Tan Hui Juan

Saturday, November 9, 2013 @ 9:53 PM

Seoul Sourcing Trip

Hello all. Lazy pig is back after MIA-ing for so long. Today I am back with my ridiculously long overdued post of Korea! I went to Korea on September 8 (departed, arrived on the 9th) - September 16 with Singapore Polytechnic's Business School. It's actually a study + sourcing trip but since I'm in the sourcing team this time round, I 80% sourcing and 20% study.

The sourcing team. Left to right: Me, Siying, Alison and Yon Ling. I knew Siying already since she's my FYP group, but at that point of time I don't know Alison and Yon Ling and I was really kind of nervous as to who am I going to spend most of my time with for the next 9 days was gonna be. But here goes nothing!

Checked in, ready to head to departure!

Who don't love travelling? Woohoo. Besides, I have never been to Korea before!

LOL Ms Raine! At that point I don't really know Ms Raine too, so I was kinda scared also la! Don't know anyone. Actually I'm like the only DMIT student in the whole trip leh. So daring ah me.

Waiting for boarding.

In the plane.

Korea Air is actually quite good, their movies quite new. I watched "The Internship" then and it was pretty new at that point of time. Comparable to SIA I think, but just that SIA always will ask you if you need anything but Korea Air is slightly lesser.

Behold, the beauty of East China Sea at 3:00am, 37000 feet off the ground.

Then the beautiful Sunrise.

And guess what we got the first thing we landed?

First stop some udon place where we grab udon for breakfast.

Our coach.

We're here, and all korea meals provide side dishes and appetizers! Definitely kimchis!

A place where they con tourist la.

It was USD 5. Not sure if we are too full or this is really not that nice.

The view.

After which, we headed over to the royal palace to learn a little history about the Korean's royal family.

So when we arrived, the guards are just about to do the shift change ceremony.

Then after ceremony, in we go to the actual palace.

King's steps I think. LOL I FORGOT ALREADY.

The whole thing looks the same to me la.

The king's throne if I'm not mistaken.

Their design a bit like those Chinese palace also.

This is the place for celebration. HAHA. The square poles are supposed to have dragons on it but it was destroyed during the war.

And the king like to fish?

Inside the king's bodyguard room.

My ticket. LOL.

Then inside the museum.

I don't like sightseeing!! and my legs are tired for walking around. ):

The East gate or DONGDAEMUN. Which is where our first hotel is located near.

Then we headed to Myeong-dong for a little shop and lunch. This place is full of COSMETICS. Seriously.

Then for most part of their underground train stations are full of shopping places.

Then for our first lunch, we have topokki! Which is rice cakes and this place's come with prawn, squids all those. First time eating Korean Rice Cakes and this is really yumm!

Our -ehem-NOT THAT GOOD-ehem hotel.

I swear it looks like those hourly hotel lo. And you know there was a "nightclub" on the top storey. I'm like WHAT?!

Lo and behold, Dongdaemun well known shopping area. They are well known for wholesaleing stuff but honestly their stuff are really not that cheap la. Most stuff must buy in bulk and they brush you off if you are not going to buy in bulk. They'll be like: "SHOPPING? NO. NO SHOPPING HERE." -.-

However, this place is quite quiet in the morning. It's until the night time where things come to life.

Bought ourselves some more milk to try. HAHAHA.

Was back at the hotel for 15 minutes and painted my nails! hahaha.

Then we tried some road side food!

It's a bit like the hong kong egglets, just that it is filled with flour. Quite yum, but very filling.

Their overly pretty "LONG KANG (drain in hokkien)".

Then we walk walk around and started a little of sourcing.

After ALOT of walking around, we finally settled down for dinner at Doota's food court.

Beefy rice. Very expensive, more than 10USD I think.

Loots of the day!

Day 2! Better view of my hotel.

Us, ready for day 2!

Study trip students being briefed for their sourcing mission.

Then off we go!

Before that, we grabbed some breakfast!

Then we walked pass a street that sells a lot of animals and animal related stuff.

All the students waiting at our hotel with their sourcing loots!

