Happenings in October - AVENE Cleanance A.H.A Exfoliating Serum + iVegan

Tuesday 8/10/24

I am already familiar with the AVENE Cleanance range as I am currently using Avene Cleanance Cleansing Gel and Cleanance Comedomed. Hence, adding AVENE Cleanance A.H.A Exfoliating Serum to my routine felt like the perfect complement to complete my skincare set. Thanks Daily Vanity for introducing the product.

AVENE Cleanance A.H.A Exfoliating Serum is suitable for people with sensitive, blemish-prone skin. Its lightweight, watery texture infused with Avène Thermal Spring Water, feels incredibly soothing upon application. 

The serum absorbs quickly into the skin, leaving behind a hydrated, dewy glow without any greasy feeling. The serum is free from fragrance. I noticed it effectively soothed redness and did not trigger any breakouts or discomfort. It’s the perfect addition to my skincare routine.

Saturday 12/10/24

We went to Starbucks for dessert where I had Buttery Scone. It was crispy on the outside and buttery on the inside, with the Lurpak butter adding extra fragrance.

Sunday 13/10/24

Journey to east for iVegan at i12 Katong a health-conscious restaurant offering natural, delicious plant-based whole foods free of MSG and refined sugar. Their dishes use olive oil and pansalt.

Thanks GF for inviting me along to join her and K for the lunch, good opportunity for me to pass her recent overseas souvenirs.

The Crispy Veg Maki was the nicest among the dishes I tried, it does not lose out to the Japanese maki. Made with cucumber, carrot, red cabbage, nori, tomato salsa, vegan mayo and BBQ sauce, it was bursting with flavour.

With the growing demand for vegetarian dining, restaurants are getting more creative with their menus, and I would not mind eating vegetarian more often if it is this delicious.

Seoul (South Korea) Day 3: Alpaca World

 I went to bed at 11.30pm and woke up at 1.40am. Due to tiredness, the next time I woke up was 5.45am.

It was 6am,  the sky was in a bluish tone as the sun had yet to rise. I did not went back to sleep as we were supposed to wake up at 6.10am to start preparing for the day. 

We munched on the grapes we bought at the convenience store yesterday and packed the gummy sweets in bag to keep us energized for the ride later.

I had the scone (₩3,900) that we bought yesterday for breakfast. It was quite nice with light and crunchy exterior, the inside was buttery and not too sweet. 

They were too cute to eat, each piece stamped with the letters "PACA."

We reported back to our driver at 12.20pm sharp for our next destination.

Alpaca World

310 Pungcheon-ri, Hwachon-myeon, Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon-do, South Korea

Operating hours: 10am to 6pm daily

Seoul (South Korea) Day 2: Namsangol Hanok Village + Namsan Seoul Tower

After returning our hanboks, we walked back the route toward the Ginseng Chicken Soup area, trying to look for suitable places for lunch along the way but none caught our eyes, so we ended up back at Seochon Hanok Village for a late lunch. 

It was already 2.40pm by the time we settled down for Salon de Donkkasu. This small yet popular eatery was nearly full and we were lucky to get a table immediately.

We were given a complimentary soup after placing our order, it was creamy and tasty.

The menu was simple with only seven options, most of which were pork except two with fish. I got Pork Tenderloin Cutlet at ₩11,500 (or S$11.31). The cutlet was coated in a crispy crumb layer that provided a satisfying crunch, revealing lean meat inside. It paired well with the sauce and rice.

Salon de Donkkasu (Tonkatsu Salon)

20 Jahamun-ro 7-gil, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea

Operating hours: 11.30am to 3pm and 5pm to 10pm from Mon to Fri, 12pm to 10pm on Sat and Sun

It took us 20 minutes to walk to Gwanghwamun Square to see the statue of King Sejong. He was the fourth monarch of the Joseon Dynasty and regarded as one of the greatest rulers in Korean history.

