War Memorial of Korea

Syahir and his family

Guys would definitely like this place. I am kinda tomboyish at heart myself...so I prettttty like War Memorial of Korea. There are so many tankers, fighter jets, helicopters... to check out. Awesome!!

Nadia and her parents

If you don't have time to explore everything..just marvel at the pretty displays outside of the museum. I feel that kinda enough at least for me.

Inside the museum is pretty neat too but what set this museum off from the rest of the museums in Seoul or South Korea are the tankers, fighter jets, helicopters. I love them!! If only I have one for display at my hometown...*sigh*



The admission is FREE. ^__^

Closed every Monday though.



How to go War Memorial of Korea (전쟁기념관)?

If you are from Itaewon, you can take the blue bus number 421 (the bus stop is near Hamilton Hotel, in the direction towards Noksapyeong)  which will stop right in front of War Memorial of Korea.

Otherwise you can stop at Samgakji Station, Line 4 or 6, exit 12. Walk about 5 minutes from the exit.

More information from KNTO is here.

Hongdae Graffiti - 벽화거리

I admire how Korean love and appreciate art in their society or rather.. how there's consciousness to educate the public on appreciating art.



They give a lot of details in intricate design and made it a point to be shared for people of now and the future to see. Countless of art galleries to visit and I love it.

One of the places worth visiting is Hongdae where self interpretation and fresh art meet.



Although I live nearby Hongdae honestly, I don't know the place well. Every time I visit Hongdae, my curiosity remains hungry. Say if I follow one alley, I will see something intriguing. If I stroll another alley it offers another mind blowing picturesque view.



Never never... get enough of Hongdae.

Top: Kang Mu Gyul's house from Marry Me Mary Korean Drama

Bottom: Featured in Marry Me Mary Korean Drama

I have discussed this too many times with my friends that Ewha, Sinchon and Hongdae are worth a visit. They exude different vibe. Definitely.



Among the three, IMO Hongdae gives me kinda magnetic pull like fresh energy.

I have been questioning myself, what's a good reason to visit Hongdae? I'm not into clubbing so that's outta question.



For me, not the Hello Kitty Cafe', Coffee Prince Cafe' or even the Trick Art Museum.



I came to Hongdae strolling its alley looking for the tiny changes.

Today.... might be different than yesterday.

Someone told me that if I start to appreciate blooming flowers on the road side, that.... could be a sign of me getting older. Omo! O-O hehehe..



Recently, I went to Hongdae Graffiti Street or in Korean 벽화거리 (Byeokhwagori)

벽화 = mural

거리 = street/road



I went there 3 times - on my own, with Feia and Nadiah and recently with Min Young.

Each visit surprised me.



How to go to Hongdae Graffiti Street (벽화거리)?

Courtesy: Chupa Chups

Take the subway to Hongik Station, Line 2, exit 9. Walk straight out of the exit unti you find a traffic light and turn left, walk up the hill until you find the entrance of Hongik University.

Feia and her sister; Nadiah with a volunteer

for donation. Surprisingly he was collecting donation for

a school near Batu Caves, Malaysia O-O

If you're not too familiar with Korean Language..Hongdae is actually the abbreviation of Hongik Daehakgyo (Hongik University) 홍익 대학교 abbreviated to 홍대. I prefer to call the place as Hongdae rather than Hongik.

This alley is just next to Hongik University's main entrance. Walk 

from here and you will find many of the graffiti.

Nipong Naepong Restaurant at Ewha University

On my last hunt for Jjamppong in Hongdae, I found another worthy restaurant to try near Ewha University through Naver (Korean search engine).



Being a freelance tour guide, it's becoming a situation for me to vary the restaurant that I will visit. This is because the problem is with me! ^^ Hehehe..



My guests would find it an amazing experience to savour Korean dish but for me who had the same meal like once a week at the same restaurant?? A big big issue. Hot issue. ^^



I was even asked by the cute waiter in Gosami "Aren't you sick of our food?" That made me think...hmm..kinda, but Gosami is good!! Two thumbs up!!



This time I found a gem. Nipong Naepong.

They serve fusion jjamppong and pizza.

They also have set menu:

Set 1 - 2 types of jjamppong, a pan of sweet potato pizza and a soda for 21,900 won

Set 2 - 2 types of jjamppong, a pan of garlic pizza and a soda for 20,900 won



Tip: The jjamppong serving is huge. I think it's better to share the set menu for 3 to 4 pax.

Warning: Just avoid Alaska ppong as it contains meat.

Sweet potato pizza, cha ppong, Italia ppong (like carbonara) 

and Thailang ppong (like fried udon).

The Chappong (Chinese jjamppong) is kinda spicy and have level of spiciness from Level 1 to 3. My advice is to stick to level 1. It's spicy enough. Trust me on this one. Hehehe.



I love the ambiance in Nipong Naepong Ewha University's joint. Feia had been to Myeongdong's joint but the ambiance was not as great as in Ewha she said.

With Feia and Syahir's family. See that huge portion? I ordered

one jjamppong each and we couldn't finish everything. T_T

So far I had been there with 2 groups of my guests and with Feia too and all of them vouched the food was quite good and I think they suit Malaysian's palate.



From the 6 types of jjamppong served, one of them contains meat - Alaska ppong. I asked the waiter to exclude meat if they cook it but she was kinda reluctant. So I just stick to my five other menus which she told me contain no meat, just seafood.



My favorite: Spanish ppong - cause it's not spicy and Thailand ppong - cause I just miss Mee Goreng Mamak. T_T

Huda, Acik Salamah and Baby Fateh couldn't keep

his eyes off from the delicious sweet potato pizza.

However as usual, you have to remind them these secret passages:



고기나 햄을 빼 주세요 / 고기나 햄을 놓지 마세요

gogi na ham el pae juseyo / gogi na ham el nochi maseyo

Please remove meat or ham / Please don't put in meat or ham



How to go to Nipong Naepong?

Ewha University joint - go to Ewha University subway station, line 2, exit 3. Walk down the main road towards Ewha University and turn right on the first junction. Walk up the hill about 20 meters and the restaurant is on your left.

Myeongdong joint - go to Myeongdong subway station, line 4, exit 8. Walk on the junction on your left until you find Basic House clothing shop on your right and then turn left into the alley in front of the shop. Nipong Naepong is on the second floor.