CHRISTMAS in SEOUL

Merry Christmas everyone!!! Finally I got a time to finish this post writing. I’ve been busy with my finals, but now I finally have a break for a while to blog.  

Anyway, this is my “another” Christmas celebration without family. I would be a liar if I said I am totally fine celebrating Christmas in this year without my family. Well, I feel fine, I mean just a bit fine with this year Christmas celebration, because firstly, I got used to celebrate it without family for 5 times already, and secondly, I have my friends and boyfriend to celebrate Christmas with. Yes!!! No more complaining from me anyway. I feel soooooo blessed of having awesome people around me to share anything with 'em.

As usual when it comes to Christmas (or such as New Year, Thanks giving day), I always want to try food that at least tasted similar to Timorese food. So, I decided to have dinner on Christmas either at Brazilian or Mexican restaurant.

Then, after asking my friends, we then all agreed to go with the Mexican food. We chose On The Border restaurant which is located at Sinchon. 

As we decided to meet at 5:30 pm at Sinchon station, my boyfriend and I went there one hour earlier. What we surprised about after getting there was the crowded. I've never seen this crowded before in last Christmas. I guess the reason why this place became more crowded and attractive than before is its street has been rehabilitated, especially the expansion of the pedestrian zone. I could still remembered that it was hard for us to step forward normally because of the huge crowd jams.

Seeing this situation, we were afraid if there are many people are queued for dinner at the restaurant, and, what we have guessed was right. So, since we still have one hour left, we went to the restaurant for booking before roaming around.

After booking, we took some times for taking some photos (Typical us ^^).

After done with several camera button clicking, we then go with the next plan, "roamed around".

I got a perfume (Pure Espoir Eau De Toilette - 30 ml) from Ettude House for Christmas

He got his new favorite hanna hat for Christmas
Btw, why didn't I realize that my perfect man
was actually a stylish person?

After the clock hit 5:20 pm, we then went to the restaurant for dinner. 

We finished our dinner at 6:50 pm. And for the next schedule, we went to Sogang University for mass.

The view of Sogang University Christmas Presepe at night

Here are Christmas Kisses from us to you all ^^
My friend Sonia and I after Christmas mass
at St. Ignatius Chapel, Sogang University

And of course to close the Christmas night, ICE CREAM cake was the first thing came to our mind. Asking me why didn't it be Wine or any alcohol??? Well, first of all because it was Jesus Birthday so it should be cake, and secondly because my boyfriend and I should go back to work after Christmas, so we could not have alcohol at that time. 

Once again MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone and HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!!!

My 24th Birthday

I AM OFFICIALLY 24 YEARS OLD NOW!!!! Wait, What????

It was Sunday morning 06:50, I was already awake. Hm~I’ve never done this before. Waking up early in the morning, especially on the weekend??? Me??? NO WAY!!!

So, this is how it happened. My left side eye got so red and hurt me so much, hence I couldn't sleep well. That’s the reason why I woke that earlier. Around 07:40 I got ready to go out getting some medicine at the nearby drug store. I was totally forgot that the stores nearby do not operate after 10:00 (Except 24 hours convenient store or some coffee shops). I then stopped at Dunkin’ Donuts and had 2 pieces of donuts, and moved to the drug store when the clock hit 09:30.

After getting the whole things I needed at the drug store, I went to brownie 70 cafe and Homemade Bakery which is located right next to the store (I will review this coffee shop later) and had a cup of hot americano (typical me ^^) until my boyfriend came and joined me.

Breakfast with him at browny 70 cafe and homemade bakery

The next time, as a present for my birthday (and to welcome myself to 24 of course), my boyfriend and I purposely celebrated my birthday earlier by doing whatever I wanted to. (I was treated like a princess...hehehe) So, I listed them out, and we followed that list.

