13 Reasons Why You Should Visit South Korea (and why I DEFINITELY want to go back)

I was 12 when I told myself that there’s no such thing as love at first sight, but I was wrong, because in 2003, I fell in-love at first sight in Korea.

Prior to my visit, my only dream then was to visit Korea to satisfy my addiction for Kdrama and Kpop—buy Kpop merchandise & Korean cosmetics, watch a Kpop concert, and visit filming locations. But after seeing my dream face to face, and realizing that reality was so much better than what I dreamt of, I fell in-love and found a new dream. I want to see and discover more of Korea. I want to share my experience to other people too, especially those who’ve been curious about the country, wondering whether it’s worth the visit or not. 

If you haven’t visited Korea yet, here are 13 reasons why I think you should (and why I DEFINITELY want to go back):

1. Eco-tourism 

– If you’re like me who loves the calming effect of nature, likes to see and take pictures of breathtaking landscapes, or just to do a little walking, trekking, or hiking here and there, then Korea is the place to be. You can visit nature reserves/national parks, arboretums, botanical gardens, eco-trails and other eco-tourism sites. I’m particularly interested in visiting DMZ, the most dangerous nature reserve in the world, which remains practically untouched since 1953, and also look forward to visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site and volcanic island of Jeju.

What’s on my bucketlist (Places I want to visit)?: 

Jeju Island (Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak & Mt. Halla), Seoul Forest, Bukhansan National Park, Seoraksan National Park, Suncheon Bay, Boseong Tea Fields, Jirisan National Park, Garden of the Morning Calm

Seoraksan National Park. Photo Credit: Korea Tourism Organization

2. Hallyu a.k.a Korean Cultural Wave

- Since the 1990s, the popularity of Korean Culture & Entertainment have grown immensely, and this has been greatly attributed to Kdrama (Korean Drama), and Kpop (Korean Pop) Music. Despite the language difference, people all over the world have come to idolize Korean artists. The likes of Super Junior, Bigbang, Girls Generation, Psy, Lee Min Ho, Song Joong Ki, Song Hye Kyo, and Jun Ji Hyun, among others, have all become household names, capturing the hearts of fans from different parts of the world. 

There’s just something unique, and intangible about Kpop and Kdrama that draws people to it. The charming visuals, unique concepts and storylines, or the breathtaking filming sites perhaps? Watch a Kdrama and you would most certainly want to watch them again and again. Listen to a Kpop song, and pretty soon, you’ll be trying to memorize lyrics you may not even know the meaning of. And of course, at the bottom of it all, you’d want to visit Korea so badly to see your favorite idols in the flesh, watch them perform live in a concert and visit all those filming locations of your favorite dramas. Isn’t the power of culture amazing? 

What’s on my bucketlist?: 

Visit the filming sites of my favorite Kdramas--Descendants of the Sun, Moon Lovers: Scarlett Heart Ryeo and Moonlight Drawn by Clouds; Watch a Korean Music Show live; Watch another Kpop concert!^^

Cheonjuho Lake at Pocheon Art Valley, a filming location of Moon Lovers: Scarlett Heart Ryeo

3. Korean Food (Hansik)-

I found Korean cuisine as one of the best I’ve tasted in the world. Before, I had the impression that most Korean dishes are spicy, but when I finally tried them, I found them really flavourful, appealing, healthy and really delicious. There's so much more to it than what meets the eye (or the palate for that matter), because even in their cuisine, Koreans apply the philosophy of balance in terms of colors and ingredients. I also love how each meal in Korea has a lot of banchan (side dishes), which makes the meal more appetizing. 

From street food to local specialties and even desserts, Korean food is really irresistible, so be prepared to get a few extra pounds and stray from your diet when you visit Korea.

