Nuffnang Philippines to hold Blogopolis 4D

There's an exciting event for all Filipino bloggers, and social media enthusiasts next week! It's Nuffnang Philippines' 'Blogopolis 4D', a rendezvous of the country's top bloggers, social media influencers, marketers, advertisers and members of the press. It's set to happen on February 27, 2016 at the AXON Hall, Green Sun in Makati. There'll be plenary sessions at 11:00am-6:30pm and a Nuffnang Awards Night at 7:30pm-10:00pm.

I was fortunate enough to win 2 tickets to this event via Nuffnang PH's  #Blogopolis4DGiveaway on Instagram, and I'm excited to know more about the current trends in today's blogosphere, as well as meet my favorite top bloggers like Arisse de Santos, and David Guison.

Being the fourth installment of 'Blogopolis', this year's conference aims to enlighten its audience about the Dimensions of the Blogosphere – Dialog, Diversity, Device and Direction. Various speakers and panelists have been invited to share their insights, tips, and experiences about blogging and social media, such as RJ Ledesma, AJ Dee, Jim Paredes, Abe Olandres, and The Soshal Network among others. At least 350 attendees, mostly comprised of students and yuppies, are expected to take part in this much anticipated event.

Tickets, which already cover entrance to plenary sessions with snacks and viewing of the Nuffnang Awards Night, are priced at Php499 for regular rate and are discounted (30% OFF) at Php349 for students and senior citizens. Tickets are available at the Blogopolis website. #

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Thanks again Nuffnang Philippines for that giveaway! So excited to see you all there! 

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[REVIEW] Visit Korea VIP Invitation Tour Day 2: A Visit to Super Junior Sungmin’s Wiki Café

If you’ve read my past posts, you’ll know that I’m crazy over cafes. For me, there’s unique joy in discovering an interesting new place to hang out, where you can listen to music or read a good book or chat with friends while drinking your favorite coffee, frappe or tea. That’s why I’m so glad this tour allowed me to visit several cafes in Seoul, and luckily, our next destination is one place crossed out in my Korea bucket list.

Now, one of the reasons why I (along with my sister) became a huge Hallyu fangirl is Kpop group Super Junior (the real Kings of Hallyu in my opinion :)). If you’re a fan too, you’d probably know the cafes owned by the members’ families, and how they are a popular destination for fangirls wanting to give gifts and letters to their idols, or even meeting the members themselves and their families in person. Hence, I was so excited when I learned that part of our itinerary is to visit Wiki Café (위키카페), which is owned by Super Junior Lee Sungmin’s mom.

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[REVIEW] Visit Korea VIP Invitation Tour Day 2: Delightful Brunch and more at Samcheongdong Slow Park

Yay! I’m finally back with my Visit Korea VIP Members Invitation Tour Reviews. We're now at Day 2. If you want to know other places we visited during this trip, you can check out the following related blog posts:

Visit Korea VIP Member Invitation Tour

Kondae Common Ground

Dore Dore Cafe (Common Ground)

Hello Kitty Cafe

Trick Eye Museum

Nature Kitchen

Visit Korea VIP Invitation Tour Day 2:

It was a cold and sunny autumn morning, and we’re all set to have breakfast at Samcheongdong (sam means "three"; cheong "clean or good"; and dong means "neighborhood"), a small neighborhood in Jongno-gu district. This place is near Insadong, Cheong Wa Dae (Blue House), Gyeongbokgung, and Changdeokgung Palace. I’ve never been there before, but I’ve heard of its peaceful atmosphere and streets lined with museums, craft and antique shops, restaurants and cafes. I thought it should be an exciting morning because I really love discovering new places, especially cafes in Seoul, and our destination that morning seemed like a pretty good addition to my collection.

On our way there, our guide already asked us for our orders and we were given 3 choices: waffle set, French toast set, and sandwich set. I chose the waffle set, because coincidentally, I’m crazy over waffles and pancakes, and all things sweet for breakfast.

