Seoul 2017 Tips: How much stuff OUGHT TO COST

Over the whole trip, I was a bit more careful in my spending and bought a lot more stuff on the last few days after I 'tested' the market. I do not guarantee to know everything but here are some tips I want to share!

1.  Go where the locals go. If you notice locals are refusing to buy socks for 1,500 won, it is probably because the market rate is lower (at 1,000 won, sometimes even 900 won or 550 won!)
2. Steals are found at GOTO MALL at the Express Bus Terminal station. There, I found so many shirts selling for 5,000 won or 10,000 won. The EXACT SAME SHIRT I then found in Hongdae was sold at a 5,000 won mark up (coz... I stay at hongdae remember? :) I went to goto mall on day 2. #worthit
3. Not everything is worth it, just because it is 'cheaper' than in Singapore. Is 50cents off a packet of honey butter chips really worth that precious space in your luggage, or the price of sending it back to SG in a carton box? No. Not to me. 
4. LOOK OUT FOR SALES. Some places like watsons and olive young sell the exact item for cheaper. My Clio Conceal Cover Cushion was sold at 32,000 won without discount at the official clio store, but only 22,400 won at olive young. That's A LOT of money saved hor. Can buy 2 shirts leh. 

And here below are what I think (as a tourist) are market rates for items

• Face Masks = ONE FOR ONES. I.E 20 masks for 10,000 won or less 
• Bags = 10,000 won at those stores that sell all their bags for 10,000 won
• KPOP albums = the prices at myeongdong's underground shopping centre. BTS's album at myeongdong (16,400 won) vs same album at airport (49,000 won... LIKE WHAT HOW?!)
• Shirts = 5,000/10,000 won. Goto mall is the best place to see the market and gives you a good estimate of what something should cost elsewhere. 
• Socks = maximum 1,000 won
• Phone cases = ermz... REALLY EXPENSIVE at some places. Just compare to what you would pay normally... is 30sgd too ex for you? It certainly was for me
• Make Up = too wide range, must walk around and do your research!

Last piece of advice... think carefully if you would pay the same price for the item in Singapore. Korea's standard of living is NOT LOW and although cosmetics are very affordable due to the high level of competition, it is NOT the same for all products and services.

For example, I had to stop in my tracks as I considered buying hair dye. April Skin's new Colour Cream was a new product introduced to me at 11,000 won. While it is indeed affordable, I was actually leaning towards the brown colour because I don't want the other colours (already bought other hair dye for funky red and purple and blue and pink). Then I realised... I would prefer to use Liese's hair dye which I can get in SG anyway. Cheaper and a more familiar product.

Or when I saw a hair-tie (rubberband) that was really pretty but sold for 5,900 won. That's like... 7 SGD? Mai la mai laaaa.

Or a phone case that they were selling... but for 25,000 won? mai la mai la I no money to pay 30 sgd for a phone case please. I will go broke onez. 

Train Breakdowns in Singapore. What to do and what NOT to do

Read all about today's breakdown here and here.

I was caught in the midst of it sadly.
And... it is really bad that both of the most heavily utilised lines were affected. The Red North South Line and the Green East West line..




Which means, NORTH SOUTH EAST WEST ALL AFFECTED LIKE WOW
If you're familiar with Singapore news... yes this happens once in a while. How often? It really depends but yes it has happened quite a number of times.

This is the first time I was badly affected and in the thick of the action
So this post is dedicated for such train breakdowns, and I will recap how I got through the breakdown today

[Breakdown at City Area]
I am at Raffles City, City Hall mrt area. Both red and green lines are down. City hall mrt is now uselesss! What should I do?!

Check and understand the current situation! 

1. Check @ltasg on twitter to know exactly why is going on. Check SMRT's facebook page where they will update if services has resume.
2. If you can't access these, ask a friendly local for help, wherever you are
3. If you are already at the mrt, there are volunteers with pamplets and suggestions on alternative routes

Know your options, and change your plans if necessary!

1. I strongly recommend going to the next available line that is working fine.
   
   This was what I did. I walked a long distance from City Hall to Dhoby Ghaut Mrt, which had both the Purple North East line and the Yellow Circle line that were still working. Ask locals for directions! (but pls, if the local appears not to have a good sense of direction... just say thanks then move on and ask someone else!!!)


2. I then recommend taking the train service again if it resumes


3. Last option... take a bus to your destinations
   
   The free shuttle bus services that run along the mrt lines tend to be crowded, filled to the brim and very slow. I don't recommend taking the free shuttle bus at all to be honest.
   
   For myself, who tried to take a normal bus, this was a very bad first decision. Buses were at a standstill in the city area. In 10 minutes, I covered about 600-800m by foot. However, the bus I saw at Raffles City was still stuck at the exact same position while I have already traveled to a bus stop further down.
   
   The problem with the city is that each bus stop has many buses, up to 13 even. Imagine all 13 buses need to now alight the numerous passengers who can no longer use the mrt and are queuing up in a single row to enter the bus stop. Add all the cars who have been summoned to the city to fetch people home in order to avoid the mrt. Now add in all the taxis that are being used up to send people where they need to go.
   
   you get one massive traffic jam.
   
   In fact, it was so bad that after 30 minutes of staring at buses that could not move, I then gave up my original plan of taking a direct bus home and walked to Dhoby Ghaut mrt station. I took the train and then SOS my dad to pick me nearer to home.


