Fourth trip : South Korea Part 4

Hello everyone! Welcome back to Miami is traveling J

Day 5, 13 Jan 2016

Time: 06.10 a.m. – 11.50 p.m.

Route: Ilsan Subway Station --> Hongkik Univ. Station --> Imjingak Park --> 
Amethyst Center --> The War Memorial of Korea --> N Seoul Tower --> Ginseng Museum --> Deoksugung Palace --> Seoul City Hall --> Seoul Metropolitan Library 
--> Ehwa Univ. Station --> Sinchon Station --> Hongkik Univ. Station --> 
Daehwa station

DMZ tour is today! I woke up at 5.30 am today. Mark sent me to IIsan Subway Station at 6.00 am because I had an appointment with group tour to DMZ. The reason why Mark had to send me to IIsan Subway Station is because this subway can directly go to Hongkik Univ. Station, the meeting point. I arrived there around 6.40 am and I had KFC for breakfast. A car driver for DMZ tour pick me up at 7.00 am. It’s very early. Then he drove to another hotel in order to pick other tourists. There were 12 people including me in the bus. Unfortunately, our guide came and said that we cannot go to DMZ today because situation between North and South Korea. So what the company can provide us is to show the nearest place that we can see North Korea. All the plan has changed. She let us think about 10 minutes if we still want to do this or not. Most of people cancelled it. So there were only 3 people, one couple from US and I. the main reason why I still go with the tour is because I just want to see North Korea. That’s why I spend 87000 won or about 100$ on one day tour. If you asked me is it worth to spend a lot of money like this or not? Well I cannot truly say how I feel. 

 The first place that this tour take us too is Imjingak Park. This is where we can say North Korea easily. One more thing, my guide told me that it will snow today! Let wait and see is it true or not. Imjingak has many statues and monuments, observation deck, small pond and also restaurant. Plus, free wifi hehehe. There is Mangbaeddan ; like a statue, this is where south Korean people show their respect to their families who live in North Korea or who died in Korea War. In my opinion, the highlight of this place is the bridge of freedom. When I saw those ribbons which hung on the wall, it made me feel sad, really sad. It is like the place that all your happiness was destroyed.

Next place is Amethyst Center. Amethyst is beautiful, it really is and my favorite color is purple so I was thinking about buy one but when I saw the price. Well I have to think about it again. This shop is under government, that’s why tour group had to stop at this place.

 Here I come, The War Memorial of Korea. Before I came here to Korea. My friend told me that If you went to DMZ, don’t forget to go to The War Memorial of Korea also and you should visit there after DMZ so that you can truly feel how people in that time feel. I think he was right J The War Memorial of Korea is very big. There are 8 main exhibits at the War Memorial: the Hogukchumo Exhibit, War History Exhibit, June 25th War Exhibit, Overseas Dispatched Troops Exhibits, Military Development Exhibit, Large Equipment Exhibit, and the Outdoor Exhibit. The Hogukchumo Exhibit honors the spirit of those who perished fighting on the battlefield. Visitors can learn all about Korea’s war history by visiting the War History Exhibit, June 25 War Exhibit, Overseas Dispatched Troops Exhibits, and the Military Development Exhibit, as well as witness how the Korean military developed over the years. Different kinds of weapons and military equipment are exhibited as well, inside and outside the building.

Reference: visitkorea.or.kr

I can say that this place is my favorite place I’ve visited in South Korea. I recommend if you come to South Korea, this place is a must!

N Seoul Tower or Namsan Tower is one of the most popular tourist spot in Korea. Luckily, a guide also took us there too. In my opinion and experience, Namsan Tower is a place for couples! Why? Well the first one, this place is very romantic, especially that “Locks of Love" believe me one day I will visit here again with my boyfriend heheh. Then, there are many restaurants which also romantic too. One that I would like to recommend is revolving restaurant. This is amazing, not only delicious food from Michelin star chef but also views of Seoul! Highly recommended J

When I went to N TOWER 3: Digital Observatory, It is where you can enjoy 360-degree view of Seoul. Unfortunately, it was snowing outside so I could not see the scenery clearly. Plus, thing that I like here in this observatory is along mirrors, they also provide some tourist information in South Korea! And other towers around the world.

Next, we went to Ginseng Museum. I’m not sure if I can call in a museum or not because this place tend to sell ginsengs than giving information about it. There is the most expensive ginseng here which cost about 1000000$ hmm I was wondering how will buy this one? I had a chance to buy ginseng tea and snacks for my parents. I though they will love it because it is really good for health.

The tour was finally finished. I think that today is good because I can learn so many things about South Korea especially history which I interested in. but if you asked me is it worth with 100$ or not? Well believe me traveling by yourself will cost about 50$ so the choice is yours, choose it wisely J

I told a guide to drop me at Seoul City Hall because I found that the City hall building looks amazing and according to my maps.me application, the capital city of South Korea is here so I need to walk and conquer it! When I arrived at Seoul City Hall, I unintentionally found Deoksugung Palace. This palace located in front of the Seoul City so I will not miss a chance to explore it. Then it stated to snow harder so I need a warm place to stay and I found Seoul Metropolitan Library. I love library and this is the national library in South Korea. I cannot explain how happy I am when I found this place J I read some books which written down in Korean and the library was crowded. This library is very clean and systematic. I wish I could spend more time here but my time is running out so I need to walk out and explore other places!

