Korea-Seoul Apr’19: Gyeongbokgung Palace, Cheonggyecheon River, Tosokchon Samgyetang & Ganjang Gejang

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Here’s a continuation of what we did on Day 2 of our Korea trip. We spent the morning having a photoshoot in our rented hanbok at Gyeongbokgung Palace which you can read about here.

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After changing back into our casual attires, we grabbed a quick bite around the area and went back to Gyeongbokgung Palace (경복궁) for more photos. This palace is steeped in history and its beauty is magnificent. We only took some photos outside where an admission ticket is not required as we did not intend to spend a lot of time there.

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The weather in Seoul was really nice and cool back in mid to late April. Perfect for taking long leisurely walks while admiring the cherry blossoms around us.

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Gyeongbokgung Palace (경복궁)

Address: 161, Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
서울특별시 종로구 사직로 161 (세종로)

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Next, we visited Cheonggyecheon Stream (청계천). It is 11km long and runs through downtown Seoul. In the summer, many people can be seen sitting by the stream and dipping their feet in the water to keep themselves cool from the sweltering heat.

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There are also various art installations for people to admire and to take photos of.

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CheonggyecheonStream (청계천)

Address: Changsin-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul
서울특별시 종로구 창신동

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We spend a short time at Tongin Market (통인시장). It is very famous for their bento boxes called Dosirak. First, you need to change your Korean won to old style coins which you can use at various stalls. See something you like and you can simply exchange your coins for the food items while filling up your bento box.

Address: 18, Jahamun-ro 15-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
서울특별시 종로구 자하문로15길 18 (통인동)

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When we passed by Toksokchon Samgyetang (토속촌 삼계탕) earlier during lunch time, we saw a horrendous queue and decided to try our luck again. So we returned at a rather odd timing at 4pm! The restaurant was quite empty so the service was very prompt. We had the highly raved about ginseng chicken which was really nice and comforting to have in the chilly weather. The chicken was tender and I enjoyed dipping it in some salt and pepper for extra flavour.

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The seafood pancake was fluffy and contained a chockful of fresh ingredients. The portion is good for sharing among 3 to 4 people if you are also ordering the ginseng chicken soup. Highly recommended!

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Toksokchon Samgyetang (토속촌 삼계탕)

Address: 5, Jahamun-ro 5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
서울특별시 종로구 자하문로5길 5

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LOL I was really overjoyed to see Park Seo Joon! 😀

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From watching Korean dramas, I had been very intrigued by this Korean dish called Ganjang Gejang. Basically, it is fresh raw crabs marinated in soy sauce and looks sooo delicious. I had been wanting to try this since forever! Just like Korean bbq, there are both buffet and a la carte restaurants for ganjang gejang as well. Since it was our first time, we decided to go for a la carte as we believe the quality is better. Morever, misterchewy wasn’t sure if he would like this dish.

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We went to the famous Ganjang Gejang Alley in Sinsa-dong, where you can find about 6 to 7 restaurants serving this raw marinated crab dish. Based on positive online reviews, we decided to go to Wonjo Masan Halmae AguJjim. Prices are steep for this Korean dish that is complicated to prepare. We ordered a serving for 2 people which cost 60000 Korean won.

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As expected, I fell in love with Ganjang Gejang at first bite. It was exploding with a multitude of flavors and the gooey gelatin consistency was really amazing. The dish was served cold which made it really appetite-whetting too. If you can handle Japanese uni, you may be able to stomach this dish.

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The sauce was a little on the saltier side but went astonishingly well with plain rice. No wonder this dish is also known as “rice thief” or “rice stealer”; the sauce is so good that you will end up mixing spoonfuls of rice with it.

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Wonjo Masan Halmae AguJjim

Address: 10 Gangnam-daero 99-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea

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Headed for some post-dinner drinks at The Booth Brewing again, but this time at the Gwanghwamun branch which looks really cool!

