1st: A table of Korean Alphabet (Vowels, Consonants)

Here is Korean Alphabets

Korean Alphabet

Consonants

Flu season

Hey,
I've been sick for about two weeks so far.
I had horrible sneeze, runny nose, sore throat, fever, headache, and body ache. It seemed way much better after 5 days of taking medecine. It was terrible feeling being sick, so I met my doctor and got a flu shot.
I had runny nose during weekends but It was bearable. So, I believed that my cold was gone.
However, terrible cold came back to me yesterday afternoon and I've been blowing out my nose every 5 minute (believe me, it is true) sigh...... :(

So, I couldn't upload any new post at all.

I used to catch a cold 2-3 times a month when I lived in Korea (even, during summer season). However, I got a cold 2-3 times a year when I live in California. I think dry and mostly warm weather was really good for me. I'm missing a lot of things about CA but the best thing (of course, except my boyfriend, Evan :) ) that I miss CA is dry weather !!!!!!!

Except my sickness,
I finally made a table of Korean Alphabet.
So, I will make an another folder and will start posting 'Learning Korean' for my friends who want to learn how to speak Korean.
I've been checking almost all books in order to send to Evan, so he can learn Korean by himself in CA until he comes here. However, I couldn't find a book for people who can't speak, read, and write Korean at all. I'm afraid to tell this, but I feel like there is no book for beginner.
So, I decided to make own book for Evan (we will use Korean for Dummies because It is written by in English but I'm adding Korean in the book and I made a vowels and consonants table for Evan)

I will make own note for learning Korean in English after Evan knows how to read Korean.
I know there are several amazing websites for learning Korean in English.
(I will give you a lists of website when I make a new folder)
However, I hope my new folder can help people who want to learn how to READ Korean.

Wish my cold goes away soon.

Ttukboki or Tteokbokki~~떡볶이

Hi, All
Today, I want to introduce the best Ttukboki (or Tteokbokki) which is famous snack food in Korea. It is made by rice cake and Korea's traditional spicy source, Gochujang. You can easily find a places where you can eat Ttukboki. HOWEVER, I want to introduce a really good place.
I grew up in GuBanpo and there was a small snack food shop. Their business has been doing over 30 years I believe. Their famous dishes Zookksuk Ttukboki and Mixed dumpling (both are spicy)

The place doesn't look fancy and the building looks little bit nasty (because people who visite the place left their signs or memos one the wall) BUT, I guarantee their taste.

It's hard to find the place if you never been in Banpo. I give u an advice that do not bring your car.
I think I like to take subway when I go somewhere in Seoul. :)
So, take number 9 subway and get off at Banpo and exit number 3. just keep following the street until you see 7eleven. Then, cross the road in front of the 7eleven and you will be here.

Work through between two buildings and turn left at the end of the building.

This is the behind road the building when you make turn left. (you almost there, so lets keep walking!!)
I wish they do have English letter, too but unfortunately, it's all Korean.
So, remember this letter or keep following direction from my blog. :)
Can you see blue five letters on white signboard (a circle is colored by red)? It is written 애플하우스 (it is Apple house)

If you find the signboard, this is the entrance. The place is located in 2nd floor.

There can be a long line, then wait. A person who work here will give you a order paper (You can see it if you keep reading this post). Choose what you want to eat and give to a person with money (you have to pay it when you order it. I checked that they accept credit card, too. But, almost all people pay it by cash.) If there is no line, good !! take a seat and you will see same order paper on the table (if you can find it, ask a server)

So, let's see order paper.

Don't be panic. I know it's all Korean. You will be embarrassed if you can read Korean at all. So, I will help you here. The first column is menu, the second is price, the third column is how many you are gonna order it. 

I translate it until fish cake because these are main popular menus. 

Difference between Ttukboki and Zeuksuk Ttukboki is you will get Ttuboki with a dish 

(like this) and you will cook Zeuksuk Ttuboki

(like this) I ordered 2 Zeuksuk Ttuboki and I added 1 Ramen. A server brought a pan of menu that I ordered (rice cake, some vegetable, some fish cake, water, and spicy source (Gochujang). 

