Travelogue December: Immigration Woodland CIQ #backpacktosingapore2016

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim

Assalamualaikum & Selamat Petang^^

Ary decide to go for a day trip to Singapore this december. Ye la.. Singapore just seberang pulau, but yet never got chance to be there. And yeah.. I went there despite of Malaysia currency depreciation. LOL. 

To make it short, ary drive to JB and reach JB Sentral around 10am. Do not use waze to get to JB CIQ - sesat tau. Park my car there, and cost me about RM12 for whole day. So, ary melintas ke CIQ, and after melepasi immigration Malaysia, ary ambil bus ke Kranji MRT. 

JB CIQ

But then, let me share on my experience to be at Woodland CIQ. I'm stuck there in a 'human traffic' for about 2hours. Seriously, wasted my time by just queue up. Di sini, korang perlu isi borang to declare about lawatan korang.

Please be prepared with your own pen. I do have one. But then, disebabkan ink habis, terpaksa begging to people. It's seriously BEGGING. And ary kena chase out, just because nak pinjam pen. Respon yang ary dapat dari bangsa ary sendiri bila ary nak pinjam pen: "No. We're getting off now," Ary wasa like.. ermmm.. sorry. Thanks god that there is someone sudi pinjamkan pen, after see that incident.

So, untuk avoid situasi begini, sila pergi awal pagi. About 7-8am should be ok. But still rebut bus to singapore with those who work there. And pen, jangan lupa. Bawak extra pen murah, and sedekah pada yang memerlukan, pun OK. Even balik to JB, ary need to queue up for an hour, and reach JB at 12 midnight.

Travelogue August: Amazing Experience at Animation Street #backpacktoseoul2016

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim

Assalamualaikum & Selamat Siang!

If korang recall, awal-awal entri di Seoul, ary ada state yang ary sesat and its such a beautiful and amazing experience.  Kisahnya begini, Right after keluar dari Myeongdong Market, ary jumpa main road. And nearby is a subway station. 

So, niat di hati nak balik. But, kaki gatal menyeberang underground market and merayau lah ary tanpa hala tuju. Tanpa sedar tak sedar, kaki melangkah dan environment sedikit-dikit berubah. Lukisan kartun dan patung sepanjang jalan menghala ke Namsan Tower. Even actually Namsan tower is 40minutes jalan kaki. 

Aside of the animation and cartoon street, ary jumpa Soongeui Women's College dan in the end of my lost journey, its Seoul Animation Center. Well, after all, its not a loss for being lost kan? Haha!

Travelogue August: Myeongdong - Another Market #backpacktoseoul2016

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim

Assalamualaikum & Selamat Tengahari^^

Esok cuti! Yeay! Alangkah indahnya hidup ini. Haha! Inilah masalah orang bekerja ni. Weekend too short. Lol. 

Right after Dongdaemun, korang boleh menaiki subway ke Myeongdong. Ary ke Myeongdong pada hari isnin, but still ada night market pada sebelah petang dan malam. Night market dia sama seperti night market di Malaysia. Cuma ada certain street food korea, mudah didapati dan boleh dinikmati. 

Myeongdong market from view of Lotte Mart

Keistimewaan this area - A lot of cosmetic and beauty shop seperti yang ada di area Ehwa University; dan juga street food dia. For muslim, it's been stated as Halal. But tahap kesahihan halal, wallahualam. Take it by your own risk. But ary ada juga beli Bungeoppang flavor nutella and cheese. Tak sempat nak merasa sunflower seed bun, sebab takut membazir. 

Oh, btw, there is another shopping mall over there, which is Lotte Mart. So... Happy shopping!

Travelogue August: Pit stop at Cheongyecheon Stream #backpacktoseoul2016

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim

Assalamualaikum & Selamat Petang^^

From Doota Mall, if korang jalan a few steps ahead, korang akan jumpa satu aliran sungai ala-ala parit belakang rumah. Lol.Yeah, a part of Cheongyecheon stream looks like parit. But if korang google, another part of the same stream, it's totally different and beautiful!

Ary make a pit stop at the ugly side. Dalam pemandangan parit tu, still ada ikan ikan kecil dalam sungai tu. And a lot of people yang duduk bawah jambatan sambil merendamkan kaki dalam sungai. And yes, the stream is damn clean! That's why ramai ahjuma and ahjussi duk masukkan kaki depa. 

And below mentioned map untuk rujukan korang on Cheongyecheon stream. If korang walk along from ugly side to the other side, korang akan jumpa keindahan di satu lagi sudut. And along the stream are a lot of shoplots. So, can window shopping jugak at the same time. Have fun yeah!

Travelogue August: Dongdaemun History Museum #backpacktoseoul2016

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim

Assalamualaikum & Selamat Tengahari, Fella!

Since hari ni first day bekerja setelah bercuti, haruslah bertenaga kan? Eventhough hanya acah-acah. Haha! 

