2014 Oct: Autumn Itinerary to Seoul, South Korea (University Hopping)

Note: If first time traveler to Seoul, please visit the detailed entry and guide on Itinerary for First-time Visitors or see more autumn itinerary options on this link.

Accommodation: Where to stay in Seoul?
Hotel Name: 24 Guesthouse Sinchon Style
Address: 57-17 Changcheon-dong (24 Yonsei-ro 5na-gil), Seodaemun-gu, Shinchon / Hongdae/Seoul/South Korea

Itinerary: Places to go, Things to see, Points of Interest, What to do in Seoul in 4 days?
Travel Date: October 24-27, 2014

2014 Oct: South Korea: Gyeonggi: My Love from the Star at Kintex

You think it’s over?!  It ended last August 15, 2014 in Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Jung-gu, but the star will continue to shine from Kintex, Ilsan-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do until August 31, 2015.

On a personal note, not much of the bloggers have been posting about the movement of the exhibition to Kintex. I learned about it from a small shop in DDP that it was moved.  So on our last day before departure, we choose to suddenly change our itinerary and skip:

-Bukchon for the palace walls, art paintings and breakfast at LN cafe

-Trick Eye and Ice Museum at Hongdae

It took us an hour to reach Daehwa station from Sinchon.  And another 30 minutes to reach the Outdoor Special Exhibition (near Kintex 2, Hall 8).  Don’t worry about getting lost as there will be a lot of signs and direction pointing to the star’s location. 

Exhibition Period: 2014.9.5 - 2015.8.31

Exhibition Time: 10:00 - 19:00

Admission: 15,000krw (Adult)

Website (Bus Access): http://lovefromstar.sbs.co.kr/main_english.html

How to get there? [Google Maps] Line 3 (Ilsan Line), Daehwa Station, Exit 1 (750m for Kintex)

The Story

My Love from the Star (You Who Came from the Stars) is a South Korean television series about an alien who landed on Earth in the Joseon Dynasty and, 400 years later, falls in love with a top actress in the modern era. 

The fantasy romance stars Kim Soo-hyun (Do Min-joon, DMJ) and Jun Ji-hyun (Cheon Song-yi, CSY) (who is the famous Sassy Girl and her small screen comeback after 14 years). They are the very first male and female lead to win the Grand Prize ("Daesang") with a same drama. [Reference]

The Experience

We were welcomed by Lyn's song as we give our tickets to the staff.  

You’re my destiny, you are

You’re my everything,

The thing that hasn’t changed is my love for you

Then the exhibit started as we push the wall, just like DMJ in his unit when he gets into the library.

Zone 1 - Exhibition of the black robes used by the aliens, palanquin (sedan chair) used on the cliff, costumes, umbrella and hairpin from Joseon Dynasty

I can consider it interactive since some of those exhibited can be touched, you'll be allowed to carry traditional umbrellas, seat on CSY bed, photo shoot on the library, and others.

2014 Oct: South Korea: Jamsil: Rubber Duck Project

Rubber Duck is any of several giant floating sculptures designed by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubber_Duck_(sculpture)

South Korea: English Catholic Mass

Church goers normally go to Myeongdong Cathedral for mass, since it is easily accessible, known to many tourists, located in shopping area, visible on blogs and websites.

Last February 2014, I’ve been to Yakhyeon Church, but there is no formal mass and no English mass.

This October 2014, we have visited Yeoksam Catholic Church - Roman Catholic.

Yeoksam Catholic Church - Roman Catholic

Where: Yeoksam-dong 722-9, Kangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea 02-553-0801. 

How to go there: Line #2 (green line) Yeoksam Station, Exit 1

Mass Schedule: English Mass on Sundays 9:00 at Basement 2 (KyungHwan-dang Chapel)  

The main church holds Korean mass. Ask around or go to basement 2 and find the main door (KyungHwan-dang Chapel) for the English mass at around 9:00-9:30am Sundays.

Below is the list of other English Catholic Mass around Seoul.