We were at Gwanghwamun Station (Purple line) and needed to head toward Chungmuro Station (Orange line). We purchased EZL Card for public transportation at a convenience store for ₩5,000 (or S$4.92) each and topped up money to take train.

It was nearly 5pm when we reached Namsangol Hanok Village. Since it was along the way to Namsan Tower, I decided to drop by here and explore.

Namsangol Hanok Village is a recreated village featuring historical traditional houses, pavilion and  garden from Joseon era, giving visitors a glimpse into Korea's past. Admission was free which attracted many tour groups to visit.

It was a relaxing spot, allowing us to bask in the ambiance of the recreated village, which felt like stepping into an ancient garden surrounded by natural beauty.

The village would have felt more charming place if I had not already visited the palace. After the palace, the buildings here seemed quite similar. Hence, I decided to skip the structures and focus on exploring the beautiful garden instead.

We just stayed for 15 minutes in the village and quickly made our way out for next schedule.

Namsangol Hanok Village

28 Toegye-ro 34-gil, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea 

Operating hours: 9am to 8pm from Tue to Sun

We boarded bus 01B in front of Daehan Theatre at Chungmuro Station Exit 2, heading to Namsan Tower. The journey was just five stops with a fare of ₩1,400 (or S$1.38). The entire bus was packed with people heading to the same destination as us, we stood throughout the way.

We arrived at Namsan Seoul Tower at 5.35pm, just in time for the sunset. Being an iconic location that appeared in many K-dramas like Boys Over Flowers with its memorable cable car scene, it was a popular attraction among tourists.

Even before reaching the tower, the view was already spectacular with the entire city in a panorama. At every turn, the scenery was breathtaking.

We spent a few minutes admiring the stunning view of the city, dotted with many buildings, before heading up the slope toward the tower.

Namsan Seoul Tower is a communication and observation tower, standing at a height of 236m. From restaurants and cafes to souvenir shops, there are plenty of ways to spend your time here.

J wanted to visit the observation tower so he purchased the ticket via Klook at S$18.25 per pax. What we did not know was  the queue system. Through we had tickets, we had to wait half an hour before it was our turn. We decided to chill at A Twosome Place for a drink while waiting.

A Twosome Place is a premium dessert cafe and coffee franchise in South Korea with more than 1,640 stores nationwide. It seems to be everywhere I went.

I had Strawberry Milk Latte at ₩5,500 (or S$5.41), a smooth blend with sweetness from creamy condensed milk and bits of strawberry adding a nice texture.

It was 6.50pm by the time we were at the observatory, the sun has completely set and night had fallen. The entire city was glowing with lights while a dark patch marked the silhouette of the mountain.

Even the restroom offered a breathtaking view of the city, one can admire the skyline while using the toilet, hoping none will be able to see you in from outside. 

I'm not someone who enjoy looking at night view so I felt the observatory was a waste, we only spending only 15 minutes there.

The view from the base of the tower was just as beautiful as the one from the observatory. In my opinion, visiting the tower was not necessary to admire the cityscape. We spent two hours here but only 15 minutes at the observatory.

We made our way down to the steep slope to the bus stop for bus 01A, I slowed my pace to descend carefully. When I glanced back, J was lagging even further behind, moving so slowly that I could not help but calling him "ahjussi."

Namsan Seoul Tower

105 Namsangongwon-gil, Yongsan District, Seoul, South Korea

Operating hours: 10am to 11pm

There was a long queue for the bus and we only managed to get up by the third bus, standing throughout the journey with a standard fare of ₩1,400 (or S$1.38) for four stops to City Hall.

By the time we alighted, it was about 8.10pm and we wanted to find a place for a light dinner but most of the restaurants here were already closed.

We stopped by GS25 convenience store and picked up some grapes, sweets, and cookies for munching during the trip.

We were happy when we spotted Dunkin' Donuts, thinking we could settle our dinner here. Unfortunately, their selection was limited at this hour.

We picked up two plain scones and two cookies at ₩13,600 (or S$13.37) for our breakfast tomorrow as we will not have time to hunt for food in the morning.

