Category: Travel

Palaces of Korea

Although Korea is currently a republic, there was a long lasting dynasty. Left behind from the reign of kings are four palaces, a shrine, and a secret garden. 

Top Tips

1. Purchase the ticket booklet which includes admissions to all locations for just 10,000 KRW.

2. Double check the days palaces will be open. Most are open each day, but some days may vary. 

3. Visit earlier in the day to avoid large crowds. 

4. The shrine and secret garden have guided tours so check to make sure the time of your preferred language. 

Changdeokgung Palace

Secret garden in Changdeokgung Palace was beautiful! The guided tour was about 90 minutes and very informative. In most cases the secret garden can only be toured with a guide, however there are two times a year when you can roam and explore the garden on your own. On these days certain rooms that are usually off limits are opened as long as you remove your shoes. This was definitely my favorite palace and I learned so much. 

Royal Picnic Room in Secret Garden

If you visit, be sure to walk through the gate of longevity to be forever young 😉

Planner Update: The START Planner

It’s been a couple of months into the year using the START Planner, and I have to say it has been quite helpful, but also a little distressing.

Here’s how I’ve been using my planner:

  • I write everything I have planned and need to do in black pen. My favorite pen has been the Uniball Signo Micro 207 for a clean streamlined look.
  • Then I go back through and highlight everything accordingly with the Zebra Mild Liners. For example, work items are gray, household and personal tasks are purple, health and exercise are blue, etc.
  • I fill in all the time slots for events that I am certain of the time. For things where I am uncertain of exact time or reminders that don’t need a time, I use the lower portion  with check boxes of the daily lines. Then when the event/meeting occurs, I fill the time slot.

planner pencil

Monthly set-up:

  1. Monthly spread calendar with a notes section
  2. Mini Goals tracker for the month and a detailed Health Check section (includes weight, measurements for chest, arms, waist, hips, thighs and also health mini goals)
  3. Lists and Cards & Gifts
  4. Budget: Income and Expenses
  5. Notes
  6. Weekly spreads with 30 minute increments

The section I find most useful aside from the weekly spread is the budget page. I’ve always wanted to really track how much I spend each month and where I spend it too. At the beginning of the month, I recorded my estimated income and also how much I wanted add to my savings by the end of the month. It has really helped me see just how much I spend because it’s easy to jot down my expenses each day or the next day. Since there is also a yearly budget planner at the very beginning of the planner, I have also set up how much I’d like to save each month to reach my end of year goal.

If you missed out on the yearly START Planner, they are launching the midyear planners today.

I’m really looking forward to meeting my goals this year. What type of planner are you using? Are there any pros and/or cons?

 

 

International Flight: Carry-On Bag

Packing always stresses me out and yet I seem to always put it off until the last minute. Granted, I do attempt to make lists of everything I need to pack, but almost never pack until the the night before. I am determined to have at least my carry-on bag packed at least a day before my next trip.

I will be using my Longchamp Le Pliage Large Tote in navy. I find that it is large enough to fit all of necessities and has a great strong zip. I’m always afraid that things will fall out of my bag.

For this trip, we will be traveling for over 24 hours on three fights and a couple of layovers–so I will be needing a little more than I would for a domestic flight.

I will be bringing:

  • laptop- MacBook Air
  • small crossbody bag
  • passport, visa, pen
  • phone and charger
  • ear buds
  • small makeup bag
  • neck pillow
  • change of clothes

I was able to fit all of this in my bag, yes, including my regular sized neck pillow. It’s just something about having the pillow flop around so many different surfaces while traveling, then having it so close to my face that grosses me out.

After a couple of international flights, I have learned that your luggage doesn’t always make it to the final destination the same time you do. So it’s always good to pack at least one change of clothes for emergencies and accidents.

New Year! New Planner!

