Shopping online is one of the more convenient thing to do and one of the things I have enjoyed the most when I have extra cash to spend. My shopping haul is not for myself, but for my family. I love sending presents to them and any products that I found sale online.

Recently, I shopped frequently so I can fill the “balikbayan box” I need to send home. It is for my family and gift for my relatives as we are leaving Korea soon. One of the items I bought online are Pantene shampoo, they are cheap for ₩590 per 90ml bottle. These are perfect as a homecoming gift to my relatives, right?

I have thought shampoo is not enough as a gift so I search for soaps that are on sale in Gmarket, I was lucky to find ON body soaps on sale (ON: Lovely Perfume and ON: Sweet Perfume) ₩6, 900 for 10 soaps so I bought 2 sets, making it 20 ON body soaps.

With the Lunar New Year coming there are plenty of items on sale in Gmarket and when I found a good deal for Closeup toothpaste, ₩2, 900 for 100mlx5 I bought five sets making it 25 pieces of 100ml Closeup toothpaste, also a perfect match for my gift set, isn’t it?

One of the most important parts of being a new pet owner is doing the research on how to be a responsible pet owner. Make sure you learn the proper feeding and grooming techniques to care for your little one.

Well, it is an old the tale that cats and dogs are enemies. I bet to disagree because my dog (Kangchi) and my three kittens get along together. On the first day of the three kittens in our house they are scared of Kangchi, I think it’s because it’s their first time to get along. But the second day, as I am feeding them w/ rice and some fish with milk to my surprise they eat together. And an hour ago, I saw them lying on the pillow I gave to Kangchi. They eat together, sleep together and play together.

Online shopping has become a real popular alternative to shopping in malls and local stores. Shopping online offers many different ways to save money and there are many online shopping malls to choose from but one type that is real economical is a portal shopping mall that gives cash back or offer deals and discount on all purchases.

In Korea shopping online is one of the popular trend. There are many shopping portal online caters locals and foreign shoppers, and one shopping portal catering global shoppers is Gmarket, a leading e-commerce marketplace in Korea since it has been founded in 2000 and a brand of eBay Korea. Gmarket gives sellers a flexible and comprehensive sales solution and buyers a tremendous selection of goods at competitive prices.

Gmarket is my favorite place to shop online because it is convenient and items are cheaper than the local stores. The shopping portal also offer discounts, coupon codes, free return and delivery in special cases.

First time shopper in Gmarket? Do you like to create an account, you can start shopping in Gmarket by registering an account. Choose global so the site will run in English language, once you create your account you can start shopping in Gmarket. Add the items you like in your shopping cart, if you live in Korea add them in domestic delivery and if you want to ship the items overseas choose overseas delivery.

Before you hit PLACE AN ORDER look for coupons to avail discounts on the item in your shopping cart, to use the coupons just click the orange menu “Apply Coupon” on your shopping cart and you can see all the usable coupon for your order, choose one and click apply. The discount will now reflect on the item in your shopping cart, fill-up the delivery information and choose your payment method in payment options you can pay thru credit card, sending money (bank transfer), mobile payment and paypal.

Gmarket sellers offers fast delivery, my order always arrived 2-3 days after payment.

[ Tagged In ] Gmarket, Gmarket Korea, Korea, Korea Shopping, Life in Korea, Living in South Korea, Online Shopping, South Korea

A few days ago I went to the nearby convenience store to buy for electrical tape, but  before I went to the counter to pay, I look around the aisles for items that I can afford to buy.  I found few but the instant Bibimbap caught my attention, this Korean food can only be found in Korean restaurant, but today if you are craving for Bibimbap you can eat it anytime and anywhere as long as you see them in any convenience store around you.

Bibimbap is a signature Korean dish. The word literally means “mixed rice”. Bibimbap is served as a bowl of warm white rice topped with namul (sautéed and seasoned vegetables) and gochujang (chili pepper paste). A raw or fried egg and sliced meat (usually beef) are common additions. The ingredients are stirred together thoroughly just before eating. It can be served either cold or hot. (Source Wikipedia)

The instant Bibimbap was sold with free beef noodles, I think it is marketing strategy so more people will buy and try this product. The box contains 3 packages and a spoon, the packages contain puff rice, dry garnishes and sauce. I cook the rice mixed with the dry garnishes within 1 cup of water for 3 minutes and mixed the sauce afterwards and voila my Bibimbap is ready to eat. This item cost 2,800 won per small box.

