Second day at South Korea. Today is Friday, a bright day, as the weather
forecast said.
As usually, we wake up early in the morning. After take shower, we go down stair (our room
at 2nd floor).
Sinchon hostel had 2 building, not connected each other. We seperated into
2 room with different building. I stay at another one with my friends not at
the main building, other stay at main building.. Registration, kitchen, at main
building.
Our breakfast is noodle (we cook it), toaster bread
with strawberry jam, and a cup of cereal, just a simple breakfast. After finish
my breakfast, I check email from available PC.
Since we’re already at the kitchen at 7 o’clock in the
morning, so nobody there, only 4 of us, like private home. And we didn’t have
to queue to cook.
Today trip: Nami Island – Petite France – Jogyesa Temple
– Cheonggye Cheon – Dongdaemun.
At 8 o’oclok we depart to Nami Island by subway.
Many way to reach Nami Island (in hangul : 남이섬 namisoem).
- The simplest way.
By bus from Insadong (Tapgol Park), Seoul
- fare won 23,000 (round trip bus fare include admission fee). (02-753-1247) - 09.30 s/d 16.00.
Book before depature day – the bus always
full book.
- By Train.
Go to Cheongnyangni Station, take train to
Gapyeong station. Fare +/- won 3.500. Then ride taxi to Nami Island.
Train Schedule (Cheongnyangni→Gangchon):
06:15 07:05 07:55 08:50 09:45 10:30 11:35 12:45 13:35 14:25 15:20 16:15 17:30
18:20 19:10 20:05 20:55 21:40 22:20
Don’t forget to pay attention with the
notification, get off at Gapyeong station.
- By Subway.
Just take Subway to Gapyeong station. Fare
+/- won 2.000 and continue with taxi to Nami Isand.
Of course we took subway. The journey take 90 minutes, exchange train at
Sangbong station. But we get off at Wangsimpri station first, we had to change
train here. And walk to exit 4 toward to wangsimni square. Wangsimni train
station was here, exit 4.
Why we had to go there (wangsimni square)?
Because I’m gonna take photograph with angels wing, as I saw at Suju KRY
MV “FLY”. The MV was made at here.
Address : Wangsimni-ro-20-gil (왕십리로20길)
But the picture already change. At the MV there were 3 angel wings, but now
there were only one. Even the painting was great, compare with angels wing at
the MV, I still prefer the wings at the MV, because it’s show many side of the
wings.
After that we continue our journey, back to subway station. Take subway to
Gapyeong station.
Arrived at Gapyeong station. How to go Nami Island from here, there were 2
ways :
- Simplest one : take taxi – fare +/- won 3.000 (max).
- The other: by Gapyeong City Tour Bus – fare won 5.000, but you can go to many destination, only with one tickets. Buy ticket on the bus (with the bus driver).
Gapyeong City Tour Bus route :
Cheongpyeong station – Cheongpyeong terminal - Petite France – Nami Island –
Gapyeong station – Gapyeong terminal.
3. By Local Bus – Number can be found at bus
stop – fare won 1.000
I planned to take Gapyeong City Tour bus (since we’re going to visit Petite
France too) – but when we arrived there, it’s already 10 pm, the bus already
left, last bus is 09.15 and the next bus is 12.15. So we take taxi – fare won
2.700 (+/- 7 minutes).
Arrived at Nami island tourist information, we bought ticket won 8.000
(include round trip ferry) +/- 15 minutes.
There’s another way get in Nami Island with out ride ferry. By Nami Skyline
Zip Wire, cost won 38.000, round trip include admission. Only take 5 minutes. http://www.ziprider.com/rides/nami-island/
It’s too expensive for us, so we get in by ferry.
Last night I watch WGM – Dimple couple – Teukso (one of variety show at SBS
TV) Ep 24. They went to Nami Island with Skyline Zipwire. First, they go
upstair with elevator, then made registration. There were only 2 line upstair
(side by side), they sat on the “chair” with leg bend at “the door”, and the
officer help them tight “the rope”.
After they ready, the officer open “the door” with button.
Beside the Nami Skyline Zipwire, there were Bungge jumping. When I pass it,
there was a man prepare to jump. I have no information about the bungee
jumping.