With the start of the new year, I am also starting a new planner I haven’t tried before– the Start Planner. For the past couple of years, I have attempted to bullet journal and document my days in a blank notebook…and it has not been going well. I find myself trying to live up to the beautiful journals I see on YouTube and Instagram and it honestly causes me more stress which is counterproductive to the goal of bullet journalling. I find myself keeping a regular planner, then transferring my day into the bullet journal after. Then, I also practice the set up of the bullet journal in another journal before transferring the layout into my actual bullet journal. It just became too time consuming for me so I just stuck with using a regular bargain planner from TJ Maxx.

Start planner

The Start Planner I’ll be using this year is the Hustle Weekly Planner in Linen. The spread includes a full week on two pages with each day divided into half hour increments starting 5:30AM until 7:00PM. The planner also starts with so many organizational sections that help with goals, financial tracking, cleaning schedules, vacation planning, and so much more.

start planner vacation

The Start Planner comes packaged in a box that can be used as a memento box for the year. Because I pre-ordered the planner back in November, it also came with a pen encased in a sleeve. The current special deal is free shipping on orders over $100, which is really good because I paid $16 shipping for two planners.

Start planner weekly

start planner monthly

I’m so excited to START filling in this beautiful planner. I’ll be adding more reviews throughout the year:)

Thanks for stopping by!!

Bicester Village

After seeing haul after haul of designer and luxury pieces from Bicester village , we wanted to see if the deals were really that great. During our last trip to London, we decided to take a train, about 45 minutes fro London to Bicester to see if we could get any deals.

Transportation: We bought our tickets before even arriving to London to get the rest prices. Getting to the station and getting on the train was no problem. The main problem was actually getting a seat on the train. Every seat was taken so many people had to resort to standing in the aisles for the entirety of the trip.

Arriving to Bicester Village bright and early was a great idea because the shops were just opening and there were no lines or crowds of people. We saw all of the designers stores: Prada, Gucci, Celine, Chloe, Dolce and Gabbana, Burberry, and many others. Although many items were discounted, we did see any deals that were close to the ones we’ve seen on youtube hauls. Some of the items, in Gucci for example, had a reoccurring print/pattern that is not normally sold in their regular stores. Although we did not purchase any super high end designer things, we were able to pick up a few pieces at more affordable places. The stores with deals we loved were Longchamp, LK Bennett, and Jack Wills. For many British or Europeans, theses brands may not seem exciting, but for us, it was pretty exciting to see such great deals. Where we are from, Longchamp and LK Bennett items rarely go on sale. As for Jack Wills, it was an unfamiliar brand and great as gifts.

Bicester 2.jpg

Overall, it was a fun experience, but I suppose our hopes were set a little too high…On the bright side, we did download the Bicester Village app before hand to get a free latte from Cafe Wolseley and it was delicious. The Pret a Manger was huge so we were able to grab some food and rest our feet before heading back on the train.

Tax Free Shopping: UK

One of my favorite things about  the UK is that the price you see on the tag, is the price you pay! Unlike in the states, where tax is added on at the register and depending on the location could be over 10%. So walking through Primark on Oxford Street and seeing super cute Harry Potter sweatshirts for just 5 pounds is amazing!

Since the tax is already included in the price, there are no surprises at checkout, unless there’s an extra discount, in which, case bring on the happy surprises! As foreign travelers, we can get a tax refund, or some places call it tax-free shopping. To do so, just tell your cashier at checkout that you’re shopping tax-free. They will print out a form along with your receipt and ask to see your passport, so make you have it with you. There are certain amounts that you need to spend in order to get a tax refund and the amount is different depending on the store. For example, Jack Wills requires that you spend 50 pounds, while Longchamp required 75 pounds. Some other place are lower and some higher.

Before going to airport, fill out the forms and have them ready when you get to the airport. Depending on your airport of departure, you might just drop off the forms in an office and the check will be mailed back to you later, usually at smaller airports like Stansted.  Or you will need to wait in line to submit your forms and get back cash immediately. Although the dropping forms off is easier, it does take about 3-6 months before you get your money back. At Heathrow, we had to wait in the office, have a couple of our items checked, then got cash immediately.