Well, let me say this first. I still don’t believe that I am 24 years old now. Yes it is hard to believe that six times already I’ve celebrated my birthday without my family. My 24 years old birthday totally crept up on me and I was not prepared for it at all. OMG~~~is this real???? (I want to be young forever ^.~)

I wanted to accomplish more stuff before I hit the big 2+4, but I guess now that’s out the window. (Too late my friend!!! It really is ㅠㅠ) I need to work more harder to accomplish whatever I set before the next birthday)

I admit that, I was sad and bummed when I realized my birthday was coming up. Mostly because I still feel pretty immature, like I am perpetually 18 years old (Feel like myself now is just the same as myself when first time stepped on this Kimchi land).

I feel like I’m moving into a new chapter of life, where I’m a lil more secure with who I am. I know what I believe to be true, and I’m getting better at surrounding myself with awesome people.

So, after our breakfast and lunch at the browny 70 cafe and homemade bakery, we headed to Sinchon (신촌) for watching a movie. I decided to watch “THE HUNGER GAMES: Catching fire” at CGV movie theater since some friends of mine recommended it. To be honest, watching movies is not my hobby, but anyway we got the tickets for 18000 won (which was 9000 per person).

The movie’s starting time was 17:10, and we got there around 15:50 (I guess), or simply said we had to wait for 2 hours. DUH!!! We then stayed for a while around, took bunches of photos (yeah we do love capturing the moments), and had Starbucks coffee again while chitchatted, until we entered the cinema room.

오늘은 정말 행복했다. 늘 이랬으면 좋겠다 ^^

Both are perfect to have while watching movies
But do not ask why it should  be popcorn and coke???
Because all I can say, it is a tradition, no idea from where. 
However, I guess you can take coffee or any kind of snacks you like with you :)

I captured this Christmas tree 10 minutes 
before entering the room
Whenever I see this Christmas tree, I feel like home

For dinner, we went to a pretty swanky romantic classic restaurant in Sinchon, “TARZAN Shrimp Dining”.

Focused on the restaurant menu lists 

Well, you can actually tell from this photo how I look so freaky tired

And yes, my left side eye looked a bit red  

After my dinner party there, I have to say that I really enjoyed it a lot. Perhaps I was just particularly high on life that night, but I thought the food was great and the service was even better (+ free wifi as well…hehehe).

And because they said it is not a birthday without cake, my boyfriend and I went to Paris Baguette for getting our favorite ‘sweet potato’ cake and birthday candles.

Thank you GOD for giving me another year of life
Birthday cake from Paris Baguette

I assure you that this sweet potato cake tastes super yuaammy

Overall, importantly what I would like to express is heartfelt THANKS to GOD for HIS presence in my life everyday. I thank GOD for bringing me this far in life, for my loving family, for my health, for all the events of my life that have shaped me into the person I am today, for my friends, and for whatever ability HE has given me to make a living. Also I want to thank all the awesome peeps who remembered me today by sending me texts and good wishes. GBU all and GBM too :)

Happy 24th Birthday to me!!!  

My Favorite Coffee Shops so Far

It’s been a while I didn't write my blog post due to being busy. Now that I got  time for that (Thanks GOD ^^!!!). 

Oh~ let me tell you guys, it is super cold, dark, cloudy raining outside there (and surprisingly it's still in fall season~GOD!!! What an insane weather), and I am sitting in the coffee shop, drinking a cup of hot americano while thinking what I should write about. I am trying to find something interesting to post, but I think it is better to go with  "reviewing + sharing" my favorite coffee shops in the city that never sleeps (Seoul). 

Well, there are plenty of coffee shops everywhere in Seoul that I have visited. For many foreigners I believe STARBUCKS and DUNKIN' DONUTS are recognizable brands. But there are so many coffeeshops (the korean-owned small business), which is quirky in their own way with themes ranging from rustic to modern, down-home to design school, simple to fancy one.

By the way, talking about coffee shop, the things that come to my mind first are (of course) QUESTIONS. When did I start to drink coffee? When was my first time? And which coffee shop was I visited for the first time?

I am not really sure when did I start to get obsessed with hot/iced americano. But, I guess maybe it was on my freshmen year (second semester) back in my undergraduate. I remember that since I stepped to the second semester, where the school life was getting harder for me and I started getting busier with the bloody homework, assignments, and programming projects, I started to drink coffee. The first coffee shop that I visited in my life was probably Tom N Toms coffee shop, and Latte was my very first coffee. But later on because it is too sweet,  I then tried americano. Since then, I got obsessed with americano because it really keeps me awake at night, and yeah easily say as my life savior. 

