I was told the price ranging from KR4000-KR14,000 depending on what type of food and also location. For example, restaurant are slightly higher than street food stall.

appreciate your info. can do budgeting on meal right now..

Check your budget allocation e.g. 50 000 Won per day x how many days (e.g. 5) = 50K x 5 = 250 K Won
Change that amount.
Then instead of changing the extras to USD, change to Australian Dollars. USD is going down daily. Assuming you have a chance of visiting Australia, you can use it. All major currencies are safe to keep and Korea exchanges are happy to accept them not just USD. With MYR, because of the capital control measures placed in 1998, it is not widely accepted.

Other currencies you can change into:
NZD, CAD, Euro, Singapore dollar - change into the one you're likely to visit

As for rice, you don't need to bring rice cooker.
In the convenience store, there is rice sold on little cute boxes. Rice is pre-cooked. Just heat up in the microwave there. Also they have Nong Shim noodles everywhere. Bakeries. Kimchi in little sealed bag (1000 Won only). You won't die of hunger. It's not NK. It's SK!

A good food to try is kimbap. Also sold in convenience store for you/ but best is if you can head to the kimbap shop, called "Kimbap Nara" and Kimbap Chiggae.

Vending machine coffee is 400 Won! Starbucks, Lotte Coffee in a nice cup just 2000 Won or 2500 Won. Well think in won-to-ringgit, it's relatively cheap. So 40 sen for coffee. 2 RM for Starbucks. 4.5 ringgit for set meals! 90 sen for unlimited train ride. 1 RM for 275 ml milk, Ghana Choco milk!

Entrance to disco/pub 5 RM. Rice wine 2 RM for big bottle (cheaper than water!)
And most restaurants and eateries will give you water.

Their phone system is not GSM. And heard phones are available for rent for 2000 Won per day. If you do rent, hope you can write some info for others to read. Where, how, etc.

Haha if you convert like this, lotsa forumers will be super happy liao and only bring small amount to Korea. Yes, for Korean that amt is cheap bcos they earn Korean won & not RM. Everthing is 3X M'sia. so 400 won is RM1.20 & not RM0.40, 2,000 won is not RM2 but RM6 hor..anyway, at RM6 for a starbuck still consier cheap-lah haha
This post has been edited by stimix: Jun 28 2011, 11:48 AM

No problemo dear... and maybe i will do as stimix says as well...hehe~~~

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Added on June 28, 2011, 11:49 amOwh, is that so? i thought we should go to the kedai makan to buy the rice..hehe~ so it's convenient then...
i wanna buy that kimchi as well!


This post has been edited by ryosue84: Jun 28 2011, 11:49 AM

Hi there everyone! =)

I'd like to make a shout-out to Sis Ryosue84, Brother Stimix, Listiani, denzuke76 and all other sifus for all the help they've given me by contributing to this forum! =) Neomu kamsahamnida yeoreobun! ^-^

I just got back from Jln TAR, Masjid jamek this noon n I changed all the money to won, the cheapest rate is 2.85 =) ALL the other shops can only give 2.86 as the lowest rate.. The shop where I exchanged the money is located in a narrow alley, across the Haniffa Market/building(not sure whats the name of the building hehe..) The shop's name is Tawakkal Sdn. Bhd. Thanx Kak Su for stating 2.85 as the lowest =)

I'm doing some last minute reading/researching before I go there on Friday =)

I saw the news on KBS channel a few days ago n its heavy rain in Korea.. Dunno until when it will last.. We're going to walk a lot so hopefully the weather will be ok when we arrive there

Thanks again everyone for all ur informative posts!!!

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Added on June 28, 2011, 6:40 pmOwh, my grandma wants to kirim kimchi haha.. I think kimchi is basically halal but have to confirm with ppl there coz wanna buy around 5kg XD

This post has been edited by shazwina89: Jun 28 2011, 06:40 PM

I wonder if we can get Korean Won loewr than 2.85. I remember early this year it was only around 2.82. Hmmm!!

Hi shazwina, you speak great korean. Wanting to learn or practise together? I have the Lonely Planet Korean language book.

