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Renting a Car in Jeju Island - Experience with KT Kumho @ Korea

October 29, 2014, 8:46 am
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Even though i had a car accident in Jeju Island, i would still strongly recommend visitors to plan their own itinerary and self-drive if they have the opportunity to do so! 

The island might not be big but it can still take hours to travel from one end to another and taking public transportation is just going to shorten the time you can spend on the attractions. Furthermore, the rates to rent a car were pretty reasonable; book in advance and you can even be given a hefty discount.


Step 1 - Preparation

First and foremost, however, is to secure an "international driving permit" back in your home country! For those with a Singapore license (which is recognised internationally), it is a requirement in Korea to get the permit! Get yours (S$25, valid for a year) from Automobile Association of Singapore! 

Check out the details here.

Once you have gotten the permit, the next thing to do is to visit the car rental website to make your reservation! 

Most Singaporeans seem to go with KT Kumho and reviews were generally positive (my friend actually recommended it)! Register as a member for member discount before you select the rental dates / time, choose the car brand / model and most importantly, tick the option for "zero excess" under "car damage waiver".

Without the "zero access", i believe i would be liable for a huge damage claim as a result of the accident! As driving in Korea is on the left side (while Singapore is on the right), the ₩26,000 (around S$32) is a small price to pay in event of any unforeseen circumstances. 

Once you are done, print a copy of the reservation, keep it together with your Singapore driving license and international driving permit, and bring it to the airport! Note: your Singapore driving license must be taken along! 


Step 2 - Arrival

Upon exiting the departure gate of Jeju International Airport, walk to gate 2 where there would be a row of car rental booths! Check in using your reservation printout and the lady would inform you to proceed to the rental car shuttle bus stop upon verifying your details. 

It didn't take us long to find the bus stop which was about one to two hundred meters away. Please DO NOT board any shuttle bus that stops there! Make sure they belong to the car rental company you have registered for! 

Darn shuttle bus has such a large television screen!! Don't be worried about your numerous luggages; like a normal tour coach, there was a compartment precisely for their placement. 


Step 3 - Collection

After a short ride of fifteen minutes, we arrived at KT Kumho Jeju Auto House! 

Enter through the main entrance and you may approach any of the counter staff to complete your registration! Unless you are proficient in Korean, do inform them at this point you need an English GPS.

For those who need clean washrooms, the ones in the auto house should meet your expectation. Put it this way, i was extremely pleased to find an electronic bidet with an option to dry my ass!!! 

To name this as a cafeteria is a bit pushing the definition of what it really is; nevertheless, you can still get some hot / cold water to soothe your parched throat. 

Next to the "cafeteria" was a counter where you can rent a WIFI router (known as an egg)! Although there were free WIFI in many places, i would suggest renting one for convenience. 

Exit from the back entrance to collect your car! As some of you might have noted, cheapo me opted for the cheapest Hyundai Morning since there were only three of us! Have money to splurge? Go for the top range that cost ₩140,000 a day! 

Whatever the case, i am really happy with my selection as it's my dream to drive a hatchback! Parking would definitely be a breeze, even for parallel! 

Only complaint? The boot was so bloody tiny; it could not hold our luggage!!! To think we only brought along one piece yet we could not even squeeze it into the car boot! 

Do check the car thoroughly to ensure that any existing damage is indicated in the sheet as above. Keep in mind the contact number of the check-in, check out office (751-8000) as you would need to input it in GPS to return the car.

Happy Driving! 

Oh, one last thing, the fuel tank would be full when you take over the car; just ensure the tank is filled to the brim when you hand it back to the company. Check the GPS for nearby gas station! 

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For the summary of my inaugural South Korea trip 
(Seoul and Jeju Island), click HERE.
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Pork Belly Satay - An Alternative to Geylang's Kwong Satay @ Changi Village Food Centre

October 31, 2014, 8:30 am
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Nowadays, when people ask me where to get the best pork satay in Singapore, i would undoubtedly reply "Kwong Satay" and add in the following statement: "just go for the pork belly satay"!

The problem with Kwong Satay is its location; situated within the red-light & foodie district of Geylang, parking can be a real pain for the neck of a motorist. 

There's now another option although it is not exactly convenient for those staying in the West; Changi Village Hawker Centre!

It offered pork belly satay too and from a small signboard at the side, i did notice it seems to be affiliated with the famous stall! An order for ten sticks was therefore warranted!

At S$1.20 a stick, this was 20% more expensive than what i paid for back in 2012 at Kwong Satay! The meat this time did appear to be more solid and compact; similar to a normal pork satay yet significantly bigger. 

Taste wise, it continued to feature that caramelised flavour perfectly smoked by charcoal and had surprisingly more lean portions! The latter would be considered as a lesser evil by health enthusiasts although i would have very much preferred a fattier cut for a juicier bite. 

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Location
No 2, Changi Village Road,
Changi Village Block 2, #01-54

Price
Pork Belly Satay - S$1.20 a stick
[Minimum 5 sticks]
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Cafe Sori Dessert & Beverage - Heart of the Market @ Namdaemun Market [Seoul, Korea]

November 1, 2014, 8:37 am
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With a name that sounds like an apology, i should have noticed the similarity and think twice before egging both my sisters to try out this cafe at Namdaemun Market!

Guess i was too fixated on getting to the second level, where the cafe is located, to have a better overview of Korea's biggest traditional market. Taking photographs from the ground level can be so unexciting. 

Setup as above; you may even go up to the third level which has additional seating and an alfresco outdoor area where smokers can indulge in a ciggie or two. 

The view i was looking forward too! Avid photographers would be pleased to know that the windows can be moved to the side where you can have a more expansive, windowless picture of the market. 


Ta-dah! Shall update on the market tomorrow with over fifty photographs so that you would have a better gauge on what to expect even though i fail to cover all the streets! 

I had the red bean latte while my sister ordered the vanilla latte; both tasted alright but i didn't quite understand why my beverage had lesser content! It was like 30% lesser, a very noticeable difference okay! Despite the usage of English in their menu, the service staff couldn't quite understand when i nicely asked about it. Sighz. 

The choco cream waffle i had added to my frustration; at ₩4,300 (over S$5), the chocolate sauce was obviously from a cheapo brand, the Belgian waffle wasn't as warm as i expected and came with a texture that was too mushy! 

I visited Korea with the anticipation that their waffles were much, much better than Singapore and my first one was a great disappointment. 

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Location
Intersection of Main Street and Stationery & Toy Street,
Namdaemun Market, Seoul, Korea

Menu
As above.
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Namdaemun Market (남대문시장) - Korea Largest Traditional Market! @ Seoul [Line 4 - Hoehyeon Station]

November 2, 2014, 6:38 am
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Namdaemun Market, just a stone's throw away from Hotel Manu, was the first 'official' attraction we checked out after a restful sleep! We actually took the long way via Sungnyemun Gate without realising how close it was to our hotel! 

Established since 1414 (you read it right; a history of six hundred years), this market was said to have close to 1,700 shops, serving on average of 400,000 customers a day! Funny i didn't really quite experience the feel of that.

There were a number of designated zones just like Chatuchak Weekend Market but in the case of Namdaemun, it was categorised simply into streets and alleys (map would be included at the end of this post). In the above photograph, we were at the start of the Stationery & Toy Street where an iconic clock tower marked the entrance to the market.

Socks! Whenever i see this, the first person that came to mind was Alex. That bloody ass bought 30 pairs of socks in Taiwan just because it was less than fifty cents a pair! 

Putting the portrait of someone with historical significance on a boxer is so wrong! If it is found in Thailand with a picture of the highly revered Thai King, i can guarantee the seller would be slapped with a charge of Lèse Majesté,

It was mentioned in the official website that the stores open at 10.30 pm and come alive only at around 2.00 am! Sure boh?! Many shops appeared to have opened for business at 10.30 am when we were there and frankly, my age is no longer appropriate for such late night shopping! 

