Hot Spots
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You’ll Love to Buy These Worms! Larva Town!!
YouTube Credit Source : https://www.youtube.com/user/Larva2011ani
I used to love watching it before and I was able to watch it everywhere in Korea. When I took the bus, subway, even in an elevator, I could see it everywhere. It’s not very popular anymore but kids still love to watch it. It is a Korean animation series that is called ‘Larva’. Attached above is one of the episodes so you can watch it if you want. There are two main characters and one is Yellow and the other one is Red. Yes, they’re worms and they’re lovely, funny and cute worms. When you watch it, you’re going to love them. They’re very addictive.
I recently found out there’s a goods shop in Jongno, Seoul which is not very far from my place. It specializes in Larva characters and they also run their coffee shop inside. Actually they’re divided into three different themes, goods shop, photo zone in the yard, and the coffee shop. The yard is open to the public like a park so you can visit there anytime you want. You can also enjoy your coffee at the coffee shop surrounded by the lovely and funny characters.
Look. They’re funny already.
Look at those items here at the goods shop. They’re all characterized products. Sadly, they’re not very popular any more so they didn’t have that many customers there.
I really love their faces and looks. Yellow and Red are the main characters.
This is the yard that provides some figures outside and you can use them to take your pictures.
This is the coffee shop that is called Café Wingcle. They also sell ice cream and dessert kinds. Just a normal coffee shop.
Here’s some more information about this place if you’re interested in visiting here.
Address : 1, Gyeonghuigung-1gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Location : Near the Exit 8 of Gwanghwamun Station, line 5
Phone Number : 070-4609-6492
Admission : Free
Operating Hours : 10:00 ~ 20:00
Homepage : http://tubaani.com/
YouTube Credit : https://www.youtube.com/user/Larva2011ani
Shopping
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I Forgot the Value of this Food. Mandu!!
This Korean food is such a common street food and you can see it everywhere so I totally forgot to introduce it to you. This is one of my favorite Korean foods and you can eat it anytime as long as you want. You can find it in restaurants, supermarkets, even in convenient stores or snack places. It is Mandu, Korean dumplings. It is considered as fast food now since you can get frozen ones and cook it in your own way, steamed, boiled, fried, etc.
If the mandu is griiled or fried, it is called gun-mandu, when steamed, jjin-mandu, when boiled, mul-mandu. You can add some when you cook something like ramyeons, tteokguk and many other Korean soup kinds. It can be served free when you order packages at a Chinese restaurant in Korea. There is one kind that I don’t like about mandu. It is kimch-mandu. I don’t understand why they love this kind because it tastes spicy and strong. Sadly, my wife loves it so sometimes I have to accept my fate.
This is Jjin-mandu, steamed one. It is very easy to cook. They look so delicious and lovely, don’t’ they? Jjin-mandu is also juicy since it’s steamed by water. You also need soy sauce so you can slightly dip it in.
This is Gun-mandu, grilled one on a pan. It tastes crispy since it’s fried. Many Chinese restaurants serve gun-mandu when you order packages but its quality is not very good.
These are Mandu-guks and when they put some tteoks (slices of rice cake) in it then it’s called tteok-mandu-guk. I’d prefer the normal one without tteoks.
They look good but it’s red. Be careful!! It is RED!!
As I said, you can get those frozen packs in supermarkets. (Sorry, I had to hide the brand name.) And you when you cook ramyeon and put some of it, you’re going to love it.
There are many recommendable mandu restaurants and I found one near my place. Most of them serve Mandu-guk kinds and steamed one. If you’re interested in visiting this restaurant for mandu-guk then please check out the information below. This restaurant has been introduced on a TV show 3 times already and it’s very popular now.
Address : 683, Olympic-ro, Gangdong-gu, Seoul
Phone Number : 02-471-4436
Operating Hours : 11:30 ~ 19:00
[Menu and Price]
Tteok-Mandu-guk : KRW 7,000
Jjin-Mandu : KRW 7,000
Food
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Very Large Film-Making Studio Complex In Namyangju City!!
We’ve been to this place a long time ago and I was told that it’s been shut down because of its safety issues with some old studios. But I’ve also heard that they’re planning to reopen it soon. So it’s not possible to visit this place right now but it’s still recommended since it’s very impressive. After remodeling, it would be better than before, I hope. So I’m looking forward to getting back there soon again.
