My wifi router broke down! Contacted the tech support and they confirm it, advised to ask for a refund and get a local SIM card instead. Luckily the places that I’m planning to visit are saved in Kakao Map - similar to Google Maps, but more accurate to use and can only be used for areas in Korea. My Airbnb has wifi as well. Googled which telecom company I should go for and where I can get a SIM card. Found out that KT offers the best data SIM card option and there is a KT building just around the corner. Still able to survive without internet if I am still in Hongdae region as the area map is already loaded on my phone.
今天 Wifi 路由器发生故障！通知了技术人员后，确认路由器的确坏了，叫我去买张预付卡。幸好要去的地方都预先保存在手机中。来韩国游玩时，建议大家下载 Kakao Map。他比 Google Maps 更准确，但，只能在韩国内使用。Airbnb 也有 Wifi。查询了应该买那一家电信公司和买那一种预付卡后，发现 KT 的预付卡最划算，而且家附近就有一间。如果呆在弘大区还是能够在没有互联网的情况下生存，因为区域地图已经加载到手机里。
First destination for the day, a light snack at Fave Bakery! Fave is a bakery cafe that offers bread, pastries and drinks. Came here to try their Matcha Cruffin, which was so good! ‘Cruffin’ is basically a croissant baked like a muffin. There was 3 flavours - matcha, chocolate and fresh cream. Their breads and pastries ALL look so good! The top part of the cruffin is dipped in matcha chocolate, while the bottom half has a nice matcha custard filling, so you either get a piece of chocolate cruffin, or a piece of custard cruffin. Every bite has a nice matcha taste! 👍🏻👍🏻
今天的第1地点是 Fave Bakery，先来点小点心！Fave 是间面包店／咖啡厅，卖面包类，法式糕点和饮料。来这里试试他们的抹茶杯型羊角面包（Cruffin），好好吃！‘Cruffin’ 就是羊角面包面团放在烘杯型蛋糕纸杯里烘培。有3个口味 - 抹茶，巧克力和鲜奶油。他们家的面包和糕点类看起来都好好吃，好漂亮！羊角面包的上半层沾了抹茶巧克力，下半层有很好吃的抹茶卡仕达馅，所以每一口都是满满的抹茶味，看是咬到了巧克力或卡仕达酱。👍🏻👍🏻
Fave Bakery 페이브 베이커리
Kakao Map: 1 Yeonnam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
1000-2300hrs (daily)
Hongik University Station Exit 3
#1: Fave Bakery.
#2: Matcha Cruffin 말차 크러핀, KRW4,000.
#3: Super good matcha custard!
#4: Fave Bakery.
#5: Look at all these awesome bakes!
#6: There are loaf breads too.
#7: This Mont Blanc Croissant looks so good!
Next, was to Gureumi Sando for breakfast. A small tamagoyaki sandwich shop tucked in a corner of Hongdae. There are 4 combinations available - Tamago Sando (basic white bread egg sandwich), Menbo Sando (with sugar toast), Monza Sando (egg with cheese center, and fried), and Buta Sando (egg wrapped with pork strips, and fried). I had the Menbo Sando and it was so good! If you are in Hongdae area, you MUST give this a try! Though it’s a Japanese food, but it is worth trying! Nearby was Mangwandong Tiramisu, a dessert place that sells tiramisu in various flavours, and has a few stores in Seoul. The first store probably started in Mangwan-dong, hence the name. There are a few standard flavours like original (coffee and chocolate), strawberry, matcha, and some seasonal flavours like injeolmi (bean flour), Mont Blanc (chestnut), Oreo, peach, Lotus biscuit (speculoos) and sweet potato. Wanted to try either peach or speculoos flavour, but they didn’t had them! Went for matcha flavour so that the colour scheme matches with their decor.
