Korea Diary | At Hangang Once More (Day 42)

Our time at YISS was almost nearing its end. Day 42 was the second to last weekend that we had together. Of all the things to do in Seoul, my friends and I all couldn't wait to go back to Hangang. Even though had we previously went in two separate groups on different occasions, everyone was still excited for the day's plans.

It was also a special day since we were joined by 2 new friends of friends. One was a Korean local our Californian friend met via the Facebook group for YISS. He was studying in the U.S. full time but came back to Yonsei for the summer program just like us. The other was a Canadian working in Hong Kong but came to visit our Australian friend where they met in France. Talk about being globally connected!

Seoul, Korea - Summer Study Abroad 2014 - Sinchon Hyundai Department Store Magokoro ramen

We started the day off late and decided to grab ramen from the Hyundai Department Store as it was conveniently located right by the Sinchon subway station.

Seoul, Korea - Summer Study Abroad 2014 - Biking in Yeouido Park

The must do at Yeouido Park, for me at least, was renting a bike. It was easier and more freeing to ride a single bike but there were way more people out enjoying the weather that day. For those not extremely confident about their swerving and avoiding skills, the park is quieter earlier in the day.

So many families and groups of friends were out picnicking or just chilling by their tents. There is even a water park nearby where a lot of people were enjoying the pools for those who prefer that over bike ridess.

Seoul, Korea - Summer Study Abroad 2014 - Yeouido Hano Little China Star jajangmyeon
Seoul, Korea - Summer Study Abroad 2014 - Yeouido Hano Little China Star tangsooyook

Our friends discovered this really great Korean-Chinese restaurant nearby the last time they went to Yeouido Hangang Park. (I think the place was called Hano Little China Star judging by other  photos and video clips I have.) They had been craving the food from there ever since that fateful day and I was pretty excited to see just how awesome it was.

The must order items at any Korean-Chinese restaurant are of course jajangmyeon 자장면, jjambbong 짬뽕, and tangsooyook 탕수육. I could tell why our Cali friends claimed this spot was so delicious. The jajangmyeon I ordered was so nice. Typically the vegetables and meat are in really big chunks and cooked until very mushy. At this restaurant, all the veggies were cut to a small size and the meat was ground so everything didn't have to be cooked for that long (I assume). I don't know...maybe I'm spouting nonsense but I felt the sauce was killer here. Some one at our table ordered the bowl of jjambbong (spicy seafood noodles) and the bowl was humongous. It was impossible to even see the noodles underneath the pile of generous seafood ontop. If timing is right and this Chinese restaurant is still open, I would definitely go and devour as much as I can handle there.

Seoul, Korea - Summer Study Abroad 2014 - Performers at Banpo Park

We all tried rushing to see the last water show at Banpo Bridge since the Canadian/Hong Kong friend was interested in photographing it. We, unfortunately, missed most of it by the time we arrived. After listening to some performers nearby the Korean local friend took us on a bus ride to get back to Sincheon. None of us would have dared to brave the Seoul bus system had he not been with us. Luckily the number bus that we needed to take was right by the Banpo Bridge and would take us directly across towards home.

Seoul, Korea - Summer Study Abroad 2014 - Patmiok 小豆味 팥미옥 - Favorite bingsoo chain
Seoul, Korea - Summer Study Abroad 2014 - Patmiok 小豆味 팥미옥 - Chocolate cookie bingsoo
Seoul, Korea - Summer Study Abroad 2014 - Patmiok 小豆味 팥미옥 - Mango bingsoo

The night was never over without something sweet. We were introduced to a new place called Patmiok 小豆味 팥미옥 in Sincheon, which may be my all-time favorite bingsoo chain in Seoul. The shaved ice is extremely soft, snow-like, and milky. This place had one of the best ice consistencies of all that we tried. Even though the toppings look simple, both the mangos and chocolate cooking crunchies work so well with the milky ice. The only con was the shop closed pretty early (~10PM).

Project Make a Dent No. 2 | Half Year Update

Project Make A Dent 2016

It has finally been half a year since I started the second edition of Project Make Dent. Compared to the halfway mark of the first attempt at this project in 2015, I would like to pat myself on the back for the progress made so far. My selected makeup stash is getting used up a lot faster than anticipated.

