I joined a Korean Full-Course Meal Cooking Class at a Local Home during my recent Seoul trip! 

December 26-29, 2019

There is this one Korea trip I never got to blog about.

Back in 2019, I won an online contest for Binggrae, the Korean Ice Cream brand. And my prize for winning was an all-expense paid trip FOR TWO to Jeju Island in South Korea! 

When we got back from Chuncheon, I knew I'll just be counting days till my flight back home. I thought I've already maxed out on Korea experiences in this trip, but surprisingly there were still a lot of things I was able to do! I was definitely exhausted by this time, but as a wise philosopher once said, sa Manila ka na lang magpahinga. 😂

Hoegi Pajeon Alley

I have a folder on my Instagram account called "Korea Bucket List" where I save anything that I come across my feed that I wish I can go to on my next Korea trip, and this includes the Hoegi Pajeon Alley. Months since I saved that post, I did not expect I'll actually be staying in Hoegi for this trip!

From Chuncheon, Paxie and I went down Hoegi Station and saw the signs leading to the 𝐇𝐨𝐞𝐠𝐢 𝐏𝐚𝐣𝐞𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 where we had dinner.  Local students meet in this area for some 𝐩𝐚𝐣𝐞𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐠𝐞𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐢. Paxie and I shared a huge-sized, crispy, greasy, 𝐤𝐢𝐦𝐜𝐡𝐢 𝐩𝐚𝐣𝐞𝐨𝐧 (served with burnt cheese on top). So so hearty and good!

📍𝐈𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝗪𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐚𝐣𝐞𝐨𝐧 (이모네왕파전), Hoegi Pajeon Alley, Hoegi Station Exit 1 ⁣

Imagining we were students in the nearby University of Seoul or Hankuk University and we just got out of class!

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Seoul Forest

While it was still autumn, Paxie and I decided to visit the Seoul Forest. But before exploring, we were able to check out the new SM Entertainment building located in the same station. Then we had lunch in a container van style restaurant that sells Korean snacks. We ate outside al fresco style while people and dog watching. The weather was cool, but sun was also warm. It was indeed the most perfect weather to stay outdoors!

A quick stop at the new SM building in Seoul Forest. There are big screens running ads and MVs of SM artists just outside the building and in the lobby :)

Super yummy Korean food for lunch. I really enjoyed spotting random food places in Korea with Paxie!

Hot drinks in one hand on this cool day. This area across Seoul Forest is very artsy!

It was my third time to go to Seoul Forest, but my first time during this season. Golden leaves were falling from the trees, and locals were enjoying their time and taking photos--we even witnessed a beautiful pre-nup! Ang laki laki din pala ng Seoul Forest noh, time stood still while we walked and walked trying to spot the BTS landmarks (RM benches, tube from Love Yourself poster). Didn't notice that we were there for 4 hours already!

Recognize these spots, co-ARMYS? :)

Seoul Forest is glimmering GOLD during autumn

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Myeongdong

Also on the same day, Paxie and I spent our night in good ol' Myeongdong for my last minute pasalubong shopping and to meet Tracy.

We got lost while looking for an ATM, but also discovered an underground shopping center (not Myeongdong but Hoehyoen) that sells more LPs than Kpop albums. I used to stay in Hoehyeon area (New Sun Guesthouse + Pomato memories!), but haven’t seen these til now!  

Then we went to the usual Myeongdong street food stalls for dinner. So many vegetarian & even vegan options now, perks of touristy areas that most people try to avoid these days.

After our dinner, we stayed in a matcha cafe and talked non-stop for hours. I was hoping time will stop, but we had a bus to catch.

Will try to explore this Hoeyeon underground mall next time!

Tried this hot vegetarian mandou, and spotted my favorite strawberry mochi!

Touristy, but I still love you Myeongdong! :)

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Cafe Onion

On my flight day, I had the courage to still fill my last few hours with meet-ups and shopping!

I finally tried the trendy Cafe Onion in Anguk, Seoul. Pastries lined up a long wooden table, so pretty but more importantly so delicious! No wonder lines are pretty long in this shop.

I also met up with my dear friend Marc, whom I met during my last Korea trip before the pandemic. Introduced him to my friends, and we talked non-stop about so many things--mostly about Korea and our favorite idols.

Been seeing this cafe on sns and finally got to try it! Thanks Marc for bringing us here!

Reunion with Marc over good pastries (not overrated at all!)