Back to our trip. There were many people already queue at the warf, most of
them was tour tourism.
Here is the ferry schedule :
to Namiseom Island: 07:30/08:00/08:40-18:00 (Every 15-20 minutes / On
weekends and holidays, every 10-15 minutes)
/18:30/19:00/19:30/20:00/20:30/21:00/21:30
From Namiseom Island: 07:35/08:05/08:40-18:00 (Every 15-20 minutes / On
weekends and holidays, every 10-15 minutes)
/18:35/19:05/19:35/20:05/20:35/21:05/21:35
The ferry was small, many flag from many countries, not chair inside. So we
decide to go to the deck. But there were already many people there, not too
convenient. Nothing much to see, and for me cross to Samosir Lake from Prapat –
North Sumatra, Indonesia was much much better, with beautiful sky, beautiful
scenery.
Nami Island site : http://www.namisum.com/
Opening hour : 08.00 – 21.00
Arrived at Nami Island, we were welcome by welcome gate and 3 officer
wearing Hanbok. Many people take photograph here, of course we’ve got to queue.
As we walk inside many small statue in front, there were snack store (but
not Naminara special snack, just common snack). Also there were toilet there,
so I went to toilet first. Actually there were toilet inside, near the
restaurant, but deep inside the island there were no toilet.
First things to do : rent bike.
As we walk to rental bike, we cross many good spot to take photograph. Get
in Naminara early in the morning is the best time, since at noon it will be
crowded.
We rent bike for 1 hour, cost won 5.000 (half hour won 3.000, 2 hour won 10.000, etc) . We choose single rider,
there were double rider bike too.
To rent bike, we had to leave our ID card behind. Just for guarantee we’ll
return the bike. And there were late charge won 1.000 (every 10 minutes) if we
were not on time return it.
So our adventure begin. As my personal opinion, Naminara view wasn’t good
enough. One place I like the most is Winter Sonata pinus tree, and Naminara was
good place to picnic. So don’t forget to brought some meals while visit it.
At noon we start to eat, we bring our own food. Choose one table (available
many table there) and start to eat, while other peolple staring at us. And they
said, “oh... they had lunch...”. Many people picnic here (I guest it was local
people, since they brought mat).
After finish our simple meals, we decided to end our journey at Naminara.
At 13.00 we leave naminara, at 13.00 the ferry already stand by at the warf.
After back to naminara Imigration, we go to minimarket, the were Naminara
merchandise, such key change, wallet, towel, bag, for me not too cute.
I ask direction with the officer how to get bus from Nami Island to Petite
France, and she said that we already miss the bus, the bus (Gapyeong City Tour
Bus) already leave at 12.30, she advise to take cabs, fare won 40.000 – journey
+/- 35 minutes.
To go Petite France with bus, just go to Family mart (pink building), the
bus stop at there.
So we went to Family mart, buy some water and snack, and I decide to ride
taxi back to Gapyeong station. From Gapyeong station we take subway to
Cheongpyeong station (2 stop).
Arrived at Cheongpyeong station, I ask the officer for nearest Cheongpyeong
bus stop. But the officer can’t spoke English.
“Annyeonghaseyo,
yeongeo (read : yong o)
hal jul aseyo?”
안녕하세요, 영어할 줄 아세?
“Hallo, do you
speak English?”
As the officer
went to the office to ask other officer to help, suddenly there was a kind ajoessi help, “
May I help you?” Then I ask direction to go to Cheongpyeong bus stop.
And you know what, the bus stop was far
away from the station. To go there, we had to walk to main street, then go straight
till first turn, turn right, then walk straight, then turn left, then just walk
till you find the bus stop. Ajoessi said, it was far away, I said thank you to
him then back to my friends.
I don’t think I gonna walk that far, I
told my friends to ride taxi. When we walk to exit from the station, suddenly
ajoessi offering a ride to Petite France. I was kinda surprise, there was a
nice person offering a ride to Petite France.
Omo.... God must know that all of us
already tired, so send a kind person to us. Thank you God, I love you so
much.....
Direction to
Petite France, from Cheongpyeong bus stop fare won 1.200, by cabs to Petite
France fare won 16.000.
