Busan Shopping Malls

Snapshots of some of the shopping malls and markets in Busan.

Lotte Department Store

Busan Shops

Some examples of the shops in Busan, whether along the streets or within the shopping malls.

Bong-Ja Korean Pancake

Tae Sung Heuk Don
47 Chilsimni-Ro
Songsan-Dong
Jeju & Seogwipo
Jeju Special Administrative Province
South Korea / Republic Of Korea

Meal, Gogigui / Barbecue - Flat Lay

Top 5 Jeju & Seogwipo Attractions

All photos in this post were not shot by me, and are credited to their respective sources.


City: Jeju & Seogwipo
State: Jeju Special Administrative Province
Country: South Korea / Republic Of Korea

The dual cities of Jeju & Seogwipo, in Jeju Special Administrative Province, South Korea, are co-located on the same small island. Here, tourism is the main industry, and every part of the island is within a 2 - 3 hours drive. As a popular vacation and honeymoon spot, the place is geared towards tourists, which means higher than normal prices. Besides the beautiful natural scenery, there are several unusual theme parks and niche attractions to be seen here.

Here are the Top 5 Tourist Attractions to visit in Jeju & Seogwipo, all of which hold important cultural or historical significance. All these are permanent locations which can be visited and viewed at any time throughout the year.


1. Manjanggul Lava Tube

Source Credits

Manjanggul Lava Tube (Purchased Stock Image)

The Manjanggul Lava Tube near Jeju & Seogwipo, Jeju Special Administrative Province, is a huge cave, formed by molten lava in ancient times. As one of the longest natural structures in South Korea, it has significant scientific and heritage value, owing to its excellent condition of preservation. Natural features include lava stalactites, lava stalagmites, lava columns, lava helictites, cave coral, lava bridges, and lava shelves, amongst several wildlife. The multi-coloured carbonate markings are particularly striking, and walking within the cave formation lends an other-worldly, surreal feel.



2. Yeomiji Botanic Garden

Source Credits

Yeomiji Botanic Garden (Purchased Stock Image)

Regarded among the best curated gardens in both Asia and South Korea, the Yeomiji Botanic Garden, near Jeju & Seogwipo, Jeju Special Administrative Province, contains approximately 2,000 species of rare tropical and subtropical plants. Themed around sections, highlights include the Flower Garden, Water Lily Garden, Native Garden, Jungle Garden, and Country Folk Gardens. Another highlight is the 38 meter high Observation Platform, which offers clear views of Hallasan Mountain and the nearby coastline.



3. Cheonjeyeon Waterfall & Seonim Bridge

Source Credits

Cheonjeyeon Waterfall & Seonim Bridge (Purchased Stock Image)

Located near Jeju & Seogwipo, the Cheonjeyeon Waterfall & Seonim Bridge is a combination attraction famed in Jeju Special Administrative Province, South Korea. The iconic red and white arch bridge has 14 nymphs carved on its sides (7 per side), each playing a musical instrument, and looks particularly striking from afar. This pedestrian bridge leads to the three-tier waterfall, a beautiful area with rare plants such as the skeleton fork fern, where the flow of water to the ocean looks like a series of steps. Translated as 'Pond Of The Emperor Of Heaven', the legend behind this area tells of 7 fairies who visited the king in this pond.



4. Glass Castle

Source Credits

Glass Castle (Purchased Stock Image)

The colourful, vibrant, whimsical Glass Castle near Jeju & Seogwipo, Jeju Special Administrative Province, South Korea, is a niche theme park dedicated to glass art. Hosting over 250 glass sculptures and models across 6 themed zones, highlights include a glass labyrinth, the world’s largest glass ball, a glass waterfall with a lake of mirrors, a glass bookshelf with glass books, glass flowers, glass model villages, and more. The bright crystalline colors and intricate designs here evoke a sense of child-like wonderment.



5. Teddy Bear Museum

Source Credits

Teddy Bear Museum (Purchased Stock Image)

Regarded among the most famous of its kind in the world, the Teddy Bear Museum in Jeju Special Administrative Province, South Korea, is dedicated to teddy bears, styled in both international and local Korean designs. Located near Jeju & Seogwipo, the collection is varied and diverse, featuring handcrafted teddy bears dressed in authentic period costumes with life-like poses. They even pay homage to famous artworks by recreating the piece with teddy bears! Another highlight is their picturesque fairy-tale outdoor garden, which served as the shooting location for several famous Korean television dramas.





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Jeju & Seogwipo Street Food - Part 1


Jeju & Seogwipo Street Food is part of the larger tapestry of Korean cuisine in South Korea. Unique for being a largely standalone cuisine, with little outside influence, Korean cuisine originated from an agricultural society, and through interaction with the natural environment. Jeju & Seogwipo Street Food differs in several aspects compared to the mainland, and is largely reliant on local produce and farm stock. There is a heavier emphasis on freshness of ingredients, and in the making of soups and stews.

