South Korea: Jeju - Jeju Greenday Guesthouse and Backpacker review

Nah this is not the backpacker review that i mentioned in the last entry. Because i'm lazy, hahaha.

So, with this i shall start my post about the Korea trip in March.

John, Elaine, Kuan, Sui and I went to Korea for a week, and i was the planner + organizer + budget controller for the whole trip. 

I consider i done it quiet well, and i was thinking of to post the plan and budget out here, but i just have too many detail to find out, so maybe in the end of the travel post :D 

Short say about the plan, we reached Incheon Airport (This is in Seoul, if you take asiasia, here is the destination) and immediately go to Gimpo Airport (40 minutes by tram from Incheon airport, smaller airport for domestic flight) to catch up the local flight, Easter Jet to Jeju-do. 

We spend 3d2n in Jeju, and spend another 3d3n (midnight flight) in Seoul, after consider we don't wanna carry all the stuffs that we shop in Seoul to fly to Jeju, so we go to Jeju once we step into Korea. 

Alright, to kick start the korea post, I decided start with a backpacker review in Jeju, Greenday Guesthouse and Backpacker.

Because Greenday is one of the best backpacker hostels among all that i have been. 

Greenday is located in Jeju-si, 15 minutes away from the airport, and an hour plus to the Seogwipo district, which is the main attraction area of the city. 

Red is Jeju-si, green is seogwipo

The map above is the whole island, which red circle is Jeju-si and Airport, and the green circle is Seogwipo, almost all the attractions, resorts, museum are there.

To decided to stay in Jeju-si, because of the better offer of Guesthouse (Seogwipo District is hell expensive), and unlike Seogwipo, Jeju-si is the town of local.

And no matter which area we're staying, the best transport to visit all the places is rent a taxi or rent a car, there have no tram and very limited buses on the island.

Since we decided to rent a mini van for whole day tour, the price are about the same no matter pick up in Seogwipo or Jeju-si, that make me decided to stay in Jeju-si.

And I'm feel so blessed that i choose Greenday in Jeju-si.

Ok, now we start about Greenday.

Greenday is like 15 minutes to 30 minutes from the airport, Greenday doesn't provide pick up service (as all the other guesthouses) so get a taxi and show him the address and tel number, the driver will find out by their GPS, just by inset the tel no!

One way taxi fare is about 8000 kw (about RM 24).

Distance between airport and Greenday. 

I have to admit that, Greenday is not easy to find, it hide in the end of an alley, just like local people house, you hardly find it out if you're not local.

Even you are local like our taxi driver, you need a GPS too, haha.

Ok, greenday is not located right in the center of the town, yet not too far, as you can see from the below map.

Green is Greenday, Red is DongMun market.

But that is within walking distance, like 20 minute to reached the famous Dongmun Market and Black Pig BBQ Street, which i will tell more in the coming post. 

The address and map near by.

Greenday is not located in the main market, but i consider a very handy place, there are convenience store within walking distance, and some of the good local restaurant in nearby (ask Andy to bring you to the Spicy Fried Pork Restaurant! Yummy!)                                     

As i told earlier, Greenday is located inside an alley of the main road, and the host, Andy and Simmy know that the place is difficult to find, they put a bunting on the main road side. 

Big pink bunting, pay you attention when you're nearby.

2 minutes walk from the alley

In the end of the alley

Tata! Fairy tale-look-alike guesthouse! (Copyright of John)

Damn this is so korea drama isn't?

They put a piano in the garden 

Winter turn Spring moment

I love this place!

Elaine pretending. 

The fact is the temperature is so damn low! (Copyright of John)

Ah sui pretending, but good shot (Copyright of John)

Every single place of the guesthouse is color and cute!

The guesthouse is not big, but bigger than family-run guesthouse. I'm not sure about the rooms in the upstair, but there is only 1 guestroom in downstair, which also the biggest 6 beds dorm room.

I will post the price and website of the guesthouse in the end of the post, so stay on.

But i would say the price that paying is worth, because unlike the rest of the guesthouse, Greenday provide super nice breakfast.

Of course you have to cook la, but this is good enough!

