Kdrama Review: Cinderella and the Four Knights

I grew up hearing the story of Cinderella and her happily ever after. And though Cinderella was my favorite fairy tale I was not ecstatic when I first heard of the kdrama Cinderella  and the Four Knights. Probably because I am not very familiar with the casts but I had a change of heart after watching the first episode - I know! this happened to me many times now. Lol!

The Hits

An old and familiar story told in a new way. Cinderella and the Four Knights is somehow similar to the Cinderella story that we know - it is about a girl who is mistreated by her stepmother and stepsister while his father works away from home. Her life changed drastically after meeting the rich Kang cousins.

Aside from similarities of the plot in the Cinderella story we know, this kdrama talks about family that we all can relate to. It shows that no family is perfect, we argue, we fight but at the end of the day a family will always be a family; just like the Kang cousins.

Modern Cinderella Eun Ha Won. I loved the character of Eun Ha Won - she's nice, sweet, strong, hardworking, virtuous and stands for herself; she doesn't need a guy to rescue her. She's a perfect depiction of a millenial Cinderella. And Park So Dam portrayed her character very well. Her smile is infectious and just brightens up every scene. She's a gem, I love her.

Not just one but four knights. It's always nice to see handsome boys in a kdrama, agree? These guys are cute when they get on each other's nerves but it's cuter seeing them secretly looking out for each other.

Jung Il Woo portrayed the rebellious yet soft-hearted Kang Ji Woon. Though his character is rebellious, he didn't seem that defiant at all. I think that character does not fit him; the sweet and cute Kang Ji Woon suits him better.

I did not like his stiff character at first but he became absolutely lovable towards the middle of this kdrama. He's cute and his smile is just captivating.

Ahn Jae Hyun was the arrogant and playboy Kang Hyun Min which I think fits him perfectly. I was really convinced that he's a player. This guy really needs a beating and I'm glad that Eun Ha Won gave him that. He's my favorite knight tho.

 Lee Jung Shin as the affectionate singer-song writer Kang Seo Woo is uhm.. just okay. I love his song - Confession.

Choi Min as secretary Lee Yoon Sung was a surprise. Initially I wasn’t sure who the fourth knight was, but then I realize that it was him. He has a stiff and serious character but it's nice to see how he look after the Kang cousins and acted as the Kuya of the group.

The OST that just can't get out of my head. For You by BTOB will leave you with that last song syndrome. The song is just perfect plus it was sang by my dorky boys. Whoa..whoa.. Hearing the sweet voices of BTOB on the background makes my heart skip a beat.

The Misses.

The paasa love triangle. I started to love this kdrama because I found Kang Hyun Min and Eun Ha Won cute but they just drifted apart. Sad. It's like they promised you something that they can't keep. It was disappointing at some point. I really love their chemistry.

Damsel in Distress Park Hye Ji. I honestly grew tired of Son Na Eun's character here. I was tired of her crying scenes that I skip them. Jinjja! 

Do I recommend this kdrama? If you like something that has an easy-breezy story with lovable female and male leads then yes, I recommend this kdrama to you!

Photo credits:

http://dramawaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Cinderella-and-Four-Knights-Kdrama.png

Day 5: Ewha and Cheonggyecheon Stream

After getting our tummies full, we walked around Ewha Woman's University area, also known as Ewha Woman's University Fashion Street. As what we've read from other blogs, it is a shopping haven for women so we're so excited to visit this place!

How to go? Take the subway Line 2 to Ewha Station, exit 2 or 3. Then, head straight.

We were originally planning to visit the school but haven't had the chance since it is already night time. Hence, we just maximized our time shopping in the streets. I really felt the college vibes as we walked along the lively alleyways with the students. Plus, there were many small boutiques so what else can we do? Shop 'til we drop! Hahaha. In fact, we forgot to take pictures since we are so much focused in shopping. Most of the items here are sold half the price compare in Myeongdong because it is catered for students so it was indeed a good catch. Trendy and affordable! What more can you ask for?

So here are some of the things that you can buy in Ewha:

1. Bags. There are really tons of bags here! From girly sling bags to cool backpacks. Name it and they have it! 😉

2. Eyeglasses. If you really want to achieve that perfect korean look, you must really grab these glasses from Ehwa. Though I deeply regret that I was not able to buy one.

3. Contact Lenses. Another thing to use for your perfect korean look. Tons of choices and great deals!

4. Sweatshirts. I think the clothes display depends on the weather. It was autumn when we went so that explains it. I bought good quality sweatshirts for only 500php each.

5. Shoes. There are variety of shoes here - doll shoes, sneakers, boots, etc. You can all find them very cute and stylish.

Since it is still early, we took a short detour to the famous Cheonggyecheon Stream, a public recreation space which stretches over 10km long. A perfect place for a peaceful night stroll amidst the busy city.

How to go? 

Option 1. Take the subway Line 5 to Gwanghwamun Station, exit 5

Option 2. Line 1 or 2 to City Hall Station, exit 4

Luckily, there was an event when we visited. As per my research, it is called "Seoul Lantern Festival", an annual festival held every November. The theme last year was "Historic Hangang River" which was evident in the pictures below.

