A week in Seoul. Part 1.

Before I start writing about my story in Seoul, I want to tell you that there is a special reason why I came to Seoul. I like K-Pop, and its been few years since i like it. So, ever since then I really wish to come to South Korea. That year in 2013, I finally had the chance and had an amazing trip.

Seoul at night (cr; google)

For someone that like K-Pop, going to South Korea is one of their dream. Its one of the best cities where modern lifestyle still influence by traditional culture.

I have never been to South Korea before and its always been my goal to come there. In 2013, I had chance to come to Seoul. Its not easy planning to go there, especially when my parents didn't come with me and I only went there with my brother. We both never been to Seoul, so its definitely a new experience for us.

At the beginning of 2013, I only think that I need to come to Seoul that year, not having any real plan or an exact date. But in March, my favorite idol group 2PM announce that on June, they are planning to have a final concert of their asia tour in Seoul. So when I know about it, I started to plan my trip to Seoul. First thing to do is definitely ask my parents and my brother. Since my parents couldn't come, I need to ask my brother to come with me. Its a good thing that he agrees to come and after that we plan everything, from booking a flight, room to stay and getting a visa to Seoul.

I booked a flight on April. Its pretty expensive because I use AirAsia but it cost me $530. But because it was 2 months away before I went to Seoul, I booked it anyway. So after I booked a flight, me and my brother try to find a good place to stay. My friend that have been to Seoul before, suggest us to stay in an area called Garosugil or Gangnam. She says that its a modern area where there are lots of shops and good place to eat. So we try to look in that area and found a very good place in Garosugil. The room cost around $78 a night. Its not to expensive, but when you come to South Korea, they have lots of good and cheap place to stay. Mostly the cheap ones are not hotel but a room in apartment that are rent by their owner, and the facilities that are offer are much better than hotel. My room have a TV, washing machine, super fast wifi and a even kitchen with a good cooking utensils. So its definitely a good place to stay.

There is a twin bed and a TV.

Kitchen and washing machine

After booking a flight and a room, my problem now is getting the concert tickets. Its not easy. Its even harder that booking a flight ticket or a room. Its because 2PM have lots of fans, not only in South Korea but other countries too, and when they announce they are having a final concert, their fans are rushing to get the tickets. So when they started to sell the tickets in an online store called Interpark, the tickets went sold out in just few minutes. When you are planning to come there to see them but didn't get the tickets, there is no other thing you could do but be panic. Luckily, I told my room owner that I'm going there to see 2PM concert and he agreed to help me to find the tickets with the original price. By the time he told me that he found the tickets, it was already few weeks before I went to Seoul, so it feels like miracle.

So on 20th June, we went to Seoul. The concert itself was on 21st, so when we got there it was already the day of the concert. We rushed from Incheon Airport to Garosugil using an airport bus. It only cost 10,000won (Korean Won is South Korea currency), its the same as $10. About 45 minutes from airport to Garosugil and it was still 10AM, so there is no traffic yet. When we arrived in our apartment, we already can get in our room because apartments in Korea uses an entry door know with keypad. So before we went to Seoul, our owner already gave us the password. We rest for few minutes and went outside to look around Garosugil and find a place to eat. But we couldn't look around too long because the concert itself starts at 6PM, so we need to get there around 4/5PM. Our owner already have the tickets and when we met he gave us the tickets. I hurriedly went to the concert place, it was in Jamsil Stadium located in Jamsil. It took us around 15 minutes to get there using a train. By the time we got there it was already packed with people looking around the stadium. It was good thing that we still have time to look around the place.

The huge banner right in front of the stadium.

The area are full of 2PM fans from around the countries, rice wraths for the members and even a line of people trying to get the free banner that are given out by other fans. It was a exciting experience seeing all of that but I'm more excited to see the concert. At 5PM, the door opens and we get in the stadium. I got a good seat because it was still in the 2nd floor, and our row are full of fans from Japan. 2PM are also famous in Japan and fans from there also flew to Seoul to see their concert. Its definitely new experience watching a concert outside my country and surrounded by people from other countries like Japan and Thailand. It was definitely an unforgettable memories.

Fans walking around Jamsil Indoor Stadium

Rice wreath that were given by the fans from around the world for congratulating them for their concert.