Within the success of sending my first LBC jumbo box to the Philippines (read here Sending Balikbayan Box LBC Korea to Philippines) and within 5 weeks left before we leave Korea I am in hiatus mode to send my remaining stuff and “pasalubong” to my family and relatives. I have informed LBC last Wednesday that my box is ready for pickup but because I am going to Seoul on Thursday and probably Friday too, I have told them to pick it up on Monday. But when I came home from Seoul yesterday, I have no appointment on Friday so I immediately informed Edelyn that my box can be pick-up today (Friday).

Tekbe ajossi came early morning today (Friday) bringing the new jumbo box I have ordered, yeah right I have thought I only need 2 jumbo box to send my things home but it turns out I need more. The second box was just for pasalubong and my personal things, I still have things left to be sent home.  My second box was not pick-up today as the tekbe ajossi’s truck is already full of boxes, was informed he will pick up my box tomorrow. No problem for me, I am around the house the whole weekend. 🙂

LBC Korea branch is located at: 1F, 102-1 Hyehwa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul Korea.
Jumbo Box size – 73 x 52 x 73

Well, as expected my box was not collected the next day because it was weekend. The tekbe ajossi returned on Monday to get my box.

Shopping for shampoo and conditioners is what I love the most when they are on sale. I am hopping from the nearby supermarket to look for sale and discounted hair regimen but I can’t find any. Of course, my favorite thing to do is to shop online. Shopping online is more convenient and I can get the best discount using coupon codes and free shipping deals.

I have tried many shampoos already, but when I used Dove Damage Therapy Hair Fall I have noticed my hair becoming softer and shinier and since then I have been using this brand. Thinking that Dove shampoo will be expensive in the Philippines I decided to buy more Dove Damage Therapy Hair Fall Shampoo and Conditioner to be sent home.

Retail Price: ₩11, 900/780 ml
Sale Price Online: ₩3, 900/780 ml
Savings: ₩8, 000/780 ml

When living abroad one of the things we missed is food aside from our love ones. In Korea there are few Asian stores that sell Asian food items you can mostly find them in a place where there’s an Asian community.  Anyway, while working with my documents to be notarized I have decided to pay a visit at the KC Filipino store just beside the Han Bi Sa notarization office. It is not my first time in the store, my friend and I already ate there when I did my passport renewal.  I think this was my 4th time at the Filipino store, the third time was when I bought polvoron the other day, but this time I want to eat local Filipino viand.

I was happy to see that there’s cooked vegetables left “pakbit” so I have ordered for takeout and it cost ₩5, 000 for a small serving, it  doesn’t even meet the ₱10. 00 cooked vegetables in the Philippines but it doesn’t matter because this is Korea so the price is different.  I’ve ordered one serving of “papaitan” too which I forgot to ask how much. Seeing buko salad for sale I have asked and ordered 2 servings, ₩5, 000 each per serving. It was been a long time since I had this dessert and I just want to treat myself for a job well done in document notarization and one step closer to travel to Europe.

[Pinakbit and 1 serving of buko salad]

Well, looking at the Filipino local items in the store the impulsive shopper me just ask and buy items that I think to be useful.  I have bought a PH Care Feminine wash for ₩12, 000 a little expensive than the ₩8, 000 PH Care Feminine Wash in an Asian store in Itaewon station exit 3, if I am not mistaken about the exit. I have bought my last bottle from there with the help of a friend and I am little lazy to drop there or in the Asian store in our place. I saw Victoria’s secret cologne as well, but when I asked it is kind expensive for me I can buy them in less amount online or in Hyehwa.

Anyway, I was asked what is my job just to start a  conversation like if I am a factory worker, I laughingly replied I am PAL (read palamunin), I am not allowed to work because I am in dependent visa.

[Papaitan before and after removing the soup]

When I saw Ponds facial foam I have bought it too for ₩10, 000 although I knew I can buy them in gmarket for 1+1 in the same price, I am just in a happy mood because I can finally apply for Schengen visa.  When I pay at the counter the total cost of my order is ₩48, 000 so it seems one serving of “papaitan” cost ₩11, 000.  Exiting the door, I saw monggo beans and I bought one for ₩5, 000 I have thought of cooking monggo beans at home.