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Yeolrin Songhyeon Green Plaza

After our brunch, I requested to visit a BT21 store, and the nearest one is in Insadong. We just walked from Anguk, and came across a park with beautiful autumn flowers cosmos. This is also the location that RM recently posted on his Instagram! We stopped for a while to take pics.

A little Namjooning on my last hours in Seoul

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Line Friends Insadong

I only had the chance to “shop” last few hours before my flight. I was in full “tipid” mode for this long trip, that I tried the hardest to steer clear from my usual faves..Namely: ABC Mart, ArtBox, and Olive Young. I only got a few stuff in Daiso, Olive Young, some honey butter nuts in Myeongdong, postcards, and the MIN wood keychain as material souvenirs for this trip! Anyway, I was able to buy some habilins in Line Friends Insadong, and my sister even bought me a Chimmy stress ball for getting her RJ plushies!

A cool @callmemakeu Seoul trivia: shops in Insadong still has Hangul signages just like this Starbucks and Nature Republic!

I know we have Line Friends in MNL na, but nothing like visiting one when in Korea. :)

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Cafe Camptong 

My final stop before getting my bags at the guesthouse and heading to the airport is *still* a BTS location! 

From Insadong, we took a cab to Gangnam to visit Cafe Camptong, where the HILARIOUS Run BTS episodes 118-119 were filmed! 

It was a quick pic-and-run for me though, coz inabutan na ng rush hour. I wasn’t able to check out the other floors anymore, but actually all is well… Akalain niyo, naka huling hirit pa ako before my flight!  

📍 Cafe Camptong, Apgujeong Rodeo Station Exit 5 (10-minute walk that felt like 30 mins sa nag hahabol ng flight lol)

Can't believe my last stop for this trip is still a BTS location! ❤

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Heading Home

Always bittersweet heading to the airport for home. I decided to book a Kakao T (best app for this trip talaga) even though my total fare is about PHP 2500+. I was tired, I didn't want to be late, and my bags were extra heavy after 30 days of traveling. No regrets though, everything went smoothly at the airport. 

I remember posting on my IG Stories that I was too tired na para mag emote, haha. But sa totoo lang, if only I can still extend my trip again I would! But it had been a long journey already so I guess it was really time to rest. Nth time of saying good bye to Korea, and I still felt sad. Oh well, time to plan again for our next "comeback". :) 

Running back to my accommodation for my bags few hours before my flight, spotted this Lee Know subway ad :)

Korea trip soon? Download the Kakao T (taxi hailing app) before your flight--a lifesaver!

Without even shopping a lot, check-in bags reached almost 37 kilos! Glad I pre-booked extra luggage allowance prior my flight.

But of course! Last meal in Korea was a Paris Baguette egg salad sandwich

On my first full day in Korea, I decided to step out of Seoul right away.

I LOVE Seoul, but ever since the pandemic, I've been thinking about continuing my adventures outside the city. I missed it!

I took a long bus to the fortress, entertained by the sights outside the window and my Spotify playlist. It took me around past an hour to get to Suwon, but didn't felt like it.

Random full-length mirror at a train station in Seoul; decided to eat first in this tteokbokki / kimbap place at the train station called Mariya, before taking the long bus to Suwon.

When I got out of the bus, the sun was BEAMING! Air was cool, but sky was so blue--this is what they usually call a lovely day in Kdramas!

Even if this was my first time in Suwon, my first real encounter of the city was years ago, when I missed my train stop because I was too focused on my phone. I hopped out of Suwon Station to backtrack, and I remember clearly receiving messages on my IG Story that I should have explored the area nadin. I took down a mental note that I should go back to Suwon next time for a planned visit, and here we are!

I walked and walked, following my Google Maps to my first destination: A restaurant. I was already starving, but this restaurant is not just any resto.. but also Woo Young Woo's Kimbap place! 

SUWON FUN FACTS

- The capital and largest city of Gyeonggi-do, where the HQ of Samsung is located

- The only remaining COMPLETELY WALLED city in South Korea

- Hometown of actors Song Kang, Lee Jong Suk, Shinee's Onew, TWICE's Jeongyeon, ASTRO's MJ, Enhypen's Sunoo, and even our favorite fan meeting host in Manila Sam Oh!