With limited options for a light meal at 9pm, we ended up at A Twosome Place again, visiting this cafe twice in a day. I skipped on street food because I needed a place where I can sit down to rest while having the food.

I had Egg and Ham Muffin at ₩3,900 (or S$3.83). It was like a classic breakfast muffin which was simple yet satisfying, just perfect for a late night meal.

There were a variety of seating options for both small and large groups. We chose seats on the same level as the counter, making it convenient to take and return our tray. It was a relief to sit down and relax, we ended up chilling here for 40 minutes.

A Twosome Place 

Myeongdong Daeyeongak Tower, 97 Toegye-ro, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea

Operating hours: 7am to 11pm from Mon to Fri, 8am to 11pm on Sat and Sun

We were back at our hotel after 15 minutes walk. It was a tiring day with lots of walking, can't wait to head back to the room and rest.

Seoul (South Korea) Day 2: Guard Changing at Gyeongbokgung Palace + Tosokchon Samgyetang

 I had a better sleep yesterday with me going to bed at 11.30pm, woke up at 4.40am, then again at 6am and remained awake since then. It was already better compared to my previous trips.

I got out of bed at 8am to prepare for a full day out. While taking turns in the bathroom, I turned on the television to watch Pororo the Little Penguin.

We reached Gwanghwamun Gate at Gyeongbokgung Palace at 9.55am, just in time for the Royal Guard Changing Ceremony. The gate looked even more impressive than the one I had visited yesterday against the cloudless sky.

The area was packed with crowds after I entered the gate, with many eagerly waiting for the ceremony. Quite a number of people were dressed in hanbok, creating a captivating and vibrant scene.

The royal guard changing ceremony is held twice daily at 10am and 2pm, re-enacting the traditional guard changing procedure from the Joseon Dynasty.

It was so interesting to watch such a historic parade in the midst of a modern world. The rituals, vibrant hanbok and throbbing drumbeats filled the air with the spirit of centuries past.

The royal guards marched around the parade square, giving everyone a clear view of the ceremony. Watching the Royal Guard Changing Ceremony is highly recommended if you visit any palace, it is a sight not to be missed.

After the ceremony, we did not immediately enter Gyeongbokgung Palace but made our way out to Bukchon Hanok Village for breakfast. As we walked, we enjoyed scenic hill view, a sight I could never get tired of.

We passed by many hanbok shops when on the way. This area was the nearest to the palace, so many visitors chose their hanbok design from the shops here.

It took us 20 minute walk to reach Tosokchon Samgyetang near Seochon Hanok Village. This restaurant is famous for their Ginseng Chicken Soup, often drawing long queues during peak hours. As it was only 10.40am, we got a seat immediately upon arrival.

The restaurant had several dining areas and we were led to the most inner room, which was not yet full. The interior contained rich wooden elements, from tables and chairs to doors, creating a traditional ambiance.

The set included kimchi, radish and mineral water. They also had a container for us to dispose the chicken bones into it. 

I had Tosokchon Ginseng Chicken Soup at ₩20,000 (or S$19.67) which featured a whole young chicken stuffed with glutinous rice, served in a rich milky broth infused with ginseng, pumpkin seeds, black sesame, jujube fruits and various other seeds. The meat was very tender, falling off the bone effortlessly.

The ginseng found in my soup. 

I liked that the ginseng flavour was subtle and not overpowering. The chicken had absorbed all the goodness from the broth, making it a nourishing dish to have for a cool day. This was going to be my best meal in Seoul.

The chicken roasting in process if you prefer roasted version. They also had white and black chicken options but I preferred the white chicken.

We finished our meal in exactly an hour at 11.40am and were shocked by the line forming outside the restaurant. I was so glad we came early, if not I probably not keen to join in the long queue.

Tosokchon Samgyetang

5 Jahamun-ro 5-gil, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea

Operating hours: 10am to 10pm daily