South Korea Day 8 - Seoul

Monday, 24 February 2014

Namsan Guest House is the only hostel we experienced in Seoul that serves Cup Noodle for breakfast. The others ate the noodle, but I, as usual, only ate bread and healthy tea.

Today's schedule was shopping time. We needed to get souvenirs for our loved one in Indonesia. But along the way, we will visit Namsangol Hanok Village. Because it's still early in the morning, we didn't see any activities in the village. Usually, the village organized art or cultural activities for tourists.

Note:
From Myeongdong Station take Line 4 to Chungmuro Station (1 stop), Exit 4, walk along Hanongmaeul-gil st. for 5 minutes.

Namsangol Hanok Village - it's still empty in the morning

We didn't spend too much time in the village because we wanted to go to Dongdaemun Market. Everyone said if we want to buy souvenirs, we need to go to Dongdaemun. But, it's not our lucky day, Doota, the place to buy souvenirs, was closed.

Note:
From Chungmuro Station take Line 4 to Dongdaemun Station.

it's the wrong Dongdaemun Market, please don't go there everyone, because you will only find fabrics, etc.

In Dongdaemun, we separated into 2 groups again, because it's more efficient. We agreed to meet at Lotte World around 3PM. This time, I went with my cousins. We continued to find souvenirs around Dongdaemun and finally get it in a mall. I forgot the name, but it's right beside Doota. After bargaining, we got a good price for souvenirs ^^

Then we had lunch in the food court. It's delicious and really a big portion for us.

Then we decided to go back to Myeongdong Market. We also decided not to go to Lotte World, because we're afraid we didn't have sufficient time to shop ^^ It's our last day, so we need to spend all of our money, right?

the other group went to this area, Gangnam and Insadong

There wasn't too much story today, because I was busy buying something here and there. Oia, like others said, the cosmetics is cheaper than in Indonesia. We also didn't have proper dinner. We only ate in the street food area around Myongdong Market. We also bought something from mini mart in order to use what left in T Money.

the ice cream was not melted, the street food, aw, how I really miss it

Today's expenses were not too much, except for souvenirs, but souvenirs was confidential right? Hahaha...

- Lunch (Bulgogi Dolsot): 7.500 KRW

- Dinner (Street Food Sausage + Ice Cream): 5.000 KRW

South Korea Day 7 - Yongpyong Ski Resort + Seoul

Sunday, 23 February 2014

Our room temperature was so hot. We didn't know how to adjust the temperature, because the remote wasn't working. But it felt good. 

We woke up with happy feeling, because today we'd play with snow. As usual, the others ate cup noodle and I drank healthy milk, black bean milk ^^ After all of us was ready, we went outside. We didn't ski because none of us could do that, so it'd be dangerous. We decided to play snow sledge. 

When we arrived in ski area, we're shocked because it's damn cold, the temperature was -14. That's the lowest temperature we had experienced in Korea. 

lowest temperature we had experienced

The snow sledged area didn't open yet, so we took our time to see around the area and (of course) take silly photos. 

after we found great apps from Oci's camera

enjoyed the moment

inside the ski area, a place where we warmed up our body

After a while, the snow sledge area finally opened. We're their first guest, so we could ask the staff to take our pictures when we're sledging.

made memories with oppas, btw, the right side is quite handsome, haha ^^

actually, we wanted the staff to take our picture while we're up the hill

We tried the snow sledge for two times before we decided to get back to the hotel, checked out and went to Hoenggye Bus Terminal. We used taxi to get there. In Hoeggye Bus Terminal, we met the same high school student. So we had small talk with her and finally we took our commemorate picture. She is nice. She said she wants to improve her English by helping tourists like us.

that was her, thank you very much!!

Then we continued our journey to Seoul. Finally, the big city. We really couldn't wait...

