My South Korea Autumn Trip: Total Expenses

Destination: Seoul - Jeju - Sokcho - Seoul
Traveling Date: 16 Oct - 23 Oct 2014 (8D7N)

Alhamdulillah, trip to Korea berjalan seperti yang dirancang. Perbelanjaan pun seperti earlier estimated budget plan tapi aku rasa lagi kurang sebab tak sempat nak cover a a few tempat-tempat menarik disebabkan masa yang tak mengizinkan. Dah banyak save satu hal, bila dah ada extra budget ni, banyak pulak nak beli ya, hehehe. Nafsu shopaholic betul. 

Below my budget for 8D7N... Seoul - Jeju - Sokcho - Seoul

KRW1,000 = RM3.158 (Rate Antara Money Exchanger Ampang Park masa tu)


FLIGHT TICKET

AA Return Flight Ticket (KLIA2 - Incheon) = RM702 (Fuel surcharge + Airport Tax + Insurance + processing fee)

AA ADD ON = RM256 (Pre-book seat + baggage + Meals)

JEJU ISLAND (3D2N)

Jeju Air to Jeju = KRW84,000

Jeju Air to Gimpo Airport = KRW52,000

Taxi to Gimpo Airport = KRW55,000 / 5 = KRW11,000

Car rental with insurance & GPS = KRW155,700 / 5 = KRW31,140 (for 3D2N)

Car fuel = KRW48,000 / 5 = KRW9,600

Minyak kena isi penuh before return to the car rental company

Guesthouse (Jeju Hiking Inn) = KRW15,000/pax (Deluxe 3 Bed Private Ensuite)

Guesthouse (Ilchubong Tourist Hotel) = RM53.70/pax (Family Room-4pax)

Yongmeori Coast = KRW2,000

Cheonjiyeon Falls = KRW2,000

Parking Fee (Hallasan) = KRW1,800

Seongsan Ilchulbong = KRW2,000

Jusangjeolli Cliff = KRW2,000


SEOUL (4D3N)

Taxi to Jhonor GuestHouse = KRW96,000 / 5 = KRW19,200/pax
Taxi to Incheon Airport = KRW80,000 / 5 = KRW16,000/pax
T-Money for subway (KRW40,000 topup) = KRW20,000 (usage only)
Taxi to Nami Island (Return) = KRW6,000 / 3 = KRW2,000
ITX Train to Nami Island (one-way) = KRW4,000

Jhonor Apartment (4D3N) = KRW56,700/pax (10 pax with 3 Rooms + 1 bathroom)

Lunch at Eco Cafe = KRW6,000
Dinner at Murree Restraunt = KRW12,500

Nami Island = KRW8,000 (Entrance Fee + Ferry Ride Return)
Seoul Tower = KRW8,500

Souvenirs (SEOUL)
Fridge magnets (Large) = KRW12,000 (KRW1,500/piece)
Fridge magnets (Small) = KRW6,000 (KRW1,000/piece)
Sudu / Garpu = KRW10,000 (KRW1,000/piece)
Set Sudu / Chopstick = KRW10,000 (5 sets of Chopstick + sudu)
Chopstick = KRW4,000/set (1 set consists of 5)
T-shirts (murah) = KRW20,000 (KRW10,000 for 3)
T-shirts (mahal) = KRW20,000 (KRW10,000/piece)


SOKCHO (3D2N)

Dong-Seoul Bus Terminal – Sokcho (Return) = KRW35,000
Taxi to Hangkang Park = KRW3,700/pax (Total = KRW11,000)
Bus Fare = KRW1,200 X 7 = KRW8,400

Hangkang Park Motel (3D/2N) = RM75/pax (Included Cancellation fee kat Agoda)

Mount Sorak = KRW3,500 X 2 = KRW7,000
Mount Sorak Cable Car = KRM9,000


Miscellaneous

Pocket wifi = RM44.94/pax (RM 224.69 for 8 Days rental – Cover South Korea & Jeju)
Cotton Shawl = KRW15,000 (KRW5,000 for 3)
Stokin = KRW7,000 (KRW1,000/piece)
Snowcap = KRW8,000 (ala-ala style artis korea)
Face Care = KRW40,000
Dry Fit t-shirt = KRW10,000
Seluar Trekking = KRW12,000
Banana & Melon Milk = KRW1,300 X 10 = KRW13,000
Instant Rice = KRW1,300 X 5 = KRW6,500
Foods from Malaysia = RM80

Other expenses = KRW50,000

TOTAL EXPENSES ≈ RM3217 (≈ KRW1,018,682) 

Perbelanjaan aku rasa banyak membazir kat shopping. Apakan daya, keinginan mengatasi segala-galanya. So, masa shopping tu kalau boleh jangan lah fikir sangat nak convert duit tu ke brapa RM sebab nanti everyting memang akan multiply by 3. Aku bawa KRW800,000 from Malaysia but still I have KRW180,000 yang aku tak guna. Maybe, banyak save sebab banyak tempat-tempat menarik yang kami tak sempat nak cover. Contohnya, di Jeju walaupun dalam itinerary kami banyak tempat yang dah listed out but still masa tak mengizinkan. Itu petandanya nak kena datang lagi lah. 

