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Saturday 10 August 2013

Korea free and easy : Busan biggest shopping mall Shinsegae

Shinsegae is located at centum city.
It is accessible by the train and beside Spa land


We were very hungry after the Spa. Ordered food at the food court.
There are western, chinese and Japanese food too.
The food court has an English Menu.
Just go to main counter, ask for the English menu and place your order and pay up.
They will give you a pager which will vibrate and light up once your food is ready for collection.








The basement there are a lot of snacks and pastries available.
Food looks delicious but I was too full to try any of it.






The supermarket, E-mart has a wide variety of groceries, a bakery and also sells rice cakes and fried chicken.



Coffee break





There have major brands like fubu and mcm. A beautiful shopping mall.
There are things on discount which are quite affordable, less than $100.



Ice skating rink too. The little boy is working hard on his moves.


STationery. 
Art box is located here and a lot of cute stationery.

Went up to the sky park hoping a good view of busan. however, the sky park which was closed for renovation when we were there.

Wednesday 7 August 2013

Korea free and easy : Busan Spa land Spaland


Took a train to Centum City STation, Busan City Line 2. We saw some nice sweet potato snacks at the train station. Looks good and taste good too.


The Spa is connected to Shinsegae. However, the shopping center does not open that early. Just walk around and look for the glass door that write Spaland as shown on top.

We visited before 8am as it was raining heavily since the the night before and we can't go sightseeing. It is a good place to spend a day. There are lots of rooms for you to explore.
Instructions / guide

1.  pay the entrance fee.
2. You will be give a key with a number to store your shoes.
3. you walk into the the locker place, remember to take your bathrobe( Is not a bathrobe, it is just a top and shorts) and towels
4. There is no changing room. Just change.
You can leave your undergarments on if you are not interested in the hot springs.
The sauna rooms are fully dressed in top and shorts.
5. You can entered each sauna room, sit or lie down. Sauna are unisex so you can visit even though you travelling with the opposite sex
6. People usually bathe after the saunas. Is a public bathe. If you are shy, just head back to your hotel for a quick bathe before going to your next location.
If you are not, just bathe there. Hairdryers, combs and lotions are provided.
7. The notice outside sauna states that phones are not encourage in the sauna rooms as the phones may explode. Koreans are still using there phones inside the room. I just took my phone out when we decide to take a break from saunas and take some photos. When I am intending to stay inside the hot hot room, I store my phone inside the locker.
8. Pay for food or anything with the key. Will be charged at exit.



Taken from Korean Tourism board :
- 22 Bathtubs, 13 ‘Jjimjilbang,’ Open-air foot spa - Saunas: Finnish Sauna, Roman Sauna, Wave-Dream Room, Body Sauna Room, SEV Room, Roman Room, Hamam Room, Milky Bath, Steam Sauna, Open-air Spa, Pyramid Room, Balli Room, Yellow Earth Room, Hard Wood Charcoal Room, Salt Room, Dry Sauna, Ice Room, Attraction Pool
- Facilities: Relaxation Room, Esthetics, Nail Care, DVD Room, Restaurant, Café, etc. ( Payable)
Admission Fees
 Adults: 12,000 Won (Weekdays), 14,000 Won (Weekends)
 Before 8:00 am / After 9:00 pm: 7,000 Won (Weekdays), 9,000 Won (Weekends)

They have an board at the entrance in English.
Very useful for first timers like me.



The key, with the number. It can be worn as a braclet when you are at you sauna. 
The locker room. Tower and the attire given.




How hot can you go?


 I think overall it is a fun experience.
The first time I been to a Sauna and I was amazing energetic throughout the sauna visit although I was tired and I had not take my morning coffee. We challenged ourselves to stay inside one of the hottest room for the recommended time and then run to the ice room and back.



They sell the famous korean eggs and drinks.
We tried to crack it with our head, we were not successful.

the attire



Thursday 1 August 2013

korea free and easy: Yeosu shopping Streets of Jungang-dong




The shopping street is around 5 minutes from Jinnamgwan Hall. Just turn right after you exit from Jinnamgwan Hall till you spot Paris Baguette and turn into the lane.
You will be able to spot Pizza school and Duck Bulgogi. 
This shopping street was extremely quiet even though I visited it on a Saturday evening. 
Major brands like sports brand like Nike can be found.
Korean brands too.
There are also a few shops selling Korean dresses and shoes like those found in ehwa university but the price is not as competitive.
There are also some interesting cafes for you to chill out.

Monday 29 July 2013

Korea free and easy : Suncheon Garden Expo Suncheon Bay Eco park


Souvenirs Shops
There are a few of them around, I notice one at the rainbow bridge and one at the entrance.


Rojak?





 We explored indoors.. This place appeared in one running man Episode.



A short show.


Ecological life in Suncheon.. 
Real animals..

Caught a 3d show









That is what we saw before we bought the free shuttle bus to the ecology garden.


The free shuttle bus to Suncheon Bay Eco Park

Entrance of Suncheon Bay eco park




We tried out most of the stuff but Some of the equipment are not in working condition and the place is so empty. 

















Suncheon Expo Bay Eco park is not as big as expected. The main attraction is the green landscape, and the crab and mudskipper in their natural habitat.
We were given a stamp before leaving suncheon expo.
Not those high tech glow in the dark
but they stamp partial on our hand and partial on the ticket.
Inside the rainbow bridge are cute drawings by kids.








The swing look so cool

Ginseng?

One side of the rainbow bridge was pretty with trimmed grass patches and flowers, the other side is just grass.


Traditional korean performance








What happen to the roses?

I am not sure if the some of the roses are naturally in this state or a bad dye job?




walking to the bus stop


I like the Eco life I saw, like the crab and Mudfish.
I like some of the video show too.
The place is a bit big and confusing, we try to follow the map or the signboard but at least we end at going nowhere. We walked a long period of time for short distance as mentioned on the signboard and short period of time for long distance. It dampened our mood and interest.

The scenery is beautiful at times. but not always. I think the nicer scenery as I seen from facebook photos is usually from some high angle. 

I think wild roses look prettier. Some of the roses look half dead.
They like to mix random vibrant flowers together, at first it looks beautiful but just get bored of it.
I was hoping for more creative display of the flowers.

The most frustrating thing is lack of English instructions and brochures. Sometimes we wonder if we should continue on the same path, information give maybe wrong.
Most of the staff or almost all don't speak English.
We asked about the bus to Yeosu Expo at least 5 different groups of people, even those with supposedly can speak English could not help us.
At most, they can only give us a rough idea.
No one can give us clear directions or timing.
In the end, we took the public bus and KTX back.