We didn’t really do much shopping, but we were able to visit some places quickly mentioned to us by some friends. As mentioned previously, branded imported items are 30% more and other imported items in general. So I would recommend doing local shopping or buying Korean brands or Korean made items.
Near Mc Donald’s in Itaewon is an underground market, you might find some nice export overruns here if you are patient enough to look
Crocodile and python skin products!
James wanted a wallet, but ended up buying a cheaper version using eel skin
I think he just liked the vendor so much since he was very kind,
he ended up buying things he did not really need. Even Javier got an eel skin belt for himself. Yikes! ;-)
and I saw this store that looked exactly like The Pink store by Victoria’s Secret
Clothes for dogs! how cute!
I think Daddy misses Japan, he asked Nana our tour guide to take him to electronics shopping
While Dad was there, we went to COEX Mall which is an underground mall. This was good for us because it’s so cold outside that mall shopping is much better! We only had 30 minutes though so we did not get to see and shop much
There is an aquarium and a megabit theater which we were not able to see. My friend Steve says the Aquarium is not that great though
many facial masks all over!!!! You will go crazy!! Especially during winter when you need all the moisture that you can, you want to buy all of these!! :-)
Myeong dong is very near our hotel - a very crowded street, mostly young people shopping here. The shopping carts in the street come out mostly at night. Many street food carts as well
Love all the local korean brands for make up and skin care!!
This is one of my favorite spots in Seoul! Thanks to my friend, Keri Zamora, for recommending this! It’s one street full of nice quaint coffeeshops and hip stores! I think i took a photo of almost every store in the street
After the Korean Folk Village, we went back to the city to visit another shopping area. If you really want to buy cheap in Korea, the best is to buy Korean made products. Imported items are very expensive -up to 30% more for imported items especially the branded ones. According to our tour guide, Koreans are very nationalistic and they really patronize their own products.
In Insa-dong, you will find many local handicrafts and Korean stores
While walking, I saw this, it’s like a mall with more little shops. I had no time anymore to go in but there were many many people here also shopping
which reminded me of our Divisoria, but very clean and no smell
Many items for winter which I was so tempted to buy!! because it was soooo cold!!!!
Korean made products
Yummy seaweed snack, all kinds!
More snacks by the bulk!
They have many buildings for the indoor shopping and really like divisoria style
Love the display!
Housewares floor
fashion jewelry section
We only allotted one hour for this as part of the tour so we did not buy anything! I wish i had a whole day or more to go around for shopping. Next time
James did everything for the newly renovated house. There were only a few specifications I asked for and one of them was to order for me the mattress from the Four Seasons Hotel! I have stayed in two Four Seasons Hotel ( Singapore and Vancouver ) in my life and in those two times, I remember having a comfortable experience and slept very well during my stay there.
The mattress is so comfortable because it is plush yet firm at the same time. The reason for this is that it has a pillow top layer on top of the mattress
Other important components of our bed:
1.) Down comforter
2.) Comforter cover with the highest thread count that you can get! We got ours from Rustan’s department store
To order you need to contact the hotel that is nearest to your shipping address. So for us, it was the one in San Francisco:
Heart2Heart loves notepads and any kind of stationary!!! I was so happy to bump into Triccie and Gia in the Assumption Bazaar and all they sell are notepads!!! ( Sorry photos are not too clear)
Ron was so proud to show his new toy store to me which carries all educational toys! It had just opened two weeks ago! He told me that he put up this toy store for his kids. Playing and learning go hand in hand. It’s a FUN way to learn. Every afternoon, after office, Ron picks up Rianna to go to the store to play and spend time with her. Congrats Ron!! MORE POWER on your new business venture!!
It takes Real Passion to Give. Leyende, which started from a small kitchen where one woman learned to hand-mix eco-friendly natural and organic body products, is now a 140sqm workshop, where founder and President, Neva Kares P. Talladen trains and employs empowered women in the artisanal process of production, something we like to call “passionately handmade” — working with respect for the environment and pride in using one’s hands.
