韩国自由行 Smart Way Travel in Korea!

Would like to share my experience and research I did before and during my Korea trip. Hope it is useful to you too.


Before the trip
 1. Air Asia flight from K.L. to Incheon RM1200 for 2 person, included meals & luggage.
-  but really don't like AA meals >.<

2. Always update the news, events and offer from local KTO website.
KTO Malaysia
- We redeemed the T-money card from Korea Plaza, there was 4,000KRW in the card which ready to use.
T-money Coupon

3. Draft itinerary in order to reserve for domestic flights, guesthouse, train and etc in advance.

4. I found Busan Air fare is competitive. Different dates will have different promotion. I managed to get the airfare from Gimpo (Seoul) to Jeju in KRW42,310 (RM121) and Jeju to Busan KRW32,410 (RM93) included fuel surcharge (4,000KRW) & airport charges(13,200KRW). Air Busan airfare is included 15kg luggage per person as mentioned by their official.
 Air Busan
- There are also others domestic flight to compare the price as following, maybe can get the cheaper one.
 Eastarjet
 Korean Air

5. U may experience to travel in between Korea by others transportation, not compulsory by flight. Depend on your preference, time constrain, and budget.

- By ship
> Normally ppl take night ship to save cost for accommodation. U can reserve in advance a cabin if want privacy. I cancel my plan to take ship cause the price I get is not much different compare with the flight + accommodation and flight still the faster to reach my destination.
Korea Ship

- By KTX
> KTX is a inter-city high speed train. It is comfortable. Ticket only can be reserve 1 months in advance. Different date and different times in different price for normal tickets. They offer few type of tickets for foreigner as well. I found a discount coupon but cant print out, maybe they already cancel it.
KTX
KTX Discount Coupon

During the trip
1. Buy a T-money card  from AREX counter or card machine.

2. From Incheon Airport to Seoul City
> AREX is Airport transit train from Incheon to Seoul Station. There are 2 type of AREX, Express and Regular train. Express train is direct line in between Incheon and Seoul Station only and cost 13,300 KRW. Is very much expensive than regular train which is only cost 3,700 KRW(By T-money). Express train is roughly save 10-15mins from Incheon to Seoul but the fare is in big different.
AREX

> Or another common way is by Airport Limousine  13,000KRW. But gotto be aware of the serious traffic congestion during the rush hour.

3. Travel around by subway/bus/taxi
> In Seoul, not suggest to take bus due to avoid traffic jam and I think subway still the faster & cheaper. If u are 4 pax in a group, taxi will be cheaper than subway for some short distance.

Anyway, I still take bus to visit Namsan Tower. By bus we enjoyed the day & night scenery all the way of up & down of Namsan. 
* Local circulation bus 02 or 05: Take bus from Chungmuro Station (subway lines 3 or 4), exit #2 or Dongguk University Station (subway line 3), exit #6
* Local circulation bus 03: Take bus from Itaewon Station (subway line 6), exit #4 or Hangangjin Station (subway line 6), exit #2

> In Jeju Island, there are no subway, only bus or taxi. To save cost better stay near to the Bus Terminal in Jeju Island. U can always ask help from the guest house's staff to write those places u plan to visit in Hangul, then show to the taxi or bus driver to make sure going to the right place. Jeju Island is hard to get a taxi at some view point, normally you need to call for taxi or wait for luck ^^. Or if u are lucky, there is an information counter, don't be shy to ask for call. They will pass u the phone and let u call yourself cause they don't understand u.

> In Busan, first choice subway. Bear in mind that, Taxi will ignore u for a short distance drive.

*There are also free shuttle bus in between Seoul, Busan and Gyeongju. Details as following link.
FOC Shuttle Bus


Tips:
1. Always save the links you found in any website. Its always happened that the link system error or page missing once they update their news. Print out or pdf  the coupon or voucher once you are interested, you won't regret to do this.

2. Place a visit Korea Tourism Office in Korea, they will provide u different events, discount tickets, coupons and etc. KTO Staffs normally can speak in Japanese, Mandarin, English & Korean. They are friendly and helpful.
> We got free VIP tickets for Korea In Motion Festival at Cheongyecheon, Seoul. The show included performance of Nanta, Pop Dance, Korea Opera, U-kiss, Super junior etc...Its worth cause the ticket for Nanta already cost from 40,000RKWto 60,000KRW.
>They also provide Korean traditional wear for you to take photo free of charge.

3. U can always call (area code) +1330 for any inquiries during your trip in Korea. For example, Seoul 02-1330, Jeju 064-1330, Busan 051-1330. If u not rent a mobile phone, u can make a free call from your guest house or information center and regular charge by using public phone.

4. Balance of T-money can be refund at GS2 Store, Ground Floor in Incheon Airport.

5. It is not easy to communicate with different Korean cause we don't know Hangul, when they don't know English. Print this out, it is helpful especially in a restaurant without picture or English menu.
Hangul

6. There are few links to share for discount coupons.
Discount Coupons
Korea In Motion

Sasa On Board

Sasa is 2 years old ++ now. Already a big big girl and can be level up to be mummy. Still short of time to go for details. Hopefully will upgrade her level as soon as possible ^^ Will do, will do ~
If really no time for it,  sorry to my dear Sasa....


Sasa photo shooting !

 

Dog Training

I train my German Shepherd dog by my own cause my time not allow me to send him for train on every weekend. Therefore, My husband and I train her when we are free. She is doing good and I was very happy when she knew play dead but she will dead until walk near to me and dead next on my foot. Its funny!