In preparation of Halloween then. For those preparing for Christmas, the pink, angelic wings were already out for sale as well.

Looks like a cross between pyjamas and winter wear - you can get it from about ₩10,000 (around S$12); not that expensive although the weather in Singapore hardly requires us to wear it. 

Fresh figs for sale!!! Fruits in general were not cheap and to quote an example, a typical bunch of bananas cost about ₩3,000 (S$3.50)! Louise was craving for bananas throughout the trip and we compared prices everything we saw anyone selling them.

Food Alley - as the name suggests, the alley was flanked by dining establishments and even though we have not had any breakfast then, the lack of customers in the shops discouraged us from venturing further.

Very adorable kids' wear! As you can see, we came at the wrong season; end of autumn when the citizens are preparing for the cold and harsh winter. 

We could of course purchase the beautiful hanbok for Jerald and Jovyn; decided not to as they would not likely have many chances to wear them and we all know how fast kids grow. 

Ladies can target the many stalls selling bras and panties; note that the colours were quite limited. Don't ask me about the pricing as i seriously didn't ask. 

I was more interested in the bags! Due to a bad experience in Kuala Lumpur, i would however only buy bags from department stores or shops that appeared more legitimate. No point in haggling for an item that would eventually be ripped apart after a week. 

Clothing suitable for my mom.

Coming to the end of the Stationery & Toy Street; despite the label, it wasn't entirely decked out for the sale of stationery and toys. You may judge from the pictures i have uploaded so far in this post.

Do keep in mind that there were buildings with additional levels or even basements where you can unleash your shopping devil for further indulgence. I didn't want to do that as the interior would have heating and it was rather uncomfortable to step in with a coat! 

This scene can be seen in Chong Pang market (Singapore), albeit on a smaller scale, where ahjummas would lay out mats and place fresh fruits / vegetables for sale. 

My tummy was still lacking breakfast and this immediately caught my attention; what's better than a pan fried hot bun to warm the stomach on a cool day?! 

Kimchi bun at ₩1,000; was complaining to my friends that i could hardly find economical street food in Korea. I was wrong on that count as this was about S$1.20. Tasted quite alright but could have been better if served hot. 

Well, in case you are interested in the shop that sold the kimchi bun i had. 

Walking along the Mountain Climbing Equipment Street, this would be the place to check out if you need to hike at Hallasan or any other mountain in Korea during your trip. 

Hungry again and this time, i am getting the street food that the running man cast always seemed to enjoy in the shows; Odeng (오뎅 – fish cakes)! Fishcake wasn't any much different from what we can get in Singapore; key ingredient here was the light broth which is definitely a must order in cold weather! 

Chanced upon the wet market section! 

The sisters were contemplating about the nuts; after some calculation, the additional weight plus minimal price differential didn't quite justify the hassle of bringing them back to Singapore. 

Fancy a fish to bring back to Singapore? Not sure if that can be done although i understand there is a noryangjin fish market in Seoul which allows you to choose the seafood (fresh and alive) and then cook them on the second level. I have only heard since i didn't have any time to pay it a visit. 

Mom might have considered the dry fish if she was with us. I still vividly remember the time she insisted on bringing back a kilo worth of dried fish maw from Bangkok.

Fast forward to four days later and we were once again back in Namdaemun! This time, we reached at around 4.30 pm and the entry point was the end of the Stationery & Toy Street that i touched on a few paragraphs above.

Think this was an alley for accessories; my sisters would usually swarm to such stalls and didn't do it this time as they are likely to swarm the stalls at Zhuhai (China) this December. Put it this way, the ability to bargain in the language you are proficient in would be so much easier and less frustrating! 

Wigs, anyone? The first two thoughts that came to mind when i saw these for sale were the images of Lee Kwang Soo and Kim Jong Kook when they masqueraded as the fairer sex in Running Man!

Unlike Singapore, you can change your money at a makeshift stall like the above. I didn't attempt to change any money in Korea so i can't comment further on the procedures.

I think this was the Children's Clothes Street.

How did he even manage to stack up so high?! I am sad to say that this scene was very common during my trip and i am often worried for the safety of the motorist.

Nice booties for sale! Given our shy nature, we seldom asked for pricing in Korea unless we have a serious need to get the item. Okay lah, truth is we don't know and could not converse well in Korean. 

Caps / hats from about ₩10,000 to ₩13,000. Would you believe me if i tell you i didn't notice the price until now? Hahaha, i was too busy taking photographs! 

We have something like this in Singapore and it is affectionately known as Army Market by men who have gone through national service! For those who are unaware, Korea also practices conscription like us.

Atmosphere in the afternoon was way better than that morning on our first day! The Main Street had a lot of visitors even though it still wasn't as crowded as the famous night markets in Taiwan. 

Taking a random shot of my sisters.

Another shop with many nice winter wear. I personally hate to buy winter wear; for one, i don't need them in Singapore and secondly, they take up a lot of space in my luggage! 

Briefs - i would have bought a few if not for the thick strap with the wordings "Naikente"! What the heck is naikente?!?!?!

Pink frocks for Jovyn! Again, the mummy wasn't keen and i could not blame her. Jovyn isn't a demure kid and such a good piece of clothing would likely end in tatters after a day. 

Trolleys being rolled out to attract the attention of the pedestrians! See the wires on the floor; they are tripping hazards! By the way, can anyone explain those wordings on the floor? 

Whenever friends return from Korea, there would be a few things they would buy back to Singapore as souvenirs for friends / colleagues / family; one of which is Korean seaweed. 

Honestly, i don't know why as Korean seaweed wasn't exceptionally delicious. I would prefer the fried seaweed from Thailand (Tao Kae Noi) anytime!

Taking a breather at Cafe Sori where we have a good view of the streets on ground level. For more details, please click here. 

I regret not doing one thing in Korea; buying prescription glasses! I read somewhere that glasses in Namdaemun are around 30% cheaper than other places in Korea given the stiff competition! :( 

This reminded me of Taiwan with their wide range of braised pork products! There was even a pig's head published on my sister's facebook photo album on this Korea trip.

More street food - another regret; i didn't have had as much food as i wanted to! Didn't try that larvae stuff, didn't even attempt swallowing octopus with their chopped up tentacles still moving! 

Again, mom's kind of stuff. 

Before i end this entry, let me share with you a snack that you die die must try in Korea during winter/ in cold weather. I noticed the above stall seemed quite popular in my first visit and decided to try the pancake the second time i was there.

Damn, i forgot the price! Oh well, it would not be more than 2,000 Korean Won and if i guess it correctly from the location on the map, i think the stall is Dalin Pancake at the junction of Stationery & Toy Street and Food Alley (check out the map at the end of this post)! 

Given to me in a cup, this griddle fried pancake is actually known as Hotteok (호떡) and said to be usually eaten during winter. Note: it has super high sugar content!

It was indeed heavenly; in addition to having a nice crisp similar to my mom's deep fried nian gao, the deliciously sweet filling came with bits of nuts that totally enhanced the texture! Maybe someone should consider importing this to Singapore! 

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In summary, i thought Namdaemun market is like a humongous Chong Pang market with products that could attract local aunties and uncles. Is it a must visit? Why not, especially if you are going to be shopping next door at Myeongdong.

Location
Exit from Line 4 - Hoehyeon Station.

Website

Map
As above. 
Right click and save for a higher resolution. 