接着到了 Gureumi Sando 用早餐。这是间位于弘大区，一个不起眼的角落里，的一间玉子烧三文治小店。共有4款 - Tamago Sando（基本玉子烧与白面包），Menbo Sando（与白糖吐司），Monza Sando（玉子烧内加了乳酪，炸过）和 Buta Sando（玉子烧包了肉片后炸过）。我点了 Menbo Sando，真的很赞！如果你有在弘大区，一定一定要来试试！虽然是日式料理，但还是值得试试！接着到了附近的 Mangwandong Tiramisu，一间以提拉米苏为主的甜点店。这里售卖各种口味的提拉米苏，在首尔有几间分行。第1间可能就是开在 Mangwan-dong 区，所以就成了店名。这里有一些基本口味如原味（咖啡和巧克力），草莓，抹茶，和一些季节性口味如因加米（黄豆粉），勃朗峰（栗子），奥利奥，蜜桃，莲花焦糖饼干和番薯。其实想试试蜜桃或焦糖饼干口味，可是没有！最后选了绿色的抹茶口味，配一下店内设计色拍照。
Gureumi Sando 구르미산도
Google Maps: 118-18 Yeonnam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Kakao Map: 29 Yeonhui-ro 1-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul
1200-2230hrs (daily)
Hongik University Station Exit 3
#8: Gureumi Sando.
#9: Gureumi Sando.
#10: Gureumi Sando.
#11: Menbo Sando 멘보산도, KRW4,900.
Mangwandong Tiramisu 망원동 티라미수
Google Maps: 148-9 Donggyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Kakao Map: 28 Yanghwa-ro 23-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Hongik University Station Exit 3
#12: Mangwandong Tiramisu.
#13: Menu.
#14: Mont Blanc, Original flavours.
#15: Strawberry, Earl Grey flavours.
#16: Matcha, Injeolmi flavours.
#17: Oreo flavour.
#18: Matcha Tiramisu, KRW5,500.
#19: Matcha Tiramisu.
After breakfast, I moved on to KT to get my SIM card. At this building, they offer SIM cards more for long-term stays or post-paid plans. What I was looking for is an unlimited data SIM card, so they referred me to another KT centre that is targeted more for tourists. The staff over there are able to speak in other languages like English, Chinese or Japanese fluently. Figured my way there and got a 7-day unlimited data SIM card for KRW30,800, about S$5 per day, which is quite affordable, same price as my router. But if you traveling in a group, it is still more worth it to get a router as it can be connected to multiple phones.
吃完早餐后就要解决 Wifi 问题啦～ 到了 KT 后，发现他们只卖适合长期逗留的预付卡或后付卡。我要买的是无限数据的预付卡，所以建议我到另外一家针对旅客的 KT，也是步行就到。哪里有说英语，中文和日语的员工。跟着地图，很容易就能找到。买了张7天无限数据预付卡，韩币30,800，平均算1天大概是新币5，觉得还可以。其实和我租路由器是同个价格。不过，如果是群体旅游，租路由器还是会比较划算。因为只要组1个路由器，就能连接许多台手机。
Internet problem solved~ Next, was to Tteok Museum, a museum about Korean ricecake. I love visiting cultural and history museums as it is always fun to me to learn something new that is interesting! Korean traditional ricecake (tteok) is one of the staple food of Koreans and plays a significant meaning in everyday life. There are many varieties of ricecake and the most commonly known, seen and consumed type of ricecake will be tteokbokki - ricecakes cooked in a spicy sauce made from gochujang (Korean chilli paste).
互联网问题解决后，接着就是去韩式年糕博物馆，Tteok Museum。我喜欢到有关文化和历史的博物馆。能学到新知识，觉得很有趣！韩式年糕在韩国人日常生活中起着重要作用。有各种各类的年糕，最普遍的就是 tteokbokki - 煮在韩式辣椒酱，gochujang，内的年糕。
Tteok Museum 떡박물관
Google Maps: 164-2 Waryong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Kakao Map: 71 Donhwamun-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
1000-1800hrs (Mon-Sat), Closed on Sundays
Admission: KRW3,000
Jongno 3-ga Station Exit 7
#20: Tteok Museum.
