Day 7: Nami Island - Winter Sonata
Pheng
Winter Sonata
I bet most people are familiar in this koreanovela or at least have heard about it. If you are a fan of this drama, you might have guessed why I started to blog about it. If not, it doesn't matter...


Nami Island which is also called Namiseom / Namisum. For the K-Drama fans, it is the filming site for "Winter Sonata".  It’s a small half-moon shaped island which got its name from General Nami who died at a young age after having been falsely accused of treason during King Sejo’s reign. 

Nami Island is outside Seoul and you can reach there by taking train to Gapyeong Station for almost 2 hours and the Gapyeong Wharf is about 2km walk from Gapyeong Station. Then you need to buy a passport/entry Visa + Ferry to Nami Island which costs 8000 KRW for the whole day.

Whether you like Korean dramas or not, I highly recommend that you go to Nami Island and bring your family, friends, and loved ones, and spend at least 3-4 hours exploring this small island. Your major takeaways from that trip will probably consist of quite a number of wonderful photos which you can happily share with your friends back home as proof that you’ve been to one of the most beautiful places in South Korea and probably in the world.

Here is the video of our last day trip:



Here is cost breakdown.


ItemCost (KRW)
Steam cake1000
Train from Jonggak to Gapyeong2050
Admission to Nami Island8000
Snacks at Nami island 5000
Train from Gapyeong to Jonggak2050
Late lunch at 2nd flr of hostel bldg15000
Train from Jonggak to Incheon3950
Hamburger at Lotteria4400
Total41450


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Day 6: Everland
Pheng
On this cold early day, we left our hostel with anticipation on the magic that Everland may give. We take train from Jonggak to Jamsil Station for about 45 mins, and take bus#5700 which is almost an hour to reach Everland bus stop. From there the resort shuttle will bring you to the theme park.


Everland Resort is the largest theme park located outside Seoul in Yongin and is considered "Disney of Korea". It is a 3-in-1 park consisting of Festival World, Caribbean Bay and Speedway. If i'm not wrong, entrance to Everland also entitles one to visit Carribean Bay for free. However, time flies when you are in Everland, and the park is huge. Festival World has thrilling rides, jungle safari, zoo, shows and seasonal festivals. Caribbean Bay is a huge water park with wave pools and water slides. Speedway is where you can enjoy car racing.  

Each season there is a theme, and when we were there it was the Halloween, and the entire park was decorated. It really was quite spectacular and great for picture taking. Be sure to get the free tickets to watch the Madagascar Circus Show before heading for rides as they are limited. If you are into adrenaline rush, you must queue for T-Express, which is a wooden roller coaster with the steepest decline of any wooden roller coaster in the world. There are many restaurants and many events going on throughout the park, so be sure to read the electronic monitors. Also visit the Safari World as soon as possible as the lines are longer than for any other attractions. You will board a closed in bus and it drives thru fence enclosed areas with live tigers, lions, bears and LIGER. The bus stops to feed the animals and it is a great picture taking opportunity.

TIP: For tourist, remember to bring your passport to avail 8000 krw discount



Here is cost breakdown.


ItemCost (KRW)
Train from Jonggak to Jamsil1250
Bus#5700 from Jamsil to Everland1800
Gimbap for breakfast1000
Admission to Everland32000
Lunch at Everland8000
Bus#5700 from Everland to Jamsil 1800
Train from Jamsil to Jonggak 1250
Total47100

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Day 5: DMZ Tour + Seoul City Tour II
Pheng
I was having second thoughts on whether to book for DMZ tour or not as it is expensive. In the end, we book the half-day DMZ Tour which costs 38000 KRW / pax and the itinerary is as follows: 

Hotel pick up -> Imjingak Park -> The Bridge of Freedom -> The 3rd Infiltration Tunnel -> DMZ Theater/Exhibition Hall -> Dora Observatory -> Dorasan Station -> Unification Village (pass by) -> Amethyst/Ginseng Center -> Arrive at City Hall/Itaewon


It wasn't complete though as we didn't go for the JSA.  They say the JSA is the divide between North and South Korea where they stand like statues and stare at each other..hehe... and being with them will give anyone "the chills".  Nevertheless, it was a valuable experience for a person residing in a peaceful country. It is a great reminder of the status of South Korea with its relation to its neighbour to the North. I was amazed to learn about how far the North Koreans had come in their attempts to create infiltration tunnels into the South. The tour is something that every visitor to Korea should experience to further understand the reality of the relationship between North and South Korea and the desire of the people to see the Nation reunited one day.

After the tour, we were dropped off at Lotte Hotel which is at City Hall area. From there we continue our Seoul City Walk Tour II.