For the summary of my inaugural South Korea trip 
(Seoul and Jeju Island), click HERE.
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New Soon Huat Bak Kut Teh (新順發肉骨茶) - The Malaysian Herbal Style @ Jalan Kayu [Singapore]

November 3, 2014, 6:04 am
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Whenever the food enclave "Jalan Kayu" popped out in our conversations, mom would immediately follow up by saying her good friend has tried the bak kut teh there and was really quite impressed by it.

Hint taken, mom! Although she has been going about it for around a year, it was only last Saturday that i finally brought her to New Soon Huat Bak Kut Teh! There wasn't any air-conditioning but just to give you a piece of advice; sit outside where it wasn't as stuffy.

Fresh Mushroom Soup
新鲜蘑菇汤
It was coming to 9.00 pm when we arrived and mom decided to go with this fresh mushroom soup which was presumed to be a healthier version over the savoury bak kut teh; unlike the Westernised creamy version, the broth was clear and tasted strong of natural mushroom flavour. 

Salted Vegetables 
菜尾
The Chinese characters actually translate into "the tail of vegetables" although it would be known simply as salted / preserved  vegetables for many of us. I used to dislike this until i had a really memorable one at Founder Bak Kut Teh. Even though these might not be as crunchy as the ones in Founder, the balanced combination of both saltiness and sweetness appealed to my taste buds. 

Bak Kut Teh (1-person)
肉骨茶 (一人份)
The mind is blurred when the tummy is hungry; i forgot to tell the person to leave the intestines and liver out of my bak kut teh! Never mind, Mom would gladly devour them for me. 

Personally, i didn't quite enjoy the pork ribs which were pretty tough and fatty. Soup wise was comparatively better with a distinctive herbal taste that was somewhat enhanced by a heavy dosage of soy sauce. 

It was not the best herbal bak kut teh i had but it sure was satisfying to drown the spoonful of rice with the soup and had it with a piece of salted vegetable! Sad..... because i had a whole bowl of white rice so late at night...

How to lose weight?!?!?!?! 

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Location
257, Jalan Kayu

Map
As above. Do note that they have a second outlet along Upper Serangoon Road (3-minute walk from Kovan MRT Station). 

Opening Hours
10.00 am to 10.00 pm (Daily)

Menu
As above.

Price
Fresh Mushroom Soup - S$6.00
Salted Vegetables - S$1.80
Bak Kut Teh (1-person) - S$6.00
Plain Rice - S$0.80 a bowl
[No GST and No Service Charge]
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Yongduam (Dragon Head Rock) 용두암 - Fate of the Dragon Thief @ Jeju Island [Korea]

November 4, 2014, 7:26 am
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Yongduam Rock, listed as a "must-visit" on almost all the travel guides i read on the island, was our first destination in Jeju after collecting the rented car from KT Kumho.  

The busloads of tourists went in from the supposedly main entrance, took million of pictures at the namesake as shown in my first photo for this post, and then left. That's the reason why most people returned home disappointed as it was simply just a jagged rock from that angle! 

See this pathway partially blocked by the icon of Jeju; not my young sister but the dol hareubang (grandfather stone statue)? 

Follow the path and in a short while, you would come to another staircase. 

This is when you would be rewarded by a splendid view of the Yongduam rock and from this angle, you would also truly appreciate the origin for the name Dragon Head Rock. 

Notice the similarity?! At 10 meters above the sea and 30 meters in length, legend has it that a dragon from a nearby dragon king's palace had a burning desire to ascend to heaven and hence decided to steal a sacred jade stone from Halla Mountain. It was turned to stone after the guardian of the mountain found out about the thievery and struck it with a magical arrow. 

Legend aside, Mr Kon had notified me before the trip that in an episode of "we got married", he noticed a place very near to Yongduam, by the seaside, that served fresh seafood and suggested we checked it out! I found the place!

Given it was coming to 6pm, the ahjummas were in fact already packing up to go home! Sad..... For those who are planning to make a trip to Jeju, hopefully you would be luckier than us. 

The strong waves were pounding relentlessly on the rocks and i wonder how many people would actually attempt to swim in the water! Weak swimmers like me would likely drown in no time.

We were obviously not keen to be wet. Jeju Island is famous for three "abundances" and one of them is wind which we were looking forward to.  The "wind" unfortunately only appeared on our first night and was conspicuously missing in the next few days. 

Another view (of the sunset) with a routine photograph of the excited sisters! 

Most of the tourists were concentrated on the platform right above the dragon head and i didn't see many of them making their way to where i stood. 

This would be the best spot to take photographs of the rock! Again, i have to blame it on the tight schedule for many tour packages; you often see something yet don't really see it in its entirety due to a lack of time. 

Since Jeju International Airport is pretty close to Yongduam, you can also see many aeroplanes preparing to make a descent. 

The pathway i took has a few shops where you can purchase souvenirs, get a drink and even eat some grilled squid. We didn't as we were looking forward to our black pork street (likely would be covered in my next post).

Jeju oranges, in my opinion, should be another "abundance" of Jeju. You can see them for sale almost everywhere you go and mandarin orange orchards can be found even in private estates! 

This is the alternate entrance / exit which would guarantee a better view than the "main" entrance. To get here, just note that it would be at the other end of the carpark (to your left) once you enter. 

For self-drive individuals, you can input (728-3918) as the contact number of the attraction and note that the parking fee was a mere ₩250 in the twenty to thirty minutes i parked there. 

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Location
Yongduam, Yongdam 1-dong, Jeju-si


For the summary of my inaugural South Korea trip 
(Seoul and Jeju Island), click HERE
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Fried Oyster @ No 21. East Coast Lagoon Food Village [Singapore]

November 5, 2014, 7:11 am
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The local hawker food culture never fails to amaze me and if you have trawled through all the food postings i have in Singapore, it might surprise you to know that i have yet to cover all the hawker centres we have in Singapore! 

All 107 of them, of which East Coast Lagoon Food Village is a member! I have dined at this food centre once before but it was early morning when most stalls were not operational (the centre serves mainly the dinner crowd). 


This time round, i made it a point to visit slightly later at 2.00 pm. Half of the stalls remained close although it was much better than my first visit. Since i have been craving for fried oyster, i took my bet with no 21 as it seemed to have more business over its competitor.


The size of the oysters would have pleased many who have been complaining about the pathetic size found in many stalls but the first thought that came to mind as i took a bite of the fried egg infused with the natural flavour of oysters was "salty". It would also benefit from a crispier texture (this was more a personal preference)! 

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Location
1220, East Coast Parkway,
East Coast Lagoon Food Village. #21

Map
As above

Price
Fried Oyster - S$4.00 

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Hwaro Hyang Restaurant @ Black Pork (Heuk-Dwaeji) Street [Jeju Island]

November 7, 2014, 7:30 am
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Search for delicacies in Jeju Island and you would likely get a hit on black pork which came from a special breed of pig (said to be small, and.. black) found exclusively in South Korea's largest island.

Put it this way, the pork was famous enough to even have a street named after it! Known simply as black pork street, it took us a while to find our bearing as i parked the car much further than i expected!

With over eight dining establishments in close proximity serving black pork, it might be hard to decide the one to patronise. My research (much of it was weighed heavily on a friend's recommendation) brought me to Hwaro Hyang as above.


Thankfully, the menu came with English and even Chinese translation and this made ordering so much easier. Furthermore, a limited offering would mean a shorter time for use to decide what we want to have for our first meal at Jeju! 


Compared to the rest of the restaurants along the same street, Hwaro Hyang appeared to be more popular. It may not seem much at this point but there was literally no available seating thirty minutes later.

Our side dishes! Although i didn't attempt a lot of barbecue in Korea, it was kind of a surprise that the ones i tried so far didn't really serve as many side dishes as Ju Shin Jung in Singapore.

Having said that, the vegetables in the side dishes (save for kimchi which required preservation) were so fresh; i believe they could have been plucked right from the plantation that very morning! 