What’s on my bucketlist (Food I want to try again): 

Ramyun, Gimbap, Dakgalbi, Bingsu, Bulgogi, Korean Beef Stew, Bibimbap, Jajangmyeon, Tangsuyuk, Japchae, ChiMaek, Bibimyeon, Tteokbokki, Hotteok, Kimchi, Sundubu Jiggae, Samgyeopsal, Bossam, Samgyetang, Haemul Pajeon (this list is making me hungry!)

My favorite dessert, Korean Bingsu!

Bibimbap :)

One of my favorites, Chuncheon Dakgalbi! ^^

4. Tourist Spots

- Boring is a word that doesn’t exist in Korea. There’s just so much to see and do! You can visit Korean Palaces, take a stroll in a traditional village, meditate in a temple, or have an exciting day at a theme park. 

I find Korea also very safe and tourist friendly with lots of tourism centers, downloadable travel apps, and incentives and freebies being offered specifically to foreign visitors. In Seoul, there’s even a helpline specifically set up for tourists.

What’s on my bucketlist?: 

Visit all 100 must-visit sites (HERE), some that I really want to visit are Jongmyo Shrine, Blue House, Moonlight tours at Changdeokgung Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village, Petite France, Nami Island, Everland, Suwon Hwaseong Fortress

My photo with the palace guard at Deoksugung Palace

One of our photos at the Trickeye Museum. It's a fun place to hang out :)

5. Weather & Climate

Korea has moderate weather conditions with four seasons (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter). My favorite time to visit is Autumn. I love the cool weather during this time of the year. I remember that it all felt so magical and surreal when I first saw all that color, and natural vibrance. It was like going inside a painting with warm hues of red, orange, and yellow, everywhere. 

What’s on my bucketlist: 

I also look forward to seeing cherry blossoms during Spring, and experiencing snow, skiing and having a White Christmas for the first time, during winter in Korea!

My favorite picture of autumn taken at Gyeongbokgung Palace :)

6. Art 

- Hanbok, the colorful traditional Korean clothing, reflects the unique and expressive artistic sense of Koreans. No wonder the Korean art industry has sparked the interest and gained the admiration of many people all over the world. You can see how artistic Koreans are through their fashion, their architecture, theatrical performances, and everyday lives. 

My favorite example for this would be Korean street art. I like how they use art to transform less attractive areas in the community. Try walking around Seoul, and you’ll see attractive murals and amusing structures everywhere.

What’s on my bucketlist: 

Mullae Village; Apgujeong Graffiti Tunnel; Songwol-dong Fairytale Village in Incheon; Heyri Art Valley; Ewha Women’s University; Dongdaemun Design Plaza; I also want to watch non-verbal shows like Nanta and Fanta-Stick

LED Roses at Dongdaemun Design Plaza. Photo credit: VisitSeoul.net

7. People

- Koreans are one of the friendliest people I know. They’re warm, genuinely nice, thoughtful and always respectful, especially to elders. It’s really easy to get along with them, even with the language barrier. One of my fears in visiting Korea before was that nobody would be able to understand me, especially if I'm lost and asking for directions. But I was proven wrong because I've encountered several instances where they would go out of their way to help a total stranger like me.  

What's on my bucketlist:

Meet up with my Korean friends in Seoul; meet any of my favorite Korean artists in person :)

8. Technology

- South Korea is definitely at the forefront of technological advancements as it is hailed as one of the most wired countries in the world, with the fastest broadband internet that has an average connection speed of 25.3 / 26.7megabits (mbps) per second, and fastest mobile internet speed at an average connection speed of 18.2 mbps. I definitely took advantage of this during my previous visits, as I can upload hundreds of photos in my social media accounts in a matter of minutes via Seoul’s free 5G public wi-fi. There’s also no need to worry about connection, especially in Seoul, because there’s free public wifi access everywhere.

What's on my bucketlist:

Try the free mobile phone rental for tourists

9. Cosmetics

- Don’t we all envy flawless and healthy looking Korean Skin? I’m a huge fan of Korean Cosmetics as I find them really good for skin care. Since Korean make-up is more expensive in my country, I usually shop in bulk for a few months’ supply when I’m in Korea. My favorite place to shop is in Myeongdong because they usually give a lot of freebies along with my purchase.