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Bought a few bottles home!

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We have come to the end of Day Two in Korea/Seoul! Keep watching this page for more updates! 🙂

Korea-Seoul Apr’19: Hanbok Rental and Photoshoot

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Dressing up in a traditional Korean hanbok was the first thing on my must-do list when I was planning our Korea trip. I think it is one of the best ways to immerse yourself in the culture and get a unique experience especially if you visit tourist landmarks such as the royal palaces while wearing the hanbok. If you like watching Korean dramas or movies that portray traditional Korean culture typically in the Joseon Dynasty, you will definitely find joy in this hanbok experience.

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There are many hanbok rental shops and we highly recommend Hanbok Girls for a number of reasons. Firstly, the rental price is very affordable, at prices starting from 10000 won only. Prices depend on the type of hanbok (traditional or special) and also the length of duration of the rental (2hr or 4 hr). There are no hidden prices and everything else is FREE. Lockers are provided at no extra cost so you can leave your bags and clothes in the locker while you walk around freely in your hanbok. Hair service and accessories are also provided. If you need a bag (for ladies) or a head gear (for men), or even footwear, these are all provided for your use. Secondly, the location of Hanbok Girls is superb! It is just a 3-minute walk away from both Gyeongbokgung station and Gyeongbokgung Palace. This means you spend less time travelling and can have more time for photos at the palace.

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Thirdly, Hanbok Girls has a decent selection of hanbok although everything is on a first-come, first-served basis. You need not worry about not knowing how to put on the costume as there are a few staff who will go around helping customers at the fitting rooms. Lastly, if you want some professional photos taken, there is a studio located inside Hanbok Girls! Speaking of convenience, you can have some photos taken indoors before you head outdoors for more photos!

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We met Joon, the photographer from INT Studio and he took some photos for us in his studio before we walked over to Gyeongbokgung Palace. It was a good idea because we were already warmed up and got to know one another a little before the outdoor shoot. Joon told us that the weather was not so good but I guess that is from a professional photographer’s point of view. Apart from the weather, I was also a little worried about the crowd but photographers always have this magic (no I’m not talking about Photoshop here) and most of the photos seem to portray misterchewy and I in our own world lol.

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Joon is very friendly and easy to talk to, which makes us feel very much at ease throughout the photoshoot. He also gave us many ideas and guided us with the various poses. We also noticed that Joon used a variety of camera gear, which looked very heavy for him to carry around, but it also shows that he is committed to delivering a dynamic set of photos for his customers.

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Joon also has a keen eye for detail and knows where are the good spots for great pictures. We expected the crowd to be scattered all around the Gyeongbokgung Palace but Joon hows how to avoid and prevent unwanted photobombers.

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Photoshoots are usually quite tiring, especially if you are looking at anything more than one hour. However, Joon did not rush through the shoot and the pace was pretty comfortable and leisurely. We actually enjoyed the photoshoot and it was really fun!

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There are just too many photos to share so here are some of my favorites. Let me know what you think! 🙂 Joon is very popular and his sessions get filled really quickly. You can contact him at intstudio.seoul@gmail.com if you have any questions or want to book a slot!

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Hanbok Rental Shop:

Hanbok Girls

Address: 8, Jahamun-ro 2-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
It is on the 3rd floor of the blue building on the left alley at exit 3-1 of Gyeongbokgung Station.

Hanbok Photography:

INT Studio

Email address: intstudio.seoul@gmail.com

Korea-Seoul Apr’19: Ikseon-dong Hanok Village, Ihwa Mural Village & Namsan Tower

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After 5 years of parenthood, misterchewy and I decided that it was time we go on a couple trip! We share a love for Korean dramas so it’s a no-brainer that Korea would be our holiday destination! Actually, the hubs wasn’t keen on watching Kdramas as he thought that all Kdramas were soppy love stories until I managed to convince him and then he got hooked when he first started watching “Familiar Wife” starring Ji Sung and Han Ji-Min in August last year. Through numerous Kdramas, we picked up some Korean words and phrases, learned a bit about their culture and also got drawn to their food and soju. As we had to trouble our parents to take care (his on weekdays and mine on weekends) of the kids, Korea is also an ideal choice of destination as one week is sufficient to cover a few tourist attractions and activities. In fact, we managed to visit Seoul and Busan over our 8D7N trip.