First time having the pretty mint leaves as a base for my grilled gogi! I have seen the cast of Running Man / Family Outing marvelling about its taste and was extremely curious about it.

I guess the same goes for the both of them, especially when it would also be the first Korean barbecue for all three of us! p.s. we filled ourselves so much with BBQ meat; we didn't have any craving for the rest of our trip. 

To be honest, we didn't order a lot - two servings of 200 grams grilled black pork belly and an additional 200 grams of grilled black pork neck meat.

In case you are wondering on the portion, half of the neck meat was left on the plate given the limited space on the grille. 

Marination was practically non-existent for the meat and this, to me, was a major setback. Contrary to popular belief, I have always believed i am not blessed with sensitive taste buds able to discern subtle differences (unless the meat is rotting).

Hence, i didn't find the grilled black pork belly to be that fascinating! Although they were good (fattening, juicy etc), they not very much different from what i have in Singapore. Oh, there was indeed a marked difference with the thickness! 

Interestingly, the black pork neck was thought to be better tasting; maybe it was due to the lack of fats which, i guess, affects the concentration of natural essence within the meat. 

Mint leaf, as a wrap, tasted kind of weird and this didn't come from just me. Both sisters felt the same way and even though it was said to be pricier, we left quite a number of mint leaves untouched.

I bet the lady boss must be thinking we were crazy as we asked for another basket of vegetables, specifically the fresh and crunchy lettuce! 

Really! The barbecued meat gelled much better with the lettuce rather than the mint leaves! 

While we were halfway through the meat, we were served with two stone bowls; one of which was hot crab stew! I kid you not; it was terribly delicious with an intensive flavour guaranteed to warm your heart in the cool, windy Jeju weather. 

The three of us were equally pleased with the steaming steamed egg; simple yet satisfying! Before i end this post, i read on wikipedia (you may take it with a pinch of salt), that Jeju black pigs used to be kept to clear human waste but modern farming since 1960s was blamed for an "adverse change in taste". 

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Location
Near Jeju Domestic Ferry Terminal
[For those who self drive, key in 724-4050 in the GPS]

Map
As above

Menu and Pricing
As above

Additional Information
For those interested to rent a car in Jeju, check out my post here. 


For the summary of my inaugural South Korea trip 
(Seoul and Jeju Island), click HERE.

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Brief Walk at Dongmun Market Place (東門在來市場) @ Jeju Island [Korea]

November 7, 2014, 10:51 pm
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Following an extremely filling meal at Hwaro Hyang, we decided to cut through Dongmun Market Place even though we had a time limit (10 pm) to check in to the guesthouse booked for our Jeju stay and it was on the other side of the island! 

Touted as a traditional market with origins since the end of world war 2, we got there quite late at around 7.30 pm (operating hours are from 7 am till 8 pm). The crowd was thin and there appeared to be more foreigners than locals. 

Gamgyul - another delicacy of Jeju Island that was, in my opinion, a cross between an orange and a tangerine. There were so many stalls selling them; i thought Dongmun market should be renamed to gamgyul market! 

Friends who have been to Jeju frequently brought back Jeju orange related products (like chocolates with gamgyul filling); i have never really like such stuff but since we were physically there, it's a shame if we never try the 'real' thing! 

With so many stalls to pick from, we eventually chose the one featured in the photograph before because of this elegant feline which has naught a care for the happenings surrounding it. 

To earn our business, sampling is a must!!! 

Especially when a kilo had a price tag of ₩6,000 (around S$7) and could go way higher for better species! Cheaper alternatives were available although we decided to go with this range due to the samples freely dispensed to us by the affable business owner. 

As this route was a shortcut for us to reach the area where we parked the rented car, we didn't manage to check out the entire market.  

Shopping for non-perishables was limited and i guess shopaholics might have a better time checking out the nearby Jungang underground market (which we didn't have time for).

Ribbonfish for sale - a lot of what i know from Korea are from popular variety shows like Running Man and Family Outing. Remember seeing this in an episode of Family Outing. 

Raw fish might be hard for us to bring back to Singapore; fret not, you can consider the dried version! We didn't have much fish in Korea since my younger sister has never been a fan of it. 

I guess the generation of whom you are with when travelling determines the shopping style. If i am with my mom, an experienced ahjumma, she would likely spend more than fifteen minutes going through traditional wares. With my sisters, it was at most a 2-second glance. 

Food stalls!!! The one thing i dislike about travelling is the incessant need to get as much food as i could into my tummy and i could not afford to increase my waistline anymore! Argh!! The frustration! :(

Luckily, there were a lot of things i don't fancy having; like blood sausages, braised pork knuckles and pig's head!!! This would likely be a cultural shock for ang mohs! 

Black shelled eggs?! Now, that's interesting! We tried checking with the shop owner if we have to cook the eggs but she gave us a puzzling look followed by an intelligible train of Korean words. 

Guess it's easier to stick with buying oranges. 

=====

Location
Check out the address here. It is along the main dongmun-ro and is hard to miss this place if you are travelling to the black pork street!

Additional Information 
For those interested to rent a car in Jeju, check out my post here. 


For the summary of my inaugural South Korea trip 
(Seoul and Jeju Island), click HERE.
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The Finest Tea Shop Cafe - Halal Chocolate Rainbow Cake & Brownie @ Changi Village [Singapore]

November 8, 2014, 7:54 am
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After indulging in chicken chop horfun, seafood omelette, pork belly satay and cendol at Changi Village, we were on our way back to the carpark when i caught sight of this little cafe that i have never knew existed. 

My initial objective was to plan for another date / time to check it out but something colourful in the display right next to the counter stopped me in my track!

Rainbow cake!!! As i was patting my bloated, satisfied tummy, i thought it would not harm to squeeze in a slice of rainbow cake that would be shared by three persons! The one with cream cheese frosting was reserved so we had to make do with the chocolate version.

I could not help thinking at the same time if i should also go with a few bite-sized cupcakes; they all have that "please order me as i would not disappoint" look! Darn the bloody visual appeal! 

Brownie
Settled with the brownie instead as i have always preferred it over cupcakes. I figured its smallness would also make it easier for my stomach.

It was heavy with chocolate, a plus point, and could have performed better if it would to be served warmly toasted with a generous sprinkling of walnuts. Perfection would be attained with an added scoop of vanilla ice cream. 

Chocolate Rainbow Cake
Some of you would have fondly remembered the chocolate rainbow cake i had at NOM. The edge this one from The Finest Tea Shop Cafe has over NOM was the edible rainbow beads topping which provided a different texture that brought me back to my childhood when such topping used to attract the most attention from kids. 

Other than that, the spongy layers were as usual unspectacular and the chocolate coating wasn't as creamy, wasn't as thick and hence, wasn't as impressive as the one in NOM.

=====

What i felt to be more important than the food was the attitude of the staff; they were so friendly and cheerful, i believe other passersby would have thought we have been friends for ages! 

Location
Block 4, Changi Village Road, 
#01-2060 (next to the hawker centre)

Map
As above

Opening Hours
Tuesdays to Thursdays - 10am to 10pm
Fridays to Sundays- 8.30am to 10pm
Closed on Mondays. 

Website

Pricing (Cash Payment Only)
Brownie - S$3.00
Chocolate Rainbow Cake - S$6.40
[No GST, No Service Charge]

Additional Information
Free WIFI is available! Password can be taken from the receipt upon payment. 

Those looking for more than desserts can try the sandwiches and even mee rebus, nasi lemak (i wonder why they would even consider the latter since Changi Village is famed for it)! 