I got a free banner and fan.

The concert starts and it was a blast!! I had so much fun even though I'm so tired and my brother also enjoyed the concert, but not much as I do. It was one of the best 2PM concert that i've went, because it was held in their own country and it was the finale. The fans even prepared a special event for 2PM.

This was taken from my seat inside the stadium.

The concert lasted for 3 hours and finishes at 9PM. I didn't know where to go and could only think about food, so after a lot of thinking we finally decided to go to Gangnam. After we got there, we try to find a restaurant and finally found a good place. It was a fried rice restaurant that cooks in your table. The food was delicious! and cost us around $20. We were so full and the only thing we need is a good rest. From Garosugil to Gangnam isn't that far so it took us few minutes to get to our room. Finally we got to our room and ended my amazing day with a good rest.

So for this post, I will give you tips when you come to Seoul to see a concert

My tips for you:

• If you plan to come to Korea to see a concert, first thing you should definitely do is to buy the concert tickets. I have experienced panicking not getting the concert tickets and at that time I already booked my flight and room. Its not easy getting the tickets especially when your favorite K-Pop group or singer is famous. People not only in South Korea but other countries will try to buy the tickets, so you should search for infos of how to get the ticket and if you have friends in South Korea, you should better ask them for help.
• Right before coming to Korea and you already have tickets, you should ask your room owner or maybe your friends in Korea of how to get to the concert place. Its better to have a plan when you are going to the concert, so you wouldn't be late, and in some cases you still need to exchange your tickets. You also could try to find info of a free banner give out. Fans will announced (usually on Twitter) that they will give out free banner or a fan.
• Go grab a meal before the concert. When the concert last for three hours and you will cheer as hard as you can, you definitely don't want to have an empty stomach. You will need lots of strength for the cheering and just to stay fit during the concert. Especially when you have a standing area tickets, you don't want to faint and miss out the concert. 
• Get there early! Getting to the concert early is a good idea because you will want to look around the concert hall or to queue to get a good spot during the concert. There will also be free banner or fan give out that start way before the concert.
• Try to socialize with other fans. Since you will meet people with the same thing in common, you don't have to worry of not having any thing to talk about, and meeting a new friend is a good thing. You could share stories or maybe even plan to go to the next concert together. So try to be brave and talk with other people there.
• The last thing you need to do is just to go inside the concert and wait till the concert start. I assure you that you will have a blast watching it!

Last but not least, a colorful photo of the concert stage during the encore.

River and Ocean trips.

Last year on November, I went to Thailand. It was a very great getaway vacation.

one of the busy streets in Thailand.

I stayed in Bangkok for three days and also went to Phuket.

On this post, I will only tell you about my experience visiting two most memorable place I went in Thailand. Though there is a few places, but i took the most photos in this two places.

First, this place is called Asiatique The Riverfront

Located right at the side of Chao Pharya River, Asiatique The Riverfront is one of the largest lifestyle shopping. Its a recommended spot for tourist to visit and enjoy the night.

Me and my brother already planned to go there. So at 5PM we went out the hotel and walked few minutes to the BTS (Bangkok Mass Transit System). Luckily our hotel is just few minutes away from a BTS Station. Its not that hard using a BTS, because its it only has 2 line and one interchange station.

Waiting for our train.

Our station is at Ratchatthewi, so we need to go to Siam Chit and change line, heading to Saphan Taksin. When you get out at that station, there will be a sign for heading to the Central Pier and just follow the sign. There will be a boat for you take to Asiatique the Riverfront. But usually, it will be crowded especially at the evening. At that time we waited for 20 minutes to get on a boat. The boat itself took 15 minutes to get to Asiatique the Riverfront port. But the view was so nice, I don't even realize it was 15 minutes.

At the Asiatique the Riverfront, there are many shops and restaurant for you to enjoy. There is also a ferris wheel so you can see the beautiful view from above, but sadly we didn't go on the ferris wheel because it has a long queue and we're so hungry so our priority is to find a good restaurant first.

