Korea Seoul free and easy: Itinenary & Summary

TRansport

Transport from Airport is quite easy.
There are choices of buses or Korail
Information are available at http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/TR/TR_EN_5_1_1_2.jsp
Is good to take the Korail if your hotel is near to station, if there is a need to change to subway or taxi. It may slightly more inconvenient. You have to take care of your luggages and drag them around although there are escalators around.
Buses have more stops so is convenient if you stay near one of the bus stops. However, there are limited luggage spaces and seats. If you are taking the bus to airport, do leave early.
Three ways to travel from states to states are by air, bus or train.
I tried taking the bus from Yeosu to Busan. It was comfortable with lots of leg space, a toilet break in between. The luggages are stored in the luggage compartment.
For the train ride, luggages are stored at another carriage so if you are worried about the luggages, ask for a seat at the back of the carriage, they have some spaces for the chair to lean backwards. Can used it to store luggages.
By air, is usually to jeju. For domestic flight, just have to be there one hour before the flight.
My blog post on Transport.
For travelling within seoul, the subway is good.
Get the T-money from any subway station, it works like an ezlink card which is very convenient.
There are two version of T-money, one is the card version, the other is a small card around 3cm by 1cm which you can hang on your handphone, camera or bag. I prefer the second version. Both version cost the same.

 3 ways of getting wifi
1. Get a hotel with free wifi or visit cafes as they usually provide free wifi
2. REnt the wifi egg which allowed a 2-10 people to access at the same time. More information, please read my blog post.
3. Buy the 3g sim card.
Can buy and pick it up airport or other location for free or pay to have it to deliver to hotel room.
For those who are following package tour, they can order and have it shipped to Singapore. However, the shipping cost is not cheap. It is around s$20. For 1 GB data sim, it will cost around s$50. Extra charges for nano sim. The delivery is very fast, around 2-3 working days.
http://egsimcard.blogspot.sg/2013/02/how-to-get-free-prepaid-sim-card-and.html

My blog post on wifi and 3g

Hotels I stayed in

City inn and dongdaemun
skypark Hotel

Itinernary FRee and easy Shopping and sightseeing

Day 1:

1. GyeongbokGung 
Perfect place for a morning to catch the guards changing and follow one of their free. When it gets too hot and crowded around noon, can just leave and find a place for a nice lunch. Can try the ginseng chicken at the famousTosokchon. Then go back for a short break.
My blog post on GyeongbokGung


2. SEoul Tower
Best time to visit there will be around 1-2 hour before sunset around late afternoon, timing will differ in summer and winter. Will be able to enjoy seoul in both daytime and nighttime.
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=260067
http://www.nseoultower.co.kr/eng/visit/use.asp
My blog post Seoul Tower

3. Myeongdong
   Walking distance from the cable station. Can go for a nice dinner and shopping.
Myeongdong is more alive at night with stalls with snacks and shopping.
my blog post on Myeongdong

Day 2
1. Deoksugung palace and Changdeokgung
Morning for sightseeing. Can skip Deoksugung if there is not enough time.
deoksugung palace and Changdeokgung Palace

2. Insadong
    Near to Changdeokgung. Drop by for a lunch and some traditional tea and shopping.
first post on Insadong
2nd post on Insadong

3. Dongdaemun
Go back to hotel before heading to Dongdaemun for some late night shopping
my blog post on dongdaemun

Day 3
1. Nandaemun
After the late night shopping, start the day later.
Nandaemun start operating around 10 to 11am.
my blog post on Nandaemun

2. Supermarket at Seoul Station
Just a station away. STock up korean snacks and food..
Supermarket

3. Ehwa women's university

Chill out a cafe. shop or try out the snacks at the roadside stall or visit the university.

first post on ehwa

second post on ehwa

Day 4
1. Kwang jang market
After days, should be too tired to wake up early.
Have a branch at Kwang jang market and a stroll at Cheonggyecheon Stream
My blog post on Kwang jang market

My updated unhappy experience at Gwang jang MArket in 2019


2. Hongdae
Hongdae, try to visit it during a weekend. and same as, shop, eat and chill out at a cafe. There are more street performances
Hongdae trick eye museum
Hongdae

Other information on Korea.SEoul Food

Accomodation recommendation:
https://mizztoee.blogspot.com/2019/07/korea-seoul-free-and-easy-grand-hotel.html

Buying/shopping From TAobao : Reviews

I started buying from Taobao a year plus ago. Main reason was I was using a unique handphone which phone cases are hard to come by.I usually purchase through an agent, 65Daigou.