4. Not even an option... taking a cab
   If you are stuck in the traffic jam I mentioned above.... be prepare for your money to fly. Every minute your vehicle is stationary, the meter in the cab would continue running. So you are MUCH BETTER OFF taking the public transport (and the inconvenience).
   
   Remember the bus I left 800m behind? There were also about 9 cabs trying to turn right into the cross junction but to no avail as traffic was absolutely at a standstill. 

I really hope this post might help you in the event the train breaks down again. I refused to take pictures of the crowds and standstills as I wanted to save my phone battery. Click the two news reports at the top of this post to see all the details if you want!

Ez-link, the transportation card for Singapore

I think most tourists would already know that they have to get an Ez-link card in order to make use of the public system of Singapore.



I'm here to quickly break down to you the costs of your transport.

Travel Cards

Img Source: here

These paper cards are dispensed when you buy a standard ticket for a single trip.
It is commonly used by tourists and those silly enough to leave their cards at home. But did you know, this amazing paper card can be REUSED up to 6 times.

However, you have to constantly go to the top up machine and pay for your next trip.
Unlike the usual EZ-link card, which simply stores a sum of money for you to use up, you need to pay exact for each trip using this card.

When you buy a standard ticket for the first time, this card would be dispensed to you.
For the second trip using that same ticket, all you need to do is place that ticket on the card holder and then select your next trip.

This is the general ticketing machine! And long queue of people buying tickets

Convenience: 2/5 
There are usually long queues at the General Ticketing Machines, and sometimes the machine would state that they are unable to give you sufficient change. Please read the screen carefully before inserting money!

Price: 5/5
You're not paying much more for the use of that paper card after all.

Ez-Link Cards
The common ones used by all locals.

Img Source: google search

From memory, such cards are purchased for $12. $5 for the card itself, $7 for its stored value.
If you are going to be heavily reliant on public transport (meaning at least 4 trips in a day), perhaps getting this card would be most convenient

Convenience: 4/5
You still have to queue at the GTMachines often, since you would top up only $10 at a time (the minimum amount for the adult card). Please note that the stored value in the card in non-refundable! You have to use it all up, or keep it for your next trip to Singapore.

Price: 3/5
I am not sure if $5 deposit that you pay for the card is worth that convenience, especially if you need one for every family member and if you are not travelling that often.

Singapore Tourist Pass

All the information you would need is found here.

http://ezlink.com.sg/singapore-tourist-pass.
Image source: the above site

I am not sure myself whether it is value-for-money, because it truly depends on how much you would spend on public transport.

If you stay at orchard road and only want to shop in the area, and maybe make a trip to the Singapore Zoo... then no, it is not worth it to get the pass.

If you are familiar with Singapore and would take buses up and down orchard road, or take the mrt to explore places like Chinatown, Tiong Bahru, Somerset and Marina Bay all within the same day, then perhaps it is a good idea to get that pass :)

IN CONCLUSION
Get someone else who has been to Singapore to lend you their card!
If not, the standard ticket/travel card/paper card should be sufficient for your travels :)

P.S If you're super hardworking, consider using this fare calculator to calculate your expenses!

3 tips : Changi Airport

Post will be updated with more and more pictures as I head to the airport :) 

1) Buy lots of branded stuff when you are flying back to your home country.

NO TAX LEH FANTASTIC BABY

But yeah really it's very cheap compared to if you bought something at Orchard Road. True you can utilise the tax refund system but it can be quite a hassle. Then again...the branches at the airport may not have the full range of items you would like to buy :/
There are shops inside like watsons if you need to buy travel essentials at the very last minute.

2) Find out where your boarding gate is

The gate you board may be very very very far and be up to 15 minutes away. You may think eh.... I can walk pretty fast.

But it's not a good idea if you were busy shopping and forgot the time, the screen now shows last call AND the place is very crowded such that you can't do your 2.4km run. 

So please, find out where you gate is and  NEVER ASSUME that it is in chronological order. Coz it isn't. 

I ever "kena" a gate 28... And it turned out to be the furthest possible... While gate 40 something was near the shopping areas. Sobs. I had to run -.- 

I know there are gate maps somewhere in airport that tells you where the gate is, so try to spot it and ensure you have ample time to walk there! Look out for the sky train also and see if it brings you to your gate. If it seems really crowded don't worry, the train can squeeze quite a lot of people as long as everyone is willing to make space!

And if you're there too early like we were... just have a seat.

3) Eat local food.

Okok fine if you really wanted to, you should have gone to Hong Lim Complex or some other food court, not exactly the airport. BUT SURPRISE  we do have a food court at terminal 3 basement!! And the food there is yummy :) head here if you really crave one more taste of your hokkien mee or char kuay teow.

Don't say I didn't warn you. Some stalls are... meh. Like this horrible japanese bento I ate before my korea trip. Ew.. Really horrendous. 

There are quite a number of restaurants both inside and outside the departure hall. I've tried a number of them...

Wang cafe isn't too bad. Prices are steeper surely but food tastes authentic.

Ruyi was a disappointment. Food tasted bleh to me and eating from paper cups and bowls makes it one rank lower than the other restaurants around.

Pasta de Waraku is pretty okay except you probably tasted better pasta elsewhere. 

Seafood Paradise is where you can have chilli crab and stuff BUT IT IS OH SO CROWDED please beware.

You can't go wrong with MACDONALDS :) or KFC. Or Burger King. Or 4 fingers (but long queue don't risk it)

That's all for now! I'll update with more tips when I think of them :)