We arrived in Dongseoul Terminal and it's a big station. At first, we thought that we lost again. Haha... because it didn't look like we're already in Seoul. In confusion, we asked the information center but they only gave us information through their hand gesture. Hahaha.. it's a big city and still few people can speak English. So, in confusion, we went out the terminal and because we're hungry, we came in to the first street food stall we saw ^^ We hoped that someone could tell us where to go ^^ I love street food, especially odeng ^^

Note:
From Dongseoul Terminal, cross the street to Gangbyeon Station. From Gangbyeon Station take Line 2 to Dongdaemun History and Culture Park (9 stops), change to Line 4 to Myeongdong Station (2 stops). 

After lunch, we continued our journey to Namsan Guest House where we stayed for 2 nights. When we checked in, I persuaded the staff so we could move from Namsan Guest House 1 to Namsan Guest House 2 ^^ Yeay, we did it... luckily there're available rooms for us, even the room was in 2nd floor and no escalator. This time, we also chose ondol type of rooms. 

We put all of our luggage and then directly went to the palace. When we arrived at the palace, it's already closed >_< So, we only had a chance to see the palace from the outside.

Note:
From Myeongdong Station take Line 4 to Chungmuro Station (1 stop), change to Line 3 to Gyeongbokgung Palace Station (4 stops), entrance from Heungnyemun Gate.

Gyeongbokgung Palace

Near the palace, there's King Sejong Statue. So we walked straight to the statue. It's really convenient to walk around Seoul. 

King Sejong and Admiral Yi Sun-Shin

We read that Cheonggyecheon Stream was not too far from King Sejong Statue, so we walked again. It turned out that there's demonstration around the stream. But there's nothing to worry about.

the stream condition in afternoon...

When we walked around the stream, we saw that there was Food Alley. So we went there because we're already hungry again ^^ We finally tried Korean Fried Chicken. It's so yummy. We also tried the roasted chestnut.

early dinner

After that, we went back to our hostel in Myeongdong area. Woaa.. we wouldn't regret all about our hostel, because the place is so strategic. It's near Namsan Cable Car and Myeongdong Market. For tonight, we separated in two groups, they who wanted to go to the market and they who wanted to see Namsan Tower. I was in the second group ^^ I thought how could I not go to Namsan Tower while I was there? 

Note:
From City Hall Station take Line 2 to Dongdaemun History & Culture Park (6 stops), change to Line 4 to Myeongdong Station (2 stops), walk towards Namsan Guest House to go to N Seoul Tower Cable Car.

We walked and walked and walked to Namsan Cable Car.. it's quite far. Then inside the building where we bought cable car ticket, there's a long queue. I forgot that it was Sunday, so many couple and family went there too. It made us wait almost 1 hour >_<

Namsan Tower at night, we couldn't take good pic, but that's OK

Finally, the long day was over. We went back to our hostel and really ready to get sleep. The other group was already in a room with shopping bags, haha ^^

Today's expenses:
- Snow Sledge 2X: 6.000 KRW

- Taxi from Yongpyong Ski Resort to Hoenggye Bus Terminal: 3.000 KRW

- Bus from Hoenggye Bus Terminal to Dongseoul Terminal: 14.500 KRW

- Check in Namsan Guest House 2: 50.000 KRW

- Dinner (Fried Chicken): 6.000 KRW

- Namsan Tower Cable Car: 8.500 KRW

- Snacks (Seven Eleven): 1.400 KRW

South Korea Day 6 - Mount Seorak + Yongpyong Ski Resort

Saturday, 22 February 2014

We woke up early as usual. After we're ready, we went downstairs to warm up our breakfast. But, we ended up in the snow, and forgot the breakfast for a while. We never saw a lot of snow, so it's natural right *reasoning*

backyard of Hangang Park Motel

We ate our breakfast really fast, asked permission to leave our luggage while we went to Mount Seorak, then we went out again to catch the bus to the mountain in front of our Motel.

while we waited our bus to Mount Seorak

We took bus no 7 or 7-1 to Mount Seorak for around 15 minutes. Mount Seorak is the final stop. When we arrived, there's a lot of tour buses and cars. No wonder, because it's weekend. 