It was built to film the very famous movie ‘JSA’ at first and they kept building more studios and now it’s probably the biggest outdoor film-making studio in Korea. They also had displays of the Korea’s movie history so it was like a museum since they showed various exhibitions and equipment about making films. You can learn about the birth and development of films as well as the film making process. They also have a theater that screens Korean movies every month for free.
Many Koreans would recognize this. This is called Panmunjeom, the Joint Security Area where discussions between North and South Korea take place in. And of course this is not the real one. This is where the movie ‘JSA’ was filmed.
I don’t know why they’re here but they looked real and broken. They’re probably for filming as well.
This studio was for filming another famous Korean movie ‘Pirate’. I wondered how they did it here.
I heard that this studio has been used for filming many Korean historical movies and dramas.
You can see the list of movies and dramas here. I can recognize many of them.
When you get inside the building, you can see so many exhibitions. It is literally like a museum.
This is the miniature studio that was used in the Korean first 3D animation movie ‘Wonderful Days’. They also provided footages how they used this studio in the movie.
Wow, they’re all very classic Korean movies. I couldn’t actually recognize any of them because I’m still too young.
Here’s some more information about this place if you’re interested in visiting this place sometime in the future. Please keep in mind that they’re not available for now.
Address : 138, Bukhangang-ro 855Beon-gil, Joan-myeon, Namyangju City, Kyonggi-do
For Inquiries : 031-579-0613
Admission : KRW 3,000 (Adults) / KRW 2,500 (Students) / KRW 2,000 (Children)
Parking Facilities : Available (Free)
Operating Hours : 10:00 ~ 17:00 / 10:00 ~ 16:00 (Nov – Feb)
Homepage : http://bynyjstudio.co.kr/ (N/A for now)
Travel
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Such a Popular Korean Fish Stew, Dongtae Jjigae!!
There was a Dongtae Jjigae restaurant that we used to love to go but it’s gone now. I don’t know why but this restaurant is not available anymore. It’s a shame. But the purpose of blogging here is to introduce Korean foods, not to recommend restaurants in Korea. So I’m still writing this so please understand. Dongtae Jigae is such a popular Korean stew made from frozen pollocks. They’re very cheap in Korea and very delicious.
Dongtae Jjigae is a very common and popular Korean cuisine but it’s still hard to find a professional Dongtae Jjigae restaurant. Most of them serve just average quality but you can still taste the same when a Korean housewife cooks it for you. Once you find the better one then you’re going to fall in love with it immediately. Especially during the winter, it’s so cool when you have a bite. That’s how Korean people say, ‘cool’. Of course it’s hot and spicy but they still say ‘It’s cool!’ You better find out yourself why.
This is when they set our table for Dongtae Jjigae. We didn’t have many side dishes but they were all good.
It’s very important how they make their broth for the Jjigae. And radish, green onions, tofu, anchovies are added.
This is so tempting, isn’t it? My mouth is watering again, ha.
When you take a bite of the stew in a freezing day, you’re going to feel like your whole body is melting with the warmth inside.
I can see some mysterious ingredient inside the stew that looks like a brain shape but it’s also chewy and good to taste. Someone told me that it’s a fish organ.
I can’t give you the address of the restaurant that we visited since it’s gone now but I have a place to recommend which is known as a must-go restaurant. It is located not too far from my house so we might want to be there sometime soon. Here is the information.
Address : 96, Sangam-ro, Gangdong-gu, Seoul
Phone Number : 02-477-8858
Operating Hours : 11:00 ~ 22:00
[Menu and Price]
Dongtae Tang : KRW 7,000 (for each)
Agu Tang : KRW 8,000 (for each)
Agu Jjim (small) : KRW 28,000
Food
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Korea’s Typical Winter Activity, Ice-Fishing!!
There are many ice fishing festivals in Korea during the winter season. Unfortunately, many of them had to close them early this year because of the warm weather. It wasn’t cold enough to freeze the rivers this winter so many of them couldn’t last long for ice fishing festivals. I was told that the total number of visitors this winter was even less than the half of the last winter season. It is a shame since we’ve been influenced this much by global warming now and I’m afraid that it’s going to be worse in the future.
