Winter Short Trip to Seoul

Early December 2012 was my first time going to Seoul. Since me and my friends' study was in Busan, we finally set the schedule for this short three days two nights trip after finished the mid semester exams. The most memorable scene during the trip was in our second day where we decided to visit some main tourist attractions of Seoul city. There were only three of us, since the other friends were going to Everland. We did research in the first day, when we arrived at the guest house after walked around Myeongdong and Hongdae. We were browsing in the internet to find "which places that highly recommended to visit when we go to Seoul". My friend was taking the Jihachul map with her, and we started mark the place including the subway line we should took. After several minutes discussion we finally made the choice to visit  Gyeongbokgung palace, Gwanghamun Square, Hangang River area, and N Seoul Tower.

It was winter, while the morning came we need a big effort pushing away the blanket out of our body, however we have had to get ready before 8.00 AM because we had to be time keeper for ourselves in order to visit four locations in a day without the help of tour guide. Luckily the guesthouse provides drop and pick up service to the subway station, which is very efficient since we didn't need to walk and taking much time. The moment we arrived at station and waiting for the subway stopped, we still felt amazed and hectic at once while facing the crowd in the train. It way much different feeling than taking subway in Busan, since Seoul is the big city where the center of business and entertainment located.

First destination was to Gyeongbokgung Palace. We took the subway to Gyeongbokgung and arrived safely without problem. We bought the tickets and walking around the temples, took many pictures and watched the guard changing ceremony.

Gyeongbokgung Palace front view

Royal Guard Changing Ceremony

안녕하십니가..

Every sides view of Gyeongbokgung Palace area is so pretty, I found this small lake a very calming place to refresh our mind.

We were also visiting the museum there, warming up our body in a short time before continue took pictures outside.

After we were done enough walking around the palace area, we were going outside and taking pictures with the guard and every edges we found beautiful to capture. We continued to move to the opposite, around Gwanghamun Square which is located in front of the previous location.

Sejong Dae Wang

We were sight seeing around the area, took pictures with different background in Gwanghamun Square. Even have had confusing moment in result we were entering the subway underpass to reach the river in the heart of Seoul city which actually could be reached by walking from Gwanghamun Square.

So refreshing

Even though it was freezing, however I got so excited seeing the mini waterfall and river in the city. Since the day was getting darker, we decided to take subway to Chungmuro, continued the adventure to N Seoul Tower. The planning to Hangang Bridge was canceled since we have no idea where how to reach there moreover considering the time which almost evening and it was getting colder. We jumped to the main point "must visit place" which is Namsan.

We were taking the subway to Chungmuro, followed the line according to the Jihachul. Walking in the middle of winter with the stiffed foot after the whole day walking around the city, we were just hoping for the happy end by reaching the place before it might closed. We were never expected to walk uphill while the day was getting darker and colder. The moment we walked out the underpass, we just saw the N Seoul Tower, felt happy but didn't know how to reach there.

Found this tower

We just walked through the uphill street, trying to got closer to the tower. We realized there were a couple walking by near us, perhaps they would be going to Namsan as well. My friend asked them and luckily we went to the same direction and they would like to go to the cable car. Both are very kind and we just followed them walking the uphill.

We walked around 20 minutes to the cable car ticket box. The queue of people who bought ticket was quite long, thankfully it was indoor, so we could feel warmer. 

Round trip cable car tickets

We got the tickets for round trip! It was my very first time riding big cable car with full of people inside, and beautiful sparkling night view.

Around five minutes, we arrived at the location, and we should taking the stairs to Namsan Park. During the walk, we found something mesmerizing, "Snow ice!!". We haven't seen any snow yet before, moreover it was still early winter.

Welcome to Namsan Park

안녕!!

We felt so happy by seing the beautiful lights in Namsan Park and N Seoul Tower. Visiting N Seoul Tower in the evening was a great experience, since we could seeing the beautiful lights like this, where we couldn't find during the day. It was very very cold, we decided to buy tickets to enter Teddy Bear Museum and Digital Observatory.

beautiful lights in colorful padlocks

There are many Teddy Bear, the big size which hug-able, and the miniature which set according to the theme. I really love this Goong Teddy Bear that has been shown in Korean drama titled "Goong".

