Schinto World Tour: Destination 5.3.2 : 3 Months + in Korea

February 24th - June 16th, 2011
End of Winter - Beginning of Summer

Here are some suggestions from my personal opinion
Only for those I experienced
There's still a lot I have missed out
+ I have no comments for those I tried but not listed (just so-so)

Some basic to begin with :

- Learn some basic word if there's FOOD you can't eat, e.g. Beef, Spicy

- Try not to go alone if you don't understand Korean LANGUAGE (Most Korean don't understand English)

- REMEMBER to check your weather every time before you go out (quite accurate)
- CURRENCY is much cheaper in Korea (direct withdrawal thought ATM with oversea account, i.e. Malaysia) but with extra RM12 charges per transaction, remember to activate your ATM card before leaving [added Aug 22nd, 2011]

- To book ROOM? This is a nice link i got from my friend. (I suggest Mr Kim's Guesthouse if you're going to stay in Seoul or High Park Hotel that's a bit more expensive)

If you are staying in Korea for a long period

(let's say 3 months or more)

- DON'T bring too many cloth as you can get a lot of cheap one in korea

- this is a MUST, Gmarket, remember to collect discount coupons (everyday) before you start shopping

- ALIEN card application is a must if you're staying for 3 months or more, else you don't even need a visa
- Buy groceries in HomePlus, lots of DISCOUNT items (aware of member's promotion only)

MUST DO in Korea

(in priority order)

- DRINK (anything with alcohol)

- Play drinking games with Koreans

- Nanta Performance

- Cherry Blossom seeing in Jinhae

- Disco Jump (a amusement ride)

- Jjimjilbang (찜질방) - Korean Style Sauna (need to be naked)

- Play with Dynamic Busan Photo Booth with your friends

- 4D Cinema

- Ski (that I missed the chance, but I really wanna tried it out)

Place to visit :
(not in priority order)

1) Trick Art Museum - Illusion that's very interesting

2) Teddy Bear Museum - as named, full of teddy bears

3) Karaoke - Cheap and can be found everywhere

Seoul (서울):
1) Insadong (인사동) - place for souvenirs but isn't cheap

2) I-park mall, from Oja (옹자) station - Lowyat of Korea with beautiful night scenery

3) Myeongdong (명동) - Very happening shopping street

4) Korean Style Village (남산골한혹마을) - olden style housing

5) Dongdaemon (동대문) - Shopping district open till 4am

6) N Seoul tower - visit at night for shows (can walk from Myeongdong)

7) 64 Building - Wax museum and lots more

8) Hongik university area (홍대입구) - Youth district + area for nightlife (clubbing)

Don't go to :
1) Lotte World - Small and rides are not exciting enough

2) Redeo Street in Apgujeong (압구정) - Far from subway and nothing to see

Busan (부산) :

1) Seomyeon (서면) - Busan's downtown with underground shopping (something like Myeongdong)

2) Busan Tower + Nampo - another shopping district + lot of souvenirs (if you can find), do pay a visit to Jagalchi(자갈치) Market for fresh living seafood

3) Taejeongdae (태종대) - Lot of cliffs with lighthouse but quite difficult to go

4) Gwangan (광안) - with Gwangali Beach and Gwangan Bridge (night scenery)

5) Haeundae (해운대) - Most famous beach in Busan and more than only a beach

- Yonggungsa Temple (용궁사) - Temple by the cliff (bus ride with long distance)

6) Busan University or Pukyong National University area - youth district for lot of activities

Other :

1) Jeju Island (제주) - MUST visit (not in a day)

- Mystery Road (next to Loveland) - Really mystery (must be in transportation)

- Loveland - Park with xxx, I should said : Artistic

- Yeomiji Park (여미지) - Park with a lot of theme

- ATV ride (all terrain vehicle)

- The Park of Southern Land (태왕사신기) - where the film was shot

2) Gyeongju (경주) - Full of ancient and good to have bicycle traveling (rentable)

- DON'T GO to Seoguram Grotto (you will regret for sure)

- Bicycle ride around the downtown will be more than enough

3) Jinhae (진해) - Korea most popular location for Cherry Blossom (seasonal)

4) Gimhae Park (김해) - Park with a lot of Cherry Blossom Trees (seasonal)

Food to eat (or drinks)
(not in priority order)
1) Banana Milk (바나나 우유) - very banana
2) Spicy chicken (찜닭) - very spicy but taste really good

3) BBQ (삼겹살) - very famous Korean BBQ

4) Fried chicken - can get everywhere, drink beers together

5) Cakes from A Twosome Place Cafe - only place with delicious cake

6) Korean pancake (파전) - Lot of flavor till you to have them all

Foods only in Busan
1) Soup rice (곡밥) - rice in good tasting soup

Foods only in Gyeongju

1) Vege rice (쌈밥) - rice and everything wrap in vegetables

2) Gyeongju Bun & Barley Bun - must eat fresh

Special Events :
1) Cherry Blossom Season (in year 2001, around 2nd week of April)
- Cherry Blossom Festival (Jinhae) - lot of stalls and performances