I am actually contemplating if I should start writing the journey/travel guide to Korea this time round... And, I have decided that I should especially so that this shall serve me well in the future if I happen to revisit Korea :) Just like how my previous entries did, when I am preparing for the travel this year.
Buying stage.
I have been pestering my friends to travel to Korea together ever since 2014, probably due to the good experience I had in 2013 Summer exchange lol
And so, the trip has not been fulfilled until 3 weeks ago.
It happened that, SIA was having a super good deal flight promotions, and Korea is one of the included destination. Woots!!!!
So, I got pengpeng to ride on this super-good-must-buy deal, ends up we only paid SGD710 for a premium flight to Korea, economy class of course. :D But, that would also mean, the travel time and day is really bad... We flew on a Monday afternoon, arrived in Korea on Monday near midnight.
Preparation stage
As the travel date draws closer, pohpoh has decided to join us in this trip too! But, the deal has ended. Nonetheless, that didn't stop her from joining the jiemeis ^^ She purchased the flight from Koreanair I think for about SGD800+ which was pretty ok too
And so, we met up a few times to tie down the places where we want to go in Korea (Seoul, Busan, Jeju and... Ulsan - Try somewhere different!), the method of traveling, the accommodation.
Accommodation
For all our accoms, except for Jeju, we purchased from Airbnb! And the apartments are really amazing :) and cheap, and near the station! We got ourselves duplex apartment (double floors)
Our accommodation goes like this:
Seoul Part 1 - Seoul Station
Ulsan 1 day trip (self drive)
Busan - Busan station
Jeju - Good Inn Hotel (booked via booking.com)
Seoul Part 2 (Shopping spree) - Hong Dae station (easier to return to the airport)
SIM Card/Free Wifi
Given that we have 3 people, and its shorter than a month stay. I originally wanted to get the pocket wifi, so that the cost can be divided into 3.
SIM Card - I suggest perhaps you can get EG SIM Card. It's still the best option in my opinion...
Pocket wifi - mobilepop! It's quite cheap I feel! Compared it to most of the providers in Korea, Olleh, KT etc... 70,000won in total for 14 days, 3 pax.
However, on the day of collection in the airport (they do delivery to the apartment too! So, you don't have to collect at the airport if your flight timing is as strewed as mine), we decided to call off the booking. Because it is highly wired in Korea, especially Seoul, there are wifi available in most cafes. (No wifi in the subway, unless you are using SIM Card that allows you to tap on either Olleh or KT wifi)
Mode of Transportation
Traveling in Seoul is easy peasy, just take Subway train! If the distance is short, and you have 3 to 4 people, take a cab might be an easier and cheaper option! For example, a few days we were so exhausted by the walking, shopping, carrying heavy things and its raining, we took cab from Hong Dae shopping district, to our apartment in Hong Dae near the subway station. That's like about 15mins walk. It costs us 3,000won in total.
The starting rate is usually 2,800won or 3,000won. The cab rate will increase exponentially. Hence, not recommended to take cab for long distance... it can be quite expensive.
To travel from Seoul to Busan or Ulsan, as foreigners, we bought the Korail One Day Pass for I think about 53,000won per person! We traveled to 2 places for that price. Damn cheap ok...
Traveling in Ulsan was a little problem, but thank goodness for pohpoh knows how to drive lol and teohteoh (which is myself lol) knows a tiny bit of Korean.
We booked the car for a day from Hertz Lotte car rental. Collect at a small store about 300m away from the Ulsan KTX Station. We lugged our luggage over... and return the car at the stipulated time opted by us at night, at the same place. We were looking for car rentals that allows us to collect car in Ulsan, and return in Busan... But, to our dismay, no such service available...
GPS was provided by default, however in Korean... It was easy to understand by just looking at the directions illustration given. We wont be able to understand the Korean audio though... which is a pity... So, I assisted on translating the audio to Pohpoh (who's driving) in English. Ulsan, or rather Korea as a whole, has a lot of small roads/alleys... So, got to be careful of where the GPS is pointing towards.
We have been cabbing around in Busan lol... We are taitai like that. FYI you can use Tmoney in Busan subway :) however, you cant use that for Busan internal city bus rides
Then, we took Jejuair to Jeju from Busan! The flight is damn cheap... 1/3 the price in Summer.
We flew from Busan to Jeju. And, Jeju to Seoul. Costs us about 75,000won in total.
We self-drive in Jeju, cos 1 couple joined us and that makes 5 people sharing a rented car! the costs isn't too expensive in fact. Probably cheaper than renting a cab driver for 8 hours, and having to pay for the petrol and his meals.