Namdaemun Market (남대문 시장) is the largest traditional market in Korea. All products are sold at affordable and wholesale prices. They sell clothes, medicines, liquor, electronics, kitchenware and more. The market is alive on late afternoons.

Myeongdong (명동) is a shopping mecca for the young and trendy, but prices here are expensive compared to those in Namdaemun. Myeongdong features cosmetics, retail outlets, international brands, street foods and fashion; while Namdaemun is more catered for wholesale thus cheaper. 

Cheonggyecheon stream (청계천) is located in downtown Seoul. The stream has a path on both sides and decorated with art, statues or special themes for events. At night-time parts of the river light up and you can enjoy a laser show. It is recommended to start at the stream near Gwanghwamun station where special events and concerts are held. There was lantern display at the time of our visit.




Here is cost breakdown.


ItemCost (KRW)
DMZ Tour38000
Sweet Corn1000
Pancake-like fried bread1000
Tteokboki3000
Total43000

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Day 4: Seoul City Tour
Pheng
It was 6 AM on 31st of October 2012, we feel a little lonely to bid Jeju Island farewell yet we were also excited to reach Seoul. We took taxi from hostel to airport and checked-in for our Jeju flight to Gimpo. 

From Gimpo Airport, there are 2 ways to reach Seoul Hostel Center: a.) Bus 6002 or b.) Subway to Jonggak Station. We chose option B which is approximately 1 hour from Gimpo airport. The hostel is 5 minutes walk from the station, just follow the map and instructions which is available at their website.

The room at Seoul Hostel Center is very small. It doesn't have heater or aircon. If you are not fuzzy and would just book a place to sleep, then you may consider this hostel. It is walking distance to a lot of tourist attractions like Gyeongbokgung palace, Gwanghamun Plaza, Insadong, Cheonggyecheon Stream, Myeongdong, Namdaemun market and a lot more...

After we checked-in at the hostel, we walked back to Jonggak Station. The order of our Seoul City Tour is as follows:

Bosingak Bell Pavilion (보신각) houses the Bosingak. Bosingak is a large bell pavilion on Jongno in Seoul, South Korea. The bell in Bosingak gives Jongno its name, which literally means "bell street." It was originally constructed in 1396 but destroyed many times by both war and fire. It was designated Bosingak by Emperor Gojong in 1895. Under the Joseon Dynasty the bell was rung to announce the time, several times a day and to signal the opening and closing of the city gates as well it was used as a fire alarm. In modern times, the bell is rung only at midnight on New Year's Eve. Because of the massive number of people who attend this ceremony, Metro trains on Line 1 of the Seoul Subway do not stop at Jonggak Station on New Year's Eve. Source: wikipedia. It is at Jonggak Station exit 4, across Jongno Tower (종로 타워)

Jogyesa Temple (조계사) does not give off the solemn and traditional air of the other temples located deep in the mountains, or offer the seasonal scenery of the mountains and the sea, since it is located in the middle of the city. It is easily accessible from Jonggak Station Exit 2, from there walk towards cafe7gram and cross the street towards Dunkin Donuts, walk a little further until you reach this temple.

Ujeongchongguk or "Postal Administration Office of Joseon" is less than hundred meters away from Jogyesa Temple. This might not be known to tourists, we happened to discover it while walking. It is the first post office founded in 1884 in Korea and now serves as a memorial building for post. You can find stamps and documentary records preserved in this building. 

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Gwanghamun Gate (광화문) is the main gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace. Literally it means “may the light of enlightenment blanket the world”, and implies the resounding dedication the people of the Joseon Dynasty had in creating a new dynasty.
Gyeongbokgung Palace (경복궁) is a royal palace located in northern Seoul. It was the main and largest palace of the Five Grand Palaces built by the Joseon Dynasty. The name means "Palace" [Gung] "Greatly Blessed by Heaven" [Gyeongbok]. Admission to this palace allows you to also visit National Palace Museum of Korea (국립고궁박물관) and National Folk Museum of Korea (국립민속박물관).
Gwanghamun Plaza (광화문광장) is a plaza  in front of Gwanghamun Gate. Aside being famous to "City Hunter" drama fans, this place tells more a historical story. Be sure to learn more about King Sejong the Great who developed Hangeul and Admiral Yi Sun-Shin who is a Korean Naval Commander.

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From Gwanghamun Plaza, walk towards City Hall and turn left in between Kyobo Bldg and Gwanghamun Post Office, you will soon see Jongno Tower again. You can take train from Jonggak station to go to Chungmuro Station OR if you still feel like exploring the place, walk toward Bosingak and continue to walk straight until you reach Jongno-3 station. From Chungmuro Station, take yellow bus#2 or bus#5 to Namsan Park.

