Travelogue : Korea With Love, Nami Island

After more than a week of hiatus, Mavis is back! But still in Korean mode!! LOL!! 

Anyway, really need to do this – to pen down every single memory that I had for the past eleven days in the country I currently still major miss – Korea!!! We have been planning this one year ago! That’s how crazy we plan things. The main motivator of this vacation is my dear Emily. She has been doing most of the planning. I really can't thank her enough for being such a dear friend - she doesn't mind preparing the itinerary and still tag me along years after years. We have been travelling together since 2009!! 

I received a call from Emily that night, was about to dozed off for my fairyland dream; still picking up the phone without hesitating as I knew something great is coming the way! Voila!! She made it!! Booking confirmed!! Yay... We are going to Korea was her first word to me. The wait was not too long for us to realize it is really coming!! 

Nine months......................

Six months...............

One month..........

One week........

The day has arrived!! 

My airport outfit - Comfortable soft jeans with 3/4 sleeves blouse, a shawl, my favourite Anya Hindmarch Bag and my canvas shoes 

It took us approximately 7 - 8 hours to reach Incheon International Airport. This is the morning view while me still inside the plane. The captain mentioned we will be arriving soon and the temperature was 6 degree. Yay!! I am really excited to feel autumn and cool weather... It's my first time and I super love la....  

First Korean billboard encounter!! Sounds like a silly person who never seen a billboard!! LOL

Happily we landed safely at Incheon Airport. We were on our way to pick our luggage. 

Trying to check the weather outside Incheon. So cold!! 4 degree... Woah Woah!! 

Once we step out of the airport, the breezing air.. I am speechless!! It's so cooling.. I'm having love-hate relationship when looking at all these pictures! So much hope to re-live those moments!! 

This bus ticket took us to Seoul City to meet our foster parents. We will be staying at Yongpyeong (foster parents place) for three nights. It was such a great blessing I've received during my stay there! It's through Emily that I am tagged along with this foster family!!  Emily... I really can't thank you enough!! Muah Muah to you and the Park family too....

Met the parents - It's my first time meeting them. Since it is so cold, they prepared us hot tea!! My first Korean tea in Korea!! Aside, my first on a car with heater! First time feeling warm inside the car but damn cold outside.. The car window is just cold to touch!! Haha 

It took us about one hour to reach the home where foster family reside. We were so hungry that we took lunch nearby before heading home.

My first meal in Seoul with the foster parents! They ordered great Korean dishes for us. They served variety of vegetables and super suits my taste bud.

Salad with Korean sauce

Black sesame porridge is yummy!! 

Tofu - One of my favourite dish!! Simple and delicious!

Also they served lots of fresh seafood. This is real a scrumptious meal! 

Japanese Mushroom in Korea!! Before cooked -  Enoki and Matsutake 

FYI, Matsutake mushrooms are only available in autumn and cannot be cultivated! Sound like very gourmet mushrooms! 

After cooked! 

The side dishes are always more than the main dishes! So you see fishes, kimchi, onions and vege! 

Korean rice! I loved it to the extend I need them at least once a day and I need more than one bowl! Maybe one and half!! I think its because of the multi grains that made it so tasty! 

My travel mates were so surprise with me on this!! "What happened to Mavis that she could eat so much!!" I keep on pestering them every now and then that I am hungry! I need rice! I need kimchi!! Maybe gimme Tteokbokki or Korean sausage skewer - I am also ok! LOL

That's the restaurant entrance! Took a hot tea after meal to warm me down! They served it free to customers. It happens in most of the restaurant we visited! 

We then headed home to unload our luggage, took a short rest and then heading for our first island encounter!

So here we are - Nami Island 

We need a ferry to go over to this beautiful island. They are so famous for this Korean drama - Winter Sonata. The island is kind of big and we had a stroll around to enjoy the windy day and the scenery. 

I did not filter most of the pictures shared here! I just wanted to show you the real colour of this season- the beautiful falling leaves. It changes colour from yellow and crimson. It was such an enjoyable moment feeling the crisp weather!  

Sorry I need to spam more leaves!! LOL Every single spot that you stand at Nami Island, it will still be beautiful. I major love!! 

First Kiss shall be here!! Romantic??!

Not only leaves, wild ostriches are here too! LOL

If you follow me at my Instagram - maviszu, you knew that I had soft ice-cream despite the weather of 10 degrees. Yes!! I am looking for trouble. I feel so much cooler after that. I actually couldn't finish the whole ice-cream but do not want to waste it. So I forced myself. LOL I keep on telling Emily, I should have shared with her =="

Found this big warmer thingy on our way back to the ferry pier. I love standing there and had my last few mouth of ice-cream. See.. my ice-cream has gotten shorter in this picture! I did finish it.

Oh ya.. It's foster omma with us here. Someone we don't know got photo-boomed! 

Making memories with my foot step here! It's time to leave Nami Island!! 

While in the ferry...

Saw mirror so.. SELCA is must!! LOL The outer sweater is a gift from my beloved brother. He got me from H&M. 