Korea buses appreciation, a beautiful sunny day in Suwon:

WOO YOUNG WOO KIMBAP

As usual, I got intimidated by the restaurant's pure Korean menu, but had to brush it off and just entered Kajaguruma. There were a lot of people outside, mostly locals, taking pictures in this filming location. It just shows how the Kdrama Extraordinary Attorney Woo was truly a hit even for Koreans!

Like most Kdrama restos I've visited before, Kajaguruma does not carry kimbap like in Woo Young Woo. Instead, they serve Japanese food like salmon and tempura. I chose the omurice which sounds filling for a long day. It still has bits of meat in it, which I just set aside (I am a lacto-ovo vegetarian), but the food is indeed satisfying. After eating, the person behind the cashier handed me two lollipops as I paid for my bill. 

Took me lots of guts to finally ask a random passerby to please take my picture with the store facade (introvert solo traveling probs lol), and was lucky that the one I asked took so many nice pictures!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kajaguruma/

Geolocation: 37.283714, 127.011540

UNCANNY COUNTER NOODLE SHOP (??)

 (Went to the wrong location akkk*#$%)

For this trip, I have a lot of scheduled meet-ups with Filipino friends who are now Korea residents, including Laira who is a friend from the blog industry.

Since I still had time before Laira and her family arrived in Suwon, I decided to look for another Kdrama location from my list. I found out that several Kdramas were actually filmed in Suwon, including one of my pandemic favorites: The Uncanny Counter! The epic noodle shop where the main characters meet a lot is a cafe in real life.

Later on, I figured out that I went to the wrong cafe ..arghhh! Super magkamukha sila! And what's more unfortunate is that the cafe I was looking for is already permanently CLOSED! :( 

Sharing my personal list of ...

Anagon's List of Kdrama Locations in Suwon:

• Suwon Hwaseong Fortress (Paldalsan) - Twenty Five Twenty One (25 21) Bus Stop - 37.277319, 127.013542 - Suwon Station [수원역], Gyeongbu HSR/Seoul Subway Line 1/Bundang Line, Exit 9 
• Attorney Woo Kimbap Place - https://koreandramaland.com/listings/kajaguruma/  
• Haenggung Mansion [행궁맨션] - Uncanny Counter Noodle Shop (permanently closed) - https://koreandramaland.com/listings/haenggung-mansion-suwon/  
• Jidong Mural Village [지동벽화마을] 37.280396, 127.021493 - Our Beloved Summer - https://koreandramaland.com/listings/jidong-mural-village/  
• KBS Suwon Center - 37.271154, 127.030890 - Youth of May set - https://koreandramaland.com/listings/kbs-suwon-center/ 

WITHIN SUWON'S FORTRESS

Suwon's Hwaseong Fortress is actually HUGE! It was a miracle that I was able to meet up Laira and her fam.

Laira and I talked so much while strolling around. It's so nice to hear the new life of an old friend from the industry. We usually just meet during events when she was still in Manila coz she's handling a lot of brands that I worked with before. Now she has a beautiful family in korea and I am super happy for her!

Stopped to watch this outdoor theater performance, featuring the story of the Suwon fortress:

SUWON FORTRESS FAST FACTS:

- Hwaseong Fortress (literally means the "Brilliant Castle") is a UNESCO World Heritage built by King Jeongjo of the Joseon Dynasty in honor of his father Prince Sado. Prince Sado was executed by his own father King Yeongjo for not following orders to commit suicide, so he was locked alive in a rice chest. 👀 

- Suwon was actually targeted to become the capital city after Seoul (but obvs that did not happen)

- As mentioned, Suwon is HUGE it was hard to see everything: from the four main gates, the towers, etc. Next time, will go back on a guided tour to see more while learning about its rich history

- 25 21 Location: While walking around, I saw an arch and had the gut feel to ask for a photo with it. Later on at the bus while heading back to Seoul, I realized that I just took a picture with a 25 21 Kdrama shooting location!

AN ATTEMPT TO WATCH THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS

After saying good bye to Laira and her family, I decided to go straight to the KSPO Dome in Seoul hoping to catch The Fact Music Awards. I knew I only had 1% chance since tickets were soldout already online, plus I was already late coming all the way from Suwon, but I tried nadin since I had nothing better to do that night.

I was outside the venue for a good hour or so, along with other foreign fans, waiting and waiting till the sun has set. Walking back to the train station, I passed by a park were there was a "live play"--streaming the program on a huge screen while fans of one of the nominated idols were gathered in matching blue hoodies. I checked it out for a while, but not wearing their color made me stood out, so I just went home.