Philippines: Ayala Musuem, Makati

Temporarily Closed from June 2019 to 2020 for renovations, click here for updates.

A well spent Saturday afternoon in the metro, we got a chance to visit Ayala Museum for around 4 hours.  

Must Visit Amusement and Theme Parks in South Korea

Do you want to have some rest from reality life and want to spend sometime to bring back that childhood inside of you?  Here are some of the theme and amusement parks found in Korea that can be included in your itinerary on your next trip.

Everland (에버랜드)

Part of Trip Advisor's Top 25 in Asia,  Everland is a must visit to experience the T-express wooden roller coaster as seen in many variety shows!  Get here using Bus 5002 from Gangnam Station or take train to Jeondae Everland Station.

Location: 199, Everland-ro, Pogok-eup, Cheoin-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do

South Korea: Daegu: Hill Crest

Hill Crest (힐크레스트)
1003, Gachang-ro, Gachang-myeon, Dalseong-gun, Daegu
대구광역시 달성군 가창면 가창로 1003 (가창면)
http://www.hillcrest.co.kr/

Hillcrestkoreais an eco-theme pack packed with special events and programs that change with the seasons to give visitors a fresh new experience each spring, summer, fall, and winter. This 3,000-pyeong, large-scale herb garden and mini theme park includes a large area of Metasequoias and the only green tea field in the Yongnam Area. [Reference]

I was monitoring gps location on maps.google on when I should get off.  However, I missed the preferred stop and get off on the next stop.  Good thing I choose the correct path on walking back.  You'll see the woody buildings (above) from the main road.

[Admission (Garden + Zoo Zoo Land + Red Maple Road)] Weekdays: Adults 8,000 won

South Korea: Lotte World, Jamsil Station

Travel Date: June 23, 2011
Destination: Lotte World
Even if it is raining outside, we started the day early. We had our breakfast at Paris Baguette with pastries, coffee and milk for 10,200krw (400php).


From Myeongdong station, we had to transfer 2 lanes (green and pink) until we reached Munjeong station. This is where you could find Rodeo Street – an outlet shopping center in Korea. While studying for this trip, I learned that you can’t find any Esprit shop in South Korea. They have more local brands in the area and a few outlet brands of which I’m familiar with. Running shoes at Nike and Adidas range from 2500-4000php. There is also The North Face outlet, and I was able to buy a Columbia jacket for 55000krw (2200php).

From this station we transferred to Jamsil Station and look for our way going to Lotte World.

Lotte World, Jamsil Station, Subway Line 2 & 8, Exit #4
Open: Mon - Thu : 09:30 - 22:00; Fri - Sun : 9:30 - 23:00
Admission: Adults 26,000 won = 1040php (Admission and free performance viewing)
Passport: Adults 38000won = 1550php (Free usage of all facilities, Includes admission (all-in fee to 4D, carousel & light roller coaster ride; star avenue) ; free tour of Folk Museum)

South Korea: Everland in Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do

Everland is not the first theme park I have visited in my trip to South Korea.  In fact I have visited it on my 4th trip, even there was a delay in my plans to see the place, it is still worth a visit for tourists.  My main intention is to try the T-express as featured in variety shows.

For any season in the country, there's a reason to see the place: Spring (for the tulip festival and rose garden), Summer, Autumn (for kochia shrubs and some maple trees) and Winter (indoor rides and snow buster).

2014 Feb: First encounter on Everland
Due to sudden left and right turns in the morning, we left Seoul very late in the afternoon for Everland. 

How to get there?

Bus 5002
Take Subway Line 2, alight at Gangnam Station, Exit 10 [2014].  Walk forward for more than 5-10 minutes (passing Giordano, Krispy Kreme, until Who.A.U.), take Bus 5002.  It will take more than hour to reach the bus terminal for the Everland shuttle service.

Upon checking Google Maps (Jan 2017), not sure if there is road construction near Exit 10, you may want to check first the map, before moving to bus station between Exit-6 and Exit-5 (in front of NH Bank, Kookmin Bank).  It will still be the same Bus 5002 (heading to Everland).

How to get to Everland

From there, wait for the shuttle service, travel time will be another 5-10 minutes, before you can reach the Everland gates.

