Does Korea Have Tax Refund on Stores and Hotels? Yes! Here are My Tips on How to Get a Tax Refund in the Airports, Seaports and Downtown Seoul Korea!

If you're going on a shopping spree or staying in a hotel in South Korea (especially Seoul, Busan and Jeju), I suggest you read this guide on the proper procedure and some tips on getting your tax refund from the time you enter a store/hotel up to your departure at the airport ;) The VAT (value added tax) and luxury tax can be as high as 10% minus fees (~8%) so if all your purchases add up, you might just get some cash back for your next trip or use it to buy some food while waiting for your flight =)

*Pics from the Global Blue, Global Tax Free and Korea Tourism websites

Our Wiki Korea Tour 2013 Episodes 1 2 3 4 5 on Channel M, Team Bibimbap's Route, More Things to Do and Places to Go in Korea!

The Wiki Korea Tour 2013 just finished airing on Channel M! It was shown in 10 countries: Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Myanmar, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Philippines, Indonesia and Australia =) I didn't want to spoil it for you by spilling out all the details so I decided to wait a while. I myself didn't know what the other team, Team Bibimbap, did and was just amazed as I watched on TV =) One of the things I picked up is that I want to experience some of what they had! Haha. Overall, both teams (ours was Team ASF) had a wonderful time during the tour and it's something that all of us won't forget. Here are Wiki Korea Tour Episodes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 that I got from the Buzz Korea Channel so that you can watch too (without commercial breaks haha)! This way, we can all start planning our 2014 Korea trips and discover a bit more about the 27 icons together ;) I'll tell you more about the Behind the Scenes of Team ASF's Wiki Korea trip in the next posts.

Team ASF (top to bottom, left to right): 
Oppa Ricky (Korean actor), Sunny (China), Kevin (KPOP star)
Lichee (China), Me (Philippines), Nisa (Indonesia), Mathi (France), Basmah (Saudi), Rai (Singapore)

My Most Unforgettable Travel Story to Date! The Wiki Korea Tour ASF Team in Seoul and Jeju Island with Oppa Ricky Kim, Kevin of ZE:A and Hyelim of the Wonder Girls!

A couple of days ago I got a surprise email! I got copies of the pictures from the Wiki Korea Tour. Wee! Thank you so much Oppa Intaek of CJ Entertainment for sending them over!!! The awesome photos without watermarks below is by Hweekang Kim of Star Studio =) As you may have noticed from my Facebook posts, I didn't get to take lots of pictures (compared to my other trips) because we were constantly filming. They said it (our reality show hahaha) is gonna be shown on Channel M next month yey! Here are some spoilers (hahaha) and so many candid/wonderful moments of that 7-day Wiki Korea trip with Buzz Korea and the Korean Tourism Organization. =D As you know, it was because of my first Korea trip that I started this blog more than 3 years ago. This year, I was given the opportunity of a lifetime to represent the Philippines for the Wiki Korea Tour, making this my fifth time to return to my favorite country. I've done so many things in my Things I Wanted to Do When I Go Back to Korea List so unexpectedly hehehe.

My Korean Icon - The Dolhareubang, Jeju's Old Grandfather Statues!

Whenever I think of Korea, I think of stones. It may seem simple and ordinary, but my encounter with them every time I go to Korea always turn out to be adventures that I will never forget. They come in many forms and have different purposes. When I say stones, I am talking about the stone walls, the stone statues, the stone stupas, the bangsatap, the stone pillars, the volcanic stones, the stone fortresses and even the dolsot used for bibimbap - anything made of "Dol" (stones) that are found all over Korea. So for today's topic, let me introduce to you one kind of stone that spells Korea when you see it - the Dolhareubang. Now you know what it's called too! Haha. My Korean icon is something that you wouldn't even think to bring home with you physically (because it's heavy and you should take only pictures and memories as much as possible on trips) and it's something that you will only touch when you go to Jeju Island yourself, especially if you want to have a son or daughter in the family ;) Let me show you where to find some of them in Jeju, Korea!