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Even before we boarded our plane, we treated ourselves to some hot food and drinks at the airport lounge. Access to airport lounges is no longer restricted to just business flyers, priority pass holders or travellers who purchase annual membership. Through Ready To Travel app, travellers can now book a single access lounge entry to SATS Premier Airport Lounges! Some facilities of the airport lounge include buffet spread, massage chairs, widescreen cable TV, shower facilities, workstations with internet access, free flow of beverages and extensive selection of newspapers and magazines.

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Since we checked in two hours ahead of boarding time, we indulged in the yummy spread. The piping hot laksa was so good that we went for seconds!

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We even concocted our own whisky highball drinks. Hehehe.

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Perfect space if you want to have a quick nap and do not wish to be disturbed.

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Our flight was scheduled to take off at around 1am but there was a slight delay. Somehow, we were assigned the last row of seats and it got kinda irritating with many passengers visiting the washroom throughout the entire flight. Thank goodness for these Kakao hooded travel pillows which helped to block out the light and noise around us.

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We had a pretty restful sleep (not travelling with kids, that’s why!) and soon, breakfast was served! A pity the food wasn’t that fantastic.

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Happy to know that we have landed safely in the Land of Morning Calm!

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No queue at Shake Shack in Incheon International Airport!

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Boarded the Airport Railroad Express Train (AREX) to Seoul. It’s one of the most convenient and cost-effective ways to travel to Seoul from the airport and vice versa. And of course, we whipped out our reliable Ready to Travel pocket wifi as soon as we touched down! Do you know that the pocket wifi comes with FREE delivery? Definitely saves you a lot of hassle especially when you are busy with your trip planning! Book yours here! Btw, please do not use Google Maps in Korea. We recommend Naver Map. You can download the app on your mobile device and input the destinations.

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Since we were not travelling with the kids, misterchewy and I decided to stay in an Airbnb! So far our experiences were satisfactory but we also hear some horror stories from time to time, so book at your own discretion! I found this cute Hello Kitty themed apartment on Airbnb and the reviews are all positive! Also, our host is awarded as a “Superhost”, and we can attest to that. She has been very responsive to all our messages and patient with our enquiries.

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Although the apartment is small, I feel that it is very cosy and fit for two people with not more than two huge luggages.

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The shower head is attached to the sink so it took us awhile to get used to it. Toiletries and bath towels are also provided but this depends on individual Airbnb hosts.

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Besides the price (only $60 per night during our period of stay), we loved the strategic location! Only a minute’s walk to the train station and we could also get to Myeongdong by foot in 10 minutes. There are also two convenience stores and many eateries just downstairs.

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After freshening up, we went for lunch at Eulji Myeonok (을지면옥). If you like cold noodles or if it’s something you think you will like, do pay this restaurant a visit! It’s very popular among locals. There is also a spicy cold noodle version.

Address: 2-1 Chungmu-ro 144-gil Jung-gu Seoul

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Ikseon-dong Hanok Village (익선동 한옥마을) is gaining popularity in recent years. It is a quaint place with a few alleys lined up with shops selling vintage clothings and some bric-a-brac, and also cosy cafes where you can sip coffee and watch the world go by.

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We had to wait a while for the crowd to clear before taking this shot. There were throngs of people even on a weekday afternoon!

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If you like collecting vintage or cutesy stuff, Ikseon-dong has plenty of these.

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I was actually quite tempted to bring Peter Rabbit home!