Welcome by Big Teddy

Rock Star Teddy

Kingdom of Korea

Goong Teddy Bear :)

Enough with the cuteness of Teddy Bear, we continued to the Digital Observatory, took the fastest elevator to reach the top part and seeing the beautiful view from the top. I could not take any picture in the elevator since I was enjoying the sensation and watched the video from the LCD on the top of the elevator. The city lights are so marvelous. We could use the digital telescope to look the further view.

Creative wall

Done exploring Namsan Area, we decided to go home. Taking the cable car, we moved down and left Namsan. We walked through the same road, but went downwards. The cold weather made us freezing and need something warm. We stopped by the small shop selling ttokpokki and fish cake, bought some and ate them during the walk. That was the comforting feeling ever, took the fish cake with the hot soup have recharged the energy before going home. We were contented after a long yet fun day exploring a little part of Seoul city. Before going home, have some window shopping to cosmetic shops was kind of great idea.

When I looked back the time when I was going to Seoul in 2012, which is four years ago, the access to information these days are much easier to find. There are a lot of information in magazines, search engine, smart phone applications, moreover many social figure and influencer, people who are sharing their experience for specific things such as living in Korea, holiday trip, which place to go and what you could do there through viral media like YouTube and Blogs. Even the last four years we didn't have mono pod yet or selfie stick as today. So we need  to ask other tourist or native people around for help to take the picture of us together. 

In the era of fast moving technology and social trends I believe that people will get an information easier. Especially about Seoul and the tourist attractions. By experiencing became tourist without a tour guide, me and my friends learnt many things. We learn about time management, planning, teamwork, tolerant, taking risk, adapt and survive in unpredictable situation. Besides, we enjoyed every seconds of journey we were going through, it was the moment we will always cherish in life time. I'll see you soon, Seoul, I guest half of my soul left there :)

5 Things I Miss About Seoul

It's been four years I've had visiting Seoul for short vacation after mid term exam. It was early December 2012. We're going back to the dorm right after morning class, took the luggage, backpack, and sling bag, like seriously why did I bring so many stuff that day? Despite the winter that required us to bring some thick clothes, I should just bring one or two pieces and not changing it since we only stayed for three days. Anyway, after we're taking the stuff, me and seven friends of mine were taking taxi from our dorm to Busan Station, since we're going to take the KTX. Woohooo, Finally "I'm taking KTX!!" the fast train. 

the KTX was Very comfortable 

I remember that time we're taking the food out from Lotteria, since it actually permitted to bring our own food to the train. The trip was around three hours, sometimes the train stopped for 5 minutes in other stations for anyone who wants to took it or left the train.

arrived at Seoul Station

In front of Seoul Station

After three hours we arrived at Seoul Station around 4 pm, I forgot we're going to the guest house first or directly went to Myeongdong, but since I didn't bring my luggage anymore, I assume that we've been dropped the stuff to the guest house right after. Our guest house was around Hongdae if i'm not mistaken, I didn't even know the name, it's really homey, look like home, small but comfortable. I forgot taking the picture of it. Anyway, they facilitated us by took ride to the nearest subway station and picked us up there when we want to went home, even at 10 PM. So here what I miss so much about Seoul:

1. Walked around Myeongdong

The moment we arrived, we're starting to explore the Myeongdong. The most famous place to shop, day, and night walking. Every shops from small to high end brand are here. It's heaven for cosmetics hunter, but sadly I didn't do shopping or wondering around cosmetic shops since I just knew well about Etude House and the FaceShop, moreover I just started to knew about makeup thingy, so I didn't explore it a lot. It was getting crowded in the evening. We're walking around trying to found a nice place to eat. Then, we walked down the street and me trying to hold myself to not shop a lot since it was our first day. Remember, don't shop a lot in the first day of your travel, unless you have a lot of money in your budget. 

getting into the crowd

 Myeongdong is one of the main destination for tourist, indeed, it offers you the shopping place also street food, cafe, and many others. How I miss walking around the crowd, in the cold weather, entering the shops, and observed surrounding.

