Korea Life - day 153 week 22 / (Busan) day 1

Korea Life - 25 July 2014 (Day 153 week 22)

Actually we wanted to go to Busan on 24 July but because of Qi's exam ends today only, so we changed our bus schedule to travel out today instead (so I skipped half day of school ^^). We headed to the bus terminal once my classes ended and since there was some time before the bus depart, so we find a place to sit down for lunch.

Bus rides was around 4.5 hours long, we alighted at the rest pit for a snack after 2 hrs of sleep. Every time we watched variety shows like "Running man" or "2 day 1 night", the snack at the rest pit always looks so delicious. This is the first time we were there, the price was slightly much higher that the price in the city. We just choose to buy a bowl of ball, I thought was fish ball, but turned out it was potato ball.

By the time we reached Busan was already night fall, took the subway to the Busan station and walked to the guesthouse. This trip we chose to stay at <Orange Guesthouse Busan station Busan> - http://www.agoda.com/orange-guesthouse-busan-station/hotel/busan-kr.html - To save some money, we chose to stay in the 6 dorm room but we were lucky that we were the only 2 who will be staying in the 6 room dorm for the next 2 nights.

After we checked in, we took off to TIFF to eat some street food and just walked around a bit. And decided not to stay out till too late as tmr we will be out from early morning.

Korea Life - day 140 week 20 / (Chuncheon) Nami Island & Petite France

Korea life - 12 July 2014 (Day 140 week 20)

My classmate asked me if I want to join them on a day trip to Nami Island and Petie France this weekend, of course I will go since there is someone who invite me to go. So early in the morning today, we met up with my classmates and Qi's classmates to head to Nami Island and Petie France.

We took the subway from Hyehwa station to Gapyeong station and waited for the shuttle bus beside of the tourist information to the tourist resort in Gapyeong. We were lucky that the queue only started to get long after that, because peoples that wasn't able to board the bus had to wait for the next bus.

Since some hadn't eaten breakfast yet, so we decided to go for early lunch nearby the ferry station, like that easier for us. Although there were alot of people but we don't really need to wait long for the ferry to go to Nami Island. The ride took less that 6 min to reach and everyone just dash out of the ferry.  

Namiseom Island (남이섬 종합휴양) 

Add: 1024, Bukhangangbyeon-ro, Gapyeong-eup, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do
경기도 가평군 가폄읍 북한강변로 1024 (출입국관리사무소)
How to go - Take the train to Gapyeong station, change to the shuttle bus (in front of the tourist information) ; bus ride is around 45 min

Many people were visiting the place due to the drama <Winter Sonata>, most of the scene were shot there when the actors dated during their teens. Although during the winter period, the whole place will be covered with snow, will look even more beautiful, but that doesn't mean that the view now is bad too. It feels that you are surrounded by super tall trees and feels like you are back to the natural.

As the ferry departed every half and hour, and later we will still have to take bus again to Petite France (will have to wait for an hour if we missed the bus), so we started to walk back to the port to wait for the ferry. Was lucky that we were able to board the leaving ferry, no need to wait for the next one! We went back to the same bus stop to wait for the bus to travel to Petite France, but since there were some time before the bus arrive, we headed to 7-eleven to buy something first. Again we had to take 45 min bus ride to Petite France

Petite France (쁘띠프랑스)

Add: 1063, Hoban-ro, Cheongpyeong-myeon, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do
경기도 가평군 청명면 호반로 1063
How to go - Take the train to Gapyeong station, change to the shuttle bus (in front of the tourist information) ; bus ride is around 45 min
Fee : 8,000 KRW
More information - http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=815994

Petite France is a French cultural village set in the Korean countryside. It serves both as a French cultural village and a youth training facility . It also consists of 16 French-style building where visitors can lodge and experience French food, and household culture

We were excited about this place when we arrived, so we set a timing and we just spilt out. However after we went in, it was a disappointment. The place was really just like it's name, really a petite place. I only took 30 min and I had finished seeing everything. Only bought 2 postcard to send back to Singapore and never buy other things. I don't think I will come back here again...

We actually said meet 2 hours later at the same spot we split out, but because the place was so small, we finished before an hours, so we met up earlier and went back out to take the bus back to the subway station to the the subway back home ...

