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Showing posts with label foodinthebag in korea. Show all posts
Showing posts with label foodinthebag in korea. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
EVERLAND THEME PARK in KOREA: Photo Essay


EVERLAND is the largest theme park in South Korea. Owned by SAMSUNG, you could definitely see how incredible and grandiose the place is.

When I checked out the itinerary, I didn't understand why we had to visit a theme park. Once my family and I got there, I got it.
It showcased how Korea is entertaining its visitors both foreign and domestic. 
Once you enter, you would notice the different kinds of flowers. Real ones mind you.
It just goes to show how Koreans value the environment. Props to them.
Of course going around the place, you would be awed by how big it was and how nature loving the design was.
We even had to ride this lift in order to get to the other side.

There were actually a lot of things to do. 
 One of our first stop was the mini-safari.
 We had to wait around 20 minutes for the queue but it was worth it.
After, we got on different rides. One got us wet and other was in 4D.
But what I wanted to do was the T-EXPRESS
This guy is the first wooden roller coaster of Korea. According to Wikipedia, 
It was the world's steepest wooden roller coaster (77 degrees). Drop of 57 meters (7th in the world)
Took around 3 minutes and was going around 104km per hour
I got lucky because the wait time was only 20 minutes and usually it takes an hour or so.
 
After enjoying the ride with my bro, we walked around and saw more beautiful flowers.
Until we came across the DOUBLE ROCK SPIN.
I shot a video and take note we got on this like 3 times straight. TOP that!

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Even if initially, I thought it was a waste of time, I actually enjoyed visiting this place. Having bonding moments with my family made everything worth it. Cool right? 

EVERLAND THEME PARK 
199 Everland RO Pogok-Eup,
Cheoin-Gu, Yongin-Si, Gyeonggi-Do, Korea
http://www.everland.com/
http://www.everland.com/web/multi/english/everland/main.html  

Disclaimer: Wrote this based on my experience. Paid the entrance fee as part of a group tour.
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Wednesday, November 5, 2014
SEOUL TOWER: NIGHT TIME FUN.

N SEOUL TOWER or the NAMSAN TOWER is best visited and seen during night time. It allows you to have a 360 view of Seoul's nightscape.

Earlier this year, I was able to visit Korea with my family. Thankfully, I got to unwind with all the activities we did. One of the best places we visited was the NAMSAN TOWER or better known as the SEOUL TOWER.

Blur!!!
There are two ways to get there. First, to get dropped off and walk for a few minutes up a semi-steep paved road. No cars are allowed up unless it is for the disabled or for special cases. 
Second, what we did. Ride a cable car up! Less walk!
 Better to go on non-peak hours so as to avoid the queue.

Once you get to the top, you could see how tall it is.
You enter through the basement and line up for tickets to ride the super duper fast elevator.
The wait isn't that long and the line has some informative tidbits around. You could either go to 2 different restaurants or to the observation deck which we did.
Don't forget to checkout the animations inside the elevator. Quite amusing.
Once you are up there, you can't help but enjoy the view.
and of course get mandatory shots with the family.
Before you go back to the ground floor, take the staircase down one level and go to the SKY RESTROOM.

It has an incredible view while you do the deed.
Don't forget to wash your hands though.

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 After everything, it was a nice experience to ride the cable car up and check out the night view, Take note! There are still things to do.
 Stores and restaurant at found on the ground level. They even have a TEDDY BEAR MUSEUM you can visit. They also got the LOVE PADLOCK area. Here, you write down some love promises on a lock and link it with lots and lots of locks.  
 don't mind the silly person on my right...

and do what I did. Take a sit on a HEART CHAIR. It is said to make you be closer to the one you love or in my case...Destroy a bench.


N SEOUL TOWER
105 Namsangongwon-gil,
Yongsan-gu, 서울특별시 South Korea
237 meters 
http://www.nseoultower.co.kr/

Disclaimer: wrote this post based on my experience. Paid for our visit.
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Friday, October 24, 2014
YOREE in BGC: Delicious Korean Food


 Earlier this year, I was blessed to travel to Korea for a few days to relax and take in the culture. Food was and is definitely on top of my list and true enough I got to enjoy it. 
 How lucky can a guy get that I am able to surround myself with the same kind of food that I got to try out in Korea.
YOREE in BGC is an authentic fresh take on Korean BBQ. Not only do they serve grilled meat but they have a mean menu that has incredible Korean food. Given that their Chef is Korean, most of the guest are Korean as well. 
 We all know for a fact when foreigners crowd a restaurant that serves their home town food, we could conclude that they are enjoying it and it must be authentic as the real thing.
 
 When my friends and I visited for a weekday lunch, the place was packing with Korean Folks. Not bad I told myself. I knew I was in for a treat! 
 
Grilled Meat and Kimchi. The few things that come into my mind when Korean Food is the topic.
But my trip in Korea also led me to appreciate the side dishes or banchan. 
They had us try a few. Small sweet fried anchovies or dilis and other veggies.
 Most notable the Kimchi. The taste was pretty similar to the ones I had in Korea. Not too spicy but the flavor was just right.
 To have the full Korean Food Experience, we tried both the grill and the ala carte menu. 

We were lucky that the staff helped us cook the meat and the chef just kept on bringing out the cooked food.

 A cool dish to watch was the GYERAN JJIM (130Php) or steamed egg on hot stone.