Asiatique Sky

After looking around for a restaurant, we finally found one near the parking area. It was an all you can eat japanese-korean bbq and me & my brother just had to go there. We both love japanese-korean bbq and it was an ALL YOU CAN EAT (how can you not love all you can eat?). Its pretty cheap considering it was an all you can eat for a 500baht. The food was great too. So it was a very good choice. Definitely recommended. But sadly, I forgot the restaurant name. I think I got to excited with the food, I forgot the restaurants name.

But here's the photo of the food and if you know the restaurant name please do tell me. Maybe next time I come to Bangkok, i want to eat there again.

After looking around for one more time, we decided to go home, because tomorrow we need to go to the airport at 6AM. We're heading to Phuket~~~~ *\o/*


So, we arrived at Phuket, and we're staying in a very beautiful hotel in Patong called La Flora Hotel. It was right by the beach. You literally can walk to the beach from the hotel. Its kinda expensive though, but well its all worth it.

the beach was right in front of our hotel.

On the last day in Phuket, we decided to go to Phi-Phi Island. We're kinda wondering about it before we go to Thailand, but we actually decided to go on the very last day.

We register at the hotel front desk a day before we go, because it was a package tour so you have to register a day before I think all hotels in Phuket usually have a package tour for the guest that want to visit Phi-Phi Island. The package tour itself range from 3000baht to 4000baht.

At 8AM, we went to the lobby to wait for the bus tour to pick us up. After the bus came, we went to few other hotel to pick other guest that are going in the same tour to Phi-Phi Island. So after that we went to tour gathering place, right at the port where the ship that will take us to Phi-Phi Island. The place was very far, it took us an hour or more to get there. I was sleeping the whole way there.

We arrive and there were already a lot of people. We were divided into few groups and I think there were like 10 to 12 groups. After waiting for an hour, we finally went to Phi-Phi Island. We used a speedboat, and it was really fast. But even though we used a speedboat, it still take us a half an hour to get to the destination.

Usually the tour will visit the the few parts of Phi-Phi Island one by one and the first destination we visited was called Loh Lana Bay. It was a very nice but we were given a very short of time, we couldn't do anything much. But it was nice to relax after being in the speedboat for an hour.

After that we get on the boat again, we're heading to a place called Nui Bay. But instead going to the beach, we just stop at the middle of the ocean and the crew let us swim there. It was a nice place to swim but we only got half an hour to swim so I was just swimming around and couldn't do anything much either. Also I regret using a life jacket to swim because the coral there we're very nice and since i used a life jacket I couldn't take a picture of it.

So after we swam there, we went to an island to have a lunch. Its another long ride to Maya Bay, about 20 minutes. The food there was decent, and the place is kinda nice. On the island, you could look around and there were a few little shops for souvenirs.

Right after lunch, we're heading to Loh Dalam Bay. But before we went there, we passed a swallow nest farm right inside a cave. It looks scary but magnificent at the same time.

Then the speedboat took us to the famous James Bond Island.  I was surprised when we enter it because of the hufe cliff surrounding us. It was so amazing, my jaw dropped. The boat stopped right at the middle of the island and the view was so magnificent.

we are surrounded by this huge cliff.

We can swim there and this time i swam without the life jacket so it was much better. Then the staff suddenly went up the boat and jumped to the ocean! Everyone went to follow it and i also tried. It was so much fun, jumping from a boat to a very clear blue ocean.

the aftermath jumping from the boat

After 40 minutes of swimming and jumping from the boat. We then head to an Krabi Island. It was the place where Leonardo di Caprio shoot his film The Beach. It was amazing too and we just relaxing at the beach.

a nice place to relax and enjoy the view.

speedboats parking lot,

So after all the great time we had, it was finally time to go home. It was already 4PM and after an hour back to the port, we arrived at 5PM.

We really had a great time in Phi-Phi Island and the amazing view we saw was priceless. I definitely want to go back there again or maybe other island when I visit Phuket. Its definitely worth it.

The happiest place on earth.

For my first post, I will be writing about one of my most favorite place on earth. 

credit: Google

Disneyland

Early this month, I went to Disneyland Hong Kong with my family. We've already been there before but its been years since we went there, so we just had to go back to Disneyland. You never too old for Disneyland, right?

So we went out at 10AM, and straight to the nearest MTR Station. Its not that hard getting to Disneyland Hong Kong because there are many transportation that could help you to get there. I recommend use a MTR, because its easier especially for tourist. Also you will ride the special Disney Train (not sure if that was the name, lol), that looks so cute and fun and its good for taking pictures.