N Seoul Tower (N 서울타워) is commonly known as the Namsan Tower or Seoul Tower, is a communication and observation tower located on Mt. Namsan and is the highest in Seoul and offers a stunning view of the city. Catch the beautiful light show every 8:30 PM



Here is cost breakdown.


ItemCost (KRW)
Taxi from HK Jeju Hostel to Jeju Airport3700
Train from Gimpo Airport to Jonggak1250
Admission to Gyeongbokgung Palace3000
MVP Toast2500
Train from Jongno3 station to Chungmuro, then bus#2 to N Seoul Tower1050
Bus#2 to Chungmuro fron Seoul Tower, train to Jonggak1050
Total12550


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Day 3: Jeju-si - North of Jeju Island
Pheng
Today, we are going to explore the north part of Jeju Island. We decided to checked-out from Goodwill Feliz Telcon Hostel and checked-in at HK Jeju Hostel which is near the airport. But before heading to our next hotel, we need to visit Teddy Bear Museum which is in Jungmun Resort. Do you still remember how to reach there by bus? 

We checked-out from our hostel at 8:00 am and we had Gimbap (Korean version of sushi) for breakfast. 

We took bus 600 to Teddy Bear Museum. Luckily, this museum has free lockers to deposit our luggages. There are  lot of teddy bears in this museum and a lot of kids and teens visitors too... What's special in this museum is their teddy bear version of "Princess Hours" drama characters and other Korean traditions. They also have Teddy Bears dressed like famous stars including Marilyn Monroe, Elvis, Charlie Chaplin and more. So I leave you to decide for your favorite... :) I recorded the Elvis Presley Show...

We took approximately 2.5 hours taking photos in this museum. Finally, we boarded bus 600 to airport and take taxi from airport to HK Jeju hostel (호스텔코리아 인 제주). We went to neaby E-MART (hypermart), noodles only cost 1690 krw for 5 packs... so cheap!!! We went back to our hostel and enjoy our instant noodles in pantry. Nothing beats hot spicy noodles on a cold day.

From this hostel, there are tourist attractions that are within walking distance: Yongyeon Pond (용연), Yongyeon bridge, Yongduam Rock (용두암), Chilsung-ro (동문재래시장) , JungAng Underground Shopping Center(제주 중앙지하상가). Here is the map...



Yongyeon Pond (용연) is also known as "The Dragon's Pool". This is often left off in tourist itineraries, but skipping it would mean missing out on one of Jeju’s best kept secrets.Yongyeon Pond, or Yongyeon Yabeom, is a spectacular find east of Jeju’s main airport. Stretching from the interior of the island out to the sea is a calm, yet beautiful meandering river. Visitors to this park are greeted by Yongyeon Bridge, a large suspension bridge over a gorge, which takes one to a large octagonal pavilion. From here, one may saunter along the river’s edge soaking in the quiet sounds of the water below. Yongyeon Pond has significant historical significance on Jeju Island. During the Joseon Dynasty, the area was used to host important state banquets because of its beautiful surroundings and tranquil setting. Rock walls that form a curtain with eight folds flank the river. Once a month, the full moon shines on the pond, creating one of the best sights on all of Jeju.

Yongduam Rock (Dragon Head Rock) is an unusual lava formation that lies on the coast just west of Jeju City. The basalt dragon's head with its open mouth is one of Jeju-do's popular tourist sites. Legend depicts that an envoy that the Dragon King had sent looking for medicinal plant on Hallasan when the Mountain God shot an arrow at the envoy & he fell & died. When the waves surge over the Yongduam Rock, it looks as the dragon is about to ascend to heaven

Chilsung-ro (동문재래시장) is known as Dongmun traditional market. There were loads of fresh seafood, meats and fruits, mostly tangerines.There are also row of shops selling cooked food. They seemed to all be selling the same thing, ramyeon, tteokbokki, gimbap and pork. For other traditional markets, refer to this link

JungAng Underground Shopping Center (제주 중앙지하상가) is an underground labyrinth of boutiques, name-brand shops, skin-care stands, small restaurants, and ice cream stalls. I don't find the prices to be cheaper that elsewhere in Jeju.


Here is cost breakdown.


ItemCost (KRW)
Gimbap800
Bus from New Kyungnam Hotel to Lotte Hotel1500
Admission to Teddy Bear Museum8000
Bus From Teddy Bear Museum to Airport3900
Taxi from airport to HK Jeju Hostel5000
Korean Noodles (5 packs)1690
Total20890


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Day 2: Seongsan - East of Jeju Island
Pheng
The strategy for day 2 tour is to take bus that travels counter-clockwise direction from our hostel and explore the east of Jeju island. The attractions to visit are Seongeup Folk Village (성읍민속마을) -> Seopjikoji -> Seongsan Ilchulbong -> Manjang Cave.

