Food Trippin' Korea: Beans Bins Coffee

After our afternoon shopping at Myeongdong, we all got hungry and decided to have some snacks before finally leaving Seoul in the night. Our Korean friend recommended a  place where she said serves the nicest waffles. And so, we all went to Beans Bins Coffee to have a cup of coffee and some waffles.

Located among the many shops and stores in Myeongdong, you can find this store at a second floor of a building (sorry guys, can't quite describe it as I was a bit lost in all the shops there). You can see a sign just outside that will lead you to this shop. They are said to be the best waffle in town that is why we were excited to have a taste of it.

Backpacking Korea: Shopping at Myeongdong

The remaining hours of our stay in Seoul was dedicated to shopping. There is no better place to do this than to go to Myeongdong where there are a lot of shops to shop. A shopaholic's haven, if you ask me.

Thankfully, we were staying near Myeongdong station and it was just  a few minute walk to the shopping district. We just need to cross the street and we are faced with the towering malls and lots of shops and stalls all around. We don't have to worry on getting our stuff left at the inn before we travel to the airport, this way, we can enjoy the rest of the day touring around the busy streets of Myeongdong.

Backpacking Korea: Bukchon Hanok Village

One of the main tourist attraction in Korea is their Hanok Village where you can find the traditional houses of the Korean that are preserved through time.

Good thing, our Korean friend took us on a tour on one of them, we went to Bukchn Hanok Village on our last day of stay in Seoul.

Backpacking Korea: Namsan Tower

After a long day touring around Seoul, we still have time to spare for another must go place in the city. We spent the night going to Namsan Tower or more poplularly known as Seoul Tower.

The tower is located near our inn at Namsan Guest House 3. It is a long walk from Myeongdong Station going uphill to the entrance. You just need to follow the path going to the right from the subway station and soon, you will see the tower from afar, just follow it and you'll surely get there.

Food Trippin' Korea: Caffe Bene

After we toured the Trick Eye Museum, we were all hungry and cold from walking along the streets of Seoul. Also, we were not sure what to do next for the rest of the day. We decided to stop by Caffe Bene for a cup of hot beverage.

This coffee shop is near the Trick Eye Museum, it was just a few blocks away. Also, it is just near the subway station, so we will not walk long to get to our next destination. There are a lot more branches of Caffe Bene around Korea and I think it is the more popular coffee shop here. It was nice that I get to stop by here and enjoy the place.

Backpacking Korea: Trick Eye Museum

After our tour at Nami Island in the morning, we didn't know what to do for the rest of the day. We decided to go to Trick Eye Museum located near Hongdae Station. I first saw this on a Korean Drama and I didn't realize that I'll be one day going here and have fun.

As you exit the subway station, you just need to walk around 200m and soon you will find the sign of Trick Eye Museum which is located in the basement of a building.

Backpacking Korea: Nami Island

One of the attractions in Korea is Namiseom Island or more popularly known as Nami Island. This became popular when the Korean Drama, Winter Sonata, which had a high rating, filmed in this island. Today, it is a popular tourist attraction that many Koreans and tourists go to.

It seems appropriate going here at this winter season as to re-live the famous TV Drama and really feel what it is to be winter here in Korea. Going here is not that easy. It is a long train ride going from Seoul and you have to allot the whole morning or day if you prefer to tour this place.

Food Trippin' Korea: Namu Cafe

As we were waiting for my friend's Korean friends, we looked for a warm place to wait. As we exit the subway, we found a small coffee shop nearby to rest and avail of the free wifi services. Also, to have something warm to drink in this cold weather. We settled in Namu Cafe.

Located at the second floor of a building near Sinchon Station, the cafe is accessible for people who want to enjoy a hot cup of drink. They offer free wifi in their shop and so, we took the chance to get connected to the outside world.

Food Trippin' Korea: Twotwo Fried Chicken

Our first meal as we arrived at Seoul was near Myeongdong station (look for Pacific Hotel) and Namsan 3 Guesthouse where we stayed. It was the first food stop we saw and so we decided to give it a try. We had our late lunch at Twotwo Fried Chicken.

Twotwo Fried Chicken is known to be the best and original fried chicken in Korea. It has a branch here in the Philippine at Pearl Drive in Ortigas a few years back when I was still working at the area. I haven't got the chance to try it out there that is why I am also eager to get to have a taste of their fried chicken here. This is the only branch they have in Korea so we grabbed the opportunity to eat in this place.

Food Trippin' Korea: Lotteria

One of the most popular fast food chain in Korea is Lotteria which was from the Lotte Group. They are found almost everywhere as where ever we go, we can see a branch of them and a lot of customers are in queue at their counter.

One of their branches is at the underground walkway from the subway near our inn at Busan. We decided to stop by and order a takeout there for our dinner. Since it was something we haven't tried, we figured to give it a shot.