How 65Daigou works

1. Copy the url and paste on the website, state your preferences and choice of shipping

2. made payment through internet banking, credit card and paypal

3. Wait for items to arrive at 65Daigou. Select to ship.

4. Pay agent fee and delivery when item arrive in Singapore and arrive to pick up.

How TAobao works

1. Add item to cart and when making payment, select forwarding agent.

2. make payment through credit card

3. Wait for item to arrive at forwarding agent and consolidate to ship. 

4. Make payment and wait for item to arrive to singapore.

Good about 65Daigou

1. It was a big company and the website was easy to navigate.The good thing is that they repackaging the goods and check for simple defects for me. And if I realise any item is damaged or lost, they will come up with a solution real quick.

2. There is also 3 forms of delivery: Express which takes 1-2 days after they received the parcel, economy air which is around 3-5 days and sea delivery which is around 2 weeks and definitely much cheaper. 

3. I do not need to spend time liaising with the seller. They will get everything done for me

4. Lots of options regarding pickup

Not so good about 65DAigou

1. The negative part was the extra agent fee that needed to be paid, depending on which kind of vip category you are in, range from 4%-8%.

2. Need to pay extra for home delivery.

Good about direct purchase

1. You are in charge.

2. No agent fee, good for expensive item.

3. Home delivery

Bad about direct purchase

1. some of the forwarding agent are not good

2. have to spend time liaising with seller.

3. Shipping can be slower than economy shipping depending on forwarding agent

4 Items have a time limit to be consolidated or additional shipping fees will be incurred

5. Basic chinese

6. 1% transaction fee

Did a simple chart regarding the delivery charges.

However, is not accurate due to exchange rate difference.

Direct Taobao do door to door delivery, for 65daigou have to pay extra for home delivery but they have a lot of pick up locations available.

Personally, I prefer 65Daigou unless I buying expensive items because sea shipping is cheaper and is much simpler not to deal directly

And if you want to get your item as soon as possible, express will be the fastest and then economy and direct taobao and lastly sea.

I tried 2 forwarding agents before. One was 4px递四方, they are quite fast in delivery which is around 4 days. 

I will really recommend 4px as they are good and fast.
Firstly, they will text you once the parcel reach their warehouse so you do not have to keep refreshing the page. Unlike the other provide who says 3-6 days ( only working days).
4px manage to ship the item in 3days, I submit to ship on sunday and I receive it on Wednesday and Tuesday is Vesak day. They are as fast as express shipping.

The other was lequgo 乐趣购 is real bad, do stay away from them.  Review

Let me share my experience  with lequgo.

1. Firstly, they put 3-6days to deliver but they usually take 5-6 days to deliver and not including weekends so they take very long. 

2. Customer service is very irresponsible. My parcel was missing although they signed and received the item. I tried talking to them, they keep asking me to wait for a day but I told them it has been signed and received for days and then transfer me different agent and make me repeat the story and then ask me to question the seller and then ask me to wait again. I was doing the work, repeating my story to different cs and talker to seller. In the end, I have to go straight to taobao and file a complaint before they locate my item within an hour, 6 days after the receipt of the parcel. 

3. They will give customers some benefits to change bad reviews to good reviews so that explains the rating.

4. Their Singapore courier do not pick up phone, I spend more than half an hours on calls and it has never been answered.

SWitzerland free and easy : Zurich Accomodation

Switzerland has very high cost of living.

So my first instinct was to stay at apartment instead of a hotel or hostel, I can cook my own meals at times.

I heard of people eating cold bread because meals are too expensive. Not a fan of cold fan except sashimi.

A fast food meal in switzerland can set you back by s$15 to 20.

We were deciding between Zurich and interlaken as Interlaken is a popular base for most tourist.

After adding up the train hours for all the journey, we realise staying in Zurich is only around half an hour extra journey time and is more accessible to Germany which we were be visiting too.

Looking a apartment at the right place and location was not easy, this place cost around CHF771 for 3 nights. which fits our budget of around S$200 for night for 3 person. 

The room was spacious and very nicely decorated..

 Wifi is free and fast.

There is a dining table, lot of shelves to put your stuff, a big kitchen, hangers and a toilet. 

Lot of pillows at the bed too. The kitchen is fully equipped, it has lots of pots, pans and cutlery, kettle, 4 stoves and also an oven. 

Sometimes when we are tired, just buy a pizza from the supermarket and just throw it in the oven. We can cook our own meal with food from the supermarket and we did brought something over from Singapore. Haha.. I bought rice, maggi mee, some mushrooms, chinese soup herbal pack and canned chicken curry. Not just cold sandwiches and maggi mee. We do eat some of our meals at restaurants.

The negative is there are only 2 chairs so it is hard for 3 person to have a meal together. The bed is a queen size bed so is a better fit for two person . As we are 3 small girls, we fit quite well. The toilet is a bit too dark. Downstairs is a pub, you may hear some voices at night but usually we are too tired to bother and it feel safer when you know is not too quiet.

