Summary of #316inKorea

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

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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!

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)

Iris' birthday celebration at Udders!

super delicious pancakes!

super delicious ice cream!

thought of and created a different type of gift to Iris! a tumbler full of our photos. Iris wanted photos to be kept as memories and we have tried photo albums a lot of times which i think isnt really useful and practical. So, adopting the idea of many, i thought of the tumbler!

bye~!

Lunch date at Habitat @Upper Thomson Road

Secondary school favourite girls met up again! This time round, for Jiayin's birthday surprise~~

The Eggs Benedict which is both jean's and iris' favourite!

The Big Ben!

The famous Truffle Fries, which is pretty decent but nothing to rave about? Maybe cos our expectations are placed so high up due to many good reviews about it.

Cheeszy pasta with bacon and sausage. this is nice! The cream is not too thick like swensens which is a total turn off to me. 

The one at the top right corner is Black pepper dory. Dory is nice. But the pasta with black pepper is a little tad too spicy and too pepper-ish... if with milder sprinkle of pepper, the pasta will be so much better! the taste is not bad despite the spiciness!

Cutting of the puffy eggy!!

Birthday cake for Jiayin from the 4 leaves!

oh! Habitat allows reservation on weekends only for group of 6 and above! And we reached at 1.30pm, left our names on the waiting list and waited for 30mins. During the wait, we went to the rochor beancurd to have some desserts :)

1 month

oh hi Im back after nearly a month... Been busy with watching Hallyu drama, searching for jobs, and planning for DM and SUJ Exchange!

Just wrote my letter to Ikeda Sensei! Both my victories for last year and past months and my resolutions from now on. Its refreshing to think back! and full of conviction and determination while planning ahead! Its March already! So fast!

Anyway, Ill be slowly (im slow enough already =.=) sending my resume to the private firms as I have not been doing so... Only sending to banks and government sector which take super long time to get back. Gotta act fast! Thankful for my friends and seniors in faith around and of cos to have sensei guidance to guide me along when Im all confused, low morale, low life condition, lost etc... Thank you~

Did I mention that I won hotel voucher in Seoul Myeong Dong in Feb/Jan???? Yah... only hotel voucher. Still contemplating if I should fly over this spring! But could only bring either 1 other or 3 other. Need to check the room occupancy. If Im going, it will most probably be after my convocation or end March? I havent book air tickets yet!!!! Just a pretty short trip in Seoul and maybe somewhere outside Seoul that I can travel to via the subway la :)

In late Feb, I received one letter from SIM! Make a guess? Its commendation letter! Received UOL Top Student Award- Bronze for my course. Not sure if that means Im the top 3? No idea how many recipient per award. And, the SIM Special Recognition Award! #justsayin to keep track of things! I only write online diary which is this... so yah... not flaunting or what. Just wanna write down for memories sake :) So how do I feel after receiving? Both happy for the money and upset cos this makes me look even cui-er that I STILL COULDNT FIND A JOB :( Just like the upset me is not sad enough, my sister asked me to sign a declaration form that Im an unemployed for University application :(((( double kill (im fine now anyway still fighting strong! other people are challenging even tougher things than me! I ought to be strong and courageous!)

And yesterday, we had our Soka University of Japan Exchange meeting! The meeting ran rather smoothly. except a few obvious sound system down, but luckily its only for a few seconds. Thankful for the team I worked with, very very very meticulous, always had contingency plans, kept tight communications via callings and meeting up to settle, for my case, culture performance. Thankful to have the 2 chiefs who are guiding us along well, such that we are able to fully run the programme yesterday ourselves. Thankful for the support given by the fellow trailblazers who helped to reach out, contact members, design and make the souvenirs, discuss and decide the dinner reps. Thankful for my culture performers who memorised the japanese song lyrics (which are said to be confusing even to choir trained singers!) within 2 practices and touched the audiences by the brightest and beautiful smiles ever!

끝.

We used to be best buddies, but now we are not...

Anna:
Elsa?
(Knocking)
Do you wanna build a snowman?
Come on lets go and play
I never see you anymore
Come out the door
It's like you've gone away
We used to be best buddies
And now we're not
I wish you would tell me why
Do you wanna build a snowman?
It doesn't have to be a snowman.
Elsa:
Go away, Anna
Anna:
Okay, bye...
(Knocking)
Do you wanna build a snowman?
Or ride our bikes around the halls
lets go
I think some company is overdue
I've started talking to
the pictures on the walls
(Hang in there, Joan!)
It gets a little lonely
All these empty rooms
Just watching the hours tick by
(Tic-Tock, Tic-Tock, Tic-Tock, Tic-Tock)
(Knocking)
Elsa,
Please, I know you're in there...
People are asking where you've been
They say have courage, and I'm trying to
I'm right out here for you, just let me in
We only have each other
It's just you and me
What are we gonna do?
Do you wanna build a Snowman?

