South Korea Trip: School Food, Twosome Place, and Rio Cafe

During our trip in Seoul, we visited some restaurants and cafes. From them all, I had three recommended places to visit during your stay in Seoul:

1. School Food

We visited School Food at M Plaza in Myeong-dong. It was at lunch time and we just finished our hanbok photo session. We ordered toppoki, kimbap, and tofu ramen.

School Food

toppoki

Kimbap

Tofu Ramen

Massida!

All the foods were delicious and the taste was not too spice nor plain. The atmosphere was right for lunch time and it was not too crowded. We also saw some young girls at there too, which seems like a favorite lunch place. The price was affordable and we was really happy to fill our stomach there.


2. Twosome Place cafe

We visited Twosome Place near our hostel in Myeong-dong. The first reason why we visited this cafe was because it has Lee Min Ho picture on front of the cafe. My sister is a huge fan of Lee Min Ho, so we entered the cafe and ordered a coffee and desert. I forget the name of the desert, all I remember is the dessert was delicious, not too sweet, and just right. The coffee was good too, I forget whether we order cappuccino or mocha latte, but it was in the right composition too.

it looks good and taste good!

my sister and her Lee Min Ho :P

The consumer who entered the cafe are various, but most of them are in the early 20's or late 20's.

Definitely will stop by if I found a Twosome Place cafe again nearby.


3. Rio Cafe

We visit Rio Cafe at Hangang Bridge. Originally we just want to visit any cafe at the bridge that has futuristic look. This idea was inspired by a korean series called "Missing You". We were so amuse by the look of the cafe and decided to visit such cafe when we travel to Seoul.

Even though the original cafe that was in the Missing You series is not Rio Cafe (it was Gureum Cafe), but it still amazing for us to see how sophisticated the look of the cafe.

Rio Cafe

the cashier

our cups of coffee

I ordered tiramisu cake as desert, cappuccino, and a unique coffee name that I don't remember. The coffee was good, the ambiance was calm and peaceful, and the view from inside the cafe was good (but not stunning).

I recommend you to visit any of the cafe nearby Hangang, Banpo, Hannam, or Jamsil bridge. The looks of those cafe will amuse you or at least make you feel like you're going to the future for a while.



XOXO,
The Tourist

South Korea Trip: Everland Theme Park

Travelling to Korea won't complete without visiting Everland theme park. So, the last day before leaving Korea, we visit Everland. We stayed at Seoul 24 Guesthouse, which's really close to Seoul Station. After breakfast, we walk to the station. Even in early morning, we could see some people exercising in the park. I wish I have such park near my house so I don't have to go to the gym for just some stretching.

Park with Gym Equipment

kids playground nearby our guesthouse

Everland is located in the far south of Seoul. Therefore it took us about an hour to arrived at Eveland using Yongin Ever Line (train). From Everland station, we follow the guidance at the street then we arrived at the Everland bus stop. The bus that took us from the station to Everland is free of charge.

Everland Bus Station

inside Everland bus

After arrived at the Everland, we bought the entrance ticket for 37,000 won each. It accept credit card if you don't bring enough cash.

the entrance ticket

another side of the ticket

Everland entrance gate

The first thing we did after entering the gate was having a brunch. we haven't had our breakfast yet, so we stopped by at the nearest restaurant, whose name Venezia. The taste was so so, but because we're hungry it become a bit delicious.

Venezia Restaurant

our brunch menu

After loaded our stomach, we visit the nearest attraction, which is K-Pop Hologram. It was the time for 2NE1 show. I almost shed a tear when watching the show, it looked and felt so real and they're so beautiful as well.

in front of K-Pop Hologram

The next destination is the Magic Tree. This giant tree is famous, since all my friend who went to Everland always take a pic of this tree. Fortunately there's a LINE store in front of the Magic Tree, since I really love LINE characters and wanted to buy one of its authentic product in Korea.

the Magic Tree

under the Magic Tree (yes, it was this huge)

Brown, Cony, Sally, and me

The main attraction that we wanted to try was T-Express. T-Express is the world's ninth fastest, fourth tallest, and sixth longest wooden coaster. The queue for this attraction is so long, because it's the most famous attraction in Everland.

me trying to capture T-Express from far away

it's really made of woods

Actually I wanted to try the other roller coaster too, the Rolling X-Train, but it was closed due to maintenance at the time came there. There also plenty of thrilling attractions, but my sister was too afraid to try. So the other 'thrilling' attraction that she dare to try was Racing Coaster, which was only really thrill for kids :(

in front of Rolling X-Train

In front of Racing Coaster

queuing among children

Besides attraction, it also has a music show to entertain the children at the Carnival Square. I also ate some snacks during my time in Everland including the Minimelts ice cream (I did not remember it was really Minimelts or just its wannabe).

Show at Carnival Square

our Minimelts

The topography of Everland is like hills and valley, once you go to the valley (where T-Express located), you will have to go through a climb a steep road to get back to the hill (the entrance gate). Luckily there's a travelator that can help you overcome this. Such a great idea.

my favorite travelator

Another famous icon in the Everland beside the giant tree is its garden. When my friends came there in October, the Four Season Garden and Rose Garden were covered with flowers including tulip. But since I came there in mid November, the flowers already gone and replaced by beautiful lights! The garden was so big, and it's all covered by little lamp. A really romantic ambiance if you went were there with your love one.

beautiful lights at Four Season Garden

Blue lights at Rose Garden

another view of the Rose Garden

That night was quite cold and the nicest thing was the park provided a room to warm up your body. It's located in several places and really useful especially if you bring little children in that kind of temperature.

the warming room at Carnival Square

Before leaving the park, we passed by the giant tree again and it looks more beautiful since it's already covered with lights.