It took us around 20 minutes to get to Samcheongdong from Centermark Hotel, and I instantly loved the quaint, stylish and serene atmosphere that greeted me. The neighborhood looked kind of laid back, and the streets were lined with yellow trees. The architectural designs of most of the buildings, which are either cafes, restaurants, museums, or craft shops, are quite unique and unlike any of the usual structure of the houses in Seoul. They exhibit modernity infused with traditional Korean architecture, which over-all creates a trendy yet homey and comfortable environment. Street art is also prevalent in the area, and if only we had the luxury of time, it would have been nice to take a good stroll and explore the quiet and nostalgic Samcheongdong even more.

A panoramic view of an area in Samcheongdong

We parked beside a 5-story building with a small café-cum-bistro at the ground floor named ‘Slow Park’ (슬로우파크), which is famous for serving brunch all day, and is just across ‘Slow Garden’. The place looks very stylish, kind of like an American lodge with marble walls, unvarnished wooden floors, wooden ceiling, mixed wooden furniture, and some plants and flowerpots to accentuate some areas. There are also a lot of interesting antique pieces inside, which adds a vintage feel to the classic, homey ambience. No wonder this place is becoming a popular venue for magazine shoots and TV interviews with celebrities (You can check out their instagram account for all the magazine features). It offers a unique setting that combines elegance and warmth, as well as modernity and tradition.

The signage outside the cafe is quite small, so better keep an eye for it :)

Since our trip was in November, I think that's the reason why there were a lot of Poinsettias around

I tried to translate this: 아름다운 ㄱ대들의 쉼터 and its says 'Shelter of beautiful teenagers' :) 

Took a selfie by the veranda because I just love the colors of autumn in the background

Group photo with the Japanese Team! ^^

                           
Here’s my detailed review of Slow Park in Samcheongdong:

Food: 10 

The food here is really delicious, and they have huge servings too. I like that they make sure their food is healthy as well.

When we finally got our orders, we were so delighted to see them that we started taking pictures right away. They all look so scrumptious, and I like how well they styled the food too. The waffle set I ordered came with scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, and salad. The waffle was perfect with a slight crisp to it. The salad is also a mixture of sweet and sour flavours. I think this is because some of the confectionary sugar on my waffle must have mixed with the salad dressing, and it is a good combination. It was altogether a delightful breakfast for us all, a good start for an activity-filled day for us tour participants.

My waffle set^^ Looks really yummy right? 

Sandwich set with with fries (not sure what the filling of the sandwich is)

Waffle and sandwich sets

Aside from brunch sets and waffles, Slow Park also offer pasta, pizza, salad and steak, so you can pretty much eat here any time of the day, whether it’s for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They also offer a wide assortment of drinks from coffee, tea, ade, juices, fruit shakes, beer and soft drinks, and different kinds of baked goodies like croissants, bread buns, etc. Their menu is in English too :)

There's a whole variety of baked goodies to choose from^^

Ambience: 10 

I just love this place. I think this reminds me of ‘Café by the Ruins’ in Baguio here in the Philippines. I love how comfortable, relaxing and warm the ambience is while also being very stylish. It’s also a huge place that can accommodate around 50-80 guests. And I think it’s conducive to creative thinking too, so it’s a great place to hang out, especially for writers, artists and students.

Jas eonni went in first and smiled at me as she was about to enter :)

This is what the entrance looks like from inside. This ahjussi was about to leave when I took this photo.

This cafe has a veranda but they covered the sides with plastic to prevent rain from coming in and avoid inconvenience

The furnitures aren't matched, but hey they all still look great together. I think they add character to this place.

Panorama shot of the interior

The counter where we get our orders

wow, can you feel the Christmas vibe?

Another thing I like about this place is that it has interesting furniture and antique pieces

Wow, this fireplace is way older than my great, great, great grand parents :)

Look at everyone busily taking pictures :)

We were the first ones to arrive so we had more time to chat and eat

I was wondering if those acorn photos are only there to add to the Christmas feel...