It is still an entertaining outdoor activity for the winter. Everyone can catch fish very easily and it’s delicious when you eat it right after fishing. Many people have hobbies of going fishing but I’m not very much into fishing, I like to eat raw fish and sushi though. For this winter activity, you have to be ready to embrace the cold on ice. You can enjoy some other exciting activities as well such as ice sledding and snow slides.
This reservoir is frozen during the winter so you can go onto the ice and make a hole for fishing on it.
Children can go for snow slides or ice sledding. This is what you can usually see when you go for ice fishing in Korea.
It’s a shame. The reservoir is not very frozen this winter. So you must not go onto the river unless you want to get drowned and freeze to death. The weather is too warm to freeze the river outside this winter.
So everyone is fishing at the fishing sites, not on the ice.
You can catch some smelts and you can put them in a bowl provided.
If you bring the fish you catch to their place, they can cook them for you. The smelts will be fried and the trout can be either ‘hoe (raw fish)’ or grilled. You can order some side foods as well for your appetizer.
Here’s some more information about this place if you’re interested in visiting here.
Address : 37-30, 741Beon-gil, Gobigogae-ro, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon-si
Phone Number : 032-933-1366
Admission : KRW 5,000 / Ice Fishing Set KRW 32,000 (For 2)
Operating Hours : 07:00 ~ 17:30 / 2019. 12. 14 ~ 2020. 03. 01
Homepage : http://www.ssfestival.co.kr/
Entertainment
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Such a Unique Village in Paju! Heyri Art Village!
There is an art village in Paju city and it’s called Heyri Art Village. If you get there, you’re going to see a lot of unique arts there but there is one thing that makes me feel uncomfortable. They’re trying to use them to make money. It’s not easy to find a place to visit for free in there so it is excessive commercialism. Other than that, it is still worth trying to visit this place.
It was designed in 1997 and completed in 1999. When they started developing it, they invited many artists to participate to contribute their ideas. In the end, 380 cultural artists created the studios in art, music, video, photography, literature, mediums and they’re all mixed and created this village. The easiest way to get out to the village is of course by car. So I would suggest that you rent one if you want to get there.
There are many pretty coffee shops there and this is one of them. It says ‘Coffee is an art.’ So everything is art in this place, ha.
The sign of this building says ‘African Gallery’ so we wonder what could be inside. African galleries or arts can be very unique to us.
These photos are not from a museum. We took them at a coffee shop. They built and designed with many artistic works.
They used to have shuttles before but I’m not sure if they’re still running them during the winter season.
There is some retro trend in Korea but they are way too old, ha. I remember those old things though.
So this is probably called Cola Museum, I guess? You can see so many products related to Coca Cola.
They all seem to be made of woods and they also look strange. I don’t what they’re for. Puppets?
Here’s some more information about this place if you’re interested in visiting this place.
Address : 70-21, Heyrimaeul-gil, Tanhyeon-myeon, Paju-si, Kyeonggi-do
For Inquiries : 031-946-8551
Admission : Various
Operating Hours : 09:00 ~ 18:00
Homepage & Credit Source : https://heyri.net/blog/heyri/index.asp
Travel
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Korean Traditional Market, Gwangjang Market!!
Gwangjang Market is a Korean traditional street market and its old name is Dongdaemun Market. It is now one of the oldest and largest traditional markets in Korea and they say that approximately 65,000 people visit this market each day. In the beginning, they sold agricultural and seafood products but as it became bigger, they began to sell many other products such as fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, bread and etc.
Today this market is famous for its bindaetteok (Korean pancake) and mayak gimbap. Basically I like to eat Korean pancakes but this bindaetteok is so awesome. It is very delicious. I don’t think I’m going to forget that taste for a while. It’s always crowed with people there so it’s not easy to walk through the crowd all the time. Besides, many of them were introduced on TV shows in Korea so you should wait in a long line for some of them.
This is from the main entrance of the market. You can see that there are many people already from the beginning.
The path is not spacy enough getting through inside because they set up their tables on the path.
They look so yummy. They’re all Korean traditional street foods but you can see some of them on Korean big holidays.
This is the bindaetteok that I’m talking about. It is a super delicious Korean pancake.
This is the mayak gimbap. Mayak means drug in Korean so you get addicted once you taste it. It’s funny.
