Korea (Thread 12)

[damonsgirl]

Bakas ng fallen autumn leaves nalang siguro un maabutan mo sis. Depende sa lamig. Kasi nung nagpunta friends ko ng Nov end mga fallen leaves nalang so humiga sila sa dahon at nagpicture. Hehe.

[kachich]

@mariz i was in seoul end of nov last year and it was cold, nag light snow around nov 28 or 29, then negative temperature in Nami. I was able to get through it naman even without bubble jackets, layering lang talaga. I had marks and spencers warmers then layer with an outer shirt , jacket/coat, and scarf. Did not bother with gloves (I tend to lose them) but I bought a lot of hand warmers (available in korea /japan 7/11 or convenience stores). For shoes the leathery or water repellant will do (you dont want to get your feet wet when you step on snow).

Sobrang na appreciate ko Busan nun kasi temperature is 12-15 degrees. No need to layer so much and no need for handwarmers!

[katniss]

Worth it ba kumuha ng pocket wifi or mas tipid if kukuha ng prepaid sim card with data plan? Will be in Seoul for 4 days lang. Main purpose of the wifi/data plan is to be able to check online subway routes and google maps. Otherwise, if may subway app na pwede gamitin kahit offline, please advise. Thanks!

Are you with companions? If yes, worth it ang pocket wifi kasi around ~200/day sya excluding tax tapos kung 4 kayong maghahati, bale ~50 lang yun per day. Kaso you need to deposit para sa security fee and usually thru cc ichacharge.

If you are alone, you can get yung prepaid wifi ng Olleh sa mga convenience stores. 3000 KRW for one day or 9900 for 4 days. At least ito no need for security deposit na. You just need to connect sa Olleh na wifi then input your pin/password from the receipt na binili mo sa convenience store. However, I haven't really tried this kung talagang reliable ang wifi pero sabi sa review reliable naman daw. I only tried the 1 day prepaid wifi before pero di ako nakakonek or may mali lang sa ginawa ko.
Haha!

Yung egg wifi ok na ok. Mabilis ang net tapos matagal din bago malowbatt.

[mariz11]

Thanks mga sis @kachich @damonsgirl @fallen_@ngeL big help ang mga inputs niyo! Ginawin kasi talaga ako. Naalala ko nung nag-baguio kami between 4am-6am sakit na sakit ang ilong ko sa lamig. Nung sa Pulag naman medyo naiiyak na ako. Ganun ako ka-ginawin. Ahehe! Ihahanda ko na lang din talaga ang sarili ko mentally and physically kasi no backing out na ito. Ayoko din naman na hindi mag-enjoy dahil lang sa giniginaw ako na pwede ko naman paghandaan. Dadamihan ko na lang siguro ang baon kong heattech kahit mahal and hopefully they are really effective.

Last Sept nag-weather forecast ako for November bet 10-14 deg pa sa seoul. Today biglang bet 6-15 deg na lang. Sana di na bumaba pa.

[fallen_@ngeL]

@sis mariz11 you can buy din thermal leggings sa myeondong.. madami dun pag ni convert around 300 pesos each =) and other stuff na need mo pang lamig i think mas mura pa if sa korea bibili =)

[mariz11]

Thanks sis @fallen_@ngel! talaga? Wow! More than half the cost ng isang heattech din yun! Thanks a lot!

^sis as long as maka-comply kayo sa requirements I think ok naman ang magiging result. First timer here also and granted naman ng visa Pinaghandaan ko lang talaga maigi ang bank balance (though in the end, bumagsak pa rin talaga ahehe). It helped na ok ang COEC and ITR ko. I think. Ahehe! Good luck!

