Recommended Things to Buy In...

Hey guys,

My girlfriend and I are going to Japan (Osaka, Tokyo, Kyoto) SouthKorea (Seoul), Bali and Kualar Lumpur over the coming summer. I was wondering if there was anything you would suggest we should shell out over there.

For myself I specifically like watches and would love to hear any recommendations of where speficially any of you have had great experiences. My girlfriend likes her makeup, fashion etc - and Japan as a whole can be so daunting, so any specific recomendations again would be greatly appreciated.

Other than those specifics, just anything unique and perhaps even would make great (small) gifts would be fantastic!

Thanks everyone!

Comments

  • +2

    There was a discussion on what to buy in Japan here..
    Most notably, alcohol (Suntory Whisky), clothing (Uniqlo), cosmetics and kitchenware (knives and rice cooker).

    What to get in Korea.
    http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g294197-s405/Seoul:South-K…

    KL and Bali, .. well, mostly more clothing, pewter ware, arts and crafts, pretty much all the touristy stuff.

  • +3

    Don't be daunted by Japan! You will discover there are dozens of random, massive shopping malls everywhere! I got lost in many when I was over there. So many unsuspecting buildings were actually 7+ storeys of just shopping. I don't even like shopping but went in and ended up with so much random stuff :)

    There are a lot of nice things you can find in markets in Korea, too. Generally when you are in Seoul, you will find things are a fair bit cheaper than Japan, sometimes of a lesser quality but definitely better value.

    In Seoul, check out Namdaemun markets. When I went, it was a massive area of stalls and shops! Heaps of great souvenir opportunities and lots of clothes (so many PSY socks though, bleh). After you walk around there for hours (easily) you will probably be lost, but that's ok. If you can't find your way to a bus stop or something, just catch a cab (in fact, take cabs most places! It is so cheap and much easier than working out public transport). They are very cheap (even if the drivers are the worst in the developed world as you'll find out). You can get across the whole city for something ridiculous, I think it was less than 20,000 won (~$20).

    In Korea you should be careful when asking for a cab driver to take you somewhere. Make sure they know what you mean, and it helps to have it written in Korean beforehand (a simple Google search or translate will do). We got taken to Lotte World (fun btw) instead of Seoul Tower. Still not sure how the driver figured that out.

    If you have any specific questions about Japan or Korea (I've been to all those cities you mentioned except Bali/Kuala Lumpur), feel free to ask :) sorry for rambling on

    Also, if you have time and are interested, I highly recommend the DMZ tour of the North Korean/South Korean border. It's very interesting and well worth the ~$90 tour fee. It's a pretty long tour (good value), includes a Korean lunch, and you'll meet some great people. A little scary (chilling) but a great experience. Who knows, there might not even be a DMZ next time you visit!

  • Kit Kat Green Tea

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