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Yesterday when I was on my way back home, I was sharing with YC how awesome Frozen the movie is! She agreed in that too! hahah its really different and its different in a good way! We liked those OSTs too! Just before we parted, we were talking about how cute Disney portrayed the song- "Do you want to build a snowman?"

And there is this part which struck me the most- "We used to be best buddies, but now we are not, I wish you would tell me why..."

After getting a seat on the bus, I saw my old friend!! Like my primary friend... We used to best buddies in Primary 1 to at least primary 5... We still talked in Primary 6 but unfortunately due to different mindsets? and her grandma didnt seem to like me- saying how I was a bad influence? and predicting I will be studying in the bad neighbourhood school next to our block after PSLE... The sore part was probably the fact that she listened to her grandma who made no sense... and ended up befriending friends who led her astray =.=

The point is that, whether one is a good friend, does not depend on which school the person attended! It is the character! I may have been playful when I was younger, but thats normal isnt it? Kids are childish, kids are playful. Kids matured into young lady/young adult only through experience, through learning from mistakes.

She stopped schooling after Secondary 5... and started work. Now, she's going back to school again, which is a good thing! 

I really do feel sorry for her- cos she wasted her time on Education, on meeting friends, on meeting Mr. Wrong. Cos she's really a nice friend, a nice person. She deserves better.

And so when I saw her on the bus (I think she didnt recognise me?) it was really awkward... like how Elsa and Anna met again during the Coronation Day... But I wished I had Anna's courage in initiating the first move.

Miscellaneous

After the wedding on 13th, SIMSD had our- second Institution Meeting on 15th/First meeting after 11.18/Last meeting of the year!!!!! What a blast! And its a Xmas theme! As you can guess, the rooms were filled with Xmas items like christmas trees, christmas/snowman/reindeer head gears!

It welcomed about 36 people and fun filled activities were lined up!

After the meeting itself (which overran a lotttttt =.=), we had pizzas and turkey!!!

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After the IM, a few of us went to sing K!

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After K, I had to zoom home to prepare the the trip the next day! Shagged.

Ssikkek @ Novena Branch

101 Thomson Road, United Square

#B1-15/16/17

S307591

Tel: 6254 8123

Opening Hours:

Mon - Fri: 1130am to 230pm (Lunch), 5pm to 11pm (Dinner)

Weekend/PH: 1130am to 11pm

Nearest MRT: Novena Station

Exit B, follow the underpass that leads you to the entrance at the first floor. Follow the shelter towards United Square. Enter the basement outside the mall.

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Ssikkek with the SIMSD TBZs! A simple session!

It was raining heavily! Thankfully for the shelters and underpass, otherwise even if umbrella I will prolly be drenched too!!

The branch is pretty clean and nice! However, cos it was raining then and its marble floor so... its very slippery... provided i wore a canvas shoes with rubber soles... Im like sliding lol

Kimchi, Lettuce, Bacon, Pork belly, Steak, spicy chicken

salt plus pepper, meat sauce and ssamjang!

and some ddeok!

I shouldnt tie up my hair =.=

The service sucks.

But then again, this outlet is kinda different! You may want to call in to reserve. They dont work by 2hours slot like Chinatown. We went in around 7pm and get to eat till about 10pm! so its really slow and steady! Hack their service, its buffet anyway! costs about 25 per person! cheaper too!

Seoul Day 32- Moving out day, a day before departing, Myeong Dong and exploring more of Hyehwa!

On the 31st day night, my roomie Sheryl moved out. And... Xiuhui moved out after lunch with us on the 31st as well... Its pretty sad... and the even sadder day comes, the MOVE OUT DAY. sigh... Thankfully friendship forge in Korea is with Singaporeans!! Also, we have a few friends whom we really cant bear to leave like MoA, Nara, Logan Dongsaeng, etc

Anyway before dwelling on that further, wenjing and I are staying in Seoul one more day after the Move out day... so that means we gotta find a place to sleep in for one night! Since our dorm and school and the nearest airport bus service bus stop are somewhere near Insider Backpackers... we went to settle the lodging before this day.

