First destination of the day is Ihwa Mural Village! Located just two subway stops from where we stayed, Ihwa Mural Village is popular for its murals on the walls. However, due to the large inconvenience brought by tourists, many of these murals have since been painted away. We decided to try our luck and see what's left for some worthy photos! Glad that the popular iconic mural of the village - angel wings - is still around!
Ihwa Mural Village 이화벽화미을
Ihwa-dong, Seoul
Subway: Hyehwa Station Exit 2 (line 4)
#1: To Ihwa Mural Village.
#2: 100m up the stairs.
#3: Pass by this pretty DIY coaster place cum cafe.
#4: The balloons >>> one of the popular photo spots.
#5: Such glorious sunflowers. 🌻🌻
#6: View from the top of the hill. It's cloudy as it started to rain right after this.
#7: Lonely bear by the window... Right beside this is the iconic Angel Wings mural!
#8: A shot with the iconic mural of Ihwa Mural Village.
Next, we went to Namdaemum Market. It is one of the largest traditional markets in Seoul, located next to Namdaemun (南大门) - southern gate of Seoul. Bought some Korean seaweeds here, original and bulgogi seaweed - 40pkts of 8 sheets for KRW15,000, that's not too bad right? Namdaemun Market 남대문시장
21, Namdaemunsijang 4-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
2300-1700hrs (the next day)
Subway: Hoehyeon Station Exit 5 (line 4)
Next, we walked back down to the streets of Myeongdong and searched for Stylenanda Pink Hotel. Don't be fooled, it's not a hotel! Stylenanda is a Korean fashion brand and Myeongdong is their third flagship store. It is designed in a concept of pink hotel and everything is really on point!
Stylenanda Pink Hotel
66-2 Chungmuro 2(i)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul
1100-2300hrs (daily)
Subway: Myeongdong Station Exit 7 or 8 (line 4)
Instagram: stylenanda_korea
#9: Stylenanda Pink Hotel.
On level 1 is 'Lobby'. The entrance consists of the reception and display of room keys. Cosmetics are displayed food buffet style, with dinner plates at the bottom shelf. I was joking with my friend that, are we supposed to use the plates to hold the cosmetics we have picked, instead of the regular small baskets, like how you take food from the buffet line? That's so cool! And she was like, no lah, there are baskets at the side.
#10: Display of room keys.
#11: Stylenanda elevator.
#12: Cosmetics, buffet style.
#13: Some mini body lotions as desserts?
On level 2 is 'Spa' - bathroom concept. Body products are displayed in sinks with folded towels at the bottom shelf. There is a bathtub filled with flowers at the corner. A great phototaking corner!
#14: Level 2 - Spa.
#15: Cosmetics, bathroom style
#16: Sink with no water.
#17: Ready to shower? 🛁🛁
On level 3 is 'Rooms'. On this floor, it sells fashion wear with hotel room doors along the corridor. On level 4 is 'Laundry'. On this floor, it sells casual wear with four fake washers spinning permanently. It's in the concept of housekeeping.
#18: Level 3 - Rooms.
#19: The washers permanently spin clothes to resemble a real washer washing.
#20: It's a cashier, not a counter to send your clothes for washing.
#21: Love the dummy laundry powder boxes!
On the fifth and last floor is the cafe, Pink Pool Cafe. In the concept of the swimming pool, selling swimwear items and accessories. The fitting room is in the concept of shower room, so cool! Minimum purchase one item per person. The items are really expensive and nothing special, so we decided to leave. The rooftop is closed for renovation, so we didn't get to see how it looks like personally. But on videos, it shows that there are many large bean bags, great place to laze your day away!
#22: Pink Pool Cafe.
#23: Pink Pool Cafe.
#24: "Shower Room" as changing room!
Next, we went to Myeongdong Kyoja. The queue was really long, but it moves really quickly as everybody leaves right after they are done. More like they kind of 'chase' you off the moment they see that you are done. There are only four items on the menu. You placed your orders, you pay on the spot to the server, and food is served almost immediately. All these within 5mins. Myeongdong Kyoja 명동교자
25-2 Myeongdong 2(i)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul
1030-2130hrs (daily)
Closed on New Year’s Day and Chuseok Holiday
Subway: Myeongdong Station Exit 8 (line 4)
#25: Myeongdong Kyoja.
#26: Mandu (Korean dumplings), KRW10,000.
#27: Kalguksu (knife-cut noodles), KRW8,000.
We tried the Mandu (Korean dumplings) and Kalguksu (knife-cut noodles), which are the recommended items. They are satisfying good and a great place to try some authentic delicious Korean food. The skin of the dumplings are extremely thin, so all you eat is actually the filling 👍🏻. The noodles are good too, but a little bland. Myeongdong 명동
Myeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
1030-2230hrs (daily)
Subway: Myeongdong Station Exit 7 (line 4)
After which, we went to shop around to digest our tummies. This is a great place to get lots of cosmetic samples and free masks, but you need to know the right way! Most of the shops have promoters pulling you in to take a look at their shops, giving you most of the time, a free mask. You can just be thickskin to pretend to go in to have a look, then leave with the mask. But of course, they expect you to buy something. Sometimes we just bought like a nail polish, or a cheap eyeliner. Next, we went to Lotte Department Store across the street. They have lots of food stalls at the basement, just like Isetan and Takashimaya. We are supposed to look for Le Castella and Bansuk Castella. Both don't seem to be around anymore. Mochicream was selling something similar to what we were looking for. We tried the matcha one and it was so-so. Lotte Department Store (Myeongdong) 롯데백화점 -명동
Namdaemunno 2(i)-ga, Seoul
1030-2000hrs (daily)
Subway: Euljiro 1-ga Station Exit 7 (line 2)
#28: Matcha Castella, KRW7,000. Look at that foamy center! The cake is soft and fluffy!
