Korea Report: Myeongdong Catholic Church and Myeongdong Shopping

Last day...we were scheduled for our flight back to Manila at 9:00pm and we have to take the 4:30pm bus!  What to do from morning til afternoon?  Explore nearby sites, final shopping and of course, final food trip!

The Myeong-dong Catholic Cathedral is just a few minutes walk from Hotel Ibis Ambassador Myeong-dong.  It is actually the main Catholic Church in Korea and also considered the symbol of Myeong-dong because of its size!  I can actually see the tip of this church wherever I'm within Myeong-dong area.  

Construction started in 1894 and was completed in 1898.  Churches as old as that is quite magnificent and gave me a sense of pride each time I walk in the building! 

The church was built with bricks and I am not sure if the bricks are in their original color or was it repainted?  There are 3 entrances, the main one in the middle and 2 small ones on left and right!  On that Wednesday morning, the middle door was closed so we have to go through the smaller entrance.

As we walked in, there's a sense of serenity, I gave out a silent prayer thanking the Lord for the wonderful and safe trip me and my husband had!

Korea Food Tripping: Street Food

Let me tell you one thing, prior to leaving for Korea, you know what I've been doing?  *blushes*  Watching Youtube videos on Korean Street Food and drooling as I got excited!  I have my Korean street food to eat in mind the moment I get off the plane!  

As reported, the weather was a bit disappointing on the first night!  Streets are deserted and I thought I won't be able to eat anything on that fateful night!  I nearly shrieked when I saw a stand and I went up to the lovely lady and pointed at what I want right away!  She's actually smiling because I look like a wet and hungry cat begging for leftovers!  *laughs*

Korean French Fry Coated Hotdog

I love fries and I love hotdogs!  Who in the smartest mind would have thought of combining the 2 together and put it on a stick???  Well, the Koreans did!  I have something else in mind when I took a bite on this but it tastes quite different as to what I've expected!  The fries is actually mixed with starch so its not as tasty as I've expected.  Starch is probably used for the fries to stick to the hotdog!  Wonderful experience though!

Ddeok-Boggi (rice cake) On Stick 

and Various Meat and Hotdog On Stick

The weather is a bit cool and the Rice Cake on Stick tastes a bit bland!  I was expecting the rice cake to be tastier but it's a bit hard to bite!  I actually did not finish it and threw out the rest (sorry).  On the other hand, we enjoyed the various meat and hotdog on stick!  Very delicious!

Korea Report: Yongsan Electronics Market and Lotte Mart

I know I've stated in my previous report that Seoul is probably a great place for women especially girls who loves cosmetics!  It's definitely cosmetics and skincare heaven but that does not mean there's nothing for the guys!  This post is to prove that the dear men in our lives can enjoy Korea as much as girls!  

I, the tour agent of this trip!  Did the itinerary weeks before I left the country.  I made sure to insert something for the hubby!  He's been way too sweet to accompany me on my shopping trips to various cosmetic brands and its even sweet how he help me carry the stuffs I purchased!  Being the considerate wife that I am *ahem* hahahaha  I insisted to take him to the electronics market!

Yongsan Electronics Market, is a retail market comprising over 20 buildings housing 5,000 stores that sells anything from computer peripherals to cameras, mobile phones, appliances, etc...  This area is super big and I don't expect to walk all of them in half a day!  We've decided to take a peek and have an idea how "Electronics Market" in Seoul looks like!

The Electronics Market is located on Subway line 1, at Yongsan Station.  Once you come out of the station, you will be walking to another building which is a train station terminal to enter the Terminal Shopping Center.  Most major stores open from 10:00am to 8:00pm and most of the stores are closed on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of every month!  Keep in mind that the department stores and many shops in Seoul closes on a Monday!

A picture to show that you can see an arrow pointing to the Electronics Market...

We were only able to visit one building nearest the train station and we gave up because our feet our dead tired!  Here are some ninja shots!  The place is huge and very clean!  Most of them do not have the price posted on the product which means one thing --- you are expected to bargain!

On a side note, Mr. AMW wanted to purchase the newest Samsung Galaxy S which he thinks will cost cheaper as Samsung is a home grown brand.  Learned that most of the phones there are sold with phone plans and Koreans can get there phones for free.  If sold separately, it'll cost us a millions of Korean Won which is around Php50,000+ (approx $1,100+).  Way more expensive than purchasing it locally!

Nail Art Tutorial: "Stripey" Nails

Hey sweet readers!  I am still on my Korean Trip hangover stage and I still have a lot of stories to share!  As promised, I will try to squeeze in something aside from the Korea Trip so you won't feel like this is a Korean Travel Blog!  *hahaha*  Before I went on my trip, I only have a couple of minutes to do my nail art!  I wanted something really quick and easy and I think this is one easy nail art anyone can try!  

Oh, before I start the tutorial, I had my nails done in a salon as I don't want to take too much time doing my own manicure and pedicure, I've had it cleaned and applied with 2 coats of polish!  I can't seem to remember the shade!  Sorry!

Step 1:
Apply a base coat prior to polish application.  Apply 2 coats of your preferred base color.

Step 2:

Using L.A. Art Deco in white or any white polish using a thin brush from bookstore, create a horizontal line anywhere you like!  The lines do not have to be perfect and don't worry about lines drawn on finger.  You can clean them up later on.



Step 3:

Next, I pull out the rest of the L.A. Art Deco colors I have and use the red color to apply random lines. 



Glittery Silver

Sky Blue



Black

Step 4:

While waiting for the lines to dry up, wet your q-tip with a nail polish remover and remove excess polish on the sides of your nails.

Step 5:

Making sure the lines are completely dry, apply your preferred top coat to protect your nails.  I used Elianto Top Coat.

Quick and easy nail art of the week minus too much complications!  Anyone can do it and again, lines do not have to be perfect!

I had this nail art on while I was traveling in Korea and its funny how 2 sellers like it and gave me discounts on my purchase! :)  Aren't they sweet?

Have a great weekend everyone!
Keep smilin'

Stay happy!

Korea Report: Deoksugung Palace

I originally planned to go to Gyeongbokgung Palace which is the main and largest palace of the Five Grand Palaces built by the Joseon Dynasty.  Good thing I researched online and learned the palace was close on a Tuesday so I chose to go to the 2nd choice palace instead --- Deoksugung or Deoksu Palace which means the “Palace of Virtue and Longevity”

Deoksugung is a walled compound of palaces in Seoul and housed various Korean Royalties way back until the Japanese came at the turn of 20th century.  Base on research, this is a palace built with Western Style.  Due to the destruction, it was sad to learn that only one third of the structures that were standing before the Japanese  Occupation remains.

The main entrance of Deoksugung Palace called Daehanmun Gate

Adult ticket costs 1,000 Won (approx Php40.00/less than $1.00)
Children (7 to 18 years old) 500 Won (approx Php20.00/less than $.50)