By the way, this is a Halal cafe!
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Galeum Guesthouse (가름게스트하우스) - My Review @ Seogwipo [Jeju Island, Korea]

November 9, 2014, 7:26 am
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I didn't check out any review / pictures / information on our Jeju accommodation prior to the trip although i did ask my sister how much it would cost us a night to stay at Galeum Guesthouse; a hundred dollars was her answer.

With that pricing, i am seriously thinking of more than just a room decked out in wood furnishing! My gut feeling told me this should be the equivalent of minsu (home stay), for which Misty Villa in Taiwan failed to leave a deep impression.

However, it did feel like home. My 'bed' back in Singapore is a foldable mattress too and this gave me such a sense of familiarity; i actually tidied up my bed in Galeum every single morning!

Basic amenities (dressing table with mirror, hair dryer, television which we didn't switch on) with a WIFI router for dedicated speedy wireless service! Do keep in mind the lack of a physical wardrobe!

Very fundamental setup for the bathroom / toilet. 

Now, let us rewind to our search for Galeum Guesthouse using the rented car. Getting to Seogwipo wasn't difficult but it took us a bit more time to find the narrow, unlit road that leads correctly to the guesthouse.

It didn't help our tired mind when we saw the main entrance which seemed to be more motel-like and didn't feel at all warm and friendly.

Guess you get our point.

There are just three levels and checking in was via the second floor.  With no elevator, i had to do the man's duty by carrying the luggage to the second floor, before realising our room was on the ground level. =_=.

A laundry room (open till 10 pm and came with detergent) is available on our level and this made it the very first time i washed my own clothes when i am overseas! I usually wouldn't have done that since time was seldom sufficient when i am travelling!

Let's fast forward to the next morning! Our room came attached with a balcony and a picnic table which we didn't utilise much as the weather had already turned chilly whenever we returned back at night.

We did make use of the clothes pegs and laundry lines at the balcony for our laundry though; a much better way than to dry them in the room!

It was only with daybreak that we could truly marvel at the uniqueness of this little guesthouse. Compared to the bigger Misty Villa, the smallness of Galeum was beneficial in creating the perception that i am staying in an exclusive bungalow!

There was even a pet dog housed right in the garden!

The lounge aka the place where you would check in. This would also be the place where you would mingle with fellow travellers and share pointers on popular places to go.

Complimentary breakfast was provided at the lounge even though we never had a chance to take it as we left pretty early on all the mornings (breakfast starts at 7 am i think).

Knowing many kiasu travellers would be making full use of their time to catch the sunrise, climb the mountains etc, provisions in the form of raw eggs, jam and bread were left in the lounge and you are free to prepare your own breakfast!

Oh, i forgot to mention there wasn't any mini-refrigerator in our room and that was because you can use the huge-ass one in the lounge! Just make sure not to pile up too much stuff that you could not even finish by the end of your stay.

Another thing missing from the room would be the electric kettle which has been replaced by hot and cold water dispensers located outside our room and in the lounge.

View overlooking the peaceful sea in the lounge. It's a pity there wasn't an alfresco section; if not, i bet many people would be seated right outside enjoying a cup of hot coffee while waiting for the sky to slowly lit up.

You may get a few books / magazines from the bookcases to read while waiting for the sun to rise. It would help if you understand the hangul since it covers over 99% of the available reading materials.

Need to stay connected? Power on the desktops and you are good to go!

The guesthouse might seem like it is in a secluded location but it really isn't; you can find convenience stores and quite a number of restaurants just a short walk away.

Yes, it is in a residential enclave which, in my honest opinion, is advantageous! Put it this way, you may find yourself chatting with the local ahjummas resting in the pavilion!

Brace yourself; the famous Jeju tangerines were also in abundance just a few doors away. Given my honesty and integrity, i only see, never touch, never steal.

Couldn't say the same about my sister; she could not resist plucking a ripe-looking persimmon from the tree at the carpark! Tsk tsk tsk!

The car park at the back can accommodate around ten cars and no parking fee would be imposed! It can be quite a challenge for a normal size sedan to drive along the narrow, dark lane. 

Barbecue pit! This would explain why there was a freezer in the lounge! I didn't know of its existence till the last day as most information was in Korean.

I have written a lot about the guest house above. Now's the time for me to inform you about the cons of staying in Galeum and this is coming from a person who could not understand a word in Korean, regardless of spoken or written.

My "bed" was next to the balcony and we could not seem to get the control panel to power up the air-conditioner in our room to get rid of the stuffiness; as it was already late, i decided to open up the balcony door slightly to allow the natural sea breeze to ventilate the room.

Everything was alright until the dear pet dog started howling and barking in the middle of the night! The above photograph would give you a better picture of our room's location; it's in fact right smack behind the dog's kennel.

I doubt i could stand another night in the same situation and hence proceeded to the lounge the next day to ask about the control panel. You know what's the best thing? He passed me a remote control. What the heck?!?!?!?! Shouldn't this be given to us right from the start?!!?!?

Staying in Galeum is akin to staying in a dormitory where backpackers would be better suited. Toiletries were said to be included but they would not be the type you find in a typical hotel; we found half a bottle of shampoo, a half tube of toothpaste and a bar of soap.

I could accept all the above; my main grouch was on towels! Only one size is available and they have the dimensions of a face towel! I walked up to the counter to ask for a bigger one and the answer is "obsoyo". To add salt to injury, he offered me another face towel which i could either rent at ₩1,000 or buy at ₩2,000 apiece!

Language barrier is extremely frustrating for all parties but i have to be fair to the guest house operators; there was a ton of complimentary notes on the bulletin board and reviews online were also generally positive. 

Maybe it just wasn't my day. 

=====

Location
1330, Beophwan-dong,
10, Beophwanha-ro9beon-gil,
Seogwipo, Jeju-do, Korea

GPS Contact Number
739-4499

Website & Pricing
http://www.galeum.com/. Do note that my sister bought the accommodation via Agoda and the pricing did seem cheaper than using the official website.

Additional Information 
For those interested to rent a car in Jeju, check out my post here. 


For the summary of my inaugural South Korea trip 
(Seoul and Jeju Island), click HERE.
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Char Siew Rice - Hwa Kee Barbeque Pork Noodle (華記云吞面) @ East Coast Lagoon Hawker Centre [Singapore]

November 11, 2014, 6:47 am
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I thought i have seen it all, eaten it all when it comes to char siew rice in Singapore but there are still pockets of surprises in this little red dot we reside in. 

One was encountered in my recent visit to the popular East Coast Lagoon food centre and despite the name that would have encouraged many to order noodles, i went with the rice instead. Rationality can be thrown aside when it comes to that insatiable need to satisfy the craving!

Anyway, two things would catch your immediate attention when the lady served you the char siew rice; one, the intense red sauce that makes you wonder if there were too much coloring used and two, the meat was sliced extremely thin and you would be thinking the worst of its taste.

Heck no! I do agree the sauce was on the sweet side but it wouldn't take you more than a second to realise this was different from other char siew sauce; there was a hint of cuttlefish flavour which added to the entire palatability! The only compromise, as far as i was concerned, was that the char siew was made of lean meat.

Cavin loves his char siew with a thick layer of glistening fats.

=====

Location
1220, East Coast Parkway, 
East Coast Lagoon Food Village, #45

Menu
As above

Pricing
Char Siew Rice - S$3.00
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Day Two Itinerary: Seoul to Jeju Island [7-Day, 8-Night South Korea Trip 2014]

November 13, 2014, 3:09 am
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Breakfast wasn't provided in our hotel voucher and after trying out some of the equipment in the hotel's gym, it's time to hit the street in seek of a meal to pacify the hungry tummy!

There were a number of cafes but i am more interested in getting something more substantial and maybe more traditional fare rather than sandwiches and Western style breakfast.