Backpacking Korea: King Sejong Museum

On our first day in Seoul, we decided to spend the rest of the afternoon going around teh city. After our failed attempt to get in Gyeongbokgung Palace, we proceeded at the park just infront of it. As we walked, we noticed a very big statue in the middle.

It is King Sejong the great, a known ruler in Korea and it has a museum underground which is free for all the tourists who wants to check it out. Since we're already there, we went in and checked out King Sejong Museum.

Backpacking Korea: Cheonggyecheon River Park

As we continuoe to tour around Seoul, we got to Cheonggyecheon River Park. This place is located at Seoul-si Jongno-gu Changsin1-dong just near the Gyeongbokgung Palace and you can actually walk to this place from there.

The stream has a park built on its side. Tourists can walk and enjoy nature in the middle of the city. There are some ducks on the stream and they are really nice to take pictures of. Also, they are so amazing that they could endure the coldness since most of the sides of the stream still are frozen.

Backpacking Korea: Gyeongbokgung Palace

After we arrive from Busan and had late lunch near Myongdong, we decided to spend the rest of teh afternoon walking around Seoul. We agreed to go to Gyeongbokgung Palace since my firends haven't entered it the first time they were there. And so, from Myongdong station, we took the subway to there.

We alight at Gyeongbokgung Station exit 5 and from there, walked to the entrance of the palace. You can also exit at Ganghwanmun Station but it is a longer walk going to the palace.

Place to Stay in Seoul: Namsan Guest House

Since we're on a budget trip in Korea, we decided to stay in a backpacker's inn on our remaining two nights at Seoul. We booked online with Namsan Guest House which is located a few minutes walk from Myeong-dong station.

The inn has three branches. Namsan Guest House 1, 2 and 3. Namsan 2 and 3 are besides each other while Namsan 1 is a few more walk up hill. We stayed at Namsan 3 which is closer to the Subway station. It was their newest rooms and so all the rooms there are for twin sharing, unlike the other two which other room types.

Food Trippin' Korea: Dunkin' Donuts Cafe

As we walk around Busan, we got hungry in the afternoon. After hours of walking and taking photos, we decided to find a place to eat up and escape the cold weather for a while. We found a Dunkin Donuts Cafe at the end of the streets of Nampo-dong.

I was quite amazed that they have a Dunkin' Donuts coffee shop here and you can actually dine in and hang out. I was used to the small stalls of Dunkin' Donuts here and I was still very young when I was in a store but not an actual cafe. They serve different donuts and even coffee or hot choco. It was really cozy there and I really liked the place.

Backpacking Korea: Yongdusan Park and Busan Tower

Our last destination before dusk falls in Busan is at the Yongdusan Park and Busan Tower. It was our last stop on our day tour around Busan since we're already tired and it was freezing cold outside the streets.

Located at Jung-gu, Busan, South Korea, Busan Tower is found within Yongdusan Park. The tower is on top of a hill (or mountain) overlooking the town. It was a bit difficult to go there since you need to go up on a lot of stairs but they have escalators going up so it was quite convenient for people to visit the place.

Backpacking Korea: Shinsegae Department Store

After touring the Busan Aquarium in  Haeundae Beach, we all went to the subway all the way to Centum City to see the biggest department store which holds the Guinness World Record.

You can easily go there through the subway since the mall is already connected there. From there you can walk and explore the many floors and hundreds of stores inside. There are a thousand items to see, a shopping haven for those shopaholics out there!

Backpacking Korea: Haeundae Beach and Busan Aquarium

One of the places we've been in Busan, South Korea is the Haeudae Beach. It was a sunny day that day but we are covered in thick winter clothes because it was freezing cold despite the warm sunshine that touches our skin. It was quite unusual to dress this way and be on a beach since I was used to the tropical weather in the beaches in my country.

Haeudae Beach is one of the places where tourists go to. There are a lot of events that happens here and also, there are also a lot places to go to from here like the Busan Aquarium where they house thousands of fishes and other underwater creatures.

Backpacking Korea: Haedong Yonggungsa Temple in Busan

Our first stop in our day tour around Busan was in Haedong Yunggungsa Temple. From our inn at Seomyeon, we met with my friend's friend to drive us around the the nice places in Busan.

This Buddhist temple is located at the north-eastern portion of Busan lying along the coastal area. Unlike other temples which are located at mountains, this one is at the shore which makes it quite unique. It was built centuries ago during the Goryeo Dynasty and most people come here on New Year's day to view the sun rise.

Place to Stay in Busan: Blue Backpacker's Hostel

We stayed in a backpacker's inn in Busan and it was just a few minutes walk from Seomyeon Station. It was called Blue Backpacker's Hostel and it was a cheap place to stay wherein it is comfortable for us travelers.

The place was quite difficult to locate given the map they had on the website, however, with the help of a few friendly people, we were able to find it and for about an hour of being lost in the cold streets of Busan, we finally found it and checked in.