Things to know:

  • Get to the airport early if you plan on completing a tax refund, the lines can sometimes be long and you don’t want to miss your flight!
  • Don’t check in your luggage before getting tax refund, they may ask to see any item.
  • Purchased items must not be worn or opened, in the case that they check each item.
  • It’ll be faster if one person makes the main purchases so that just one form is needed.

TOP TRIP TIPS

Hello everyone!

Rese and Ry embarked on an adventure to the beautiful city of London. We spent a short amount of time there- only four days, but we packed those days to the brim! I wanted to share some tips to make your trip to London (or any destination) run smoothly.

  1. Use Google Maps to create a visual with pins on locations you want to hit up.
    1. Open Google Maps and select the menu option on the left hand corner
    2. Select “Your Places” and then “Maps”
    3. Create a map
    4. Search sights that you want to visit and pin them

It extremely useful to have a visual with all the sights I planned on visiting and the distance they were from each other. I was able to see which sights I am able to walk to and which order would be the most efficient. I also pinned my hotel on the map to see the distance I would have to travel from the hotel to the sight. You can select different colors to pin your spots as well. Also, you can use this tool to search the closest Pret A Manger cause that’s important. Here’s mine for our first day in London.

Screen Shot 2018-04-03 at 9.54.37 AM.png

2. Go to Pret A Manger. 

This is a sandwich chain, but they serve much more than sandwiches. Their coffees and treats are delicious! They also have amazing healthy options for each meal of the day, like a Golden Latte made of turmeric. I recommend their porridge (I promise it is not bland and ordinary). This shop is all over London and in some places of the USA, but no where close to where I live.

3. Use Google Maps to navigate the Underground and the Bus System. 

Although I was able to read the tube maps as my travels went on, they can still be confusing for someone who never uses public transit in their hometown. Google Maps offers clear instructions on which stops to get on and off. Make sure to screenshot them since there won’t be service underground. Notice the colors of the tube line and the number of which bus to board. Rese and I found the bus system to be much more comfortable to ride and it was nice to look out the windows (and no stairs like the underground haha).

4. Use Instagram to research 

So when you google a top travel spot, you see stock photos and those aren’t truly what the destination will look like. Instagram’s “Places” will show you accurate photos from Londoners to everyday travelers. It also helps you gage the weather and fashion choices you should make when you pack. Superficially, it also gives you good ideas for a good ‘gram post #doitforthegram, haha. For example, I wanted to visit House of MinaLima (Harry Potter graphic designer’s museum/ exhibit) but I didn’t know what they offered until I check the Instagram location. So from the Instagram screenshot below, I could see they have cool staircase and a Marauders Map on the floor.

IMG_3327.PNG

5. Google Flights

is a great search engine. It’s clean, doesn’t have a million ads, and you can search the cheapest dates to travel.

London: Why and What

This is a blog post about how we ended up in London for only two days but had an absolute blast. I was in a dilemma when I canceled my study abroad trip and was left with a one way ticket to Gothenburg, Sweden. Of course, I had bought the cheapest ticket being a student and all so there was no refunds but I didn’t want that ticket to go to waste. I somehow convince Rese to go on a trip with me…. the plan was simple. Go to Sweden a few days and have fun, but wow money was an issue. Sweden’s hotels and airbnbs are EXPENSIVE and while searching for flights for Rese, we saw how affordable flights to London were. Thus, our trip to London was born after I spent hours making an organized spreadsheet for Sweden with flights, sights, and kites (jk but it rhymed).

I still had my GOT ticket so I booked a one way ticket from Sweden to LGW, London, UK with Norwegian Air for only $30 that departed two hours after I landed. I had qualms that I would miss this flight, but I actually had a lot of time to spare. The only odd bit was that the border office pointed out my arrival and departure date were the same, but it was fine. Rese and I strategized for me to make my flight since I only had a backpack on me and no luggage. Rese would check her luggage and we would share. This way I could avoid baggage claim and ensure I find myself on the departing flight. Before we traveled, I was pretty anxious I would be stuck in Sweden with no hotels nor plans and Rese would end up in London alone. However, it all went well so it’s possible to buy separate tickets to get you to your final destination. It is worth noting that GOT is a very gorgeous airport with modern and clean designs that pays homage to IKEA.