LOL Ms Raine siao liao.

HAHAHA. LOL It was raining and we need something hot, so KOREAN BARBECUE IT IS!

This place is just behind our hotel!

See! Still got the vacuum smoke sucking thing! So authentic!

Hungry me need my food.

It's ala carte la, no buffet, if not they would have lost everything cause I ate a lot. HAHA.

Hi Aly!

Sides!

MY VEGGIE. I ate a lot of this and I am embarrassed about it. HAHAHA.

I love this place's kimchi.

Wee happy us.

Look at that flaming charcoal. No fire adjustment thing, just real hot charcoal!!

First up, beef.

DROOLS. VERY YUMMY.

Soup.

Pork.

I accidentally set it on fire lol.

Hot soup is appreciated in the cold weather!

Yum pork wrapped in veggie.

In the toilet. LOL.

Then walked around and it's supper again!

LOL BIG MENU. Damn unglam but too paiseh to retake.

See la I take until so nice for her. HAHAHA.

Kimchi weee.

Omg, I love the potato la.

Ginseng Chicken. The soup quite bland though.

Coffee needed cause of the late night stock processing. Sigh.

Next morning up early again, to head to Seoul University. And it's raining again.

Getting ready for our presentation in the bus.

or cam whoring.

I also want to sleep!

Typical school meal in the university.

Ready for presentation?

Rice cakes from the university.

Then we get to speak the one of the student there!

School crest. Like Harry Potter sia.

Weeee~

The super big metal structure of their school logo.

Everyone at the study trip.

Street food again!

Korea's Paris Baguette. It's literally everywhere. Like the Starbucks in Singapore.

Dinner place! This is just beside our hotel too!

Since we can't speak their language, I took a pic of what I wanted and showed them.

The baos we bought earlier.

I really don't know what's inside.

Hi.

This place's sides.

The kimchi ramen (instant noodles la).

Udon Jajangmyeon.

My seafood kimchi soup.

Dessert!

Everyone squeezed in a hotel room to process stocks again. HAHAHA.

Cookies from Paris Baguette. Nom~

They bought cake to celebrate me and Venus' birthday!! <3 p="">

Then the next day, we're off to Seoul Station to take the high speed train.

Hi.

My cheese soufflé from Paris Baguette for breakkie in the train.

Chocolate Soufflé.

At the textile factory.

Guess how much these chickens cost?

Ready? 220 USD.

Into the factory we go!

I forgot where is this but we dropped by to have our lunch here.

Lunch at this big gorilla place.

White Radish.

My bibimbap! It's very nice!!

Pork cheek I think.

Drip the sweet chilli sauce all over~~

Cold noodles.

Mix mix mix. Wee!

When we are there, there are filming going on!

Look at the colorful fruits!

Look at the big tomato!

Then off we go to Honda Factory! THE AMOUNT OF CARS!!

No videography and photography are allowed in the factory, but the guide talked to us through our personal speakers, cool! It was damn cool inside to be able to see flat metal become actual cars. A very cool experience I must say.

Grilled sotong!

More street food!

Hot dog in fries. Not that nice actually cause very floury.

Then my eyes are infected lol.

Hi Annabelle doll.

Night sourcing again.

Dry sunburnt skin started peeling. ):

Good morning and out we go again!

If I had not mistaken, this is at Insadong where we are here for more shopping. This area is more well known for their accessories. How ever, again, many of which don't sell individual pieces and you have to order and come back a week later to collect it.

Our tourguide, Ms Boh.

And it was raining almost every single day we were there. Sigh.

Fish cake.

LOL MR RANDY AND HIS BRA SHOP.

Settled down for some food cause it was pouring.

Inside the accessories place.

This is in the toilet. Yes. I'm not kidding you.

Back in the coach.

PB CAFE AGAIN.

In korea, they let you kiap your own bread.

At Ewha University area. This place is damn good for shopping! No joke, my favourite place. HAH.

We went ahead and did something really embarrassing...

LOL. Look at the gigantic scissors!

Finally we changed out hotel!!

Small but so much cleaner!!

