T10. BRING THOSE VOUCHERS TO KOREA

VOUCHERS

Another methods on saving a few ringgits is by bringing some vouchers or sale discount.
We are making it a habit of visiting KOREA PLAZA in KL before our trip.  Usually they have discount vouchers for tourist as well as some pamphlets that could be useful.  Some pamphlets version are different from the one found in Korea.  At least they are more tuned to English. 

Where is KOREA PLAZA?

Ground Floor, Menara Hap Seng,
Jalan P. Ramlee, 50250 Kuala Lumpur.
T: 603-2072 2515
F: 603-2072 3552
E:klkoreaplaza@gmail.com

http://www.visitkorea.com.my/korea-plaza-0

Operation hour:

Monday-Friday                 : 9am to 6pm

Every second & forth Saturday    : 10am-5pm

In March and September, Korea Plaza is open on the third Saturday, from 10am-5pm. 

What we found at KOREA PLAZA are these;.......

Tourism pamphlets and discount vouchers

Point of interest: Theme parks vouchers

We manage to find a 20% discount voucher in one of the pamphlets.  The normal entrance fees into EVERLAND is 44000 WON, minus 20% will be 35200 WON.  Isn't that a good deal?

http://www.everland.com/web/multi/english/everland/everland_guide/ticket/Tickets_and_Coupons.html

50% discount entrance fees into Gyeonggi English Village

In another pamphlet you can also find another discount vouchers, some as high as 50%, sometime repeating in another pamphlet, but you have nothing to loose, just bring them all. 

TRANSPORTATION

KTX TRAIN

We will need to travel from BUSAN to SEOUL and back by KTX train.  This is an inter-city fast train managed by KOREA RAILROAD (KORAIL), connecting all the cities such as Seoul, Busan, and Mokpo. They have Rail Pass that can be bought online based on 1-day, 3-day, 5-day, 7-day, or 10-day pass.  With this pass, you can board any KTX train, anywhere, anytime. 

I have checked the discount table for each day pass type, but unfortunately based on our itinerary, none of the day pass is suitable for us.

http://info.korail.com/2007/eng/ekr/ekr01000/w_ekr01100.jsp

In other words, here is the scenario;

Day 1: travel by KTX from BUSAN to SEOUL

Day 4: travel by KTX from SEOUL to BUSAN

If we buy a 3-day pass, it will not benefit us because the second time we travel will be the fourth day, we can't use the pass.

If we buy a 5-day pass, the price will be higher than buying a return KTX ticket.

So, the benefit for day pass will be for those heavy KTX train user, because there is no limit to number of travels and destination.  The only limit is the number of days......... 

Ahaa..........got and idea. 

If we can catch the 10:15 am KTX from Busan to Seoul, the ticket price will be 43200 WON.  If we miss this train, the next one, which is at 10:30 am is priced at 53300 WON.  A different of 10100 WON.

KTX schedule.  Aim for the 10:15am train.

How is this possible?  The 10:15 train (352) will reach Seoul at 13:38 while the 10:30 train (128) reach Seoul at 13:14.  About the same time ha..........for that, we will choose (or try our best) to get the train number 352 departing Busan at 10:15...... gambatte............

SUBWAYS

We normally rely on subways so much that we have improve our stamina a lot knowing that the stairs in the subway stations are mostly super deep and plenty. 

The subway systems is very much like Malaysian's LRT and Monorail.  You can buy T-money card that can be topped up in any convenient stores.

Still valid?

  

 I still have the T-money card from last visit,.........but whether or not this card still valid,............remain to be seen. I think it is still valid, just like our touch and go card, does it has validity period?  Don't think so.

Why I cannot find the other card? I have tried search for it but so far I can't find it.  I have no clue.

Hint:  If the store keeper doesn't understand 'top up', use the word REFILL.  Or better still, use sign language. 

Look how much I have improved my Korean....hehehe....

FN1. GETTING USE TO CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATE

ITINERARY

It took ages to prepare the itinerary this time because the trip is a little longer than before.  It is seven-day trip, so obviously the itinerary does look longer and much more complicated.  Here is the snapshot.

The difference this time is that all the expenses during the trip is included as additional column so that nothing is overlooked at or 'ter' forget.  All things are considered such as bus fares, KTX tickets, entrance fees to theme parks, etc....

CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATE

One of the important item, especially just few days before the trip is the currency exchange.  Here I spend a little longer to juggle around on the best rate that I could get, and believe it or not, I have found a rather bizzare way to play around with this currency exchange madness.  Whether or not this method works is remain to be seen.  

Here are some tips;

Step 1.  Convert RM to US $

Example: 

Using the rate from my money master http://www.moneymaster.com.my/ 

The exchange rate is at 3.285.  This is of course in the home country's currency, which simply means, 1 US$ is priced at RM3.285.  This is the selling rate from the operator and not the buying rate, eventhough we are actually buying the dollar.  It is always from the point of view of the operator.

So if you want to buy $100 worth of US currency, you have to pay RM328.50.

Step 2. Buy Korean WON in Korea.

Instead of buying directly the WON, we are planning to buy the WON in Korea.  Here is the rational;

Using currency exchange rate at Korea Exchange Bank (KEB); http://fx.keb.co.kr/FER1301C.web

Selling rate: 1040.77

Buying rate: 1077.83

This is the amount to be paid to you in WON for every 1 US$.  This is where I start to get confuse, why on earth is the selling rate lower than buying? 

Somehow, let's follow the usual, since we are selling US$ for the exchange of WON, so from the point of view of the operator (the KEB), it should be buying rate.

The buying rate is at 1077.83 WON for every dollar. 

The  $100 you have in your hand now become 107783.00 WON

Let's now compare with directly exchanging MYR to WON in Malaysia.

Step 3. Convert using the same money exchange as before; http://www.moneymaster.com.my/

 Again, check the selling rate (because the operator is 'selling' WON to us).

Selling rate: 3.180RM for 1000 WON

With the same amount of money I need to spend to buy US$, i.e;

                                             US$ 100 = RM328.50

I will get  107783.00 WON (as in step 2);

If I buy WON in Malaysia, I can get only;

                                             (1000/3.18) * 328.5 = 103301 WON

The different: 4482 WON

Not much ha......but that is only for US$100 worth of currency.  You surely will convert much more than that, let's say 10 times more, which will give you an additional of :

44820 WON = RM134 (roughly)

Now you see the money's worth.  No don't thanks me, thanks the weird money exchange rate.

P/s: The real reason I am writing this is to avoid having to explain over and over again...hehe.  

Step 4.  Sell MYR in Korea.

To get even better rate, you should bring MYR to Korea and buy WON there.

Check the rate again from live exchange rate at KEB, Korea.  http://fx.keb.co.kr/FER1301C.web

 Again, look at buying rate, i.e. 339.94 WON for 1MYR.

Now, convert that 328.5MYR that you need to buy $100 into WON,

(328.5 x 339.94) = 111670.29 WON

Lastly,

Compare with other methods from step 2 to step 4;

For $100 worth of money, using:   Step 2 (US$ to WON in Korea): 107783.00 WON

                                                      Step 3 (MYR to WON in KL): 103301.00 WON

                                                      Step 4 (MYR to WON in Korea): 111670.29 WON

Nothing more to explain here, the best is to buy WON in Korea using buying rate of MYR.

But.................be careful of selling MYR in Korea??  Would they buy our money?  Yes the rate is there but do they physically want to buy our money?  They might conveniently just say sorry sir we have enough of MYR currently and we don't intend to buy anymore, and you will be stranded WONless in Korea.......

Better stick to selling US$ in Korea for a meager profit haaa.....

Whatever it is, these are all still remain to be seen.........................

T8. ISLANDS HOP and FEED the EAGLES

PULAU DAYANG BUNTING

Island of a pregnant maiden, that's what it literally means.  There is no other means to access the island other than boats, or better still by speed boat.  In our case?  Semi-speed boat that we rent for the whole excursions that include stopover at Dayang Bunting Island, Eagle watching, and an idyllic beach for swimming.
The rent for one boat (pilot inclusive) is RM250, negotiable most of the time.  So don't forget to negotiate price each time.

All aboard!!!!  Does the reverse gear works?

Speedily towards Dayang Bunting Island, we were thinking if that name resemble any pregnant person?  As if the pilot knew what we were thinking, after few minutes, he suddenly stopped the boat, face east and wuallaaa........that is the maiden, and she is pregnant!!!

We tried hard to figure it out,....can you?

Figure out the head and the tummy.