Ok, now that’s explanation is done with- here is what we did in London. Rese and I met up in LGW at around 8AM and we took the train to Central London and then took the underground to our hotel. We stayed at QBIC Hotel (after searching on Google for “clean, affordable, nice hotel London” and it worked!). It was a very hip and cool hotel in Shoreditch, which is quintessentially the hipster, alternative part of London. We left our bags, changed (I had traveled for over 24 hours!) and made our way to Oxford Street.

THE ITINERARY 

Day 1

  • Oxford Street
    • Primark
    • Liberty
  • Lunch at Wagamams
  • Blacklock for Sunday Roast

Day 2

  • Platform 9 3/4
  • St. James Park
  • Buckingham Palace
  • Big Ben
  • Millenium Bridge
  • St. Paul’s Cathedral
  • Shakepeare’s Globe
  • Fish and Chips Detour
  • Oxford Street
    • Afternoon Tea at Harrods
    • Primark

Day 3

  • Greenwich
    • English Breakfast
    • Prime Meridian
  • National Gallery
  • Oxford Street

 

 

 

Icelandic Layover Adventure

Layovers are usually boring and the worst part of traveling–it’s another pitstop that is just delaying your trip to your final destination. Most of the time it’s spent sitting in an airport doing pretty much nothing. I didn’t think i’d ever actually chose to have a longer layover during my trip. Instead of the usually 2-3 hour layover, my sister and I chose the 7 hours stop in Iceland on our way back from our trip. During the 7 hours, we were able to have an experience like no other–the BLUE LAGOON!!

img_1266

Our flight landed at 8:45AM and we were on the us to the Blue Lagoon by 9:00AM-so crazy. The bus trip from the airport to the lagoon was about 30 minutes. Our entrance time to the Blue Lagoon was for 12:30PM, so we had to wait a little. But it was no detriment to our fun. There was so much to see and so many  pictures to take all around the area. we were surrounded by nature–amazing lava rocks and beautiful blue milky waters.

img_1273

The people at the Blue were super nice and let us in about an hour and half earlier than our ticket time. So once we were in the blue lagoon, we got our wristbands, towels and went to the locker rooms. The wrist band were used to access and lock up the lockers and purchase drinks in the lagoon.

img_1261

The weather in mid August was a little chilly, but the waters were amazingly warm. The lagoon was surrounded by mountains, so the scenery was beautiful. In addition to the lagoon, there were also in water massages,  waterfalls, saunas, steam rooms, and face masks!

 

AirBaltic Review

During August, my sister and I booked a roundtrip for Helsinki and Paris. They offered a great flight that had the shortest travel time since all other airlines had lengthy layovers. Their prices were also among the cheapest, but with that comes the obvious headaches of budget airlines.

Before booking, I was aware that this airline would come extra fees but the difference in prices from standard airlines and this budget airline lured me over. The first extra fee that can leap out and attack an unsuspecting traveler would be the checking in fee. I was able to avoid this from reading others’ experiences online. Checking in online and printing out your tickets/ using e-tickets has no extra charger so pre-plan. My sister and I opted to check our luggage, which was another fee we were willing to pay.

Now the part that really bugged me about AirBaltic was that they forced us to check our carry-on luggage. Between my sister and I, we have 2 backpacks and 1 small luggage. They made us weigh everything and the total of weights cannot exceed 10 kg. It is pretty unreasonable and that extra fee was a true attacker. AirBaltic got us. I thought I did my research well, but clearly I failed. Another big issue was that not everyone was forced to check their luggage. My sister and I were clearly the only non-Nordic passengers there and the only ones forced to check our bags. This happened again at a layover in RIX right when we were about to embark onto the plane.

Other notable points would be regarding their seats and plane set up. They were the thinnest sits I’ve ever sat on for a plane and the most crammed I have every felt.

Safe to say I have learned my lessons with budget airlines.

Happy bookings,

Ry