My List of TOP 3 Korean Unique Waffles

1. Cherry Blossom Bread: Eating Flower

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image by Choiyunjin

the cherry blossom bread(벚꽃빵), A lot of people would queue up at some street stall in Jinhae during the festival,  for more than 30 minutes, just to get their hands on this must-eat delicacy. Filled with adzuki beans paste with a kick of Cherry Blossom extract, it is a delightful treat which is not too sweet and smells like the cherry Blossom.

KOREA: Jinhae Specialty -- Cherry Blossom and Bread

image via www.koreanfilm.or.kr

Early April is the time when the Cherry Blossom trees will come into full bloom and covered the whole city in a color of pinkish white. There are a lot of Spring festival events nationwide, but Jinhae has long been known to host the best.

Korea/Seoul/ Itaewon: O-Shake

This is not your ordinary shakes. The "O-Shake" will open your eyes to some crazy shakes you might never ever thought of!

Korea: The Keyboard Waffles, Breakfast for Geeks!

Techno geeks, rejoice!
The innovative chefs at the Nexon Computer Museum had transform your favorite breakfast forever in a geeky way. Thanks to these techie waffles, we could never look at our breakfast the same way anymore.

Korea: My 5 encounters with Cakes, cupcakes and Macarons.

This is not a guide, it is more of a sharing. I want to know more from you too! Kindly comment below to help me discover more worthy bakeries/ cafes in Seoul!

Korea: LINE Friends Flagship Store and Cafe

FIRSTLY, Happy Boxing Day!

I hope you found the present you always wanted under the CHRISTMAS TREE!

The Japan originated LINE app is one of my favourite messaging app to use JUST because of all those cute characters. If you are a LINE user and crazy about the LINE stickers too, don’t miss the LINE Friends Store and Cafe!

Korea: SMTOWN COEX Artium

FIRSTLY, MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE!

PERHAPS THIS POST IS MEANT TO BE A CHRISTMAS POST 

FOR ALL SMTOWN FANS.

Although I do listen to some good Korean songs, I am not a die-hard Kpop fan so this whole SM-related building is a little bit boring to me (to be honest). Although, I am sure it is very popular among Kpop fans. So I will jump straight to my point—the cupcakes.

Korea (Originated in Japan): Crystal Water Droplet Rice Cake

Is this just a clear drop of water? No, listen to me, you’ve got to see it to believe it—hands down the most unique dessert I’ve encounter! It’s called the “mizu shingen mochi”, originally created in Japan. Unfortunately during my last trip to Japan, I did not have a clue about it’s existence. Therefore, I oath to try it in Korea instead.

Korea: The Menagerie

Instagram: @dance99w 

I’ll admit it: I have a soft spot for cute things but do not doubt my statement when I say this: The Menagerie is arguably the tastiest cupcake shop in all of Seoul !!

Korea: Monster Cupcakes

When you meet the right person, everyday is Valentine; When you are in Monster Cupcake, everyday is Halloween! All the designs of the cupcakes are inspired by classic horror movies: Chucky? Ghost Buster? Night before Christmas? Sesame Street? It will certainly bring back all the nightmares you had as a kid, but this time, with a sweet tone!

Quick Guide: Istanbul, Turkey

Get around the city: 

1. Tram: Purchase tokens from the machines at the stations. 2 TL each. All transits are included (counted as single journey).
2. Bus: İETT city public buses accept tokens, while private buses (green and white) only take Lira.
3. Taxi: Always ask for a price quote before you hop on.
4. Metro: Uses tokens.
5. Walking: Istanbul is a fantastic city to explore by foot, however, prepare good walking shoes as some of the streets are cobbled and some are slopes. Get a map of the city from your hostel.

Savings: 

1. Purchase a "museum pass" (valid 3/5 days ) if you are interested in museums. It allows you to skip queues.
2. An "Istanbulkart" can save you a lot of money if you are planning to stay more than 3 days and you know you are using a lot of public transit. It is an electronic refillable card used on buses, trains, and ferries!Several people can share 1 card.

Accommodation: 

Book a hotel in the Sultanahmet district.
Recommendations: Cordial House (I find it cozy and welcoming)
OR If you have more than 1 travel buddies, you can save more by renting an apartment on Roomorama, Stayful, Airbnb, Travelpony. (click on the orange link, sign up to get discounts and free nights.)

Read more: 10 Golden rule to score a FREE hotel stay

Culture: 

1. Dress modestly when visiting religious establishments. Prepare headscarves if you are visiting mosque.
2. Wash hands and remove shoes before entering a mosque.

