Visiting an Onsen or Oncheon : What do you really do or wear at the hot mineral springs baths?

Paris B 37 Comments

I was talking to someone about hot springs recently when I remembered my own experience at hot springs in Japan and Korea.

onsen hot springs

In Japan, I visited Hakone, a town situated about a hour out of Tokyo by train. I loved Hakone. It was a gorgeous place even though I was caught in cold autumn rain and I much prefer it to Tokyo. It is also a country town famed for its onsen and you know what they say – when in Japan, do as the Japanese do! Well perhaps they don’t say that but you get my drift. I had to see what it was all about 🙂

When you mention Japanese Hot Springs, people usually ask you in a hushed whisper “Is it true you have to be … (pause)… NAKED?” Don’t tell me that thought didn’t cross your mind too! Its never “How was the experience?” “Are the mineral waters truly beneficial?” Its always “Is it true you have to be NAKED?!”

My answer is “Yes. Stark naked. Leave your inhibitions at the door. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200”

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A quick guide to shopping in Seoul, Korea

Paris B 63 Comments

This is just a quick and easy guide for shopping in Seoul. Its based on my observations during my visit and it is by no means comprehensive so please feel free to add your input in the comments 🙂

Shopping for cosmetics

I stayed near the Myeongdong area, and I would highly recommend you head there for all your cosmetics shopping. The reason is simply because it has the highest concentration of Korean cosmetics brands I’ve ever seen in one place!

korean cosmetics stores

Sometimes, they are all laid out in a row, as you can see. Is it any wonder that they have to entice customers with free samples? The competition is horrendous!

In Myeongdong itself you can find most of the Korean brands you want.

korean cosmetics shops

Skin Food doesn’t give out samples at the door, but they are quite generous with samples when you make a purchase. I guess they are established enough that people will come to them regardless. Aritaum sells more expensive skincare from the Amore Pacific cosmetics group. You can find Laneige in here as well as Mamonde and a few other pricier brands in sets and kits. Laneige in general is slightly more affordable than it is here in Malaysia but not as much as the rest.

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A Korean Haul to soothe the shopping Seoul

Paris B 65 Comments

Haha… I just know that there are some of you waiting for this post 🙂 Truth be told, I did not buy very much, relatively speaking 🙂 I did stumble on a sale going on at Lotte Department store where I picked up some very lovely winter jackets (down filled!) at 50,000 Won (about RM140 each!) so I’m dying to go on a winter holiday next LOL Otherwise, I wasn’t quite into buying clothes, shoes or accessories.

masks from korea

What I did return with a lot of, was face sheet masks. Everyone who has ever raved about how incredibly cheap face masks are in Korea were not wrong. I picked up different masks from the different Korean brands – Skin Food, TheFaceShop, ElishaCoy, Baviphat… just to name a few. The masks are usually sold in packs of 10 or 20 and I got them for between 10,000-20,000 won (RM14-28) a pack. This was a shared pack, and I took out quite a few for gifts and suchlike. Should have picked up more 😛

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Hotel Review: The Plaza Hotel Seoul, Korea

Paris B 17 Comments

I had a bit of hotel emergency before I headed to Seoul recently. I was keen to stay at the Ibis Hotel Myeongdong which Nikki had raved over, but I left my booking too late and there were no rooms available for the time I was visiting. Needless to say, I panicked 😛 With just 2 weeks before I was leaving for Seoul, I still had no hotel room and no idea where to stay.

view from plaza hotel

View from room window

It was while I was scouring Agoda (where I place most of my hotel bookings) that I saw a new offer pop up for The Plaza hotel. A quick check on Tripadvisor told me it was recently refurbished in 2010 and people who had stayed there recently said it was nice. It was a Buy 3 Free 1 offer – perfect for my length of stay so I booked it.

Part of the reason I booked it also was because there is a direct Airport Limousine bus operated by Korean Airlines to the hotel. It drops you on the hotel doorstep! Well, the back door but right at the hotel nonetheless, which is very convenient for arrival and departure. Turned out, I did not need that service because I had a friend there who insisted on doing the airport run which was very very sweet.

I arrived at the hotel at about 9am and the room wasn’t ready. I wasn’t very upset because from previous experience in Japan, these countries are quite strict about their check in times which was at 2 or 3pm. I could leave my luggage however, and I was told to return at 11am when a room would be ready. So, I took a short 10 minute walk to Myeongdong for coffee and to check out the place.

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