Travel To Korea 2019: 5 NEW Must-visit Instagram Spots!

It's always a brand new experience for me to travel to Korea and look for hidden gems and share to y'all! This time, especially the Instagram-worthy spots that you don't want to miss! Lets get your itinerary ready and start planning it for your upcoming trip to Korea!

1) Gwangmyeong Cave
Address: 142, Gahak-ro 85beon-gil, Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi-do 14341, South Korea
Operating time: 9am-6pm ( Closed on Monday )
Ticket: Adult: 6,000 won / Youth: 3,500 won / Child: 2,000 won.

Definitely recommend a visit to this site! A testament to the will of the Korean people to overcome a dark past. This cave was actually a mine exploited by the Japanese during their occupation where Koreans were the forced labour to mine gold, silver, zinc and other minerals. It was later used to store dried shrimp and other foodstuffs, then left abandoned for forty years.

The old mine has been converted to a tourist site as a cave with an interesting light and media displays, local plants nurseries, and aquariums of exotic fish - all in addition to relating the story of the cave's past. For me a hightlight was a New Age music and video presentation using the contours of the rock as a screen for the video - just spectacular!

You can tour inside the cave for one hour or more. It's cold and definitely a cool place to explore. You won't get lost as there's a lot of guides are ready to help.

2) Terarosa Coffee Factory & Museum
Address: Gangwon-do, Gangneung-si, Gujeong-myeon, 7 Hyeoncheon-gil
Contact: +82 33-648-2760
Operating Time: Everyday 9am-9pm

Terarosa coffee definitely lives up to its name. The mocha and latte I had was so fragrant, one of the best coffees I tried! Their hand-drip coffee is also out of the world! Tried almost all their cakes - the tiramisu and pecan pie was the best. Will go back again and again just for this!

The museum tour was also extremely insightful where you get to learn so much about their coffee origins. It’s only available for booking in Korean, but they have English explanations and stories inside the museum so all’s good. Definitely a high recommendation from me. I will definitely go back again to this place to spend a full day enjoying a good cuppa coffee.

I can't wait to go again during winter season! It's so beautiful! 

Photos are from koreatodo.com

3) Daegwallyeong Sky Ranch
Address: 458-23, Kkotbatyangji-gil, Daegwallyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do 25344, South Korea
Operating Time: Jan-Mar / Oct-Dec: 9:00-17:30
Admission: 6,000 won (Adult) / 5,000 won (Child)
Tractor Carriage (5km, 30 mins): 6,000 won (Adult) / 5,000 won (Child)


Daegwallyeong Sky Ranch was used as the filming location for the movie, "Welcome to Dongmakgol", SBS "Running Man", MBC "We Are Married" and TVN drama "Cinderella and the Four Knights". It's a gorgeous place to embrace the nature! Perfect for couple or family as there are baby zoo which you can experience animal feeding.

Probably one of the most beautiful place i have visited. Clear skies, greenery and the nature! I can’t ask for more. We had fun feeding the goats, horses and sheeps. We took the tractor up to where the windmills are, its really worth visiting as the view is spectacular. The tractor will stop for 15mins at the windmills for photo taking and there is option to stop mid hill to look at other animals in the ranch and if you choose that option, you’ll have to walk downhill to the exit by yourself.

4) Jumunjin Beach
- "Goblin Shooting Location"
Address: 81-32 Gyohang-ri, Jumunjin-eup, Gangneung, Gangwon-do, South Korea

- "BTS Bus stop" the album cover [You Never Walk Alone]

Jumunjin Beach is a beautiful shallow beach with clear water and gorgeous blue sky. It’s located at the northern-most part of Gangneung, Gangwon Province. It’s also one of the shooting location for the popular K-Drama , where the main actress Eun Tak (played by Kim Go Eun) met Goblin (played by Gong Yoo) for the first time in the series.

The bus stop is expected to become a hot Instagrammable location among K-Pop fans.