 

 

 

  

   

Even though we did not understand much the theme, we are still grateful that we had the chance to witness this festival. How about you? Have you witnessed a festival in Korea? Tell us your story! ☺

Tips for First Time Travellers in Seoul

Travelling to Seoul, South Korea for the first time, as corny as it may sound,  was indeed a dream come true for us. It was an epic and memorable experience that we'll treasure for the rest of our lives. LOL! 

With more people like us planning for their own epic Seoul, South Korea trip, we've listed some tips that you can consider.

Save addresses in Korean. This comes handy in case you get lost. We were lost the moment we set foot in Seoul. LOL! We arrived in Seoul late that subway's closed and we only have the directions in taking the subway; good thing we printed the address of our guesthouse in Korean and just showed it to the taxi driver.

Check for discounts online and print coupons to save. We saved ₩2000 on our Petite France trip by printing coupon from http://vkc.or.kr/en/special-offers/discount-coupons/. If you're going to Everland or Grevin Seoul Museum, purchase tickets beforehand at Klook for discounts. There are other offers as well so you can check their site for their promotions.

Wear comfortable shoes. Trust me, there are lots of walking so wear your most comfortable shoes.

Squeeze in sunscreen, moisturizer and lip balm in your baggage to defend yourself against the sun. It is chilly but it is sunny as well. Our skin tends to dry out when exposed to cold air so do not forget to moisturize.

Change money in Insadong or Hongdae. We found good rates there - Php 1 = ₩23. If possible, do not change money in Nami Island Php 1 = ₩21 (same rate in the airport). I heard that you can convert Php to Dollar then to Won to get better rate but we have not tried this one.

Food is for sharing. If you don't mind sharing food then consider sharing as meals are good for two. The first time we dine out, we ordered two servings of meat and yes, we were too full to eat it all. However, better check first if restaurants allow sharing because some restaurants require one order per person.

 Download Subway Korea app. This is a life-saver since you'll be using the subway frequently and their subway system is huge!

Choose guesthouses near the subway to save time and energy. Ours is just 8 minutes away from City Hall Station Exit 7 so we really saved time and energy. It's also good to choose guesthouses near the tourist spots but those guesthouses can be pricey. Ours is near the Gyeongbokgung Palace, Namsan Tower, Insadong, Bukchon Hanok Village, Namdaemun Market, Grevin Seoul Museum and Myeongdong that we only walk to go to these places.

 Purchase T-money card. You'll save ₩100 every trip. Plus you can use it almost everywhere - taxi, bus and convenient stores. Plus you avoid the hassle of purchasing single journey ticket everytime you use the subway.

Get yourself a decent sleep. 7 days (for us) can be so tiring so rest.

Enjoy and share your experience to us! ❤If you've already been to Seoul, please feel free to add tips that worked for you in the comment section below.

Hobing Korean Dessert Cafe: A Taste of Seoul in Manila

Bingsu is a popular korean dessert made of flavored shaved ice topped with milk and different kinds of fresh fruits, rice cakes, brownies and the classic red bean.The closest Filipino dessert that I could think of that is similar to bingsu is our all-time favorite halo-halo though they are different in many ways.

And our favorite stop to satisfy our bingsu craving is Hobing Korean Dessert Cafe in SM Megamall and Reliance St., Mandaluyong City but my friends and I prefer the branch in Reliance St. as it is less crowded compared to the Megamall branch. BTW, it says Lee's Cafe in the front signage of the store in Reliance which is a bit confusing.

Hobing Korean Dessert Cafe

The place.

If you're a kpop or kdrama fan, then you'll certainly love this place as they play kpop songs and kdrama OSTs in their mounted flat screen TV with HD videos. But if you're not a fan, I guess you will enjoy this as well. You'll leave the place  with last song syndrome. The place is quite cozy and spacious, I can stay there all day. LOL!

Photo from Zomato 

The menu.

Below's their menu with flavors that suit Filipino taste buds which comes in regular and large size. I always eat with my two other chingus and two regular sized bingsus are enough to satisfy our cravings. BTW, there are other snacks available in their menu which we haven't tried yet.

 

Our recommendations.

I haven't tried other bingsus yet but I was pretty satisfied with the bingsu in Hobing Korean Dessert Cafe. Here are some of the flavors that we've tried.

Choco Brownie bingsu is our favorite. It has chocolate flavored shaved ice topped with chocolate powder and syrup, whipped cream, nuts and chunks of brownies. I love how each ingredient compliment each other and I like that it is not too sweet but is enough to satisfy your sweet tooth.

 Matcha Red Bean bingsu is also a must-try. The shaved ice is sprinkled with matcha powder and topped with sweet red beans, nuts and a few chunk of rice cake. The sweet red beans and the matcha powder is a perfect combination! BTW, this flavor is not yet available in the Megamall branch.

Strawberry bingsu is topped with loads of strawberry slices, whipped cream and strawberry syrup. If you love strawberries then you'll definitely love this but if not, then this isn't for you.

Others

I always love the banana and mango combination but Banana Mango bingsu did not capture my taste buds. It's not bad but there's nothing special to it.

Mango Cheese bingsu is the last in our list. It's just that the mangoes were sour and unripe (I guess) when we tried this flavor. But I'm willing to give this another chance. LOL!

 

Final Verdict.

I love bingsus from Hobing Korean Dessert Cafe and have nothing bad to say about this store so I think I will always be a regular in their place, together with my chingus. ❤