Strangely, the fruits attracted more of our attention; actually more for my younger sister who was checking out the prices of bananas. From rough calculation, i got the feeling fruits in Singapore are cheaper although i could not really comment on other factors like freshness, the lack of pesticides etc.

Sungnyemun Gate (숭례문; 崇禮門) - built a long time ago in 1398, some of you would have remembered reading about the case of an arson attack in Seoul where the entire roof of an ancient monument was burnt. Same gate, which was fully restored just last year.

I don't know what this is for. There was an ink stamp with a picture of Sungnyemun Gate and could have been used for competition (fill up the book of attractions and get a prize etc) or educational materials.

Cross the underpass next to the gate and you would have arrived at Namdaemun Market; said to be "Korea's largest traditional market with over 10,000 stores"! For details, click here!

A full meal has yet to materialise and after deliberating for a few minutes, we re-traced out footsteps to the above Korean restaurant for brunch instead. Luck was on our side; it was really popular with the locals! To take a look at what we have, check out my review here.

Taking the Airport Railroad Express (AREX) again; this time to Gimpo International Aiport for our flight to Jeju Island! I was darn excited as i have yet to "conquer" a wonder of the world!

From the railroad express station, it was a long, mindless walk to the airport. I didn't time even though it did seem like it would take forever for us to reach.

Finally! Serving mainly domestic destination and limited international routes to China, Japan and Taiwan, our departure would be via the domestic terminal. 

Fans of Korean period drama would be aware what the above is; a sain-gyo palanquin which is similar to the Chinese sedan chairs. The person inside would have to seat cross-legged and i think that's not very functional; i would get terrible leg cramps if i sit like that for even a short period of time! 

That's a big bunch of Korean flags! 

Everything was in Hangul once again and i am thankful we still have a copy of our flight number. There wasn't anything much to do in the domestic terminal and i made use of the time to take a dump in the toilet. 

Our airplane to Jeju; via Jeju Air of course! It just sounds right to take this airline. I am kidding of course; reviews generally point to Jeju Air / Eastar Jet as they have an English language portal and i went with Jeju simply because the tickets for the timing i wanted were cheaper. 

Getting ready to take off! For those who are interested to know, i paid ₩135,000 (roughly S$160) per person for a two-way trip from Seoul to Jeju. 

Like most, if not all low cost airlines (Jeju Air is one of them), there wasn't any in-flight entertainment system although it is never an issue for me when it is daytime as i could look out and marvel at the view right beneath.

35 minutes into the journey - guess we were getting closer to Jeju as there were only pockets of islands which mean we were getting away from the peninsular. 

Huge body of cottony clouds floating above Jeju; not a good sign as it could mean rain in the next few days! I like the rain but not when i am travelling! 

Modern windmills on the island! I ever mentioned before that Jeju has three abundances and one of which is the wind; hence, it only natural to harvest the wind for cheap, eco-friendly power! 

A mere delay of three minutes from the official arrival time and we had landed on the tarmac of Jeju International Aiport; second busiest airport in Korea by the way. 

The first thing we did upon arrival was to register with KT Kumho, the car rental agency we engaged in Jeju and took the shuttle to their professional centre where we collected our Hyundai Morning! For information on renting a car in Jeju, visit here!

Let's begin with a visit to the touristy yet pretty impressive Yongduam Rock! 

I personally found Jeju Island to be very tourist friendly and could have been because of its award as one of the new seven wonders of nature and its proximity to an increasingly affluent China. 

Parked the car somewhere near Dongmun Market Place as i missed the correct turn to Black Pork Street (黑猪肉一条街)! %^#$%#$%@$%. I followed the map diligently yet we got the feeling we were lost! 

A minute later - we found the street! Yipeee! Time for a pork-full dinner and our choice was Hwaro Hyang Restaurant. Frankly, i could not discern the differences from normal pork. For my review (and more photos), click here. 

Even though black pork is a local delicacy, the street wasn't as crowded as i expected. Maybe because it was a Thursday and like anywhere else, the crowd sometimes descend only on weekends. 

There were close to ten restaurants serving black pork but none was as popular as Hwaro-Hyang so i guess we did the right thing by going with the Great Kon's recommendation! haha.

Walk further down the street and you would come to a road where there was a amusement park right across! If not for the lack of time, we would have paid it a visit!

Funny we still have time for Dongmun Market Place! Correction, it's a short cut to the place where i parked the car! For more pictures of the traditional market, click here. 

After paying an exorbitant parking fee of ₩3,500 for two hours, we made our way through the dark mountain road to the Southern part of Jeju where we eventually made it to Galeum Guesthouse at Seogwipo. Click here for the review. 

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For the summary of my inaugural South Korea trip
(Seoul and Jeju Island), click HERE
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Oedolgae Rock (외돌개) - The Gigantic General @ Jeju Island [Korea]

November 14, 2014, 6:57 am
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My younger sister, the 'official planner' for my recent Korea trip, was fully aware that this rock i am writing about today fell short of many visitors' expectations yet placed it as part of our itinerary since "it is very near to the galeum guesthouse"! 

Near, in this case, still require a drive although it took us less than ten minutes to reach the car park which i have assumed to be free. Anyway, it did seem more than 250 meters to reach the Oedolgae Rock! 

Walking was no longer a natural thing to do after an exhausting hike up Halla Mountain and you should have heard Joyce's sigh of relief when we got close to the famed rock. 

The phallic rock - as rumoured, it wasn't as spectacular as it appeared to be on many postcards and i assumed it would tower over the cliff we were stepping on. 

There were too many people at the viewing platform for me to capture a good, clear shot of the stone pillar crafted by nature and it was only upon reaching Singapore that i also realised many of the photographs i initially took had smudges! Shouldn't have touched the lens after greedily tearing up the grilled squid! 

You may of course engage the "professional" to help you take a picture with the signature rock as a backdrop for a small token fee. Definitely not for stingy persons like me and my sisters! 

I thought this would have concluded my visit but how could i resist when there was another path that seemed well trodden by visitors.

Luck was on our side as the scenery further away gave a much better view of the rock, with the thankful lack of pushy tourists clamouring to take picture after picture! 

Spider webs by the roadside! Unlike the cute, tiny ones we often see in Singapore, the spiders in Jeju were around the size of my palm! 

Now, let's talk about the rock. As with most tourist spots, there are always legends and the one here talked about a general in Korea who disguised the rock as a gigantic general to ward off Mongolian attacks. The enemy troops were so frightened by what they saw; all of them committed suicide!

To honour the victory, the rock was henceforth known as Oedolgae Rock; Oedolgae means general in Korean. I honestly found the tale hard to believe; i would escape but i don't think i would commit suicide just because there was a fierce looking giant man in front of me! 

Another rest area along the way; it was around 4.20pm then although the sun did look as if he was on its way to a good night sleep. 

There wasn't anything much to the other side of the cliff even though i read somewhere there is a place nearby where you can catch the sunset. Whether it is true or not, i don't know. 

A familiar face! Isn't that Daejangguem?! The popular period drama left a deep impression on me as i watched the serial twice and it also spun off my love for period dramas; be it from China or Korea. 

I didn't remember about the scene Dae Jang Guem that featured the rock though. Guess it was the point where i am more interested to know the ending and fast forwarding would be the way to go! Haha. For those interested to be THE palace-maid-turned-king's-physician, you can have your wish come true. 

Note how the landscape changes over a span of minutes! I wondered if there is any way i could get to the foot of the cliff to soak my smelly feet in the clear seawater.

Save for falling down the cliff, which was exactly the risk this elderly gentleman had to face in his attempt to take photographs! So dangerous! 

Compared to the view of Oedolgae Rock, this was way more stunning with the lonesome island (which looked like a person with his/her hairy butt protruding out of the water) right in the middle! 

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Contact Number of Location for GPS
760-3031

Admission Fee
Free! 