5) Mirinae Holy Site
- "Goblin Shooting Location"
Address: 420, Mirinaeseongji-ro, Yangseong-myeon, Anseong-si, Gyeonggi-do
Operating Time: 8am-6pm

It's a super cool place to visit for some good aura and peace. Love the architecture here and this is Super Instagram-worthy too! Look at the church, It's breath taking! Also one of the famous scene appeared in "Goblin"

It is the representative venue of the Korean Catholic Church, where the tomb of Kim Dae-geon, the first priest of Korea, is laid, and where the believers lived together, accepting the site as a place of faith when the Catholic Church was persecuted toward the late Empire of Korea. There are the cathedral, the tomb (Gyeongdang) of Father Kim Dae-geon, the Garden of Gethsemane, the house of retreat, the vicarage, the monastery, and the nunnery, so pilgrims who want to have peace of mind through prayer and meditation continue to visit the site.



Thanks again to KTO Singapore for the trip! This trip is definitely amazing and I can't wait to share more to all of you! Check my Youtube out for My Travel Vlog to Korea!

Travel to Bhutan : Itinerary & Travel Guide

A small kingdom in the Himalayas, Bhutan lies between India and China, with Tibet on its northern border. Isolated for centuries, the Kingdom of Bhutan opened its doors to tourism in 1974, and has become a popular destination for discerning travelers. Ranked as the second smallest nation in the world in terms of population, Bhutan is a country with a rich cultural history that goes back thousands of years.

The local name for the country, Druk Yul, means “Land of the Thunder Dragon”, and it is often referred to around Asia as the “Forgotten Land”. 

Bhutan is the only country in the world that has a ‘GNH.’ You may think GNH is just another statistically based term with no real life application, but it refers to “Gross National Happiness.” The process of measuring GNH began when Bhutan opened up to globalization. It measures people’s quality of life, and makes sure that “material and spiritual development happen together.” Bhutan has done an amazing job of finding this balance. Bhutan has continually been ranked as the Happiest Country in all of Asia.

I was so surprised when I first got the invitation to Bhutan from drukasia, Thank's to Kakakching & Gigi for the recommendation, trust and love! I can't explain how happy I am as Bhutan is one of my Bucket list. I'm so blessed that now I can share more about this country with y'all. 

Some call Bhutan the “Switzerland of Asia” because of its size, shape and location in the mountains. But as I flew into Bhutan, I realized that the mountains I saw out of the window of the tiny shaky plane were Mt. Everest and K2, the two highest mountains in the world. As soon as the plane touched down in Bhutan, the beautiful landscape overwhelmed me.

View outside of my room. Fresh air.

Do you know? 

Bhutan is The First Non-smoking nation.

While Bhutan may have been a secular nation for centuries, it is now a modern country that protects its traditions in a way that ensures it is both ancient and modern at the same time. Buddhist monks can be seen carrying smartphones, and giant protective penises can be seen painted beside doorways. Bhutan is a place where rice is red, and where chili is a common ingredient in almost every dish. The Bhutanese people are a mix of traditional and modern cultures, they are well educated thanks to the government’s free education system.

My first customised stamps with my favourite photo in Bhutan.  And I then sent out postcards to my friends with my customised stamps on it. A remarkable experience. Customised a set of stamps ( 12 stamps ) cost about Nu.500 / RM30 / USD7 

Another cool experience is to wear the Bhutanese traditional dress - Kira. We wore this and took nice photos throughout our trip especially visiting to the Punakha Dzong, where government office and temple gathered. This is one of a Must-Visit place if you are traveling to Bhutan. 

A set of Kira cost around Nu3500 / RM210 / USD$50

You'll easily see dogs and cats on the streets wherever you go, they are so clean and cute because the Bhutanese always treat stray animals as their own.

Do you know? Bhutanese doesn't kill or butcher animals. 
The meat you eat in Bhutan are mostly imported from India.

Traditionally, prayer flags are used to promote peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom. The flags do not carry prayers to gods, which is a common misconception; rather, the Tibetans believe the prayers and mantras will be blown by the wind to spread the good will and compassion into all pervading space.

This massive statue of Shakyamuni measures in at a height of 51.5 m, making it one of the largest statues of Buddha in the world. The statue is made of bronze and is gilded in gold. 125,000 smaller Buddha statues have been placed within the Buddha Dordenma statue. Each of these thousands of Buddhas have also been cast in bronze and gilded. The throne that the Buddha Dordenma sits upon is a large meditation hall.

