Favorite Things About Korea–Part 3 of 3

8. Carrying pizzas/watermelon
So, this might be a thing in other cities, but I’ve never lived in a city big/dense enough where people walked everywhere.  Here (everywhere in Korea), when you buy a pizza “take out”/to-go, they wrap it up in a pretty little ribbon…like so:

It acts as a handle for when you carry the pizza home.  Pretty nifty!  😀
Same for watermelon:

Here’s a link to show you them in action.  Thanks to EatYourKimchi for the video 😀

And one more that’s related:

Also related to the trashbag/all plastic shopping bags/etc. post—In Korea, all shopping bags (paper or plastic) cost an extra 20 cents or so (except in won…not cents obviously).  Also, re-usable canvas bags are a pretty big thing here.  Anyway, yay for environmentally friendly things!  😀
I still pay the 20 cents for the bags, but it encourages you to use less of them…but even if I use them a lot, I still re-use them for my garbage.

9. Food Delivery

^^Menus that are often taped to doors or left in mailboxes

You can have just about anything delivered to your door here…pizza, noodles/Korean food, McDonalds, etc.
Yes yes, I know we have delivery in the US too, but I just think this bit is interesting.  Some places (usually Korean food restaurants) will bring plates and dishes for you and you just leave them outside your door when you’re finished.  Later, someone will swing back by and pick them up.

I like the idea, but I also think it contributes to bugs, and considering I had a pretty long stint with cockroaches, I don’t know how I feel about this anymore.  McDonalds delivery is still pretty cool…imagine having breakfast delivered to your door.
My Korean isn’t strong enough to order anything off the phone, but it’s my goal.  I just want to order a pizza and then I’ll be the happiest little lady on this side of the Atlantic.

The motorbike guys do the deliveries…much faster than cars because they can (and do…) zip in and out of traffic.

Korean Food Delivery Video:
Start at about 2:00
Thanks again, Eat Your Kimchi 😀

10. Baseball games

August 1, 2014

August 1, 2014

I love going to games in the US, but Korean baseball games are preettttttyyyy fantastic.
Here’s a mini-list why:
1. You can bring food into the games–Pizza?  Yes!  Beer?  Yes!  Chicken?  Yes!  Candy?  Ice Cream?  Fruit?  Yes, yes and yes!
There are actually food stalls outside the baseball stadiums where people will sell you food before you go inside.  (Or you can buy it inside…either is ok.)  This brings me to point number 2…
2. FOOD IS NOT OVERPRICED.–Food costs about the same as it would if you went to the store to get it.  No $10 beers here.  So, it doesn’t matter if you buy the food inside the gate or outside of it.  There’s just more selection outside of the gates.
3. Cheering Section–Each stadium has a cheering section where the cheers originate.  People are super into the games and it’s not much of a sit-back and relax atmosphere.  Well, unless you want it to be.
There are songs for each players and different chants to sing.  There are cheerleaders/dancers, mascots (same as US) running around, etc.  It’s a lot louder.

4.  Team Names are Different–I separated this one, because it’s a difference but not one that I particularly care for.  In the US, the teams are named after the city: LA Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, etc.
In Korea, different cities have teams (some big ones, like Seoul, have more than one team), but they’re named after companies: Samsung Lions, Hanwha Eagles, LG Twins, Lotte Giants, Kia Tigers, etc.

This one is pretty simple.  There are no overdraft fees at the bank.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE this.
If you run out of money, it will pull you to zero, but nothing further than that.  Then, once money is back in your account, it will automatically withdraw the money required from your account.

I really hate the whole concept of overdraft fees.  I have had a few experiences with them and it drives me insane.  Obviously I don’t have the money, so you’re going to charge me more money that I don’t have.  Oh, and another day went by where I don’t have money…there’s another fee.
So if you’re off by even $1, you could be -$100 before you know it.  Especially in this age with automatic withdrawal and such.
I try my best to keep everything well above zero, but when you’re broke (as I was before), it makes it even more difficult to keep your head above water.

12. Land of the Free Samples

When you go to the grocery store, there are free samples on nearly every endcap and also in the aisles themselves.  Samples for watermelon, bananas, milk, juice, mandu (dumplings), coffee, wine, etc etc.
I was at the store the other day and a lady was sampling the pasta sauce so she had made a big pot of a cream pasta and was giving samples of it.

Free samples also extend to makeup stores.  They give free samples when you enter the store and typically more when you buy stuff.  Usually they’re like facemasks and creams and such.

13. Service (“ser-be-suh”)
This ties into the last one, but it’s free stuff just for buying stuff.  When I was at the baseball game, we bought a pizza, chicken and beer (chicken and beer is a HUGE thing here.  Sort of like hamburger and fries or pizza and beer? in the US) and the vendor gave us a free water with our purchase.
If you go out for Korean BBQ, sometimes they’ll give you an extra plate of meat (rare, but sometimes).
Or if you go to a noraebang (singing room, or karaoke room) they’ll give you an extra hour for free.

It’s supposed to act as a thank you for your business.  🙂

Noraebang (노래방)
Norae= sing/singing
bang = room
(The “a” in bang is more of an “ah”, like you’re at the dentist.)

Bring a group of friends (typically after the bars) for a few hours of karaoke in your own room.  Microphones and tambourines included.

Korean BBQ

Ahhhh…I don’t remember if this was on my list…but it should be.  Anyway, it’s yummy and you cook your own meat at the table.

Whew.  It’s on the list.  🙂

ANNNNND finished.