Parking
I read online on some blogs that parking charge in Jeju was literally non-existent! WRONG!! I paid quite a number of times and was charged a thousand Korean won at Oedolgae Rock for less than an hour!


For the summary of my inaugural South Korea trip 
(Seoul and Jeju Island), click HERE.
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Getting My Hands on EasyBreath Snorkeling Mask @ Decathlon Experience Launch Party Singapore

November 15, 2014, 7:59 am
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Friends on Facebook might have noticed my status check-in to Decathlon Singapore earlier this morning and i shall now share more details on exactly what i bought from the launch party that was in celebration of a new, physical office where consumers can try out some of the products available on the web store!

It's the EasyBreath Snorkeling Mask! 

Featuring a revolutionary design that fuses the breathing tube with a mask that covers the entire face, i have desperately wanted to get my hands on this darling for the past few months when i first saw it online!

Okay, a person would look kind of like an alien when they wear this but who cares when it would make snorkeling a much easier affair than before! For more information on this innovative product, click HERE for the write up.

Anyway, i guess i might as well take this opportunity to share with all of you about Decathlon Singapore's physical office at No 58, Kim Yam Road which would cater to picky shoppers like me who are uncomfortable with online shopping and prefer to feel / try the products.

It was fifteen minutes to the inaugural opening and right in front of me was a queue of ten persons. Darn, i thought i would be the first few kiasu customers to grab hold of a limited stock of easybreaths which would also be officially launched on the same day at a promotional price of S$89 each!

As expected, a big chunk of those in queue went straight for the easybreaths at 10 am and made payment almost immediately! For me, there was no way i am going to waste my parking coupon (with a balance of 40 minutes); hence, i shall check out other sections.

There were around a hundred available on the rack and i am unsure if you could still get any in the next few days. Nonetheless, you could always call the hotline at 6225 4773 on weekdays from 9am to 6pm to enquire. 

At the moment, only size L / XL is up for grabs; a casual check with the friendly staff revealed that other sizes would only arrive in the first quarter of 2015.

Note: this isn't your typical retail shop with high end decorations, huge-ass panel wall posters etc to attract your attention. Such expenses would be better spent on their shopping website.

No frills would be my best (given my limited vocabulary) description for the store (well, the staff members prefer to call it an office). Besides serving as a collection centre for online purchases, it offers products for you to test / try out on the spot!

Kids may even try out the trampoline in the middle of the store! Honestly, this would be a great product to keep Jovyn and Jerald busy at home.

This 'office' should have been launched before my Korea trip as i can see many items that i could have purchased to make my hike up Hallasan a lot more comfortable!

Prices were not expensive too; a pair of swimming goggles for only S$6.90?! I remember paying over twenty bucks a few years ago! Anyway, to answer my friend's comment on Facebook, i am not buying speedo lah; have to wait till i get my abs back which might be mission impossible for the rest of my life!

Categorised into different sports activities, it was relatively easy to navigate the shop although i don't think it has the full display of products listed in their online store. Whatever the case, it was comprehensive enough for me to dedicate some time to slowly browse through.

I was more keen with this section on fitness!

Almost paid for this ABDO Gain - said to allow individuals to better train their core abdominal muscles in different styles, i decided to purchase on a later date as i need to rein my expenses this month!

By the way, early birds were given a S$10 voucher and try their luck on a sure-win lucky draw! I am not sure if fate was playing a joke on me; what am i supposed to do with so many snorkeling masks?! Aside from easybreath, i had another snorkeling mask purchased in Tioman! 

=====

Location
58, Kim Yam Road
[Very Near to Mohamed Sultan Road]

Map
As above

Operating Hours
Weekdays - 9 am to 8 pm
Weekends - 10 am to 7 pm
Closed on Public Holidays

Website

Additional Information
Payment is online using your credit card (no point bringing any cash)! In order to save time, i would strongly suggest you create an account on the website before proceeding to the shop.

A major problem with online shopping has always been the after-sales service. I haven't had the need to experience it at Decathlon Singapore yet but i am really assured by the promises made in the above notice especially the 30-day free return and believe it or not, a 2 years guarantee on "all products for material / manufacturing defect recognised by their after sales service team"! 

Guess i would be making more purchases soon! 
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The S$4 Teochew Minced Meat Noodle (潮州肉脞麵) @ Peck Hoon Teng Eating House along River Valley Road [Singapore]

November 17, 2014, 5:52 am
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I was one of the few kiasu Singaporeans who turned up early for the Decathlon eXperience on Saturday but seeing that there wasn't a queue, i decided to use my precious time for breakfast instead.

The only two problems were; i didn't want to spend too much on food and the area surrounding the upmarket Mohamed Sultan road wasn't exactly known for cheap food! 

Walking aimlessly helped and i soon found myself in front of a coffeeshop housed within a likely pre-war shophouse! Our typical Singapore kopitiam - food, in any case, should be easier on the pocket. 

Nevertheless, i still forked out S$4 for this bowl of teochew minced meat noodle! The saving grace, at least for first impression, was that the cook didn't sting on the meat ingredients!

Counted three meat balls, a generous serving of minced pork, slices of pork (thankfully no pork liver which i absolutely detest) and a considerable amount of pork lard! *melted*

Noodles were nothing to scream about and to be totally frank, texture was the type i like with thin al dente strands that didn't stick to each other; it was more the lack of flavour that surprised me! In this case, i really have to thank the existence of chilli sauce and ketchup!

Would i revisit? For the sake of the meat ingredients (and the fact this was one of the cheaper meal in the vicinity), it would be a resounding yes!

=====

Location
219, River Valley Road,
Peck Hoon Teng Eating House
[Near UE Square & Liang Court]

Map
As above

Menu & Pricing
As of signboard above.

Additional Information
A glass of good old Asian style coffee was really cheap for that area at only S$1.10!
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The Best Green Tea Latte @ OSulloc Tea Museum [Jeju Island, Korea]

November 19, 2014, 7:58 am
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I am going to keep this short and simple as i am too tired to trawl through the many photographs i took during my Korea trip yet there is still a pang of guilt as i know i have not been as diligent to update this blog at the speed i used to.

Whatever the case, i shall touch on the one thing one die die must try in Jeju Island; OSulloc Tea Museum. To be more specific, i am referring to an item on the menu at the in-house cafe. 

The green tea latte - honestly, i really didn't quite see the big deal it generated but to see a cup on every table in the cafe did appear to be a tad too unbelievable! 

Just in case it was more hearsay than the truth, we decided to diversify the risk by ordering two additional items; the King O Fredo and the Black Roll Cake.

King O Fredo
For such a high and mighty name, it was essentially a smoothie. I am not much of a smoothie drinker as i am aware it is high in fattening cream!!! Give me a scoop of ice cream anytime and i would devour it faster than drinking a smoothie. 

To add green tea is usually a no-no for me as its taste is known for its bitterness. Surprisingly, this smoothie managed to strike a balance of both sweetness and bitterness and was in fact quite the perfect drink to have on a hot day!

Black Roll Cake
I should have gone with the green tea roll cake with white cream as the tarty green tea filling was just too much for me to handle. The black dough was comparatively better in flavour although as a whole, it was not worth the almost S$6 i paid for.

Green Tea Latte
Before this, the only green tea latte i found acceptable came from Starbucks. This one from OSulloc changes everything! 

There was a natural lightness to the flavour as we slowly let the milky green liquid trickled down our throat. It tasted unprocessed (strange i know although that's a consensus from the three of us) and we wondered if the leaves were freshly plucked from the plantation located right outside the museum! So good we regretted stuffing our stomach with the black roll cake and the king o fredo! 