My South Korea Autumn Trip: Seoul last day

Myeongdong, Seoul 
Thursday, 23 Oct 2014

Continue from previous post...

Today is our last day at Seoul. And since our flight is at 4.30pm, rasanya masih banyak masa lagi before nak ke Incheon Airport. So, kami gunakan sebaik mungkin masa yang ada ke Namdaemun market. Boleh lah completekan checklist terakhir before balik ke Malaysia, hehehe. Lagipun, aku dah aim a few things kat Namdaemun hari tu cuma tak sempat nak beli lagi jer. Dalam tempoh 2 jam kat Namdaemun market tu sahaja, macam-macam juga yang aku beli.

Tempat pertanyaan

Myeondong tak semeriah di Malam hari

Kami cuma menapak dari guesthouse menuju Namdaemun market. So, akan passed by Myeongdong shopping area. Myeongdong day time memang tak semeriah malam hari.

The main attraction at Myeondong... Beauty care

Macam nak menuju ke gerbang perkahwinan

We returned to Hotel around 12pm sebab dah janji dengan taxi around 1pm tapi mana tahu by the time kami sampai, taxi lagi awal pulak. Efficient betul. Same as first day, we booked jumbo taxi sebab kami berlima kan. Ingatkan sama macam yang mula-mula dulu, rupanya kali ni, 4 orang terpaksa share seat kat belakang. So lucky orang yang duduk front seat, hahaha.

Honestly from deep of my heart

Sedih pulak rasanya nak meninggalkan bumi korea yang penuh dengan kenangan manis sepanjang the past 8 days kami di sini. Bagi aku korea is the safe place to visit. Even-tough, bahasa barangkali penghalang kepada nak bertanyakan sesuatu tapi still the koreans were so helpful in many things. Transportation memang sangat efficient. They are so many things to do, to visit & to see in Korea...  8 days are not enough to cover everything. InsyAllah, I will come again. Busan maybe... or waiting for my next job assignment to Korea, hehehe. Last week, bos dah tanye samada aku willing to travel or not. Of cos, I do. Kalau rezeki bos nak hantar ke sini, ok juga kan.

With the J Honor owner & his assistant

Alhamdulillah, berjaya juga aku tamatkan entry my South korea autumn trip ni.

Thanks to everyone... Fad, Adeq, Kay, Bai, Hani, Fida & sisters yang sama-sama menjayakan trip kali ni. Minta maaf banyak-banyak, kalau trip kali ni tak seperti yang diharapkan. Anyway, I've tried my best to organize to the best I could. Yelah, kita ni hanya merancang, Allah juga yang tentukan. To Cik Haedzerin yang tak dapat join trip kali ni atas sebab tertentu, thank you so much atas sumbangan anda terhadap trip korea ni. InsyAllah, kalau ada rezeki kita pergi lagi ya.

Till then... see again until the next trip. InsyAllah...

The End...

My South Korea Autumn Trip: Dongdaemun & Myeongdong

Dongdaemun-Myeongdong, Seoul 
Wednesday, 22 Oct 2014


Continue from previous post...

After Itaewon, kami ke destinasi seterusnya, Dongdaemun market. Actually, kami dah ke sini pun on the second day. Kami jalan-jalan di Doota mall sajalah. Masa tu dah shopping souvenirs pun kat sini. Tak habis pun explore dongdaemun market ni. Sebab macam tak larat dah masa tu. So, misi ke sini hari ni pun sebab nak cover tempat shopping yang tak sempat pergi hari that day & nak shopping souvenirs lagi.

Doota Mall @ Dongdaemun

Dongdaemun market ni boleh tahan besar & luas. Tapi, tak banyak tempat pun kami cover. Kami ke Doota Mall & shopping area dekat dengan subway yang ada jual bedsheets, comforter korean & yang sewaktu dengan nya. Ada juga member yang recommend beli bedsheet kat sini, katanya quality memang bagus tapi yang range harge dalam RM200. Macam nak beli tapi sudahnya jalan cuci mata sajalah sebab tak tahu yang mana satu quality yang memang betul-betul ok.

Arirang, inside doota mall, one of the best place to hunt for cheap souvenirs

Cik Fad sempat lagi beli buah epal korea kat Dongdaemun market ni bawa balik Malaysia 

After Dongdaemun market, kami ke Myeongdong night market since our first day kat Myeongdong, masih belum berkesempatan lagi nak ke sini. 