South Korea: Things to do in Digital Media City

1. Art Appreciation (Sculpture and Building Architecture)

Japan: Fukuoka: Hakata Gofukumachi Hostel Takataniya

Hakata Gofukumachi Hostel Takataniya [Inactive in Agoda, 2024]

9-5 Nakagofukumachi, Hakata, Fukuoka, Japan 812-0035

博多 呉服町 ホステル 高谷家

博多区中呉服町 9-5, 博多, 福岡, 日本 812-0035

Email: takataniya[@]gmail.com

Link: http://takataniya.com/English/facility.html

Book Hakata Gofukumachi Hostel Takataniya, Fukuoka in Agoda

Where to see cherry blossom in Seoul after spring season?

Do you think it is possible to find cherry blossoms anytime of the year in Seoul? My answer would be yes, I'll share with you 3 locations to satisfy your wish to to see cherry blossom even if it is summer, autumn or winter in the city.  It may be not genuine cherry trees, but the places will bring you back to the scenes we have seen in dramas. 

104 Hwa-dong, Jongno-gu (near Bukchon-ro 5ga-gil in Samcheong-dong and Bukchon areas)

The street where Grim Reaper visited Sunny (nearby her house) to confirm her past and erase the sad memories she had with him. | Goblin Episode 12

Spring Festivals and Flower Areas in South Korea

Let us not limit ourselves to cherry bloosom when it comes to spring season in Korea.  Apart from beojkkoch (벚꽃) per its Korean name or sakura (桜) per Japanese term, there are other flowers and festivals we can enjoy for the rest of months of April and May in South Korea.

South Korea: Seoul: Ewha University

Ewha Womans University is a private women's university in central Seoul, South Korea founded in 1886 by the American Methodist Episcopal missionary Mary F. Scranton.  - Wikipedia

Address: 11-1, Daehyeon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Motto: Knowledge·Goodness·Beauty

South Korea: Campus Tour: Universities to Visit

Due to increasing appearance of schools and universities in dramas and series, although not suggested by some as this invades privacy of the students, I was able to visit few of these schools in South Korea.  Let me share with you those you may want to also see in your next trip.

Yonsei University is a private research university located in Seoul. (Wiki)

Address: 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Motto: The truth will set you free. (John 8:32)

Korea Travel Seminar for Free and Easy / DIY Travelers

Thanks to Korean Tourism Organization (KTO) Manila for organizing another event for those who are planning to visit South Korea this year.

Where do you get your travel information?

Where do you get your travel information?  What are your sources of information when it comes to planning a trip or making your next itinerary.

For the veterans, boomers, or Gen-Xers, they say or prefer printed copies.  But for Xennials, Millennials or modernized adults obviously internet is their main source of information.

Books

Name	Link	Description
Lonely Planet	lonelyplanet.com	Largest travel guide book publisher in the world [Wiki].  Plan and book your perfect trip with expert advice, travel tips, destination information and inspiration from Lonely Planet.
Fodors Travel Guide	fodors.com	A publisher of English language travel and tourism information and the first relatively professional producer of travel guidebooks. [Wiki]
Rough Guides	roughguides.com	British travel guidebook and reference publisher [Wiki] Find a destination, look for inspiration, read features and get great travel advice, from Rough Guides.
DK Eyewitness Travel Guides	traveldk.com	Browse DK's award-winning travel content on a range of top travel destinations. Discover all you need to know to plan your next trip.

Philippines: Artesania and Caffeined by Mozaic Living

An artisan cafe by Caffeined by Mozaic Living Inc. Fusion of lifestyle,  furniture store, arts and crafts by local artisans. artesaniafurniture | mozaicliving

Japan: Sapporo: 5 days Itinerary

SappoRoute (Taste the Sights of Sapporo) 

The following sample itinerary is just a sample or basic plan for those who would like to go to Sapporo, Hokkaido.  This is basically a draft of what was submitted to JNTO contest and I have no personal experience yet on the mentioned places and restaurants below. 

Day 1: Taste of Chocoloate, Tea and Ramen

• AM: Shiroi Koibito Park (Sapporo Chocolate Factory Tour).  Where kids and adults can enjoy: painting Hokkaido shaped Cookie, riding Steam Locomotive Shiroi Koibtio Railway, strolling at Rose Garden 
• PM: Mt. Moiwa Ropeway - for city lights. 
• Tea Ceremony (wear a kimono while tasting matcha tea) (Ren Ceremony | Klook)
• Enjoy Sapporo Ramen at Susukino or Ganso (Ramen Street)