Firstly, you will see food displays for a wedding ceremony, 1st birthday, 60th birthday and for a funeral. Each set of food display consists of a variety of ricecake dishes and other types of food. Next, is a display of various types of ricecakes and food consumed for different season. On the next storey, it displays the general types of ricecake and how each is made.
进到博物馆，首先能看到婚礼，1岁生日，60岁大寿和葬礼所需要筹备的食物。每一组食品摆设包括几款年糕和其他所需要筹备的食品。接着，能看到季节性的各种年糕与其他食品。在上一楼，展示了各种年糕的制作法。
#21: Traditional wedding ceremony set-up.
#22: [From front] Red Date, Ricecake and Dried Persimmon.
#23: Food set-up for 1st birthday (part 1).
As a means of blessing and good fortune, parents will prepare 'dol-tteok' for the baby.
#24: Food set-up for 1st birthday (part 2).
#25: Food set-up for 1st birthday (part 3).
#26: Food set-up for 60th birthday (part 1).
#26: Food set-up for 60th birthday (part 2).
#27: Traditional funeral ceremony.
#28: Spring food.
#29: Azalea Ricecake - popular Spring ricecake, Azalea Punch.
#30: Spring food.
#31: Mugwort Ricecake - another popular Spring ricecake.
#32: Spring food.
#33: Rose Ricecake.
#34: Summer food.
#35: Summer food.
#36: Apricot Ricecake.
#37: Autumn food.
#38: [Left] Songpyeon - half moon shaped ricecake traditionally eaten during Korean autumn harvest festival, Chuseok. [Right] Bamdanja - chestnut ricecake.
#39: Food for Chuseok celebration.
#40: Chrysanthemum Ricecake, Pumpkin Ricecake.
#41: Winter Solstice food. [Front] Ricecake in red bean soup.
#42: Winter food.
#43: Korean New Year, Seollal food. [Front] Tteokguk - ricecake soup.
#44: Winter food.
#45: Winter food.
Boiled Tteok
Made from kneaded glutinous rice flour, rolled into little balls, then cooked in boiling water. Those with a stuffing is called ‘Danja’, and those without a filling is called ‘Kyungdan’. Boiled tteok may also be rolled in a variety of coloured powder to make it look colourful - white (peeled black beans), beige (yellow soybean flour), brown (red bean powder), green (green soybean flour) and black (black sesame).
水煮年糕
糯米粉捏成面团后，揉成小球状，水煮。有陷的叫 ‘Danja’，无陷的叫 ‘Kyungdan’。水煮后的年糕也能沾上五颜六色的粉，看起来比较漂亮 - 白色（去皮黑豆），米色（黄大豆粉），褐色（红豆粉），绿色（绿大豆粉），褐黑色（黑芝麻）。
#46: Boiled ricecake.
#47: Coated boiled ricecake.
Fried Tteok
Made by kneading glutinous rice flour into a small disc-shaped, then fried on an oiled pan. Seasonal flower petals are placed on the kneaded dough to make it look colourful. One of the most commonly known fried tteok is azalea ricecakes, made during Samjinnal - double-three day or double third festival. A festive day on the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month to welcome the arrival of spring.
Mugwort is a well-loved vegetable by the Koreans and is consumed during Spring. A variety of ricecakes made with mugwort leaves are available during Spring.
炒年糕
糯米粉捏成小盘状后，在油锅上煎。有时候也会将季节性花瓣放在年糕上作为点缀。最普遍的是映山红年糕，Samjinnal 节日 - 双三节 - 时会吃到的年糕。3月3日时，迎接春季的节日。
艾蒿叶是韩国人非常爱的蔬菜之一，只有春季时吃。艾蒿叶年糕也是另一个非常受欢迎的春季年糕。
#48: Fried ricecake.