Forex: guess I just round up to 3.00 RM per 1000 Won so basically 1 USD for 1000 Won. When buying stuff, it's easier to do quick calculations. Like MRT (1000 Won) so 3 RM. Food 2000 Won = 6 RM. Club entrance 5000 Won 15 RM. Restaurant with many plates of kimchi dishes, 7000 Won so 21 RM.

Rain: Korean Rain hah (Rainism!)! Tip is go to Daiso, buy their 5 RM raincoat or poncho. It is lightweight. Get a pair of "Fipper" it is lightweight and can bring it around. Bring large well good quality plastic bags to sort your clothes in your luggage plus it gives double protection whenever some rain hits your luggage.

Kimchi: it's basically fermented cabbages, chilli, so google it. The only tinge of non-vege is perhaps some fish sauce for some certain types of kimchi.

Local Fast Food: there is a local McDonald lookalike. Kimchi burger anyone? I haven't tried cos busy with Korean food. But the prices are low. In general, food prices are 5000-15000 Won (5-15 USD). Small food from convenience store (boxed rice meal) could be had for 2500 Won.

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Added on June 29, 2011, 12:12 amIt's not conversion.

It's about relative cost with respect to average wages. For instance an average salary of SGD 2000 (Singapore). Relative cost of transport in SG is 1.50 per trip. Food can be had for 2.50 (noodles) to 4.50.



This post has been edited by denzuke76: Jun 29 2011, 12:12 AM

you stayed in Traveller A? Gud or not..?
I stayed one night there in 2005, it was a nightmare..
1st time backpack in a land where english is not widely used,
the place was under renovation and rubles and everything was all over the place
the heater's not working properly.. stayed one night only and end up staying in hotel ayam..

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Added on June 29, 2011, 12:52 amSeoul Tower in the evening would be great but not sure in winter, last time I went in Feb.. very foggy.. visibility not very gud

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Added on June 29, 2011, 1:52 amdid you go to JGS's showcase?? It was simply awesome!!
next month Beast is coming and then Kim Hyun Joong in August..
Now no need to go to Korea to meet korean artist..
Lee Min Ho is drop dead gojes and very tall..

This post has been edited by divasweet_77: Jun 29 2011, 01:52 AM

I went in november. Awesome view!!!

Tq all sifus..im going today..if have free wifi
I will post from time to time..

the view's great rite!!
I love the view from 63 building too..

Korea Tourism this year is giving free long distance coach ride to a few cities outside of Seoul.

http://denzukefinance.blogspot.com/2011/06...o-gyeongju.html

can anyone explain the telecommunication in korea? im currently using blackberry curve 3g, can i continue using my phone in korea? or else, what should i do? thanks.

Yes you can roam there but you cannot use their SIM card bcos diff system. To call back, I use Skype but for sure you need wifi-lah haha

i will be staying for one month. use roaming for the whole month?! haha... what about renting a phone thr? more cost effective?

For phone renting, follow this. Lotsa Phone renting at arrival hall lor.. Updated on pg1

guys, where's d nearest skiing resort to Seoul? And also recommended if u guys know?

omg.. i heard korea is having this year's summer holiday starting 16th July for a week.

usually they have this every year. can anyone confirm if the shops in namdeamon will still be open during this holiday period?

heard some ppl said whole korea will go on holiday usually for summer holidays..

>.<

The closest that i know is konjiam ski resort which is just at the outskirt of Suwaon town South of Seoul (~ 1hr MRT kua?) The resort posted on pg 1 wth wikimapia link

I went to the one closest to Nami Island so that after nami island i can straight away ask the taxi at Nami island to drive me there..it's only ~ 15km from Nami island but teh neter taxi going there not really cheap..I kena ~ RM60 taxi ride from Nami island to Ganchon Ski resort. Thereafter I took the resort free bus ride back to Seoul from Chanchun station..(Overshoot the Ganchon town station haha

Here's the ski resort during end Dec 2011..the snow still very thin that time



This post has been edited by stimix: Jun 29 2011, 10:00 PM