Day 1: SIN > ICN, Myeongdong
We planned to travel around Seoul via the public transport so I purchased the T-money card for my parents at the convenience store once we collected our luggage (I had one myself from the previous trip). Took the direct airport bus (5012 if i'm not wrong) because it will stop directly in front of our hotel! The journey was about 1 hour or so? Definitely more convenient as compared to taking the AREX to Hongdae/ Seoul Station and changing to Line 2 to reach Eulroji-ilga. Trust me, the walk from the AREX to the normal train line is damn long. To be honest, changing lines within the system is damn tiring, because the walk is freaking long and far. Too many steps and too deep in. No wonder Koreans looked so healthy and slim.
We booked Hotel Skypark Myeongdong II for the week. Really convenient because it is located right at Myeongdong shopping street. The train station was just a 3 minutes walk too. Room was pretty small for 3 people but not complaining since most of the time spent was outside. As long as the room and toilet are clean, i'm totally cool with it. Wifi speed was acceptable too so I was a satisfied customer. Theres Hotel Skypark Myeondong I (central), II and III. I think the rooms for the central one is bigger (more expensive also) but you get what you pay for!
Walked randomly around Myeondong since it was just a stone throw away. Myeongdong caters to both the locals and tourists so most of the food places are expensive (I guess). So, we decided to just walk further away from the crowd and ended up at some alley. Scored! Found a small eatery place run by 2 ahjummas and the food was good and cheap. Food in Seoul is expensive but affordable. The portions are huge so sharing would be ideal. Some places quite asshole one cannot share but so far I only encountered this practice once!
Reunited with my spicy meatball and mayo. Ahhhh I MISS YOU SO MUCH. I want to have you again................. Btw it was freaking cold and I was quite a YOLO girl throughout the trip cos I decided that appearance > warmth, I only brought my 1/2 sleeved trench coat hahahahaha did that the previous year also but THE COLD NEVER BOTHERED ME ANYWAYYYYYYYYYY
Day 2: Gwanghwamum Square, Gyeonbukgong Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village, Insadong
3rd time visiting this palace so nothing excites me....
Jjajangmyeon and jjampong at PIK's.
Day 3: COEX Mall, SM Town, Gangnam, Stylenanda Flagship Store @ Hongdae, Samgeori Butchers
KIM WOO BIN!!!!!
Samgeori Butchers is a KBBQ place opened by YG. The main branch is located at the end of Hongdae main street, it will be nearer to stop at Sangsu Station because it was quite a long walk from Hongkik Station. Once you alight from Sangsu Station, walk towards Hongkik University and you'll see a major 3-way intersection. Another branch is at Myeondong which was partly under renovation. Guess what. 3 days after I left, it was BB's encore concert and the after party was at the Myeondong branch! WHATTTTTT I passed by every single day because it was just right beside my hotel. No fate with Jiyong :'( Btw the meat was damn thick as shiok I love it!! Not being bias because all KBBQ will never go wrong!!!!
Day 4: WINNER Exit: E Fanmeet @ Sinchon, Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market
Myeondong Gyoja for brunch. Slurpssss I miss you!
This is the ultimate fan goals man. Super power, not sure how they brought the ladder hahah
A pity that I couldn't get the pass for autograph, but only 150 fans could get it! You have to buy the CD from this particular store at Sinchon and see if you're lucky enough to get the 'ticket'. Nonetheless, this fanmeet was a whole new experience. I have never ever attended such a calm fanmeet in my life. The girls were all so cultured- no pushing, no unnecessary screaming/ shoutings. Everyone had a personal space around, I was soon comfortable. The inner fangirl in me wanted to scream but I controlled la. See you in SG soon. The one and only time Winner came was in 2014 for the YG Family Concert. Winner concert in SG please Ah Suk!!!!!!!!
So fishyyyy I almost vomited haha ueeeeek, but good experience cos I didn't manage to visit this place the last time round. Didn't manage to buy those fresh seafood because dad and I don't consume raw food, and we don't know how much we should buy for 3 of us. I think if you're travelling in a big family/ group then it's gonna be worth the try. You have to purchase the seafood and usually that particular store will be acquainted to one of the restaurants above, this means they will cook the seafood you bought in the way you like it to be.