=====

Location
Western Seogwipo,
Jeju Island, Korea

Contact Number to Key in GPS
794-5312

Menu
As above

Price
King O Fredo - ₩8,500
Black Roll Cake - ₩5,000
Green Tea Latte - ₩6,000

Additional Information
I tried the green tea latte at OSulloc cafe @ Insadong, Seoul but the standard wasn't as good as the one in Jeju. Guess it makes a difference when you have the green tea plantation next to you. 


For the summary of my inaugural South Korea trip 
(Seoul and Jeju Island), click HERE.

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O'Sulloc Tea Museum & Innisfree Jeju House @ Jeju Island [Korea]

November 21, 2014, 7:30 am
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The numerous journeys i made to Cameron Highlands (where tea is grown) and China (where tea is highly regarded as a beverage) should have taught me a lot about tea; hence, i wasn't expecting much from this modern looking tea museum in Jeju Island. 

Of course the context is more related to the Korean culture although the rituals more or less are similar to China, Taiwan and Japan. What's more interesting was the location; Jeju Island, filled with volcanic rocks rich in minerals, is claimed to be the best location for tea cultivation!

After trying my best ever green tea latte in O'Sulloc Cafe within the tea museum, i must say i was quite convinced of the claim! For my review, click here. 

In addition to plain looking traditional Asian tea sets, there was an extensive display of beautifully crafted tea sets from Europe; some of which have a history of more than a hundred years! 

If you are lucky, you could even see real-life pan-frying of tea leaves! I wasn't so fortunate; i was more focused on getting my stomach filled with goodies. 

Tea lovers would get themselves crazy over the huge variety of flavoured tea in the retail section of the museum! I am more into pu-er and didn't see the point of paying so much for hybrid tea that is, in my opinion, unnatural tea. 

Check out this display! I thought it was reminiscent of the contemporary times we live in; the increased usage of paper cups for our hot drink, including tea of course! 

I think we can draw on an empty paper cup and then put our completed artwork on the wooden shelving (and hoping it would stay there for as long as possible). Couldn't find any drawing materials though. 

Many people appeared to have missed out an elevator that would bring us up to an enclosed pod where we can marvel at the beauty of the surrounding! 

Both sisters were simply ecstatic to be able to sit down to rest their tired feet from climbing Hallasan. Shall blog on it soon even though i am seriously too lazy to go through the over 400 photographs taken during the climb. 

A more spectacular view greeted us on the uncovered roof deck! Hallasan can actually be seen from the above picture; somewhere in the middle, slightly towards the left. 

Near the entrance of the cafe (where i had that green tea latte) was a glass door that would bring you to the great outdoors. I had the impression it was just a backyard garden but it would actually lead you to the Innisfree Jeju House, another must go for those interested in facial products. 

Pretty flowers, pretty butterflies. The weather was a bit too warm for us that day; if not, i believe we could have relaxed in a more relaxed manner. 

It also didn't help to see this sign warning us about snakes! Yikeeeees!! This was one of the rare moments (trust me, you don't see me behaving like this much) i was literally pushing my sisters to walk ahead of me!

Okay, we finally walked through the canopy of danger and reached Innisfree Jeju House! I first noticed Innisfree when i was in Taiwan, where people were queuing to get into the store! 

I honestly didn't know it was known for its organic, natural products. Owned by Amore Pacific, it is also the parent company of O'Sulloc; thus explaining the close proximity of the tea museum and the innisfree jeju house. 

Other than purchasing expensive and even unique products that you could not find in other Innisfree outlets, this one in jeju also allowed you to partake in an activity.

The making of soap! 

As expected, we had neither the patience nor the time to make the soap. Furthermore, i doubt i would use the soap and that would be such an incredible waste of money!! 

Those without time can consider purchasing the natural soap present kit as above at 12,000 korean won, which by the way can allow me to buy around 4 packets of 830ml shower gel at Swanston! 

Nearby tea plantation, owned by Amore Pacific! No way would you see us walking there under the hot sun and i guess the view is always better when you watch from afar. 

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Location
Western Seogwipo,
Jeju Island

Contact Number to Key in GPS
794-5312

Opening Hours
9am to 6pm


For the summary of my inaugural South Korea trip 
(Seoul and Jeju Island), click HERE.
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Jeju Grilled Squid & Dried Fish (鱿鱼丝,香烤鱼干) - Where to Buy Them! @ Cheonjiyeon Falls [Seogwipo, Jeju, Korea]

November 23, 2014, 5:46 am
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For those out to have a variety of food to choose from that are also within walking distance in Jeju's second largest city, Seogwipo, i have a suggestion for you. Check out the immediate area outside Cheonjiyeon Falls! 

And the one stall you should never miss is the one selling grilled sotong right in front of Dunkin Donuts. There were a number of similar stalls but this one (branded as being authentic) took the cake for having the most enticing aroma! 

The operators would willingly pass you samples without you even asking and when i took a bite, i knew this would be the right place where i can grab a few packs of grilled squid back to my mom; the texture was chewy yet soft with a flavour of the ocean that was extremely addictive! 

Machine that tore the poor squid to shreds! I have always thought it would be easier to do so by hand although i don't think i can resist not having a few shreds on the job! Maybe that's exactly the reason for inventing the machine. Haha.

While we were contemplating how many packets to buy (they were good for two weeks), the owner handed to us a few pieces of stuff that came from the box on the right. Oh my gosh, it was darn good! 

That stuff was grilled dried fish and i initially thought the taste was a bit too fishy for me. However, it was just as addictive as the grilled sotong and the fact that it was crispy made it even easier for us to eat it like chips! 

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We purchased four big packets in total.
Totally regretting not buying more! 

p.s. the dried fish turned soggy after the long plane ride and even though they continued to be edible, the taste wasn't as good. Nonetheless, do go for the yummy grilled squid! 

Location
Outside of Dunkin Donuts,
Cheonjiyeon Falls, Seogwipo,
Jeju Island, Korea

Contact Number to Key in GPS
You may use the one for Cheonjiyeon Falls which is 760-6301

Price
Small Packet - ₩5,000
Large Packet - ₩10,000
(You can mix grilled squid with grilled dried fish)


For the summary of my inaugural South Korea trip 
(Seoul and Jeju Island), click HERE.
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Chuan Kee Boneless Braised Duck Rice (全记无骨卤鸭饭) @ Ghim Moh Temporary Food Market [Singapore]

November 26, 2014, 6:41 am
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It's ironic that in my seven years of service in NUS (save for that half year when i was out); i had never patronised Ghim Moh Food Market! When i eventually did, the original centre was in the midst of a major renovation and my first official patronage was hence at its temporary location. 

Not knowing what was good meant i had to depend on the one condition that seldom fails foodies; the length of a queue! I wasn't in the mood for the stall with the longest queue (which served horfun) and decided on the second best; boneless braised duck rice! 

A typical set comprised of a plate of braised rice, topped with a serving of braised duck meat, half a braised hardboiled egg, some braised beancurd and a scoopful of braised peanuts; you got it, all braised! Oh, and a bowl of soup that honestly could not beat the absolutely scrumptious one from Sean Kee @ Geylang. 

Frankly, everything tasted alright (read: unexceptional) except for the soup which i thought could benefit from a stronger herbal infusion. The key ingredient providing the punch was in fact the thick, savoury braised sauce that drenched all the aforementioned ingredients! 

To that, i thought having more wouldn't harm and i don't understand why i was given such a small quantity of braised sauce. Maybe the hawker had the impression i need to lose some weight!! Bloody, in that case, give me lesser rice lah!

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To compare apple to apple, i like the braised duck at Sean Kee more! 

Location
Block 150A, Ghim Moh Road,
Ghim Moh Temporary Market, #01-34 
[Located opposite the old Ghim Moh Market]

Price
S$3 for Braised Duck Set
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