founder of this website; Jamie is in her final year of university and is very passionate about Japan and Korea.

[Seoul: Anguk Station/Bukchon] Meet Market Steakhouse

Posted on by Jamie Liew

I am not sure if I’ve ever said this on my blog before. but I am sure I’ve told my friends over and over again that.. I’ve never had any decent steak here and I personally do not recommend chain restaurants like TGIF for steak because they’re… not worth it.

but thanks to my friend who works nearby Anguk, my faith in Korean steaks is restored. =3.

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Meet Market is a quaint little one story building along Bukchon-ro. this restaurant was modified from a Hanok and certain Hanok architecture remains in the restaurant so I thought it was really unique! there was a glass roof in the middle too so the lightings in the afternoon’s purrrrrfect. Continue reading “[Seoul: Anguk Station/Bukchon] Meet Market Steakhouse” →

[Sapporo] what to eat in Hokkaido? : SOUP CURRY!

Posted on by Jamie Liew

I didn’t know that. and I guessed most of you didn’t know that.. Soup Curry is a Hokkaido specialty. other than the amazingly cheap and fresh sushi, Gengkhis Khan (mutton), milk etc, one of the MUST EATS in Hokkaido will definitely be the Soup Curry. Japanese curry may not suit the tastes of most people whom prefer their curry to be more fragrant and spicy rather than being sweet like how most Japanese curry is.

I wasn’t a fan of Japanese/Korean curry at first but I came to like it later. but SOUP CURRY? it’s like.. a whole different type of curry. I don’t know how do you put it. it ain’t exactly sweet but it’s very fragrant and yet the curry is adjusted just right so that the “soup” will be drinkable; not too salty!

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soup curry is said to be all around Hokkaido but honestly, I’ve only seen it twice in my 1 week holiday and I had it on my first day at the JR Tower’s Stellar Dining area (6th floor). Continue reading “[Sapporo] what to eat in Hokkaido? : SOUP CURRY!” →

[Osaka: Abeno Harukas] Osaka Night View?

Posted on by Jamie Liew

night views don’t really interest me but the night view in Japanese cities are just.. breath taking. and they are so beautiful, I highly recommend them. first, there was the Umeda Sky Building which had amazing architecture and also an amazing view. but I found an alternative. the Abeno Harukas. at 60 floors, Abeno Harukas is also 20 stories taller than Umeda Sky Building.

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it was so high up I couldn’t catch everything in frame! Continue reading “[Osaka: Abeno Harukas] Osaka Night View?” →

[Seoul: Euljiro] One Day in Hanbok

Posted on by Jamie Liew

hello my dearest readers!

I know many of you are following me for the Korea and Japan posts. since I wore Kimono (AND Yukata. even bought it!!!) in Japan, it was quite weird how I’ve never really thought of wearing a Hanbok despite being in Korea for my 4th year now.

okay I actually thought of it once. during my graduation ceremony in Yonsei everyone wore Hanbok but.. me. firstly, as a poor student the 150,000won~200,000won (150-200USD) rental was too much of a burden and I didn’t look good in most of the Hanbok my friends had. I think Hanbok, like Kimono, is very personal and they fit differently for every person. the colours, sizes, patterns had to fit. well that was why in the end, I wore an urban Cheongsam instead.

I had always thought that renting a Hanbok for a day costs a bomb until I came across onedayhanbok. if only I had found it 3 years ago, I would’ve got to wear a Hanbok for my graduation ceremony T_____T.

안녕하세요! 새해 복 많이 받으세요!
설날 연휴 때 한복을 대여해서 촬영했다~ 한복 워낙 비싼거라 대여하기가 힘든줄 알았고 예전에 대여할려고 할 때 다 15만원에서 20만원 쯤이었으니 대여하지 않았다. 그러나 Onedayhanbok 에서 싸게 대여할 수 있다니!!! 이런 가게 생겨서 정말 다행이고 기쁘다.

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in conjunction with Seollal/Chinese New Year, I decided to rent a set of Hanbok for our team Malaysia’s shooting this time.

picture by Azri. Dongdaemun Design Plaza. Continue reading “[Seoul: Euljiro] One Day in Hanbok” →

[Sapporo] Hokkaido SUSHI! Nemuro Hanamaru, JR Tower

Posted on by Jamie Liew

ask the locals they say, because they’d know. and so the recommendations of a true Japanese who was born and bred in Hokkaido recommended me to Nemuro Hanamaru. 6th floor of the JR Tower (Sapporo Station), Sapporo.

