Travelogue August: Singgah National Folk Museum of Korea #backpacktoseoul2016

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim

Assalamualaikum & Selamat Petang ^^

Gyeongbokgung Palace dan National Folk Museum of Korean hanya terletak bersebelahan each other. Lokasi nya mudah lah. But then, ary tak state dalam entri ary sebelum ni tentang lokasi Gyeongbokgung Palace dengan menggunakan subway train. To be honest, ary pun berpandukan guide yang diberikan di laman web Official Korea Tourism Organization. Contoh seperti di bawah:

Muzium ni seperti muzium-muzium yang lainnya juga. Lebih kurang sama seperti muzium negara di Kuala Lumpur. Ia akan menerangkan dari zaman paleolitik hingga zaman yang maju sikit(But not until modern sebab fokus lebih kepada hidup orang Korea dulu-dulu), diikuti dengan adat dan budaya lama orang Korea; including cara perubatan tradisional, adat hari lahir yang ke-60, perkahwinan, pakaian, dan etc etc etc.

Selain itu, jika korang bernasib baik, ada performance turut diadakan pada waktu-waktu yang telah dijadualkan.

Aside from that, outside of the museum, ada satu portion kawasan yang kelihatan seperti pekan lama Seoul. Seriously terasa seperti terperangkap dalam kawasan pekan lama yang sunyi dan haunted. Lol. Lagi-lagi at few old shops, ada pasang lagu-lagu orang lama Korea. Damn scary. Haha! But then, I did like those vintage old stuffs.

Btw, there is another royale museum at this stop, and royale museum visit means that I'm done with Gyeongbokgung stop! Next?

Travelogue August: Gyeongbokgung Palace #backpacktoseoul2016

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim

Assalamualaikum & Selamat Tengahari^^

Next mission: Third day of History and Culture of South Korea

Setelah merasai jiwa muda Seoul di Hongdae, destinasi seterusnya adalah kawasan percutian bersejarah di beberapa lokasi seperti Gyengbokgung Palace, National Korean Folk Museum, Bukcheon Hanok Village seterusnya adalah Insadong. In this entry, lets just talk about Gyeongbokgung palace. 

So, Gyeongbokgung palace is quite a big area to explore - estimated to be 3-4hours. Ticket masuk adalah kurang dari 4,000 KRW. Jika korang plan untuk melawat lebih dari 4 istana, boleh beli tiket kombo which the total is 10,000 KRW. But to be honest, I made that mistake.

My mistake: Ary beli tiket kombo, with assumption that all palaces are just near by, which is NOT. It's been located separately at other side of Seoul. So, don't repeat the same mistake as I did, ok?

Kebetulan, sewaktu ary tiba, around 11am, ada sesi pertukaran pengawal (Changing Guard Session). So, dapat lah menyaksikan istiadat yang dijalankan. If I'm not mistaken, just twice a day. 

Each stop will have a board to explain on what function for each of building. And some of the structure has different pattern too. For those pengantin baru, maybe boleh buat pengambaran di kawasan ni gak. Seriously, awesome scenery!

Gyeongbokgung palace sebenarnya attached to 2 other places - Bangunan Cheong Wa Dae dan juga National Folk Museum of Korea. Ary akan share tentang  National Folk Museum of Korea in another entry. 

But, as for Bangunan Cheong Wa Dae, since ia merupakan bangunan penting di korea, hanya mampu bergambar dari jauh. Terdapat kawalan ketat polis di sekitar kawasan bangunan. So, jangan berperangai pelik-pelik eh. 

 

Travelogue August: #backpacktoseoul2016 Merayau di Hongdae

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim

Selamat Malam^^

Ary reach Shinchon Guest House pukul 6petang. After mandi-manda, ary planned to go Hongdae area. So, my first mission in Seoul - Having dinner at BoA Guest House, Hongdae. Berpusing lah cari guest house ni. Ada wifi pun, tak ada guna if tak tahu nak utilize.Tips untuk pengangkutan dan jalan kaki, ary kongsikan di entri lain. 

