Saturday, December 1, 2012

Samcheong-dong, Seoul

Have you been to Samcheong-dong in Seoul? If you have not, you must drop by. Samcheong-dong is one of the most beautiful and interesting streets in Seoul. It is very relaxing to spend an afternoon here. Samcheong-dong is so unlike the rest of Seoul. It has a good mix of restaurants, shops and galleries. There is always something interesting to browse and snack on (waffles seem to be very popular). It is also the street that leads to the Bukchon Hanok Village.

Sharing some photos that I took ....

I Love Wall Art!


Interesting Store Front ...

This shop sells everything rooster!

Cute little fire hydrant

Till my next blog post, you must drop by Samcheong-dong! =)

Friday, November 23, 2012

Nami Island, Seoul

Let's play the 20-word game .. what comes to your mind when I say 'Coke'? Red, caffeine, diet, McDonalds, glass bottle, cherry, sugar, happy, energizing, addiction, cool.

What comes to your mind when I say 'Nami Island'? Beautiful, tall trees, photos, romance, winter sonata, half-moon, peaceful, culture, smiles, couples, relaxing.

That is what I have always thought of Nami Island and I have heard so much about from people around me that I figured I have to go and see it for myself. So, on the second last day of my recent Seoul trip, my family and I made a special trip there.

I love the fall colors! They are so beautiful!



Lovely couple! My best wishes to you!
Other than the fall colors, I am so disappointed with the island. The place is way over-rated. It is so crowded with people that I cannot even think straight! Many places are unkempt, there are weeds and dried leaves everywhere, the food is overpriced and fixtures are highly vandalized. 

We did not catch the shuttle bus from Tapgol Park and took the subway, taxi and ferry to the island. It took us about 2 hours to get there and another 2 to 3 hours to get back. On the way back, the taxi / bus queue from the ferry terminal to the subway station was so, so long. All-in-all, it is not worth the trip and the time. But, at least, now I know what Nami Island is all about.


People everywhere. How to take nice pictures?


Dried leaves everywhere, unkempt weeds and plants. So messy!
Let's repeat the 20-word game .. What comes to your mind when I say 'Nami Island'? Messy, overcrowded ferry, far away, unkempt, tall trees, noisy, photos, local people, tourists, tour buses, headache. 

Till my next blog post, don't believe everything you hear! =)

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Made it to the top of Achasan but where is Yongmasan?

Inspired by last year's hike at the Bukhansan National Park, my family and I went for another hike when we visited Seoul in October. And this time, we decided not to overwork ourselves and opted for a much easier hike. 

Pile of stones at the top of Achasan
Our plan was to conquer 2 easy peaks .. the Achasan and the Yongmasan. We reached the top of Achasan but totally missed Yongmasan. The signboards are mostly in Korean and I guess we followed the wrong ones. We descended to somewhere near the Sagajeong subway station. I am somewhat disappointed that we missed Yongmasan .. I am hoping to check out the wall art near the Yongmasan subway station. Another excuse to visit Seoul next year. =)

The hike was good and we enjoyed ourselves. We did better this year. We went with 2 bottles of water and 2 packets of chips (vs one of each last year). But we still wore our city clothes and shoes and not hiking clothes like the Koreans. =)


The top of Achasan is quite sad-looking. Why do they have to chop off the trees?
This looks like a helicopter pad. Spotted somewhere near to the top of Achasan.

Some interesting sights along the hiking trail ..........


Shopping!! =) She sells gloves, scarfs and other hiking necessities. 


Energizers: Eggs, drinks, instead noodles, biscuits, etc for sale.

Exercise equipment for you to work out other parts of your body.

Well-defined steps and more exercise equipment

Non-slip features at the steps .. good for the elderly and clumsy people like me.
Till my next blog post, go hiking! =)



Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Art or disrespect?

Spotted at Samcheongdong, Seoul ....


Till my next blog post, attend an art show! =)

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Samgyetang in Seoul: Tosokchon vs Korea Samgkyetang

I have been neglecting this blog and I feel bad. Work in the past few months is like madness. I was fortunate to be able to take a week off and spend it in Seoul with my family. We love Seoul in fall. The weather and colors are beautiful!


When on holiday, food is very important to me. I searched the internet and read many blogs on the best ginseng chicken or samgyetang in Seoul. 2 names kept popping out and it became my mission to try both. Tosokchon is frequently recommended by many people. Korea Samgkyetang (or Goryeo to some people) is not as popular.