Aaahhhh...got it.  It's my tummy after all.  Snap snap.

 

Dayang Bunting Lake, which is at the centre of the Island is of course freshwater (air tawar).  Some legend says that if you are not pregnant after some time 'trying', drink the water from this lake.  I don't mind drinking, but I prefer not to get pregnant....hehe....lol.

To jump or not to jump......

Still thinking, to jump or not...........what?  Time to go? 

EAGLE WATCHING

Helang means eagle, so eagle watching should be part of the activities here.  This island is used to be a zoo and a night safari, that's why you can see the jetty.  Nowadays, it is closed for some reason but I guess the animals must be happier now.
There is a way to call the eagles out, by blowing a whistle and throwing some pieces of chicken into the air,....and suddenly you are surrounded by tens of different types of eagles. 

Where are you eagles.....

OO come on eagles........

There you are.

Snap time.

One thirsty eagle.....lol

 Finally its time to say goodbye.....

From the house of pink.....

From one happy tourist..

to another..

T7. EXCITEMENT of LANGKAWI

DAY 1 -- Welcome to the LAnd of Eagle

We are back to tell our stories on our travel to domestic locations.  Great location, that is Langkawi Island.

Lang or Helang means eagle, so you know what to expect in Langkawi.  One of my favourites local destinations and the last time I was here,......hmmm was it four years ago?

As usual, we have to start from the planning, the tickets hunting, the itinerary, and of course, the money.  Once again thanks to Air Asia        http://www.airasia.com/my/en/home.page 

and thanks to Kak Long.  We booked the flight tickets more or less six months in advance.

Doesn't cost us too much, so we bring the whole battalion, at least Kuantan can be calmer a little for a few days.

Airport is crowded with weekend travelers....Can you spot the first timers? Check their smiles.

 

The homestay, D'ADISHA INAPAN.

We booked the homestay much earlier, so we can choose from a number of homestays that the owner has offered us.  This is one of the most convenient accomodation, located at Kuah town, which is closeby to the main jetty for the ferries to and from the mainland.  In our case, we drove all the way from the airport to Kuah.
   The mpv we got for RM150 per day is good enough to fit in eight of us.


DATARAN HELANG -- The eagle has landed

 Our homestay is in Kuah town, so it is near to the Dataran Helang too. This 12-meter sculpture of an eagle is so prominent and was built in the late 80's facing the open sea just next to the jetty.  

Which eagles you want to choose? .......just kidding.

Spot the Eagle.......

KUAH TOWN -- eating out

The highlight is always..........food!!!
The best is to go to night stalls, open few attached-tables, order in extra quantities, some fish, some chicken and soup,..........what more to say.....

Work??  What work?

OO mannn

The shopping complex, just the right location after that heavy dinner.

Who doesn't know Haji Ismail Group.  The last time I was here, this complex didn't exist.  A so called duty-free shops are abundant, basically they are selling the same things, chocolate, bags, electronic products, clothes, toys, .........almost everything. But don't buy everything here, you might find better deal at other locations.  Reference point: Daim chocolate 350gm @ RM16.50


DAY 2 -- Sight-seeing

This is the best time to visit the Island, not soooo crowded, the weather is fine, the scenery is so breathtaking.  Check out some photos.

Try to locate our boat.

Wonder where is it....

Guys...find the boat, don't bother those canons.

Few steps to the left will do.......

 CABLE CAR -- Gunung Mat Cincang

This can easily be the scariest cable car ride I have ever had.  The most extreme slope is the one just before reaching the first stop.  Somehow, the scenery up on the mountain worth all the trouble, and the scares.

Real Steep.

Playing cool, don't we?

 

Is that K-pop star?

 There are two stops, both at about 700 meter above sea level.  I can't help admiring the greenery, the silence of the jungle, and the absence of pollution.

 What goes up, must come down......so waiting for our turn to descent is as torturing as the descent itself.

Bro, let's just stay here for good.

"I am thinking of.................foods!!""

PANTAI CENANG -- Centre of activities

Pantai Cenang is the most visited beach in Langkawi.  What is the point of coming to Langkawi if not wanting to be at Cenang.  Cenang is like a modern beach town with shopping complexes, Aquarium, Hotels, Chalets, Sea,......you name it.  Majority of tourists will either choose their accommodation here or at Kuah town.

So windy, banana ride later.

A local beach boy...lol