 I had an appointed with P’Pink; one Thai girl I found here, at Hongkik Univ. Station because we will have BBQ there, yummy! So I decided to take a subway and went to Sinchon Station. Why Sinchon Station? First of all there is no subway directly to Hongkik Univ. Station and I’m too lazy to change it so I went to this one instead and walked for 3 stations. Another reason is I want to see everything, I want to know what people live here, and that’s why I decided to walk for 4 km to Hongkik Univ. Station and I can say here that I’m really proud of myself that I did it!

P’Pink and I hung out together in Hongdae for 4 hours and I was so happy to be with her. It was a perfect time for me to buy some souvenirs for my family and friends in Thailand and Hongdae seemed like a perfect place I can literally find everything that I want.  We took a subway back to Daehwa together at 11.00 pm. What a long day!

Fourth trip : South Korea Part 3

Hello everyone! Welcome back to Miami is traveling J 

Day 4, 12 Jan 2016

Time: 09.00 a.m. – 10.40 p.m.

Route: The Style --> Bulkusa Temple --> Gyeongju Expo Park --> Bomun Lake -->  Gyeongju Bus Station --> Donggung Palace and Woji Pond in Gyeongju --> Gyeongju Cheomsongdae --> Gyeongju National Museum --> Gyeongju Bus Station --> Anyang Bus Station --> Daehwa Station

Breakfast made it myself! Scrambled eggs

I woke up late today, ok the truth is I supposed to be at a lobby and wait Lee Chan oppa at 7 am but here I am waking up at 9 am.I felt so bad with this. At least Lee Chan oppa came and picked me to Gyeongju city. It took about 1 and half hour from Daegu to Gyeongju. We arrived at  Bulkusa Temple around 11.20 am. After we parked a car at parking lot, then we had to walk up to the temple because Bulkusa temple is located on on the slopes of mount Toham. This is one of the oldest temple in Gyeongju. That is why there are many tourists. There are two pagodas on the temple site, and also many national treasures. This temple is peaceful and also beautiful. I would like to recommend this place if you visit Gyeongju!

Then we drove to Gyeongju Expo Park. I have no idea what is it but this place is the place that you should visit, it is in my Korean travel book J  I think that this is the great place for families. There is one building that really look strange. I don’t understand what it is for. Then I realized that there used to be a big pagoda and people named it “Gyeongju Tower”. The same place with that building. This pagoda was built in Shilla dynasty. Don’t forget to take a selfie there!

We dropped at Bomun Lake just 20 minutes and this place also on my Korean travel book. Well I did not see it interesting much. It seemed like this is a hotel area because there are so many hotels and resorts there. However, if you want to enjoy a beautiful scenery and fresh air. This place would be a perfect for you then.

It’s lunch time!! I would like to say big thank you to Lee Chan oppa who took me to real traditional Korea restaurant.

If I asked oppa what place I should visit in Gyeongju, the answer would be Donggung Palace and Woji Pond in Gyeongju and he has visited here more than 10 times!  Small mountains were created inside the palace walls, beautiful flowers were planted, and rare animals were brought in to create an exquisitely exotic garden fit for royalty. The pond was originally built in Wolseung Fortress (erected in 101 AD during the Silla period), but the fortress was destroyed and now lies in ruins.

Reference: visitkorea.co.kr

This place is very beautiful, even though what I can see is only one building but there were many buildings in the past because I can see pillars and also according to history book. It showed that there was a palace located here at Woji Pond and this palace was civilized but due to the weather and why many buildings were ruins.

Gyeongju Cheomsongdae is an astronomical observatory and the most interesting thing is this observatory tower is the oldest surviving astronomical tower in East Asia. One thing that I noticed around Gyeongju city is tomb. There more than 100 tombs around this city!

I love museum and believe me Gyeongju National Museum is one of the best museum I’ve ever visited. The fact is the Gyeongju is the capital city of Shilla kingdom well I’m not surprising why Gyeongju has rich history. There are 4 main buildings the Main hall, Annex I, Annex II, and the Outdoer area. One that really touch my heart is the Main hall, this place is full of history. I can see many collections much more than 100,000 artifacts in possession, with 3,000 on display.The highlight in Gyeongju National Museum is The Bell of King Seongdeok. It is believed that this bell is the most renowned of all Buddhist temple bells. One good thing about museums in Korea is free entrance ticket woo J 

Time flies so so fast, I just cannot believe that I spent 6 hours in Gyeongju and it’s time to go back to Seoul. Lee Chan opaa sent me to Gyeongju Bus Station. I bought a ticket to Anyang Bus Station because it is very near where I stayed only 4 subways station away from Daehwa station. The bus left at 06.00 pm. It’s dark outside already. My feeling was so blue when I had to leave this beautiful city Gyeongju. On the way back I had a chance to see melting snow. At first, I thought it was raining but then woo how come! It cannot rain with the temperature was -6 Celsius outside. It must be snow! I arrived at Anyang Bus station around 10 pm. Such a long ride! Well one of the amazing thing is that Anyang Bus station is inside the mall and when I walked out I can find subway station easily. It’s time to go back home.