Ehwa Womans University

Tea House Whitebirch Story

This beautiful cafe caught my attention while walking around Samcheongdong. When you go here, you'll feel like you're in a Korean drama drinking a cup of your favorite tea in a Hanok! <3

I've been exploring famous themed cafes around Seoul. But today, I've decided to look for a cozy cafe that most tourists don't know yet. I think Tea House Whitebirch Story (자작나무 이야기) isn't that famous. I tried to search it in www.traveladvisor.com but there aren't any reviews. 

Another reason why I went there is because it's Instagrammable! <3

(Is Instagrammable a word? haha)

Will I recommend this tea house? 

For desserts, not really. I'm not a fan of patbingsu so I ordered waffles. That's how they served it. It has fruits and a scoop of ice cream on top. I find it too sweet.

Omija -ade and Omija Tea

Anyway, I highly recommend you try these drinks! It's Omija. Omija in korean means "five flavors tea". It has salty, sweet, sour, pungent, and bitter taste. Please try it! I also like Omija ice cream but they don't have it here. 

Seoul Land

Trip to Namsangol Hanok Village

Upon entering the village, you'll see a dozen of standees wearing traditional Korean costumes. As a solo traveler, I wasn't able to take my photo there. Can you imagine someone with a monopod trying to take her photo in a standee? I can't. I don't want to look like that. HAHAHA!

After that, I've seen something like a nipa hut with all those traditional stuff. If I have someone with me, I could have tried wearing some of them. The things there aren't just for display. The visitors can use it freely. Look at those green leaves! I think summer is a good time to visit. Being Asian, I can survive more in hot weather than in cold. The first time I went to Bukchon Hanok Village was winter. My fingers were really freezing. I had to go indoors after few hours of walking. 

The pond near the entrance is relaxing. It's perfect for a quiet time. During winter, the ponds I saw in Changgyeonggung Palace, and Changdeokgung Palace were frozen. Now, I'm thinking of going back there to appreciate more the beauty of the place. However, I think it's best to go back there on Autumn when the leaves are colorful. 

It's not my first time to see this kind of pavilion. You can see this design at the palaces or at the parks. It's amazing how detailed the designs are. You can really see that they put a lot of effort in painting this vibrant pavilion. 

These jars caught my attention. I haven't seen so many jars in one place. There are also jars in Bukchon Hanok Village but I think there are more here in Namsangol. These jars are used as containers of preserved kimchi.

I even took a selfie there. Yes, it's a selfie using a monopod. It's a weekday when I went there. There are few people around. I didn't have a chance to ask someone to take my photo. 

Besides the traditional stuff, you can also see the "Seoul Millennium Time Capsule" there.  It would be officially opened on 2034! Right, that's 18 years from now. I hope I can show this picture to my children telling them that I've been here. 

Things to do in Namsangol Hanok Village

1. Play traditional games (neolttwigi, tuho, and yutnori).

2. Shop for traditional items.

3. Rent a hanbok.

4. Watch a traditional wedding.

5. Make a mini Jangseung (Korean totem pole)

6. Make a mini Sotdae (wooden birds on top of a pole)

7. Make a Mokpyeon (wooden chip)

8. Make a Straw-craft

9. Visit the 5 traditional Korean houses.

10. Visit the Seoul Millennium Time Capsule.

How to go there

Take the Seoul Subway Line 4 and get off at Chungmuro exit 4.

Just walk and follow the signs going to Namsangol Hanok Village. It's very near to the subway station.

Admission is free!

Miss Lee Cafe

Miss Lee Cafe is the only cafe I visited last Month. It has many branches in around Seoul but the onw I visited is located at Insadong. I think it's famous because there's a movie filmed there.

I tried their dosirak. Dosirak (도시락) means Korean packed lunch boxes. It is usually a rice with seaweed, kimchi, sausage, gochujang, egg. There are different versions of box lunches in Asian countries like Japan (bento), Philippines (baon), Taiwan (biandang) and India (tiffin).

Personally, I think that the price is too expensive for the main dish. It's just rice, kimchi, fried egg, and sausage. I don't recommend this place for food trip. I should have tried their bingsu instead. Bingsu is shaved ice with different toppings of sweets, nuts, or ice cream and fruit.

 

The place is unique and cozy. You can leave a note, and even write in a postcard. Yes, they give free post cards with their logo on it. 

It's memorable to me because it's my first time to dine out alone. It has always been my plan to eat out alone but I'm always too shy or scared. LOL. I finally made it!

How to go there: 

Take a bus/train to Anguk Station. Then walk for 3 minutes going to Insadong.

Seoul Grand Park - Theme Garden

Trip to Seoul Rose Festival

The Seoul Rose Festival happened last May 20-22, 2016. Since my only free day is Monday, I went there on the 23rd. I think it was also a good choice to avoid the crowd. 

I was amazed by all the flowers in the venue. It's my first time to see different kinds of roses in one garden. Being a nature lover, I really enjoyed the place.

In some arches without flowers, umbrellas were hanged. It gave me an "umbrella festival feels" LOL.

On the right pic, I saw a very big bouquet of roses. It must have cost a fortune. 

Although the weather is hot, the ambiance of the place is really relaxing.

The only problem I encountered is when I ask people to take my picture. It doesn't really turn out the way I wanted it to be. 

A couple volunteered to take my picture so I can take a picture of them LOL!

I'll update this within the week. LOL!