That’s my shopping haul a little bit pricey,  probably if I bought Korean food, there’s more food in my bag, but Filipino food is a food I can’t eat every day in Korea so I have no choice but to spend and Hyehwa informal Filipino market is only around on Sunday and Wednesday is far over to Sunday. So when my husband asked me how much do I spend on my shopping loot, I didn’t tell an amount I just said cheap, I might get scolded or be called crazy for spending too much despite it is my own money and not his.

Well, I have read once from online community of Filipinas in Facebook that it is a bit expensive to buy in KC Philippine store , I guess because of its location and it is a restaurant with a store unlike in Hyehwa informal market (see Hyehwa shopping here) where viand only cost ₩5, 000 per serving is a market and only open during Sunday. Not sure how much does it cost to dine in Kusina Filipino Restaurant in Seoul, I should try it next time.

One of our favorite restaurant to dine in is VIPS Steakhouse but since we moved outside of Seoul we are out of chance to go to any VIPS outlet because it was not around our place. The other day my husband asked me to treat him some nice instant meal from the convenience store and I was ecstatic when I saw fried rice by VIPS, there’s only two boxes left so I took the two of them on the counter, I am thinking my husband will like it.

As I also bought an instant meal and other food items in the convenience store we are not able to eat shrimp fried rice, I ate mine after two days when I came home hungry from Seoul. I just heat the rice in the oven for 1 minute and it didn’t turn out well, when my husband ate his fried rice he told me that I should heat it for 3 minutes and 30 seconds. I didn’t see the instruction on the front of the box that’s why my rice taste like misty and raw.

Having three kittens I thought was easy. That’s just what I thought. But when the saleslady of Zafeway (a grocery store here in Odiongan) gave me three kittens, one female and two males. The war starts… between me and those cute kittens.

There first day in our house is so unforgettable, why? It is because, my mother told me to have them tie, so tie them so that they will not go anywhere because they are not yet familiar with our house. But one of the cats gets off of his tie, and just gets inside our house. I told my mother to just let the cats get released from their tie because they are not going anywhere. But an hour later as I’m going to feed them one of the cats is missing. So I look for her around the house, but I could not find her. I also look for her in my grandmother’s house and everywhere. My mother is now upset because the one that is missing is the only female cat. So she said to me, I should have not released them in their tie. I just release them because I thought they are not going anywhere. But then again I searched inside the house for the second time, now using flashlight in looking in some dark places. There she is inside our old dish dispenser below the stairs sleeping so deeply. That old dispenser is full of the old notebooks of my sister.

The hope of traveling to Europe disappeared when I was informed in the Philippine embassy that documents from the Philippines must only be notarized/authenticated in the Philippines.  I have to submit a notarized marriage certificate in applying for Schengen visa and if I can’t get it in time I can’t apply for a visa and travel to Europe with my husband. We have already planned that I have to go home to the Philippines to get my documents to be notarized and I have to do it soon,  because our Korean visa will expire in less than 2 months.

I have ranted my sadness in Facebook and some friends sympathized with me, I have asked a friend that migrated to the US few  months ago on where she had her documents notarized.  I was informed she had it done in Itaewon through an attorney,  with this information I have seen a beam light of hope that I can complete the requirements without going home to the Philippines.

I went to Seoul on Monday to look for the place where my friend had her documents notarized, but it seems the guy was not around anymore so I went to the travel agency just beside a restaurant but it was closed, I mean nobody answers when I buzz the doorbell.  So I went to the KC Filipino store to ask for a  place I could get my documents notarized, before asking I bought one bag of Goldilocks polvoron I have been eyeing to buy this snack in Hyehwa long time ago but I always set it aside for other local foods.

Anyway, I was told that there’s an office (HAN BI SA) beside the store that do notarization when I went in the agent was out for lunch. I waited, but decided to go out when I feel hot inside.  To cut the story short, I return and ask for notarization to the woman at the first desk. The initial cost is ₩55, 000 if I want the notarized documents to be mailed to our home, was told that I will receive the documents on Wednesday, but I can’t wait for one more day so I have asked if I can pick it up the next day (Tuesday) so the payment cost was retracted to ₩45, 000.

I was surprised because my friend told me that notarization only cost ₩20, 000 per page, it turns out I have to pay for translation too so the documents will be notarized.  So the breakdown is ₩20, 000 for translation and ₩25, 000 for notarization.

Later in the evening I received a call that my document is not yet available for pickup the next day, so I have to pick it up on Wednesday.