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The crowd at Ikseon-dong was starting to give me a headache so we didn’t spend much time there. We adjourned to Ihwa Mural Village (이화 벽화마을) and had to climb a long flight of stairs. Phew!

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The peak of the cherry blossom season was nearly over and we were thrilled that we could still see many beautiful blooms all around us.

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Stopping by for an iced cold drink before more walking.

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As the name suggests, Ihwa Mural Village has many interesting murals and art installations, revitalized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s public art “Ihwa-dong Naksan Project” in 2006.

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Definitely a nice place to visit and capture some unique photos.

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We did the love lock thingy when we went for our honeymoon in Europe a few years ago and we just had to do this cheesy thing again in Seoul! Yup we travelled to Namsan Seoul Tower (남산서울타워) for this!

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Kinda looks like we are exchanging wedding rings right? LOL.

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Since we were there and it was still quite early, we paid 10000 won each to go up the Observatory. There is no time limit so you can enjoy the beautiful view of Seoul and snap as many pictures as you want.

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Namsan Seoul Tower (남산서울타워)

Address: 126 Namsangongwon-gil Yongsan-gu Seoul

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We also made it a point to visit a few craft beer places during our trip. Almost everything on the menu contains beef, so we only had nacho chips to go with our drinks.

The Booth Sinyongsan Station Branch

Address: 100 Hangang-daero Yongsan-gu Seoul

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After a long day, we were too tired to go anywhere else for dinner and decided to settle for a fuss-free one just below our Airbnb. The hubs had jjajangmyeon.

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I opted for udon as I wanted something hot and soupy after being out in the cold.

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We have come to the end of Day One in Korea/Seoul! Keep watching this page for more updates! 🙂

Cup Noodles Museum Osaka Ikeda

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I’m a hugeeeee fan of cup noodles and instant noodles although these are not the healthiest food options around. I love the convenience they bring and all the interesting flavors that are constantly being developed over the years. With that, I decided to include Cup Noodles Museum in Osaka Ikeda in our Japan itinerary.

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It is also known as Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum, named after the person who invented the world’s first instant noodles, “Chicken Ramen,” after an entire year of research using common tools in a little shed he had built in his backyard in Ikeda-city, Osaka Prefecture.

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Momofuku Ando, the Father of Instant Ramen, invented the chicken ramen in 1958 and dedicated his entire life to thinking about food in new and creative ways. Throughout his 96 years, he practised creative thinking and never quit until he achieved his goal. As a result, people from all over the world is still benefiting from his achievements today.

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Admission to Cup Noodles Musuem Osaka Ikeda is free of charge but fees apply for attractions like the Chicken Ramen Factory and Cup Noodles Factory.

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I bet you will be able to find all your favorite instant noodle here in this vast museum!

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I already spotted my favorite Seafood and also Tom Yam Seafood cup noodles!

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Due to time constraints, we only picked the My Cup Noodles Factory activity.

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A sample of how the final product will look like.

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In exchange for 300 yen at a vending machine, you will get this My Cup Noodles Factory cup and you can start decorating or coloring it in any way you wish using the markers provided.

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As Littlemisschewy was still napping in the stroller, only Minimisschewy joined us in the activity. Well, I did most of the drawing and coloring. As I’m not artistic, my “artwork” is very simple and minimalist!

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When we were done decorating our cup, we joined the queue to pick out the ingredients for our cup noodles. If you are not planning to eat the cup noodles, then whatever ingredients that go into the cup would not really matter.

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How thoughtful! Since most visitors are travellers, the museum has prepared a bag which you can store your cup noodles and then inflate it like an air bag, thereby protecting your cup noodles from damage.

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There’s also a string, which makes it very convenient to carry around.

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Littlemisschewy woke up from the nap and totally missed the activity, so here’s a photo of her with the final masterpiece.

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There are interesting exhibits in the museum, so it’s best to dedicate at least two hours if you are planning to pay a visit.