Date Visited: 2014 October

For Filipino or Tagalog Mass or other languages, visit this page for details. 
Forum discussion posted on: http://www.tripadvisor.com.ph/ShowTopic-g294197-i8161-k7914889-English_Catholic_Mass_in_Seoul-Seoul.html | Other references

There is another English mass at Sogang University on Sun. 7:30 P.M at subway DaeHeung station line 6

Summary of 4 days itinerary in 2014 Autumn Seoul Trip:

Day	Places to see	Food and Restaurants	Where to Sleep
Day 1	Dong Seoul Bus Terminal Sokcho Intercity Bus Terminal Seoraksan	Seoraksan	24 Guesthouse Sinchon Style
Day 2	Yonsei University Ewha Womans University Museum Hongik University Hongdae Market City Hall: Deoksugung	Ewha Food Court/Canteen Haha's Restaurant Dunkin Donuts	24 Guesthouse Sinchon Style
Day 3	Yeoksam Catholic Church Garosu-gil Road, Gangnam Rubber Ducky at Jamsil DDP - Dongdaemun Design Plaza	The Kona Coffee & Kona Beans Ace Pizza Club Chicken Bus	24 Guesthouse Sinchon Style
Day 4	Kintex for My Love from the Stars	Café del Tren Kintex: With My Recipe Korean Dessert Café Global Kitchen @ Incheon	24 Guesthouse Sinchon Style

2014 Oct: South Korea: Seoulful Taste

Ewha University Food Hall

Preference: 9 out of 10

Location: Ewha Campus Complex (B4), 11-1, Daehyeon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Food: Pork cutlet

Value: 6000krw (240php, 2014)

Atmosphere: Since inside the university, it's a cozy place for studying while eating. Food is very affordable.

Haha's Restaurant (401 Loco Quan)
Preference: 7 out of 10
Food: Jeju pork belly
Value: Expensive - 31000krw (1240php, 2014)
Atmosphere: Mostly offer galbi (variety of grilled dishes in Korean cuisine). Has a raggae theme, influenced by the Haha's favorite singer Bob Marley.  Menu are mostly on pork side, hoping they could add more like beef/chicken/seafood as choices for the grilling.

Pal Ja Mak Chang (paljamakchang restaurant) - BBQ Joint in Korea 팔자막창
395-17 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea (서울시 마포구 서교동 395-17)

As a fan of Running Man, this restaurant is must-visit for me.  The one in Hongdae is managed by Haha, while the one in Gangnam belongs to Leesang Gary. [Read]

2014 Oct: South Korea: 24 Guesthouse Sinchon Style

On this fourth trip in Seoul, we wanted to move out of comfort zone - Myeongdong. Thus, we are rooting to stay in university area. Our choice in Ewha is a bit near the bars, staying in Hongik is a bit crazy-chaotic experience.  So, we decided to stay in the middle, Sinchon station.

24 Guesthouse - Sinchon Style (24게스트하우스-신촌스타일)
Address: 24, Yonsei-ro 5na-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul (Changcheon-dong)
서울특별시 서대문구 연세로5나길 24 (창천동)
Email: sinchonstyle@naver.com
Website: http://sinchonstyle.24guesthouse.co.kr/
Book 24 Guesthouse Sinchon Hongdae (Sinchonstyle), Seoul in Agoda
Review on tripadvisor.com

Price: Affordable: (PHP 8,856.70 (USD 199.32) for 4 nights on Twin Bed Room - Double Deck)

Compared to Myeongdong (Exit 8) guesthouses, this is a bit cheaper. 

Location: Good. Accessible by airport bus. Lot of restaurants nearby, but there are those that will require you to select meals (15000) each, no sharing. There are a couple of bars and drinking sessions around. It is also close to 2 convenient stores - 7/11 and CU. Across the main road is Hanaro (Hana Mart) where you can buy your returning presents (omiyage/pasalubong). It is also just walking distance (15-20 minutes) to Yonsei and Ewha universities. 