#49: Azalea Ricecake.
Pounded Tteok
Made by steaming the grains or powder, then pounded in a mortar or a pounding board. It may be made from plain rice or glutinous rice.
捣年糕
蒸好白米或糯米，或粉状后，放进研钵或敲板上捣。
#50: Pounded ricecake.
#51: Pounded ricecake.
#52: Pounded ricecake.
#53: Pounded ricecake.
Modern Tteok
Traditional ricecakes are tasty, but can be inconvenient to consume. They have been replaced with modern ricecakes with improved shapes, designs and flavours.
现代年糕
传统年糕虽然好吃，但很不方便吃。已被现代年糕取代，在形状和设计上改善，口味也更多。
#54: Modern ricecake. Check out all these varieties!
#55: Modern ricecake.
#56: Modern ricecake.
#57: Modern ricecake.
#58: Modern ricecake.
#59: Modern ricecake.
#60: Spring ricecake examples.
#61: Summer ricecake examples.
#62: Autumn ricecake examples.
#63: Winter ricecake examples.
After which, I went to Mukshidonna at Samcheong-dong for lunch, which is popular for their awesome ‘army stew - Budae Jjigae’. A type of gochujang (chilli paste) stew with many ingredients such as noodles, ricecake, vegetables, meat and kimchi. I was told to order 2 types of base, I guess the minimum order is 2pax as there is a standard size to the pot. I had beef bulgogi (thinly sliced beef) and seafood (mussels and squid) as the base, which comes with vegetables, onions and ricecakes. I added ramyeon (Korean instant noodles), Korean fish cake and cheese. Anything with Korean noodles and fishcake will just taste SO good! It was a simple meal, but it is very popular amongst both the locals and tourists, that is how good it is!
接着到了三清洞的 Mukshidonna 用午餐，著名与他的 ’部队锅‘。一种用 gochujang 辣椒酱和其他配料如面，年糕，蔬菜，肉和泡菜一起煮的炖汤。店家叫我点两份主料，看锅的大小，应该是至少需要点两人份。我点了牛肉片（bulgogi）和海鲜（青口贝和乌贼）为主料。配料有蔬菜，洋葱和年糕。另外也加了即食面，韩式鱼饼和乳酪。什么东西加了韩式鱼饼和即食面后，都会很好吃！虽然简单一餐，但很受当地人和旅客的喜爱，知道他多好吃了吧？
Mukshidonna 먹쉬돈나
74-7 Yulgok-ro 3-gil, Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
1100-2100hrs (daily)
Anguk Station Exit 3
#64: Mukshidonna.
#65: Menu and order sheet.
#66: Here comes the pot, looking super good!
#67: This is super good!
Went for an evening coffee at Kafe Tone. Wanted to pop by to try their Peach Tiramisu, which my friend said was really good! But they weren’t selling it. The cafe has a cute little cat, not sure if it belongs to the cafe or just some stray cat, but it was resting in the cafe every now and then. Really love how chill cafes are in Korea, where everybody is just so stress-free, and animals are always welcome. Singapore is way too strict with animals and Singaporeans are way too demanding and only care about themselves. I have been in the F&B industry for the past 6 years, throughout my school days and then working full-time for 2yrs. I could say Singaporeans, especially the traditional minded ones are one of the WORST customers ever. Self-centered, demanding, rude, calculative, scared of everything, always complaining, expect excellent service, think they themselves are the best. People working in the service industry are not your slaves, and we do not always have to listen to what you need and the saying of “Customers are ALWAYS right” is mere bullshit. Every job deserves its own respect. To my fellow Singaporeans, if you can’t even show basic mutual respect and courtesy, it shows pretty much your true personality.