Project Make A Dent 2016 Liquid and Cream base products - Before results Project Make A Dent 2016 Liquid and Cream base products - Half year results

L to R: Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch, Clarins Beauty Flash Balm, Maybelline Angelfit Pore zero Base SPF 25 PA++, and Lancome Teint Miracle in 6W Buff

Primers are one of the beauty items that I have the most difficulty incorporating into the routine. Both Clarins' items were barely used in the past half year, whereas I would add a bit of the Maybelline Angelfit base to the Lancome Teint Miracle whenever I veered towards liquid foundation. I guess using one of the three primers, even if sometimes, is better than none at all.

Project Make A Dent 2016 Clarins Lisse Minute Instant Smooth - Before results Project Make A Dent 2016 Clarins Lisse Minute Instant Smooth - Half year results

Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch

This little pot of silicone-ness called the Clarins Instant Smooth laid untouched and unopened for the past 6 months. I think my aversion could have been due to the fact that my skin has been very sensitive and acne-prone. Just the thought of layering something that was non-breathable onto my face underneath even more product left me cautious.

Project Make A Dent 2016 Powder makeup products - Before results
Before
Project Make A Dent 2016 Powder makeup products - Half year results
After

Top L to R: Maquillage Face Creator, Maybelline FIT Me! Pressed Powder in 220 Natural Beige, and MAC Mineralize Blush in Utterly GameBottom L to R: MAC Mineralize Blush in Pet Me, Etude House Model Face Color in 2 Model Shade, Visee Glam Nude Eyeshadow Palette in N-1

To no surprise, powder products definitely showed the most progress. I may not have been a very diligent makeup user in the past, but seeing the pan of powder products is always motivating to become one.

Project Make A Dent 2016 Maybelline FIT Me! Pressed Powder 220 Natural Beige - Before results Project Make A Dent 2016 Maybelline FIT Me! Pressed Powder 220 Natural Beige - Half year results

Maybelline FIT Me! Pressed Powder in 220 Natural Beige

Somehow, someway, I was able to pan out the Maybelline FIT Me powder. I expected to finish this particular one later on in the year but not that I am complaining. This just means I can get an early start at another powder in my stash.

I mentioned it in the first PMAD Part 2 post, but this isn't my favorite powder. The feelings still hold true. Certain days it felt a tinge too dark for my complexion and too powdery-looking for my liking. That might sound like completely nonsense but a girl can dream (especially with the technology today) right?

Project Make A Dent 2016 MAC Mineralize Blush Pet Me  - Before results Project Make A Dent 2016 MAC Mineralize Blush Utterly Game  - Before results
Project Make A Dent 2016 MAC Mineralize Blush Pet Me  - Half year results Project Make A Dent 2016 MAC Mineralize Blush Utterly Game  - Half year results
MAC Mineralize Blush in Pet Me
MAC Mineralize Blush in Utterly Game

While I have a hard time panning primers because I cannot incorporate it into my morning routine, I have a difficult time panning blushes for a whole different reason. If the product is high quality, only a little bit is needed to give a ton of color. It seems impossible to completely finish given the sizes of blushers.

No matter how often I swirl my makeup brushes in these two MAC Mineralize Blushes, it doesn't really seem like it's made any difference. If I wasn't recording the progress for this project series, I wouldn't even think the surface got any flatter. Photos don't lie! Do you see it too or is it all wishful thinking on my part?

Project Make A Dent 2016 NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder 720 Sunny - Before results
Before
Project Make A Dent 2016 NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder 720 Sunny - Half year results
After

N.Y.C. Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder in 720 Sunny

Of all the items I picked out for this year, I wanted to finish this particular item the most. I feel like I have had the N.Y.C. Smooth Skin Bronzing powder for ages (and I definitely have). It is most likely past its product expectancy. Despite daily usage, progress seemed to be very slow. If it doesn't completely pan out by the end of the year, the bronzing powder will be heading towards the trash bin.