Seongeup Folk Village (성읍민속마을) is a small town that holds a vast amount of culture. Cultural properties in the folk village have been handed down from generation to generation and include treasures such as residential houses, Confucian shrines and schools, ancient government offices, stone statues (Harubang), large millstones (pulled by horses or ox), fortress ruins, and stone monuments. The local black-haired pigs and tongsi (pigsty / restroom) are especially well-known characteristics of Jeju folk culture. The Jeju black pork is said to be very nutritious.

Directions: From Seogwipo Intercity Bus Terminal take the Dongilju bus. Get off at ‘Pyoseon-ri samuso' (2000 krw). Go straight and turn left at the intersection. Walk straight until you get to the bus stop. Take Beonnyeong-ro bus. Get off at ‘Seupeup 1-ri.’(1000 krw). Travel and waiting time is approximate 1 hr.


Seopjikoji (All in drama)（섭지코지매표소）have one of the the best sceneries in Jejudo. The cape jutting out into the sea looks like a small dragon with a long neck. “Seopjikoji” is a Jejudo dialect word meaning “a narrow cape.” You’ll enjoy the impressive view of Sinyang Seopjikoji Beach and Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak in here. Seopjikoji offers pastoral scenery where the blue ocean, black cliffs and green pasture meet. As you walk along the fenced trail, to your left you will see the lovely ocean and striking cliffs, and to your right a wide green pasture with horses. Another attraction is the All-in House, a set for a popular TV show.

Directions: Take bus at  ‘Seupeup 1-ri.’ (opposite where you alight for Seongeup Folk Village) going Seongsan and alight at 'Sinyang-ri'. Journey takes around 30 mins. It is advisable to take cab to go to Seopjikoji from the bus stop as it is more than 2km by foot.

Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak (성산일출봉) is also known as "Sunrise Peak". It is believed to be a holy spot for prayer, this beautiful area is one of the landmarks of the island and should not be missed. The name Seongsan, meaning "castle hill" in Korean, comes from its sloping form resembling a grand castle. It is the perfect spot to watch the sunrise,thus called Seongsan Ilchulbong (sunrise), some would say the sunset is even nicer.

It takes less than 30 minutes to get to the peak, and along the way you can see many flora that are designated as national treasures. You may also witness Haenyo (Women's Diver) performance on your right when coming down.

Although it is not that high, reaching its peak gives a very rewarding experience.

Directions: From Seopjikoji, go to the highway and take taxi to Sunrise Peak. 


Manjanggul Cave (만장굴) is also another UNESCO World Heritage. It is one of the finest lava tunnels in the world, and is a designated natural monument. A lava tunnel is formed when the lava that was deep in the ground spouts from the peak and flows to the surface. Manjanggul Cave has a variety of interesting structures inside including 70cm lava stalagmites and the lava tube tunnels. When we reached there, we realized that we don't have enough time as they close by 5:30pm. :( Here are some pics
Directions: Take bus from Seongsan Ilchulbong, Seongsallipgu bus stop towards Jeju Intercity Bus Terminal. Get off at Manjang Cave. Walk for 2 km to cave entrance or take taxi.
 
We took bus at opposite bus stop we alight earlier towards Seogwipo, it took more than 1.5 hours before we reached home.


Here is cost breakdown.


ItemCost (KRW)
Bus from Seogwipo Bus Terminal to Seongeup Folk Village3000
Lunch Set Meal / 2 at Seongeup Folk Village17500
Bus from Seongeup Folk Village to Seopjikoji1000
Taxi from highway to Sunrise Peak3600
Admission to Sunrise Peak2200
Bus from Sunrise Peak to Manjang Cave1000
Bus from Manjang Cave to Seogwipo5000
Total33300
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Day 1: Seogwipo - South of Jeju Island
Pheng
It was around 10:30 pm when we arrived South Korea. We bought and top-up T-Money card at GS25 (Korea's 7-11) inside Incheon International Airport. This card is mainly used as transportation card for Seoul and is also used in Jeju. We also grabbed some instant noodles in this store.

After our stomachs were filled, we took train from Incheon to Gimpo International Airport. Little did we know that Gimpo Airport closes after midnight and we were forced out, so we camped outside the very cold streets of Korea. :( It was the longest night of our lives. 

