this airasia super cheap fare to korea is very very tempting, ..or should we save for paris or (please please) cheap flight to NEW YORK this near future?

there's airport train and buses operating up to 11pm. if can clear the immigration and collect luggage fast enough, then should be able to catch it. if not, just sleep in the airport.

Yes ^___^  i ran away to cameron highlands for 3 days because the weather in KL was too hot! hahhaha.. but i'll have to get used to the weather lor, no choice ^^ and yes~ there were cherry blossoms all over my university as well as busan when i was there went to nearby city to see cherry blossoms too~ ^^ really really pretty~ i haven't been to Jeju because my friends said that there's not much to do there and the island is pretty similar to what we have around here (apparently its very famous among the koreans because its.. different frm the rest of korea) but to us it will be like..... normal lor. and its expensive so i havent been there~ i was in Seoul once during winter and once during um.. Spring..  maybe a month before i came back here~ So.. i dunno what is the weather like in Seoul during summer but but Winter is crazy T_T

anyone thinking of going to the DMZ ??? I heard its really good, but apparently Malaysians cant go there because of our passport.. we'll have to apply in advance or some sort like that ..  i think its a must go place~!

mount sorak (Sorak-san) is a nice place to visit too! (i haven't been there myself T_T but apparently its a really pretty place to visit during autumn (all the autumn leaves) )

So far i have a couple of friends who have visited that area and its pretty safe at least they all came back in one piece.. as long as you don't go violating rules around there i guess it should be fine

i wanted to go there too but apparently certain countries are restricted / with special permission or stuff like that... and with malaysian passports (i assume becuase we are an islamic country) we're not allowed entrance.. however there's two areas open, one is the DMZ and one is the Panmunjeon Observatory or some sort like that (go check online i forgot lol).. one of them we are allowed and the other we need to submit some kind of documents apparently a week or more before hand or something like that..

do check with the tour guide / tour (because u have to join a tour to get there) before you go to korea ok~

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Added on August 9, 2010, 1:47 pm

The hostel would not cost more if u check in the guest house without pre-booking. However, it's likely that u couldn't get a room as it's usually fully booked during peak season. For Koreans, usually they will go to Motels without any pre-bookings. Motels usually have bigger rooms and at a better room condition than guesthouse/hostels. A motel room is also cheaper compared to guesthouse as it will cost around 30k won = RM 80-90 /room/night. U can squeeze as many ppl as u want in a rooom but for guesthouse, u are not allowed to squeeze more than the designated amount of ppl. If u wanna squeeze, u have to pay more for an extra bed. Even if u do not want a bed, they will charge u.

So if u do not wanna prebook any guesthouse, go to Motel. There are plenty of them at a very good rate. =)

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Added on August 9, 2010, 1:52 pm

You can follow Seoul City Tour package which will cost about 40k won - 50k won (~ RM 120). They do not require any special permission/passport/visa. Just be sure to bring ur Passport, that's all. There will be no restrictions towards dress code. However, there're a few packages some of which will require u to be dressed in proper attire (no jeans, no shorts, no slippers - Must be in formal wear - tie, coat, proper pants, formal black shoes etc.). Just go to the DMZ area which doesnt require u for attire, it would be good enough to look around the tunnels as well as the guard post.

Danger or not, well I've been there before and I am still back one piece. There have been a few incidents where the tourists wandered off the tour group and got shot dead by North Korean Snipers. Therefore, the area is still closed until today.

No, it's not "love motel". It's actually very decent and it's actually catered for Koreans. Unlike guesthouse and hostel, it's hard to see Koreans to come by. Korea is quite a large country and they are very patriotic. So usually when they are travelling, they will travel within Korea. So those Motels are actually for the Koreans. That's why the rates are cheaper.

Yes. for the Sauna, u have to be totally naked. No towel will be given. May be a very small one just enough to cover ur face

I will be in Korea for 10 days. Busan has a fish market - Jagalchi Fish Market but it is not as massive as Naryangin. So, I still advise people to think twice before coming down to Busan. I wasted many days here while I can enjoy my days in Seoul and surrounding.

Temperature in Seoul is crazy especially at night or early morning. Down to zero degree celcius. I have high tolerance of extreme temperature, can endure wearing only tshirt at 5-10c, but still can't stand the freezing temperature here. Bring and wear whatever you have! Jeans alone is not enough and long john is a must and please make sure your shoe is a leather and without ventilation holes or cushion because the cold wind will penetrate through it. Best is to have a thick pant also.

WiFi is easily available and some of them are "open" wifi, no key needed. Communication is not a major problem to us because signages are available in English. Bring along a pen and some papers so the Korean can write numbers for you... for eg. price of an item etc etc. I have even resort to drawing... it is FUN!

Shoot me anything and I will try my best to answer.

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Added on November 20, 2010, 11:14 pmFound Adidas wind breaker (2 pieces, outter water proof is detachable type) for 199,000 won. RM580.. quite cheap.
In Malaysia, similar stuff Timberland brand RM999. No idea about Adidas price in Malaysia because they don't sell winter wear.

Its easy to get around in seoul. I even manage to take buses to zoom around.

I budgeted rm200 per day for two pax inclusive of accommodation, foods and transport. On the 4th day now and still manage to stick to my budget. I eat light or finger foods for breakfast and lunch and something good for early dinner.

Try walk into Restaurant with plenty of korean youngster.  Normally the price for these shops are reasonable. Guess how much I paid for a big portion of pxxk and beef meat for korean style grilling? Less than RM50. Enough for four person to eat. Kimchi, vegies etc are all FOC.

For accomm, I stay in hostel, dorm style... Which in my opinion beat any hotels out there. I dislike return at night  in a lifeless hotel room. In a hostel, you might not used to sharing of facilities etc etc. But just see it as your own home. you will get a living room, a kitchen, blazing fast internet with pc free for use and usually a friendly and accommodating hostel host.

One good example is namugh.co.kr check it out.