a lot of visitors in Mt Seorak that day

Sinheungsa Temple in Mt Seorak, there's a store which gives us free tea

at the top of Mt Seorak by cable car

in front of Mt Seorak and the scenery around

Satisfied with Mount Seorak, we went back to our motel, took our luggage and asked the owner, a very nice lady, about how to get to Yongpyong Ski Resort. She couldn't speak English, but she understood what we asked and tried really hard to explain. We're really thankful and before we left we took picture together.

the nice owner of Hangang Park Motel

On our way back to Sokcho Bus Terminal, we lost again. Hahaha... but because of this, we found a good restaurant to eat and we could try Sokcho's famous dish, Ojingo Sundae. It was really delicious. I, myself, ordered Original Sundae, and my cousin ordered Samgyetang. 

our delicious lunch in Sokcho ^^

After finishing our lunch, we went back to information center and luckily my friend could speak Chinese. So she asked the direction and wrote it down. We needed to take a bus to Gangneung Bus Terminal for 70 minutes, then continued to Hoenggye Bus Terminal for 30 minutes. In Hoenggye Bus Terminal, we asked about shuttle bus to Yongpyong Ski Resort. In this place, we met a young senior high student who worked part time in Hoenggye Bus Terminal to improve her English. She said that we needed to wait for 1 hour if we wanted to take shuttle bus. She suggested us to take taxi, because it's not too far.

OK, another problem waited for us in Yongpyong Ski Resort ^^ We only booked one room because we thought it's enough for six of us, but now we didn't know whether it's fit for 7 person. Luckily, the hotel was big enough, so no one realized if 7 of us stayed in one room. After we put our luggage, we decided to go around and found a place for dinner. We decided to eat gimbab and manduguk.  

Yongpyong Ski Resort at night the temperature was -2

That's the end of our day and the expenses for today:

- Bus from Motel to Seorak: 1.100 KRW
- Mt Seorak Entrance Fee: 3.500 KRW
- Mt Seorak's Cable Car: 9.000 KRW
- Bus from Seorak to Motel: 1.100 KRW
- Bus from Motel to Sokcho Bus Terminal: 2.200 KRW
- Lunch (Sokcho Sundae) : 7.000 KRW
- Bus from Sokcho to Gangneung Bus Terminal: 6.300 KRW 
- Bus from Gangneung Bus Terminal to Hoenggye Bus Terminal: 2.500 KRW
- Taxi from Hoenggye Bus Terminal to Yongpyong Ski Resort: 3.000 KRW
- Dinner (Seven Eleven): 1.900 KRW

South Korea Day 5 - Seoul, Nami Island, Sokcho

Friday, 21 February 2014

Early in the morning, we already woke up and prepared to continue our journey to Seoul. As usual, for breakfast, I ate bread, milk and healthy tea. What I like when I go overseas is trying their weird and unique snacks and beverages sold in their mini mart ^^

After we ate, I suddenly remembered that we still had our deposit money in Forest Hostel but there's no staff in that early morning. OK, we panicked, because for us, every KRW was valuable ^^ So, luckily, there's a phone and the owner's contact number. My friends tried to call him and finally after several times, we did it. Danny Bang picked up his phone and said he would go downstairs to meet us. Gamsahabnida, Danny!! Because of this situation, we got to know the owner and had small talk while we're waiting for Andy. 

farewell pictures with Andy (left side) and Danny (right side)

From my small talk with Andy and Danny, I knew that both of them were born in Jeju, then they went to Seoul to work in a big city, but then because big city and workplace stress, they came back to Jeju and started their own business. I thought that was cool and hopefully young people in Indonesia do that, they are going back to their hometown and build the town.

We arrived in the airport and checked in. We even had time to take picture in Jeju Airport, haha, like usual. We're captivated with the big screen like an aquarium and we started to take pictures that we're eaten by the giant fish.

"selfie" time in Jeju

Goodbye Jeju, see you again!!!

