SEoul Free and EAsy : Gwangjang market ( BEWARE! SCAM? HYGIENE? )

I have not been to Gwangjang Market for many years as it is touristy and crowded market. Recently,  I  accompany a friend who is in Korea for the first time and wants to visit more popular spots so we went there. There are Korean traditional food, also Kimchi, food and snacks to buy. It seems like a good place for sometimes who wants to eat Korean traditional food at a convenient location.

We ate at 2 different stalls. The first stall was fine and the food was not bad. The second hand was expensive and the hygiene of the food was not really not a turn off.

  The second stall, we order a japchae and 2 oden soup. The price should be something around 5000won but we were charge 14 000 won. Oden usually a stick is around 500 to 1000 won. The Japchae should be around 3000 won. Even the Koreans sitting beside us were shocked at the price that they have to pay. The Japchae was really bland. I saw the stall owner stretch out her hand to attract customers and she rested her armpit on the big basin of japchae. We also saw them throwing all the food away except the Kimbap, which nicely back in a plastic bag. MAybe they are going to the food. We have no idea.. If you are going there, ask the price first. The shop is right in the middle. Do take note if you visiting here.

the second stall

We ate bimbap and tempura at the first stall. The tempura was freshly fried so it taste quite good.

More photos

More photos of Gwangjang Market

Korea SEoul free and easy : The Grand Hotel Myeongdong

I have stayed at Hongdae, Myeongdong, Dongdaemun for my Seoul Trip.

I still prefer staying at Myeongdong compare to other two places.

There is so many brands, it is easy to get shopping done here if you are buying facial and beauty products. The shops here have English and Chinese staff ( although they may be more pushy at times.), who can provide you with information of the things you are buying.

Location wise: It is on subway line 4 , 2 train stops from Seoul STation and Dongdaemun. It is walking distance from Namdaemun. It is 5-10 minutes walk away from Euljiro-1-ga which means there is a direct train to Hongdae and Ehwa. The location is quite centralised for me to travel around Seoul. There is a direct bus from Myeongdong to the airport. The negative thing about living around Myeongdong is that it is always crowded, the food is expensive and the most decent supermarket nearby is at Seoul Station.

I used to stay at another hotel at Myeongdong till I discover this hotel. The hotel is at quieter part of Myeongdong which is better. It is quite close to the bus stop for the airport bus to the airport and it is a relatively new hotel.

There is a table and free good quality wifi

This room is the deluxe twin, there is more space. Ample space for 2 big luggages.

This is the standard room. The room is smaller and a bit cramp after 2 big luggage are opened

There is a bidet and a bathtub. The water pressure and temperature is quite good.

KOrea Busan Free and Easy : Accomodation Hotel Foret Premier Nampo

I stayed in Hotel Foret Premier Nampo during my last trip to Busan. 

The first reason I choose this hotel is because it is relatively new, means everything is new. I went in 2017. This is because Some hotels does not look that good in real life compared to photos as the photos were taken years ago when the hotel just opened.

Location wise is good to. It is not right at the station but it is just beside exit 5 of Jagalchi Station. It is walking distance from Jagalchi fish market, BIFF and also Nampo Market . However, it is quite far from Haeundae beach. If you want to stay by the beach, this place is not for you, It is a 3 stops away from Busan Korail.

 The hotel looks new. There are beverages and water provided at the lobby. There is also massage chairs too. There are covers for feet for people using the massage chairs for hygiene reasons.

The room looks chic, simple, new and also comfortable.

We like the wardrobe a lot as it is not the traditional wooden cupboard but just a metal rack.

The bed is comfortable. 

When we travel, clothes tend to stink more than usual due to how much we walk and sweat, having this allow us to air our clothes. There is a small table available and a flat screen tv.

The toilets looks new and sufficient. There is ample space for your toiletries. There is no bathe tub in the room.

 There is a place outside the lobby for people to chill, relax and maybe have a beer or two.

Japan Tokyo Free and Easy: Autumn Leaves

This is a blog post with photos of 2016.
I realise a lot of things can changed in few years as when I went back to Osaka, it was not like the Osaka I remember. The autumn leaves and the yellow gingko leaves create a spectacular view. This post is for places that are in Tokyo and quite accessible. The autumn leaves in Osaka and Kyoto are more beautiful as it was the right timing and the colours were more vibrant. However, if you have no time to travel out, you can enjoy at these places to

Directions

Do check the information again before going to the place.
Use your google maps to check on directions.
HOw to use the GPS
I recently chat with a friend who says she is constantly lost when she is Japan. Please change to walking mode and press start. Make sure u are heading the direction as instructed, turn around to make sure your arrow is facing the direction you want to walk to and check once every few minutes to make sure the walking time is decreasing and you are on the right way. If they suggest an exit, please use that exit. I did spend another 10 minutes on walking because I exit by the wrong exit.

Accomodation

Tokyu Stay Shinjuku. This hotel has good location. It is great for people who wants something like an airbnb and hotel combined. Although it has no stove, it has a microwave and washing machine. 

MOre information on Tokyo Stay Shinjuku

Places to enjoy Autumn leaves

Ueno Park

The autumn leaves are not that outstanding. Maybe it is better for cherry blossoms or I went too late.

There is a lot of things to do at Ueno so it is worth it to drop by.

There is a Zoo, shrines and Ameyoko market. You can spend half a day or a full day.

More on Ameyoko MArket AND Ueno Park

Meiji Shrine

We took a bus so we stop at the back part of Meiji Shrine. There were tall yellow and green trees along the road that create such a picturesque photos There were very few people so we had lot of fun taking photos. There was a farming festival and also some chrysanthemums event when we were there. It makes the whole place more interesting than I previously visited.

event in 2019. More on Meiji Shrine

Shinjuku Park 

There is an entrance fee for this place. However, I think is worth it as the autumn leaves are pretty with a nice mixture of other flora and fauna.  More on Shinjuku Park Kouen

.

Ruikugien Garden

There is an entrance fee for this place.  

The place is different from the parks and gardens I have visited in Tokyo and Kyoto. You can enjoy the autumn leaves at a total different settings. More on Ruikugien GArden Night Illumination

Japan free and easy : Rikugien garden Autumn leaves

Ruikugien GArden Illumiation

The nearest station to Rikugien Garden is Komagome Station of the JR Yamanote Line or the Tokyo Metro Namboku Line. The ticket cost is 300 yen.

The garden is also open in the morning. Some part of the parks are close for the illumiation.

This is one of the most famous for the night illumiation in Tokyo.

There is a queue outside. We took around 20 minutes to get into a compound.

There is a fixed route going in one direction. You can stop at your own pace to take photos and continue the tour by following the tour. It will take less than one hour if you just stroll to enjoy the scenery.  I recommend this as it is different from the autumn leaves I have seen and it is beautiful. This is not a place for group photos as there are too many people. 

I will not recommend this for kids that are very young or elderly with weak legs.There are very little places to rest.

As it is a one way tour, so you can't turn back if they are tired.

As I visited this in 2016, the photos may not be accurate.

The illumination starts from Sundown to 9pm but last entry is 930pm.

This is from November 17 to 9 December 2019