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There is also a drama theatre but I think it’s all in Japanese language.

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There is a small shop selling all sorts of souvenirs that you can buy for that friend who also loves cup noodles. I got myself some miniature cup noodle magnets, and trust me, they are the cutest!

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Going to Japan soon? Follow our updates on our Japan 2018 trip or read our popular Japan trip itinerary!

Cup Noodles Museum Osaka Ikeda

8-25 Masumi-cho, Ikeda-shi, Osaka 563-0041 Japan

(Reception time 9:00 – 16:30 museum holidays excluded)

Non-Business Days: Tuesday (in case Tuesday is a National Holiday, the following day will be a non-business day), Year-end through New Year Holidays

Universal Studios Japan 2018

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Hellooooo! It’s been a really long time since I last blogged and I’m determined to finish up our Japan 2018 travelogue before we head off for our next trip!

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We spent the second leg of our trip in Osaka, and no trip to Osaka is complete without visiting Universal Studios Japan! Well, I guess it only applies if you like visiting theme parks!

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We started our day bright and early, so the kids were chirpy and also thrilled to be able to interact with the various mascots in USJ!

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We got our admission tickets via Voyagin, which was easy and hassle-free. All we had to do was just scan the QR codes and we could walk through the gantry! Prices are also very competitive, and Voyagin is verified by over 50000 positive reviews.

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Look at those cute Minion popcorn buckets!

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The hubs and I also purchased fast passes to enjoy rides such as Hollywood Dream, The Flying Dinosaur, Harry Potter & the Forbidden Journey, and JAWS. Without the passes, I doubt we could go for all of these rides! The waiting times for the normal queue are insane! At least one hour and could even go up to more than 3 hours!

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We spent most of our time in Wonderland as this park of USJ is catered for young children. However, minimisschewy did not meet the minimum height requirement for most of the rides.

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The minion buns looked cute but did not taste so good.

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If you are a Harry Potter fan like us, you would be in awe upon stepping into The Wizarding World of Harry Potter! I reckon it looks even more mesmerizing at night.

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Our second (first was in London) time having Butterbeer! YUMS!

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Let’s make a butterbeer moustache and say cheeeeese! Or should we say
Wingardium Leviosa?

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Even the washroom is so cool! I swear I heard Moaning Myrtle but I couldn’t find her anywhere..

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Sumptious dinner at The Three Broomsticks! And spot that butterbeer again!

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What an unforgettable dinner at USJ, in the nice cool weather with Hogwarts Castle as the beautiful backdrop.

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Going to Japan soon? Follow our updates on our Japan 2018 trip or read our popular Japan trip itinerary!

How the Right Furniture Can Help Your Kids Perform Better

First, congratulations on having kids. The hard part is over, what’s left is to make sure your kids don’t stub their toes into every single chair and table in your house. Instead of making the living or adult areas restricted, you can consider safer, stylish, and convenient furniture options that can make it easy to setup your furniture according to convenience, safety, color, and material. The more kid-friendly the furniture the more productive your children can be, doing homework or practicing a hobby on the right furniture can be a whole different experience than the one done on boring adult furniture. A lot of parents may not notice the relationship between the right furniture and the potential of their children, we don’t blame them, it does seem a bit odd at first.

We’ll help you understand the link between the right furniture and your child’s potential.

Ergonomic Desks

The most important thing in a desk that your child uses is providing a balanced and upright sitting position, the wrong desk height can easily make your child slouch. A simple issue like the height of the desk can make your kid lose concentration easily hurt their back, and make them feel immobilized. With adjustable kids table and chairs, your children will be able to sit in a healthy position, allowed to move freely, and feel concentrated. Some parents frown upon fidgeting, although there’s a healthy amount of fidgeting that can only mean a child being a child. Making your child sit for long durations of times can make more damage compared to letting them fidget a little bit.