Andy or Simmy will cook a big pot of soup and rice in the night, and keep it warm for the breakfast in net morning. Because traditionally, Korean has rice and soup as their breakfast.

And different soup everyday, one day i had slightly spicy kimchi soup and the next day i had soy bean paste soup.

Image in the hell cold morning you got warm soup and rice in your stomach!!!!

If you're ang mo, they provide free flow egg (of course you have to cook la!), bread, butter and jam, coffee and tea and salad.

Just like breakfast at home.

Kitchen with everything you need. (Copyright of John)

Rice, soup and toast for your choice

Seasoning and everything!

The other side is living room, pretty small of very cozy, very much like home too!

Greenday has their green time every night, but no longer provide beer as stated in the website, but anyway, friend of Andy who live nearby are always here, bring sorju (rice wine) as well! We had great time with them and other backpacker. 

Small yet cozy living room (Copyright of John)

Big window with sunlight, my favorite (Copyright of John)

Love everywhere! (Copyright of John)

Love is what makes you smile when you're tired :)  (Copyright of John)

Night time with warm lighting. 

I like this very much! Elaine looks like Korean here. 

I have some green time photos with another camera, i'm lazy to take it out, but you can see all the guests photo in their facebook, which i will post the link later in this post.

I mentioned that the rooms in this guesthouse is not much, the biggest is 6 beds dorm, we decided to take up all 6 beds to make the room us.

Regret that didn't take much photo of the room, but you know what, the room provide almost everything. Imagine guesthouse with cotton pad and cotton butt, hair dryer.

Don't forget Korea is a very high living standard country. If you stay in hotel, they charge you everything, including shampoo.

The room wasn't big but comfortable enough, although no heater in the room but we got very warm electronic blanket!

My bed and John bed. Their bed is in other side. 

Staying in Greenday is one of the best thing of Jeju trip. Simmy speaks very fluently English so no worries about communication.

If you need to rent a taxi for day trip, you can ask their helps, just let them know where and what do you want to see, they will help to arrange you plan and let you know where and when is the best time to go to the places that you require, also they contact the driver and let him to pick you up in the guesthouse too.

Greenday don't have a website, i found them from a backpackers website, but they're active in facebook nowsaday, with all the contact detail and prices of the room.

Here is the website link http://www.facebook.com/jejugreenday

Contact them by email in advance, jejugreenday@gmail.com because their room is very limited. Simmy and Andy check mail everyday, they reply quick.

Oh yea! did i told you? You enjoy free wifi in the guesthouse, if you don't have a device with you, they let you use the laptop for FREE.

If you're really staying in Greenday, please let them know that i miss them very very much! and find our photos and message leave in the testimonial book!

Hope you enjoy the stay in Greenday :)






Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
120531, 0933am
Rach in credit card duedate is next week mood.

Thailand: Krabi - Ao Nang town

To recap, my Krabi trip's plan is Krabi Town -> Koh Lanta -> AoNang. 

To choose to make AoNang the last stop because the airport is near from AoNang than Krabi Town, and i heard that AoNang is pretty much a tourist place, i guess i won't like it, 2d1n should be enough. 

The fact it is so, AoNang is really  tourist place, full of foreigner and you can hear very familiar Malaysia accent speaking in the place, the beach wasn't the best, food and drink wasn't the cheapest, but Thai people still as friendly as other part of Thailand. 

If i'd return to Krabi someday (which i guess i won't), Krabi Town still the 1st stop of choice, but i'd stay for 2 nights instead of 1, there are some temples nearby are worth to visit. Then i will plan to go to other island other than Koh Lanta, i won't say that island is bad, but that is just not my favorite. If i have more days i like to see Riley Bay, i missed this place, and back to AoNang one night before my flight. 

Alright, AoNang is not big at all, but always crowded because of beach side and lots of tourist actually transfer to other island from here. 

Below are the city map that i search from the net. 

AoNang wasn't that big, i choose to stay in the Ascot Hotel which located out of the main street (The red circle), the main street is by the seaside. Walking from my hotel to the other end just take me bout an hour plus (trust me, walking is my biggest hobby during travel), but lotsa shops, international restaurants, massage center, art gallery, travel agency along the street and alley. 