2014 August: Singapore and Malaysia: Itinerary

Actual Travel Date: 13 Aug – 17 Aug 0040H
Route: MNL to SG to Malacca to SG to MNL

2014 August: Malaysia: Malacca

Weeks before the trip, I already bought my bus ticket for Singapore to Melaka vise versa in http://www.easybook.com/.  (Just be warned that after few days after my online transaction, I got a call from my provider that someone out there tried to use my account.  So be careful on this site) 

 I started my journey from Bugis area in Arab street going to Queen St. to take the 707 bus. 

  

Make sure to surrender your printed ticket to the bus ticket counter to get the bus plate no. Take note that assigned buses normally wait for only 20 mins along Queen St and not inside the bus parking lot.

After an hour you'll reach the Singapore Immigration. After crossing the bridge, it is around 10-15 minutes, before you step out again, this time for the Malaysia Immigration. 

  

Two hours more before we reached Melaka Sentral.  I told the driver I should be dropped off in Casa Del Rio, but he still checked inside the ticket office, before he headed to our way. 

  

I'm not sure what are his plans, there are other passengers saying specific hotels as well.  What I did is to volunteer to drop off at Megamall since I'm familiar on its location from research, than let the driver roam around the area and waste my time inside the bus.

Dataran Pahlawan Megamall Melaka 

F10-01, Hatten Square, Jalan Merdeka, Bandar Hilir,  75000 Melaka. (Open: 10-10p) 

*Padini Concept Store - BW-009 & BW-011/ Lower Ground Floor   

*Vincci - BW-008 & BW009 

Padini and Vincci are disappointing, I was not able to see something to buy.

Flora del Mar Maritime Museum
Location: Muzium Samudera, (the Flora De La Ma), Jalan Quayside, 75000 Malacca
Open Daily: 09:00 hrs - 17:30 hrs
Fri: 09:00 hrs - 12:15 hrs, 14:45 - 17:30
Fee: 6RM (90 PH), for few bucks you'll get to rent this ausio guide.
Tip: On traveling, make sure you carry with you your own ear phones, to keep things clean.

2014 August: Singapore: Philatelic Museum

Singapore Philatelic Museum
Address: 23-B Coleman Street, Singapore 179807
Website: https://www.spm.org.sg

What is Philately?
Philately is...  More than just Stamps!

Philately is the hobby of collecting 

and learning about postage stamps.

-Collins Cobuild Advance Learner's English Disctionary

Language of Philately

2014 August: Singapore: Mint Museum

Open: 9.30am to 6.30pm; 

Fee: 15 sgd (look for brochures in your hostel to get discount - I got mine at 10.50 sgd)

Location: 26 Seah St, Singapore 188382, http://emint.com/mint/go/visitus/location

If you are toy enthusiast and wonder about how toys look like in the earlier years - this is a place for you to visit.

2014 August: Singapore: Sentosa: Maritime Museum

Ho to get there? In Vivo City, to Maritime Museum:

• Board bus RWS8 from bus stop 14141 at Vivo City or bus stop 14121 at Merrill Lynch, HarbourFront. Alight at Resorts World Sentosa drop-off point.
• Enter via The Forum, turn right and walk to the end where McDonald's is located.
• Take the escalator up to level 1 and you will see The Maritime Experiential Museum straight ahead across a small bridge.

It is zero visibility bus ride coming from Harbourfront, crossing the bridge and reaching Sentosa island.  With the heavy rains outside, most of the tourists decided to queue on the SEA than Universal Studios.

I started with the museum display of Asian Civilization. The section mainly depicts on how the barter trading system begun in Asia and how it did start the Singapore economy and it's strong ties with other countries.

2014 August: Singapore: Bayfront: Garden's by the Bay

Going to Garden’s by the Bay - OCBC Skyway at $5

Via the Circle Line or Downtown Line:

•Alight at Bayfront MRT Station (CE1/DT16)

•Take Exit B and follow the underground linkway

•Exit and cross the Dragonfly Bridge or Meadow Bridge into Gardens by the Bay

OCBC Skyway and Supertrees

Suspended 22 metres above ground, between the vertical gardens of our Supertrees, the OCBC Skyway comes alive nightly with the Garden Rhapsody - a free light and sound show - at 7.45pm and 8.45pm.