Coffee Addicted: Rotiboy Seoul

Travelling to Korea and craving for home made cook?? Or any Malaysian, that currently reside in Korea; suddenly feel wanna eat our beloved country signature?? O_o Well there are few Malaysian Restaurants in Korea but today I'm not going to write about those.ㅋㅋㅋ I will just write about our light meal signature that available there!^^ Guess what!! They have about 32 branches in Korea itself!!!ㅋㅋ Even more than we had at Malaysia??! Wow I'm speechless! 대박!^^

I guess most Malaysians knows about Rotiboy isn't it?? A famous bun that available at Suria Kuala Lumpur City Center (KLCC)!! Kuala Lumpur and Seoul is 4502 KM distance then how come Rotiboy can be found at Seoul?? ㅋㅋ Delivered via plane?? ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ I guess by the time it reach Seoul, its going to be rotten! ㅋㅋㅋ

At Malaysia, Rotiboy available at Suria KLCC and in few other places, the owner then decide to expend their business in some other countries as well. Rotiboy open it very first oversea branch at Singapore on 2004. Following by Surabaya on 2004. Then they open another branch at Jakarta and Bangkok on 2005. On 2007 they open their branch at Seoul following at Taiwan on 2008. They also expend their business to some other countries recently. For more information about Rotiboy, read here. 

Before I went to Korea, I have NO clue at all about their branch in Seoul in fact I saw it accidentally with my friend while we were at Yongsan Station!ㅋㅋㅋ You can read about it here. Rotiboy cafe located at I-Park Mall, 7th Floor, Yongsan Station. We heard that the outlet at Yongsan Station might be closed but we were not sure about it ㅠㅠ, however there is another branch at Seoul which is near to Seongshin woman university.  For more information about their cafe chain in Seoul, visit Rotiboy Korea. The more shocking fact is it also been highlighted in certain Korean dramas!! How come I didn't know about these??!! ㅠㅠ I felt as if I been left behind! ㅋㅋ Anyway if I ever visit Korea again, I would definitely bring my Korean friends to Rotiboy! ^^

p/s: The website was written in Korean though ㅋㅋ, For Malaysian that currently at Korea you can reach Rotiboy cafe via subway, the final station for it is YONGSAN STATION,the building is attach with the station If it s no more available there you can try to go Seongshin women university station via LINE 4.. ^^ They are some other branches too at Seoul but I'm not sure which part of Seoul. ㅠㅠ I hope you enjoy rotiboy! They also sell Korean famous dessert bingsu.

Sources: http://malaysia.rotiboy.com/index.php?p=home
               http://www.rotiboy.kr/
               My Friend

Photo Credit: culturevulturesinkorea.blogspot.com
                       darkkurosaki.blogspot.com
                       heart-murmur.blogspot.com
                       My friend

Event: 17th Asian Games, Incheon

I'm not a big fan of sports however I do enjoy watching some of it. ㅋㅋ Why I choose to write about sports today?? Actually I'm not!ㅋㅋ Last Friday there was big event held at Incheon, Korea, its still ongoing.^^ As ex event management student, big scale event always draw my passion into it.ㅋㅋㅋ Perhaps I miss those old days during my university period??ㅋㅋ I've always thinking when I will having a chance for organizing big scale of sports event, I always wanted to experience it but I guess I have to forget about it, since I'm no longer in that field currently..ㅠㅠ Whatever it is, been a part of committees for organizing international event helps me a lot in so many aspect and I'm happy with that! ^^

Lets proceed with my topic today,I guess you guys knew that The 17th Asian Games had starts on last Friday isn't it??. This event will be held from September 19, until October 4, 2014. With the motto of  "Diversity shines here", the event had succeed to gather all 45 Asian countries! ^^ Despite of political situation in Palestine, Syria, Iraq and Iran, they still sent representatives from their countries to join the event. ^^ Don't get me wrong I'm not talking about political here,ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Sports do unite countries even though in daily life they had some disputable issues. ^^