 I know it is just egg but its in a steaming hot pot. Definitely a good way to eat your egg. Not only is it visually stimulating. It is also delicious.
 Another Korean Favorite would be the SEAFOOD JAP CHAE (250Php)
 Sauteed vegetables and seafood, beef with sweet potato noodles.
 The flavors were all absorbed but the noodles as it was placed inside a wrapper.
 The HAE MOOL PA JEON (200Php) was a little too spicy for me.
 Pancake with clam meat, octopus, shrimp and green onion. It was definitely too spicy for me so one bite and I am finished. Water please!
 Incredible enough the next dish wasn't as spicy.
 The KIMCHI JJIGAE (380Php) or Kimchi Stew with rice was a treat on its own. The flavor of the kimchi was present but it wasn't too hot. Interesting feel to be able to taste the kimchi without the heat.

The next dish was a memorable one. Inside a cute and petite stone bowl lies the MINI JEONJU DOL SOT BIBIMBPAP (380Php full size)I remembered how I watched a show in Korea that has a premise of this mixed dish. How fun it was to eat this again!
Bibimbap with cheese, veggies and beef. Beautiful colors to look at but definitely better to taste and eat!
 Moving on, we had the the grilled meat!

To get the best of both worlds, we had the YANGNYUM GALBI (280g-580Php)
 Seasoned short rib with sweet and savory sauce. It had veggies and shrimp.

Everyone's favorite is the SAMGYUPSAL (150g-380Php)
 Pork belly meat. Served with kimchi on the side. Grill them both and sandwich it with leafy greens. Add some sesame oil and other seasoning to make it work for you.
 Richie's aka PICKIEST EATER IN THE WORLD's favorite is the WOO SAMGYUP (150g-320Php)
 Sliced beef belly meat. Grill it to have the edges burnt and crunchy. Just like BACON!

My personal favorite is the  GOCHUJANG SAMGYUPSAL (150g-400Php)
 This was my pick among all the meat. It was hand marinated and massaged for two hours. Sliced pork belly with garlic with redpepper sauce.
 No wonder it was delicious, tender and flavorful. YUMMY!
To end the meal, we were served small portions of  POT BING-SU (170Php) or shaved ice "nowflakes" with adzuki (red) beans
The Korean Version of a halo-halo, this dessert didn't disappoint. The red beans weren't that sweet. It was a great way to end the meal.

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YOREE is the restaurant of choice when it comes to authentic Korean Dishes in the BGC area. Aside from the way you grill your meat, the marinade is different from each dish and compliment each other pretty well. Premium meat and ingredients were used. The ventilation was pretty awesome as I recalled, I didn't smell like smoke afterwards. It may be on the high side but they have group meals so you don't go over budget. I would definitely return with my mom as she is a Korean food addict.



YOREE KOREAN BARBEQUE DINING
Forum South Global,
7th Avenue cor Federation Drive,
Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City., Taguig

FACEBOOK

Disclaimer: Wrote this post based on my experience. Was invited by the good people behind Yoree. Please forgive me if I got the names wrong but to the best of my knowledge and ability these were the correct ones. Kind of difficult for me to remember every name but believe me when I say that the meat is worth it and the flavors marinated well.
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Monday, June 16, 2014
Imperial Palace: Doing it Gangnam

For two nights, my family and I stayed in a weird Korean Hotel. The Imperial Palace Hotel in Seoul was not ordinary and not in a good way! Yeah, its kinda weird! The design is somewhat going for old school classical and Roman but seriously, it doesn't blend.
My family and I arrived late one night. We were greeted by this Bunny with Guns rotating statue.
After getting our cards, we were advised that 3 beds would be given to us.
When we entered the room, it was really small and worst, the 3rd bed wasn't even there. To think, we had checked in really late already!! ARGH!
I looked around first before storming to the lobby to get the 3rd bed installed in.

The washroom was a bit small also. The bathtub was also the shower area. Argh.
 When I saw the "bar", it only had 2 complimentary water bottles when our guide specifically advised us that 3 would be provided since there were 3 of us in the room.
and yes, .. the dental kits and shavers were all for sale. Not part of the usual amenities provided in other hotels.
 I went down to the lobby and asked for the bed and the water. I was informed that they would send someone to fix and install it and would give the water bottle just for this one day since it wasn't really their protocol in sending one over even if you paid for 3. WOW. Worst, it was a bit difficult talking to them in English as they have limited understanding of it.

Whatever, so after almost an hour, I returned and the bed was there and so was the extra water bottle. Yes boys and girls, they left out the shampoo, towel and other kits supposedly for the 3rd person in the room. HAYYY!!! Didn't bother anymore as we were all so tired.

The next day, our tour guide, apologized to us and advised us that the hotel would be sending something over.
 Tadaaa! Chocolates. Honestly though, damage has been done and I won't really be returning to the hotel unless its for free. The rooms are small and honestly, it felt like a motel with all the mirrors around.

So, we had the morning breakfast in their cafe.
 
I liked how they used news articles for their place mats as it is informative and is in English.
 There were a lot of cereals, salad and bread around.
 
Juices were also available.
 Some of the cheese they had.
 For the two breakfast we had there, they had the same stuff as the day before with minimal change.
 Some sausages and hash browns and what not.
 I tried to tone down on my last plate.. but I knew I was lying to myself.
 Good thing the coffee was there to save the day.

The breakfast was okay but the stay wasn't. I would have chosen a different hotel if it wasn't part of the package. Yes the location is quite all right as it was in Gangnam or the downtown area. The rooms are really small and filled with mirrors that I think of motels. There is even a mirror on the ceiling. I would suggest they change the carpeting as its a bit dated and old. Service was not that great as with what we experienced.  Wifi use in the rooms have charges. They do have wifi in the lobby which was free. You could see the chairs all occupied by guests trying to use the internet every night.

All in all, would definitely suggest you go with a different hotel than this.

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 Imperial Palace Hotel
Gangnam, Seoul, Korea.

Disclaimer: Paid for our stay. Wrote this based on my experience. I wasn't asked to write a post on this.
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