You know this feeling right, when you got a pile of works to do, where those should be done on time, but you don't even know where to start, or you purposely procrastinate. And when the deadline is right around the corner, what will you do??? You definitely got STRESSED out, FRUSTRATED, and OVERWHELMED because things are not going well as you expected. So, to fight against the time you have left,  COFFEE is probably the only one you WILL NEED for REAL.

Yes, I admit that it happens to me all the time. When I feel like my time got so short to finish homework + assignments + programming projects on time, americano is the only power that I need. It could help me awake till  3 or 4 o’clock in the morning.

Of course, individual has different reasons of consuming coffee. However, personally, I need coffee because of what I have mentioned above. Need to finish homework/assignment or projects that I got. Here are the coffee shops that I go the most so far:

1). Studio#83 Coffee shop
2). Tom N Toms Coffee shop
3). Starbucks Coffee shop 
4). Caffe Bene Coffee shop

***

1). Studio#83 Coffee Shop

This coffee shop is the one that I go the most. It is located near Sogang University. You can go there by subway line no. 6 and get off at Daeheung Station (exit no. 1). Around 1 minutes going straight, you will reach the place.

Check this link out  ->  https://www.facebook.com/83studio83

The reason I heart this place is that it has nice atmosphere, comfortable seats, and it is very convenient and quite which is really perfect for studying. Besides, Some of the tables has stand lamps on it, complete with the outlets which is efficient for students looking to charge their devices while completing homework or writing papers. There’s also a bookcase that makes you feel like you are in super cool library too.

Iced americano vs. iced latte

Hot americano vs. hot latte 

Point card (front look)

Point card (backside look )

I purchased delicious hot americano and hot latte, 
and worked on my blog at one of their various table 
suited for customers who need a lot of space for their materials

The coffee shop interior design (on the second floor) 

Simple and small bookcase
And you can tell from the photo as well 
each person is busy doing their things

2). Tom N Toms Coffee Shop

Honestly speaking, I love Tom N Toms choco butter bread. It’s perfect to have with a cup of americano. The place is suitable for meeting friends and discussing things, or chitchatting. BUT, it is not suitable for studying I tell you.

One thing I like about Tom N Toms Coffee shops is they are having shops open for 24 hours a day (but not all, only some of them).

Tom N Toms Coffee Point Card

3). Starbucks Coffee Shop

When I want to have delicious coffee then I will get it at Starbucks. I have tried americano in many places, but if I can evaluate, Starbucks has the best taste of americano so far (Just saying~~~).

Perfect taste

Because too many people mostly go and stay there, I rarely stay in the coffee shop to study or do homework. I usually go there for refreshing and reading some magazines while drinking my coffee. On the other hand, the place is kinda noisy, and the wifi service is a bit complicated to use. However, for those who like Jazz music as I do, then I recommend Starbucks coffee shop. They have super catchy Jazz musics and they are so perfect to be listened. It is worthy to spend money on buying both experience and things. Plus, it is perfect for hanging out with friends and chitchat while having coffee.  

Because I found it uncomfortable for studying in the Starbucks coffee shop since they always crowed, I got these babies to create my own Starbucks looks alike atmosphere at home.

Starbucks Tumbler (텀블러) ^^ 올 겨울 걱정없겠다

Starbucks white mug medium size

Maxim Kanu mild americano coffee

4). Caffe Bene Coffee Shop

For chilling out, sometimes I go to this coffee shop. When I was studying at Sogang University, I sometimes went to Caffe Bene coffee shop which is located just across the street of Sogang's main gate. Now that I moved to another place, which is Wolgok, I go to the one nearby. The photos below show how the shop looks like inside (on the basement floor). 

Seasonal Caffe Bene Cup

Cafe Bene point card

Anyway, for you who like to hangout and ADMIRE/PURCHASE artwork, I highly recommend you to go visiting Samcheong-dong. It has plenty of cutesy and picturesque cafes. However, keep in mind that most of the coffee shops there do not have wifi.