This is the main dining hall, which is the closest to the counter and comes after the veranda

This ones at the back portion of the cafe

Interesting art pieces and signages were hung as wall decors

There are plants and flowers all over the cafe, which gives the interior color and sparkle

Value for money: 10 

I’m giving this place a 10 because you definitely get your money’s worth with Good Food + Good Ambience. Prices start at KRW 2,000 to about KRW 15,000. Their detailed price range is as follows:

• Drinks: KRW 2,000-6,000 (Php 80-Php 240)
• Waffles: KRW 7,000- 12,500 (Php280- Php500)
• Pasta: KRW 13,000-14,000 (Php 520- Php 560)
• Pizza: KRW 13,000-15,000 (Php 520- Php 600)
• Salad: KRW 10,000 (Php 400)
• Brunch sets: KRW 12,000 (Php 480)

Here's their menu for the complete price list :)

Here's their menu for the complete price list :)

Accessibility: 9

This place isn’t hard to find, but the signage outside is quite small so there’s a tendency to miss it.

If you see this building, then you're in the right place.

The entrance to Slow Park is near the road and at the right side of the building

Service: 9

Although I didn’t have a lot of interaction with the staff, I find them pretty nice and accommodating. They serve really fast too.

Will I go back to this place? : Definitely :)

PROS:

- Good food, great ambience, affordable prices

CONS:

- I really can’t find any :)

Other important details about Slow Park:

Operating Hours: 8:00am-12:00 midnight


How to get there?

via Subway

• From Anguk station (Subway Line 3, Exit 1), walk opposite the direction of Insadong until you reach the main street near Seoul Selection Bookshop. Turn right to that street and walk straight for 10-15 minutes. Across the entrance of Gyeongbokgung Palace and near The National Folk Museum of Korea, you'll find Samcheongdong-ro ( ro means 'street'). Walk straight ahead and at the left side of the street, you’ll find Slow Park.
• From Gyeongbokgung Subway Station (Line 3), take exit 5 and then walk along the entrance of Gyeongbokgung. Turn left into the adjacent road next to Gyeongbokgung and walk straight for about 10-15 minutes until you reach Samcheongdong-ro . Walk along that street and you'll find Slow Park.

If you're bringing your car, valet parking is available at 2,000 won for 2 hours.

Address:
Slow Park (슬로우파크)
15-2, Samcheon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
(서울시 종로구 삼청동 15-2번지 슬로우파크)
Phone number: 02-739-8797

For inquiries, you may check out the following sites:

Blog: http://blog.naver.com/slowpark8797

Instagram Account: http://instagram.com/samchungdong_slowpark

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Slow-Garden/178934788832475

Google: https://g.co/kgs/R1x7if

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Many thanks again to Korea Tourism Organization for making this trip, the Visit Korea VIP Member Invitation Tour, possible. You can check out the KTO official website and follow their accounts on Facebook and Twitter for the details on tour sites and packages, as well as helpful tips on travelling to Korea.

For Filipinos, follow Korea Tourism Organization Manila at Facebook, Twitter, and KakaoTalk (@ktomanila) for the latest updates on Korea tourism, events, tour packages and promos. :)

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[REVIEW] Visit Korea VIP Invitation Tour Day 1: Omoni Saengson 어머니 생선

Grilled Mackerel a.k.a Godeungeo-gui (고등어구이) is a popular fish dish in Korea. It’s not only tasty but is also a good source of protein, vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D, E and K, various minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, and essential oils such as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which are all good for the body.

I’m glad I was able to try Grilled Mackerel during my latest trip to Korea via the Visit Korea VIP Member Invitation Tour, sponsored by Korea Tourism Organization. It was my first time to try a Korean fish dish, as I’m a meat lover who usually orders samgyeopsal.

