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Carry a passport everywhere for tax refund
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Transfer cash at the airport. GS26 works with Charles Schwab but not open 24/7 also max allowance of $70. Need lots of cash!
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Day and night time weather varied. Around Mar 21, it was chilly on some days (thick Aritzia jacket) but warm on other days
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Come with empty suitcase with nothing big the outfit you're wearing. Don't bring water bottle bc locals buy bottled water
- Convenient stores are 7-11 (has line transit card), Nice to CU, GS26 where you can buy transit cards. Not at the train station anymore
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Airport lounge at Martini at Terminal 1 had great food
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Download apps
- Naver Map and KakaoMap. Google map has outdated transit info and some places don't show up in Korean.
- Uber taxi, slightly cheaper than KakaoT
- Wise to transfer money to stores
- Translate + xe (currency)
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Clothing shopping - myeongdong > hongdae > Isadong
- fav store - Wantt - can't try on top but definitely L in skirt
- nyunyu - large jewelry store with more jewelry upstairs
- DIY phone case
- Interesting stores - North Face (white label) and National Geographic (thicker windbreaker was $130 at the airport)
- Gentle monster store for sunglasses is 1/3 price compared to online
- Take a Korean speaking person to haggle at clothing store downstairs of train station
- https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4Er63OpXN-/?igsh=MXkwMmYzNW5pZWVraA==
- Next time
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Activities
- Hanbok - took us 1.5 for rental. Style hair beforehand so don't have to wait the line. Maybe go to a smaller store next time. It was also windy at the palace
- https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6OpQmfLutH/?igsh=aWRvdG81MTcyemZ6
- Kimchi museum - not opened on Mondays. Make kimchi
- DMV zone - go near the north korea border
- Baviphat - not sure if things are authentic
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- Techno Mart
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Makeup shopping - Daiso for makeup tools, some makeup but mostly Olive Young (go to bigger store). Could go to Costco next time for skincare.
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People who lived in Korea
- Ken + Dahye
- Jae
- Web - rec in email