Asian Games is one of prestige event as it participated by many countries in Asia continent. For 2014, the event took place at Incheon. This metropolitan city took around one hour to Seoul. I've been to one of the venue but at that time its still under construction!ㅋㅋ I forgot to take the picture though!ㅠㅠ For Asian Games 2014, the venue for media broadcasting and press were located at Songdo. This area is eco-friendly zone and new sisters city in Incheon. For more update about the games you can click here. Curious about Songdo city, read this. ^^ There are few games/disciplines will held somewhere around Songdo includes softball, cycling,beach volleyball, kabaddi, triathlon and weightlifting. 

p/s: For those who love K-pop, maybe you should grab a ticket and check it out on closing ceremony. I heard CN Blue will do some performance there!^^ Ahh my favorite actor join in during opening ceremony but I miss a chance to see it on TV! ㅠㅠ

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Asian_Games
               http://www.incheon2014.kr/index
               my friend

Photo Credit: ocasia.org 
                      big5.news.cn
                      blog.incheon2014ag.com
                      sport.mthai.com

Culture: Korean is "San"(산) addicted??!!

What does "san" (산)" means?? I think for those who ever visit to Korea were familiar with Hallasan, Sabangsan,Jirisan, Seoraksan, Dobongsan,Namsan, Taebaeksan and etc. All have different names but with one similar word at the last which is "San" and why does it relate to Korean culture??
"San" means mountain. Why mountain is such an important in Korean culture? Does Korean living on mountain?? ㅋㅋ Well in this modern society, its hard to find people living on mountain, maybe in rural area??ㅋㅋ For Korean, hiking is one of most popular activities among them, be it a child, youth or old generation; hiking is known that something blend with their life, history.

Since autumn is on, it is a perfect time for hiking! Normally Korean will hiking during spring or autumn as the weather is lovely. ^^ During summer some will hiking but summer heat makes them prefer to throw themselves in ocean rather than sun bathing while hiking!ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

During my trips to Korea, I never had a chance to hiking. Actually there is a time I can hike but I choose not to, because I felt I'm not fit enough to hiking! ㅋㅋㅋ I wish to experience it at least once in my life but not a very high mountain ㅋㅋㅋ because I'm afraid I will troubling people who go hiking with me.ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Hiking is good for body and mind. There are research showing that hiking is a powerful cardio workout as it can lower your chances of having heart disease, improve your blood pressure and blood sugar levels. It also help build strength the muscle in your hips and lower legs.

Those whose thinking on how to control your weight, hiking is the perfect activities for you! NO wonder its hard to find OBESITY within Korean society, I didn't say there are none but its hard to find. ㅋㅋㅋ Most of them were fit!  Wonder how Korean women can wear high heel while walking all over the place even at small mountain?? It is because their environment, land structure and they were familiar with hiking activities! ㅋㅋ

p/s: Thanks to my friend for his hiking collection pictures! Can I expect more pictures after this? ㅋㅋ :P

Source: http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/hiking-body-mind  

Photo Credit: My friend
                      www.mikelaagan.com 

Special Event: Songpyeon, a MUST have item during Chuseok!

Autumn comes again! Ahh it's been a year since my last autumn in Korea. Looking at my autumn trip pictures makes me wanna go there again, even though I just come back 3 months ago! ㅋㅋㅋ Anyway this is my second entry for Chuseok day occasion. ^^ Meaning its nearly 2 years since I start writing on this blog! Time really flies fast isn't it??ㅋㅋ

For 2014 Chuseok, I'm going to write about special delicacy during this special occasion. Chuseok celebration without "songpyeon" is like you held a gun without a bullet! It's felt as if something missing without this important traditional dishes!

Songpyeon is a rice cake but it isn't an ordinary rice cake because Korean says songpyeon is one of offering item during Chuseok. That is one of the reason without songpyeon, Chuseok day is incomplete.ㅋㅋ Why songpyeon mostly be eaten during Chuseok?? I ask around but most of my Korean friends says they don't know much about it, they said all they know that it is been said that its one of tradition during Chuseok day.ㅋㅋㅋ

Apart from that I also ask my friends about Songpyeon shape. They said in the beginning process, the shape will be in full moon shape but at the end it must have be in crescent moon shape. According to Korean history record, it is believe that songpyeon shape are referring for two greatest kingdom in Korean history, Bakjae and Silla Dynasty.