Saengseon-Hoe - Sea Bream

The Artstay Hotel
1269-19 Hamdeok-Ri / 504 Johamhaean-Ro
Jocheon
Jeju & Seogwipo
Jeju Special Administrative Province 63333
South Korea

http://theartstay.com/


Sweeping Sea & Mountain Views

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 7
Visited: Oct-2017
Ambience & Setting: 9
Food & Beverage: 6
Service: 7
Value for Money: 8
Spent about SGD $190 per person.
- $190 Accomodation 3D2N
- $0 Room Service


Nearby Attractions: Manjanggul Lava Tube, Seongsan Ilchubong, Cheonjeyeon Waterfall & Seonim Bridge, Cheonjiyeon Waterfall, Jeongbang Waterfall, Glass Castle, Hallim Park, Teddy Bear Museum, Hyeop-Jae Beach, Yeomiji Botanic Garden, Loveland, Hamdeok Beach, Jeju Folk Village Museum, Jeju Education Museum, O'Sulloc Green Tea Museum, Aqua Planet Aquarium, Mini-World Miniature Theme Park, EcoLand Theme Park, Jungmun Lava Columns, Sangbansan Mountain & Yongmeori Coast, Oedolgae, Yakcheonsa Temple, Haengwon Beach / Conan Beach, Mount Halla


Hotel Facilities: Business Centre, Free Wi-Fi, Conference Rooms, Laundry Service, 1 Restaurant (Orsay Restaurant), 2 Lounges (Lobby Lounge, Rooftop Lounge), Cable TV, Garden, Art Gallery, Currency Exchange Service


Hotel Activities: Internet Surfing, Meetings, Sightseeing


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Introduction
Located about 45 minutes drive away from the Jeju International Airport in Jeju & Seogwipo, The Artstay Hotel near Hamdeok Beach offers a great place from which to explore the island. Beyond the nearby natural attractions such as beaches, mountain trails, and farmlands, The Artstay Hotel is also about an hour's drive away from the island's many theme parks. But the best part of staying here is the sweeping, panoramic views of the clear blue ocean and skies, and the sight of the vibrant greenery of the mountains beyond the city.


Ambience
Ambience at The Artstay Hotel is modern and clean, with a quiet elegance. The warmly lit, spacious lobby hosts a rotating art exhibition, featuring works from local artists, drawing the eye of guests immediately upon entry. The clean lines, off-white and grey colours along the corridors have a calming, serene feel. The best location for me is the open rooftop, with the Rooftop Lounge, which has clear, 360 degree views of the beautiful settings around.


Room
Rooms at The Artstay Hotel are clean, comfortable, and come equipped with a small but functional kitchenette. The queen size bed is large and comfortable, and the bathroom, with its grey tiles, is clean and functional, stocked with basic amenities. I can see why couples love the cozy room. The in-room internet wifi is fast and stable, but the cable television channels are rather limited.


Food
Food at The Artstay Hotel is provided by the Orsay Restaurant. Generally, the local food is decently executed, though I've had better Western style selections elsewhere. However, there are a multitude of nearby cafes and restaurants, and it's almost a shame to stay here and not eat out. You could also choose to cook in the in-room kitchenette, though this may cause the cooking odour to linger within the room.


Service
Service at The Artstay Hotel is courteous and friendly. Staff can converse in basic English, and carry out requests quickly and efficiently. I like that they'll share additional information on the area during check-in. However, the room service staff didn't properly make the bed during my visit, resulting in a semi-messy look for the bed. In addition, there doesn't seem to be a valet service available, though it's common in some of the other hotels here.


Facilities & Activities
The facilities and activities at The Artstay Hotel are geared towards the leisure traveller. While there is a business centre and conference rooms, these are relatively small and basic. Besides the many nearby eating places, the beach is right beside the property, along with several convenience stores. Within the hotel, there isn't much beyond the Rooftop Lounge, though I saw a Jazz performance being held at the restaurant during my visit.


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Jeju & Seogwipo Shops

Some examples of the shops in Jeju & Seogwipo, whether along the streets or within the shopping malls.

Café Delmondo

Long Jiang Chinos Tasting Session
81 Lorong Chencharu
#01-06 ORTO

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11:30am - 2pm (Lunch), 5:30pm - 10pm (Dinner)


http://longjiang.sg/

This was an invited media review. I did not pay for the meal during the free hosted tasting session.
Attended with representatives from Chubby Botak Koala, Justin Food Prints, Captain Slow Yeo, Mighty Foodie, Qin Loves Macaronsss, and Purple Taste.

Seafood Hotpot (SGD $128 for 4 pax)

Montana Brew Bar / Montana Singapore Tasting Session 2017
1 Selegie Road
#02-25 PoMo

Opening Hours:
Daily: 8am - 10pm


https://www.facebook.com/montanasingapore

This was an invited media review. I did not pay for the meal during the free hosted tasting session, but I did pay the standard price during subsequent visits.
Attended with representatives from Chubby Botak Koala, msginginly, Her Pen And Fork, The Arctic Star, and Purple Taste.

Meal Flat Lay