The first time Kap & the kids went off to Bukchon Hanok Village at Samcheong-dong Road, I was super tired from our palace walk that I asked to stay behind when they showed a keen interest in going back & scoping the place. So we looked for a nearby starbucks & they left me there with all the heavy bags. Thank goodness for wifi, I was able to keep myself occupied as they explored the area.
You have to understand, the village is right beside the palace grounds. But since we had to return our handbook rentals which was the other way, it was going to be a back & forth journey, one that I wasn’t willing to make under the circumstance. And so, I stood my ground & begged them to just leave me behind. Seriously, I don’t know where these people get their energy, walang mga kapaguran!
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Bukchon Hanok Village is home to hundreds of traditional houses called hanok that date back to the Joseon Dynasty. The name Bukchon, which translates to “northern village,” came about as the neighborhood lies north of two significant Seoul landmarks, Cheonggyecheon Stream and Jongno. Today, many of these hanoks operate as cultural centers, guesthouses, restaurants and tea houses, providing visitors with an opportunity to experience, learn and immerse themselves in traditional Korean culture.
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But then, they came back bearing such wonderful finds that certainly piqued my interest! Unique, personalized perfumes that are made entirely in Korea. Now this is something I’d wanna bring back home as pasalubong to my few, select friends.
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https://seoulsearching.net/
Granhand is an artisan fragrance store in Seoul that sells handmade items such as scented candles and perfume. The flagship store is tucked within a traditional Hanok Village in Bukchon.
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After putting on my full armor of salonpas, we went back to Bukchon Hanok Village today so I can get my hands on these perfect pasalubong materials.
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Granhand Lab
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The village can be found along Samcheong-dong Road, one of the most unique places in Seoul. Samcheong-dong is said to have the absolutely ideal location. Samcheong (sam means “three” and cheong “clean or good”) was given its name in reference to the three things it has plenty of: clean water, beautiful neighboring mountains and kind-hearted residents. <3
If you like unique scented products that are handmade, Granhand certainly has something for you. Their unique fragrance creations are skillfully mixed by the co-owner Jung Nana who studied in Grasse GIP Perfumery School in France which is known to be one of the top schools in the world to study the art form. (It’s a family business actually, the other owner is her younger brother)
Two bestselling fragrances are Marine Vacth (top notes of Mandarin, Pear, Lemon) and Ester Dean (top notes of Black Currant, Grapefruit). I got one of each for myself. The perfume is actually a multipurpose fragrance. You can use it as a body perfume, air freshener or even fabric spray as the scent is clean & light. It comes in 150ml or 200ml and would make a great gift. Staying true to their raw handmade packaging, they also offer stamping options (your name/word of choice) for the products. Truly the perfect personalized touch.
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Prices are as follows: Sachet, KRW10,000 | Multi Perfume, KRW30,000 (medium) ; KRW35,000 (large) | Glass Candle, KRW35,000 | Fabric Spray, KRW20,000, Sample Kit, KRW18,000.
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But not before we had a quick lunch at a nondescript hole in the wall place we passed on the way. Kimbap atbp. Maki craving satisfied. 😉
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No need to look far for restaurants. Bukchon Hanok Village is littered with shops & restaurants housed in pretty architectural design.
Because we did nothing but walk, it was important for us to fill up with carbs for energy. So rice, rice, and rice pa more! 😛 Now I’m really liking this excuse, teehee.
My babies love Japanese sushi & maki, so this Korean Gimbap is a hit. Gimbap is a dish made from cooked rice and other ingredients that are rolled in gim (dried sheets of laver seaweed) and served in bite-size slices.
We’ve come to love fried mandus (dumplings) but unfortunately, not all Korean restos serve good ones. Like this thin, pathetic excuse of a mandu pictured above, lol. Too bad. But the rest were ok.
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So far, I think all we ever did in Korea was shop, eat and be merry hehe. Hindi ba mortal sin yan?? Lamon toda max? 😛
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The family that eats together gets fat together. Except I’m the only one getting fat & fatter in this family! @_@ Life is not fair!
Cherries have become South Korea’s most imported fruit. Every corner, we’d see plump, red, juicy cherries for sale in delivery trucks. It’s so expensive back home that I took advantage of the situation & bought some whenever the opportunity arose while in Korea. 😛 Kung pwede lang nga maguwi ng kahon-kahon, ginawa ko na. Kaso baka mabulok, I’m the only cherry eater our family. Ewan ko ba, hindi sila ma-prutas.