Got oven and stove some more!

MILK.

Strawberry juice. I don't really like it LOL.

Dinner time again. Why do I feel like I'm always eating only.

All the fried food.

Oysters

Don't know what is this la.

The hotel's laundry room.

Hi. LOL my eyes not healed yet.

Source source source!

LOL at our ridiculous bedroom.

View from our room.

So that day was a free and easy day and since we love Ewha so much, we're going back with the train!

LOL at the gigantic vending machine

Korea's diaso.

Breakfast at Paris Baguette again!

It was damn hard to find Royal Pudding there though. It's always out of stock.

Kitty cat cafe.

Lol we didn't went it. We were damn full and it was quite expensive.

The actual Ewha University.

The very special Sweet Potato Hollychinno.

Shoe paradise!

Push cart food outside our hotel.

It's basically flour and brown sugar. Quite yum too.

LOL Creepy Hello Kitty.

Lunch + Dinner! Famous chicken!

Tired and hungry.

Actual chicken soup!

Us.

The noodles.

Boil boil!

Put the noodle in and let it boil.

Prepare sauce to dip chicken in. It's not spicy at all despite it's looks.

There are also rice cakes inside.

Finishing.. (our table)

Finished. (lecturer's table)

Hollys Coffee again.

Our drinks.

My Real Belgium Caffe Latte. Really chocolaty and yum!

While waiting...

And waiting...

Cooked supper at my hotel room to share with the girls!

A new day and today we are at Myungdong!

Settled down for some "Ugly but tasty gimbap"

This is the mixed one I think.

This is the "Ugly but tasty" one. It's actually pretty good and tasted a bit like Jurong Point's onigiri.

Pork chop.

Off shopping we go!

Trying to find coins to buy train tickets.

Finally in!

Finally reached INSADONG!

Carrying the stocks haha.

I've been looking for this twisted potato everywhere!

That ice cream!

Aly painted Evin's nails lol.

The biscuit that you are supposed to eat the shapeout. It's caramel sugar biscuit.

Starbucks is a must. Chocolate banana something I forgot. HAHAHA.

Chicken Kebab. Not sure what is it actually called there. It's actually quite nice!

Spicy and non-spicy.

Back at hotel. Took a picture with our tour guide cause it's our last full day. ):

Gift from Korea Tourism Board.

And you thought Singapore's subway system was confusing.

Caramelized fruits.

Me with Hello Kitty. LOL.

Last Sunset we saw at Korea.

Guess what is this?

Egg pancake.

This is very nice. Sweet and savoury. Yum!

The beautiful Long Kang again.

So for our last dinner, we definitely have to eat something that we will miss... KOREAN BARBECUE. And we went back to the same place because we really loved it there.

My heart shaped beef. LOL.

Bought some lemonade cause I've been wanting to try it since day one. Freshly squeezed!

Yep it is too sour for most of them but I LOVE IT!

Last morning! ):
Woke up and have breakfast at a nearby cafe.

Yummy sandwich.

oh and before we fly off, there is something I keep saying I wanted to get...

Sugar glazed doughnut: melts in your mouth. MUST TRY.

Bring our luggage down. ):

Siying bought this no neck rabbit. LOL.

Last picture with Ms Boh before we fly home! )':

The very nice Jajangmyeon from the airport's food court!

Right before boarding.

Lift off!

The very nice peanuts given by the airlines.

Bibimbap in the plane but it's not as nice as the real one.

Ice Cream!

Yep and that's it. We're back. Korea trip was great. Really love the place and the company. ENT TEAM LOVE. Really hope to be back soon. Because we're there for sourcing we usually do processing till 4-5am and have to wake up at 8-9am. It was really exhausting and tiring but a fun and good experience nonetheless. Really miss it there.

In case you haven't realized how tired I was during the trip... This was how I look like 95% of the time when I'm on the bus.

Yep. And that's it. Sorry this post took so long. Was so busy with my business FYP. More stuff to blog about and hopefully I will find time to update soon. Till then, TATA!

P/s. Here's a video compilation of my trip. In case you haven't already watched it.

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