Spotted not-so-hidden Mickey on the train!!!

When we finally arrived in Disneyland, we just had to do something that every tourist do. Taking pictures.

Entrance at Disneyland Hong Kong.

We already bought tickets a day before and you definitely should buy tickets few days before or book a tickets online. Why? because it could save you lots of time not queuing to buy tickets and maybe you could get a special discount for tourist who book online, like I did :)

After getting in to the theme park, we took few more pictures. Then we rushed to Space Mountain. Space Mountain is one of the many famous roller coaster rides in Disneyland, and other Disneyland around the world usually have Space Mountain. The reason why we choose to ride a roller coaster first is because when you visit theme park, usually the most visited rides are thrill rides like roller coaster and when the theme park gets crowded, the thrill rides gets crowded too. In Disneyland, usually it took 1 to 2 hours tops, for the queue when its crowded. So since we don't want to waste our time for queuing, we should definitely ride roller coaster first, or you can use a fast pass. In Disneyland, there is a fast pass. You could exchange your park ticket to a fast pass and take the ride that you wanted on a designated time. But you only have one chance, so use your ticket wisely.

But luckily, it wasn't crowded at that time. The queue was 15 minutes, so we pretty much happy about that, and since me and my brother LOVE thrill rides, we even took the ride again.

Like other Disneyland, the Disneyland Hong Kong are divided into few area. The Space Mountain are located in Tomorrow Land. There is also Fantasyland where "it's a small world" and Dumbo the Flying Elephant are located, and Adventureland that has Tarzan's Tree House and Jungle River Cruise. But there are some attraction that only Disyneland Hong Kong have.

First is Grizzly Glutch. Open in 2012, its a western theme roller coaster that has some few surprise during the ride. It was really fun and for family, i think its rather safe to take the kids to try the ride. Because its not too thrilling but definitely a fun roller coaster. If you want some spoiler about the ride, you could watch this review video about the Grizzly Glutch. But i tell you, you'll lose the surprise.

Then there is Mystic Point that was just open last year. Its a magnetic ride and i was quite surprise with the technology because i've never seen a ride like that. It was fun and very suitable for family. Also its very unique and I like it how they made all the small details in the ride. Here is the review video about Mystic Point.

Also, there is the new Toy Story theme area. It has some few good attraction like RC Racer, Slinky Dog Spin and Toy Soldier Parachute Drop. I tried the RC Racer and it was fun. But it was quite a short time.

The new Toy Story Land

The RC Racer

Its not the end until you see fireworks in Disneyland. Every Disneyland has a firework event before closing and you should definitely see it. When you want to enjoy the firework, you should get the best spot to see it. It will be so crowded because everyone will be in one place to see the fireworks, so you should try find a good spot way before the fireworks starts. I usually try to find a place an hour before, even then a few people already taking the good spot, so you should hurry up. But thanks to the good spot i found an hour before the fireworks starts, I could take a few pictures of the fireworks and could end my day in Disneyland with a beautiful fireworks.

Now, for the tips going to Disneyland Hong Kong:

• Even though you could buy the ticket at Disneyland, i recommend to buy the ticket online before you went to Hong Kong, or at least a day before. Because it will save you time and maybe there will be a special discount if you buy it online.
• For getting to Disneyland Hong Kong, there are many public transportation like MTR, bus or taxi. But i recommend to use a MRT because for me, its easier rather than using a bus, and cheaper than using a taxi. Also, when you traveling to Hong Kong, you should buy an Octopus Card. Its a card that can be use for payments on public transportation, grocery store, and even few restaurants in Hong Kong. Its really convenient to have it. You can buy it when you arrive at the airport or in a MTR Costumer Service Center located in every MTR Station. 
• When you visited Disneyland on a very crowded day, you should plan which ride that you want to go first, and since the thrill rides usually took the longest queue, you should take that first. Or use the fast pass to save more time.
• Finally, when you wanted to see the fireworks in Disneyland, go find a good spot to see the fireworks way before the show start. I recommend to look an hour before. But if you're bored waiting, how about asking your parents to sit there first, so you could go to the other attraction :)