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.

Thursday 31/10/24

As time was still early, we walked over to The Marmalade Pantry for dessert. I had Pandan Gula Melaka Cake ($14++) with pandan chiffon sponge cake layers filled with a gula melaka mixture of coconut flakes and shavings. The cake was moist and infused with the aromatic flavors of pandan and coconut, making it a sweet dessert choice.

Seoul (South Korea) Day 5: Dongdaemun Design Plaza + Isssac Toast + Migliore

I slept at around 12.30am but stayed awake until 1 plus. The next time I woke up was 5 plus and subsequently at 7.20am. Considering my usual sleep pattern during overseas, this was quite a good rest for me.

We finished preparation by 9.30am and were ready to head out. As I was wearing a long-sleeve shirt today, I decided to leave my jacket behind at the hotel.

We took a cab down to Dongdaemun, reached the place at 9.50am Upon alighting, the chilly weather hit me and I instantly regretted not bringing my jacket along.

Here at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), a complex that serves as a museum and event venue for exhibitions, conferences, and more. The architecture was designed by the world-renowned architect Zaha Hadid, blending futuristic design with culture.

One interesting feature of DDP is the exterior making up of over 40,000 aluminum panels to form the iconic curves. The innovative design blended well with its surroundings.

Seoul (South Korea) Day 4: Starfield COEX Mall + Vanner's Fansign Event + Starfield Library

We took a cab to Starfield COEX Mall which was quite a distance from our hotel (an hour journey if we take train). We alighted at the Gangnam Style Sculpture at 6.45pm, a popular photo spot to celebrate the global success of PSY's hit song 'Gangnam Style'.

After snapping a quick photo, we noticed a group of tourists came to crowd the spot. Not wanting to queue in the cold, especially since I left my jacket at the hotel, we quickly made our way into the mall.

As we walked around the mall, we noticed a crowd gathering around the railings. We peeked down and saw a stage set up for a fan sign event for Vanner's 3rd mini album. I decided to join in and wait around to catch a glimpse of the K-pop group.

After 15 minutes of waiting, Vanner finally arrived at 7.05pm, greeted by cheers from their fans. They are a boy group that debuted in 2019 consisting of five members. They are currently promoting as a four member group as Sungkook is enlisted in the army. They are now back with their third mini album 'Burn'.

From left to right: Taehwan (leader), Gon, Hyesung and Yeongkwang (maknae). Taehwan and Gon were looking at our direction.

After the greeting, the fan signing event straight away began. Gon was still waving at us.

I like how the setup allowed for a more personal interaction between the idols and their fans. Seats were arranged for fans to sit down and have one-on-one moments with the boys, making the experience more memorable for the fans.

After staying for several minutes, we left to look for dinner. We passed by an eatery selling lunch box and rice bowl, it caught our attention and decided to settle for it.

I had Pork Bulgogi with Rice at ₩10,900 (or S$10.72). The pork bulgogi was quite flavourful and the accompanying kimchi carried a hint of spice that added a kick to the meal. Our dinner was settled in half an hour time.

Seoul (South Korea) Day 4: Hongdae Fashion Street + 943 King's Cross Cafe + Ewha Womans University

We arrived at Hongdae Fashion Street at 11.50am, ready to start shopping. After a few days of sightseeing, it was finally time to kickstart in retail therapy.

It was a long stretch of street lined with boutiques offering a variety of items. From trendy clothes and beauty products to unique souvenirs, there was many things to explore. Most of the clothing were thick pieces, preparing for the winter season.

I managed to get a short sleeve top from this boutique, 'From D' at ₩15,000 (or S$14.75). While the clothing in this area leaned towards the pricier side, the quality was quite not bad.

Hongdae is a bustling area filled with boutique shops, trendy cafes and eateries, making it a popular spot to hang out especially for the younger crowd. After an hour of shopping, we completed the stretch and decided it was time for lunch.

Being a Potterhead, a huge fan of Harry Potter, visiting 943 King's Cross Cafe was a must for me. It was only 10 minutes walk from Hongdae, we reached the cafe around 1.15pm.

I took a magical journey on a broomstick straight to King's Cross Station. Outside the cafe, there was a broom parking photo spot area, inviting everyone to capture a bit of magic before stepping inside.

As we stepped inside, we spotted on the right of level 1 was Ollivanders' wand shop in Diagon Alley. Known as the finest wandmaker, Ollivanders' shop was brought to life with shelves stacked with wand boxes.

On the left was the ordering counter where we placed our order before exploring the cafe further. Each person was required to order at least one drink, which seemed quite reasonable. The menu offered a decent selection of drinks, light bites and cakes.

Each floor had different themes for seating area. We went up to level 2 which was Wizard Cafe with ordinary setup. We chose to sit here for its convenience, as we needed to carry the trays of food up ourselves.

Since we were not feeling hungry for a full lunch, we ordered a few items to spend our afternoon away. We had French Fries at ₩16,500 (or S$16.22). The fries were decent but the spicy sauce caused them to become soggy quickly. As expected from a themed cafe, the prices were on the higher side.

Seoul (South Korea) Day 3: Nami Island + 12-Storey Daiso

Our last attraction was to Nami Island, which was just a 20 minute drive from Gangchon Rail Park. 