FYI, Jeju car rental GPS goes by telephone number of the places of interest. Usually, we will key in the postal code, but for Jeju, please key in the telephone number!
Rough itinerary which we didn't really abide to
Day 1 - Seoul - Arrival (sleep in airport T.T we later figured out that we should just take the last airport limousine at midnight to the city, and sleep in Jimjilbang instead... no lounge once you exit the custom in ICN)
Day 2 - Rest, Hangang, Gangnam, Garosugil, SM Town, COEX Mall
Day 3 - Nami Island, Gangchon Rail Park
Day 4 - DMZ, JimJilBang
Day 5 - Ulsan - Ganjeolgot, Seonam Lake Park, Tae Hwa Gang Grand Park
Day 6 - Busan - Jalgachi Fish Market, Gam Chon, Da Dae Po (fountain of dream)
Day 7 - Haeundae, Taejongdae, Gwangalli Beach
Day 8 - Lotte Premium Outlet
Day 9 - Jeju - Sunrise peak, Seopjikoji, Maze Park, Manjanggul Cave, Miniland, Stone Park, Black Sand Beach, Dongmun Traditional Market, Yongduam Rock, Mysterious Road, Love land
Day 10 - Junbang waterfall, Cheonjiyeon falls, Oedolgae rock, Daepo Jusangjeolli Cliff, Chocolate Museum and Osulloc Green Tea Museum
Day 11 - Seoul - KSGI, Dong Dae Mun
Day 12 - Hong Dae, Edae
Day 13 - Lotte Mart, Ice Rink, Ssamziegil
Day 14 - Singapore
--
So I guess that's about it for now. At a later part, I shall start throwing in photos, and specific guides for the 14 days journey in Korea!
Friday, 27 November 2015
Wednesday, 18 November 2015
I am back from Korea!
Tadah!
After so much drama in Korea lol... Too much to share to be honest... From incidents that happened when we self-drive in Ulsan and Jeju to people whom we meet when we are unsure of their intentions. Thankful to have people who helped us along the way that was out of our expectation.
This trip, I have gained much more experience. As to traveling and be courageous alone (im a noob lol), to open my mind and to enjoy what there is to enjoy.
Some little sharings!
1) Got to adapt to the left hand driving... that includes you having to multi-task with the usual driving and deciphering the Korean GPS... and the little roads branching by the side! Some little incidents happened, but we were glad that those did not result to injuries etc
2) Missing the spot to U-turn, driving safe may result in something you didn't expect! Well, if its me, I will just drive like a haphazard road driver lol
My friend drove safely in Jeju, so perhaps because of this it resulted in good fortune that we spotted the KSGI Jeju center! And eventually, as a result of this visit, we managed to drop by the KSGI Jeju Training Center too! Really grand and huge. Amazing...
3) We tried the gangchon railway bike! During autumn. Damn cold can but fun!
4) I finally went to Nami Island and Jeju!!! Wanted to visit these 2 places back in 2013 summer but... it was the monsoon season so it is not so safe... was raining throughout during that summer I went
5) I exercised! Climbed the SeongSan Ilchubong! and I was out of breath... There are proper steps though :) the view at the peak is amazing... a pity that the breaking dawn has been covered by the clouds and minimal fog... But nonetheless, we stayed on a while more and we spotted the sun peeking through the clouds! and it went hiding a few seconds later lol (Sunrise and Sunset are really fast! Catch it, record it before you missed the moment)
6) We went on road trip in Ulsan! Something different from the usual Gyeonggi-Do, Busan, Jeju, Seoul! Ulsan is not so tourist friendly even though it does have tourism website to guide all of us... You can opt for the Ulsan bus tour but we have decided to go for self-drive! This is so that we can visit places where we would like to visit! Went to 3 places I think! Gan Jeol Got, Taehwanggang and Seonam Lake Park
7) We attended the local KSGI meeting too! and to my surprise I saw a friend whom I met in Korea in 2013!! Really pure hearted group of members
8) I think the sales persons in Seoul whether it is in Ehwa, Myeong Dong, Express Bus etc they seem to be really angsty this season... Much less to talk about negotiating the price and requesting for more samples lol and by the way, not sure if it is indeed the season... there isn't much sales for cosmetic products -.- and I didn't even get samples for things that I buy... for your reference, I bought like at least a total of SGD500 on those products in different stores... haiz :(
For sure, never shop for cosmetics in Ehwa. Confirm no samples.
9) Tax refund procedure changed a bit...
Check in first. You may deposit your luggage when you check in if the sum you gonna refund is lesser than 30,000won.
For tax refunds lesser than KRW30,000 accumulatively, just proceed to the kiosks near D and J at the departure hall. The officer will assist you with scanning of the forms/receipts. Remember to standby your passport. It is required. After which, they will direct you to either Gate 27 (kiosk refund) or Gate 28 (manual refund. normal opening hours) after you cleared the immigration.
