summer and something

Monday, April 1, 2013

Destination - Annyeonghaseyo Autumn! (Korea - Seoul, Jeju, Nami )

Here is just the highlights and photos. pls refer to http://summerandsomething.blogspot.com/2013/03/detailed-itinerary-and-budget-korea.html for details.

Are you a K-Pop followers or the Korean Drama followers? Korea! One of the hottest tourist location thanks to all the Korean Drama and Singers!

Before the trip, please go to Korea Tourism Organisation Malaysia at Menara Hap Seng http://www.visitkorea.com.my/ to collect discount coupons and check out their freebies! We got the travel card with free shopping money for Lottemart!

As budget travellers, we (a group of 7 pax) travelled from KL to Incheon (Seoul) Airport using Airasia. (Bought it at promo fair!). After checkout from imigresen, please reload or buy your korea travel card (is like Malaysia's Touch N Go).

Our stay in Seoul - Hong-dae Pencil Guesthouse & Hostel-RM93.90/pax/nite. Personally I think the walk from HONGIK UNIVISITY Station is a bit far from me. is like 15mins walk.. (pardon me cos in Malaysia we hardly WALK!)

After unload our luggage, our 1st spot is Myeong-dong - to eat dinner (refer to detail itinerary for eating option at Myeong-dong) and to shop! Dont be shy to ask for Freebies!! when you buy the facial products.

Then - heads up to N-Seoul Tower. You can see the bird-eye view of Seoul when you travel up to the top of N-Seoul Tower. There are some hotspot to take photos at N-Seoul Tower like the 'Love Lock' Place n etc..

Day 2 & 3- The Love Island - Jeju !!

Get your airticket from Seoul to Jeju earlier! Then you will get the promo airticket.

In Jeju, the only public transport is taxi and is expensive. So the ideal transportation is Jeju is Jumbo taxi (driver + taxi) or rent a car and drive yourself.

Our jumbo taxi driver is Han's brother - love-jeju@hanmail.net

He is really good, the 'extra' service he provided is he will take photo for you. You will wonder y is so great if he take photo for u. Ok.. jumbo taxi driver is his part time, he is a full time photographer who own his own photo exhibition in Seoul and he won few prizes as well! So u get a professional photographer to take photos for you without additonal cost!

Here are some of the photos he took for us:

ok. to cut it short. Our Jeju Island trip was fantastic - is very tired cos we climb and walk a lots, y I said so?

1) Hallasan Mountain - we took the shortest route - but it still need 30mins to climb up and 30mins to climb down. The 'fruits' of the climbing - you able to see the breathtaking view of this:

2) Seongsan Sunrise Peak - 城山日出峰 - ok. this is also testing my stamina. you hv to climb the stairs for 1 hr to see the Peak

and then you will see~~~

3) Seopjikoji Coast 涉地岬- a scenic area, not too far from Seongsan. Famous among Koreans as the location, where the local TV Series ‘All In‘ had been filmed.

4) Manjanggul Cave - ok.. i dont really like cave but this is one of the tourist spot. so no photo post here ..hehe

5) Yongduam (dragon Head Rock) 龍頭海岸 - another testing of stamina and your braveness

you have to walk all along the stone near the sea (not the beach k, if you slip, you will fall into the sea and hit the stone) but you get to take all these stunning photos with the perfect view!

6) Jeju Loveland 济州爱情乐园

Dont think is appropriate to post too many photos of the Loveland - and is better for you to explore each and individial items ;)

7) Teddy Bear Museum 泰迪熊博物馆

8) Cheonjiyeon Waterfall天地渊瀑布

pls arrange the destination you want to visit with the taxi driver. He or she will plan the route.

For dining in Jeju, we had these:

Ginseng Chicken + green bean porridge (the restauarant is famous for ginseng chicken but I love the porridge more!)

Seafood steamboat ( with fresh abolone , they still moving in the pot....yeee) But it taste good!

Black Pork - 黑豚一济州巿老𧗽洞668号 - forgot to take photos

Day 4 - After 2 days in Jeju, we moved back to Seoul - Ehwa Woman's university, Gangnam Underground Shopping area - TO SHOP!!!

Day 5 - Highlights of the day Changdeokgung Palace - Secret Garden (pls book online in advance!) You must visit the Secret Garden during Autumn. Cos....you see:::

Other places we went in Seoul includes - Bukchon Hanok Village (북촌한옥마),Insa-dong Street,Gyeongbokgung Palace (check out the guard changing ceremony),Cheonggyecheon Stream and Dongdaemun Market.

Day 5 - Winter Sonata! - Nami Island - the island is more for relax. We took the Unesco Train and rent a couple bike to explore the Island.

Have our lunch at the Winter Sonata Restaurant. You need to find this place, is hidden behind the main road. You must go to the back row of the Restaurant street.. Ask someone for direction! show them this photo:

To have this rice box. is SHAKY rice box! you will have to shake the rice box before you eat and It is TASTY and cheap! (compare to other restaurant in the Island)