A Kid-Friendly Sofa

You can’t stop your kids from having fun and causing some innocent mishaps to your furniture, but you can stop your furniture from becoming something that kills their productivity or even hurt them. Sofas are usually the center of living rooms, which means that your children spend a fair amount of time on them. Having a family-friendly sofa means that your children won’t feel restricted in movement or feel too bad for spilling something on them. If you’re not ready to buy expensive wool-blend or denim microfabrics, you can always opt for buying protective slipcovers, you may be trading your sofa’s aesthetics for safety, but it will sure allow the kids to be move freely around it and be more productive.

Recreating a Comfortable Classroom in Home

A lot of schools have great, intuitive, and comfortable classrooms, but some don’t. Whether your child is going to a good school or not yet, you can create a comfortable classroom to make them ready to study and help them remember what they took in school. Make sure the room is full of colors, ergonomic, and comfortable chairs that help them focus and perform better in homework or reading.

No one said raising a child was going to be easy, but it doesn’t have to be boring. Making sure their home is safe and helps them perform better in whatever they’d like to do; children spend a lot of time at home, especially the younger ones. When you buy new furniture, always keep in mind how it’s going to affect your children and if it will help them perform better.

How Parents Can Get a Hassle Free Loan Approval

Many parents need to provide for education as well as tuition expenses for their children. The problem is that educational costs are going through the roof. That is why; there is no other option for a parent, but to opt for a loan. The loan approval is highly dependent on the credit score which parents have. If their credit score is not proper, it is difficult to get the loan.

Many parents think that because they do not have a high credit score, they have no option to get a loan. However, there are a few choices which they have when it comes to getting loans with bad credit. We will discuss a couple of such options below.

1. Payday loans:

Payday loans are short-term loans which most of the salaried employees can quickly get. The merchants who disburse the payday loans do not take the credit score into account. It is one of the very few financial products whose approval/disapproval does not depend on the credit score.

If you’re planning to apply for a payday loan, it is a good idea to apply it through the merchant website. It will save you a lot of money and time. Many merchants are providing online payday loans for bad credit. You have to fill the application, and most likely, you will get a reply within 48 hours. The disposal of the loan amount is equally quick, and you can get it within 3 to 4 working days.

The advantage of payday loans is that you have to pay them in 1 or 2 installments. As long as you do so, the interest is on the lower side. All you need to do is to submit proof of your salary, and you’re good to go. When looking for hassle-free loan approval, payday loans are one of the best options for you.

How to get a payday loan?

You can get the loan in 4 simple steps.

1. You have to visit the Turbo Payday Loans website and select the amount of money which you need to borrow.

2. You have to enter your residential state.

3. You have to submit your personal details in the form.

4. Now submit the form and wait for the merchant to call you back.

In total, it will just take you 10 minutes to go through the entire process. Applying for payday loans is not a difficult task. The merchant will take over after that and let you know about the approval and the disbursal.

2. Parent PLUS loan:

Parent PLUS loan is a federal grant which parents can apply to pay the college costs of their undergraduate students. The procedure to apply for such loans is pretty simple.

How to apply for the Parent PLUS loan?

1. You have to fill out the FAFSA application

2. You need to fulfill the eligibility criteria of being a biological parent and should not have defaulted student loans before.

3. The College cost/fees will determine the amount of money which you can borrow.

4. You have to choose the amount of the loan which you need. The maximum amount can be the entire college cost. You have to also look at the monthly payments which you need to pay before selecting the amount which you need to borrow.

5. You have to submit your personal details in the parent plus loan application through a Gov website. Depending on the college which you have chosen, the institution might ask for some additional information before approving your loan.

The advantage of Parent PLUS loans is that you can get the approval more easily. It does not have stringent requirements when it comes to credit score. Moreover, you can complete the loan application online which will ensure that you can get the loan in a shorter time.

It is easy to meet the criteria for the parent plus loan and to get the credit in a short time.