3. Haggle for the best price in Bazaar. However, do not overdo it. 

See: 

Topkapi Palace
Hagia Sophia
Sultanahment Mosque (Blue Mosque)
Obelisk of III. Tutmosis
Basilica Cistern
Grand Bazaar
Spice Bazaar
Taksim Square
Dolmabahce palace
Süleymaniye Mosque
Galata Tower

Read more: 5 days in Istanbul (Itinerary Sharing)

Must Do: 

1. Enjoy a Bosphorus cruise.
2. Visit a Hamams.
3. Watch the Whirling Dervishes performance at the Galata Mevlevi Lodge.

4. Walk the Walls of Constantinople.
5. Haggle in Grand Bazaar.
6. Buy a Turkish Ice cream. Experience the fun. 

Read more: 15 FREE things to do in Istanbul

Must Eat:  

1. Balık ekmek at Eminonu pier.
2. Baclavas and turkish delight at Hafiz Mustafa.
3. Kebab at Sultanahmet Buhara Kebab House.

Read more: What to eat in Istanbul (15 MUST EATS)

Thank You for Reading! 

This post is based on my honest opinion and personal experience. 

 If you have more suggestions/ updates, feel free to share with us by commenting below!

Turkey: FREE things to do in Istanbul

1. Watch people getting prank. 

Dondurma or Turkish Ice cream is a special kind of ice cream that contains orchid root extract, making it chewy and stringy. The sellers will play tricks on customers when serving those ice creams.

2. Learn about different types of Turkish sweets through a glass window.

Turkey: What to eat in Istanbul

I always make a MUST-EAT list before I travel to any places. This is my list for Istanbul (updated after the trip):

1.  Dolma Köfte

www.nefisyemektarifleri.com

Turkey: 5 days in Istanbul

@littlemisshappyfeet

Historically also known as Constantinople and Byzantium, Istanbul is not an unfamiliar name for Malaysian students, especially those who took "Sejarah" seriously during SPM. Imagine my excitement when I saw all that I learnt about came to life in front of my very eyes.

1 day in Niagara Falls State Park

@littlemisshappyfeet

After exploring so many SPLENDID National Parks in Utah, Arizona and California, we were excited to meet all the excitements awaiting in the Niagara Falls State Park. From red rock canyons, towering orange natural-bridges and miles of sand dunes, it took a drastic change the moment we were greeted by the roaring waterfalls in view!

Texas: Few hours in San Antonio

@littlemisshappyfeet

I was only here for 4 short hours (waiting for another bus departing to Austin). San Antonio is a colourful city. Anyone visiting here should not miss the famous River Walk.

Road Trip: Death Valley, Nevada

@littlemisshappyfeet. Photo Credit to Matt.

I thought the Largest National Park in the US outside of Alaska would be a good idea during my SUMMER road trip. Without thinking any further, I added this stop into the plan. How did it turn out? It sure was one "HELL-u-v-a" ride!

The Capital: 2 days in Washington D.C.

@littlemisshappyfeet

Washington DC is the capital of US. You've seen it in various shows, movies, drama, so I assume that you are not unfamiliar with it: a hub for American politics and history. Most of the attractions are packed on the National Mall, this makes Washington D.C a walking town. You can also pick up a bike (multiple location) . Since it is one of the most popular destinations for school field trips, do expect crowds during holidays.

Texas: 2 days in Austin

There is like no other place in the world like Austin! Just be yourself no matter how weird you thought you are, because you might just be contributing to the society in"Keeping Austin Weird"!

Tennessee: a Few hours in Memphis

courtesy to seriousstartups.com

Memphis-- not only it is the largest city in Tennessee, this city is named "Home of the Blues". One interesting fact is: Elvis Presley used to live in Memphis (Graceland , to be exact.)

New Orleans: the French Quarter

courtesy of travel.nationalgeographic.com

When I thought no city can top Memphis live-music scene, I was completely wrong. In New Orleans, the city of jazz, there are live music band everywhere: from Bourbon street to parks to Jackson Square, sending everyone dancing on the street like no one’s watching!

New Orleans: the scene out of French Quarter

So you’ve soaked up the vibes of the French Quarter, What’s next? Garden District!

Orlando: Swimming with Dolphin and Stingrays

courtesy of discovery cove

The Discovery Cove came under "Splurge" in my recent trip to the United States. When we were deciding on which theme park/ day resort are we gonna spend time in, we came down to the final 2: Disney World or Discovery Cove. As I've been to Disney, and theme parks generally do not impress me, this is not a tough decision to make.

Boston: 1 day in Boston

She said I think I'll go to Boston...I think I'll start a new life,I think I'll start it over, where no one knows my name,

                                                                     - Boston, Augustana

Pennsylvania: 1 day in Philly

Basically my plan for Philadelphia: no plan.
I only have 2 Musts on my list: 1. Must try a philly cheese steak. 2. Liberty Bell. We had a lot of "blank spaces", getting ready to be filled up by any worthwhile stops we'd come across.  