We decide to head back to rest first and put down our heavy cosmetics shopping before we head out for N Seoul Tower.
To get to N Seoul Tower, one of the ways is by the cable car. To get to Namsan Cable, one can either grab the shuttle bus from Myeongdong subway station or walk for about 10mins from Myeongdong subway station. Board the Oreumi Elevator up the slope and get your tickets. Round trip is KRW8,500. Namsan Cable Car 남산 케이블카
83 Sopa-ro, Hoehyeondong 1(il)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul
Free shuttle bus pick-up from Myeongdong Station
Yellow/Green bus – sign: Namsan Cable Car Shuttle, 60mins interval
1000-2300hrs (daily)
2-way Ticket: KRW8,500
Subway: Myeongdong Station (line 4)
#29: Wait here for the Oreumi Elevator to bring you up to the ticket counter.
N Seoul Tower 남산서울타워
105 Namsangongwon-gil, Yongsan 2(i)ga-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
1000-2300hrs (Mon-Fri, Sun), 1000-0000hrs (Sat)
Observatory: KRW10,000
Instagram: nseoultower
The cable car takes about 30 people per trip. So waiting time is not too long though the queue may seem pretty long. It is also the place where lovers have their love lock locked. There is like millions of it! We didn't get up to the observatory deck as Seoul's skyline is not that pretty. After which, we went back to Myeongdong for more street snacks!
#30: Millions of such locks. And nope, that's not mine. Just chose a random one for photo.
#31: All the way up here, just this tower and lots of mosquitos. Nothing much.
#32: Grilled Tteokbokki (Korean rice cakes) with Mozzarella, KRW4,000.
#33: Grilled Scallop with Cheese, KRW10,000.
#34: Jajangmyeon.
#35: Jajangmyeon (black bean sauce minced meat noodles), KRW4,000.
#36: Korean Pancake.
#37: Kimchi Pancake (orange), Seafood Pancake (white), KRW5,000.
#38: My favourite Korean street snacks combi! Tteokbokki (Korean rice cakes) KRW3,000 + Odeng (Korean fishcake) KRW1,000.
On our way back, we passed by a new Innisfree outlet and it comes with a Innisfree cafe upstairs! Really love the nature concept of Innisfree, going all-plants. Just look at how earthy the cafe looks!
Innisfree Green Cafe 이니스프리 카페
64-2 Myeongdong 1(il)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul
0900-2300hrs (daily)
Subway: Euljiro 1-ga Exit 6 (line 2)
Instagram: innisfreeofficial
#39: Innisfree Green Cafe.
#40: Counter Chiller Display.
#41: Counter Chiller Display.
#42: To more seating area at Level 3. So pretty right?
#43: Level 3.
#44: This art piece just complete the whole look.
#45: Such a nice place to chill.
#46: Matcha Latte, KRW6,000. Expenses of the Day
[Namdaemun Market] Banana Smoothie: KRW2,500 Seaweed (40pkts of 8 sheets): 15,000 (x2) = KRW30,000 Tsum Tsum bottled Chocolate drink: KRW2,000 [Myeongdong Kyoja] Mandu: 10,000 (÷2) = KRW5,000 Kalguksu: 8,000 (÷2) = KRW4,000 [Myeongdong] Innisfree BB Cushion Casing: KRW9,000 The Face Shop Nail Polish: KRW2,000 H&M Metallic Grey Cap: KRW5,000 Tako Blackhead Pore Mask: 2,000 (x2) = KRW4,000 Innisfree Nail Polish Remover: KRW2,000 Cotton Puffs: KRW2,000
[Lotte Department Store] Monicream, Matcha Castella: 7,000 (÷2) = KRW3,500 [N Seoul Tower] Round-trip Cable Car Ride: KRW8,500 Magnet: 5,000 (x2) = KRW10,000 Nail File: KRW1,500 Notebook: KRW2,400 [Myeongdong] Baked Cheese Scallop: 10,000 (÷2) = KRW5,000 Jjajiangmyeon: 4,000 (÷2) = KRW2,000 Grilled Cheese with Tteokbokki: 4,000 (÷2) = KRW2,000 Seafood and Kimchi Pancake: 5,000 (÷2) = KRW2,500 Tteokbokki: KRW3,000 Odeng: KRW1,000 Fresh Watermelon: KRW4,000
[Innisfree Green Cafe]
Matcha Latte: 6,000 (÷2) = KRW3,000
Iced Cappuccino: 4,500 (÷2) = KRW2,250
Total for day 4: KRW118,150 = SGD142.50
Balance brought forward: SGD1,395.55
Current total: SGD1,538.05