接着到了 Kafe Tone 喝咖啡。本来是想到哪里试试他们的蜜桃提拉米苏，朋友说很好吃，不过没卖了。咖啡厅内有只可爱的小猫，不知道是店家的还是街上的。不过，就是会在咖啡厅内躺一下，到外面走一下。真的很喜欢韩国休闲感的咖啡厅，各做各的，小动物们也可以在咖啡厅内随意走动。新加坡对于动物太严格了。新加坡人需求高，只顾自己。陆陆续续在餐饮业也打了6年的工。只能说，新加坡人思想传统，很难搞。自我为中心的人，需求高，没礼貌，斤斤计较，什么都怕，什么都要投诉，要求优质服务，觉得自己最棒。在服务业工作的人们不是你的奴隶，不需要什么都得听你的。“客人永远是对的” 是个绝对错误的观念。大家都应该尊重彼此的行业。致新加坡同胞们，如果基本相互尊重和礼貌都不晓得，已显示你真实个性。
Kafe Tone 카페톤
72 Donggyo-ro 9-gil, Mangwon-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
1100-2200hrs (Tue-Sat), 1400-2100hrs (Sun), Closed on Mondays
Mangwon Station Exit 2
#68: Kafe Tone.
#69: Latte KRW5,000.
After which, popped by Innisfree to continue to hunt for my Toy Story products. Gosh, it’s almost all sold out for many stores. I have been popping into EVERY SINGLE Innisfree store that I went pass, but still, most stores are only left with the box set, all the other products are SOLD OUT! Finally saw more products at this store as it is in quite a quiet area. Got the Jessi Lip Balm, Lotso Hand Cream and some other stuff that my friend wanted. Lastly, went to Homeplus for some grocery shopping…
然后刚好经过了 Innisfree，进去看看有没有其他我想买的 Toy Story 产品。很多店都已经卖光光了！几乎经过每一间 Innisfree，都会进去看看，很多都卖到只剩盒套。终于在这家看到比较多产品了！因为在一个比较安静的区域，所以产品也都卖的比较慢。在这里找到了 Jessi 润唇膏，Lotso 护手霜，和一些朋友托我买的产品。最后，到了 Homeplus 买些杂货。
Homeplus 홈플러스
45 Yanghwa-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
1000-0000hrs (Mon-Sat), Closed on Sundays
Exchange Rate: S$1 = KRW825
Expenses for Day 4
Fave Bakery: Matcha Cruffin 말차 크러핀 KRW4,000
Gureumi Sando: Menbo Sando 멘보산도 KRW4,900
Mangwondong Tiramisu: Matcha KRW5,500
KT Data Sim Card (7-days): KRW30,800
Tteok Museum: KRW3,000
Mukshidonna:
- Base min. 2 KRW5,000 x2 (beef & seafood)
- Ramyeon KRW1,000
- Fishcake KRW1,000
- Cheese KRW2,000
Kafe Tone: Latte KRW5,000
Innisfree:
- Jessi Lip Balm KRW10,000
- Lotso Hand Cream KRW4,000
Innisfree Free Gifts:
- Miffy Cosmetics Pouch
- Jeju Volcanic Pure Cleansing Foam Sample x2
Homeplus:
- Market O Brownies (4pkt) KRW2,400
- Market O Matcha Brownies (4pkt) KRW2,400
- Bacon Tamagoyaki KRW1,990
- Ssamjang (200g) KRW1,000
- Poporo Fruit Juice KRW1,000 x2 (2+1)
- Maxim Caramel Macchiato Sachet (10pkt) KRW2,390
- Korean Yakult 80ml (4btls) KRW2,000
- Paldo Jjajangmyeon (4pkts) KRW4,980
- Mineral Water KRW200 x5
- Aloe Vera Drink KRW1,000
- Kakao Friends Ryan Tissue (50pcs) KRW1,000
- Dole Water Jelly Drink KRW1,000 x2 (2+1)
- A5 Notebook KRW1,000 x2
Total Expenses for Day 4: KRW107,360 = S$130.13
Previous Expenses: S$1,642.21
Current Total Expenses: S$1,772.34