What’s on my bucketlist?: 

Cosmetic shopping spree at my favorite stores--The Face Shop, Etude House, Tony Moly, Innisfree, Nature Republic

Some of my favorite items from Etude House ^^

10. Festivals

- Just like my country, Korea is home to many exciting festivals, some of which really sparked my interest... Ever heard of a Chicken & Beer Festival? How about a Mud, or a Water Gun Festival? If you’d like to try them, better take note of their dates to avoid missing them out. 

What’s on my bucketlist?:

Daegu Chimaek Festival, Boryeong Mud Festival, Seoul Lantern Festival, Andong Mask Dance Festival, Jindo Miracle Sea Road Festival, Yeouido Cherry Blossom Festival, Boseong Green Tea Festival, Sinchon Water Gun Festival, Goyang Flower Festival

Some photos I took from the Seoul Lantern Festival:

People were making DIY lanterns and writing their wishes on them.

The lanterns were then set afloat along the Cheonggyecheon stream

11. Transportation

- I find travelling in Korea really convenient as you have a wide variety of options (from trains, buses, ferries, cabs, etc.) to choose from. Their transportation system is really efficient, so driving your own car may not be advisable (plus parking can be expensive). You can go anywhere within minutes just by train, which is cheap, fast, and reliable. 

Because of my tight itinerary, I once had to visit a celebrity owned café prior to watching a concert. At first, I thought I would be late because it was rush hour but I made it just in time, all thanks to the super fast and convenient Seoul Subway :)

Also, if you’re a foreigner visiting Korea, and don’t know your way around, fret not because there are a variety of apps that you can use to navigate around.

What’s on my bucketlist? 

Ride the KTX train going to Busan (haha, and yes, it's because of the movie 'Train to Busan'); Try the Han River Cruise; Try the Seoul Bus Tours

My friends and I enjoying our train ride at the ITX (Intercity Train eXpress)- Cheongchun High Speed Train

12. Coffee Culture

- I’m a self-confessed coffee addict, and Korea has tons of really nice cafes. From themed cafes, to Hanok-style cafes, and my favorite, celebrity owned cafes, you’ll definitely be in for a treat and have a hard time deciding which to visit first. In Seoul alone, you can find some 50,000 coffee shops. Now, that’s a lot of café-hopping in my itinerary.

What’s on my bucket list?: 

Kim Jaejoong’s J-holic Café in Myeongdong; Forresta Book Café; Café Healing 616 in Gangnam; Super Junior Kyuhyun's Mom House & Cafe; Hello Kitty Cafe in Jeju; Dal.komm Coffee in Songdo, Yangjae, and Bundang (because of Descendants of the Sun)

Slow Park in Samcheongdong

Hello Kitty Cafe in Hongdae

13. Medical Tourism- 

Korea is becoming a popular place to get essential health treatments. Personally, I like Korea Medical Tourism’s philosophy of taking care of their patients inside and out, improving their over-all health and well-being, and even considering their cultural differences in terms of religion and nationality. With that kind of philosophy, along with world class medical procedures, and top caliber doctors, I believe visiting Korea for medical reasons is worth it. Their costs are also relatively lower, especially as compared to western countries. (For more details on medical tourism in Korea, you can check out the Visit Medical Korea website HERE)

What’s on my bucket list?: 

Templestay; Traditional Korean Medicine Detox Steam; skin care treatments that will help keep my skin looking young and healthy (I think these are very appropriate for people like me who experience constant stress)

Photo credit: http://eng.templestay.com/

I hope my list convinced you to push through with your very own #VisitKorea trip! ^^

Through all these things (and MORE!), I found love in Korea--- love from all the new friends I’ve met, love for photography and travel, love for culture, love for adventures, love in pursuing the things that matter to me, love for living and appreciating life more.