Samgyetang in Seoul: Tosokchon vs Korea Samgkyetang: Signboards

Walk-in (locals and foreigners) guests at Korea Samgkyetang go into the restaurant on the ground floor and get to sit on chairs. I think the floors above the ground floor are for tour groups. Guests at Tosokchon have to remove their shoes and sit on the floor. The way they show you to your seats and the service they provide at Tosokchon makes me feel that the place is more like a factory than a restaurant.

We ordered the same thing at both places (to ensure that we have a fair test =)) .... the samgyetang and the chicken.

Samgyetang in Seoul: Tosokchon vs Korea Samgkyetang: Their main dish - Ginseng Chicken

For the samgyetang, I prefer the one from Korea Samgyetang. We ordered the one with the wild ginseng in it (Won20,000). It comes piping hot (see the bubbling in the left picture above). It has ginseng shreds on top and the soup has a stronger ginseng taste. The side dishes include a bowl cold glutinous rice which helps to provide a balance to the piping hot soup and fill my stomach. The ginseng chicken from Tosokchon (Won15,000) is not piping hot (see the right picture above, it looks 'flat'), has sunflower seeds on top and I have to add the ginseng wine to the soup to get the ginseng kick. It is a bit of a let-down after the raving reviews that I have read online.

Samgyetang in Seoul: Tosokchon vs Korea Samgkyetang: Roasted Chicken

Both places also serve chicken which is great for kids who do not take samgyetang. The roasted chicken at Tosokchon (Won15,000) has some ginseng marinade in it and my son did not like it. I cannot get used to it too. The rotisserie chicken from Korea Samgyetang is crispy, the meat is tender and when dipped into salt and pepper, it is delicious. 

Samgyetang in Seoul: Tosokchon vs Korea Samgkyetang: Price list

Prices at both places are about the same. Tosokchon is not worth the trouble of removing your shoes and sitting on the floor for their samgyetang and chicken. Thank goodness that we did not have to queue to get, otherwise, it would be a waste of our time.

This is just my opinion. If you go to Seoul, try both places and let me know what you think. =)

Till my next blog post, have some tonic soup! =)

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Stress and energy

More stress at work this week but somehow, I feel alive! =)


Till my next blog post, breathe! =)


Sunday, September 9, 2012

Standing out at Point of Sale

It has been crazy at work! I am so glad the weekend is here and I can spend some quality time with my family. We went shopping for beer and snacks last night and I saw this at the Tops supermarket.

I have seen this idea being mentioned at numerous ideation sessions but this is the first time that I have seen it in execution. I now know where the premium UHT milk at placed at the store. Not that I take UHT milk .. My family is a fresh milk family. =) 

Can they do this to organic cereal? Sometimes these things get quite lost at the shelf.

Love the 'blue light', makes the UHT milk looks so hi-tech.
Not sure which brand did this .. Dumex? Mead Johnson? 
Till my next blog post, have some milk! =)

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Skyline Luge at Sentosa, Singapore

Another post on Sentosa. Like I have mentioned before, there is more to Sentosa other than Universal Studio and the casino.

There is also the Port of Lost Wonder and the Skyline Luge. My family and I have been to the Skyline Luge twice before and it is good fun. First you take the 'Skyride' up the slope to the top and then your take the 'Luge' down. There are 2 Luge trails - the Jungle trail (aka the easier one) and the Dragon trail (aka the slightly longer and more challenging one).

Kids who are too young and cannot control the Luge on their own will have to ride with an adult. The staff will check if your children can manage the luge, if they cannot, then they will not let them ride the luge by themselves. Wearing a safety helmet is a must. Safety first!

The Skyride. Look back on the way up and enjoy the good view. Leave your crocs and slippers at home, they may fall off during the ride. =)
The Luge - good fun for the kids!

Till my next blog post, go luge! =)

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Marketing Drinks

On my recent trip to Singapore, I spent a bit of time at the drinks section at a supermarket, trying to decide what new drinks to buy when I saw some interesting marketing for drinks.


Straight red tea ... so this can make gay people straight?


Cloudy Apple. I don't understand this ... I know this is supposed to be better than 'clear apple' but if I want all that 'bits' in there, I will go eat a real apple instead. 


Charlie is really honest. No concentrate, no added sugar, no preservations in his smoothies. Just berries, acai and more fruit.


