Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

Outline · [ Standard ] · Linear+

Travel South Korea V6, Seoul & Everything Korean

views
     
windvind
post Jul 22 2018, 08:05 AM

Getting Started
**
Junior Member
196 posts

Joined: Dec 2015


QUOTE(gonzalo20 @ Jul 14 2018, 03:22 PM)
When I traveled to Japan, I used to eat onigiri everyday as my main meal there.

I just wonder is there anything I can get (cheap, halal & easier to get) as onigiri at South Korea?
*
Or you can eat those fresh made ones, gimbap around 3k at most restaurants have it actually. The taste is better.
Its vegetable wrapped in seaweed so its halal.
windvind
post Jul 31 2018, 09:09 AM

Getting Started
**
Junior Member
196 posts

Joined: Dec 2015


QUOTE(outsiders_86 @ Jul 24 2018, 12:53 PM)
DMZ zone worth going?, anyone went there can share some insights....smile.gif
*
I went to the DMZ zone, quite a okay experience. I did not go to Panmunjon which is the JSA join security area with the North and South Army.
I went with a local so it was a bit different. We drove there and bought tickets from Nuri Peace park. You can also take a train there, Imjingak station.
Nuri Peace park is also a very nice place to visit.

For the tour, they bring you to the Dora Observatory, where you get to spend like 20 minutes to view from the binoculars.
The day i went was quite sunny but there was a little fog. Could not really see much from here.
Its like 500 won for using the binoculars. I would say you could see more with the naked eyes than the binoculars.

Next was the Infiltration Tunnels. Quite long and cramp.
Quite deep down too. I'm tall so keep knocking my head lucky we are forced to wear the yellow hard hat.
This place was quite good to be honest. The North really had the determination to dig.
Those stone are gravels but they managed to dig though it.

The last was Dorasan Station. The last station before Pyeongyang.
You can snap photos on the platform but you need to pay for an access ticket.
Then, the last stop was a tourism shop kind of place.
If you do go, try the North Korean beer if you have the chance.

Remember to bring your passport, there was this China Chinese tourist who didt bring his passport so they had to go back to the start point after the army check.
He could still go after getting some letter from the office.

Overall this is an experience not to miss if you have extra days.

This post has been edited by windvind: Jul 31 2018, 09:09 AM
windvind
post Feb 4 2020, 12:07 PM

Getting Started
**
Junior Member
196 posts

Joined: Dec 2015


Not sure if Ultra Light Down would be enough as most people wear thicker jackets especially if you are going to be out doors or walking alot.

Also, I strongly recommend getting a scarf.
Regardless if you are a guy or girl.
windvind
post Mar 4 2020, 08:41 AM

Getting Started
**
Junior Member
196 posts

Joined: Dec 2015


QUOTE(MR_alien @ Feb 27 2020, 05:29 PM)
these are the few things to mention about S.korea while my mind is still fresh
1. when you've arrived, this is the only manual immigration crossing you will face....during departure going back, they use autogate(same like japan, thailand)
so there won't be a stamp on your passport saying you've visiting korea except for the little piece of paper they left with you
crossing immigration, the language is based on your passport.....so if you're holding a japanese passport, the guide broadcasted will be in japanese
and that's how u know the nationality of the person crossing

2. clean dry toilet and plenty of toilet papers stock(even free toilet located at underground street)
no automated toilet like japan but at least it's really clean

3. if u go during winter, some toilet do not have hot water...so washing your hand during that period will make your hand super numb
not even the hand blower will help laugh.gif

4. garbage all over the road....if you go to the hardware street outside of gwangjang market, it gets even worse
i found out that koreans are basically like malaysian living in an advanced country
they love to spit and litter everywhere

5. winters are brutal...so if you're going in winter..even late february, be sure to equip yourself very well
make use of the underground street or passage way to avoid the brutal wind
on very wide street, they don't have road crossing/zebra line, they use underground passage way

6. they're definitely not a polite as the japanese but acceptable
but they do sometime scream(not at me but i saw it with my own eyes)

7. want to buy the cheapest souvenir?...cheapest is still lotte mart at seoul station
but you'd have to purposely go there to do your shopping
if u plan to do last minute shopping there, i don't recommend..they do provide boxes but they don't provide string and tapes already
second cheapest is LALA mart at myongdong....i bought most of my souvenir here because of it's price despite it's situated at myeongdong

8. Don't press the button when you're about to cross the traffic light like u do in malaysia
that button does not work like it is in malaysia
it's basically an emergency help button laugh.gif

9. for maps, don't rely on 1 map only
best to have naver map and google maps together
some places don't appear in naver maps but appear in google maps
google maps don't have guide on how to walk there or specific location but u can just follow the direction and reach there

10. some of their malls have refillable water facilities which are fantastic...not available in malaysia

11. they have some really really nice looking car there unlike the dull looking car in japan
they like to drive big cars too, i never saw any A to B segment car there...it's all minimum C segment car and up
if only they bring those cars into malaysian market to compete with toyota and honda

12. Most of their food is a little to quite spicy...so do look properly before order
even their fast food

13. Mom's touch is a must try, the hype is real..it's really that good

14. their ginseng chicken soup, they don't allow sharing..every person has to have a single order
for those who doesn't eat much like me...not recommended..it's too much

15. not all the convenient store(even same brand) has the same stock(even olive young)
so if u see something u like, buy it there...it might not be available at the other branch you're going to go

16. they don't let tourist entering ehwa's women university...at least not the time i was there

17. The BHC chicken at myeongdong always has a queue
do have your BHC chicken at insadong where there are plenty of seats
it won't appear in google but search BHC chicken after u visited geongbokgong or bukchon hanok...search for the nearest ones

18. korean guys are really macho...a contrast of what i saw japanese are
when a girl opens a door, the guys can literally rush in without letting the girl out 1st...at least that's what i saw laugh.gif

additional 2 things i thought of and found out

19. many shops don't open on sunday, including the homeplus in jamsil station

20. i can't seem to find pepero in seoul nor i've seen it before...it's made by lotte but not sold in s.korea?
*
For point number 19, Homeplus, E-mart, Lotte mart and Costo are closed on 2nd and 4th Sundays. They have a 52 hour maximum work week per month introduced by their government for work life balance.

I think one of the app that you really need is KakaoMetro there is an english version and super helpful, its even more useful than google maps.

Not only ginseng chicken but also bbq pork / beef also has a 2 person minimum serving. Even if you are 1 person, you need to order 2 person serving.

windvind
post Mar 4 2020, 08:47 AM

Getting Started
**
Junior Member
196 posts

Joined: Dec 2015


QUOTE(COOLPINK @ Feb 28 2020, 11:30 AM)
they have 2 local fast food burger.
one is mom and the other is lotteria.

did u try out lotteria?
*
Personal peference, Mom's taste is really alot better than Lotteria.
Mom's taste has a spicy chicken thighs leg that is really one of the best fast food i ate.

Lotteria is so so in by books.
Skip, Macdonalds and KFC.
Btw, KFC is popular for burger in Korea and not for the chicken.

 

Change to:
| Lo-Fi Version
0.0591sec    0.78    7 queries    GZIP Disabled
Time is now: 18th December 2025 - 02:01 PM