From the union station, we took a city bus to the very end of Chestnut Street and start walking around on foot. There are a few free museum to visit around the bus stop, so we checked out a few. These are the highlights:

Spruce Street Harbor Park

@littlemisshappyfeey

San Diego: 1 day in San Diego

@littlemisshappyfeet

I made San Diego a one day trip. Boy I was wrong! I should have stayed longer. There are a lot more places I wanted to set foot on: Joshua Tree National Park, potatochip rock and more. If you have time, check them out for me.

Georgia: 2 days in Atlanta

Atlanta holds a special place in my heart as the "City of Angels". When I was travelling solo in US, I've lost count of how many time I've got myself lost. Unfortunately, this is the reality of travelling, but it keeps everyday real. My biggest fears are: 1. Don't have a place to spend a night. 2. Missing transit to my next destination. And I nearly got in all these situations in Atlanta. However angels are everywhere in this city. A girl provided me so much comfort in the bus, a host in Atlanta offered me a place to stay last minute and picked me up at the station half past midnight, another girl led me to the greyhound station even thought she had to miss her home game and her friend scolded her for it! Like they said, everything happened for a reason, I thank God for helping me to restore my faith in unconditional kindness, and I promise to keep the chain going...

   

Day 1: Downtown

Orlando: 3 days in Orlando

I moved around the city mainly using the public transportation which is the LYNX bus service and the free Lymmo bus service downtown. The fare for a single journey, plus transfer, was $2.

Day 1: Relaxation 

@littlemisshappyfeet

Miami: 2 days in Miami

@littlemisshappyfeet

I am a fan of CSI: Miami. However the series ended when I was still in secondary school. It was fun to watch the Investigation, which it would send Horatio, Eric, Ryan and Calleigh out to different parts of Miami. Whether it is Lincoln Street, the Miami beach, or MPD building, I was fascinated.

Georgia: 1 day in Athens

Simple and laid back. This is Athens in my humble opinion.
@littlemisshappyfeet

Athens is a charming college town housing the university of Georgia. Frankly speaking, I did not know where was I going, but it certainly did not stop me from falling in love with the simplicity of this town. Plus, people are super duper friendly.

SIGHTSEEING GUIDE IN ROYAL MILE EDINBURGH

images from www.pps.org

As the name suggested, the Royal Mile is a pleasant 1 mile (and 107 yards) walk cutting directly through the heart of Edinburgh. 

The Stretch starts from the Castle on a long-extinct volcano, down the slope formed by the retreat of an ice age million years ago and finally, ends at the Palace of Holyrood.  Located within a World Heritage site, the Royal Mile is a combination of 4 streets: Castlehill, then Lawnmarket, High Street and Canongate,  jam packed with things to see and do.

Las Vegas: 30 Experiences other than Poker.

Most attractions in Las Vegas are "hidden" inside the many hotels on the Strip, while some like the Fermont street are few miles away from the "Strip". This is a rough guide to "Las Vegas" I created before my trip:

1. Mirage

QUICK GUIDE TO ROYAL MILE / OLD TOWN

image from www.123royalmile.com

Cutting through the heart of Edinburgh, The Royal Mile is the most visited street in Edinburgh. It is always buzzing with energy, jam packed with a lot to see, do and eat. Here, I've summarized a quick guide for those who are planning to "Walk the Mile"!  

12 ICE CREAM YOU NEED TO TRY IN KOREA: MIND BLOWN!

Follow me on my quest to track down all adorable snacks all around the World! Ice cream is my favorite: not only it is delicious, it saves me from melting under the hot summer sun. Let me show you my MUST-TRY list of Korean Ice cream and how about you telling me your list after reading?
Lets Start!

Korea: Animal-themed ice cream at Swi:t B

viaelisuperoffbeattravel.com

Creatively putting together some sweet treats (Pretzel, sweats, biscuits, chocolate chips, swirl cookies) into some animal figures, Swi:t B successfully captured the attention of people travelling to Korea. I am sure we are all amazed by how cute the product looks! 

Korea: Tortoise ice cream at Busan「뻥's크림」

It seems that Koreans never Ever run out of Ideas. This tortoise ice cream is a new hit in town and looks like it is here to stay! There are a lot of flavors to choose from: Strawberry, chocolate, vanilla… but hey, don’t you think this green tortoise is probably the most epic version? … Plus,  Its Matcha, you’ve got the best of both worlds!