Night at myeondong market memang happening. Macam macam jualan ada. Shoes, shirts, foods, fruits, shawl, bags, beauty products, souvenirs, etc. Tapi dalam banyak-banyak kami lebih tertarik kat beauty products jer sebab banyak sangat offer lebih lebih lagi masker. The face shop, etude shop, nature republic and banyak lagi lah. Price memang murah giler lah compare yang dijual kat Malaysia. Masuk kedai jer tak beli pon dapat free mask... hahaha. 

Myeongdong Night Market (pic taken outside Uniqlo)

Aku terserempak my ex-uia friend kat myeondong night market. Aku aware dia kat korea masa tu based on status & pic dia kt fb sbb dia ni quite active juga bermuka buku tp tak tergerak hati plak nak comment anything. Mybe sebab kami tak rapat kot. Tapi kuasa Allah kan, kami jumpa di myeongdong night market. Kebetulan masa tu pun mimi & geng tengah tengok demo korean people showing skill in preparing gula tarik... what a small world kan. Tapi not with her husband and twin boys but with her cousins. Kami tak borak lama pun just gitu gitu jer. Yang pasti dia masih maintain.

Myeongdong Night Market

Tak habis pun tour satu myeongdong night market. Panjang sangat & macam-macam pun ada. And rasanya most of the retailers here also selling almost the same thing. Bagi aku, Myeongdong market ni lebih berbaloi shopping untuk beauty care compare to souvenirs sebab beauty care shop kat sini memang berlumba-lumba kasi discount maut. Kalau nak shopping baju-baju branded, silk, clothes, leather goods rasanya dongdaemun lagi sesuai. And for souvenirs, namdaemun market is the best place. Not only souvenirs but households, bags, shoes, shawls & many things you could shop at cheap & affordable price.

Malam ni kami nak kena berkemas sebab esok kami nak pulang ke Malaysia dah. Tapi esoknya, kami plan nak ke Namdaemun market lagi sebab rasanya masih tak puas nak shopping kat situ. Lagipun flight kami petang, so, pagi tu memang sempat lagi lah nak shopping apa yang patut.

To be continued...

My South Korea Autumn Trip: Itaewon

Itaewon, Seoul 
Wednesday, 22 Oct 2014

After back from Sokcho, again, kami ke J honor Guesthouse, same guesthouse on our first day in Seoul. Actually, kami dah book guesthouse ni for 3 days, the first 2 days & last day in Seoul. And sebab kami book untuk last day juga, the owner sangat baik hati kasi kami tinggalkan luggage kami sepanjang kami travel ke Jeju - Sokcho & back to Seoul. No extra charge. And the best part kami dapat the same room that we stayed on our first day, level 1. So, tak perlu lah bersusah payah nak naik tangga & paling penting dekat dengan lobby.

After checked-in, having a short rest, later... proceed to our next destination, Itaewon. Hari ni memang kami dah plan nak ke situ sebab nak menikmati Halal Korean food. And our target was Murree Restaurant. Selain tu, nak juga melihat suasana muslim people living around there.

Getting to Itaewon from Myeondong by Subway

Myeondong (Line 4) ---> Samgakji (Interchange to Line 6) --> Itaewon (Line 6)

From the subway exit, follow way heading to Seoul Mosque.

Road heading to Seoul Central Mosque

There are so many halal restaurants on the way from Itaewon Subway exit to the Seoul Mosque and the surrounding area. One of the restaurant that serving halal Korean dishes in their menu was Murree Restaurant. So, kalau nak try halal bulgogi, bibimbap & other korean popular dish, make your way to this restaurant. Just located on the way to the mosque. Kami ke sini pun sebab ramai muslim bloggers yang recommended this place.

Muree Restraunt... also served Halal Korean Food

To be honest, aku bukan lah penggemar Korean food Aku rasa, kalau tak ke Korea ni takde makna nya lah aku nak saja-saja nak makan kat sini kan. Kat Malaysia pun tak pernah makan, hahaha. Tapi, dah alang-alang ke negeri orang kan, mestilah nak merasa juga kan, apa yang best nya Korean dish ni. Bagi aku yang first time ni, so so jelah. Yang lain cakap ok. Tapi itulah kelainannya. Kami order bibimbap, Bulgogi & Kimchi egg roll. Total is 76,000 won for 4 pax included drinks with no tax.