Cheesecake bingsu!!!
Day 5: Demilitarised Zone: Boarders of South and North Korea
Highlight of the trip!!! Super interesting even though I also wanted to go for the JSA (Joint Security Area) tour which is the closest point that we could step INTO North Korea. Does this mean that I have another reason to visit Korea again???? Heheh
Security was supper duper tight and we were only allowed to take pictures of certain areas, so I was really careful. Only authorised vehicles were allowed into DMZ, and passports were checked by soldiers who looked rather intimidating. Some idiots did not bring their passports so they weren't allowed to even stay on the bus. Kuakuakua.
Behind me is the Freedom Bridge where it connects to North Korea, alongside the Han River. This bridge was where thousand of prisoners-of-wars marched back from North Korea to South Korea after the ceasefire of the Korea War.
Ribbons with wishes were hung all over the area.... These were written by families who hope to be unified with their loved ones who are still in North Korea :(
Dorasan Station- train that connects the South and North Korea. The station was built with hopes that unification will happen!!!! What would the future be like? I hope both will reconcile and this train will be running utilised by the citizens #makepeacenotwar
Dora Observatory- supposedly the closest point where we could see North Korea, especially through the binoculars. The weather wasn't cooperating it was even snowing, hence this foggy pic. There was this yellow box where that was the furthest you could take to snap a pic, not that I didn't want to go nearer to take. I could see across in real life, but not through the lens. It wasn't that clear so I hope to visit this place again! Haha it is not an excuse to be back in Korea ok.
Ended the tour with a 1.3km walk through the 3rd Infiltration Tunnel, 1 of the 4 tunnels where the North Koreans secretly built with the intention to invade South Korea. The tunnel was discovered in 1978 when a defector from North Korea told the South Korean army about it #baotohkia
At the end of the tour, we were brought to this lame stone place and it was near Hongdae so we left the mini tour group and walked to the the place V and I frequent last year. I remember I said that I don't really like the short ribs soup but guess who was actually craving for it.......
Day 6: Namsan Seoul Tower, Lotte Mart, Myeondong LAST NIGHT IN SEOUL :(
There can be miracle when you believeeeee~ WOAH I managed to find the locks V and I locked last April. I guess my wish written on the lock is gonna come true soon. Very soon. I hope.
Day 7: ICN > SIN
LOL travelled solo via the airport bus... and a few stops after my hotel, Elvin Ng and Romeo Tan boarded. Wtf Elvin is freaking handsome. I got rejected for a picture together because they were in Korea for work purpose (walao bluff one confirm), so this is the best I could sneak hehe.
Both of them were on the same flight back so I guess I wasn't travelling home solo after all!! LOL I am damn creepy.
This is not goodbye Seoul, see you again soon!!!
After 7 hours, I was back. I was supposed to study for my test but...... it was late at night and all I did was to sleep and eat and watch a movie hahahaha
Tall and handsome ermaigawd.... Obviously I couldn't get over it la. Elvin is my fav mediacorp actor even though he can't really act but he scores because he's handsome. Dani Yang Tian is my other fav but where did he go?
This concludes my short 7 days getaway with my parents. I wasn't suppose to join them but since they decided to travel free and easy, my dad 'invited' me so I could be their tour guide. I had to depart Seoul a day earlier than my parents because I was schedule to take my mid-sem test on the intended departure date. What a pity because I could have actually extended the trip because BB's encore MADE tour was just 3 days away haiiiiz. I missed the starting of the tour last year by a week. No fate. But I will wait for them to be back in SG.
The trip was mostly doing touristy stuff that I visited last year, but since it was the first time for my dad (second for my mom but we didn't visit most of these places during our tour in 2004? I think she also forget haha) then ok I give in! Nonetheless, it was a good break and so YOLO to leave in-between the semester. Glad to be back in Seoul within a timeframe of less than a year. I MISS YOU (SEOUL) MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hoping to visit Seoul soon and maybe Busan!
Dreaming of authentic kimchi stew, KBBQ, short ribs soup and spicy meat balls......
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