Guess this picture would be familiar if you watch Running Man! They had the challenge games here before! Some sort of bungee jumping I think!! 

By the way, it's not yet 5:00 pm but the sky is turning dark! We are walking over to foster parents car. 

Parents said - They are going to cook tonight! Yay!! Korean food!! 

On the way home, we headed to mini market to get some banana milk, which is super yummy!  It's for breakfast on the next day. 

I experienced heater on the floor for the first time!!!  It's to warm the house! Cool isn't it? Even at restaurants, your butt will feel warm too as the flooring has heater. 

Tadah! Here's dinner!! 

Variety of vegetables - were all harvested by foster oppa.  Guarantee fresh!! LOL

Barbeque smoked- duck. I don't take duck meat but I literally tried it there and I must say it's so toothsome. Missing those taste now. :-(

That's how oppa BBQ those smoked-duck for us.. Our tummy is never empty not even near empty!! LOL.. Counting our blessings! 

Loving all these side dishes!! Korean style... 

My all time favourite - Korean rice is yummy-licious!! 

Korean rice wine - Makgeolli with BBQ is yummy too!! (Makgeolli is a milky traditional rice wine)

This is what I mean - never going to feel hungry!! After dinner, oppa made us barbeque yam and potato! Full till............. 

Took one vitagen after meal!!  

Ate again - Long Biscuit with Chocolate!! 

We seem like ate a lot during our trip!! It's day one only.. LOL

Time to say good night and good bye Day One.

Too many pictures to share.. gonna make another entry to continue yea!! Stay tuned!! ^_^

Beauty Shopping Site!

Sometimes I feel like it's a waste of money if we can get something cheaper online and still buy them over the counter >_< We must be a smart consumer especially on beauty products. 

If you follow my blog, you would know I am an avid fans of Hermo.my Most of the bloggers out there are also fans of theirs. They sell lots of Korean haul which I find it perfectly affordable. Do check out their website as they had revamp with total new concept and GOOD NEWS!! They will be having Bazaar sale from 12 to 18 October 2013.

My current obsession is 3CE from Stylenanda. Looking at the products they offer from Hermo,it is really tempting that I really want to get them on my coming trip. Yeah!! I am going to see you soon... LOLOL   

Aside to Hermo, I found another website which is also selling beauty products ranging from beauty to supplements. It's NattaCosme As for Natta, I found they have more Japanese products. Guess what, I can now get my Ma Cherie shampoos and DHC range from this website. Yah hoo!!! 

Since me and my sister in law is craving for masks so much that we decide to get it from Natta Cosme. Their delivery is fast and rest assured - their products are original :-) 

Tadah!! Both of us in our newly bought masks from Natta Cosme. I even bought some eye masks. Time for some pampering moments... 

My cat eye mask.I love the moisturizing level but the minus point is the mask didn't really fit my eye area perfectly. 

Cat woman huh? Lol.. It fits my cheek area more than my eyes area. Didn't really serve its purpose for the eyes. Never mind! My cheek is thankful for it! >.<

Need more time and care for my eyes. The dark circle and puffy eyes are getting more obvious! Thanks to late night sleep!! I want aegyo-sal not eye bag la.. Huhuhu 

Pretty eyes please come to me! Lol 

Was at the immigration since early morning and I'm still waiting! Bored till I see spider web!! Was trying my first time to blog with iPhone. Hope the quality is good..

Stand till my leg is tired.. Sit till my butt is in pain.. Wait till boredom is visiting me... 

I shall continue to wait.. wait and wait.. Till then!!See ya again.. 

Korean Mode

Hello Hello 안녕하세요

It's my seventh day in Korea and I am loving it so much that no words could describe how great I'd feel. Happy times usually past like sky rocket and I still have four days to go. So much hope that the time gonna slow down for me to still enjoy every moment of it. Anyway, I am still satisfied being able to be here and stay with the people and nature for eleven days. 

Went to Dong Mun Market for some exploration - seafood, pork, kimchi, local stuff,etc. 

Lifestyle mode picture Looking moody but not in actual 

Me wearing a warm enough long sleeves, Huey's owned-scarf, uniqlo white short, legging and uniqlo canvas shoes. Also my all time favourite travel bag from Anya Hindmarch. 

I am feeling happy :-) 

Going to grab some food nearby Hostel Beige! I'm at Seoul now.. Happy Holiday to me.... Chaos!! Lol 

안녕하세요 Hello

Annyeonghaseyo

It's the third day of vacation and Korea is making me falling in love again and again. The autumn is a time to die for - best time for travel. Thanks to the windy and low temperature ranging from 18'c and 4'c (maybe lower depending on the area) I can't ask for more. I'm truly satisfied with  what I am having and enjoying now.

Thank God for such an awesome moments. Thanking Him for giving me such beautiful memories. His blessing over us is more than enough I can't praise Him enough!!!

