170311 to 19 Trip to Korea 1/3
We took a 9-day holiday from 11 to 19 March 2017 to South Korea during the 1 semester school break, hopefully catch some snow and also to enjoy the culture, taste the food and see the land.
Here’s our overall tour map covering South Korea’s Northern part (click to view larger version):
This is the detailed map for the area near Seoul (click to view larger version):
And this is the North-eastern map from Nami Island to Sokcho and Pyeongchang (click to view larger version):
Day 1: 170311 Saturday – Arrival & Myeongdong
We left home for Changi airport at about 10.45pm on Friday, 10 March, and after smooth check-in and immigrations, we boarded the Asiana OZ754 on time at 2:00am.
We landed on time at 9:35am in Incheon Airport, cleared immigrations quickly and immediately took the Airport Express train (AREX) to Seoul Station and changed to local subway to Dongdaemun Historical and Cultural Park (DDMHCP) Station.
This is the exit from DDMHCP Station, and this is our first breath of fresh air in Korea (all the way within the airport and train or train stations).
The backpackers’ hotel, Dongdaemun Inn. is just round the corner from the subway station exit.
The rooms are very basic, but good enough for sleeping, and conveniently in town.
After unloading, we walked to a restaurant next to the DDM Inn for lunch. Nice to eat Korean food in Korea.
We then took train to Myeongdong, reaching at 2:45pm, and we walked the streets for snacks.
Caramel sheet:
Tornado potato:
Tall ice-cream:
Flame-grilled oyster with cheese:
Rice-cake:
We walked for a while, and having encountered the political protest (President Park Gun Hye had just been impeached on 10 March), we took train from Euljiro Station back to DDMHCP.
We walked about Dongdaemun Design Plaza.
We returned to DDM Inn at 6:30pm and rested for a while.
We then walked out for dinner at a nearby eatery at 8:45pm.
We finished dinner at 9:35pm and walked back to the hotel to sleep at 10:30pm.
Day 2: 170312 Sunday – City Tour
We woke up at 7:15am and had bread that we bought for breakfast. Our driver/tour-guide, Mr. Denny Yu, met us at 8:25am for the Seoul City Tour.
We reached Seoul N Tower at Namsan at 8:45am.
This is the Korean guardian mythical creature, the Haachi.
After Seoul N tower, we drove Northwards to Bukchon Hanok village, driving past the City Hall, some statues and the main entrance of the Palace, Guanghwamun.
We had some fish cake, thanks to Denny.
Bukchon village is very nice, classic Joseon era style of houses.
At 11:15am, we visited the palace, Gyeongbukgong. The palace layout is very similar to Beijing, but smaller scale, about a quarter the area.
The palace guards (actors only).
This large building is the banquet hall.
This lake garden is the king’s family private area.
We learned that the magpie is the national bird of Korea.
We had lunch at 1:00pm at a nearby restaurant, eating noodles and dumplings.
After lunch, we walked to Insadong shopping area.
We had silk worms (smaller than those in China).
We also bought pancakes shaped like shit.
By 2:45pm, we visited Gwangjang Market.
This is the nearby Cheongyecheon Canal, a beautifully restored canal/pedestrian walkway.
At 3:45pm, we drove over the river to Gangnam.
We walked on the Floating Exhibition Platform.
Thereafter, a short drive over to Noryangin Fish Market, where we ought some fresh seafood and cooked at a restaurant nearby. We had oysters, cockles, abalones, crabs and salmon.
We left Gangnam at 6:45pm and returned to the hotel.
David didn’t eat too well (he is not a seafood guy) and had instant noodles from 7-eleven. We also bought soju (really cheap at about $2.00).
We slept at 9:00pm to rest well for Everland the next day.
Day 3: 170313 Monday – Everland
To rush for Everland, giving 2.0hours of travel, we left the hotel at 7:30am and took train from DDMHCP to Gangnam.
Here’s a view of the Gangnam Daero bus stop where we changed to the Everland bus.
We reached the Everland bus terminal at 9:25am and changed to the Everland shuttle bus, reaching Everland at 9:40am.
After a short wait (Everland opens at 10:00am), we entered and headed straight for food.
There were many attractions and rides, and being a Monday on off-season, we didn’t have to queue for most of the rides!
For example, this ride was only our 4 children!
This ride only Joseph and Samuel!
And this ride only Samuel!
WE had burgers for lunch at 12:30am.
Then we went to the Safari Private Tour, pre-booked on-line at 1:30pm.
We got to feed the carnivores!
After the Safari, we let Samuel ride a horse (something he missed doing in Melbourne).
The older children went for a roller-coaster ride while Samuel, Joseph and us had a snack.
There is a mini-zoo and we spent some time looking at animals.
Then we went for the Lost Valley Private Tour (again, pre-booked on-line) at 3:15pm.
In this tour, we had close encounters with herbivores.
The jeep is amphibious! (The bus for non-private tour is also amphibious).
We fed and touched the rhinos!
More rides after the safari tours, also minimal queues.
And a snack at 4:30pm.
The last ride (only Esther, David and Joseph).
The last item – shopping for souvenirs.
We left Everland at 6:20pm, and took the shuttle bus back to the terminal to change to the public bus.
We reached Gangnam at 7:20pm, and had a great restaurant meal (rather costly as it was at Gangnam central) at Yeontabal at 7:50pm.
We finished dinner at 8:45pm and took the subway back to the hotel, reaching at 9:45pm.
After a shower and downloading of photos, we slept at 11:30pm.
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