Below is the airport limousine service!

Before Moving Out! I took photos around my dorm for the last time :( *weeping silently*

Get this bottle if you need water!! There is a small bottle version! Guess how much this costs??? 500won I think! Even cheaper than other small bottles that costs at least 700won...

As seen on the tag, you can get it from Homemart! You know... if you needa find water source... get this! Its really a chore to boil water!

During the exhange, we bought a kettle from Lotte Mart for about 20,000won. really cheap kind... then share it with our roomie! Cos we dont know how to use the stove... I brought my pot along though and some packets of Maggie Mee, but I suggest you dont bring those! Cos you wont be using the pot! Its hard to boil water using that too... and most of the time, you will probably be eating out with friends!

we got the blue wire from the common area laundry place and tied it in our balcony! Wenjing and my personal laundry place! haha

Packing luggage before moving out! hehhhh

Since move out time was slightly later... so we met up with yuxuan... (by then, yihui is already on her way to the airport lo...)

As you can see, our group decreased from 5 to 4 to 3... and to 2...

Rubbish at our void deck! First time man lol...

See how nicely our rubbish was placed!

Anyway, at our dorm area, or rather Korea as a whole, they are pretty waste conscious. In the sense that, they do separate their waste; paper, plastic, cans and toilet waste (for dorm)

The inner side of Hyehwa inside/along the ABC Mart side! (nearer to Naksan)

we had our breakfast at some brunch restaurant!

Back to dorm to shift out! Ok. last photo of my dorm! LOL

Clear table...

Byebye...

sigh... checked into Insiders Backpackers... They have 2 buildings! one for the backpackers and another building with private bathroom. we selected the private bathroom one! so its not the one we see (i.e. Main building) along the way to school! They will guide you over and help u with your luggages! No worries! At the main building, they have a weighing scale to weigh your luggages too! We carried the weighing scale (portable) down to the first floor to weigh our luggages and carry on!

After which, yuxuan deposited her luggage with us and went out with us while waiting for her friends to gather at SKKU area...

First and last try on the Banana Milk! Not bad for person who dont drink milk!

We went to Sindorim to visit our KSGI kaikan for the last time!

And I have no idea why we came here (Seoul station, lotte departmental store) but anyway, 10 pretty girls right! HAHA

KSGI HQ is opened!! yesh! Photo/video takings are prohibited in this exhibition hall!

The Garden!

The entrance!

No meeting = no glory hall (the hall with changing lights!)

From Sindorim station, take exit 2 (i think!) you should find yourself underground! spot E Mart sign board and you should be on the right track! Then you will see a lane of shopping stores like those in Express Bus Terminal... Get to the first floor! Its a Techno Mall (TM)!

Find this bus stop/taxi stand!

TM Building!

TM surrounding...

From the Bus stop you should board any bus that goes to KSGI. Note that their bus directory (like those you see in Singapore) its pretty confusing... people can remove the red arrow direction and stick it anyhow to confuse people... so i suggest taking a cab!

Some dubujigae at the underground of TM!

Back to Hyehwa since we are done with our tour in Kaikan and yuxuan's friends are reaching Hyehwa!

This is the guesthouse rooms with private bathroom! Fortunately, we stayed opposite of Anna! haha her room is so cute! you has laundry wires all over... aye, she stayed here for at least 30days leh.. cos no available dorms from SKKU

Insider Backpackers doesnt have electronic lock for the rooms. Only electronic lock for the main door. So... we found out that someone went into our room when we were out to Sindorim. damn pissed. I think our things were even touched by the people! Thus, I approached the cleaning lady if anyone went into our room. She said no. Then, I said, but the laptop is on! she then replied, "ah! yes! yes! cos wireless internet has some problem. we went in to check!" =.=

The room is pretty small! it has a small kitchen! But doesnt seem clean.

We had a dessert! yumz

Then we went to the Hyehwa New Balance Branch to get my darling NB Shoes!! 90,000won! aww loved :) was in a dilemma if i should get it... true enough, like what my mum said, buy la! No regrets!

After that, we explored a little in Hyehwa then... wenjing and I were deciding if we should head back to guesthouse already since its so unsafe... ended up, we decided to go Myeong Dong to do last minute shopping instead!

I only bought a few items and my beloved knit outerwear from Uniqlo! (a big white building near the station exit)

Back to Hyehwa's Lims Chicken for dinner! 7500won each for 2 people! so yummy please :( i miss leh