Mission 1 - Having Dinner at BoA Guest House

Location:

BoA Guest House actually terletak tidak jauh dari Hongik University Station (Exit 4). Setelah keluar dari station, jalan ke kanan ke arah bangunan K2 store. Jalan terus sehingga jumpa LG store, dan korang lihat jalan keliling korang jika ada STARBUCK di seberang jalan. Lintas ke arah bangunan starbuck tersebut. Jalan terus ke arah GS25 Mart, dan belok kiri setelah nampak Bizeun (Rice Cake Shop). Masuk ke simpang tu, dan korang akan nampak BoA Guest House. Tapi sebaiknya, guna lah Google Maps. 

Menu yang disediakan boleh di-google. Tapi ary pesan Rabbokki pada masa itu. Masha Allah.. Pedasnya, tuhan je yang tahu. *Nangis* Rabokki ni is a spicy food which contains of Noodle and Rice Cake. Kesilapan besar order rabbokki, sebab ary not a spicy food eater. Drinks ordered is Blueberry Ice Blended. Total: around 12,000 KRW.

Mission 2 - Explore Hongdae area

Done with dinner, mission accomplished! Next:

Hongdae terkenal dengan title tempat lepak orang muda-mudi. So, dari Hongik University Station tadi, instead of turn of right, now turn left. Jalan straight dan dari situ korang boleh mula explore Hongdae area. Turn left, bila nampak flower stall. Bila korang jalan terus, korang akan nampak kawasan kedai-kedai yang dipenuhi dengan ramai teenagers.

This area occupied by teenagers who loves art. Busker di mana-mana. So, di sini, korang boleh lepak-lepak sambil layan performance Hongdae's Art Student. Memang banyak kedai makan, but not for muslim. 

Disko dan karaoke place juga merata. And terdapat juga stall yang menjual baju, aksessori, dan other cute things. Since target pasaran kat sini adalah teenagers, so faham-faham je lah environment dia macam mana. Memang tired, to explore whole Hongdae area. Macam ary, malam tu je 3 drinks. 

If you zoom-in, boleh nampak diorang tengah karaoke dalam building ni. Haha!

Kebetulan, waktu ary layan busking, mungkin disebabkan busking tu dibuat di hadapan kedai makan orang dan mengganggu; ada polis politely whisper to busker and minta busker tu chow. That busker yang dihalau politely tadi pon minta maaf, dan beransur dari situ. So I guess, that's what Malaysian should have, right? Tak ada lah sesi pukul-memukul between polices and common people.

This police patiently wait for the busker to finish his song

Whatever it is, it's really fun! But ary tak ada kesempatan untuk merayau di Hongdae Free Market di siang hari (setiap hari sabtu jam 1 hingga 6 petang). No time for that. But, at least, I've been there right? 

Travelogue August: Immigration Procedure in Airport

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim

Assalamualaikum & Selamat Pagi^^ *Btw, 12.37am is consider pagi dah kan?*

Jadi, ary rasa yang ary perlu kongsikan tentang pengalaman pertama ary melepasi imigresen untuk ke luar negara. Since it's my first time being abroad and ary alone, immigration procedure is the toughest moment for Ary. Sebabnya, if apa-apa berlaku di peringkat imigresen; incomplete info, or claimed as terrorist, tak ke naya. No one can verify my identity, since I'm alone. 

But yet, you still dare to go alone, kan ary? *sigh*


Immigration Procedure to Leave Malaysia

So, untuk masuk ke kawasan Gate, ada a few pegawai kastam akan cek passport and boarding pass. That is the FIRST checkpoint. SECOND checkpoint will be auto-gate, but in here it split between Malaysia passport or International passport. I'm so sorry that I didn't realize on checking area at International passport. But, for Malaysia passport, they currently try to implement auto-gate. 