Korea : Snow Spoon in Seoul

a unique self service ice cream stand plus a lot of interesting,  cute ice cream to choose from. Whether you are feeling blue, silly or creative, this shop has the ice cream you are looking for.

Korea: Bastille The Cereal Bar

Their ice cream seems Smokin' Hot! This instagram-worthy Ice cream is the liquid nitrogen ice cream everyone is talking about in Social Media. Come and grab one yourself!

Korea: the Snorkel Cone (Corn) ice cream at Jipangyi

I bet the Jipangyi ice cream is already making big waves in your country. J-play is the same concept.  This J-Shape ice cream had taken the world by Storm and there’s no sign of ceasing. It cleverly replaced the traditional Waffle cone with corn snacks and the concept of a J shape cone is a brilliant way to prevent dripping! Finally, clean hands after eating my Ice cream

Korea: Oraginic ice cream at Milkcow

Ice cream made of organic milk is something they should be proud about. Their soft silky premium ice creams are complemented by a range of fresh and 100% organic ingredients!

Korea: Sweet Monster

Well, they claimed to be the Best Ice Cream in Ever. What do you think? Caramel, Popcorn and Ice cream? Definitely a movie-person kind of thing! They have 26 stores nationwide, and wait for it...... they even have stores in the UAE (Arab).

Korea: Chichi Pong Ice Cream in Jeju

(Instagram: chae__ny__)

You found yourself in Jeju, you’ve been to the teddy bear museum. Yup, been there, done that… What else can make your heart melts in seconds?
Jeju’s most famous ice cream shop, the “Chichi Pong” , is located right on the coastline. Their signature ice cream the “rabbit cone” comes in the most adorable interpretation of chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry flavor. The moment when you got your order, I bet you can’t even force yourself to take that first bite! Better yet, since the most scenic coastline in South Korea, “Seongsan Iichulbong” is located right next to the ice cream parlor, you can walk all along that magnificent coastline with your new long-ear friend to find the perfect backdrop.

Korea: Solid Works

When eating ice cream on the street seems too mainstream, how about a treat in a laboratory? Watch your scientists create your liquid nitrogen ice cream, served while still SMOKIN' !

Korea: Aboong Ice Cream

Korea is famous for their Bungeobbang (fish bread), but Aboong takes it to a whole new level by introducing to the world a new Species under their brand: an open-jawed fish with a-million-heavenly-goodness stuffed inside. It is filled with ice cream, Chocolate fondue (fruits of your choice), crunchy flakes and chocolate syrup, complete with a red bean paste/custard cream pocket near the tail area… tell me what else do you need in a hot day!

KOREA: MIKI PANG DESSERT CAFE

One of my favorite dessert shop in Seoul, this dessert cafe really WOW me in every possible aspect: I am crazy about cute things, they have it; I love flowers, there they are on the ICE CREAM!

Korea: Thunder Bomb at Remicone by no name

The ice cream parlor looks like a white truck/ It is a truck! So you thought to yourself: ah… just another cute shop in Garosugil area? Nope, It’s home to one of the most suspicious looking, bizzare ice cream I’ve ever encounter, yet, AMAZING. Take a look at Dark clouds (Its cotton candy!), tell me what you see: a taste-bud thunder storm is coming your way!
When you stepped into this little shop, you thought you found the wrong place: This looks like a laboratory! Well, stop wasting time and proceed to grab a Thunder , will ya? ;)

ICE CREAM IS LIFE: JAPAN

1. Mochi Ice Cream

Mochi Cream website

READ MORE ABOUT MOCHI CREAM HERE (Location, reviews)

A brave and successful modernization of the traditional Glutinous rice dessert it is! A touch of ice cream as filling will definitely makes you fell in love with Mochi. Matcha and Sakura flavor are my favorites so far, thus, my recommendation to you.

Japan: Café Crêpe, Harajuku

photo taken from Crepe Cafe official website. 

There are 2 branches of Cafe Crepe in Harajuku-- Angel's Heart and Strawberry House, both serving amazingly delicious crepe ice cream treat! 

AN ALMOST COMPLETE GUIDE TO HARAJUKU CREPE

image from Japan Crepe facebook page.

image from Snata Monica facebook page.

If you ever find yourself in Harajuku, never leave “crepe” out of your must-do list. In fact, get a “Harajuku ice cream crepe” for your daily dose of Happiness

Harajuku crepes is one of my favourite thing in Japan. The excitement for this is overwhelming. The forever energetic “Harajuku” is the center of youth culture.During my visit, there were people dressing up in Lolita along Takeshita Street and the bridge between Harajuku and the Meiji Shrine. A Harajuku crepe is the perfect companion for your morning walk in there buzzy hormone-pumped neighbourhood, people-watching.