Don't get dirty-minded .. Naked means 'all natural'. Though I'm not sure what 'boosted' means here. If it is 'boosted', it is still naked?

Till my next blog post, remember .. an real apple a day keeps the doctor away! =)

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Port of Lost Wonder at Sentosa, Singapore

It was Singapore's 47th birthday last week and since school was off on the 9th and 10th of August, I decided to bring my son back to Singapore so that he can spend some bonding time with his 3 cousins. I have only one son and it is important for him to spend time and bond with his cousins .. they will, afterall, be his family when my husband and I are gone. I should have heeded LKY's advice of having more kids but ... never mind, that's another long story altogether and I wouldn't bore you now.


We did the usual stuff like shopping, watching movies, eating, swimming, etc in Singapore. We also went to Sentosa.

There is more to Sentosa other than Universal Studio and the casino. There is a new water play park called 'Port of Lost Wonder' at the Palawan beach and my son and niece spent a morning there.

The park is really small. It is essentially just one 'pirate ship' with 3 mini-slides and a lot of water splashing around. Nevertheless, the kids had a great time. They went on the slides for like a million times and sprayed each other numerous times with the water hoses and water guns. Kids are so amazing, they are very simple people ... it takes so little for them to have tons of fun.

I would recommend this place for young kids below 6. The area is small and parents can sit under the shade and still keep an eye on their kids. =) Lots of families brought their own picnic mats and lazed around on the lawn.

As usual, some form of price discrimination is practised at this place. Weekend entry is S$15 a child. During the weekdays, it is S$8. Adults can enter free if they have a child with them. No time limit imposed. But after 2 to 3 hours, the kids will be super-tired.

Obviously, it is best go in the morning. We went on a Sunday and arrived there at about 10am. There were not that many people at 10am but by noon, the place was quite packed.

There is a super-big bucket of water that tilts and pours water down every 5 minutes or so. The kids love it .. you can hear their joy from their squeals of delight! =)
This pirate ship is the centerpiece of the whole play park


Till my next blog post, go and make some babies! =)

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

My favorite photo apps

Everyone loves taking photos! I love taking photos too! When my company runs a photo contest for one of our brands, we see record-breaking number of people signing up on the brand's website and Facebook pages to submit their photos. Everyone is obsessed with taking photos and sharing them.

Some people are very meticulous and have multiple photo editing apps on their smartphones to create the perfect photos. They crop the photo, adjust the exposure, saturation, convert it to black and white, sharpen the image, soften the focus, etc to create a masterpiece. For me, I do not have the patience or an artistic eye to do all of these. But I do really want my photos to tell a story or share a moment with my loved ones. So, my favorite photo apps are not the editing ones but those that let me add in my thoughts and share that 'kodak' moment with my family and friends.



As of today, my top favorite photo app is Red Stamp. This app allows you to personalize your photos into fabulous-looking postcards and share them with your friends via email, Facebook, etc. The templates are very modern-looking and there are lots to choose from (range from just saying hello to your best friend to thank-you notes for the cupcake your colleague gave you for breakfast to announcing engagements and new home address). The app is free but some templates cost money to download.


Red Stamp - beautiful templates for personalizing your photos!


My second favorite photo app is WordFoto. It brings your photos to the next level by giving you the option to integrate your own words into the pictures. I have to play around with it for a while to learn what kind of photos works best so that the words will be of a decent font size for reading. You have to use close-up pictures. You can choose from different preset styles or customize your own. Costs US$1.99 from the App Store.

WordFoto - power of photos and words together!
My niece drew the hearts and I added in 'love of my life'. I showed it to her and she gave me her most beautiful smile. =)


Before Red Stamp came along, I Labelbox a lot. I still use it now. I add thoughts to my photos and also label them with details of when and where they are taken but the output are just not as pretty as Red Stamp. A big plus of this app is it is very easy to use. The app is free but you have to pay for some of the nicer-looking labels. I am a cheap-skate at heart and have not bought any of the labels that cost money. =)

Labelbox - extremely easy to use


Last but not least, this Lego Photo app is for entertainment purposes for me. I enjoy uploading a photo and just trust Lego to transform it to a 'mosaic photo' in various colors. One of these days, when I am really free and have nothing to do, I will order some Lego pieces and make a photo mosaic of my own face. =)
It is free entertainment for myself and little kids to enjoy.

Lego Photo - free entertainment

Till my next blog post, have fun with your photos! =)

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...