It was dinner time, and because we didn’t push through with plans to try Kondae Common Ground’s food trucks because of the rain, our very nice guide, Kim eonni brought us to Omoni Saengson a.k.a Mother’s Fish (어머니 생선) in Insadong. The name of the place pretty much gives you a hint about what to expect from it- home cooked dishes and cozy ambience. It’s a pretty small place, but the food is good.

Here’s my brief review on Omoni Saengson (어머니 생선):

Food: 8/10 

- The food is really good. I love how tasty the grilled mackerel is and the serving is big enough for two. But each of us got one order each so we ended up really full.

Aside from the mackerel, we also had Hameul Pajeon a.k.a Korean Seafood and Spring Onion Pancake (해물파전), seaweed soup, rice and various banchan a.k.a Korean side dishes (반찬) such as Kimchi, and fried anchovies. We also had Makgeolli, and it was my first time to drink it in Korea.

May favorite is the Hameul Pajeon as it’s so delicious and really filling. Their serving is bigger than the pajeon I’ve tried here in Manila.

I also like the rice being wrapped in nori/seaweed wrapper, and then dipped into a sauce.

Grilled Mackerel a.k.a Godeungeo-gui (고등어구이)

Hameul Pajeon a.k.a Korean Seafood and Spring Onion Pancake (해물파전). I miss eating pajeon!

I asked Nat to take a photo of the Makgeolli so I can show it to my friends here in Manila, since we always drink Makgeolli here. Thank you Nat for this photo! Photo Credit: Natty Naza

By the end of dinner, we were all so full because we ate a lot, LOL :)

Ambience: 8/10 

- The place is small, but clean and homey.

Value for money: 8/10 

- The price range for the food is from KRW 7,000-KRW 15,000 (Php 280- Php 600), although I saw something at KRW 1,500-4,000 (Php 60-Php160), which are probably meal add-ons and drinks. Over-all their price is quite economical, and really worth it for a good meal.

My version of this photo is so blurry. Good thing eonni has it too. Photo Credit: Vera Lee

And thank you too to Tere for this photo^^ Photo Credit: Jeanne Therese Kurniawan

Accessibility: 9/10 

- The place is at the 2nd floor, and they have a huge signage at the facade of the building so it's quite easy to find at Insadong.

Service: 8/10 

- The staff is nice and accommodating, but can’t speak English.

Will I go back to this place? : Yes.

- I’ll be back to have that delicious grilled mackerel and yummy Hameul Pajeon again.

PROS:

- Good food, affordable prices, homey ambiance, clean surroundings and highly accessible

CONS:

- The place is quite small and may be crowded during peak hours.

- Non-English speaking staff (for foreigners)

Other important details about Omoni Saengson (어머니 생선)

Address: 36-1 2nd floor Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

- The restaurant is closest to Jongno 3-ga Exit 5. I remember seeing a restaurant with the name Siwhadam 시화담.

Contact numbers: +82 -2-7374082 (landline) /010-8499-3225 (mobile)

This is my last review for Day 1 of our trip. Yay!... I know, they're long overdue, but I want to give everyone as much info as I can for each of the places we visited :) Hope you enjoy reading, and that I'm able to impart some useful information and insights to you ^^ I've also added some new heart icons and a PROS and CONS section in the review portion which will serve as an over-all summary. I'll be applying them in my previous reviews as well :)

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If you want to know other places we visited during this trip, you can check out the following related blog posts:

Visit Korea VIP Member Invitation Tour

Kondae Common Ground

Dore Dore Cafe (Common Ground)

Hello Kitty Cafe

Trick Eye Museum

Nature Kitchen

Many thanks again to Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) for making this trip possible. You can check out the KTO official website and follow their accounts on Facebook and Twitter for details on tour sites and packages, as well as helpful tips in travelling to Korea.

For Filipinos, follow Korea Tourism Organization Manila at Facebook, Twitter, and KakaoTalk (@ktomanila) for the latest updates on Korea tourism, events, tour packages and promos. :)

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