South Korea Again!

It was February of this year when I first visited South Korea, while I was there I keep telling to myself that I want to come back here! Then few weeks past and thanks to Cebu Pacific 90% promo tickets, I immediately booked a round trip ticket for two (for my sister Tina), so yeah I'm coming back to the Land of Morning Calm ^_^

TICKET

As I mentioned earlier, I booked our tickets last March - Cebu Pacific 90% promo ticket for November 2012 travel, roughly 4,800php Manila to Incheon (round trip - no check in baggage)

MONEY MATTERS

For the nth time, I did exchange my PHP to KRW at Czarina Foreign Exchange, but the rate is not so good, 1 PHP = 0.041KRW.  I exchanged 500,000 KRW that cost 20,500.00 PHP. In addition to my KRW, my friend sold her remaining KRW for 0.038 rate :)

ACCOMMODATION

I booked our accommodation at Namsan Guesthouse 3 (again) , I stayed here last February and I really like this guesthouse, because of it's good location, in the heart of Seoul - Myeongdong area! Our twin room cost 60,000won per night, this guesthouse provides free breakfast (noodles, bread w/ your choice of spread, coffee,), wifi is also free, their new office is located at the basement, last February it was on the first floor.

Common Room (located at the basement)

• Two(2) computers, can be used for browsing or uploading your pics! ^^
• Telephone - a skype phone, can be used for international call for FREE! Make sure your country is on the list, unfortunately Philippines is not included.
• Kitchen area - coffee maker, hot & cold water, jams, microwave oven, toaster, refrigerator, stove, rice cooker, 
• Washing Machine - free laundry
• Iron for clothes
• mini exercise area (benchpress)

Location wise for this guesthouse that I love most: easy access to the subway "MYEONG-DONG STATION", very near to the shopping area, near Nandaemun Market, Hyohyeon Shopping Underground and Myeongdong Shopping Underground, short walk to N Seoul Tower (love locks, Teddy Bear Museum, Observatory Tower, cable car), nearby 7-11 for your daily needs ^^


WEATHER

Another winter season for me, according to my friend who is currently studying in Seoul, it's really getting colder and colder.

CLOTHINGS

Preparing for heavy jackets, bubble jackets, coats, boots, scarfs, beannies, earmuffs, gloves, longsleeves, etc.  I don't have thermals, but I discover this leggings in Market Market that only cost 100php, more kinda like a thermal too. I did pack lot of longsleeves and will just do the layering thingy.

PACKING

The Vacuum Compressor helps me do the packing this time, it really saves space and make those bulky jackets into flat like garments :)

VISA

This was already posted in my blog, for more details you can check again.
Here's the link: Applying for Korean Tourist Visa



ITINERARY

Day 1
Namdaemun - to buy some winter gear stuffs 
Lotte World
SUKIRA (for my fangirling)

Day 2
Gyeongbokgung Palace (Rooftop Prince filming location)
Sanggojae (Personal Taste filming location)
Buckchon Hanok Village
Namsan Tower (cable car,love locks, observatory tower,teddy bear museum)
Myeong-dong

Day 3 (Sunday)
Myeong-dong Cathedral (hear Mass) (He's Beautiful filming location)
Incheon Art School (Dream High filming location - Kirin HS)
KTO - for free Hanbok experience
Hongdae (Hello Kitty Cafe, Coffee Prince Shop, Love Rain filming location)
Sauna (if feasible)

Day 4
Full House filming location in Shido Island
SMent Building - Super Junior agency (fangirling)
Kona Beans - (fangirling)
Doota Mall
Kim Hyun Joong chicken restaurant

Day 5
Ihwa Village & Naksan Park (Rooftop Prince filming location)
Y (Why) Style and K Story(for my fangirling)
Banpo Bridge

Day 6
Youngnak church at Myeong-dong (BIG filming location)
COEX Mall
Myeong-dong

Looks like were so ready for this escapade! I'm so excited!!!! SUPER EXCITED!