So, if you’re looking for a loan and do not have the perfect credit score, these are the two options which you have. With the help of these loan options, it is easy for you to get the loan irrespective of your credit score. It is time to fulfill your financial obligations regardless of your credit score. You can easily use any of the above options to get the loan in a short period.

Regain That Youthful Skin with These 4 Ways

Having the perfect skin is quite a challenging task. You more often than not get stuck trying out different skin care routines, and then fail in most. It doesn’t help if you have demanding skin types like oily skin or acne-prone skin. Still, many people neglect taking care of their skin and don’t even take it into consideration, which results in them looking years older than they actually are. If you want to maintain a youthful looking skin, then it’s an effort you’ll have to make.

These are four ways you can regain that youthful skin of yours, because it’s never too late.

Stay away from the sun

While the sun is a necessary source of vitamin D, it’s also the number one cause of skin cancer. Most people aren’t aware of that fact and as a result spend too much time in the sun. Long hours of exposure to the sun can have catastrophic effects on your skin and would cause it to deteriorate at a rate faster than normal. That is why the sunblock is your best friend. If you want to maintain a youthful looking skin, apply sun screen whenever you’re leaving the house in the morning, even if you don’t plan on sunbathing before work.

Beauty products

There are natural tips and hacks to keep your skin looking young and healthy, but that’s not all there is to it. You need to have a regular skin care routine if you want to maintain that young look. This one you’ll need trial and error for. Keep trying out different products till you can reach the perfect formula for your skin type. Buy facial creams and moisturizers from your pharmacy and Buy Authentic Dermal Fillers Online. You need a collection of products to take care of your skin.

Food and water

Believe it or not, drinking water is probably the most important tip you can have in your skin care routine. You need to drink 3-4 liters of water per day to ensure your body has enough water intake to maintain its normal cycle and to keep your skin looking young and wrinkle free. Food also plays a major part in the skin condition. You need a healthy, balanced diet full of vitamins, proteins, minerals, and so much more. The type of food you eat can make a lot of difference in how your skin looks –– high fat food and sugar can have a negative effect on the skin condition.

Sleep

Yes, sleep is crucial when it comes to looking young. Forget the exhaustion and the strained brain; lack of sleep can cause your skin to deteriorate at a fast rate. The average adult needs a minimum of 6-8 hours of sleep per night. Make sure to get as much sleep if you want your skin to look fresh and healthy.

If taking care of your skin is important to you, then you need to inform yourself on how to do such a thing. Read beauty blogs about what skin care routine to follow and keep an eye out for new products that could help the skin look young and fresh. Also get to know the natural requirements your body needs in order to maintain young looking skin, from food to water and other ingredients. Learn about the different array of cosmetics that could do your skin harm or good, because you’ll need to shop accordingly.

Advice for Making Your Relationship Work

It is no secret that relationships are not easy and even if you have been married for many years there are sure to be challenging days. Relationships require a lot of work from both parties no matter how long you have been together and it can be particularly challenging to handle difficulties when you have kids too. Here are a few tips for making a relationship work which will hopefully help.

Communication

Communication is the key to success for all relationships. If there are things that are bothering you then it can be easy to bottle these feelings up, but this is not healthy and they may surface in unhelpful ways. Instead, you should make sure that you are both open and honest with each other so that you can work through any problems that you are having. If communication has broken down, couples therapy can be helpful for improving your relationship and working through issues.

Independence

Although every couple should spend quality time together, it is also important that you are both able to be independent and have your own lives as otherwise there will be issues of dependency which can be problematic in any kind of relationship. This means that you should both allow time away from each other – this could include socializing with friends, exercising or simply spending some time by yourself.

Date Nights

As mentioned, it is also essential that you plan time where the two of you can enjoy one another’s company. A regular date night is a great idea and a good opportunity to get out and do something special – going to new places and trying new things is important for any relationship.