Before goes to the photos, allow me to write a little review of the hotel where i stayed, Ascot Krabi Hotel. If i have more photos, i'd write it in another post, but i was too tired escape from Koh Lanta (Read the previous post for why) and i didn't bother to take the photos. 

But Ascot Krabi Hotel is good 3 star hotel for me, very small but comfortable hotel, i pay for RM100 per night for big, bright, clean roomin 4th floor with the far sea and street view (Warn, no lift), good water pressure and hot water, air-conditional working well. 

7-11 and convenience stores, restaurant and pub just across the street, i consider that are for local from the price judgement. The location is just handy enough for me. 

From my room. 

                                             

Far sea view and main street view. 

                                            

This is the only photo that i took in the room. Well at least show the room is bright. 

                                                  

There is another story of AoNang, believes me, whenever i go travel, especially alone, there is something bad happen. I thought Koh Lanta incident is bad enough, but I met another shitty thing in AoNang. But everything turn alright in the end. 

The story is i booked the shutter bus ticket from the hotel (I learned this time) for the next day, the shuttle bus will pick me up from the doorstep of Ascot Krabi Hotel to airport the next day (Less than RM20 one way, taxi will cost you like RM50. The bus run very frequent, don't worry bout the schedule). 

But till next day, the bus wasn't come. Or its does, but forget there is a passenger waiting in the hotel. 

I was like shitttttttttttttttttttttttttttt!!!! Why every fucking transport in Thailand doesn't like me?!           

The receptionist, Ling (I hope i remember right) helps me to called and check, the bus is gone to next stop and she decided to take me to chase the bus, so i get on her car, and she drove me to chase the bus (damn i feel so ridiculous when typing this. haha), but the bus has gone too far, and then she decided just drop me to the airport, haha. 

I thought i will be charge, even not so i will pay her too, but Ling insisted to not take my money and she keep apologize because of the incident, although this not her fault at all, all she ask was the receipt to claim back the money from bus company. 

I still love Thailand, although the transport doesn't like me as i do, but Thai is so cute and friendly, they treat you like friend and always think for you (well, mostly). 

Story ends. Here we start the photo section. 

                          

1st lunch in AoNang. Pad Thai always my favorite 

Mini van to Krabi Town. 

Thanks for the good weather

One of the photo of the day :D

main street just 5 minute leisure walk from Ascot

Mountain and sea :D

Street to 5 star luxury hotels, located in seaside, flood by foreigner  

Beach, people walking to the pier. 

Food selling on the beach

Seaside

Frankly, the seaside is just something like Morid, not the best in Thai. 

The main street on the seaside, lots of international restaurant and foreigner, 

I'm walking to the another end of the town (refer map above)

Art gallery 

Lazy to walk another hour back, i pay rm4 to let tuk tuk take me back to hotel from the another end of the town. 

Night market on the main street by evening. 

The next day breakfast, same breakfast but price different in different location. I saw the same thing selling in seaside restaurant with RM50, while i have this in the restaurant nearby hotel its just cost me RM15. What the hell.  

Travel means so much for me. =) 

I might write a weird hostel review in the next post (if i'm not lazy), why is it weird? because i never stay there before, i just pay my visit to the place. But the place is really worth to introduce.

If i really lazy to write so, next post is about trip to Seoul and Jeju Island, Korea. There will be at least 6 posts, excluding backpacker hostel reviews.

After Korea, the next destination is Cambodia, the amaze of Angkor Wat in June =).

Don't ask me where my time and money comes from, i'm not rich at all, but when you're addict to something, you will do everything for it.

Like i say in the last photo caption, travel means so much for me.

Stay tuned la!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

p/s: go click my ads! I haven't got enough money to Angkor Wat yet la!










Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
20120501, 1133am
Rach in wanna go poo mood.

Thailand: Koh Lanta - The Village

I'm not sure if i could remember every single little thing that happened in 3 months ago, i know i should have just update all my trip once i got back, but aihh.. there is a thing called lazy in this world, and this thingy stick on me almost my life so far. 

But luckily i consider my memory is serving me good, plus photos are the best source to recall the trip. 