Bakjae Kingdom is full moon, while crescent moon shape is referring to Silla Kingdom. During King Uija sovereignty in Bakjae, turtle back was found. This special code interpret as the fall of Bakjae Kingdom and the rise of Silla Kingdom. It came true when Silla Kingdom defeated Bakjae in war. As Silla won, crescent moon been regard as bright future to Korean.

For Korean, eating crescent moon Songpyeon with family under the full moon of Chuseok is as a wish of having plenty harvest season next year as well to show their gratitude of successful harvest seasons for that particular year.

I haven't try Songpyeon because I've never been at Korea during Chuseok day, I would like to experience that someday! ^^ For those who interested to make it at home you may refer here.

P/s:  There are few types of filling inside Songpyeon like chesnut, sesame, mung bean and etc. They put "song" (pine needles) in order to prevent it stick to one another. Korean believe that whoever made a beautiful shape of songpyeon will having beautiful daughters. ^^ㅋㅋ Happy Chuseok Day to all my Korean readers! ^^ Hope you guys have a wonderful Chuseok celebration and abundant in everything!

Sources: http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/09/22/2010092200094.html
              http://www.arirang.co.kr/News/News_View.asp?nseq=137893
              http://foodpolis.info/?p=1211&ckattempt=1
              http://www.koreanbapsang.com/2012/09/songpyeon-half-moon-shaped-rice-cake.html#.VAe7iPmSySo
             My Friends

Photo Credit: dailywt.com
                      koreataste.org
                      mymariamargareta.blogspot.com

Culture: Korean were addicted to COFFEE??!!!

As I sat alone at office suddenly my mind kept thinking about COFFEE! Coffee? What is the relation of coffee to my blog???! Actually I'm NOT a fan of coffee,wait I think I need to re-write that phrase!ㅋㅋㅋ That was long time ago before I went to Korea!ㅋㅋㅋ During my first trip to Korea on 2012, we saw lots of cafe around Seoul, but we NEVER stop by at any. I don't know why we don't though ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Then when I start to fall in love with coffee??

It happen during my 2013 trip!! I read about Korean culture, where after dinner, normally they went to cafe for coffee, dessert or they heading to noraebang (노래방) (karaoke). However I never had a chance for all these!ㅋㅋ I met few of my Korean friends for first and second day (2013 trip) but we didn't stop by at any cafeㅋㅋㅋ maybe because we were rushing to somewhere else. Ahhh rushing to get a jacket/sweater! ㅋㅋㅋ

Then when it happen? My first coffee addicted begins before I went to Gwangju! I met a Korean friend somewhere at Olympic Park. After snap a lots of pictures, we were looking for a place to have our lunch but we can't find any. ㅠㅠ At that time we were at Yongsan Station, as I need to catch my KTX to Gwangju, we don't have enough time to look for our proper lunch. Out of blue I saw Roti Boy! I guess most Malaysian known Roti Boy don't you?? It had one branch at Seoul?? Yes it is!! First time saw it I was like NO WAY! Is it the same brand? Maybe I'm dreaming??!ㅋㅋㅋ.

After I pass by the cafe, then I realized it is!!! Its our cafe chain!!As Malaysian, I'm proud seen it! ㅋㅋㅋ Without thinking much, I told my friend, lets try it! We tried Roti boy and Americano! This is how my coffee addicted begins! I also learn about Korean coffee addicted from my friend!He told me Korean went for coffee/tea for meeting a friend, studying, dating, loafing and etc ㅋㅋ, no wonder there are thousand cafe around Korea!!ㅋㅋ For that particular day, I had three time coffees! All from different coffee chain!ㅋㅋㅋ I will write about those coffee chain in different entry! :P

p/s: Anyone can guess what is my favorite coffee?? Join me for having a cup of coffee?? :P

Photo Credit: italiangoodnews.com
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