May trip to South Korea - 3

I recollect all my memories to write down this blog. It’s been 2 month after I back from South Korea.

OK, last day at South Korea (what a short holiday). After breakfast, we check out and storage our luggage at Sinchon Hostel.

Today Destination : Gyeongbokgung Palace – Gwanghwamun Square – Nanta Show/Myeongdong – Namsan Tower

Before we went to the subway station, we take picture nearby Sinchon Hostel. There were many good spot and cute building here. There’s one hair saloon with unique building there (giant cat).

We took subway to Gyeongbokgung Palace (exit 5). Exit already inside Gwanghwamun gate. When we arrived it’s going to 10 am, and the palace already crowded. I hurry stand in front of the field (there were changing guard at 10 am – South Korea time, everyday).

At 10 am, one man (wearing Korea traditional costume) standing in front of a drum (near ticket locket) beat the drum 3 times. After that from behind the ticket locket enter 12 man (wearing Korea traditionally costume) playing traditional instrument +/- 5 minutes and line up into 2 line.

After the music stop, the man beat the drum 3 times, and the parade play music again, then there were troop with traditional costume with flag enter the field, they also line up into 2 line. After the music stop the troop follow one man (the commander) instruction to changing the line.

+/-5 minutes later the parade started play the music, then the troop went to the gate and the parade go back to behind the locket ticket.

For me the changing guard not too interesting.

After that we buy ticket, admission fee won 3.000.

The palace was not too big, too crowded, it’s similar building as I saw at Korea drama series.

Since there were too many people at main building we decide to go inside the palace. Inside the palace was more comfortable, the building was smaller compare with main building but the atmosphere more relax and quite.

Maybe there were going to held a cooking class inside, since they arrange tables, or sold food (I didn’t know). Also there were Dang Jang Geum (one of korea famous drama) giant banner, and we queue a while to take picture.

The building more feminine since the roof ornament was paint with pink and red colors (main building ornament was green color). Each building had theirs own names (all in Hanja – Chinese alphabet).

We walk cross to the garden (very small garden) till the pagoda (but it’s forbidden to enter). Under the pagoda there were Korea Traditional Museum, but I didn’t enter it. It’s free (no admission fee) to enter.

We didn’t walk till the end of this Palace, since all the building were similar (all building was forbidden to enter). So we walk back to main building from different path. To a giant building surround with pound.

Beside (or maybe in front) this building there were small cafeteria (sold merchandise, coffee and snack), also there were a hanbok (Korea traditional costume) stall for free. Just fill the form, name, country, email address, and wait for our turn.

We queue about 1 hour for this. There were 4 hanbok, pink, white (not pure white), green, and blue. The skirt was blue green color. They borrow the shoes too (light blue and brown), each can wear it for 5 minutes. So we hurry take photograph as many as we can.

Finish take pictures with hanbok, we walk outside the palace and take photograph with the guard.

Then continue to Gwanghwamun square.

Even it’s 12.30 o’clock, but we enjoyed walking toward Gwanghwamun square.

First statue was King Soejong (founder of Hangul – Korea alphabet). Then we continue to Admiral Shi statue. 

On our way there were small stall lean King costume for free. There were 2 colors, red and yellow. I got red color.

So today I took picture with 2 Korea traditional costume, and all was free, I was soooo happy J.

On our way to Admiral Shi, there were fountain music = 12.23 Fountain (City Hunter Drama Ep 1). In front the fountains there were Kyobo book store (one of 4 biggest book stores at Seoul). Since we didn’t have enough time, we skip it.

At the end of Gwanghwamun Squre, there were Yeonsu Festifal statue (held at Cheonggye Cheon – locate at the right Gwanghwamun Square). We stop to take picture for a while before continue to Myeongdong.

Actually we going to visit Cheonggye Cheon at noon (yesterday we can’t see anything since it too crowded and already night), but we didn’t had enough time, so we skip it.

We took taxi (we didn’t want to walk inside the subway station anymore) to Myeongdong (Unesco Building to watch Nanta Show), it’s only take 10 minutes, fare won 3.700.

At 13.20 we arrived at Unesco building, 2^nd floor. I already inquiry by email, so I only need to show the inquiry and pay the ticket won 40.000.

Nanta Show web : http://nanta.i-pmc.co.kr/Nanta/en/About/nantaTheater02.aspx

There were locker (size 2 small backpacks) for free also mini cafeteria (sold snack and drinks). Also Nanta Show cartoon. We take picture before enter the theatre.

At 13.50 the theatre was open and we enter it. It was small theatre, and there were balcony (economic seat). At Seoul there were 3 theatres, Hongdae, Myeongdong, other at Jung Gu.