2. Freezing All the Time

When I throwback, I remember that during autumn to fall around October to December I felt like forgot the feeling when I was sweating. I'm the person who easily got sweating but that moment was kind of amazed me since I never got sweating for two months except when I went to the gym once or twice only. The moment when we went to Seoul I thought it's the most freezing. I remember woke up in the morning and my friend told it was minus 6 degree, I felt like didn't want to separate with the blanket. Well it was difficult for me but it doesn't make me hate winter and cold weather. Even I want to feel winter again in another chance. 

in the bright days like this still feel like freezing

3. Street Food, Poop Bread, Rice Water, and Egg Bread

There're a lot of famous street food in Seoul, of course. Besides ttokpokki, kimbab, and other savory snacks, you could also found a food that will fulfill your sweet tooth. They are Poop Bread and Egg Bread.

Poop Bread (Dong Ppang) and Rice Water (Sikye) 

Poop bread, yeuh kind of disgusting but unique. It's a soft bread with red bean filling. What makes them unique is the poo shape and served warm. The companion is rice water, which has the unique taste and you could ask for ice or hot one.  

Egg Bread (Gyeran Bbang)

Egg bread which smells so good, is very suitable to fulfill your tummy at once comfort snack during winter. It served hot, steamy, fresh directly made with one whole egg inside. The sweet smell will calling you from the street and it's gonna make you stop by and get one. Anyway I forgot the exact price of all of them, the range standard of Korean street food is around 1000 to 5000 won if I'm not mistaken. 

4. Gwanghamun Square Area, the Confusing Moment End up Tooking the Subway 

The second day was the day of adventure, me and seven friends of mine were separated into two groups based on our preference where we wanted to go. Me and two of my friends decided to travel around the tourist attraction in Seoul city, meanwhile the rest went to Everland. So, me and friends planned the places to visit the night before, and they were like my map, my tour guide, since I was soooo blind about reading map and remember direction, thank you Gita and Cesy :3 We were going to Gyeongbokgung Palace, Gwanghamun Square area and the funny part when we took subway but actually the place was so close to the previous one. So memorable, and we're busy taking pictures everywhere. 

while taking picture with the guards in front of palace

Very nice to see this in the middle of big city

almost evening 

We're walking around and take pictures till almost evening. Another plot twist, we're stopping by Missha (cosmetic shop) at the subway station maybe because they had sale and we're busy trying out cosmetics, and realized we need to went to the next place, Namsan.  

5. Night walked to Namsan Area, Spicy Ttokpokki, and Warm Odeng Soup

Helloo

We went to Namsan as our last point destination at the same day. We went there when the dark came. Since it was winter, so the day was getting dark earlier. We climbed the street, yes, we're walking to the place where we could found the cable car, which is located at the top part of the area. At first we have had no idea where to go, how could we reached there, till we found a couple and asked them where to go. Fortunately they also had the same destination which is cable car. Then sadly we need to be "tiga obat nyamuk" behind, following them. Unexpectedly, there was a lot of people who queued for the cable car and Namsan ticket that night. We're just following the queue and bought the ticket. Oh Allah finally I arrived here, even though it was night and difficult to take a picture nicely with the Namsan Tower as the background but I was freezing and very happy. We went to the top of the tower, Teddy Bear Museum, and took picture with the padlocks. But I forgot about the love chair :( 

padlocks full of lights

view from the top during the night

Zupeer cute Goong

Finished rolling around, we're taking cable car to go back and going down. We're planning to ride a taxi to Gangnam and asked the taxi driver, but he offered so expensive tariff. Then we just walked down slowly, since we're so tired. Ttokpokki shop was shining brightly when we're about to arrived at nearest subway station. Then we decided to stop by and warming our body with odeng soup and spicy ttokpokki before continue the way to go home. 

Three days feel actually not enough to explore. I don't even have chance to visit Itaewon area, where Seoul Central Mosque is located and cancel our plan to Nami Island. Do planning and schedule well, have a day for shopping, and another day for exploring, that's gonna be more effective. Use the information center and public transportation information, it will be great if you could take Seoul city tour bus. 

But besides, I miss each seconds of my life in Korea. I feel half of my heart is left there, LOL. Hope this writing and could give a very little information about the destination in Seoul. I hope I could go there again, if Allah give me chance.