The statue fulfils an ancient prophecy dating back to the 8th century A.D that was discovered by Terton Pema Lingpa (Religious Treasure Discoverer) and is said to emanate an aura of peace and happiness to the entire world.

Some photos are beautifully captured by my travel buddies.
Find out more on their IG:
Baki: https://www.instagram.com/bakizainal/
Wayne: https://www.instagram.com/wayne_wayne23/
Tianchad: https://www.instagram.com/tianchad/
Kakak: https://www.instagram.com/kakakching/


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Bhutan has a tourist industry that has been strictly controlled by the Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB), and is dedicated to sustainable tourism. “High Value, Low Volume” tourism. Tourism, like all Bhutanese industries must be sustainable and environmentally friendly.The government wanted tourists to understand the feel the deep-rooted culture and traditions, so they would have a higher appreciation for their surroundings.

Currency Exchange:
There is no way to exchange currency for Ngultrum outside Bhutan, so all currency exchanges must be done inside the country. You can bring US Dollars, Singaporean Dollars or Malaysian Ringgit to Bhutan and do your currency exchange at Bhutan's post office.


Visa & Permits to Bhutan:
In order to get a visa for Bhutan, travellers must first book their tour through the registered Bhutanese tour operator, who will make the arrangements for the visa on your behalf. 
Visa applications cannot be made personally through the Bhutanese Embassies.


Tour Expenses in Bhutan:
There's a Minimum Daily Package controlled by the Tourism Council of Bhutan , and amounts are USD 250 in the peak season and USD 200 in the low season. While it does cover the cost of the guide, driver, vehicle, food and accommodation.
* You can't travel to Bhutan without a guide *

Peak season : March-May, September-November
Low Peak season : December-February, June-August

Surcharges for tour below 3 persons:
Single traveller USD40/night
Double traveller USD30/person/night

This daily package inclusive of the below:
1) A qualified & licensed English speaking guide
2) An experienced driver
3) A Tour vehicle
4) All meals are inclusive
5) Accommodation ( 3 star hotels )
6) Taxes, Surcharges & Government contribution
7) Mineral water for the duration of the stay (Free of charge)

This package excludes:
1) Visa for Bhutan ( USD40 per person )
2) Tips for the guide & driver



Flight to Bhutan:
Drukair, the country's national carrier, has been operating for over 30 years with perfect safety records. It often brings Bhutanese Royalties too.
There are No direct flight from Malaysia. You can transit from Singapore or Bangkok in order to fly to Bhutan. If you are flying from KL Malaysia, I would recommend you to transit from Bangkok as they have daily flights to Bhutan, it's in the right direction, and you can also get a good massage on your way back. Bhutan tour usually allocates Tiger's Nest trekking on the last day of your trip, and you will feel extremely tired and muscle pain on the day you leave, it's always a good idea to have a massage in Bangkok during the transit.

Drukair flies from:
1) Singapore
2) New Delhi, Kolkata ( India )
3) Bangkok ( Thailand )
4) Dhaka ( Bangladesh )
5) Kathmandu ( Nepal )

Bhutan 7D6N Itinerary:
Day 1 : 
Memorial Chorten, Thimpu
Simply Bhutan
Check in to Namgey Hotel, Thimpu

Day 2 :
Kuenselphodrang, Thimpu
Takin Zoo
Post Office
Check in to Eco Lodge Hotel, Wangdue phodrang

Day 3 :
Gangtey Gonpa
1-2 hours trek at Gangtey
Chek in to ABC lodge, Phobjikha Valley

Day 4 :
Punakha Dzhong
Chimilakhang Temple
Check in to Namgey Hotel, Thimpu

Day 5 :
Jungshi Handmade Paper Factory
Gagyel Lhendup Weaving Centre
Ambient Cafe
Como Uma Paro - Afternoon tea
Ama Choeday's Farm house - Hot stone bath ( USD$20 )
Check in to Tashi Namgay Resort 