Alright, Koh Lanta is not a small island at all, very developed, as i told in the previous blog, image there is 7-11 around the town, i bet you could get the picture. 

Refer back to the map that i posted in previous entry. The resort that i booked is located far from the pier and town, no resort transfer and i have no plan on the transport, so i spent rm40 for the 45 minute taxi ride to the resort, which i think is not too expensive, yet if i know there is no buggy service, i will booked somewhere nearer, but the main thing is i dislike the resort's room, as i said, dark and make me feel haunted, i didn't get well sleep in the 2 nights. 

But cant deny that the beach is awesome, i don't mean the clearance level of the sea but the atmosphere, quiet and very own beach for your own, and i guess that probably is the only good thing about staying in that area. 

I might mentioned in the previous post (i lazy to read it back :P), the sea in Koh Lanta is so-so, and this is a great disappointment when i reached there, well i read the review from the net and i expected the sea must be as beautiful as Koh Lipe (Koh Lipe's sea and beach is my top pick so far), but turned out like Pulau Pangkor level. Well, not to said dirty, but not crystal clear at all, like greenish-grey color :-(

I feel blessed because i choose to stay in the tail of this long beach (500 meters long beach) so i got peaceful holiday in Koh Lanta. The area where i am staying is a small quiet local village, of course luxury resort along the beach but you can found local residence along the main road too. 

I like it there, that let me feel the real Koh Lanta and meet the local people, although the main town is way more convenience and happening, but i bet that is purely tourist town, but not real Koh Lanta.

I was staying in the tail of the long beach.

Phra Ae or Long beach is the main attraction of Koh Lanta

There is 2 parts of Koh Lanta, Lanta Yai is the main island.

Very quiet village. 

But restaurant is around. 

Rent a bike is the best way to explore the island

Massage is slightly expensive here. 

i know they're at least try to communicated with foreigner. Nothing wrong if you cannot speak good English, at least you're keep learning.  

Cute little local bar. 

Western backpacker culture brings to this village

Well i just love the color. 

Every thai's shop is special 

The main street of the village

Thai people is peace and love their life more than money, a big shop like this just to sell few fruit, and what impress me the most is they don't set the price, they just give it out if they like you enough. :)

Another main road to the big town. 

Stop by for lunch, no one know English and surprised that i actually talked to them in Thai. I think i can survive in Thai very well :D

Mon the restaurant's owner

Short clip of the village

I just have to strongly recommend the massage center of Lanta Miami resort, which located on the beach , the oil massage is superb, so far the top pick of mine.

I spent 3d2n on Koh Lanta, and took ferry to Ao Nang, the hot tourist place of Krabi the night before i flight back home. 

Overall, Koh Lanta is not the must go island of Thai for me, i think this probably the last and only time to visit Koh Lanta, i just cant find a convincing reason to pay 2nd visit.  

But Samuel, a backpacker from England told me that he had great fun in Koh Lanta (and he is a party person), so well, its depend of what you're looking for. :-)

And next post! Ao Nang!

Ao Nang is nearer to the airport, for those who want to visit Krabi and some island nearby, i actually recommend to make Krabi town as your first stop because of that is the transit hub, of course you can get transport to other places easily in Ao Nang too, but i found Krabi town's ticket is cheaper, probably the main jetty if located nearby Krabi town.

While you could make Ao Nang the last stop, because airport is just like half hour away from Ao Nang, and frankly, Ao Nang is purely tourist place, everything is expensive and i don't really feel i was in Thai when i was in Ao Nang, everyone speak English, White and Chinese everywhere, no local Thai food, only western style Thai food, beach is clean but not the most beautiful one.

Well i will go into detail in next post, so stay tuned. 

After Thai, that will be Korea post, i just got back from Korea yesterday with a gang of friends and John, great fun. I will make sure myself to write down all the detail information to blog it here.

Now i looking forward to spend John's birthday in Cambodia in this June, and no more trips till December (*Cry) for saving bullet for my 26 years old birthday trip, Nepal! Perhap Bhutan too, if i got enough saving :D

Don't give me up readers! I promise i will back more often, pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

20120331, 0924pm

Rach in goin out mood.