Seats also divide into VIP, 1^st and economic. Even at economic I still can enjoy the show.

I like this show, since I already tired and my feet (my poor feet, they had to walk all along day) can get rest now.

At noon sitting inside, drink coffee latte, with air condition, hmmm…. relax and felt sleepy..

Nanta Show was recommended by many people, and now I highly recommend it too. Why?

For me this show is good – daebak – I laugh out loud till my tears drop during their performance. And the chef, how to describe – he’s kinda a little bit stress and crazy, but act cool, calm and think he was handsome guy.

Watching this show it’s like charging energy, relax, laugh, smile and satisfy.

After finished watch the show, we continue our trip to Namsan Tower. We didn’t explore Myeongdong. Myeongdong was crowded, but the merchandise was expensive, and for me it’s not too fascinated.

For me Myeongdong is similar with Ximending at Taipei, but Ximending cheaper.

We walk to Euljiro 1 subway station, took subway to Chungmuro – take exit 2, to Daehan Cinema. Actually we going to take taxi to Namsan Tower, but the Taxi driver told us, no taxi can go upstairs, only bus can go upstairs.

So, we waiting bus #2 or 5 (yellow colour). I think this is the most convenient and efficient way to go Namsan Tower.

There were 3 ways to reach Namsan Tower :

1. By Walk (Only for healthy and athletic person).
2. By Bus.
• Public bus number 2 or 5, from Daehan Cinema.
• Seoul City Tour Bus.
3. By Cable Car.

Cable car station – 10 minutes by walk from Myeongdong Subway Exit 3,

Or ride Namsan Oreumi (elevator) to Cable car station (better option, trust me).

I Thankful to my friends, who agreed with me to take bus, not take cable car. The cable car is ok, to reach cable car needs a lot of effort, energy, and prepare foot. If I had opportunity to visit Seoul again, I still choose ride bus to go to Namsan Tower.

About 20 minutes ride bus (the view went up stair ok, many trees, but for me who already visit many hills at Indonesia, the view not too attractive) we arrived at the Tower. From Bus stop we still need to walk upstairs +/- 5 minutes. And DON’T WEAR HIGH HILLS….

Namsan Tower, had 1 gazebo and nice place to relax. Nice place for couple.

Take photograph at lock tree, and many other spot.

Then we bought Teddy Bear Museum ticket, fee won 8.000. There were café and snack store here, but we didn’t try it.

After buy ticket we went ticket booth upstairs, there’s many lock. I try to find Khuntoria Lock (big and long – as I saw at WGM), but I can’t find it. Nickhun ssi really smart to hide the lock.

Take photo with a couple ajuma and ajoessi.

View from up here not too good, Victoria Peak at Hongkong much better.

So we decide not to go to observation deck (nothing much to see).

Then we went to the museum. The museums not too big, only need 15 minutes to surround it. Out side the museum there were café and Namsan merchandise (but it’s really… really expensive).

Namsan Tower is good place for jogging, doing exercise. For sight seeing? Well, not much things Namsan Tower can offer for it.

At 6pm we took bus back to Daehan Cinema. The queue was long, and we queue for half hour. Many people going to down.

Get off at Daehan Cinema then we took subway to Insadong, take Angguk subway,  exit 6 – direction Oh Sae Gae Hyang.

Since we have buy anything yet, so we bought here. Even as people said don’t buy things at Insadong (it’s pricy) but we had no option.

I buy, socks (Lee Min Ho and Gyeongbokgung – picture for Bigbang and CNblue not too clearly), Namsan Tower/Hanbok bookmark.  The price for each won 3.000. I’m not interest with the merchandise, I didn’t know it’s because too expensive or it’s just common merchandise.

Then we walk to Oh Sae Gae Hyang – one of vegetarian food place must try. I Order bibimbap, cost won 9.000 – it’s delicious, must try. They can not speak English, but they speak Chinese.

Finished our dinner, we took taxi back to the guest house, from Insadong to Ehwa fare won 6.000.

Get our luggage, and we take subway to Incheon Int’l airport. That’s all my journey at South Korea…..

Here my expenditure for the last day : 

Expenditure (per person) :		Won
T-Money	Reload	₩            10.000
Gyeongbokgung	Entrance fee	₩              3.000
Taxi	To Myeongdong	₩              1.000
Nanta Show	Ticket	₩            40.000
Coffee Latte	Nanta Show	₩              4.000
Namsan Teddy bear Museum	Entrance fee	₩              8.000
Dine	Oh Sae Gae Hyang	₩              9.000
Taxi	Insadong - Sinchon Hostel	₩              1.500
Total		₩            76.500