With the same dedication and passion, we proudly introduce three Limited Edition products with embellishments designed by Sharon See and handmade by Invisible Sisters Foundation,
which directly benefits the following advocacies:
**UNICEF Product: Mother Butter Limited Edition, 100ml Motto: “Save a Mother, Save the Future” Advocacy: Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare program Pledge: P100 per product unit sold is donated to UNICEF
**SCHOOL H.O.U.S.E. Product: Clean Slate Pump Limited Edition, 100ml Motto: “Wash away ignorance” Advocacy: Project H.O.U.S.E. College Education Fund Pledge: P100 per product unit sold is donated to Project H.O.U.S.E. (under Messy Bessy)
***MARILLAC HILLS SHELTER FOR WOMEN Product: Beach Bomb Wings Limited Edition, 50ml Motto: “The Sweet Scent of Freedom” Advocacy: Marillac Women’s Shelter Pledge: P100 per product unit sold is donated to Marilac Rehabilitation Center and Shelter for Abused Women
Tis the season of giving once more! But with all the gadgets, toys and accessories available in shops and on-line, choosing presents has become more of a chore than a thoughtful process. With everyone scrambling to the next new shiny thing, the value of handmade gifts seems a thing of the past.
What do you give someone who means the world to you? Or someone who gets the latest and trendiest gifts each season?
Instead of adding to the culture of excess that each holiday brings, Leyende offers a refreshing take on truly meaningful gifts: the
Real Benefits Campaign.
Holiday shopping takes on a new, socially-relevant dimension with the following limited-edition Leyende products:
Clean Slate Multi-tasking Face Cleanser (limited edition packaging with crocheted waterdrop phone charm) 100mL - P450.00 Wash away ignorance!
For every purchase of limited edition Clean Slate Multi-tasking Face Cleanser that cleanses skin without overdrying or stripping off natural oils, you donate P100 to the Project H.OU.S.E. College Fund, which is going to sponsor the education of at-risk, out-of-school youth who undergo work-study program with Messy Bessy worry-free, ecofriendly household cleaners.
Clean Slate Multi-tasking Face Cleanser key ingredients:
trehalose (a form of sugar that helps skin retain moisture, antioxidant) pineapple extract (nature’s toner and skin freshener)
Ecocert-certified sweet almond oil (skin moisturizer without greasiness, calms skin irritation and inflammation, rich in vitamin A, E, B1, B2 and B6)
Mother Butter Cocoa Butter Body Moisturizer (limited edition packaging with crocheted sleeve made from recycled plastic bags) 100mL - P450.00 Save a Mother, Save the Future!
For every purchase of limited edition Mother Butter, you stave off stretchmarks and dry skin, and contribute P100 to help UNICEF’s Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare Program reach more expectant women in need from remote areas.
theobroma cacao (polyphenol-rich antioxidant, moisturizing, relief for itchiness, safe for pregnant women) Ecocert-certified sweet almond oil (skin moisturizer without greasiness, calms skin irritation and inflammation, rich in vitamin A, E, B1, B2 and B6)
Virgin coconut oil (natural anti-bacterial and anti-fungal, rich in lauric acid) Mother Butter complete list of ingredients:
For every purchase of limited-edition Beach Bomb cologne, the refreshing blend of aloe, vetiver and coconut essences lifts the spirits, knowing that P100 of it goes directly to the daily needs and rehabilitation costs of the residents of Marillac Shelter for Women.
Beach Bomb Cocoa Butter Lotion key ingredients:
sugarcane alcohol (non-drying, disinfecting properties) aloe vera extract (anti-inflammatory, moisturizing and has skin-healing properties)
Beach Bomb complete list of ingredients:
(*ECOCERT-certified, **ECOCERT-approved)
More information on Invisible Sisters Foundation (women who crocheted the accessories): Started three years ago by American artist Ann Wizer, INVISIBLE Sisters has grown to be a factory without walls—training and providing livelihood to poor women in Manila who transform waste plastic into fashion items such as tote bags. Working especially with crochet techniques, the dozens of INVISIBLE Sisters have recycled over one hundred thousand used shopping bags, turning them into more than 30,000 products including tote bags, coin purses, retail packaging, and clutch bags.
Sharon See (designer for the crocheted accessories):
Stylist and Production Designer, Sharon See, is also a known crafter and accessories designer. Her recent crochet projects are geared towards advocacies such as Invisible Sisters Foundation and other communities of disadvantaged women in Metro Manila. Recently, she has collaborated with Messy Bessy and Leyende to pioneer upcycling projects towards more sustainable packaging.
