun also cos it was on the 31st December so just nice countdown to the new year plus my sis was here to visit and she wanted to go experience it too. Sadly the prices were super expensive (about 400,000w) so me and my friends and sis did not get it in the end. Well, I watched it on TV, better than nothing hahah^^

Jas-goes-SOLO~ (Day trip to Anseong farmland)

My exams ended earlier than the rest of my friends at Korea Uni, so while lying on bed after my final paper I suddenly thought of going on a solo trip out of Seoul! Was inspired by my sister's solo trip to Europe cos she told me how fun it was, and also hearing a lot of my friends talk about this before.

So I started researching like mad, lol that is not exaggerated. I was so excited about it I spent the next few days looking for places to go and often researched till like 3/4am in the morning. And I finally decided to go to this farmland in Anseong! Anseong is about 1.5hrs out of Seoul by bus, so its just about right for a day trip without wasting too much time. Anseong farmland is basically a kinda farm/zoo?? hahah with sheeps, ostriches, dogs...in short farm animals.

Went to Express bus terminal to purchase the round trip tickets the very next day! I am so careless, blur me actually initially bought just a one way ticket there. I was about to leave the station when suddenly I realised, "omg how am I going to come back!" before rushing back to the station. Hahah luckily I realised it soon, or my day trip may just become an overnight trip in the countryside in the cold.

So the very next day I took the 9am bus out of Seoul and arrived at Anseong at about 11am. Took a cab from the terminal to Anseong farmland, I dont know why the cab fare was so expensive??! Like 15000+w for what seemed like less than 15mins ride to me. zzz But I had no choice but to take the cab cos I did not know what other bus to take there.

Arrived at Anseong Farmland! I decided to do like mini videos here and there to haha erm...document my solo trip LOL. Kinda funny cos I started videoing at the entrance and the security guard kept staring at me and talking to me I couldnt video properly cos once I started videoing he will be like talking in the background. Finally got him to leave me alone (He was very nice btw) haha and successfully videoed. I wanted to put all the videos together but...procrastination got the better of me hahah. I will probably do it later..or not....LOL. I shall see how cos its actually kinda me talking, nothing much interesting. More of just for me to remember and keep for memories lol.

 

heehee made my initial in the thick snow~

I think I reached too early, when I arrived I think I was the 1st person in the farm LOL. Achievement unlocked~ LOL but it was kinda awkward loll cos these kind of place is meant to be very crowded? If not it will be just so sian haha no atmosphere to soak in. So I just walked along and I went into one shop where the lady told me it snowed heavily the last few days and it was very cold, which is probably why there isn't much people. NO WONDER. hahah anyway so I just walked around myself, taking pictures and videos along the way lolll. 

Animals!!

 

This baby lamb so cute I kennutttt

 

I can haz selfie with a cow

 

  

Tractor ride I took around the farm!:)

  

Watched a bubble show and had a huge bubble put over me hahah!

  

Horse riding!

  

Mini Trick eye museum inside the farm hahah

 

 

I must say travelling alone is really fun, the hours literally flew by as I was walking around!! But it has it pros and cons though. The bad thing is that taking pictures are really difficult, especially when you have a nice background but your hand is not long enough to take a selfie capturing the whole thing. hahaha and then after awhile your pictures start looking the same cos its always the same angle that your hand can stretch out to, and you end up just looking like you photobombed every single picture. But of course the good thing is the freedom of time, you don't need to worry about having to catch up with your friends, or having to keep to time limits at certain places. Everything is so relaxing and carefree, you can just stay at places you really like for hours and hours~ ^^ This is the kind of holiday I am looking to, a real relaxed holidays where I do not need to think about my worries in life loll.

Left the farm at about 4pm and was walking out when I chanced upon a signboard that said the filming site for IRIS 2 and You who came from the stars is 300m away!! The fangirl in me will not just leave it as it is, so of course I went to take a look. Hahah to be honest, I don't even remember which scene this was in the show, but I think it was the camping site for You who came from the stars? LOL imma go back and replay the show to find where this scene occurred. 