Finally, Gimpo Airport, Seoul. We hurriedly asked information about how to get to Namsan Guest House, because we wanted to drop our baggage there and continued directly to Nami Island. They said we could take a bus or taxi. We decided to get taxi and went to taxi stand to bargain the price. Seoul is a big city, but they still couldn't speak English really well. 

Note:
You can take Metro if you don't want to take Taxi. From Gimpo Airport take Airport Railroad Line to Seoul Station (4 stops), change to Line 4 to Myeong Dong Station (exit 3), face Pacific Hotel and go straight right side 150 M, locate left side of the road.

simple map to our hostel

Woow, Namsan Guest House 1 is located in the hill... Huff... We realized we booked the wrong Namsan Guest House, because it's too tired to climb up the hill with our luggage >_< Then you know what? The check in place was in Namsan Guest House 2... Hahaha... our taxi dropped us in Namsan Guest House 1, but then we needed to check in Namsan Guest House 2... huff... The elder was upset. Hello, how did I know about it? We decided the place together, so it's no one fault. 

After we dropped our luggage, we went to Myeongdong Station to go to Nami Island. OK, we're lost. It might be because Seoul Subway is bigger than Busan Subway. And it might also because we're still used to Andy's guidance. Hello, that was my first time in Seoul, so it's normal to get lost.. huh.. 

Note:
From Myeong Dong Station take Line 4 to Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station (2 stops), change to Line 2 to Wangshimi Station (3 stops), change to Jungang Line to Sangbong Station (4 stops), change to Gyongcheun Line to Gapyeong Station (12 stops) to exit 1, take taxi to Namiseom Dock, take ferry from Namiseom Dock to Namiseom Island. 

After trial and error, asked here and there, we finally arrived in Gapyeong Station. From Gapyeong Station, we took taxi to get into Namiseom Deck. In Nami Island, we rented some lockers to drop our small luggage, because we will stay one night in Sokcho and another one night in Yongpyong Ski Resort.

Nami Island - there's still remain a little bit of snow

Nami Island interior

this is why people came to Nami Island - Winter Sonata ^^

We ran off the time, because we needed to catch a bus into Sokcho and it's quite too far from Gapyeong. So, even we didn't go around all places in Nami Island, we're satisfied enough to go out and continue our journey.

Learned from experience, in Namiseom Deck, we asked the information center about how to get into Sokcho. We didn't want to get lost again. We asked them to write in English and in Korean, so we just showed it to the taxi and bus driver ^^ 

From Gapyeong Intercity Bus Terminal, we needed to take a bus to Chuncheon Terminal for 25 minutes. Then we needed to buy another ticket to Sokcho Terminal for another 130 minutes. The bus was comfortable because I could sleep til we arrive in Sokcho. Actually I woke up because it's damn cold and when I looked out from the window, I saw snow, a lot. Whoaaa... I was excited ^^

When we arrived in Sokcho Terminal, we found a place for dinner, but we finally decided to go back to mini mart, because we're afraid there's no taxi to get us into Hangang Park Motel. Haha... o yeay, I love mini mart >_< 

We took separate taxi. The drive couldn't speak English, even so, he was too nice. Because he called here and there to ask his friend where our motel was. My taxi was lost somewhere. Luckily, there's a kind man who told us where Hangang Park Motel was.

My friends arrived first in the motel. Hangang Park Motel is a family owned motel managed by an old couple. They were really nice. They knew we're tired and cold, so they gave us hot goguma and hot tea. I thought that we're their only guests. Hahaha... that's why they're nice to us ^^

our room's condition, we chose ondol style because it's warm

Overall, the room was so nice. It's cheap and enough for 7 of us. But, because I doubted the cleanliness of their bed and cover sheet, I couldn't sleep tight. Hahaha... Yes, I'm an obsessive compulsive person.

That's the end of our tired day.. 

