Sweet Tooth Satisfaction - Bonespe

Bonespe is bakery, a Lotte trade that is in almost all of the Lotte Department stores of Seoul. There is a Bonespe bakery located in Cheonho, along Cheonho Rodeo, a popular drinking and eating street. With freshly baked pastries and breads, Bonespe offers a handful of delicious goodies to be purchased while you're shopping around for everything else. Furthermore, they offer packaged goodies that are extremely popular among Koreans to give as gifts and cakes to enjoy in a group setting.

It is one of the Korean favorites to bring home to enjoy with the family as well as a quick bite while shopping. The best part is the sale price that Lotte Department stores offer for their baked goodies. On average, pastries range from a little over a dollar to two, but they can be picked up as a lot for under a dollar. This is a deal considering breads and pastries are extremely popular in Korea, especially as a snack to share with co-workers. Like many other Korean bakeries, Bonespe offers the same kinds of pastries, but of course with their own twist as well. Be sure to pick up a freshly baked pastry to enjoy with your family or to refuel for a day of shopping!

Fresh on the Market - Dunkin' Donut's New York Pie Donut "Cronut" 뉴욕파이도넛

So the fad in America, which originated in New York is the "cronut" and the rest of the world, everyone and their mother is copying this thing. It wasn't going to be long before the Cronut reached Seoul. Who would have ever thought that Dunkin Donuts would be the first to replicate the Cronut and name it the "New York Pie Donut" 뉴욕파이도넛.  Although the lines aren't as ridiculous here in Seoul as they are back in New York, there are people lined up for the New York Pie Donut 뉴욕파이도넛. They only have it in a select number of Dunkin Donuts around town which include, but are not limited to: Jamsil, Myeondong, and Gangnam. Be sure to check the list (get a Korean friend to do it to expedite the process) and keep in mind that they are serving it during certain hours.

Lucky for me, I did not have to wait to try this "Cronut." To be honest, I probably wouldn't be so happy if I had to. I assume this is nothing like the original for the simple reason that it is not topped with icing. Koreans definitely do not have a sweet tooth like us foreigners so sprinkled sugar is enough for them. Nonetheless, although the New York Pie Donut 뉴욕파이도넛 has been out for a while, it is still flaky and I think the best way to eat it is by peeling. 

Honest to say, the top layer was the best and although there was a 2 per person limit, I'm glad I didn't go for the second one. I enjoyed the layer by layer texture of a croissant, but for the simple fact that it wasn't topped with icing was a downer for me. I would definitely have it again, just wouldn't stand in line for it. So I suggest if you must go, go on a weekday!

For the Jamsil location: take exit 3 of the Sincheon station. Go straight following the path for about four blocks and you will see Dunkin Donuts on the corner. 

Address: 송파구 잠실본동 242-9

Songpa-gu Jamsil 242-9

Story of My Life - UMF Korea 2013

One of the biggest events around the world is Ultra Music Festival (UMF). It is so big that it is an event that pretty much everyone travels around the world just to see. Held in Jamsil stadium this year, there have been many who traveled to Korea from other countries just to experience and see the sets of world famous DJs which include, but are not limited to: AVICII, Kaskade, Afrojack, Fedde Le Grand, Cazzette, Boy George, Shut Da Mouth, and Carl Cox.

It is a two day party of chaos and fun with three stages, over sixty acts from mid afternoon until night time with after party of course! UMF is such a big event that there are people who are willing to pay $150 for tickets the day of events. Yes, just that big. There is not only a VIP section, but a VVIP section. The amount of fun and chaos that goes on is just beyond explainable. The best part is being able to share it with those who are not at the event, but able to listen in online.

Lucky for me, I got the pleasure of being backstage of Shut Da Mouth’s set along with the emcee Pinnacle TheHustler. It was definitely an experience to be behind the scene, meeting a ton of awesome people which includes the unforgettable DJ Agent Smith (because of his awesome fro) and at the end of the day, enjoying the main acts through the night. Of course, this comes with a price of lots of energy drinks as well as pain with the crowd jumping up and down and squeezing to the front of the acts. Being able to immerse myself to the music and enjoy every moment of it was something that made the not so great experience, pretty awesome, after all. Nonetheless, it was something to experience and always a great memory.

This definitely makes it another great experience and explains how awesome it is to live in Korea. The number of people you meet, the connections you make, it just makes you remember and feel grateful for every experience. Not everyone is as snobby and as stuck up as you think they could be after "making it." That is probably the best part about going out to gigs like this.

It tops my experience last year with World DJ Fest by meeting a ton of awesome DJs and people in general. Can’t wait to see what else is in store for me! Photos definitely do no justice for the day/night that I had.