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

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.

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.

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

Seoul (South Korea) Day 1: Deoksugung Palace + Myeongdong Kyoja + Cafe de Paris

As we stepped out of our hotel onto the street, we were surprised to see the road packed with people and surrounded by police. While in the cab earlier, we had also noticed a few police buses, initially thought it was related to Armed Forces Day on 1 Oct.

The police were armed with gear and shield which felt unusual to us, something must be amiss.

It turned out there was a protest by the construction workers' wing of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (those with red band on their head), they were all making their way toward Sungnyemun Gate. Many police were activated to manage any potential disruptions. While it seemed like a regular occurrence in Seoul, it was quite an eye-opening experience for us.

We finally arrived at Deoksugung Palace at 4.30pm after 20 minute walk and observing the protest. I decided to visit this palace as it was within walking distance from our hotel, a convenient spot to explore on our first day.

There are five royal palaces in Seoul with Deoksugung Palace being the smallest among them. This historic site served as the residence of King Gojong, the last monarch of the Joseon Dynasty.

Deoksugung Palace is where tradition meets modernity with the centuries-old architecture set against the backdrop of modern buildings near City Hall.

Deoksugung Palace (德寿宫) means "Palace of Virtue and Longevity" in Mandarin, was renamed in 1907 with the hope for the emperor's long life and prosperity.

Thus place was a great place to stop by and the entrance fee was quite affordable. Despite being the smallest palace, there was plenty to explore. I also noticed that not many visitors were dressed in hanbok here, just like us.

This was the nine rank system that used to categorize the government officials.

This is the only royal palace featuring a blend of traditional Korean architecture and Western-style colonial buildings. This unique combination nestled beautifully with the nearby City Hall.

The walkway gave a colonial charm featuring classic pillars, elegant handrails, and tall windows and doors that added to the details.

Coming to an end of the exploration.

We spent an hour at the palace, marveling at the preserved architecture and absorbing the rich history surrounding us. It was an experience, stepping back into a time of tradition.

Deoksugung Palace

99 Sejong-daero, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea

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

Entrance fee: ₩1,000 (or S$0.98) or free if wearing hanbok

We walked towards Myeongdong Shopping Street which was quite a long walk from Deoksugung Palace. Our first stop was to find food since we had not eaten much today. Opening the Kakao App, we looked for nearby recommendations and Myeongdong Kyoja popped up.

We arrived at Myeongdong Kyoja around 6.15pm and the eatery were already full house but we got seats at a shared table. The queue moved fast as people came, ate, and left fast.

With only four items on the menu, ordering was quick and easy. I had Kalguksu Noodle at ₩11,000 (or S$10.82), which had a comforting, flavourful broth that refreshed my palate with every sip. The noodles were smooth and filling.

We also shared a plate of Mandu Dumplings at ₩12,000 (or S$11.80), packed with meat. It was great to finally enjoy a hearty meal after only having a cake today.

We finished our meal and left the eatery in half an hour as we saw the queue forming along the staircase.

Myeongdong Kyoja

29 Myeongdong 10-gil, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea

Operating hours: 10.30am to 9pm

One item on my shopping list was HBAF (Healthy But Awesome Flavors) Almond Nuts. I was looking for multipack but seeing the high prices, I decided to explore more options before making a purchase.

I bought two pack of masks from Olive Young at ₩17,900 (or S$17.60) after a tax refund. By showing my passport for purchases over ₩15,000, I received an instant ₩1,000 refund. I also picked up a pack of BT21 almond nuts from Seoul Mart at ₩10,800 (or S$10.62).

After an hour of shopping along Myeongdong Street, we were pretty much done with the things we wanted to see. Looking for a spot to rest our feet, Cafe de Paris caught my eyes from far with their prominent three storey cafe.

There was a miniature Eiffel Tower placed in the cafe, paired with table and chairs featuring Eiffel Tower shaped leg. The decor was unique and added a Parisian touch to the atmosphere.

We both had a Real Orange Juice at ₩9,500 (or S$9.34) each. It was pricey, but they used a whole orange for each drink, complete with the orange peel to show the freshness. The juice had a refreshing, citrusy twist, perfect for quenching our thirst.

Many cafes here seemed to be self-service. We ordered at a kiosk, collected our drinks from the counter, and returned the trays after finishing.

Cafe de Paris

26 Myeongdong 4-gil, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea

Operating hours: 11am to 11pm daily

After lazing in the cafe for 1 hour 20 minutes, it was already 9.10pm. We decided to make our way back to the hotel.

We stopped by CU Convenience Store two streets from our hotel to purchase water supply and a pack of cookies. I was so tired by the time I reached the hotel at 9.50pm.

My haul for the day. 

It was a relaxing first day in Seoul as we got familiar with Myeongdong and the taxi app, exploring popular food spots along the way.

Seoul (South Korea) Day 1: Airport Limousine + Lotte Hotel Seoul

After 10 minutes of air taxiing, we moved out of the plane and made our way toward customs. 

The queue for custom clearance was madness, likely due to the China Golden Week holiday. Visitors are required to fill in an arrival card. We started queuing at 7.40am and took 1 hour 10 minutes to finally get through. 

 My exchange rate was S$1 : ₩1,017.

 After collecting our baggage and taking long toilet break, we headed to the ticket redemption counter at Gate 6 of Incheon Airport Terminal 1. We needed to exchange our mobile voucher for a physical ticket as we had pre-purchased the round trip Airport Limousine Bus Ticket from Klook for S$32.45 per person. 

As we stepped out of the airport at 9.35am, cool breeze greeted us, I put on my jacket while waiting for Limousine Bus 6015 which would take us to Myeongdong. It has been a long while since I last experienced such a cooling season, it felt refreshing.

The bus came 5 minutes later and we boarded the bus to find very comfortable seating, perfect for the hour-long ride ahead. The bus would make its way to different parts of Myeongdong and our hotel was located at the ninth stop. 

There were jam especially near the cross junction on the expressway, the journey to our bus stop was extended to 1 hour 45 minutes. We reached Lotte Hotel/IBIS Myeongdong stop at 11.25am. 

We spotted Lotte Hotel Seoul at the opposite street, tucked behind Lotte Department Store. It took us about 8 minutes to walk from the bus stop to the hotel as the hotel main lobby was a distance away.

We returned to Lotte Hotel Seoul (main tower) at 2.15pm for check-in. The customer service was top notch. From the moment we arrived, I felt warmly welcomed. The staff rushed to open the car door, and there were ceiling heaters to keep guests standing outside comfortable. The staff were stationed at various lanes in the lobby in suits, putting a smile on their face and ready to cater to the guest needs.

Lotte Hotel Seoul is a 5 star luxury hotel located in Myeongdong. At 38 storey high, it has 1,015 rooms spread across both the main and executive towers. 

Lotte Hotel Seoul

30 Eulji-ro, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea

While waiting for the lift, I was captivated by the waterfall cascading behind the glass right next to the lift. It added a touch of sophistication to the hotel ambiance, offering guests at the lift lobby and lounge a tranquil view.

The view from our room at level 18 showed a cityscape of surrounding buildings. To the right, I spotted The Westin Josun Seoul being shone by the sunny rays.

The bathroom was spacious with a bathtub to add to the luxurious experience, I liked the use of Japanese-style toilet with various bidet settings and heated toilet seat for added comfort on cooler days.