Alang-alang dah ke Dongdaemun, perhaps korang boleh visit Dongdaemun History Museum. It's just behind Dongdaemun Design Plaza. This museum is not that big, macam National Folk Museum of Korea. But still, korang boleh take a look. 

Muzium ini menerangkan tentang sejarah pembukaan bandar Dongdaemun. Dari tapak pembinaan yang di-bom, sehingga lah pembukaan semula. Kalau korang tengok, tapak pembinaan yang asal, masih lagi dibiarkan sebagai memorial. 

Aside from that, if korang pergi waktu malam, korang dapat lihat keindahan cahaya dari bunga LED di sekitar kawasan ini. Talking about these LED flowers, MAEPS also just got this kind of thing. So, if yang nak merasa acah-acah di Dongdaemun, may visit maeps at night! 

 

 

Travelogue August: Set Drama Descendant of the Sun at Doota Mall #backpacktoseoul2016

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim

Assalamualaikum & Selamat Malam^^

Seronok beraya? Raya Aidiladha kali ini agak suram di kampung ary. And tomorrow, need to start working. *Sigh*

Doota Mall

 

Oh, yes. Remember that ary ada state yang ary nak visit set drama Descendant of the Sun? For those who didn't watch thes drama, this drama is quite popular. Gabungan mantap Song Joong-ki dan Song Hye-Kyo. 

Disebabkan kepopularan drama ini, hasil google ary semasa planning phase membuatkan ary menjejakkan kaki ke Doota Mall. It's a cliche shopping mall. For me, nothing special. Boleh lah if nak cuci mata, etc. But if korang nak visit set drama, u guys may find it at level 7. Not sure that this exhibition will be there until when. But perhaps korang boleh google, to check if it's still available by the time korang kat sana.

Btw, the location is just a few steps away from Dongdaemun Design Plaza. 

Those pictures not cover all actually. But, Looks nice is it? I feel glad that I've been there. Really I am. 

Travelogue August: Being creative at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) #backpacktoseoul2016

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim

Assalamualaikum & Selamat Malam ^^

Well, Let's make it quick, since it's already midnight and I'm kinda exhausted after revision. 

One of my mission in Seoul - Dongdaemun Visit, especially Doota Mall to see set of Descendant of the Sun.

We talk about Descendant of the Sun in another entry, or else this entry is going to be really long. So, Ary stop at Dongdaemun History and Culture Park station. From there, the first place that you may visit is DDP. 

DDP is really suitable for those yang kebuntuan idea untuk menjadi kreatif. In here, banyak sangat benda benda comel dengan rekabentuk kreatif. E.g kerusi berbentuk gasing dan gigi, kiosk with a design of a camera, designated light, and so on. 

Barang-barang kat sini, ada yang dijual dan ada yang untuk pameran je. But since things in here are attractive, its kinda expensive too. So, faham-faham je lah. DDP got a few area. If korang tak sure, nak ke arah mana, maybe can take their pamplet and take a look. 

Travelogue August: Sesi riadah di Hangang Park #backpacktoseoul2016

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim

Assalamualaikum & Selamat Malam^^

3entries in a day? Wow, Ary! Good job!

Main title is about Hangang Park, but actually in here, there are 3attractions. So, ary susun sequence dari visits to Itaewon. From Itaewon, ary ambil subway ke station Express Bus Terminal. So, from there;

1) Underground Shopping Market, Express Bus Terminal

Seoul memang terkenal dengan kawasan-kawasan underground shopping mall. Nama je underground, but transaction jual-beli dilakukan secara legal. Salah satu underground shopping market yang terkenal adalah di Express Bus Terminal. Di sini, memang banyak sangat pilihan barang dari baju, handbag, bunga, kasut hingga ke cadar, etc. Tapi stall yang jual souvenir is limited in here.

Aside from the underground shopping mall, there is another decent shopping mall - Shinsegae, which is located in the bus terminal as well. But let me told you this, it's expensive. Then maybe you guys can take a look at their local bus terminal. 

*sorry. no picture. ramai sangat*

2) Hangang Park

From bus terminal, there are 2 exits to Hangang Park, which differ in terms of district. But, ary took exit Hangang Park (Banpo district). Tak sempat take a look at another district. Jarak dari bus terminal ke Hangang Park is about 150-300 meter. Sempat lah berpeluh.

Suprisingly, there are a lot of korean yang spend their time at park. Some of them even bring tent. And beware, since its an open area, most korean will bring along their dog. Tersentuh kering, ok lagi. But if ter-basah, or terkena gigit; tak dapet nak tolong deh.

Kebetulan, waktu ary pergi sana, ada performance from some artists. And turns out ada Food Festival and a bit of concert. Get chance to see how open their society is. Even uncle-aunt, kids, teenagers dance on the floor. That's how they are having fun over there. 

3) Banpo Bridge

Ada satu jambatan across Han River, which called as Banpo Bridge. Ramai-ramai di Hangang Park pon, untuk tengok rainbow fountain which start at 8pm. Its kinda nice scenery. Really. 

 Eh, esok kerja eh. Jangan lupa. Nite, guys! 