Project Make A Dent 2016 jane Shimmering Blush 01 Natural Blush - Before results Project Make A Dent 2016 jane Shimmering Blush 01 Natural Blush - Half year results

jane Shimmering Blush in 01 Natural Blush

My opinions toward this jane Shimmering Blush is pretty neutral, maybe leaning towards the slightly negative side. I had cleaned up the packaging of everything for the sake of the photo but this blush has so much shimmer that flies everywhere whenever I used it with a brush.

For a blush, it is way too shimmery. As a highlighter, it isn't natural enough. Let's just say this is one of the items I won't be missing after the year is over.

Project Make A Dent 2016 Kose Visee Glam Nude Eyeshadow Palette N-1 - Before results Project Make A Dent 2016 Kose Visee Glam Nude Eyeshadow Palette N-1 - Half year results

Visee Glam Nude Eye Shadow Palette in N-1

Hmm, it doesn't look like I made much progress with the Visee Glam palette at all. I didn't use eyeshadows as much as I did the other products in the pile but it was definitely more than I had last year. It did help that the color palette in this one was more natural. Let's see how it fares again at the end of the year.

Project Make A Dent 2016 Lip products - Before results
Before
Project Make A Dent 2016 Lip products - Half year results
After

L to R (clockwise): Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in 680 Temptress, L'Oreal Colour Riche Balm in 418 Caring Coral, and Korres Lip Butter in Jasmine

The biggest struggle in the first edition of PMAD was definitely the lip products. Lipsticks just weren't my thing. I can say that I have had better success this time around. But just by a margin. I was able to incorporate the Korres Lip Butter into my night routine as an overnight lip balm as it was relatively colorless. If I remembered, I would apply the L'Oreal Colour Riche Balm as the last step of my makeup routine in the morning.

The product I reached for the least this past half year was definitely the Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick. It is a very natural looking color and everything yet it isn't reached for at all. Strangely in the last month or so I have been into the NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil from the Sephora birthday freebie last year. I don't wear lipsticks often, if ever, but when I do I go for a very statement look: deep red and matte. Go figure.

Korea Diary | Lock Our Mark (Day 41, Part 2)

Seoul, Korea - Summer Study Abroad 2014 - Namsan N Seoul Tower at night

Namsan and N Seoul Tower is one of those sights in Seoul that can't be missed. For anyone who followed or still follows Korean dramas and variety shows, the tower is a familiar feature. The spot where couples go for romantic dates and to lock their relationship wishes and hopes. While I nor my friends were going with a significant other, we did have each other and our new friendship to cheers to.

Seoul, Korea - Summer Study Abroad 2014 - Manhwa road in Myeongdong

Seoul, Korea - Summer Study Abroad 2014 - Walk towards Namsan Cable Car

The walk to the cable car building was short but very hilly from the Myeongdong. It wasn't difficult to find since we just had to walk towards the direction of the N Seoul Tower. Along the way we spotted many restaurants advertising the famous Namsan donkatsu. Why was the area famous for that? I am not too sure. But there were tons of places offering the dish.

Once we reached the cable car station, a long (very long) line awaited us. I think we waited for a good hour before we reached the ticket booth and another hour before we reached the top of the building where the cable car platform was. Since this was a major destination for local couples and foreigners alike, the line was pretty inevitable. There may have been a bus or even a hiking trail that goes up Namsan for those more adventurous.

Seoul, Korea - Summer Study Abroad 2014 - Namsan N Seoul Tower up close

Seoul, Korea - Summer Study Abroad 2014 - View of Seoul from Namsan N Seoul Tower base at night

The views at the top were worth all the wait. Of course, that is after we had to squish our way through crowds of people to try to get to the edge. It costs an extra fee to go up the actual tower so the three of us didn't end up going that high. I imagine the cityscape from the tippy top would have been killer. The base was more than sufficient for us.

Seoul, Korea - Summer Study Abroad 2014 - Love lock for new and old friends Seoul, Korea - Summer Study Abroad 2014 - Love lock for new and old friends

Traditionally loving couples would leave their marks at the base of the tower but for me, this visit was all about being in the good company of friends. We secured our beer locks in a corner spot after much surveying. I am not sure how our inexpensive little guys would hold up to the natural elements but they are there! (I hope still...)