My love affair with Korea opened many doors that I never imagined would be there. I’ve met a lot of new friends not only from my country but also from other parts of the world. I gained a lot of wonderful experiences that would always be a source of inspiration and strength. And for all that, Korea will forever be dear to my heart. I may visit other countries, but it will always be my second home, a place that I would always want to go back to. :)

~~~

This article is my entry for Global Wow Korea. I want to be part of it because it’s another opportunity for me to discover more about the beautiful country that opened so many doors for me. 

In my own little way, I want to give back by helping promote Korea and sharing my experiences to the world, so that others may also be encouraged to explore it.

If you want to know more about Global Wow Korea, you can check out the post below or visit their website HERE.

Thank you, and I hope you enjoy reading my post!

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[SEOUL ATTRACTIONS] 2016 Top 10 Hallyu Hotspots in Seoul

Seoul Metropolitan Government recently conducted an online survey on the top 10 Hallyu Hotspots in the city, and the results are already out. If you're going to Seoul for the first time, these places may be a good starting point and are surely worth the visit, especially if you're a hallyu fan like me.
I was able to visit some of the places among the 10 hotspots and I'd like to share some of the photos I took from way back 2013, and last 2015. I do hope to be able to finally visit all 10 in the future! :)

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Let Korea visit you!

If you've been wanting to visit Korea, or miss Korea badly like me, and want to go there again, then this might be your chance to make that dream come true! Recently, Korea Tourism Organization once again launched an online hashtag event that gives participants a chance to visit Korea. Titled 'Korea visits you!', the event invites foreigners to post photos they've taken in Korea (if they've been there) or images of experiences they wish to have in Korea (if they haven't been there yet) in their SNS accounts (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Weibo).

Here's Korea Tourism Ambassador Song Joong Ki, inviting you to visit Korea! ^^

The step by step guidelines in joining are as follows:

KTO even provided a guideline for copying the URL on your SNS posts, which you can check out HERE.

In posting on your SNS accounts, please don't forget to use the following hashtags and to make your posts PUBLIC so KTO can track them:

After posting on your SNS accounts, please don't forget to register at the event page. Just click on the 'PARTICIPATE' button at the event page HERE:

Then, you're all set to register!

KTO will choose 1 winner for 5 weeks (September 27- October 31, 2016), and each winner will get 2 roundtrip tickets + a hotel voucher for 3 nights and 4 days stay in Korea. Winners will be announced weekly (every Friday) in the event website and will also be notified via email individually. Their trip to Korea will be documented daily and may be used by KTO as video content.

If you intend to join, do take note of this schedule for the sending of entries and announcement of winners for each week:

If you have questions regarding the event, you may contact info@koreavisitsyou.com and they will reply to you within 5 working days.

Please don't forget to read the complete terms and conditions for more details on the online event HERE.

You can also check out these videos to give you some inspiration! I feel happy for these girls, their stories are really touching! I'd cry my heart out if I'd experience this:

Now, I wish everyone (including myself) all the luck! I hope to win this event so I can visit Korea with my sister! ^^

P.S.: Photo Credit: Korea Tourism Organization (I just photoshopped it with a photo I took when I was in Korea. No copyright infringement intended :) )

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How to use custom fonts in blogger

Out of whim, I decided to change the font type of my entry titles, as well as my sidebar and footer headings tonight, and thought of creating a post on how I did it to share to those who want to do the same for their blogs. Years of blogging have taught me that fonts play a role in creating an impression for your blog and making it stand out. They help bring out your personality in your blog and may either help attract or turn off readers.

Now, you can actually control what fonts to use on your blog, and you can do this with the following easy to follow steps:

1. Decide which typeface and font you want to use. When I first started, I didn’t know that typeface and fonts are actually 2 different things. The typeface (sometimes also referred to as a font family) is like a collection of related fonts, while fonts refer to the digital file that has the specific weight, width, style of a typeface. The most common types of typefaces are as follows: 
   • Serif- a typeface whose main feature is a small line added to the beginning and end of the main strokes of a character. 
   • Sans-Serif- a typeface without serifs (‘sans’ is a french word meaning ‘without)
   • Script/Cursive Fonts- a typeface characterized by fluid strokes similar to a hand writing.
   • Display/ Decorative Fonts- a typeface that can be artistic and eye-catching, they are made to stand out on a page and are perfect for headers and titles.
   • Monospace- a typeface that has fixed character width and pitch, making them occupy the same horizontal space.
   
   
   In my case, I wanted a font that resembles a handwriting so I chose a script/cursive font.
   
   Once you’ve made up your mind on the specific typeface to use, you can now choose a specific font. There are lots of sites on the internet to choose and get custom fonts, and not all of them are for free. A good place to start for free custom fonts is Google Fonts, with a catalog of over 800 fonts. 
   
   
   
   
   
2. Add a custom font. Now, adding a custom font from Google Fonts is easy. Here's what I did:

• First, use the filter on the side bar to make your search easier. You can set the typeface, number of styles, thickness, and other font characteristic that you want to see in your custom font. You can also sort them alphabetically, by popularity, etc. If you’re looking for a particular font to add, you can also type its name on the search bar. Once, you’ve set your filters, browse through the gallery, and if you want, you can even type on the text box if you want to see how a particular letter will look like in a certain font type.

• Once you’ve decided which font to use, click on the ‘+’ button at the top of each font type to add it to your selection.

• A small rectangular box will appear at the bottom of your screen and it will reflect how many font families you’ve added. 

• Once you’re done, you can click on the rectangular box to expand it and you’ll see this: 

          a. Your Selection: Shows the names of all the fonts you’ve added
          b. Clear All:An option to clear the selection & start over again
          c. Load Time: Indicates how fast the fonts will load on your page
          d. Embed tab: Contains the code for embedding the font in your HTML document, as well as
              the CSS style to apply to your CSS stylesheet
          e. Custom tab: Gives you the option to choose want font style you want to include per font
             family, as well as what language to use.

When you click on the rectangular tab, you will see this. 

This is what you'll see when you click on the 'Customize' tab 

• If you’re all set with your font of choice, open Blogger and go to ‘TEMPLATE’ and click on ‘BACK UP & RESTORE’. Download a full back up of your template before customizing anything to make sure you can revert the changes back to your original layout in case anything goes wrong.

•  Now that you’re ready to edit your template, click on ‘EDIT HTML’. Click on CTRL + F (PC) or COMMAND+F (MAC) to open the search box and look for the <b:skin> tag, which will be highlighted in yellow. Then, copy the embed code from google fonts and paste it directly above the <b:skin> tag. Add a forward slash (/) right before the closing bracket (>) to prevent any errors. 



This is how your template will look like and the <b:skin> tag is usually easy to find at the top of the template. 

This is the embed code that you need to copy from google fonts

This is how it should look like when the embed code is pasted above the <b:skin> tag. Make sure to click the black triangle beside it to expand its contents, where you'll see the CSS styles. 

• To apply the font on specific parts of your blog, you’ll need to find the CSS selector and add the CSS style to it. Here’s an example:

This is what you'll need to copy in Google Fonts and apply in your CSS stylesheet 

This is where it should be applied. 

‘H1, H2, H3 and so on refers to header. In my case, H1 & H2 pertain to post titles and sidebar and footer headers. It may be different with your template so to cross check which part of your blog they stand for, you can click on preview and see to which parts the custom font has been applied to. Once you’re sure of the changes you’ve made, you can click on ‘SAVE TEMPLATE’ and you’re all set!

Aside from the font type, you can also change the font size by changing the number values as shown above.