Filming site of You Who Came From the Stars~

My trip was almost perfect, except for the last part of the day. I took a cab there but I did not realise I forgot to find out how to get out of that place. (lol blur me again) Cos it was really far in, not many cabs go in there unless they send passengers in. So I decided to walk out...and I ended up walking for an hour+ LOL. In the freaking cold winter before I reached the main road. To make things worse it suddenly started snowing very heavily when I was walking out and the cold was unbearable I was thinking shit this is scary, where am I i wanna go home now haha. Got out to the main road and after a long while I flagged a cab and just when I though finally im safe, that cab driver kept talking about how I did not need to go all the way to the terminal to take the bus and can take on the way there. I kept telling him I did not know how and where to take the bus so nevermind, just send me to the terminal. But he just kept insisting I could take it somewhere else and said he will teach me. He alighted me at a random bus stop and told me to take from there and left. I was like wts?!! I don't even understand the bus timetables there and I was already running late already cos I walked for about 1 hour. Luckily I left the place early if not I will confirm miss my bus back to Seoul. While waiting for the next cab I was really so afraid that I will just have to spend the night in the cold. Finally flagged a cab and got in and the cab driver also told me the same thing about taking the bus from somewhere else. But i was like NO, JUST SEND ME TO THE TERMINAL. I am not a local, I dont know the place well, so just go. So he sent me there finally, 20mins before my bus left. Heaving a sigh of relief and feeling so thankful and blessed to reach back to Seoul safe and sound.

Will I go for a solo trip again? Definitely. But maybe this time I will plan my trip properly hahaha!

1ST SNOW + MBC SHOW CHAMPION

THIS IS A POST FILLED WITH EXCITEMENT AS YOU CAN SEE MY HEADING IS IN CAPS BECAUSE I SAW MY 1ST SNOW EVER IN MY WHOLE LIFE AND I WENT TO A MUSIC SHOW!!

haha okay let me calm down but ya its in caps to show you guys how happy I am to have experienced these 2 things in Korea! I came to Korea 3 times before, this being my 4th, and each time I came during the winter period. However, unlucky me always fail to catch the snow! Once I was in the airport bus to the airport back to Singapore when I saw snow but I couldn't alight. By the time i reached the airport the snow had stopped. -__- The other time it snowed 2 days after I reached back to Singapore :(( So I really really wanted to see snow for once in my whole life. Like the real snow falling down just like how i see it in dramas haha. So imagine how excited I was when I finally saw it.

Even more memorable was the fact that the 1st snow was on 1st December, so I will forever remember this magical moment:) Heard myths about how making a wish on the 1st snow of the year and it will come true so however lame that may sound, I still made a wish for the new year to come:)

So here are some pictures and videos of the beautiful snow:) Too bad I couldn't take much pictures cos most of the time when it snowed I was in my school and alone. To date, I think I have seen it snowing for 4 times already and counting. :)

 I just saw my own videos. Omg I am damn embarrassing hahahahahah!!     

Snow angel!!~  (And this a video of my roomie teaching me how to make a snow angel cos I have never done it before! hahah it was super fun and crazy cos I did it in fbts LOL. Video is too big to be put here so heres the link if you wanna watch it! :))

And MBC Show Champion!! Finally made it to a live music show haha, the last one that I went doesn't count cos it was just a pre-recording but this is a live show! Saw VIXX, APink and Kyuhyun to name a few. Im only sad that SHINee did not comeback at all, THEY AREN'T EVEN IN SEOUL THE WHOLE TIME I AM HERE WTH. :(( Busy promoting in Japan zzz.

Anyway, foreigners like me who would like to try and watch a music show, here is the link for you to try and apply. So there are dates to apply for, and if you're successful they will send you an email to tell you! Instructions are all in the link here, so check it out!:) Also photo taking is not allowed inside so sadly you just have to be satisfied with a picture of me outside the recording studio hahah.

 

Link: https://www.kpopevent.or.kr

You need your e-ticket to Seoul and also your passport details! And 1 person can apply for a maximum of 5 people. I heard that if it happens in the case where 2 of your friends who applied for the same group of people won the tickets, they will cancel one name accordingly so you do not need to worry about being blacklisted by them for not turning up! It happened in my case, me and my friend won tickets for the same group of people haha. :)

Cafe Hopping in Seoul

If there is one thing Seoul is known for having, it will be a crazy amount of interesting and pretty cafes all around! Pretty much stayed in Seoul after the Incheon trip cos exams were coming up so we couldn't really find a time to venture out. So we decided to do some cafe hopping and this post will be dedicated to those pretty cafes i went!