This is called ‘Hotteok’ and it’s a very popular street food in Korean especially during the winter season. It’s a type of filled pancake.
Below is some more information about this place if you’re interested in visiting here.
Address : 88, Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Location : Near the exit 7 of Jongno O-ga Station, line 1
Inquiries : 02-2267-0291
Operating Hours : 09:00 ~ 23:00
Homepage (Credit Source) : http://www.kwangjangmarket.co.kr/en/
Shopping
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Visiting Dumulmeori for Famous Hotdogs and Fresh Air
There is another nice place to refresh your head when you need a break which is not too far from Seoul. It is located where Bukhangang River and Namhangang River meet and it’s called Dumulmeori in Yangpyeong. Dumulmeori means ‘two water area’ and this place is famous for its 400 year old Zelkova tree which is really a giant tree. It is a privately owned place, still it’s a popular site for filming Korean TV dramas, movies, commercials and wedding pictures as well.
We had a chance to visit this place once before. It was my wife's suggestion and it was actually for a hotdog, ha. One of the famous female comedian mentioned the hotdogs of this place on the TV show and it became the most popular hotdog place in Korea since then. So we actually went there because of the hotdogs. Still it was a beautiful place and it’s very good to take a stroll. So I had to decide, whether this blog is for Food category or Travel category. And here it is.
This is the Zelkova tree that I stated above. Can you believe that it’s 400 years old? Look at the size of the people down there. It is incredible!
This is called Dumulmeori Dock where they used to run ancient ferries before. We could see some ducks instead.
You can take a walk along the way and it is very peaceful down there. Can you feel it from those pictures?
There is a photo zone providing a frame and this place is known as a place that makes your wish come true. It’s like a wishing well. Believe it or not.
This is the place for the hotdog that I mentioned above. It was very good. Why was I holding three? Because I was going to have two, haha.
Here’s some more information about this place if you’re interested in visiting this place.
Address : Yangsu-ri, Yangseo-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun, Kyonggi-do
For Inquiries : 031-770-1001
Admission : Free
Operating Hours : 24 Hours
Food
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What a Beautiful Marine World! Lotte World Aquarium!!
It is such a famous landmark in Seoul and everyone in Korea knows about this place. It is called Lotte World and it is a huge complex mall located in the Songpa-gu area in Seoul. It is 123-story building with 555 meters in height. There are countless entertaining places and shops including this aquarium. If you love animals in the ocean, you should definitely visit this place. You will realize that this place is full of surprises.
I was told that they have over 650 species and 55,000 marine animals in there so it is literally a small beautiful world with living creatures. They have the largest seawater tank in Korea and the quality of its seawater is the highest level with life supporting system. It is amazing. You’ll see that it is amazing, beyond description.
This is the Lotte World Tower, the supertall skyscraper and it’s currently the tallest building in Korea. I heard that it’s the 6th tallest building in the world.
The aquarium is in B1 and they have their own aquarium program but they look like kids’ programs.
I thought it was a painting. They look so peaceful in there and beautiful.
Did you notice something from the first photo? It’s an alligator. He looks like he’s living in the jungle, ha.
They’re the notorious piranhas and they’re probably the scariest fish in the world. I know it’s fake but why do they have the skeleton in the water?
They have an aquarium tunnel so you can see so many marine animals while you walk in the tunnel. They provide very long moving line with the length of 840 meters.
You can feed the carp in your sight but you need to buy their food. It’s called Carp Bottle Feeding.
Oh, look at the otters’ family. They look so cute. Would they notice that we’re watching them?
They also have a robotic fish. So it can actually swim in the water!? Interesting!
I love them. I’ve always had dreams of Finding Nemo!
Nope! It’s not a scary movie!
Here’s some more information about this place if you're interested in visiting there.
Address : B1, Lotte World Mall, 300, Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul
Location : Near exit 5 of Jongno Sam-ga Station, line 5
Phone Number : 1661-2000
Admission : 31,000 KRW (Adults and juniors) / 27,000 KRW (Children under 12)
Operating Hours : 10:00 ~ 20:00 (Mon –Thu) / 10:00 ~ 22:00 (Fri – Sun)
Homepage (English) : http://www.lotteworld.com/aquarium/en/index.asp
Entertainment