Hope I was able to share something useful to you (If I did, a link back would be a great way to say thanks ^^). Do you know other ways to add custom fonts? Please do share them with me in the comments section :)

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My Happiest Memory in Seoul

There's nothing quite like the excitement of winning a trip to your most favorite place, and meeting new friends for the first time. Both of these happened to me during autumn of last year, an experience which I consider my happiest memory in Seoul^^.

It was November last year when I was fortunate enough to be one of the participants of the Visit Korea VIP Members Invitation Tour. There were 13 other winners from other countries like Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand, and I was excited to meet all of them. I was part of the English team, and was the only one from the Philippines. Coming from different countries with different languages, it was amazing how we all easily got along so well, and remain really good friends till now.

me and the rest of the participants of the tour at Trickeye Museum

I love all the yellow leaves scattered around Deoksugung Palace <3

Autumn is my favorite season, and I was so ecstatic to be back and see the familiar shades of fall. We visited a lot of tourist attractions in Seoul like the Trick Eye Museum, Kondae Common Ground, Deoksugung Palace, Samcheongdong, Yeouido Park and Grevin Museum Seoul, where I ‘met’ a lot of famous people and handsome oppa. We also dropped by some famous cafes like the Hello Kitty Café in Hongdae, Dore Dore Café in Kondae, and Wiki Café, which is owned by Super Junior member, Lee Sung Min (Being a Super Junior fan, that is one item off my bucketlist!). We even met his brother, Lee Sung Jin, and we took a lot of photos with him.

Our group photo at Kondae Common Ground

Photo op with the guard at Deoksugung Palace

My selfie with Lee Sung Jin, who is so nice and adorable^^

Ironically, my second visit to Seoul is a trip of many ‘firsts’ for me. For one, it allowed me to visit Myeongdong Cathedral for the first time. I regretted not being able to visit it before especially when I learned it’s the birthplace for the Roman Catholic Church community in Korea. That’s why I was happy to finally be able to see it on this 2nd trip. I really loved its unique architecture, serene ambience and the grotto of Mother Mary at the back. I said a short prayer and lighted a candle too.

My visit to Myeongdong Cathedral

Other first time experiences for me include learning how to make candles at Holly Go Studio, as well as playing the Janggu drum at Jeongdong Theater. Being a newbie in playing a Korean musical instrument, I was surprised at how easy it was. At the end of the workshop, each of us were given certificates and our guide even teased us that now we can teach others how to play the Janggu drum at our respective countries. After that, I was able to watch a Korean traditional musical performance for the first time too. It was titled ‘Miso’ ('The Story of Secretary Bae' 배비장전), a traditional performance showcasing Korean dance and music like Pansori (traditional vocal performance with drum), and Samulnori (traditional percussion quartet). I really like the dance routines, colorful costumes, and interesting plot. We even had the chance to take pictures with the main cast after the performance.

Hanging out with Marilyn Monroe at Grevin Museum Seoul

My Janggu Drum experience at Jeongdong Theatre

Our visit to Jeongdong Theatre and photo op with the casts of Miso

This trip also allowed me to try out a lot of Korean food like Dakgalbi (Grilled Chicken) and Makguksu (Korean buckwheat noodle dish), Bingsu, Ramyeon, Hameul Pajeon, and Grilled Mackerel. I was also able to drink Makgeolli for the first time in Seoul. The food is really great, and I like that they’re also healthy.

Eating ramyun at 55 Beonji Ramen

My new favorite, Dakgalbi!!!

With good food, life-changing experiences, and captivating tourist attractions, a guest just couldn’t ask for anything more. I really appreciate the hospitality and generosity shown to us by our host, Korea Tourism Organization during this 2nd trip, and for all that I’ve experienced, I will forever be grateful to them, and the city of Seoul.

Seoul is my happy place, a city that warms my soul, and every time I think of it, I am only reminded of wonderful memories that never fail to inspire me. Of course, there’s a lot more to explore so I will definitely keep on coming back to my home away from home.

another group photo at Jeongdong Theatre...say kimchiiii!

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