Korea Life - day 131 week 19 / (Seoul) Busan bus tix & sushi dinner

Korea Life - 3 July 2014 (Day 131 week 19)

Since summer is  around the corner, I decided the next trip will be BUSAN !!! But due to train tickets were way off my budgets so I choose to take the bus instead. And as being a kiasu Singaporean, Qi and I headed down to Express bus terminal to buy Busan bus ticket after school first

With Qi around, I don't need to worry about getting the ticket at all. After getting the tickets, we went to eat at a sushi bar intro by Qi. The price wasn't as expensive as other places, the price were around $1.40 to $3.00 or even more. They can even help to warm up the dishes that you choose. It's a shop that I don't mind coming back again.

Korea Life - day 135 week 20 / (Seoul) Lunch with class 3A

Korea Life - 7 July 2014 (Day 135 Week 20 )

Level 3 had started for 1 week now, normally it's class chairman request for class gathering so we could get to know each other better. However for once , Teacher was the once we request for class gathering. But because Teachers had meeting int he evening and they have no clue what time will it end, therefore we chose to eat lunch instead of dinner.

Because we are eating lunch, many don't like the foods serve in school so we had to go down to the bottom of the hill to eat. But because an hrs later, we still have afternoon class to attend, so we can't go too far.

But we are still not very close with each other, it's quite difficult for us to play around like we know each other for long. At that very moment, I believe most of us just want to finish that meal as soon as possible. To arrive back in class on time, we took the bus back up the hill. 

Korea Life - day 126 week 18 / (Chuncheon) day 2

28 June 2014 (Day 126 week 18)

We woke up early, waited for ManYong & JiYeon to come and fetch us to head to our first stop. We had some simple breakfast at home first then drove out together. We drove up into the forest, where the air was so fresh that I don't want to leave this place!! After 15 min driving, we arrived at our first stop - Soyang dam

Soyang Dam (소양댐)

Add : Buksan-myeon, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do 강원 춘천시 북산면
How to go : Take the taxi there.
More details - http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=1752741

We spent some time there to enjoy the natural view (although half of it was man-made) . These are view that we don't really have the chance to enjoy especially when we are staying in the city area. Not only in Seoul, even in Singapore, also don't have much chance to see this kind of natural view.
Walked around and after taking enough picture, we went for lunch. Lunch was not very excellent, so I can skip it the next time I can back again.

Animation Museum & Robot Studio (춘천 애니메이션박물관 & 로봇체험관)

Add: 385, Baaaaksa-ro, Seo-myeon, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do 강원 춘천시 서면박사로 385
Open: 10am - 6pm
Fee : \5,000
How to go - Chuncheon station (Chuncheon), exit 1. Take bus 83 and get off at the Animation Museum (애니메이션박물관) bus stop.
More details - http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=628262&nearBy=accom

This is the first-ever museum of its kind in Korea, featuring a string of exhibits highlighting the origin, birth and development of animation. There is an exhibition hall dedicated to Korean animation and another dedicated to the animation originating from other parts of the world.

They not only exhibit animation from different countries, it also exhibit animation from different years. To attract more people to come, there are various experience programs such as horror studio, 3-D theater and many more. It's a great place for people who like animation or even cantoon and children to come.

Rain started to fall when we wanted to leave the museum, that made us worry about our last stop. Our last stop is a interesting ride that I had never done before, I had been waiting for the whole day for this ride. Hope it won't affect my ride later !!

We took the subway from Namchuncheon station to Gimyujeong station (which is 1 stop away) [we didn't drove over to the park is because later we will be alighting at a different station (the rail bike is not a round trip ride), so it's better to take the subway there]. After we came out of the station, we saw the rail park sign on the right some of the station and it only took us 4 min to walk over to the park

Gangchon Rail Park (강촌레일파크)

Add: 1385, Gimyujeong-ro, Singdong-myeon, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do 강원도 춘천시 신동면 김유정로 1385 (신동면)

Fee : Two seater - \25,000 Four seater - \35,000 (Booking in advance is advice)

How to go - From Gimyujeong station (subway Gyeongchun line), exit 1. 4 min walk from the subway station. 

Built on the site where the train on the Gyeongchun Line stops, Gangchon Rail Park is a popular tourist attraction where visitors can pedal along old railroad tracks while taking in the lovely Bukhangang River scenery 

We were lucky that the rain started to stop once we arrived at the rail park entrance. We were arrived half and hour earlier than our booking timing, so we sat down and had ice-cream first. This is really something that I had never try before, so I'm very excited to try it out. Actually although it's also ManYong & JiYeon first time driving this, but they chose to let us sit in front. So sweet of them !!!  