XOXO,
The Tourist

South Korea Trip: Korean Street Foods

During the first three days of our trip in Seoul, we've already tried some of the street food. However, during my stays in Korea, I ate only twice a day, and I didn't felt hungry at all. Maybe because the city attracts me more than its food.

Street food can easily be found in shopping center like Myeong-dong and Insa-dong. The first street beverage that we tried was pomegranate juice, with price 5,000 won. Yes, it was that pricey, unfortunately we forget to take a photo with it before we drank it all up.

The next street food that we tried was fish cake. We bought it in Insa-dong. The seller had plenty kinds of fish cake. We tried the spicy fish cake. The seller remind us that it will be very spicy, but maybe because we usually eat chilly sauce in Indonesia, so the spiciness is still in our range.

the fishcake seller

with spicy fishcake

The next food is Macaroon Ice Cream. The first thought when I saw the stall was "I have to buy this one!". There are many flavors for the ice cream, and you can choose the macaroon that you want to complete the ice cream. We choose cheesecake for the ice cream and vanilla for the macaroon. The cheesecake ice cream was delicious, but the macaroon was too sweet for me.

the macaroon ice cream

it's tasty

The third food was Bungeoppang, it looks exactly like Taiyaki in Japan, a fish shaped bread with filling. Bungeoppang that I tried was using red beans as its fillings. For me, Bungeoppang taste more crispy and the shape is smaller compared to Chocolate Taiyaki that I tried in Japan.

my waarm and tasty bungeoppang

Another food that we tried was fruity ice cream. We bought it inside Dongdaemun Design Plaza. The taste is so so for me, not as amazing as it's looks. But who don't love eating ice cream in cold weather?

ice cream seller inside Dongdaemun Design Plaza

Kiwi ice cream

The rest is not Korean related food & beverage, but they're also my favorite. Since I usually need coffee to start up my day, so these two tasty Starbucks were really helpful in waking my eyes up.

Caramel Latte

white coffee

Last but not least is another amazing Kinder's product. Kinder's never stop blow me up with its products, and this one not only tasty but also healthy because it has cereals in it :D

Kinder Chocolate with Cereals

And now if I feel hungry again after writing my own review....


XOXO,
The Tourist

South Korea Trip: Kimchi Festival at Gwanghwamun Square and Lantern show at Cheonggyecheon Stream

After filling our stomach with warm samgyetang, we walked to Gwanghwamun Square. At first we only want to see King Sejong the Great statue, but luckily at Gwanghwamun Square there was Seoul Kimchi Festival. We took a chance to visit the Festival. There were plenty accessories stalls and food stalls along the Gwanghwamun Square. There were also plenty people queuing to get free kimchi. Since we've already full, so we just passed by the queue. My favorite spot in the festival was the kimchi-making stall. The ladies who made the kimchi wore traditional korean costume, so it feels like women from the past making kimchi :)

Seoul Kimchi Festival!

many people come here

the ladies preparing kimchi

I also found Kimchi bus in there. They said the Kimchi bus already traveled to many countries to introduced Kimchi. Amazing isn't it?

the kimchi bus

Inside Kimchi festival, we could found King Sejong the Great statue. and not far from the festival, we also meet with Admiral Yi Sunshin statue.

King Sejong the Great statue

Admiral Yi Sunshin statue

Nearby Admiral Yi Sunshin statue, there were some tents and fulfilled with pictures and someone prayed in from of the pictures. After paying attention to the pictures, I realized the tents was dedicated to memorized the victims of MV Sewol that sink during its trip to Jeju. Since the victims are students who're going for field trip, so most of the photos are happy face of the high school students. Just seeing this scene really made us sad and teary. 

he's praying for the MV Sewol victims

pictures of the victims :(

Then we continue our trip to Cheonggyecheon steram through Insa-dong. Insa-dong was quite crowded that night, just like Myeong-dong. Though I like Myeong-dong better, but if you want to find souvenirs to be brought home, I suggest you to visit Insa-dong since it has more souvenirs shops.

Insa-dong

Then we arrived at Cheinggyecheon stream. We thought the lantern festival has already over, so we just expect a less crowded walk along the stream. But fortunately the lantern festival not over yet, so we can enjoy the beauty of the lanterns while we walk along the stream. To be honest, during festival like this, the walk along the stream were so packed and crowded. If you bring friend, make sure you hold them tight so you won't get separated. 

the lantern festival at Cheonggyecheon Stream

After get out from the stream, I saw a traditional swing machine, just like a night market in Indonesia. amazed!

this thing also there in Seoul? :O

Before closing our journey that day, we went to Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP). This place is new and famous because of its shape and especially after it appears in a famous Korean drama "My Love from Another Star".

in front of Dongdaemun Design Plaza. It looks like a space ship :)

The best thing was, it was the time for thousands (or millions maybe?) of rose lamps festival on the top of DDP. We felt so blessed to be able to see many festivals that day. Happy!

The rose lamps festival on the top of DDP. We love it!

XOXO,

The Tourist