[sherlock]

hi, will be in korea next week oct 17 - 21. pacheck naman po itinerary if ok na. we're 4pax with 1 senior citizen in the group.

oct 17
ETA incheon 8:10pm
check in hostel korea changdeokgung around 10pm
- if via bus (6011) kami to travel to the city, hindi ba mahirap hanapin yun bus stop na bababaan namin? may english voiceover ba yun stops sa bus?
- if via arex + subway naman kami, either anguk exit 4 OR jongno3ga (exit 6) naman ang labas namin ng subway. yun transfer from seoul station to the other line, mahaba ba yun lakaran? also, san mas malapit ng mrt from hostel korea changdeokgung branch dun sa dalawang exit, anguk or jongno3ga?
- after check in, may magagawa pa ba kami within the area? nakita ko sa map, medyo malapit siya sa insadong. until what time ba open mga shops sa insadong?

oct 18
everland
- where did you buy your tickets, sa online or sa everland na? may nakita ako discount coupon sa everland website 30% (regular price 52000 ; discounted price 36,400), anyone who was able to use it na? meron din kasi package sa klook or funko, 48,000 won inclusive of shuttle to and from everland + ticket. good deal na ba ito or better to take the subway + everland shuttle?
- may fireworks ba ang everland? is it worth it to stay for the fireworks? yun free shuttle kasi sa package tours is 6pm ang return trip to the city. if manonood pa ng fireworks, magcocommute na pabalik kami.

oct 19
Insadong
Bukchok Hanok
Gyeongbokgung Palace - (late) lunch at Tosokchon
Gwanghamun
Cheonggyecheon Stream
Dongdaemun Design Plaza + Dongdaemun Area
MyeongDong night market

oct 20
Nami Island + Garden of Morning Calm
- anyone who took the ITX train in Yongsan? did you reserve online or on the spot na kayo bumili ng ticket? hindi ba mahaba ang pila?
- sa mga nagsubway ride naman, hindi ba mahirap yun transfers? mas mura kasi pag regular subway lang pero iniisip ko kasi if hassle yun transfers ng train.
- for those na nagpunta ng Garden of Morning Calm, worth it ba? 1 hour pala from Nami to the Garden, eh baka kasi sayang yun biyahe if wala masyado makikita dun.

Lotte Mart in Seoul Station (pasalubong shopping)

Banpo Bridge
- madali lang ba puntahan to? sabi kasi mahaba daw lakaran. may kasama kasing senior eh, baka mapagod sobra.

oct 21
Changdeokgung Palace
N Seoul Tower
Lunch in Myeongdong + last minute shopping
4:30PM back to hostel korea to pick up luggage
5:30pm bus OR subway + arex to incheon
9:35pm flight to manila
- if we will take the cable car to N Seoul Tower, mahaba ba ang pila? if bus naman, san yun sakayan?

isisingit pa sana yun ehwa + hongdae area pero parang kulang na sa oras. san ko pa ito puwede idagdag sa iti?


thanks in advance. pasensiya na medyo marami questions. last minute preparations kasi eh. ^^

[ma_angelica]

mga sis, mga how much kaya ang dapat na laman ng bank account para ma approve ang visa?

we still haven't booked our ticket yet, wait pa kami ng next promo. 

[damonsgirl]

sis sherlock ang haba lols pero i will try my best to answer whatever i can.

4pax with 1 senior citizen in the group-> how old is the senior? sa korea mahaba ang lakarin. subway station transfers palang parusa na para sa mommy ko na early 60s palang nung nagtravel kami thrice sa korea. hirap na hirap sya dahil hindi naman lahat may escalator. mahirap naman hagilapin yung mga elevator.

oct 17
based on my experience, madali lang pag bus. basta siguraduhin mo na malapit yung bus stop sa hotel mo para di mapagod si senior. malinaw yung sounds ng bus, may english. may press ka lang na buzzer para magstop sa next bus stop kung dun ka na bababa.

- if via arex + subway naman kami, either anguk exit 4 OR jongno3ga (exit 6) naman ang labas namin ng subway. yun transfer from seoul station to the other line, mahaba ba yun lakaran? also, san mas malapit ng mrt from hostel korea changdeokgung branch dun sa dalawang exit, anguk or jongno3ga?
-> i stayed near jongno3ga before and naligaw ligaw kami. para sakin tricky yung area na yun. alamin mo mabuti yung instructions going to the hotel. kasi kami naligaw talaga. humiwalay ako sa mom and brother ko para ako nalang mapagod maghanap. may nakita ako na stranger at nakitawag sa cellphone nya tapos sya na nakipagusap sa hotel receptionist namin para sa instructions. kung wala akong help na nakuha, baka hindi na kami nakarating. haaay. thank God mabait sila sa mga tourists.