Do you want to
know why ajoessi want to give an offered to me?
He said that my English is good, and he
told me that I was brave – travelling to country that I didn’t know the
language. Oh, what a lucky me. So learn language.... even my chinese language
can be used here.
Also he surprise that a tourist know about
Petite France. Petite France not too famous.
Along the way
to Petite France, we cross a dam (dry dam – no water), similar with I saw at Running Man.
I think Running Man (one of Korean TV Variety Show), become my guide traveling
to South Korea.
The street was winding, and the scenery was beautiful.
With car it
takes 20 minutes to reach Petite France.
We say thank
you to ajoessi.
“neomu gamsahamnida “
너무 감사합니다
Thank you very much
“annyeonghigyeseyo”
안녕히 계세요
Good bye
“mannaseo
bangapseumnida”
만나서 반갑습니다!
Nice to meet you
Petite France became
famous because of Korea Drama Series “Beethoven virus”, “Secret Graden”, but
what made me want to visit it because of “Runnning Man – ep 40”, guest star
2PM, Nihckun and Taecyeon.
Petite France
admission fee won 8.000
Opening hour :
09.00 – 18.00
Location :
Cheongpyeong-myeon Goseong-ri 616, Gyeonggi-do Gapyeong-gun
I also ask bus
schedule and bus stop at petite France to Cheongpyeong station.
Here is bus
schedule :
14.50 (won 1.200), 15.50 (won 5.000
–Gapyeong city tour bus), 16.50 (won 1.200).
It’s a small
France village, just take your time, try korean snack. Also there were stamp
hide inside the room, if I can collect 10 stamp, it can be exchange with Petite
France merchandise. But I only had 2 stamp, since I’m lazy to find it.
I like this place,
not too crowded, nice place, nice view, just relax and enjoy it. At 16.00
o’clock there were classic performance at Amphetite theater, about +/- 15
minutes.
At 16.50 we went
to bus stop back to Cheongpyeong station. There were direction inside the bus (English
alphabet), and the last stop is Gapyeong, but I wanna get off at Cheongpyeong
bus stop so I had to listen carefully for the notification.
How to ride bus at
South Korea, when get in the bus, tap the card beside the bus driver. When
going to get off, before the station, stand beside the door, and tap the card,
so when the bus stop, we directly get off.
We get off at
Cheongpyeong bus stop and wanna reach Cheongpyeong station with taxi. But no
empty taxi there. So I went to a store, to ask direction.
But unfortunately,
the shopkeeper is a couple of haraboeji and halmeoni, which can’t spoke English.
Aigoo....
So I try to speak korean :
“Choneun Cheongpeyong
station ga.....”
Means : I want to go to Cheongpyong
station..
But my sentence wasn’t complete (Korea
Grammar : Subject + Object + Predicate, but the predicate had particle) –
luckly halmeoni understand what I want, she said :
“ aegi, noneun Cheongpeyong station
gasipseoyo”
“ne”
Then haraboeji said
no taxi here, I’ve got to made a phone call to ride taxi. Even I didn’t know
korean language, but I understand what they said.
Halmeoni said : “Teksi number
opssoyo?”
“opssossoyo”
Haraboeji directly made a phone call to
order taxi and tell them my destination.
Oh, what a lucky day – by the way to day
is brithdays, such a nice gift from people I didn’t know.
I was so happy and say thank you in many
language, Korea, English, China hehehe....
Haraboeji told me it’s only take 1 minutes,
and he told me to wait in front of the store. I didn’t knew korea language,
what I know is il fun = 1 minute.
1 minutes after that, a taxi came, and the
drive was good looking oppa. I say nothing just get in and he drove to Cheongpyeong
station, fare won. 3.900.
The driver was polite, when we get off, he
say “annyeonghaseyo”, and I reply “ne, annyeonghaseyo”.
So we take subway back to Seoul, get off
at Angguk station – exit 6.
Destination : Dinner - Balwoo 2nd branch.
From exit 6, I turn left (small alley),
walk straight, then turn left to main street at Insandong, turn right, then
walk till I saw Insadong Tourism Information Center, turn left, just walk till
the end of the street, Balwoo 2nd branch at the corner of the street.
