Seoul, South Korea

DATE: 19/10/2014 - 22/10-2014

(via AirAsia from KL to Seoul, Korea)

Alhamduilllah.... Yeah! Finally got a chance to visit Korea. This time, we come out with our own itinerary which help us to manage our trip here. Thanks to Google Street View. It's really great to view places you have plan to go to with this apps. At least, you will get an image of the buildings & area.

GETTING THERE

This time we found another safest place to park our car which is at Putrajaya Sentral. It is guarded & very cheap parking rate.

Parking fees = RM 4 (per day)
KLIA Transit to KLIA/KLIA2 = RM 6.20 (per pax)

TRANSPORTATION AROUND SEOUL

When you reach Seoul, make sure you have T-Money/M-Pass/Seoul City Pass Plus card to ride on their public transport. It's similar to Touch n' Go card in Malaysia and can use to pay for taxi, bus or subway. 

We choose T-Money which can be refund after used. The card itself cost is 3,000 won. So let say if you purchase 10,000 won T-Card, you can only use up to 7,000 won. 

Subway fee starts from 1,050 won for 1st 10km. Additional charges was based on additional distance:
- more than 10km within Seoul = additional 100 won for each 5km
- more than 40km within seoul = additional 100 won for each 10km
- more than 30km outside Seoul = additional 100 won for each 5km

Basic fare also based on age:
Age 19 and above     = 1,050 won
Age 13 - 18               = 900 won
Age 6 - 12                 = 450 won
Age 5 and below       = FREE

As i said earlier, T-Money can be REFUND.
Go to any convenience store and they will pay you the balance with 500 won service charge for each card.

Need more info about T-Money/M-Pass/Seoul Pass Plus, click here.

MAIN ITINERARY

Everland Amusement Park (main reason why we are here hihiii). Btw, got one prayer room in front of the Spooky Fun House.

ACCOMODATION

It's really comfortable & feels like home when we got to stay at Brown Residence Suite Hotel. They provide everything. Yes, everything you need when you are at home, got big living space (comfortable area for Muslim to pray), you can cook, wash your clothes, etc. The hotel location is located in front of Seosomun Park, 10 mins walk to Seoul/City Hall Station and very near to convenience shops. Click here for more review.

ITINERARY

Here is our full itinerary planned before we went to Seoul. However, due to time & my health  (headache on the first day) we have changed our itinerary. You may refer to both below:

original plan

our itinerary after reached Seoul

FOOD

It's really hard to find halal food in Seoul. I mean other than Indian, Pakistani, Arabian or Turkish restaurants. According to our google-ing search and information from the Muslim Guide book by Korea Tourism, most halal restaurants are located at Itaewon. You can also find it in VisitKorea (1 & 2) website. 

Since we are in Korea, of course we want to try some of Korean dishes originally made by korean citizen hihiii. 

GOOD NEWS!!! We found a few places... However most of restaurants' signboard is in Korea. To guide you there, i also have attached the front shop image & a map from nearest station.

Well, here are the list of places that we went to:

1. Eomoni Jib Restaurant, Myeongdong
2. Pizza Plus, Dongdaemun
3. Gosomi Grilled Fish, Sinchon (served pork)
4. Muree Restaurant, Itaewon (Turkish restaurant but serves korean dish)
5. Burger Cafe (in Everland)
6. Yang Good Restaurant, Yeoksam

Eomoni Jib Restaurant, Myeongdong

the restaurant is along a small alley next to the Apple Mac logo shop

WHAT WE EAT --- 42,000 won dish includes those small plates on the right side

2. Pizza Plus, Dongdaemun

in front of Dongdaemun Station Exit 5.
my hubby bought 4 set of burgers with total price 15,000 won.

3. Gosomi Grilled Fish, Sinchon

took almost 30 minutes to reach this restaurant if you walk from Trick Eye Museum

WHAT WE EAT --- grilled fish and spicy squid make me want to come back again to this restaurant.
total cost is 14,000 won  

4. Muree Restaurant, Itaewon (Turkish restaurant but serves korean dish)

a lot of halal restaurants & bakery around Itaewon, but this one have bulgogi in their menu

WHAT WE EAT --- we choose bulgogi and the total cost which include with fruit juice is 31,000 won

5. Burger Cafe (in Everland)

Sorry, no specific Halal restaurant in Everland. You can bring your own food in but if you don't, you can just eat Shrimp burger...

6. Yang Good Restaurant, Yeoksam

the BEST halal meal ever

WHAT WE EAT --- try marinated lamb (highly recommended), it's very delicious
total spend for dinner is 54,000 won

ESTIMATE COST (for 2 pax)

Total expenses including meals, tickets & etc in Seoul is

= RM 3,000 (currency rate 3.2)

Universal Studio Singapore

DATE: 01/01/2014 - 03/01/2014

We choose to enter Singapore from Johor Bahru. So, there are some tips how to reach Singapore:

1. park car at Johor Bahru Sentral (RM12 per day)

2. walk to Immigration Custom building (look for link-bridge)

3. take bus no 170 to Kranji station to enter Singapore and look for the same bus after you have passed the Singapore Immigration

4. Kranji bus station also link to the Kranji MRT station. Take MRT to the nearest station, Clark Quay to the hotel.

Note 

# similar to Malaysia, you can pay by station or swap using touch n' go (in Singapore they call it Singapore Tourist Pass)

MAIN ITINERARY

Hahaa... we love theme park that's why we are here... just to entertain ourselves at the Universal Studio Singapore

ACCOMMODATION 

M Studio Hotel

Nice & clean hotel. It is a loft type room therefore the room is small. Toilet & shower (no bath tub) also separated and can only fit one person. Just imagine when you enter the toilet/bathroom and stretching both your hands, both can touch the wall... too small right? oh! can you see a door behind the stairs, that is the bathroom and opposite to it is the toilet. Anyhow, the hotel provide a free shuttle to certain place. More reviews...