Each table has a portable gas stove. So, you can cook it. (It will be cooked within 5 min) When water starts boiling, stir all ingredient, especially source is under Ramen, so continu stirring until all spicy source have dissolved. Ramen will be soften while you stir the source which means time to eat !!! (oh don't forget to turn off the portable gas stove-if you never used it, ask a worker to turn off it)

(It is time to EAT !!!! )

My friend and I were eating mixed dumpling (I strongly recommend to try this one. This is their the most famous menu) when we wait Zeuksuk Ttuboki.

It is spicy but very crunch. If you have a chance to eat dumplings in Korea, you could feel totally different taste. If you never had a chance to eat, you are lucky !!!   :)  :) 

My friend was not stuffed, so we ordered a bowl of rice after we almost ate Zeuksuk Ttukboki. 

Why? we can make a fried spicy rice. 

When a server brings a bowl of rice, put rice (of course, without bowl, :-) ) and turn on the portable gas stove again. Then, it's time to stir it again with source. 

When a rice is well mixed with source, spread the rice all around pan surface and wait 30sec-1min and turn off the portable gas stove. 

(we left two pice of rice cake :) )

Tip for order 

If two people go there (two women), order 2 Zeuksuk Ttuboki + 1 adding Reamen + 1 set (4 pieces) of mixed dumpling.  (If you add a bowl of rice, I bet you will be stuffed) It depends on how much you can eat, and how many people go with you, but I just want to give a tip for people who visit here for the first time. 

The address is 978 Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul.  Tel 02-595-1629

Business hour: Mon to Sun 10:00 AM to 9:30 PM (But the last call will be 9:00)

You can also make to-go. (Idk if you can make to-go for ZeukSuk Ttuboki)

I wish you like this place !!!!

Shopping in IFC Mall

Hey guys~
I went to IFC Mall in Yeouido.
(This is the exact address : 10 Kookjegeumyoong-ro, Youngdeungpo-gu, Seoul)

For public transportation, I recommend to take subway line 5 or line 9. take off at Yeouido station and exit number 3. Then, you can easily find the IFC Mall (You won't miss several signs)

I found exit number 3 and headed to IFC Mall

When you keep follow exit number 3, you won't miss entrance of the IFC Mall

It was not really crowded because I went to the IFC Mall on Monday morning. (business hour is Mon-Sun 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM) 

You can check stores and parking fee here 

http://www.ifcmallseoul.com/eng/main.do

They do have H&M, Zara, Hollister, Banana Republic, Gap, Adidas,,,,but If you come from the US, you will be surprised by expensive price than the US price. :) 

I recommend to look around 8seconds store which is located in L2 (dont confuse that L1 is highest and L3 is lowest floor) Food court and restaurants are located in L3. 

(this is L3)

I didn't have chance to eat but many people recommend to go to Cheiljemyunso. They have good Korean traditional noodle. 

(this is an entrance of CheilJemyunso)-If I go this mall again and eat something in here, I will add my favorit menu. :)

(If you miss Benedict, this is a place you can eat -BUT, I didn't try it, so I can't guarantee) 

When you are done to look around mall, go to CGV (L3) and watch a movie or they do have a big bookstore (L2)

I wanted to buy MY jean shirt, but I couldn't find good one. However, I found good one for Evan, my boyfriend, at 8 Seconds. I'm so exciting to ship this one to the US. 

I just went to the IFC mall because I was curious. I bought Evan's shirt, two mini skirts and one pair of socks for me. 

(I wore new socks next day. Socks : 8 seconds, Oxford shoes: Gap -Men's one)

I took just last pic and headed to home.

Have Good One :)

1night 2days in Busan

(*I got several pics from my friend who went to Busan with me, so I'm adding some pics)

Have you ever heard about nomophobia? People who have anxiety of losing their cell phone or fear of being out of mobile phone. I checked my pics and I look like a person who has nomophobia, especially pics that we took it while we ate our late lunch. My boyfriend and I have been in a great long distance relationship and cell phone is the best way to connect us. We've been using Skype and Kakaotalk. 

2nd days in Busan

Gmorning~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

we woke up early to eat free breakfast. When you book Hanhua resort Tivoli, you can get two free breakfast tickets (value $ 15-15,000 KRW) but you have to go early to avoid long line and do not expect great breakfast buffet. 

I came back our room and took some pics to send to my boyfriend :)

Unfortunately, another typhoon was approaching Busan. So, we headed to Spa Land in Centum City. 