- late naman nag sasara mga shops sa insadong. you can try. may cafes dun and mga cosmetics shops din.

oct 18
everland
- i printed out the discount coupons and presented it sa ticket booth together with my passport. minsan meron din mismo na discount coupons dun pero to be sure, iprint mo na din.
- regarding sa package with transpo, you might want to consider that para sa senior na kasama nyo. para hindi na sya mahirapan in case maligaw ligaw pa kayo going to everland.
- i never stayed that late sa everland to witness fireworks. i've been there twice. malayo kasi sya sa seoul kaya hindi na din kami nagpagabi.

oct 19
Insadong
Bukchok Hanok
Gyeongbokgung Palace - (late) lunch at Tosokchon
Gwanghamun
Cheonggyecheon Stream
Dongdaemun Design Plaza + Dongdaemun Area
MyeongDong night market

---> baka mapagod si senior dito. ang dami masyado. sa palace palang pagoda na sya.

oct 20
Nami Island + Garden of Morning Calm
- anyone who took the ITX train in Yongsan? did you reserve online or on the spot na kayo bumili ng ticket? hindi ba mahaba ang pila?
- sa mga nagsubway ride naman, hindi ba mahirap yun transfers? mas mura kasi pag regular subway lang pero iniisip ko kasi if hassle yun transfers ng train.
- for those na nagpunta ng Garden of Morning Calm, worth it ba? 1 hour pala from Nami to the Garden, eh baka kasi sayang yun biyahe if wala masyado makikita dun.

-> (sorry, i've never tried ITX and hindi pa ako nakakapunta sa Garden...but I took the train to Nami then taxi and ferry)

Lotte Mart in Seoul Station (pasalubong shopping)
->pag souvenir items, mas ok at mura sa Namdaemun, parang supermarket ang Lotte Mart diba?

Banpo Bridge
- madali lang ba puntahan to? sabi kasi mahaba daw lakaran. may kasama kasing senior eh, baka mapagod sobra.
->sorry haven't been there.

oct 21
Changdeokgung Palace
N Seoul Tower
Lunch in Myeongdong + last minute shopping
4:30PM back to hostel korea to pick up luggage
5:30pm bus OR subway + arex to incheon
9:35pm flight to manila
- if we will take the cable car to N Seoul Tower, mahaba ba ang pila? if bus naman, san yun sakayan?
->hindi naman mahaba pila, depende din siguro sa time. may sakayan ng bus sa myeongdong din. madaming tourist guide sa myeongdong. naka red sila. you can ask and they'll give instructions with a map.

isisingit pa sana yun ehwa + hongdae area pero parang kulang na sa oras. san ko pa ito puwede idagdag sa iti?
-> kung isisingit nyo ito, iwanan nyo nalang si senior sa hotel. wawa naman sya. pagod na. pang bagets naman ang area na yan


hope nakatulong ako.

sis ma_angelica
at least 100k will do.

[katniss]

@sis sherlock

Day 1 - Hotel na lang kayo nyan. I doubt it kung bukas pa ang mga stores sa Insadong during that time kasi more or less past 11PM na kayo makakarating ng hotel dahil andami pang ganap sa airport - haba pila sa immigration, bili transpo card, etc, tapos 1hr pa byahe to downtown Seoul.

Day 3 - Unahin nyo yung Bukchon Hanok Village if you plan to start your day around 9AM dahil baka sarado pa shops sa Insadong area nyan Tapos sa bandang gabi, mas okay unahin ang Myeongdong kesa sa Dongdaemun dahil mas late nagsasara shops sa Dongdaemun

So Bukchon > Gyeongbokgung > Gwanghwamun > Cheongyecheon > Insadong > Myeongdong > DDM.
Warning: lakad galore ito as in. Haha.

Pwede nyo isingit ang Ehwa sa Day 4 kung ayaw nyo na bumalik sa Myeongdong for last minute shopping tutal nakapunta na kayo nung Day 3. Mas mura super sa Ehwa kesa sa Myeongdong yung mga Made in Korea talaga na damit at mga hindi branded. We usually allot 3hrs or more pag Ehwa shopping na.