Infront of Balwoo is Jogyesa Temple.
Balwoo 2nd branch (Vegan) was one
recommend place to eat, but the menu was expensive. I order mushroom rice menu
– cost won. 9.000. Taste not too good, all type mushroom was at my plate. My
friend order a set of complete meals cost won 10.000 (seems like it was korean
traditional menu). The other eat at different place (they eat bulgogi – meat).
At here I taste kimchi, and I didn’t like
it.
After finish our meals, we just cross the
street to Jogyesa temple. Since we visit Seoul at May – there were lanterns
festival held on May every year, this year they held tomorrow – Saturday May
19, 2012.
So the temple was full lanterns hang
above. Since it’s already night, the light was turn on, it was beautiful. Not
only at the temple, along Insadong street, main street at Seoul was hang with
lantern.
Jogyesa temple not too big. It’s only one
main building. Inside the Building, there were 3 giant Budha statue – like
Sakyamuni Budha. Some peolpe pray, not using dupa, I only had short visit at
here.
After that we continue to next destination
: Cheonggye Cheon
To go there, we cross the street then walk
to the left to bus stop. Bus number : 9710 – red colour. Only 1 stop, get off
at Cheonggye Plaza.
From Insadong to Cheonggye Cheon, the bus
cross Gwanghwamun Gate – the gate was beautiful at night, and Gwanghwamun
Square – King Sejong statue and Admiral Shi statue also fountain at Gwanghwamun
square was beautiful at night too.
From bus stop, cross the street, go down
stair, there were Cheonggye Cheon.
Cheonggye Cheon at night was beautiful,
many lantern and 12 china zodiak (with lamp) along the river.
And there were bazaar tomorrow at
Cheonggye Cheon, so it’s crowded and cold. And the artist already testing the
stage. She sing traditional song, as I herad at Heartstring Drama series.
I think best time to visit Cheonggye Cheon
is 18.30 (South korea time).
Since it’s crowded we can’t sit there and
it was cold, so after we finish take photograph here, we moved to next
destination – Dongdaemun Market. It’s already 21.00 pm.
One mistake I made here. We suppose to go
Dongdaemun by taxi, of course it can be reach by subway, but it wasting a lot
of time for walk inside the station. And Dongdaemun market was far away from
the subway station.
From the exit we just walk, till we saw
Dongdemun gate, and take picture at here. Then visit to Daiso, all price is
Won. 1.000/2.000/3.000. At here I buy Manicure set won 1.000, Spon and
chopstick set won 2.000.
The I ask direction with the pedestrian,
she said that it still far, we need to walk just go straight. I better take
taxi to here. It’s really really far. And before it we went to wrong place, it’s
seem grocery place.
We walk till front of Doota, many pedestrian
food there, and many local people gathering there. It’s crowded, but we already
tired, and it’s aleady 23.45, we decide to go back to hostel. And no taxi
infront of Doota, we’ve got to stop taxi at the street. And It’s really hard to
find it, since many people stop taxi at the street too.
The driver charge us won 25.000 to Sinchon
hostel. I know it was far, but the fare was too expensive, and since it’s
already late night, and the driver know we’re not local peolple. My friends all
already tired, so we take that taxi.
The taxi driver was young, but not polite
at all.
Suggestion from me, take taxi with driver
is ajoessi, better and save.
Here my expenditure for the second day :
Expenditure
(per person) :
|
Won
|
|
T-Money
|
Reload
|
₩ 10.000
|
Taxi
|
Gapyeong - Nami
Island
|
₩ 675
|
Nami Island
|
Entrance fee
|
₩ 8.000
|
Rent Bike
|
₩ 5.000
|
|
Taxi
|
Nami Island - Gapyeong
|
₩ 750
|
Petite France
|
Entrance fee
|
₩ 8.000
|
Taxi
|
Choengpyeong station
|
₩ 900
|
Dine
|
Balwoo 2nd branch
|
₩ 9.000
|
Taxi
|
Dongdaemun - Sinchon Hostel
|
₩ 6.250
|
Total
|
₩
48.575
|
|