The Spa (it is called JjimJilbang which is Korean style spa) was great. Modern, fancy, and quite (Usually, JjimJilbang is a bit noisy because there are a lot of children with their family. However, the Spa in Centum city does not allow to enter under 13 year-olds children. 

Business hour  06:00AM-12:00AM (You'd be there before 10:30 AM due to tickets sold out after 10:30AM)

Fee  Adult: 12,000KRW (weekdays) 14,000KRW (weekends) --Around $12 and $14

Student: 9,000KRW (weekdays) 11,000 (weekends) --Around $9 and $11 (They must bring student ID card and must be with Parents after 10:00PM)

7,000 KRW (weekdays) 9,000 (weekends) ---If you enter before 9:00AM and after 8:00PM

(*REMEMBER !!!!! You can use Spa 4 hours for the fee. If you stay longer than 4hours, there will be additional fee)

I forgot to take pics from the entrance but you will get a key when you pay the fee (It looks like rubber bracelet, so you can keep it easily). When you get your key, take the escalator. Then, you will see brown lockers. Take off your shoes and put your shoes in shoes locker (The key has number on it, so find out same number and you will use same number of locker for keeping your clothes and bag)

After you put your shoes in shoes locker head to Girl's entrance, then you will get short t-shirt, short pants, and two towels. (use one towel for after you take a shower and bring the other one to the spa, so you can cover your face or hair and can wipe sweat. 

(These are clothes and towel that you will get it from the Spa)

It is a pretty big spa, so check a map and use it (4 hour is not enough to enjoy all spa. believe me)

We used KTX again when we came back to home. It was a great trip with my old friends. 

1night 2 days in Busan

I went to Busan that is the second biggest city in S. Korea with my two best friends last Saturday. We took KTX, high-speed train, from Soowon station to Busan. It took two and half hours. We booked three tickets here (Korall Korea Railroad. http://info.korail.com/2007eng/eng_index.jsp)

You can choose economic class or first class. They say that passenger can use wifi in the KTX but It was not good, so I used 3G all the time in the train. you can buy Dosirak (simple meal), snacks, beverage, coffee, some dried snacks (like beef jerkey, if you never tried it before, I recommend to try it-salty and sticky but it is delicious) When you arrive in Busan station, you can easily transfer from KTX to subway, bus, or taxi. (I want to give you an advice, use public transportation instead of rent a car because people in Busan drive so fast and there are a lot of one way load without signs)

I was so exciting to be there                               However, I was little tired when we arrived in Busan :)

 View from our resort, Hanwha Resort Tibolry, Gwangan Daegyo bridege in Busan. (checking Hanwha Resort Tivoli, http://www.hanwharesort.co.kr/irsweb/resort2/eng/resort/index_r005.asp?rcode=r0500)

Ready to EAT !!!!! (I was starving !!!!). We went to Van Gogh's Terrace, Italian Restaurant,  for our late lunch. You can see Gwangan Daegyo bridge if you got terrace spot.

They do have lunch and dinner set menu which include soup, salad, past, grilled beef with pasta, and coffee or tea. However, we were there between lunch and dinner time, so we order a salad and two pasta. Business hour is 12:00pm-12:00am (Mon-Thur) and 12:00pm-1:00am (Fri-Sun). If you want to reserve, use this number 051-741-3767. If you stay in Hanwha Resort Tivoli, it only takes 5 minute from the resort, but if you stay other place and drive to here, you can use street parking. 

we wished sunny weather but it was raining all day long. However, we headed to Haeundae beach.

It was just sprinkle but it became heavy shower, so we bought plastic raincoat ($2 for each)

It was really useful 

We went to Damaji Gogae in Busan, but I couldn't take any picture due to heavy shower. BUT, if you go to Busan during Spring, you must go there. The place will be filled with Cherry blossom. 

At night, we went to Crystal garden in Paradise Hotel in Busan. 

we ordered mojito, apple martini, singapore sling but it was not good... :(

My hair was so messy due to rain. I came back the resort late night.

The very first posting

I decided to be a new blogger to share my handmade goods and to introduce S.Korea's culture, restaurants, foods, people, fashion, and fun places for travelers. I've lived in California and Santa Cruz and I travled San Francisco, New York, Chicago, San Jose, San Diego, and Hawaii. I've got so many useful information through blogs. So, I do want to give helpful information to people who plan to visite S.Korea. Enjoy it !!