I am here at Nami Island on the first day. I never watched Winter Sonata but knowing that Nami is famous for that, its worth a visit. The scenery is just unexplainable. If you've been there, you know what I mean. I am speechless seeing such a awesome place. The park, the weather, the trees, the people, the children. Everything is just good to me.  Emily told me even their fart smells good to me! Hahaha!! I overly exaggerate at times! Especially when I major love something But trust me Korea is amazingly beautiful ok!!! LOL 

Even selca during autumn makes us pretty. This picture is no filter - original as it is. Haha!! 

Been to parks these few days! Enjoying the weather which is kind of cold to me. Anyway, I would never get to feel the same way back home. Even gets to do layering in clothing which is just fun! :P

As mentioned earlier, people and trees are just beautiful, pretty and nice! LOL! By the way, those are Gingko trees. My OOTD - sweater, leggings and shoes are from H&M scarf from Taiwan. 

With our Omma on Day Two at Seoraksan Park We went hiking and a lot of walking. We have sore legs now. But it was a good exercise. No sweat just tired. 

Making footprint on every place we went. Our hearts dying for you!! Haha 

Okie.. This is just some little updates.. Will share more... Gotta go now!! Going to Jeju Island soon... :-) 

Essential Eye Care with Laneige & Sasatinnie

Go read my first entry of eye care if you haven't ^_^  Eye Care Part 1 

Using eye creams and massages could really help us achieve less-tired eyes. Of course, all these won't diminished away the imperfection; after all we are humans! Our skin and our eyes won't look different overnight but being someone who works extra effort would make a difference in the long run. 

I always believe our body are God-given and it's good that we take good care of it ^_^

Okie.. Enough of the story-sharing! Haha!! Let's see what I've got to share today!! 

My current favourite eye masks! This is from SASA and you comes with 3 pairs of eye masks in a packet. The packaging is resealable and it allows us to keep the remaining of the masks. This amazing item only cost 4 packets for RM10!! How not to buy?? 

I need all of it - Anti-Oxidant Regenerating, Detoxifying Anti Puffiness Smoothing, Intensive Sparkling White and Aqua Boost Moisturizing. I could use it like twice a week. ^_^ 

But before all of these eye mask applications, do we really deep cleanse our eyes?

Korean Inspired Hair Band | Flower Earring | Taipei City Sweater

The very delicate part of our face that is our eyes - we tend to enhance them with colours. So to me, removing make-up is crucial. If you do make-up, make sure you cleanse it well too! You don't want to see fine lines become deep lines overnight! 

I used to find something easy and fast for removal to remove eye make up. However, I still find them not perfectly clean. The residual from mascara and eye liner usually trapped on my eyelid area. Really frustrating and I tend to rub it a little hard on my eyes to ensure its completely clean!  Thank you but I get more lines now! T________T

No more harsh cleansing with this Multi Cleanser and Lip & Eye Remover! You can see it stated on the bottle - Speedy & Safe! Really good right? When I get to know more about Laneige products, I discovered lots of its benefit. I received these samples sizes from Hermo. If you are wondering any new products would suits you, try sample products, go browse Hermo website. They have lots of haul brands and Korean brands for us to try before buying the standard size!

I just need to shake well the bottle of oil free Lip & Eye Remover before use and the double-layered liquid forms will emulsify instantly to melt and remove any type of make up.

By applying onto cotton pad and place on my eye or lip area for five seconds, it will help to melt the make up. After this, I need wipe off gently. Very simple right?  

The cotton pad that grab away all my make up - mascara, eye liner and eye shadows! 

One side of the eye is clean now. Super fast and easy! 

Here I am using the Laneige Multi Cleanser. This 4-in-one cleanser is very useful especially during travel. It removes make-up, removes sun screen, exfoliates and cleanses at once. You will be having a completely fresh feeling.

This cleanser gonna help to cleanse the rest of the face and even my eyebrow mascara. Ever since I dyed my hair, I tend to apply eyebrow mascara just to blend them well. Otherwise, I look odd - you can see after removing make up, my eyebrows looks very black and harsh! Look so fierce ==" But I still feel blessed - look at my eye lashes; they are adorable to me - Long and visible ~ Hahaha 好自恋！！ 

Yeah! Once having perfectly clean eyes, we can now apply our favourite eye masks and eye creams. 

All clean and ready to sleep. Bought the eye mask from Bangkok! Very cute wording on the mask. I obviously need those eye mask as sister sleep later than me. She might wakes me up when the lights is on. 

Look I have dark circles! Need to apply Sasatinnie eye mask now!  

Looks like panda bear here - just that the mask is white and not black! LOL... 

Love the cooling sensation you'd feel while putting it on. Remain the mask on the eyes area for 10 minutes, peel it off and I can go sleep after the application. Don't need to wash them away! 

Now confirm can sleep! Haha.. Bought this cutie mask from Daiso. It looks big on me but still ok cause the main reason I bought because it contains some lavender seeds.  I can smell them and it made me sleeps better! Hehe!!

Till then, Good nite!! Sleep tight and Sweet Dreams!! ZZZZZZZzzzzzz....