FOOD

Need to look for HALAL sign since most restaurants are serving pork. Muslims Singaporean are minority therefore it still a bit hard to find the best one. Even at the hotel during breakfast, you need to see or ask the food content. Luckily for us, the staff were very helpful by telling us what we can and cannot eat even though we did not ask.

This is one of the restaurant. It's an Indonesian restaurant.

Thank goodness my husband still keep this link. You can search more halal food here...

ESTIMATE COST (for 2 pax)

Includes hotel, tickets, meals...

TOTAL = RM 2,000

Krabi, Thailand

DATE: 02/04/2013 - 05/04/2013

(via AirAsia to Krabi, Thailand)

This is our first trip together so we decide to get a package at Matta Fair Expo. There are so many travel agencies there who offers a great value packages. So it's up to you. For us, we choose a package from Triways which cost us RM 2,400 for 4 days & 3 nights (for 2 pax).

GETTING THERE

To the LCCT:
- we park car at Terminal Bersepadu Selatan = RM 3 per day
- then took Jetbus direct to LCCT = RM 8 per pax

To Sunda Resort from the Krabi Airport:
- transfer to/from provided by the resort

ACCOMMODATION

Sunda Resort, Krabi

This resort provides a free transportation to go to certain location. The nearer town is just 15 minutes walk only but the location is a little bit isolated, so maybe you will prefer to use their transportation service. The place was great & peaceful. More reviews...

FOOD

The resort also prepared halal food, so you can try their original Thailand meal here. However, if you are outside the resort and feeling hungry, look for HALAL sign. Actually there are a few of halal restaurants a long the road but mostly are Indian or Pakistan restaurant. Don't worry, you won't get starving in Krabi hehee. 

ITINERARY

All activities and meals are included in this package. Out of 8 choices, we can only choose 2 which are:
- 4 islands tour by speedboat, and
- Mangrove & Cave kayaking trip and Ban Bor thor 

They also provide:
- return ticket to/from airport
- Body & Facial Treatment at Boossabakorn Spa for 2 hours

Boossabakorn Spa

ESTIMATE COST (cost for 2 pax)

including package, flight tickets, transportation & meals

= RM 3,500

Pulau Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia

DATE: 30/04/2014 - 02/05/2014

GETTING THERE

1. We park our car at Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (RM 3 per day) 
2. Took Jetbus to go LCCT (RM 8 per head)

3. Fly to Langkawi, Kedah by AirAsia (RM 450 for 2 approx.)

4. Get a rental car at the terminal (auto MyVi at RM 80 per day) 

ACCOMMODATION 

Kampung Tok Senik Resort

the entrance

reception area

paddy field behind our house

"Kampung" type house and surround with trees and paddy field. The deluxe room is quite big, which has a big king size bed with a big living space. The interior looks old and dark. The place quite scary especially at night because it's in the jungle, all rooms/houses located in the jungle and only 1 small road fit for a car to go in or out. Breakfast menu not variety but it's fine for us. More reviews...

FOOD

There are many halal restaurants in Langkawi. Look for Halal sign. You can google for best halal restaurant but take note the info dates because some maybe have shut down or not exist. Based on our experience, we drive till end of the road guided by waze apps but no restaurant found as described from our google searched.

cheapest seafood restaurant

ITINERARY

Relax and easy vacation for us. Only a few places we went to especially on 2nd day.

Day 1: 

Langkawi Eagle Square, Kuah. 

Day 2: 

Cable Car (RM54 per pax) - ticket price depends on package

Underwater World (RM30 per pax)

Spa at Cosy Spa Beauty & Wellness 

- just noticed that we rent a car also from this company after the spa hihii

Day 3:

Shopping at The Zone Duty Free which is just next to the Underwater World and then back to KL

ESTIMATE COST (for 2 pax)

including transportation, accommodation, car rental, entry fees + spa, meals

= RM 1,500

Welcome to the TravelWithUsDiary

Well, i am not a hard core blogger nor a good writer too but i love to use this opportunity to share with anyone who seek for some informations especially when you are visiting that country for the 1st time. I know there are a lot of bloggers who shares their experience but what make my blog different from them is i am going to make it straight to the point... as i said earlier, i am not a good write thou... BM & English pun fail kot hahaaa... just kidding... but honestly i like to make it shorts and clear. 

Btw i am a Muslim too. So this blog will be one of a good source to find some info especially when we talk about food. Yeah, i have experienced it before. google-ing for few days but still don't find what i'm looking for... that make me realize how valuable those informations are for other travellers especially Muslim...

Additional info, i don't like to use travel agencies since they only provide packages with tour. I have experienced travelling with tour agencies (company trips) and its really tiring thou. And some of places they brought us to is not interest me at all.

Thank you for visiting the TravelWithUsDiary in advanced...

Enjoy your trip...!!!