Friday, July 31, 2009

Sparkling Korea: Part 1- Getting around

Aaah, Korea, a giant shopping mall. It is currently at the top of my favourite shopping cities around the world. *LOVES KOREA SO MUCH*

Part 1: Getting Around

Incheon International Airport
After landing, the best way to get to Seoul is by limousine bus. After exiting the airport, there are counters to buy bus tickets. The very comfy bus will cost only around W 12,000, compared to W 60,000 for a taxi. There are many bus routes, which stop at various locations, including hotels. Check out the nearest stop to your hotel at http://www.airport.kr/airport/traffic/bus/busList.iia?flag=E&fake=1142381787184. Alternatively, you can be like me and take a bus to the vicinity of your hotel, and take a cab for the rest of the journey.

For k-pop fans, check out the buses, which have pictures of cute boybands plastered all over!
Korea is so awesome! ^^

Gimpo Airport
This airport has Korean budget airlines flying to Jeju... can buy return tickets for around W 130,000 from Jeju Air. Just queue up at the ticketing counters. You can reach the airport on the subway, and it will take around 1 hour from town (e.g. Myeongdong area).

KTX train
Take the subway to Seoul Station to take the train to other places in korea such as Busan, Gwangju etc. You can buy the tickets online at http://info.korail.com/2007/eng/eng_index.jsp.

Subway
Buy a T-card from the subway station or any convenience stores, and use it like an ez-link card. You can top up the value at any of the easy-to-operate machines at the subways. Koreans are wonderfully gracious and will queue up at the doors, and chivalrous korean guys even offer seats to ahjummas!

If you're bored, there's also eye candy on the trian ^^


Taxi
Their taxi drivers are all equipped with phones, so you can give them your hotel's phone number, and they will call them to get exact directions. Taxis are really cheap! So if you're travelling with a couple of friends, it's very convenient. But beware of jams.

Introduction

There is one great love in my life.

SHOPPING.

When I travel overseas, the first (and sometimes, only) priority is shopping.

And when I return to reality (& work), I will cheer myself up by just looking down at what I'm wearing... because memories of my hedonistic travels will flood back, and my mood is lifted instantaneously upon seeing:
- Top: KRW 5,000, from random shop in Migliore, Korea
- Skirt: KRW 30,000, from Mango, Korea
- Watch: HKD 400, from City Chain, HK
- Shoes: USD20, from Nine West, NY
- Bag: USD900, from Tod's, NY
- Hair: KRW 65,000, cut and highlighted in Korea

And so, because another great love in my life is research (yes, I am v nerdy ^^), I have decided to share my v detailed shopping tips to all girls who love to shop around the world.