For tax refunds more than KRW30,000 please proceed to the manual tax refund counter at D and J. Here, the officer may check on the goods that you have bought. I guess it is also dependent on the length of the queue... After which, I believe it works the same way as the guide even above. Remember to deposit the lugagges at the Oversize Baggage counter beside.
E.g.
My friend and I checked in our luggages. Then we proceed to the kiosk. The person directed us to Gate 27, when we realized after we cleared the immigration that, is refund kiosks... which we are unsure if we will be able to get the refund on the spot... or credited to our cards which may take up to 2 months... So, we just proceeded to Gate 28 since its tax refund anyways. And yep! Gotten the refund on the spot (you may choose to receive the refund in USD, KRW or RMB)
After so much drama in Korea lol... Too much to share to be honest... From incidents that happened when we self-drive in Ulsan and Jeju to people whom we meet when we are unsure of their intentions. Thankful to have people who helped us along the way that was out of our expectation.
This trip, I have gained much more experience. As to traveling and be courageous alone (im a noob lol), to open my mind and to enjoy what there is to enjoy.
Some little sharings!
1) Got to adapt to the left hand driving... that includes you having to multi-task with the usual driving and deciphering the Korean GPS... and the little roads branching by the side! Some little incidents happened, but we were glad that those did not result to injuries etc
2) Missing the spot to U-turn, driving safe may result in something you didn't expect! Well, if its me, I will just drive like a haphazard road driver lol
My friend drove safely in Jeju, so perhaps because of this it resulted in good fortune that we spotted the KSGI Jeju center! And eventually, as a result of this visit, we managed to drop by the KSGI Jeju Training Center too! Really grand and huge. Amazing...
3) We tried the gangchon railway bike! During autumn. Damn cold can but fun!
4) I finally went to Nami Island and Jeju!!! Wanted to visit these 2 places back in 2013 summer but... it was the monsoon season so it is not so safe... was raining throughout during that summer I went
5) I exercised! Climbed the SeongSan Ilchubong! and I was out of breath... There are proper steps though :) the view at the peak is amazing... a pity that the breaking dawn has been covered by the clouds and minimal fog... But nonetheless, we stayed on a while more and we spotted the sun peeking through the clouds! and it went hiding a few seconds later lol (Sunrise and Sunset are really fast! Catch it, record it before you missed the moment)
6) We went on road trip in Ulsan! Something different from the usual Gyeonggi-Do, Busan, Jeju, Seoul! Ulsan is not so tourist friendly even though it does have tourism website to guide all of us... You can opt for the Ulsan bus tour but we have decided to go for self-drive! This is so that we can visit places where we would like to visit! Went to 3 places I think! Gan Jeol Got, Taehwanggang and Seonam Lake Park
7) We attended the local KSGI meeting too! and to my surprise I saw a friend whom I met in Korea in 2013!! Really pure hearted group of members
8) I think the sales persons in Seoul whether it is in Ehwa, Myeong Dong, Express Bus etc they seem to be really angsty this season... Much less to talk about negotiating the price and requesting for more samples lol and by the way, not sure if it is indeed the season... there isn't much sales for cosmetic products -.- and I didn't even get samples for things that I buy... for your reference, I bought like at least a total of SGD500 on those products in different stores... haiz :(
For sure, never shop for cosmetics in Ehwa. Confirm no samples.
9) Tax refund procedure changed a bit...
Check in first. You may deposit your luggage when you check in if the sum you gonna refund is lesser than 30,000won.
For tax refunds lesser than KRW30,000 accumulatively, just proceed to the kiosks near D and J at the departure hall. The officer will assist you with scanning of the forms/receipts. Remember to standby your passport. It is required. After which, they will direct you to either Gate 27 (kiosk refund) or Gate 28 (manual refund. normal opening hours) after you cleared the immigration.
For tax refunds more than KRW30,000 please proceed to the manual tax refund counter at D and J. Here, the officer may check on the goods that you have bought. I guess it is also dependent on the length of the queue... After which, I believe it works the same way as the guide even above. Remember to deposit the lugagges at the Oversize Baggage counter beside.
E.g.
My friend and I checked in our luggages. Then we proceed to the kiosk. The person directed us to Gate 27, when we realized after we cleared the immigration that, is refund kiosks... which we are unsure if we will be able to get the refund on the spot... or credited to our cards which may take up to 2 months... So, we just proceeded to Gate 28 since its tax refund anyways. And yep! Gotten the refund on the spot (you may choose to receive the refund in USD, KRW or RMB)
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