We are mostly outdoors, under the scorching sun, so hydrating is important. But of course, the cute packaging is the main reason why we stop to buy, teehee! ;))
Make sure you’re on the lookout for unique street food finds such as this nitro ice cream called Dragon’s Breath. Made up of liquid nitrogen coated ice cream cereal balls, it’s a nitrogen–infused dessert that turns your mouth into a steam machine and makes you a smoke-breathing dragon! CLICK HERE for other Korean-hailed unique ice cream that you certainly MUST try when in South Korea!
Even my normally health-conscious, figure-conscious girls couldn’t resist the sweets found all over Korea!
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While the boys went back to the apartment carrying our heavy treasures, we pampered gals stayed at Line Friends Cafe and had iced coffee. Mr. Sun is back & is angry as ever, spewing heat the whole day. Thankful for the shelter, and grateful for our knights in shining armor who don’t mind going the extra mile for us. <3 (Wala din naman kasi silang magagawa hehe.)
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The LINE FRIENDS Store and Cafe is the first flagship and largest LINE Friends store & cafe in the world. If you are planning to travel to Seoul, and if you are a LINE Friends fan, then this place should be one of your destinations.
Line (styled as LINE) is a freeware app for instant communications on electronic devices such as smartphones, tablet computers and personal computers. Line users exchange texts, images, video and audio, and conduct free VoIP conversations and video conferences. The service is operated by Line Corporation, the Japanese arm of Naver Corporation.
LINE Friends is the character brand of LINE and one of the most popular characters in the recent world. There are eleven main characters in total, seven males: Moon (a manjū-shaped-headed man who is the main member of LINE friends), Brown (a bear), James (a narcissist blond young guy), Leonard (frog), Edward (green cabbage caterpillar), Boss (balding male human), and Pangyo (giant panda). And four females: Cony (rabbit), Jessica (cat), Sally (chick), and Choco (another bear).
The store occupies 3 stories of the building where you can find LINE FRIENDS products and character-themed items along with cute desserts and beverages. On the 1st floor you can find items such as stationery, figurine, plush dolls, & other knick knacks. The 2nd floor is predominantly filled with fashion/clothing items such as T-shirts, sweaters, pants, backpack for both children and adult. And the 3rd floor has the cafe. Of course, the 3rd is my FAVORITE floor. 😉
Everything displayed at the counter looked so cute that I almost went crazy and ordered all just so I can take photos up close & personal. Good thing I had the girls to keep me in line. “Mom, we just ate! We can’t finish all those in one sitting!” Hmp, mga KJ. 😛 So we tried the Sally Choco Cupcake KRW 5.900, Macaron KRW 3.000, Ice Cream KRW 3.800, Cold Brew KRW 6.000 and Brown & Friends Latte KRW 5.900
LINE FRIENDS Store & Cafe is a must visit if you love LINE or anything cute. Here’s the bus stop, let’s travel! 🙂
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It was Dongdaemun after for -yes, you guessed right, more shopping! @_@ Tennis stuff, so Kap was in a guh-rrreat mood. We divided & conquered for the 2nd time in the entire duration of our trip. We find it’s easier & less taxing when the boys go off on their own & we just meet up for dinner.
Don’t worry, I behaved this time around. Walang “H” in the horizon. ;))
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Dongdaemun is a shopping district filled with many high-rise shopping malls. The best part is, many of them are open till 5am! Yes, overnight shopping, how unique is that? Do take note of their opening hours and closing dates though, check their WEBSITE. Dongdaemun is divided into 2 zones, wholesale and non-wholesale.
Bags & shoes, he can never get enough of. Isangkatutak pero iisa naman ang hitsura. Kaya honey, DON’T ME when it comes to bags ok. 😛
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Reunited at 8pm with arms laden with goodies from our shopping spree and back at our favorite k-bbq place, Dally So for meats galore. Happiness after such a long but productive day.
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Take 2 at Dally So! \m/
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Tomorrow is our last day. Leaving is always bittersweet because we love being together 24/7. The bonding we get from travels is so different. Halo-halong lambingan, sungitan, asaran, tawanan, at pagamahalan na hindi natutumbasan.
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Gabi at pauwi na, kumakain pa rin kami! @_@ And you wonder why I’m FAT. ;)) As we were going home, Kap got seated next to someone who looked so much like me. I saw what we looked like together with my very own eyes. Yikes, ganyan pala ang itsura namin pag magkatabi hahahahaha! Ang sagwa. Bukas na bukas, bibili na ako ng vulcaseal, pantapal sa bibig so I’ll stop eating! #balikalindog
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One last installment in our Koreanovela adventure. Susunod. :-*
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