Thailand 2012

My second trip for this year  to The Land of Smiles.... Thailand!

I really wanted to go here because of shopping thingy, been hearing a lot about the cheap clothings that can be bought here. So yes, I'm excited to go shopping!!! ^^

Now preparing for this trip!

TICKET
Thanks again to Cebu Pacific promo, we got a round trip ticket of 2899php each (no check in baggage) Manila to Bangkok. We booked last January for this June travel.

ACCOMMODATION
I made a reservation at Sunflower Hostel thru Hostelworld, made a 10% downpayment online, a Twin Private Ensuite for two nights. One of the cheapest hostel I've seen, the reviews are good in Tripadvisor so I decided to booked here.

ITINERARY
We will be staying a total of 3 whole days in Bangkok, arriving almost midnight of June 17 and leaving late night of June 21. After doing some research on where to go, what to do and what to buy in Thailand, I've come up with a not so~so good itinerary! ^_^

June 18
Ayutthaya
Platinum Mall or Pratanum
Patpong Night Market

June 19
Siam Square
MBK Center
Platinum Mall
Pratanum
Dream World
Chao Phraya Dinner Cruise

June 20
Temple Tour (Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun)
Shopping

So this is gonna be a shopping tour neh! ^^

MONEY MATTERS
For the nth time, here we go again to my favorite money exchange "CZARINA FOREZ"! Of course you need to call them for reservations. The buying rate is 1.37php per 1 Baht.

I've read in some blogs and forums that it's much better to exchange your PHP to BAHT, read that rate is much better here.

LUGGAGE
We only have check-in baggage going back here in Manila for 15 kilos. As they say Thailand is just like Philippines, a tropical country so we will only pack light clothings, like shorts and tops. I really want to shop and some of my friends ought me to buy them clothes there, so we really need a check-in baggage. I'm hoping for no excess baggage, I've read that they are strict in this stuff.



Am I ready? Well I'm excited to shop! ^^

June 17 - NAIA 3

The weather is not that good, there's a typhoon in Philippines! Arriving at NAIA 3 I go straight to Travel Tax window and paid 1620php, then proceed to Cebu Pacific window for the ticket and check-in baggage, then paid 550php for the Terminal Fee. Now at the immigration, well this is something new, she only asked where I work and that's it.

It's been 4 months since the last time I've been to NAIA 3 and I was surprised that they have free wifi already! Love it! ^^

It was announced that our flight would be delayed for 15 minutes, well I understand with that kind of weather.

Suvarnabhumi Airport
Arriving around 12 midnight already, we did not book our accommodation that night so we planned to stay at the airport. The airport was so huge!

Sunflower Place
We left at the airport around 6am, then head to the Airport Rail Link to Phaya Thai and ride the BTS going to Saladaeng. The hostel is easy to find, just follow the very detailed directions on their website and you'll surely find their place. Arriving at Sunflower Place we paid the remaining balance and additional 200 Baht for key card deposit. The check-in time is 2pm, but we arrived early and just planned to leave our things but the staff was so kind that they allow us for early check-in without additional charge! I love this hostel, the room is so nice and clean! I highly recommend this hostel for budget travelers like me. The twin bed room ensuite, has a refrigerator, a television, AC and they provide 2 bottled water (everyday), they clean the room everyday (changed the bedsheets and towels), the bathroom/toilet is also very clean, they also provide a small bath soap & shampoo ^^, wifi is also available in the room. At the reception area; there's a 2 computers, hot & cold water dispenser, free coffee/tea/milo/milk. There is also a small common room that has a microwave and dining area, with a small living area with television and comfort room. The place is also near to BTS Saladaeng and Patpong Night Market. There are lots of ATM, 7-11, Spa Massage house and food restos neaby. So again, I highly recommend this hostel.

Let's start the adventure! SAWATDEE KAA!