Today's expenses per person:

- Jumbo Taxi from Gimpo Airport to Namsan Guest House: 6.500 KRW
- Top up T Money: 2.400 KRW
- Taxi from Gapyeong Station to Namiseom Deck: 1.100 KRW
- Nami Island Entrance Fee: 8.000 KRW
- Lunch (BBQ at Nami Island + Snacks): 10.100 KRW
- Rent a Locker: 500 KRW
- Taxi from Namiseom Deck to Gapyeong Intercity Bus Terminal: 1.300 KRW
- Bus from Gapyeong Intercity Bus Terminal to Chuncheon Terminal: 2.900 KRW
- Bus from Chuncheon Terminal to Sokcho Terminal: 13.400 KRW
- Dinner (Seven Eleven): 3.000 KRW
- Taxi from Sokcho Terminal to Hangang Park Motel: 4.300 KRW

South Korea Day 4 - Jeju

Thursday, 20 February 2014

We have a really tight schedule for today. Many places to visit as it was our last night here. As usual, after I ate my vitamins and tea, moved the camera's memory to another memory, waited for Andy's to come, we're ready to go ^^

Our first destination was Locadio World Museum. Andy said we could take picture in "hanbok" for free ^^ because we already paid the entrance fee. Locadio World Museum was a museum for all Korean movies or dramas shooting places and properties. When we arrived, I could say that we're the first visitors. Only our car was parking at the museum. I thought it's only a small museum, but after we explored I realized that it's spacious... and it's kinda spooky. Because none there except us, especially in historical movies / dramas shooting places where we used our hanbok. We also passed section horror movies / dramas, because we're afraid ^^

Hanbok Type 1 - daily hanbok

Hanbok Type 2 - mixed and matched

Hanbok Type 3 - when we used it, there's "ahjumma" yelled at us because we randomly mixed and matched the hanbok ^^

another shooting places found in Locadio World Museum

Overall, I said we need more time if we really wanted to explore all studios or properties in Locadio World Museum. 

From Locadio World Museum, we continued to O'Sulloc Green Tea Museum. The museum is all about green tea. We didn't spend too much time in the museum and went directly to the shop. I am a tea lover, that's why I didn't mind spend some in this museum ^^

O'Sulloc Green Tea Museum  - so colorful

Today was really hot in Jeju. I came out from the hostel with 4 layers of clothes, but in O'Sulloc I started to use only 3 layers. Then in the next destination, Teddy Bear Museum, I only used 2 layers. 

I expected that Teddy Bear Museum was really great and cool. But, I was disappointed. It wasn't too big and there wasn't a lot of teddy bear collections there. The shop was really expensive. Luckily, I wasn't into a teddy bear, so that's OK if I didn't get any souvenirs from that shop.

Teddy Bears from all era

Princess Hours Teddy Bear as you've seen on the dramas

famous people in the shape of teddy bear, are they look alike?

teddy bear in every acts

Teddy Bear Museum is located near other famous destination, such as Chocolate Museum and Believe It or Not Museum. We didn't enter and quite satisfied by taking pictures around the places.

After that, we asked Andy to take us to a local restaurant selling authentic Korean food with a reasonable price. Because, yesterday, we spent too much for lunch and dinner ^^ Andy took us to a small restaurant selling Tteokbokki and Gimbab. We thought we wouldn't be there if we didn't have Andy, hahaha, because they couldn't speak English and the place is quite remote ^^

the portion was so big and it's really spicy... four thumbs up ^^

Then we continued to Secret Garden Shooting Place. It was really not important destinations. Do you what they mean by this place? It's only a chair.. huft... luckily the scenery around the place was really great. Otherwise, I'll regret it ^^

the famous chair.. hahaha

Satisfied with the traditional swing, we went to Jusaangjolli Cliff. Another breathtaking scenery. Actually, in Indonesia, there's also the same cliff, if I remember correctly, it was around Lombok. Many tourists visited this place, so it's crowded and hard to take good pictures. 

