THE KOREAN EXPERIENCE RELOADED (9/4/13 – 15/4/13)
PreludeThe second time to Korea, after a hiatus of 7 years. I re-read my previous journal entry and re-looked at the photos, and I suppose when one grows older, the thinking and feeling change. Some of the things that I thought I will enjoy again (eg: Lotte World), didn’t seem true this time. In any case, it marks the annual family trip, and it’s my family’s first time to Korea.
Exchange rate is different now. From a S$1 -> 678 Won, it is now S$1 -> 875 Won. Spent around S$1300 per person for air flight.
Day 1:
Singapore -> Incheon
Took flight from Changi Airport terminal 2, Asiana Airline at 11pm, journey around 5.5 hours, reached Incheon International Airport the next day at 6 am. Korea is ahead of Singapore by 1 hour.
Day 2:
Incheon -> Yongjin -> Jeju
Breakfast- adhoc at airport; took dunky Doughnut which cost 20 sing dollars.
Tour guide is Mr Jiang. Trip comprises 13 people – 3 families: our family of 4, another family of 3 (mum and 2 daughters) and another family of 6 (husband Raymond Lim and wife and 2yr old boy Rayden, wife’s parents, wife’s brother Martin Chua).
Everland. Opens at 10 am, 2 hrs bus ride from airport. Spent our time mainly at the zoo area; watch the seal show and the other animal show. Much bigger than Lotte World.
Lunch- ate at Everland in the midst of the exploration. Got fried pork cutlet, fried rice and udon.
Dinner- steamboat with pork
Took domestic flight to Jeju island (1h journey). Reached at around 9pm. Checked in at Ocean suites jeju hotel. Room 538, 539. Took supper from convenience store.
Day 3: (East Jeju)
Breakfast- abalone porridge
Horse-riding. First time riding a horse. Well trained and able to walk/run at the command of the owner.
ATV- all terrain vehicle. Drove a vehicle with big wheels around the area. Not all know how to manoeuvre the vehicle.
Tricky Art Museum. Where we took photos with the 3D images painted on the walls. Quite cool.
Jeju folk village, where Da Chang Jin is filmed partly. A nice scenic carefree place. The tour guide explained some of the Korean traditional culture, eg: the gateway has 3 holes to slot poles in, all slotted means not in for a long while, 1 slotted means away for an hour. And Jeju is famous for 3 items- rocks, wind and women. Women do all the household chores, including carrying heavy water from faraway, whereas men work and earn outside.
Lunch- black pork Seoul garden style
Seopjikopji coast with an artificial chapel, where "All-In" is filmed
Manjanggul lava tube. A cold cave which is forever wet with trickling water. It is quite long a distance and we managed to cover only about 400metres to see the “turtle-like” structure. Yongduam where the stones look like a dragon head
Dinner- seafood steamboat
Day 4 (South Jeju)
Breakfast - at hotel. Buffet style
Luckily we came earlier at 7am, else have to wait for seat. Not much varieties.
Teddy bear museum
Ripley's believe it or not museum
Jusangjoelli cliff - appears like bamboo, due to weathering of the rock
Lunch- grilled pork
Cheonjiyong waterfall
Oilolgae rock - which resembles a lady longing for the return of her husband, an outcropping rock in the sea
1 h journey ride back to north part of jeju to watch nanta show
Nanta show at Jeju media centre. Watched the 5 pm show (there are only 2 timings 5pm and 8pm)- started since 1997 in Seoul, run by many teams all over the world. They are 5 actors altogether (manager, 3 chefs, nephew). it's about a restaurant trying to host a wedding bouquet with a timeline to meet and 3 chefs need to finish the dishes by 6pm. They were joined by the manager's nephew who initially caused more trouble than help, but eventually they work hand in hand successfully.
Dinner- ginseng chicken at a restaurant near the airport. Quite nice, hot and tasty on a cold day. Each one has a clay pot of ginseng chicken which wrapped glutinous rice.
Reached hotel at 8pm.
Day 5:
Jeju -> Seoul
Woke up at 5.30am
Breakfast at a restaurant near airport. Had dumpling soup -10 dumplings
Reached airport at 7.30am, took internal flight at jeju international airport at 0825h to reach Gimpo airport.
First stop to Kimchi making. The lady there taught us how- there are more than 200 types of kimchi. To marinate, the cabbage (for example), needs to be spread with coarse salt and rinse off after soaking to soften it. Next is to make the sauce. Chilli, spring onion, garlic, fish oil, radish. Then just apply on the cabbage and use the last leaf to wrap around it. Keep in fridge for 8-10 hours depending on the season.
Also took some photos in their traditional Korean clothes there, and bought some kimchi (12000 won per packet)
Lunch is bak kut teh. Theirs is different in terms of soup paste and huge bones.
Blue house (Jin3 Fu2 Gong1)- where the president works. They have a new president recently and it is the first female president.
Geongbak palace- where the emperor lived during the times when south Korea and North Korea are still one. Been here 7 yrs ago.
Dongdaemun market- bought a pair of shoes at level 5 in minogue shopping mall.
N Seoul tower
Dinner - mushroom steamboat pot. Not too appetizing.
Hotel- Center Mark hotel in Seoul city. 2 minutes walk from Insadong, where they sell antiques and handicraft. Stayed in room 513 and 514. Quite small. Hardly any space to walk around.
Day 6:
Seoul
Woke up at 6am. Meet at 0710h.
Breakfast outside- 5 different types of porridge to share- seaweed (green), melon (yellow), mushroom (light brown), plain (white), black rice (purple). Quite nice.
Korean Ginseng shop- selling expensive ginseng and its variable products, ranging from 400 to 1500 usd! We bought the food stuff from outside, those tidbit, ginseng tea, etc.
The face shop- the lady taught us how to use the various facial products. Bought some facial masks and some creams.
Lunch- Korean pork and squid. Quite nice.
Amethyst shop- bought 2 rings and 1 necklace.
Myeongdong- given 2 hours to shop. We walked around and bought some jackets and a polo tee.
Lotte world- 4.30pm to 8.30pm
Took the boat ride for simbad, the monorail, and walked around. There are 2 sectors: indoors and outdoors. The outdoor area is mainly the adventurous ride, indoor has performance, and Viking etc. We took the pony ride too.
Dinner at own expense, we are at this shanghainese food place. Serving quite big.
Day 7:
Seoul -> Singapore
Woke up at 7.30am, breakfast at own expense. Ate macdonald which is just beside the hotel. The macs is cheaper than in sg.
Started traveling at 10am. Went to this Liver wellness centre selling some health products to protect the liver.
Lunch- Dumpling/mushroom hot pot
Shopping at the mega-departmental store. Bought a lot of food and souvenirs.
Went to Incheon International Airport at 2pm. Took the 4.10pm flight to Sg. Reached Sg at 9.45pm.
Exchanged 2000 sing dollars as a family, left with 500 worth. (not taking into account buying the amethyst with sing dollars.
Labels: Korea