 

Travelogue August: Itaewon - Bumi Islam Korea #backpacktoseoul2016

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim

Assalamualaikum & Selamat Tengahari^^

Ary mulakan ekspedisi hari ke-tiga ary di Seoul, Korea. 1st mission for third day - Jejak islam di Masjid Sentral Seoul, Itaewon. 

Well. Sekali lagi ary sesat dalam perjalanan mencari Masjid ni. Actually, dah betul dah stesen subway. But yet, dari stesen subway ke masjid, berpusing satu Itaewon. To make it easy: Please remember to utilize your wifi.

But, tips I can give in here, once reach and out from subway station: Turn right to go to Central Mosque and turn left is Foreigner Market area. Kalau korang nampak stall-stall orang jual souvenir, maknanya korang berada pada arah yang salah.

Aside from that, jalan ke arah masjid ini, berbukit. So, memang menguji stamina mendaki. But once reach, memang rasa nak sujud syukur! Allahuakbar! To be honest, panas terik bertukar mendung sepanjang ary berada di rumah Allah. 

Dan di sini banyak sangat restoran makanan halal. So, tak perlu risau mana nak cari makanan. Jangan lupa untuk cuba desert dari Turki! Ary having lunch at Muree Restaurant at that time, and didnt got chance to have Turkish desert. *regret*

Oh yeah. Bumi Itaewon memang terkenal dengan pendatang asing. Korang boleh jumpa ramai sangat non-Korean in hiere. Seriously. A bit creepy, actually. Terasa macam di Africa. But its a good experience, though. 

Travelogue August: Shopping Souvenir di Insadong #backpacktoseoul2016

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim

Assalamualaikum & Selamat Malam^^

Next mission in Seoul: Shopping Souvenir di Insadong

Well, ary dah kepenatan jalan di Gyeongbokgung Palace, National Folk Museum of Korea dan kawasan Bukchon. Continue penat di Insadong. Well, sampai sini, memang banyak pilihan souvenir - fridge magnet, keychain, tshirt, name stamp, baju, cosmetic, etc. Fuhhhh.. Panjang nak cerita. How to getting here? via Anguk station exit 6 if I'm not mistaken.

Dalam banyak-banyak kedai ni, maybe korang boleh cuba tawar-menawar harga. Try cuci mata dan compare harga dulu. So, after dapat yang murah, try tawar lagi. Itu barulah langkah bijak bershopping. Lol.

Dalam mencari souvenir, mata ary beralih pada satu perkataan - HALAL. Tertera nama kedai - Little India Cafe. Damnnn! Dah lah tengah lapar ni. So, ary pun melangkah naik tangga ke kedai atas. Ary open the door, and greet: "Hello"

Secara tiba-tiba ada ahjumma ni muncul. Macam creepy je bunyi. Lol. That ahjumma yang englishnya not bad, tanya: "How many people?" So ary jawab dengan cool:"Only One," Ahjumma muka garang tu jawab,"Please come in," 

Tak payah lah cerita macam mana ary duduk, tengok menu and pilih menu. Yang penting, hari ke-2 di Korea, but ary dapat makan nasi. Nikmatnya.. Alhamdulillah! Cuma frust. Sebab yogurt yang sepatutnya ary makan as appetizer; ary makan dengan nasi kerana menyangka yogurt tu memang makan sekali dengan nasi. Konon resepi baru lettew. But kantoi bila tengok ada Korean makan yogurt tu dulu, before makan main. Malu je =.=

Next, ary langkahkan kaki ke Insaddong Ssamziegil. So, korang akan dapat jumpa banyak sangat benda-benda comel kat sini. Sesuai untuk cute stuffs collector. 

So, dont for get to include Insadong in your list!

Travelogue August: Bukchon Hanok Village #backpacktoseoul2016

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim

Assalamualaikum & Selamat Malam!

Travelogue August?? Ary, we already in September!

Yeah... I know. But then, ary travel dalam bulan Ogos. Si.. It can be considered as throwback kan? *wink*

Next: Bukchon Hanok Village Pass-by Mission!

So, since it is just pass-by mission, ary really just pass-by rumah-rumah di kawasan Bukchon ni. Kawasan ini terletak di antara dua buah istana. Meaning, dari Gyeongbokgung Palace, korang boleh berjalan kaki ke arah Anguk station; pass by this Bukchon Hanok Village dan melawat Changdeokgung Palace pula. But, bila berjalan kaki, perlu bersedia untuk kepenatan since jarak memang jauh.

Buat pengetahuan korang, di sini cuma kawasan perumahan yang ber-designkan tradisional. Adalah satu-dua kedai, tapi tak banyak dan tak sesuai untuk tujuan beli-belah. But, for me, its kinda good experience. Selalu tengok dalam tv, kereta-kereta besar masuk lorong-lorong kecil di kawasan perumahan Korea; but this time ary tengok sendiri by my own eyes. So, at that point of time, my reaction was like: Woahhhhh... It's for real. 

Hahaha! Sounds cute, right? *wink wink*

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?