Day 6 :
Tiger's Nest Hike

Day 7 :
Return to my country


Total cost for my trip: 
1) I'm traveling during low peak season.
USD$200 x 6 nights = USD$1200

2) Visa USD40
3) Tips to tour guide & Driver ( optional ) USD$60
4) Return Flights : Singapore - Bhutan & Bhutan - Singapore USD$1000
5) Return Flights : KL - Singapore & Singapore - KL RM380
6) Hot stone bath USD20
7) Customised stamps x2 sets USD$14
8) A set of Bhutanese traditional dress - Kira USD$50
-----------------------------
RM 10378 / USD2484 / SGD 3400
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Tour Agency:
I went to Bhutan with Drukasia and I strongly recommend them if you are planning to go to Bhutan. They are the Bhutan Tour Specialist and also appointed as General Sales Agent for Royal Bhutan Airline - Drukair.

Contact Gigi +6018 661 7699
to customise your package based on the duration stays. 
Don't forget to mention my name "Charlene" and get a special Travel Gift Set when you book your trip with Gigi.

I'll personally give you a set of FREE customised stamp in Bhutan with your favourite picture, just quote my name  to Gigi and then instagram PM me will do. 
My Instagram: @charlene22

Travel to Maldives - Guide & Tips

"Tropical oasis," "paradise on earth," "bucket-list destination": When it comes to the Maldives every one of them is accurate. The sheer beauty of the coral reefs, the translucent ever-changing colors of the Indian Ocean, the isolation, indigenous vegetation and friendly people are legendary, and rightly so—the Maldives lives up to the hype.

The turquoise lagoons are crystal clear. Strange to think that the idyllic Maldives have only been a holiday destination for 40 years or so.



When to go

The Maldives has a benign climate, with year-round temperatures between 26C-30C. It never suffers from tornadoes though it does have a monsoon season in November which is best avoided and unsettled weather can persist well into December, though then the rain tends to be in short, afternoon bursts only.

The high season stretches from November to April, with Christmas and New Year being the most expensive time to travel. The perfect months are January, February and March when the sky is blue and the water so calm it could be glass.

As April is a 'shoulder’ period, the prices are lower; then May sees the start of the low season when the weather is less predictable but rarely bad enough to disturb a holiday.



Currency

The Maldivian currency is the Rufiyaa but tourists have no need of it. Resort bills are best paid at the end of the stay and other expenses, such as tips and purchases when on excursion, are best paid in US dollars.



Tips Before travel to Maldives:
1) Do get your US dollars ready before you travel to Maldives, as their money changer's rates are super low.
2) Plan your purpose and go with who, so you can get the best resort/stay best match your budget.
3) Flight & Boat ride is expensive from island to island. Find your best stay and you'll not pay extra to travel to another island during your trip.
4) Get all your electronic stuffs and cables ready and best to have backup, as you will be in the island for your whole trip. Only simple convenient store is available.



Things to Do in Maldives:

1) Sea of stars
The biological light, or bioluminescence, in the waves is the product of marine microbes called phytoplankton—and now scientists think they know how some of these life-forms create their brilliant blue glow. Make sure you book your stay with the possibility to see sea of stars, as this is only available in certain places in Maldives.

2) Diving
Maldive is one of the premier Scuba Diving Destination and it's known for its stingrays, whale shark migration and sea turtles. The crystal clear blue waters offer incredible visibility and there’s no need for a wetsuit here, the water’s warm and inviting. There's also whale shark watching which will be remarkable for your trip.

3) Snorkelling
If scuba diving isn’t your thing, snorkeling is a great option. The reefs are so pristine in the Maldives that you don’t have to go deep to see a lot! You can easily see little sharks or sea turtle by snorkelling.

4) Dolpin Spotting
This is one of the best thing to do during your Maldives trip. It is usually a half day tour out to the middle of the sea for dolphin spotting and you will also get a chance to witness the beauty of sunset on your way back to your hotel or resort.

5) Sunset Romantic Dinner
This is definitely the place for it! Enjoy your dinner with your loved one with the beauty of sunset paired with that relaxing sound of waves right beside you.