What to do if it Doesn’t Work Out

Unfortunately, sometimes a relationship does not work out even after many years of marriage and if you have kids. If you have tried couples therapy and everything that you can to salvage the relationship but it is clear that it is not going to work then as a last resort you should speak to reputable divorce lawyers . Importantly, you need to make sure that the kids come first in this situation and that you try to establish a healthy co-parenting strategy.

Relationships are not like they are in the movies and they require hard work in order to make them work. Hopefully, this information will help you to build a healthy and happy relationship that is able to withstand any difficulties that you may encounter down the line.

10 Must Eat Food at Kuromon Ichiba Market

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If it’s your first time to Kuromon Ichiba Market in Osaka, there’s a high possibility that you will be overwhelmed by the wide range of food offered there. There’s sooo much to eat but insufficient stomach space to enjoy everything. In this post, we will show you the top 10 must eat food at Kuromon Ichiba Market.

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1. Maguro Don

Upon entering Kuromon Ichiba Market, you will be greeted by a long queue at this stall. It is no surprise as they are renowned for their various types of maguro sushi and rice don.

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Their maguro slices are thick, fresh and melt-in-the-mouth tender.

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This is voted number one on their menu, the Maguro and Negitoro Don. It was really yummy and we were tempted to get another bowl but decided to save space for other food.

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2. Uni (Sea Urchin)

If you are a fan of uni, this stall has different grades of uni for you to try. We decided to go for something in the middle.

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The uni was so fresh and it tasted really heavenly. You can either eat it straight off the shell with a spoon, or wrap some with seaweed.

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3. Unagi (Freshwater Eel)

They may look brown and dull, but will never be able to escape the eyes of someone who truly loves eating unagi.

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I was surprised that the entire slab of unagi was popped into the microwave oven but was starting to be convinced when the unagi was torched and then coated with a layer of savory sweet teriyaki sauce. You can also opt to have it with a bowl of steamed Japanese rice at a small additional cost.

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4. King Crab Legs and Crab Meat

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As we were walking past this stall, we were naturally drawn towards the sexy pairs of gigantic king crab legs. If you don’t mind the hefty price tag, go for it!

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If not, the jumbo crab meat is a pretty good alternative. Plump, juicy and oozing with sweetness, this was definitely bang for the buck.

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5. Grilled Lobster

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Grilled lobsters at less than SGD20 each?! Shut up and take my money!

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6. Grilled Scallops with Butter Soy Sauce

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Grilled scallops + butter soy sauce = HEAVEN. #nuffsaid

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7. Seafood – Raw, Grilled & BBQ

What’s the best thing about having a variety of fresh seafood in front of you? You get to decide if you want to have them raw, grilled or BBQ-ed!

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8. Tempura

What’s feasting without some piping hot tempura? Everything is less than SGD10! Cheap and good!

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9. Grilled Fruits & Sweet Potatoes

Do you know that fruits can be grilled? Grilling gives the fruits a different taste which is slightly smoky yet fragrant at the same time. Try it to believe it!

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Grilled sweet potatoes are also a popular choice, especially if you are visiting in the winter season.

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10. Sashimi Platter

If you are still feeling peckish after all that, stop by Kuromon Sanpei, the biggest fish market in Kuromon, and pick a sashimi platter! There are seats indoors so you can enjoy your food with a cup of hot green tea.

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Apart from sashimi platters, Kuromon Sanpei also sells sushi, seasonal products, and packaged snacks that you can buy home as souvenirs.

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We hope this list of Top 10 must eat food at Kuromon Ichiba Market is helpful if you are heading to Osaka!

Going to Japan soon? Follow our updates on our Japan 2018 trip or read our popular Japan trip itinerary!

Kuromon Ichiba Market
Address: 2 Chome-4-番1号 Nipponbashi, Chuo Ward, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 542-0073, Japan  
Nearest Station: Nippombashi Station
Opening Hours: Daily from 9am to 6pm
Admission Fee: Free