Thursday, September 28, 2017

[KOREA] 공주백제문회제 GONGJU - BAEKJE CULTURAL FESTIVAL

Gongju is located 1.5 hours from seoul to the south ( 충남도Chungnam-do). Short history time, So long long time ago in Korea 3 kingdoms dynasty (Goguryeo-Silla-Baekje) when Baekje imperialized mostly South western part of korea like jeollanamdo and impacted also Tamna ( Jeju-do) and Wiryeseong ( Seoul). But on late 5th centuries it was attacted by Goguryeo, so the capital city moved to the south, Ungjin ( now known for GONGJU) and then much further to Sabi ( Buyeo) until the end of kingdom dynasty. So because of that Gongju city has some left Historical site from Baekje Dynasty.

And done for day story time HAHA so Gongju helds 
" 백제문화제 BAEKJE CULTURAL FESTIVAL" 
every year around in the end of september till early of october and for this year 63th festival held on
SEPTEMBER 28~ OCTOBER 5th

HOW TO GO TO GONGJU
By bus to 공주 GONGJU from 동서울 DONG-SEOUL bus terminal (line2) / 경부 GYEONGBU EXPRESS bus terminal (line3,5,9) for ₩9000 ( 2 hours drive)

actually there are many places to visit in Gongju but actually only 2 main famous places called
 공산성 GONGSANSEONG and 금강신관공원 GEUMGANGSINGWAN PARK.
Actually both seperated by river so you have to walk through a bridge to reach other but during the festival, Goverment provided floating bridge on the river so you dont need to cross car bridge.

So here is! Some best way to enjoy Baekje Cultural Festival

#1
BUYING TICKET
₩5000/adult - ₩2000/child
With this ticket you can go inside back and forth twice from the park to fortress or the opposite.

#2
AUTUMN FLOWERS SPAM
inside the park at 미르섬 MIREU ISLAND (small island near the park), special for autumn period, famous with its giant sunflower field, pretty blue sky meets yellow giant sunflower just the best for your instagram feed HAHA. But not only sunflower you can also see cosmos flower and other autumn flowers.

#3
ACROSS THE FLOATING BRIDGE
Special made only during festival. You can go easily to fortress and park come and forth.

#4
CLIMBING OVER TOP OF 공산성 GONGSAN FORTRESS
you can see the whole river and festival area from here. And also at fortress, they has cultural event show and experience baekje culture activities, like archery and horse riding.

#5
CHILL AT "하루공방카페"
HARU GONGBANG- HANOK STYLE CAFE
Right across fortress you can see the cafe directly because it super eyecatchung with woody hanok style house. Here you can chill from the heat and enjoying coffee with fortress entrance view. And coffee price also super affordable ( around ₩2500~4500) with a beautiful view.

#6
CHESNUT STUFF
Gongju also famous as main producer of Chesnut all over the country, now also starbucks launched new autumn drink called Gongju chesnut latte (hope can try it soon!) So while you are in Gongju, you have to try famous chesnuty thing especially chesnut pastry. The bakery located next to the cafe, it sell all chesnuty bread pastry and their speciality is this small pastry with chesnut cream and real chesnut filling ₩2000/piece and many people buy this for souvernir from Gongju. It super flaky at the outside super super soft in the inside super like!! 
 

#7
WAITING SUNSET
noon sunlight is the best with camera.... HAHA sincd i just took all my photos using my note5 it quite disappointing but for you sunset hunter you can take beautiful warm sunshine with pretty sunflower or just watch sunset from the top of fortress. During early autumn period, Sunset is around 6 to 6.30pm.

#8
NIGHT LIGHTING SHOW
As soon as sky is getting darker, colorful night light started. Colorful lanterns and cool autumn breeze. Even it is so dark but visitor gets even busier at night. Light starts around 7pm~10pm.

Overall, as i came on the opening day still so many activities is under preparation but i loved it since still not so crowd but for more festival hype better come on weekend because they will have parade and music performance. From this festival, i got more knowledge about Korean history especially about Baekje. See you on next trip

CIAO!!

Monday, September 25, 2017

[KOREA] 도레도레 DORE DORE

Super famous cakeshop in Korea with their beautiful giant piece of cake and finally after 2.5 years, i tried this HAHA it is like everywhere, dongdaemun, sinsadong, and i tried one in Gimpo Airport. ( actually i super recommending sinsadong brach because the interior is pinky pinky pretty). So is it really good as it looked on pics? Lets find out!

도레도레
DORE-DORE

HOW TO GO
LOTTE GIMPO AIRPORT
Gimpo Airport MRT Station.

당근케이크
CARROT CAKE
₩7500
the one that catched my attention because of that lil carrot on top of the cake. Instead of carrot, i tasted super cinnamony taste and cheese cream layers just the best, not too sweet not too creamy just right LOVE IT!
TASTE 9/10

딸기 나이아가라 케이크
NIAGARA CAKE
₩9000
The cake itself just similar with regular sponge cake not as soft as it looked super airy but but the point here is their cream topping, 100% sure they put fresh strawberry juice inside it but because it isn't strawberry season yet, fresh cut is super sour
TASTE 7/10

무지개케이크
RAINBOW CAKE
₩8500
Can be said this is their speciallity because everybody is recommending this for "must order" BUT SUPER DISAPPOINTING HAHA sorry guys cake layers super sucks i prefer hongdae ₩10000 whole cake because it super fluffy. If this rainbow cake is ₩3000 im okey but hey this almost ₩10000 i had my high expectation for this. 
TASTE 5/10
( whole point for cheese cream HAHA )

I also tried their coffee, coffeelatte, coldbrew, and cream cold brew (coffee price around ₩7500) was okey, bold strong coffee and creamy (for latte) but still their coffee price is above average so yahh i think i wont come back here HAHA too pricey just for pretty instagram feed LOL 
CIAO!

[KOREA] 김포점 T.G.I.FRIDAY

WEEKEND FINALLY!
Another restaurant review but maybe just regular restaurant tahat you all already know ㅋㅋ weekend, great foods & great friends what's better?

T.G.I.F

HOW TO GO
LOTTE GIMPO
Gimpo Airport MRT Station

COMPLIMENTARY BREAD
their complimentary bread just super super super soft and tasted like homemade milkbread. And the best part you can ask for more and more :3

APPETIZER
TRIPLE CHICKEN PLATTER
₩33500
Chicken tortilla, kungpao chicken, chicken wings
Among all, i loveee lovee lovee their chicken wings ♡ super crispy and savory! But the other like chicken kungpao & chicken tortilla just yaaa regular not interesting
TASTE 8/10

STEAK SALAD
₩17000
I dont really taste what kind of dressing they use kinda tasteless but love their steak tender and well seasoned
TASTE 8/10

PASTA
SZECHUAN SHRIMP
₩20900
I always big fan of carbonara sauce pasta and hikk this pasta super good~ creamy and savory and seafoody from shrimp one of best carbonara i've eaten
TASTE 9/10

MAIN


PORK BACK RIBS
₩36900
Sorry but tony romas' much more better HAHAAHA not tender at all and more into dry side. But love the dipping sauce, it should be black pepper sauce but it tasted sweet?
TASTE 8/10

Overall i will give T.G.I.F 7 out of 10. Because ya you can get better quality of steak and pasta in a local restaurant compared to this. But this is my personal taste so it can be different opinion with yours

CIAO!