1. Cheongchun Cat Cafe in Hongdae

My friends love cats, im not a big fan of them but i was okay with going since i like animals in general:) This place was a pleasant surprise! We initially wanted to go to Tom's Cat cafe, but it seems like it has closed down or something? So we went to the nearest possible cat cafe. There are tons of them around hongdae though, so you can just slowly take your pick. We decided on this cos people recommended it online haha. Other than the cafe being pretty small and the drinks a rip off (8,000w= basically paying for entrance into the cat cafe, but this price is similar around all the animal cafes here), it was a really nice place to spend the day!

hahaha grumpy cat!

 

Directions: Take the subway to Sangsu station on line 6. Go out at exit 1 and do a 180 degree turn. Walk along the left hand side footpath of the road you are now facing. As you walk you’ll cross at one set of lights. On your left you’ll come to a park at the top of a set of stairs. Take the stairs up and walk across the park. Between Smoothie King and a Ho Bar is an alley way, and at the end of the alley is the entrance to the stairwell which leads up to the cafe which is on the 3rd floor.

So upon reaching we are expected to put our shoes in lockers outside and sanitize our hands before entering. Once inside, we have to order one drink each and leave our belongings all inside a locker there, before playing with the cats. Pretty fun experience there, I wouldn't mind going back there cos the cats are so gentle and tame, they basically just curl in your arms to sleep:)

2.  May Island book cafe

So we decided to visit this study cafe to do some productive revision before finals haha. I must say this place is highly recommended if you need a quiet place to do some studying! It basically works like a library, except that you get a drink when you enter, and you are entitled to 5hrs to use a table there. It is very well furnished, complete with table lamps all if you see my pictures below, and it was so quiet that even flipping of book pages seems deafening. I felt kinda stifled cos I couldn't even whisper to my friends there cos I was afraid of bothering the other people studying there haha. But yupp, if you really need a place to concentrate, this is the place to go!

 

Directions: Closest subway station: Gangnam Station (Line 2), Sinnonhyeon Station (Line 9)

Yongin Building 4F

Seoul, Gangnam-gu, Yeoksam-dong 816-6

3. Capi Capi Loom Loom cafe

Welcome to the world of Rilakkummas!!! haha this cafe is basically themed around Rilakkumas, which is this bear like soft toy(see pictures!) haha not a crazy fan of it as well, but I thought this would be an interesting place to go since we won't ever see this in Singapore! Spammed pictures here cos they were just too cute already haha.

                                             

                                             

 

  

  

Directions: Nearest train station: Sungshin Women's University Station line 4, exit 1. Turn right into the alley before KB bank and walk straight until you see a cross junction. Turn left and keep right. The cafe is on your right.

4. Cafe Comma 

Yet another study cafe! haha we were a little obsessed over finding study cafes cos we were too bored with studying in our rooms and needed some fresh air! This cafe is really good for studying too! But I think it gets a little crowded cos it is located in the central area (Hongdae), and so it is definitely not quiet like May Island. Nevertheless, I was quite productive that day cos I was pretty comfortable in my own corner with a huge study table! The drinks were pretty good too, i had some chocomint drink!:)

                                                                                                                                         

Directions: Exit 5, Hongik University Station. Come out of the exit and just turn and walk behind in the opposite direction. It is just beside the exit!

5. Cafe The Bridge

So we happened to chance upon this cafe cos like May Island cafe, cafe comma only allows a maximum of 5 hours to a table. I went there earlier by myself to study, and by the time my friends came, I was only left with about 20mins to 5hrs before I had to leave and let other people have the space. So we decided to just leave anyway and find another cafe to study at. This cafe is pretty rad!! It is kinda like a dungeon, there are many different rooms inside and upon entering the servers there will allocate you to your own private room! Pretty interesting cos we have to take out our shoes and leave them in the locker, and climb this narrow stairs and low ceilings to get to our room! Not recommended for studying though. It was good in a sense that we got our own room, but the lights there were too dim and our eyes got very irritated after awhile!

                                                                                                             

       

 Directions: Exit 9, Hongik University Station.

