travel, banana republic style

i came across this ad by banana republic that was inspired by travel from their spring 2011 line.
this is what i call travelling in style.

5 DAYS MORE!

10 DAYS MORE!

we are so bouncing off the walls with excitement. we can finally count the days with our fingers!

in fact, shizhen just texted me that she feels that her soul is already in seoul.

we have so much to do!

- refining our itinerary

- checking directions for places to go

- making lists of things to buy and to pack

- confirming accomodations

- changing our money to korean won

- buying some spring weather type clothes

we really cannot wait, it's all that we are talking about, every day, every hour!

don't leave home without...

i just bought my korea lonely planet guide and as i was reading the first few pages, i ran across this box text which i thought was informative yet kind of funny at the same time!

don't leave home without...

• checking whether you need to apply for a visa.
• learning to read the 24 hangeul characters so you can figure out business signs, menus and bus destinations (very important! most places don't have english).
• studying the food and drink chapter so you know the difference between samyetang (ginseng chicken soup) and samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly) (both of them are yummy yummy anyway).
• checking your socks have no holes in them as you must remove your shoes to enter Buddhist shrines, traditional restaurants and private homes. (don't wear complicated shoes either).
• packing your hiking boots, as korea is stuffed with scenic mountains and well-marked trails.
• improving your skill at charades and gestures as not many koreans understand english.
• practising being naked in front of strangers so you can enjoy korea's many excellent reasonable priced hot-spring spas (a little difficult but i will do it mentally. hee!).
• packing a pair of sheets if you're planning to stay in budget accomodations, which often only provide quilts. (i guess this must refer to super budget accomodations).
• bringing personal hygiene and brand-name medical items that may be difficult to obtain (definitely, especially if you are the type who likes their own stuff)

text by lonely planet. italicised comments are mine.

our accomodations (2)

BUSAN: THE PLANET GUESTHOUSE

The Planet has got to be the prettiest, girliest guesthouse in Korea. it's a ladies-only guesthouse, with a big dorm room filled with 14 beds in pretty pink frilly covers. each bed has an electric blanket and a couple of powerpoints next to the bed for you to charge your phone etc. jiyoung, the owner, is also the sweetest person ever. she makes breakfast for everyone staying there and her simple egg sandwiches are delicious!

The Planet is located 2 minutes away from the most famous beach in Korea, Haeundae beach. It's located in a nondescript building that will have you scratching your head wondering if you have got the right place but once you see the cherry yellow door, it's a girlie paradise! It's about a 5 minutes walk to the Haeundae subway and ktx station, with the walk lined with all sorts of eateries.

Truthfully speaking though, the guesthouse is very centrally located for touring in Busan. If you are looking for a summer place near the beach, it's excellent. It's also near Centum City, the biggest shopping mall in the world, and Gwangalli Beach. However if you are going to Jalgalchi Fish Market and Beomeosa Temple, it takes about an hour to travel there. Although, this could really be because Busan developed along the coast so you are always travelling laterally. Another black mark for the guesthouse is that the bathroom facilites are located outside the guesthouse. It's quite odd because the shower facilities are within the guesthouse while if you want to take a dump, you have got to go outside to another bathroom. Don't worry, both the ones inside and outside are clean.

All things said, The Planet is still the most adorable guesthouse in the world!

Address
Busan-si Haeundae-gu 
Jung-dong 1394-286
Email: earthling-house@daum.net
Tel: +82-10-7153-1496

image credits: the planet guesthouse, korea tourism organisation