Go for professional dog training center if you are impatient and no free time to be with your dog. If your dog not listen to your command, it will be dangerous to others. From my experience, you can teach any skills to your dog. But better start with obedience training first to make sure that they will obey to your commands. Some dog training tips as following ~

- Always use small piece of trick/snack they like much for training. When time goes by, they will obey your commands automatically without any snacks.
- Award them if they obey your commands. They will willing to obey you in order to get the awards.
- Do not punish them while training For example scold, beat or smack, they will feel stress and do not like to be train.
- Always repeat the previous lesson before go for new skills.

Have fun with your fur-kids!!

DIY Dog Snacks

I always use DIY snacks to train my gsd. Therefore, all these snacks are in small pieces.  She love it too. Once they love the snack, its easier for you to train them. My recipe as below and this snack is hard to bite for human but its easier for dog. You can try it,  have fun with your pet!

Crunchy Dehydrated Chicken Meats

Steps:
1. Cut chicken breast into small pieces and cook in boiling water.
2. Drain it, put into oven.
3. Heat slowly until chicken meat is dry and it is ready to serve.

Biscuits

Steps:
1. Flour + eggs+ sugar + milk + water for adjust the dough.
2. Once dough is ready, make it into mall pieces or in your preferable shape.
3. Bake slowly for 20-30mins until it is dry enough for keep then is ready to serve.
Optional : You can also try for others flavor that your dog's love it. For example, carrot, pumpkin, raisin, apple and etc.

Ayam & Babi Pongteh

*Oops! Keen to eat,  forgot to take the photo ready to serve =P
will post it next time ^^

Ingredients:
Coconut sugarSalt
Tapioca starch
Pepper
Dark Soy Sauce
Sesame Oil
Taucu

Belly Pork

potato, carrot, small onion, garlic

Steps :
1. Cut meat into small piece, marinate it with sesame oil, pepper, salt and tapioca starch.

 
2. Heat some oil, fry chopped garlic & onion until fragrance.
3. Add in taucu and fry till fragrance.
4. Add in meats fry for awhile then add in carrot & potato.
5. Fry for few minutes, pour in water until almost cover all the ingredients.

6. After boiling, add in dark sauce and coconut sugar cook slowly about 30-45mins. Then is ready to serve.

Tips :
1. Meats can be either chicken/pork or both, I'm using belly pork for this time.
2. Always stir it while cooking to avoid scorch or uncooked.
3. Cook longer if want the meats taste softer.

腌制青芒果 Marinated Mango

Ingredients:
芒果 Mango
盐 Salt
醋 Vinegar
水 Water

根据个人喜好另外加入小辣椒或者酸梅（切碎）
Optional : Chilli padi or sour plum (cut into small piece)

把 芒果削皮切成小块，清洗干净。
Peel the mango and cut into small piece, rinse off.
放入较大的盆子加入水和盐，来回搓揉。
Put in a bigger bowl add in salt and water, toss well.
腌制大概一小时。
Leave it marinate for 1 hour.

用笊篱把水滤掉，搁置一旁晾干些大概三十分钟。
Drain it by using a colander, leave it to dry for about 30mins.
把半干的芒果放入罐里， 加入糖和醋。（小辣椒或者酸梅也在这时候加入）
Place mango into a jar add in sugar and vinegar. ( Add chili padi or sour plum in your preference)
搅拌均匀，关上瓶盖。放入冰箱即可。
Toss well, close jar lid and put it refrigerator.
等到隔天就可以吃啦！
Marinated mango is ready to be serve by next day.

小贴士 Tips:
隔天腌制的芒果会排出一些水分，表面的芒果比较干，搅拌均匀再腌一下下比较入味。
Water will be drawn out from marinated mango by next day. Toss the mango leave it marinated well.

MY Baby GSD > Sasa

This is my dog, Sasa. Sasa born in 14th July 2009. She is a present from my dear hubby. We both love dog very much. Our 1st choice was Golden Retriever but hubby worried of  GR might welcome thieves by swinging its tail. At last we go for GSD, people will get away from our house when see her. Feel so secure. hehe....

GSD puppy is damn cute. Since they are big size dog, they grow up pretty fast. Regret no take more photo during her puppy time. She stayed with us in a condominium during her puppyhood... its was fun & messy. She is really playful & naughty. She bit everything she can when her teeth is growing. She ate the TV console's handles; every corner of walls, furniture and even try on table legs in steel (of course unsuccessful >.<). Someone said they might not bit that things if you put on pepper, chilli, venegar, wine, etc. So funny that she likes all of them and taste it all. @-@" We only can empty up our living room for her at last. what to do~

猪脚醋 Black Vinegar Pig's Trotter

"煲煲猪脚姜  激死朱元璋
拎住猪脚姜  撞到朱元璋
放低猪脚姜  叫声朱元璋
叫叫下朱元璋  晤见左猪脚姜
拉住朱元璋  问距拿番煲猪脚姜"

Ingredients :
猪脚 Pig's Trotter
黑醋 Black Vinegar
水 Water
辣椒干 Dried Chillis
椰糖  Coconut Sugar
老抽 Dark Soy Sauce
老姜 Old Ginger
蒜米 Garlic

黑醋和水的比例是 1 ：5
老抽少许用来调味和调色
其他材料的分量可以依据个人喜好而定。喜欢甜就下多些椰糖；喜欢辣就下多些姜或辣椒干。


步骤：
1。烧开一锅水，加入猪脚。把猪脚大致上煮熟，然后捞起。清理干净如拔毛等等。。。

2。水，姜和辣椒干放入锅内烧开，煮沸后加入猪脚。

3。最后把其他材料都加入，水分大概刚好盖过材料。煮沸后慢火煮一小时就煮好啦！

小贴士：
1。喜欢肉质更软可以再煮久一点。
2。可以把鸡蛋煮熟去壳加入一起焖煮。
3。记得久不久看一次避免把水煮干或煮焦。

女生必吃！
补充胶原蛋白，袪风驱寒、活血调经之功效。