Our driver dropped us off at Gapyeong Wharf at 4.20pm where we took a 5 minute ferry ride to Nami Island. Since the island is not reachable by land transport, visitors can only access it by ferry or a zip line.

We went up to second level of the ferry, an open-air deck that offered an unobstructed view of the surroundings.

As we cruised through Cheongpyeong Lake, I enjoyed the breeze and the picturesque view of the valley, with hills forming a beautiful silhouette against the clear blue sky.

Prior to visiting, the only thing I know about Nami Island was that it was the filming location for the 2002 Korean Drama 'Winter Sonata', starring by Bae Yong Joon and Choi Ji Woo. 

We came in the period where the leaves were still in green. If we come in end October, we might be able to witness the foliage transitioning to shades of yellow and orange.

We passed by Cheonsatap Garden, four pillars to heaven, that is near the lake. The pillar added a sense of mystical charm to the landscape.

I learned that the island was named after General Nami, a historical figure from the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. It is said that his body was buried beneath the stones on the northern hill of Nami Island.

Although the lake scenery was beautiful, we realised we had ventured far from the main attractions and away from the crowds. It took us another 15 minutes to cut back to the island's key attractions.

Our pathway brought us to "Winter Sonata First Kiss" location. The snowman is a mascot of Nami Island, inspired by the theme of "Winter" Sonata.

We crossed over the bridge to Yeonji Pond (Pond with Lotus), enjoying the lush green lotus leaves covering up the water's surface. This made a good spot to pause and soak in the peaceful atmosphere.

The Snowman mascot was literally everywhere on Nami Island, adding a touch of charm. Without us knowing, the time was already 5pm, leaving us slightly less than an hour time on the island as we needed to be back at Gapyeong Wharf by 6.15pm.

This was the famous Central Korean Pine Tree Lane that lined the path with tall pine trees decorated with balloon-shaped light bulbs. These bulbs will light up the lane beautifully at night.

The entire island was nestled within a big garden filled with greenery, exuding a serene and calming atmosphere. There were many spots and cafes to explore. Despite its remote location, Nami Island remained a favorite destination among tourists.

We wanted to find a place to sit down for either a drink or dessert, but was worried it might be too rush to dine on Nami Island. Hence, we decided to head back to Gapyeong Wharf where we had earlier spotted some food options there.

There was a queue for the ferry and we ended up boarding the second one. This time, we opted for a seat indoors on the first level to give our feet a rest.

We stopped by at Cafe & Mart for dessert fix at 5.45pm, giving us  half an hour to unwind before our tour ended.

The cafe had an inviting atmosphere, featuring a white interior complemented by wooden floors, tables, and chairs. A large window allowed natural light to pour in, enhancing the cozy ambiance.

We placed our order at the self-service kiosk which was very convenient with English menu. I had Pine Nut Gelato at ₩5,500 (or S$5.41), drawn to its unique flavour. The gelato was smooth and creamy, delivering a nutty aroma with every bite.

The cafe was a great spot to enjoy a gelato and unwind after our visit to Nami Island. We relaxed while taking in the serene view of the lake as the sun set.

Nami Island

1 Namiseom-gil, Namsan-myeon, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea

Operating hours: 8am to 9pm daily

It was only 6.25pm and the sky was gradually darkening. The journey back to Myeongdong was 1 hour 40 minutes, marking the end of our one day tour. It was a fun day, especially at Alpaca World and Gangchon Rail Park, which were the highlights for me. Nami Island, though beautiful, felt more normal in comparison.

It was 8pm when the driver dropped us off at Myeongdong Station exit opposite the 12-storey Daiso, just nice it was in my plan to visit this place.

We did not want to venture too far for dinner, so we looked around the stretch around us and decided to settle for Two Two Chicken. The place was bustling with crowds coming here for their famous chicken and beer.

They had the option of drumstick and boneless chicken, I chose the latter that was easier to eat. We had the Boneless Fried Chicken Half and Half Set at ₩22,000 (or S$21.63) which came in a mix of original and spicy flavour. I enjoyed the original flavour more as it satisfied the crunch and meatiness. The seasoned flavour gave a refreshing spice, but the heat built up and became a bit overwhelmed towards the end.

Besides our table was a group of business professionals probably celebrating TGIF. They kept chanting "ha-na, dul, set." before clinking their glasses together for toasts.

Two Two Fried Chicken

5 Toegye-ro 20-gil, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea

Operating hours: 11am to 12am from Mon to Sat

We left the eatery at 8.50pm and cross over to the 12-storey Daiso shopping. We quickly checked the directory and marked the level we wanted to explore. There was a queue to the lift so we had to wait through a few rounds before it was finally our turn to board.

We started from level 12 which was Fashion and Travel item, but nothing caught my eyes. 

Each level offered an array of items that catered to different needs, it was one of the best shopping destinations in Myeongdong in my opinion. My favorite level was the section on Food and Character Goods, where I could find Disney and other cartoons merchandise for under ₩5,000. I ended up buying more than I ever had before at Daiso.

We were back in hotel at 10.10pm, here were my loots from Daiso at ₩19,000 (or S$18.68).

The past two days were packed with sightseeing adventures, the next two days are set aside for shopping time and cafe hopping. Stay tuned for more.