Jusaangjolli Cliff

Before we went to Love Land, we stopped by the Hello Kitty Island and Mysterious Road... Andy said that Hello Kitty Island is for children, but we wouldn't believe it. So he took us there and we could decide whether we wanted to enter Hello Kitty Island or not. 

it's so pink and not me 

We decided not to enter the Hello Kitty Island because the entrance fee was not reasonable. We directly continued to Mysterious Road. We wanted to get the feeling about how mysterious the road was. Andy said there're a lot of accidents in this road. He also said we needed to take picture near the signage as a prove that we (tourist) had visited the road ^^

yeay got a prove that I've been there ^^

Next destination was the most wanted destination. This wouldn't be in Indonesia. What was that? That was Love Land. Love Land is a place where you can see all styles mentioned in Kamasutra. I said that because all is weird style. From positive point of view, this place was a place for sex education *wink* Andy said, it was established in Jeju because Jeju is the most visited destination for honeymoon. 

some pictures that I think quite normal to be posted here ^^

As you can see above, there's a store that sells sausage in a shape of penis or breast. The toilet is also unique if you see the handle. Satisfied with Jeju Love Land and because it started to be really cold, we moved to the next location, Yongduam Rock or known as Dragon Head Rock.

In my first plan, I put out Yongduam Rock from our schedule, because I thought it's not really look like a dragon head. However, because my cousin insisted to go there, I put it back to the schedule. It turned out that my feeling was right. When we arrived at Yongduam Rock, the others refused to go downstairs to see the rock, because it's really cold and windy. I was quite mad, because our time is wasted. That's why, I was the only one who went downstairs to take a picture with what they said as Dragon Head.

Do you think it's a dragon head?

The weather was extremely cold. Hufth.. I saw that the other tourists were also refuse to go downstairs. They chose to warm up their body in street food outlets. 

Final destination in Jeju was Yongduam Health. I was really curious to know what Jjimjilbang looks like. I saw it in many Korean dramas and reality shows. They like to eat boiled eggs and use sheep-like towels inside Jjimjilbang. So all of us was really excited to go there. And so do the other tourists.. hahaha... the Jjimjilbang was full. Before we entered, we asked Andy about Jjimjilbang etiquette, but he only said we just followed what others do. I thought he was shy to explain what we should do in Jjimjilbang. Hahaha...

Based on Andy's suggestion, we just followed the others. After we paid, we got one towel and one pair of clothes. Then we entered the shoes locker room where we put our shoes. The next room is for female only where there're lockers for our clothes, showers and sauna. This room made me really shocked. All was naked and they walked around and did their activities like nothing happened. We, as Indonesian, was never found it in our country. Because we're shocked, we didn't know what to do for minutes. Finally, we decided to go to another floor with stairs. The room was warm, but the stairs was cold. The upper floor is the dry sauna (is that correct name?). Men and women can enter the room. They ate boiled eggs, played video games, watched television, massaged or just sleeping around. We didn't know how to make sheep head towel and decided to ask someone. We chose to ask a child, hehe, because her sheep head towel was cute. Haha.. After that, we spent time inside hot room, but because our body was really cold, the hot room wasn't too hot for us.

Yongduam Health - all is pink for women

We only had 90 minutes to stay in Jjimjilbang, because it's already late at night. But it's enough for us as we didn't know what to do inside Jjimjilbang. We went out earlier but we couldn't find Andy. So we waited for Andy to pick us up. We also didn't have time for dinner and decided to go to mini mart for food. 

That's how we spent our last day in Jeju ^^ 

Expenses for the day:
- Locadio World Museum: KRW 9.000
- Teddy Bear Museum: KRW 8.000
- Jusaangjolli Cliff: KRW 2.000
- Love Land: KRW 9.000
- Yongduam Health: KRW 8.000
- Andy Tour Guide Fee: KRW 40.000
- Lunch (Tteobokki + Kimbab): free of charged, treats from Ci Lalan
- Dinner (Seven Eleven): KRW 3.500
- Souvenirs (Green Tea O'Sulloc): KRW 21.700