Untuk pertama kali travel abroad, need to put our passport on that detector. I guess it's biometric related. At that point of time, ary gelabah don't know what to do. So, ary just follow instruction stated on the screen. But yet, sometimes, dah gelabah, memang tak ingat dunia lah. So, ary suggest: Perhaps at queue line, those immigration officer need to be around to explain on what shoud be done. Or else, prepare some template or guideline to do the auto-gate.

Then, THIRD and LAST checkpoint is right before reach gate. At this time, they will scan all your bag, and yourself. So, elakkan pakai pakaian berbesi ketika melepasi checkpoint sebab ia akan membuatkan detector tu berbunyi. Selepas selamat, tunggulah di gate masing-masing.


 Immigration Procedure once Reach Seoul,Korea


Procedure ini adalah prosedur di Incheon Airport. Tak pasti jika procedure yang sama di Gimpo Airport. Di situ juga, they split out between South Korean Passport and Foreigner Passport Holder. But, to be reminded, korang perlu isi borang ketibaan (Arrival card) yang disediakan. Macam Air Asia X, they distribute the arrival card to their customer.


So, you will need to go through their immigration, before claim any baggage. What you need to do is put your index finger on their equipment, and look straightly at their eyes detector. Once done, you can just leave and claim for baggage. Diingatkan untuk tidak mengambil sebarang gambar di kawasan ini, untuk tujuan keselamatan.


Another information needed is your traveller information. Borang tersebut turut diedarkan oleh Air Asia X, atau boleh didapatkan daripada pegawai bertugas di airport later on.


Huaaarggggg~~ Mengantuk betul bila bercerita tanpa gambar ni. Ary believe korang skrol bwah laju-lajukan? Siapa buat macam tu, cepat cakap! Haha! Nite, Fella :)

Travelogue August: Pocket Wifi - To stay connected during #backpacktoseoul2016

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim

Assalamualaikum & Selamat Petang, guys!

Today is Friday! Yeay! Tomorrow is test! Owhhhhhhhh *sigh*  Let's just forget about test for a while. Life still goes on, right? *wink wink*

Previously, whenever kita nak travel oversea meskipun hanya ke Singapore, kena suscribe roaming. And ada kawan ary yang bil nya melambung semata-mata kerana roaming dari C*****. So, the solution for expensive roaming - PocketWifi by Travel Recommends.

Sehari hanya perlu bayar sebanyak RM13 untuk wifi ke Seoul. Tapi, deposit dikenakan sebanyak RM200. Langkah-langkah pembayaran akan diberitahu setelah korang buat Online Reservation ataupun, untuk last minute reservation boleh whatsapp  +60 10-3946177. 

 

How to get connected? Turn on your wifi and select the router model as per stated at the router. Masukkan password yang tertulis pada router, and here you go - Connected ! As a tips, just wswitch it on whenever you need it. Router ni macam phone juga. Dibiarkan lama, battery drained. If you got powerbank, it's better.

Other than that, korang boleh pilih pick-up area for your wifi router. Easy way is self pick-up and drop at Capsule Hotel, KLIA2. After take a nap there, can directly take the router. As easy as A B C! So, after korang return back router, they will process refund to your account. Don't worry, ary already get back my deposit and it proves that they can be trusted! 

Actually, ary realize there is another one wifi provider in KLIA2 - Wiyo , but not sure on the coverage. Anyone ever try this before? Or else, you guys may want to experience the good coverage from Travel Recommends by now! Book here earlier for your convenience!

Travelogue August: A night in Capsule Hotel,KLIA2 for #backpacktoseoul2016

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim

Assalamualaikum & Selamat Siang!

Since flight ary waktu pagi jam 8, ary plan untuk take a nap at Capsule Hotel. Memang nap betul. Tak lena sangat pon. Maybe because I'm not used to. But adat backpack, kita tidur mana yang boleh je lah.

Ary booked this hotel earlier, as they always fully-booked. Check in: Pay RM50 as deposit. So, this is a container hotel, can only fit untuk tidur sahaja. Tak payah berangan ada kerusi dan meja solek. But yet, it's convenient untuk orang yang tak banyak cerita macam ary. Memang ruang fit tilam sahaja. 