My Favorite Things About Korea–Pt2

I’m in need of this post today.  Feeling a bit homesick and just blah.  I’m on summer vacation, but just feeling annoyed with this and that.  Not sure if that technically qualifies as homesick or not, but there it is.  I really wish fruit wasn’t so expensive here and also that it wasn’t sold pre-packaged.  Sorry Korea, but I don’t need 6 apples, especially when those 6 apples cost about $7 and when things seem to mold and go bad so quickly.  It’s hard for me to eat that much fruit in such a short amount of time.  I’d also like to buy 2 tomatoes, not a box of 12.  Even if the boxes are buy one, get one free.  I don’t need 4kg of tomatoes.  ESPECIALLY when they are also $7 a box.
Ugh.  I’m actually thinking about getting into a bit of indoor gardening to minimize costs.
I’d like to plant some tomatoes, but I need a bit more space for that.  I might start with basil as it’s a bit easier to manage.

Anyway…to the good stuff, right?

5. Transit Cards: Buses, Taxis, Subway
Korea’s public transport system, as I’ve mentioned before is cheap, punctual and very convenient.  Did I mention cheap?

I don’t take the bus very often because I prefer the subway, taxis and walking, but the bus is a very popular mode of transport in most Korean cities.  You can use a transportation card (T-Money card) to pay quickly as you board.  The cost is just over 1000won.  You also get a discount on subsequent buses if you use your card when you travel.

More on transportation

Subways are clean and typically well connected to train stations, intercity bus stations and other popular areas.  I love that I can get from one end of the city to the other for under 2000won ($2).  Pretty nice.
Taxis are also pretty cheap–2,300 won (I’m 99% sure this is the basic fare as of 2014, but don’t hold me to it.)  This is also for the city of Daejeon.  It’s a wee bit more expensive (maybe 2,500W) in bigger cities like Seoul and Busan.  Basically $2.30-$2.50 and an extra 100 won (.10) every 30-40 seconds or every 140-150 meters.
I try to avoid taking the taxi in cities like Seoul and Busan unless I’m with a group of friends because then we can divide up the cost, but here in Daejeon, it’s pretty reasonable.  In those other cities, I’ll just take the bus or the subway.  Again, cheap, clean, punctual and well-connected.  The cost for taxis goes up to about 2,600 won after midnight (about 12-4/5am, and adjust accordingly for the other cities).  Still, not bad at all.

More on taxis here.  Ignore the price information though as that isn’t accurate, but everything else looks good.  Also, Seoul and Busan (bigger cities) have a bigger variety of taxis, but they’re still EVERYWHERE.  Unless it’s raining.  😦  haha
Just an example, but I can go from my apartment to the train station (about 15 minutes drive) for about $8.
Public transportation tends to shut down around 11:45pm-midnight and taxis run all night.
Taxis also accept the T-Money (transportation cards), which is nice and convenient if you don’t have cash.  You can load them up at subway stations and some 7-11 convenience stores.  I stick mine in my phone case behind my phone and I can tap it quickly while going on the subway or bus.  No messing with paper bills or coins.  Some bank cards also have an option where you can use that card as your T-money/transport card as well as a bank card.

T-Money card variations–card and keychain styles

T-Money card reloading machine in a subway station and a place to buy individual tickets.

Turnstiles at the subway–place your card on the reader at the top to go through. Money is automatically deducted from your card. No card? You can get a chip from one of the machines after you pay with cash at one of the other machines.

6. Colored District Trash Bags
Each district (gu 구) within a city has a different color trashbag (which you can pick up from some “marts” or convenience stores and all grocery stores.
The thing I like about this is that you can use these plastic bags as grocery bags and then turn around and reuse them once you get home as trashbags.  Same bag.  No extra waste or plastic.  They come in a few different sizes for any size trashcan you might have.

Note:  Food waste and plastic go in separate containers.

Trash bags

Food Waste Tub–looks a bit like this

7. Public Bike-Sharing Program–“Tashu”
I love, love, looooove this.  This is a newer program (from what I’ve read) and I’m grateful that it’s here in Daejeon.  There are stations set up throughout the city and you’re able to basically rent a bike for however long.  Typically up to a few hours, but to each their own.
You find a bike station (typically in well populated areas, but they’re scattered throughout the city) and each bike station has 10+ bikes (depending on the city and how populated that particular area is.
Again, you can use your T-Money card for this or have it added to your phone bill.
Anyway, you check out the bike and you can return it to any bike station in the city.

More info here.
Prices are on the website, but up to an hour it’s free and (up to 3 hours) it’s 500won (.50) for every additional 30 minutes.  Over 3 hours it’s 2000 won (about $2) every 30 minutes.

Bike Rental Station

Also, there are goverment/city workers that come by and repair bikes as needed.  Also, if a bike needs to be checked out or repaired, there is an option for that on the checkout machine and someone will come by to take it to the repair shop.

Remaining Topics:
*Carrying pizzas/watermelon
*Food Delivery
*Baseball games

My Favorite Things About Korea–Pt 1 of 3


1. Table Bells


Table Buzzers–Korea

2. KakaoTalk


KakaoTalk Screenshot (not mine :D)                       cxvk

WhatsApp Screenshot

3. Banking–Specifically: Bill Paying and Money Transfering

Checkbook?  Checks?  What are those?



4. Travel

Inside a Mugunghwa train

Mugunghwa Train






Daejeon train prices:
Mungunghwa: 1hr 50 min: 10,000won (about $10)
Saemaul: 1hr 45min: 15,000won (about $15)

Daejeon–>Busan (about 3 hours with minimal traffic)
Saemaul: 3 hours (26,000won)


Part 2:
-Subway systems
-cheap food
-delivery/food at home/returning dishes
–buses/wrap up public transportation
-colored trash bag system
–city bikes