Bibimbop (8,000 won)... a mixed rice meal in Korea consists of a bowl of steamed white rice topped with vegetables, beef,  a whole egg & red chili pepper paste

The right way to enjoy bibimbap... just mix them all

Bulgogi or Grilled marinated beef (15,000won)... served together with above set menu

 

Alhamdulillah... calon-calon lelaki soleh :-)

Lepas habis jer dinner, kami pun sambung jalan-jalan sekitar Itaewon. Next agenda, nak cari halah bakery for our tomorrow's breakfast. Ada satu kedai, Salam Bakery yang menjual roti halal kat Itaewon ni. Memandangkan lepas ni kami plan nak shopping ke Dongdaemun & Myeondong, so, kami decide nak tapow kebab dulu, nanti confirm sampai guesthouse dah lapar kan. Lagipun, hari ni last night kami kat Seoul, so, masih banyak lagi yang boleh dibeli & dihabiskan, hahaha.

Seoul Central Mosque at Itaewon (source)

Jalan masuk ke Itaewon Mosque

Meneruskan perjalanan ke destinasi seterusnya

Itaewon at Night

Ada juga Islamic center kat area Itaewon ni

Itaewon at Night

On the way nak balik tu, kami di sapa two ladies from Malaysia yang kebetulan baru sampai di Seoul. Tanya macam-macam juga pasal tu & ini, nasib lah kami dah nak balik, so, memang confident jelah cakap & kasi cadangan. Rupa-rupanya, dia ingat kami ni student malaysia yang study kat sini. I feel so young, hahaha.

From Itaewon, kami ke destinasi seterusnya, dongdaemun


To be continued...

Sokcho Day 3: Seoraksan lagi

Seoraksan National Park, Sokcho
Wednesday, 22 Oct 2014

Today, again, kami ke Seoraksan National Park. Mengubat kedukaan semalam... disebabkan hujan yang turun tak berhenti, semua plan tak menjadi. Awal-awal pagi, bangun tinjau keluar tingkap, Alhamdulillah, nampak gaya macam tak hujan.

Semalam kami keluar awal-awal pagi sebab plan nak hiking. Tapi, memandangkan hari ni plan hanya lah untuk naik cable car sahaja, so, kami pun keluar lah lambat sikit... around 7.00 a.m. Cuaca maybe tak seindah yang diharapkan tapi kira ok lah sebab tak hujan. Cuma, gerimis mengundang sekejap. Dan seperti semalam juga, kami naik bas menuju Seoraksan National Park.

Kami sampai pun agak awal juga masa tu tapi dah nampak ramai juga visitors yang ada. Hari ni barulah aku ada kekuatan nak keluar kan camera. Kalau tak, memang tak dapat lah aku nak abadikan view yang indah di Seoraksan ni. Same procedure as yesterday, bayar entrance fee 3,500 won dulu and for cable car, kena bayar kat cable car station inside. Cost for cable car 9,000won return. Alhamdulillah, kami tak perlu beratur panjang pun sebab masih awal lagi & orang pun masih tak ramai.

Main Entrance to Mount Seorak

Seoraksan Admission Ticket Office

Next to above entrance was Information Counter

Masuk-masuk jer akan nampak beruang yang gagah ni

Follow this way to cable car station

Autumn @ Seoraksan

Cable car Station

After passing the ticket booth and paying the entrance fee, you will see a park where you can get on the cable car. About 5-minute ride will take you near the top, followed by a 30 minutes hike thru available route which will take you to Gwongeumseong Fortress at an altitude of 1,200 meters. This location will give you a bird's eye view of the Seoraksan Mountains.

About 5minutes ride will take you near the top

Turun je dari Cable car akan terus ke sini... naik untuk menunjuk puncak

Autumn foliage seen from top of cable car station

Nice & breathtaking view along the trail heading to peak

More stairways to go

 

Almost there

Gwongeumseong Fortress from below

Wefie

Tak sampai puncak pun sebab baru lepas hujan & trek agak licin

View dari atas Mount Seorak

View dari atas gunung memang sangat cantik. Tak dapat aku gambarkan kalau masa ni cahaya matahari ada, confirm lagi menawan. Tapi, kira bersyukur jugalah sebab at least sampai juga kami ke sini walaupun plan asal nya kami sepatutnya hiking. Cuaca mendung macam ni pun boleh tahan ramai juga orang kat atas ni. Kiranya kalau nak amik gamba sorang-sorang pun susah juga sebab ada je yang inter frame nanti.

Subhanallah...

Seoraksan view from top

Symbolic stones

View around on top seriously cool & ohsem

We follow the same trail back to cable car station

Beautiful view captured otw trail heading to peak

Inside the cable car

The beautiful red

Autumn at Seoraksan

I love autumn colors

Subhanallah

We ended the tour around 10am & back to Hankang Park Hotel. Actually, kami dah check-out pun tapi sebab tak nak menanggung beban ke Seoraksan, kami tumpang tinggalkan bag sementara. So, sampai jer Hotel, just pickup the backpack, touch-up skit & naik bas semula menuju Sokcho Bus terminal. Hari ni juga kami akan back to Seoul.

Bye Bye Sokcho

To be continued...