The ride was too excellent that I don't mean going one more time !! I love this ride!! Maybe because four of us riding one cart so we didn't have to use too much of strength (and some part of the ride has motor running, so only some part we need to cycle only). The ride not only run through natural, they also run through tunnel, some with disco music, some with romantic lighting. Too bad the ride was only an hrs long (actually is consist long, but I really like it a lot)

We took the subway back to Nanchuncheon station and drove to their school to take a look. ManYong and JiYeon are studying at Kangwon National University, their campus were so big that even with them driving us through the whole campus also need 20 min !! Then they intro us a dessert places that they always go (and we were also wasn't very hungry, so we decide to take dessert as dinner).

Next day we just took the early afternoon subway back to Seoul to get ready for school re-open on Monday.

Korea Life - day 125 week 18 / (Chuncheon) day 1

Korea Life - 27 June (day 125 week 18)

Even though left with just 3 more days to school re-open, I wasn't intending to waste it. So Qi and I decided to head to Chuncheon to look for our Korean friend (ManYong & JiYeon).

The provincial capital city of Gangwon-do is nestled in the heart of the famous tourist city of Chuncheon. This city is tucked away in a basin with Uiamho Lake to the west, Chuncheonho lake and Soyangho Lake to the north, and Sinyeongang River to the south making this a city surrounded by water. The numerous lakes in the region cause many foggy days. Close proximity to Seoul makes this a popular daytrip destination. But this trip we weren't going to any of the lakes or rivers, Well, truth was I have no clue where the hell we will be going because this trip was fully planned by my Korean friends!!

We knew that the ride is going to take us more than an hours to reach our destination, therefore we left our place early. Took the subway from Hywhwe station to Dongdaemun station, change to subway line 1 to Sangbong station[(720) - line 7, J & G] and change subway line again to the [G line], and finally alighted at Namchuncheon station (P139).

When we arrived at the Sangbong station, the place was like Yongsan station as there were a lot of train tracks that we were so confused that we don't know where to take the normal subway!! So we just board a train that wrote that is headed to Chuncheon and found a comfortable place to stand. Was surprised that the train was as good as KTX.

Half way through the trip, a guy approach us and asking for us ticket, we were shocked (because subway has no ticket, we just need to tap our T-money card (same as ezlink card))! We think that it will be better if we don't speak Korean, so we used English and asked him back isn't this the subway? Turned out it wasn't subway at all, it was ITX*!! But the ticketing guy was nice, knowing that we made a mistake, never collect money from us but asked us to alight at the next stop.

* ITX is a high-speed train that travels along the Gyeongchun line from Yongsan Station to (in Seoul) to Chuncheon Station (in Gangwon-do Province) [Same as KTX but just that it runs shorter route]. Compare to the normal subway, it only take half the time to reach Chuncheon, therefore the price of the ticket is much more expensive. For more information read here - http://www.visitseoul.net/en/article/article.do?_method=view&m=0004007002011&p=07&art_id=53225&lang=en 

We alighted as the ticketing guy told us, and we waited for the next train that came into the station, which looked more like a subway train. If we had taken the normal subway from the beginning, the whole trip will take us 1.5 hrs but because we took ITX (by mistake) it took us half the time only to reach our destination.


Our friends was already waiting for us at the subway station and we drove away to have early dinner.

They drove us to place which is quite desert, they mainly served cold mixed noodle. Not only that, they ordered potatoes pancake and a dishes that I don't know what the hell it was.

Left top - the dishes that I don't know what the hell it is
Left bottom - potato pancake
Right - mix noodle
Bottom - Restaurant 

Like I mentioned because the restaurant is located at quite a desert place, there were plantation just next to the restaurant !! For someone who grow up in city of Singapore, all these are interesting things we want to see more. So after we finished out meal, we were to into one of the small corn farm and took lot of pictures.

Next stop was to have a drink at a resort as they have very nice night view. We were there pretty early (before the night fall) so was also able to see the nice view of Chuncheon first. While waiting for night fall, I tried to use the Korean that I had learned here in Korea, however it was still too difficult for me to strike a conversation with them, since I had studied for 4 months only!

They drove us to Emart said that they need to get something before going back. Bought some coffee can, drinks and snack. I just wanted to fast go back and rest, feel so tired after taking the subway for so long. Beginning, I thought that we will be sleeping in ManYong's house with ManYong & JiYeon (all 4 of us). But because the room turned out to be too small, so JiYeon decided to go back home to sleep while ManYong going to his friend's hse (who is living nearby)

They left the snacks and drink that they bought at Emart before leaving. They went Emart to buy for us, afraid that there is nothing for us to eat in their house. I was  so tired that I just change to my sleep wear and went to sleep