6. Thanks Nature Cafe

Sheep themed cafe!!! MEHHHHH MEHHHHHH lollll! So they really have live sheeps living at the cafe haha, pretty cute and interesting theme, but other than that, nothing really special about the cafe. I did not take much pictures there as I wasn't feeling well that day. The waffles were pretty good though! Can try it if you happen to drop by the cafe :)

Directions: 486, Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu Seogyo Prugio Apartment store B121
Hongik University Station (Line 2), Exit 9. Turn left to go up hill at the first intersection. Walk towards Hongik University’s Main Gate. Look out for a neon sign that reads the café name and photos of sheep attached.

7. Cafe Noriter

This is another cafe that is really similar to Cafe The Bridge, we have individual rooms and all, super cool! I think it is way prettier than cafe The Bridge, but the staff were definitely less friendly there and the drinks were pretty sweet! Sadly didn't take as much pictures there too, cos I did not have my dslr with me then as I just arrived in Seoul, hence the pictures are all pretty blur. :/

My pretty friend:)

 Directions: Ewha Women's University Exit 1

Walk straight down and turn right on the first turning when you see a huge MISSHA store.

Keep walking straight down and Cafe Noriter will be on your left. (it is on the second level)

8. Cafe Hoho Myoll

This is by far the prettiest cafe I have been in Seoul! Really super pretty and cosy!! I will definitely come back here again before I leave Seoul. The owner( I think hes the owner) is very friendly too, he engages in small conversations with almost every customer that came in. (i was observing the 2 hours i was there lol) and he is cheerful demeanor definitely made the place so much more lively:)

Directions: 서울시 마포구 상수동 93-44 1F

93-44 Mapo-gu, Sangsu-dong, Seoul

Sangsu Station, Line 6, Exit 2. Turn left and walk towards Hongik University.

9. We are here

This cafe was the 1st ever cafe I visited when i arrived in Seoul? It is opened by eatyourkimchi, and my friends wanted to go to this cafe so badly so we decided to make a trip there. Wasn't a disappointment definitely :) It was a very pretty place, found in a quite neighbourhood off Hongdae. Definitely the perfect place to spend a lazy chill afternoon there :)

 

Directions:  http://evanandrachel.com/2014/08/cafe-opening-day/

 

10. BauHouse cafe

Dog cafe!! Finally I am back here a year later! Came to this cafe when I visited Seoul last year, and fell in love with the dogs here. Decided to bring my parents here when they came to visit me since they love dogs as well, but it seemed they were pretty scared cos big dogs were roaming around freely haha! Definitely a must visit place if you are a dog lover! The dogs here are really so cute, I could spend the whole day just sitting here and playing with them. But my dog is much cuter heehee I miss my oreo can't wait to seem him when I am back! Tip: Buy a small treat there and the dogs will be swarming over to you in no time at all! :)

 

Directions: Jeil Bldg. 1F 394-44 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu,Seoul, South Korea

394-44 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. (Je-il Building, rear entrance, 1st floor)
서울특별시 마포구 서교동 394-44 제일빌딩 후면 1층
Hapjeong Station, Exit 3. Turn right and walk down the nearest road – Yanghwa-ro 8-gil - and you should see the sign for Bau House on the ground floor window of the building.

11. Cafe Oui

Situated in the area of garousil gil, this cafe is certainly a pretty sight that must not be missed! Garousil gil is famous for its pretty cafes, and just walking along that area alone will leave you awestruck by how pretty the exterior of the cafes look! You definitely won't have the chance to go into every cafe, but if you have to choose one, you got to come here. This cafe is set with a minimalist white theme, really simple but beautiful! The brunch there is really delicious and filling too! *update* I went there a couple of days ago and it seems like the place is under renovation or closed down?! It would really be a pity if it as closed down:( I think there are other outlets in Hongdae? But nowhere near as big as this outlet and i'm not sure if they serve brunch there as well!

Directions: Take Line #3 to Sinsa Station. Take exit 8, and follow the directions to Garosugil (walk straight for about 5-10 minutes, and turn left onto the street that says “Garosugil”). Once you’re on Garosugil, keep walking on the left side until you see Beans Bins Café. Turn left. Walk straight one block, then turn right at the mini intersection. Keep walking straight until you see the 7-11, then turn left. Café Oui will be on your right.

So that's all for now for the cafes and their reviews! I actually visited way more cafes than this, just that I did not take pictures or they were less memorable so I did not list them down here haha. probably will keep updating this post as I go to visit more cafes! :)