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we actually came here on the first day but due to limited time we headed on for something else and came back the next day. with a similar line. waited for around 45 minutes at around 1pm. I’ll have to say.. the wait’s worth it. Continue reading “[Sapporo] Hokkaido SUSHI! Nemuro Hanamaru, JR Tower” →

[Sapporo] winter wonderland – the Red Brick Office

Posted on by Jamie Liew

my second day in Sapporo was new year’s eve. and to my surprise, many shops were opened! but the thing was.. it’s quite quiet. what I mean is.. there was no new year mood. maybe it wasn’t the best time to visit since most Japanese people had to gather with their families.

삿포로에 있는 2번째 날은 새해 하루 전 날이였다. 그런데 사람들은.. 생각보다 새해 기운이 없었다. 새해 때는 역시 도쿄다.

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my NYE morning was beautiful though!

삿포로의 아침은.. 기가 막히게 아름다웠다. Continue reading “[Sapporo] winter wonderland – the Red Brick Office” →

[New Chitose] New Chitose Airport, Hokkaido

Posted on by Jamie Liew

New Chitose Airport is amazing.

period.

okay, I know that’s a little too vague so let me tell you why.

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whenever I land at an airport.. I always look for the toilet because in flight bathrooms are so disgusting I try my best to hold it until I reach my destination every time. have you heard about how the water you use to “wash” your hands in the plane’s super dirty? well.. Continue reading “[New Chitose] New Chitose Airport, Hokkaido” →

Similarities and Differences between Japan and Korea

Posted on by Jamie Liew

since I have been living in Korea for… the 4th year now and I think that I’ve been to Japan enough to know a handful of their culture and people, I have to admit that I am far away from knowing enough so whatever I write, it’s based on my own experience. you may agree to it or not but I am not stereotyping, just based on what I know! Continue reading “Similarities and Differences between Japan and Korea” →

[Tokyo: Tsukiji] Sushi Dai vs. Sushi Daiwa

Posted on by Jamie Liew

Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo.

if you’re planning a trip to Tokyo, Tsukiji Fish Market shouldn’t be unfamiliar to you. especially half of this world renowned market is going to be relocated in 2016 so this year is the only last chance you have to enjoy Tsukiji as it is. and if you’re planning on a trip there already.. you might probably have heard of the most famous sushi restaurant bar in Tsukiji, Sushi Dai. BUT, you might’ve also heard of the sushi bar a few shops away, called Sushi Daiwa. and as a sushi enthusiast as myself, I went to both.

okay, actually because of my budget, I could barely afford such luxury but I skimped throughout my whole Tokyo trip for it. so it better be worth it. so at first, I was dying to look for someone to be kind enough to go with me to Tsukiji as NOBODY wanted to wake up early and queue for hours just for good sushi.

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I started queuing for Sushi Dai from 6:15AM as soon as I’ve reached (my friends told me how it was complicating to find bla bla but I found it ridiculously easy to find. just google for the directions from Tsukijishijo Station to Sushi Dai and screen cap it. then use it as your guide there. =). that’s what I did for EVERYTHINGGG hahaha.) Continue reading “[Tokyo: Tsukiji] Sushi Dai vs. Sushi Daiwa” →

[Hokkaido: Noboribetsu] I went to Hell for a day. and I loved it.

Posted on by Jamie Liew

Noboribetsu, Hokkaido, Japan.

I have no idea why people call Noboribetsu the Hell Valley. it’s too beautiful to be called so. but I guess maybe because it’s filled with boiling hot water all around.

it takes less than 2 hours drive to reach Noboribetsu from New Chitose Airport and almost 3 hours from Noboribetsu to Sapporo station where we returned the car. and that’s by the free roadway. too poor to pay for toll even though it will save us about 1 hour on each trip.

노보리벳츠, 홋카이도, 일본.

이 곳의 명칭이 왜 지육인지 모르겠다. 너무 아름다워서.. 그래도 바닥속에 뜨꺼운 물은 흘려가고 있어서 지육으로 볼 수도 있겠다.

신치토세 공항에서 노보리베츠까지는 2시간도 안걸리고 (GPS예산하는것 보다 일찍 도착할것이다. GPS 계산하는 속도는 60km/hr인것 같다. 그리고 노보리벳츠에서 삿포로까지는 3시간쯤 걸렸다. 무료도로를 이용해서 유료도로보단 1시간씩 더 걸린것이다.

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but no doubt as we drove through the entrance, a hell guard greeted us. a hugeeeass hell guard. it was funny how the whole place is filled with devilish decorations and devils. D=. but yet it’s so beautifulllll. if hell is really as great as this, I don’t think anyone would mind going to hell. =X.

출구를 지나갈 때 저승사자 아저씨가 환영했네요? ㅋㅋ. 노보리벳츠 자체가 지육과 관련된 물건이나 인물으로 꾸몄고 되게 색다르다고 생각했다. 지육이 이렇게 아름다웠으면 지육 가는 사람이 좋아하시겠다 ㅎㅎㅎ. Continue reading “[Hokkaido: Noboribetsu] I went to Hell for a day. and I loved it.” →