Cermin ada disediakan di dinding. Plus, they did offer untuk wake up call. Kalau-kalau takut tak sedar. Bayaran yang dikenakan bermula untuk sewa selama 6jam, 8jam dan 12jam. Macam ary, ary stay for 6hours and need to pay RM80 (pay during booking time via credit/debit card). 

Once reach there, you will be given a capsule black bag which got a mineral water and towel. So, air tu boleh guna untuk mandi. Lol. Gurau je! jangan korang seriously guna air mineral untuk mandi. Toilet disediakan, siap shower. Not in bed space, for sure. And toilet dia bersih :) Btw, female toilet is outside female capsule area.

Female capsule been separated than others capsule. Need access card to go to female capsule. Just that you still not feel secured, sebab tak ada pintu. Just ada tirai yang boleh ditarik ke bawah. So, korang akan tak lena tidur, takut takut ada yang buka tirai dan songlap barang. But yet, all your stuffs under your own responsibility. Jangan tinggal sebarang je. 

Macam ary, ary peluk bag ary yang mengandungi wallet, passport, etc. So, jadi bantal peluk. So far, it's a good experience for me. Tapi next time, nak elakkan la. Sekali sekala, ok la. Bila nak check-out, go to counter, return towel and they will return RM50 deposit korang. You may keep the bag.

Perhaps, you can have a try next time? *wink wink*

Travelogue August: Planning & Preparation for #backpacktoseoul2016

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim

Assalamualaikum & Selamat Malam :)

Woah! Finally menjengah setelah lama mendiamkan diri. To be honest, pelbagai perkara jadi. And here I am! Feeling fresh and better! If nak cerita tentang perihal diri ary, tak habis bermalam-malam. So, to make it short, ary resign from Konica Minolta after past 2 years being there and then bawa diri sorang-sorang ke Seoul, before report to a new company. Lol. 

Ticket to Seoul bought since last one and a half year. Lama kan? Semata-mata nak return ticket RM500+ Tapi berbaloi lah rasa. And yes! I went alone! Lone ranger. Haha!

So, when you are a solo female traveller, banyak benda kena fikir. Banyak perlu plan. Especially, in terms of transport and accomodation. So, what I did is:

 1 - Plan for convenient accomodation. Convenient in here means, mudah dapatkan public transport, secured and murah, yang pasti. Please avoid last minute booking. Most of hotel will be fully booked, kalau last minute.

2 - Plan on places that you want to pay a visit. Ada sebabnya. Maybe ada antara tempat yang memerlukan korang bayar tiket masuk, so in here its a budget planning. Dan korang boleh rancang untuk melawat kawasan-kawasan berhampiran in one shot. 

visit my IG: https://www.instagram.com/ary_lee.flancer/

3 - Souvenir to bought later on. Since ary not sure, what's special over there, ary buat sedikit homework on the souvenir. Ye lah.. Nak budget ruang luggage too. Macam ary, bile depart from Malaysia, berat luggage just 7kg. Tapi bila nak balik from Korea, 15kg. Lol. Aside from space budget, spending budget too sebenarnya.

4 - Spending budget for sure! Basically, dari accomodation, transportation, makan minum, places to visit, souvenir and buffer pocket money; we can finally plan on our spending budget. So, boleh tukar duit siap-siap. Nak ingatkan, MYR currency tak laku at a few countries. So, tukar secukupnya. Make sure korang ikut budget yang korang dah buat.

Macam ary, last minute jumpa buku I'm a backpacker: Korea. But then, internet hanya di hujung jari nowadays. Meskipun ary memahami line kat Malaysia ni semput, but still boleh lah jugak google apa yang patut. So make sure to plan properly untuk elak kesesatan dan pembaziran masa, tenaga dan wang. Whatever it is, travelling should be fun even getting lost. Right? Nanti ary kongsi pengalaman seronok getting lost on my way back from Myeong-Dong. 

Nite fella! Assalamualaikum!