Staying in an apartment means you have to do the cleaning up.

The location is great, walking to it from train station is around 10 minutes, or just a tram stop away.

There are shops and restaurants and supermarket within walking distance, less than 5 minutes.

The owner was super nice, I was allowed to check in early as the person who stayed left early and as there is no one booking the apartment on the day we are leaving, we were allowed to stay till 4pm so we can spend lot more time exploring switzerland and not running back to hotel to check out.

Normal hotel usually do not allowed late check out. 

There is a washer and dryer too. 

The flat is located on 1st floor which means you have to climb a flight of stairs as first floor means 2nd floor in Singapore terms.

I will definitely stay here again or recommend people to stay here for people who do not want to spend too much on accommodation but too not want a place too old and shabby.

Location is good and we save quite a lot on meals because of the well equipped kitchen.

From the supermarket, just throw into oven and yummy..

Singapore : Female magazine The collection Edition NArs GWp

Bought the female anniversary set for $18 from Kinokuniya

Comes in a very big box. 

It is a good box to recycle and store stuff as it is hard and pretty.

 Two pouches. Pretty and chic. Black with red zip or red with black zips

roomy

Zips are big so should be quite easy to use

 My free gifts from NArs was a Lipstick. Was hoping for something else as I seldom use lipstick. 

Singapore Eats : Jewel Cafe and BAr at RAngoon road

The interiors.

The place is not crowded even on a Friday night.

Was expecting it to be crowded due to it being featured on newsapaper just a few days ago.

It is simple but good looking place.

 Southern Fried Chicken, add $2 to upgrade fries to Truffle fries.

Chilli Crab Pasta.

Southern fried chicken was not bad but not understanding.

I don't seems to understand Truffle so I shall not comment.

I love the chilli crab pasta, it is a must try.

I like the chunky crab bits, the chilli gravy and the cute little fried mantou. A must try.

Ordered a tiramisu for desserts. 

Was good but not understanding.

The menu

129 RAngoon Road

Directions: take to Farrer Park Station and take escalator to city square, but do not exit to city square, take opposite exit. Cross the road diagonal and walk downwards for around 5 minutes)

Singapore EATs : Medzs

Tried out the Medzs Value Lunch yesterday.

The price for a meal at a restuarant in town, this price is considered quite decent to me.

The concept is like a mache, you have to walk to each counter to order food and all the information will be stored in a little card.

SEt A:MAin course with a drink is $8.90. 

SEt B: MAin Course with a drink and salad/rosti/dessert is $10.90.

Set C : Main course with drink and dessert and salad/rosti is $12.90.

Main course selection change from day to day, you have to walk to each counter and look at the black board stating the main course for the value lunch for that day, there was around 5-8 selections

Rosti is plain rosti with sour cream and cheese.

Dessert is various from day to day, there is 2 desserts to choose from.

I ordered a Set A and a Set C and share the rosti and dessert with my sister.

The main attaction of the restaurant, beautiful lamps.

Servings are not that big but will do for girls..

We had pasta with ham and mushrooms and boneless chicken for the main course.

A rosti.

And chocolate moose for desserts

and ice lemon teas.

The main course was quite delicious, serving size is average.

The rosti is a bit weird as there is this big piece of cheese on top of it and also it is a bit oily.

The chocolate moose is good but not fantastic.

Will be good if you want not to expensive lunch at a decent place with decent food when you are the city.

BRanches: 

Orchard Central B2 

Contact: 62389028

Millenia Walk L1

Contact 63377507

Singapore Eats : Pietro Ristorante Italiano

Went to this restaurant to celebrate my sister's birthday and also because it is located near my place.

Not a need to travel.

First impression was ok, the place is simply done.

The place was quite packed. 

Hence, it was a bit noisy so if you are hoping for a romantic dinner, this is not the place.

If you are planning a gathering with friends or families, this is the place.

Complimentary bread.

We ordered two main dishes: Risotto alla Pescatora and Rivioli.

The servings was a bit small, so intent was for us to order appetizer?

It was not bad but not fantastic. Sister was disappointged because the Rivioli was supposed to have scallops, but we only taste fish.

Ordered Pizza Margherita as we were still hungry.

This is good, I like the thin and fragrant crust, toppled with cheese. It is simple but delicious.

My favourite dish of the day.

Tortino di Lava con Rum

Chocolate lava cake with rum and vanilla icecream.

It is good.

They have one for one promotion during lunch for certain dishes.

More worth to go during lunch.

Address

12 Jalan Kelulut 

Phone

64845528 

Hours

Daily: 11:30 - 14:30

Daily: 18:00 - 23:00