We were very happy when the airport opened around 5:00 am the following day. We excitedly checked-in for our flight to Jeju. Jeju Island, the Hawaii of Korea, where couples usually go for honeymoon, and the place of many UNESCO Nature Heritage sites, is really beautiful and romantic. There are several airlines flying from Gimpo to Jeju, and it takes only 1 hr to reach Jeju. Get detailed map of Jeju in here.


We arrived Jeju International Airport at 8:00 AM. Like any other tourists, we grabbed some flyers and maps at the tourist counter. We also asked for detailed directions to reach our hostel. We had pre-booked Goodwill Feliz Telcon Hostel through Agoda.com. The Airport limousine (bus #600) from Jeju International Airport to Seogwipo is around 1.5 hrs and alight at New Kyungnam Hotel, the hostel is 10 minutes by foot. I highly recommend this hotel for its cleanliness, facilities and location. It maybe hard to find at first but it is walking distance to Seogwipo intercity bus terminal, and few minutes bus ride to Jeju International Convention Center and Jungmun Tourist Resort Complex by bus #600. 

We checked-in at around 10 am but the room wasn't ready yet. So we decided to just leave our luggages and start our tour. We decided that we only explore Jungmun Resort today as we haven't slept yet <literaly>. We took bus #600 from New Kyungnam Hotel to Lotte Hotel.

Jungmun Resort
Jungmun Resort is a tourist complex filled with expensive hotels, interesting sites and some amusement museums. They are walking distance to each other, visit their individual sites for more details.
Places worth to visit inside Jungmun Resort are:


Alive Museum is the 2nd Trick Art Museum in Jeju, the first Trick Art Museum is in the Seongeup village. These museums are showing  optical illusion art. Trick art renders 2D paintings in 3D  by creating illusion. Each work looks differently when seen from different angles or spots. Its magic magnifies when seen from camera lenses. We can take pictures with various fun poses blending nicely with exhibitions, the museum even prepared sample picture beside each pieces of art on how to pose. We spent about 3 hours in taking photo and having fun in the museum and we were exhausted after posing with the arts. It is around 10 mins walk from Lotte Hotel, refer to the website for map. 

There's more...


Robert Ripley (1890-1949) traveled around the world, and collected strange facts and items he found. He created Ripley's Believe It Or Not franchise showing in newspaper, radio, and television. We haven't visited this museum this time around. The items and trivia inside this museum will leave you amazed for sure. 
Korean people can't get enough of Teddy Bear. There are many Teddy Bear Museums around Korea, and 2 of them are in Jeju Island, and one of them is in Jungmun Resort. Teddy Bears here were dressed like famous stars including Marlyn Monroe, Elvis, Charlie Chaplin, Lady Di and Prince Charles, and so on. My favorites are Teddy Bears in Korean drama Goong, and Teddy Bears in Korean traditional wedding. We shall visit this museum on Day 3.

Just 10 minutes walking distance from Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum, there was a waterfall named Cheonjeyeon Falls (don't mistake it for Cheonjiyeon). On the way to the waterfall, you will pass Seonimgyo bridge. The bridge is also called Chilseonyeogyo (칠선녀교) or Seven Nymphs Bridge. The nymphs symbolize the Korean legend of the descent of seven beautiful nymphs from heaven  at night. Around the bridge, there are Cheonjeru, Korean traditional architecture style tower. On the surface of this huge Cheonjeru Tower you would find a painting portraying the legend of the nymphs and the mountain god that is associated with this waterfall of Jeju.
Seonimgyo bridge
 Obokchon or "Fountain of Five Blessings" - longevity (tortoise), wealth (boar), honor (dragon), love (mandarin duck) and sons (carp). Tourists may pray for luck of their choice by standing on the preferred statue and throwing a coin into the lucky bag in the middle of Obokchon. These coins are donated to help less fortunates at the end of the year.
The unique thing about this waterfall is it flows quite long and has 3 falls. You can hike a little bit to see all those 3 falls, really beautiful. Cheonjeyeon means Pond of God. 
The three falls of Cheonjeyeon


Here is cost breakdown.


ItemCost (KRW)
T-Money Card3000
AREX from Incheon to Gimpo2650
Snacks at 7-111500
Limousine bus 600 from airport to New Kyungnam Hotel5000
Taxi from New Kyungnam Hotel to Goodwill Feliz Telcon Hostel2200
Limousine bus 600 from New Kyungnam Hotel to Lotte hotel1500
Brunch at 7-111500
Admission to Alive Museum9000
Admission to Cheonjeyeon Falls2500
Limousine bus 600 from Lotte Hotel to New Kyungnam Hotel1500
Dinner from GS251500
Total31850
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