Warning: lakad galore ito as in. Haha.

[itsnikimendoza]

help! trip na namin sa korea tomorrow and wala pa akong maayos na it. haha. we'll be arriving tomorrow night and be leaving 20 ng gabi so medyo mahaba. Traveling with a one year old kid. first family trip namin na kaming tatlo lang. pero second time na namin sa korea since dito kami nag honeymoon ni hubs.

so far eto yung mga gusto kong puntahan
hello kitty cafe (super fan kasi ako ni hello kitty)
nami island
bukchon hanok village
little prince cafe
lotte world
everland
myeongdong (shopping)
seoul tower (mas okay to pag gabi noh?)

san pa ba? wala na kong maisip feeling ko ang tagal namin don. haha. we're staying at Namsan Gil guesthouse pala. okay ba location? near myeongdong? after ako sa make up shopping eh haha

[mariz11]

mga sis, mga how much kaya ang dapat na laman ng bank account para ma approve ang visa?

we still haven't booked our ticket yet, wait pa kami ng next promo. 

^sis ma_angelica

7. Original Personal Bank Certificate
   (must include account type, current balance, account opening date, ADB)
8. Bank Statement
   (original or certified true copy of bank statements/passbook for the last 3 months)

http://embassy_philippines.mofa.go.kr/english/as/embassy_philippines/visa/requirement/

Wala namang required amount pero need mo lang ma-prove na kaya mong suportahan sarili mo during the duration of your stay in Korea. 4k lang ang ADB ko pero bank bal ko is nasa 100k (pooled funds). 9days kami dun (medyo iyak) and US$1,000.00 ang estimated expenses na nilagay namin sa applic form. I complied all the requirements from 1-10 and hindi naman ako nagka-problema with my application despite the very low ADB. Ahehe. Hope this helps!

[fallen_@ngeL]

@sis sherlock tama ibang sisses ang haba nga dami mo tanong haha

mag comment nalang ako sa ibang entry mo, regarding sa hotel, make sure na na research mo paano papunta dun, thru bus or thru train kasi critical yan ang dami nyo dala mahirap maligaw ng may mga dalang maleta. pag taxi naman from airport ang price usually is around 70K won..

regarding naman sa last day nyo, mejo busy pa din sked nyo, sana relax relax nalang kayo niyan shopping, or buy pasalubong =) yun seoul tower mas ok siya sa gabi. Take note pala sa bus going to airport, medyo agahan niyo kasi kami last time ang haba ng pila sa bus walang reserve reserve, tapos ang travel time is around 1hr+ from myeondong area. At mahaba din ang pila sa immigration literal pati sa GST kung meron kayo tax refund.. so I suggest 3 hrs before flight talaga andun na kayo may magagalaan din naman sa airport nila =)

@sis itsnikimendoza isama nyo na din yung ehwa university ok dun lalo na pag autumn ang daming trees at tulad ng sabi ng ibang sisses dito, madami mashoppingan dun, try nyo din pala sa Gangnam sis =)

and also mas ok if mag rent kayo egg wifi para if naka smartphone kayo, if ever maligaw, madami maghanap thru internet. download nyo lang Visit Korea app, it contains mga tourist spots, transportation options etc.. helpful talaga siya.
Meron pa ako na download na app ang name lang is  "SEOUL" ang icon nya is train, this is for the subway, you just put from point A (where you will be entering) then point B (TO where you are going) then mag suggest na siya ng mga routes and it will tell you where to transfer lines and estimated time of travel.
hope this helps
ANYHOO we got our visas today! Yehey for multiple entry! 

[sublime1]

sa mga sis na nakapag stay sa apple backpackers, ensuite ba rooms nila?  Thanks!

Hi sis @fallen_@ngeL! nakapagstay na kami sa Apple Backpackers and yes may kanya kanyang CR yung rooms nila We're planning on staying there again this November when we go back sa Korea

Aside sa Apple Backpackers, san pa ba ok magstay? Ok na magstay sa may MyeongDong like Namsam? Or mas ok na talaga sa Apple?

[undaunted]

Natatakot ako sa magiging trip namin. We'll be there 3rd wk of November and last 2015 daw it snowed during that period. Damit pa lang ubos na baggage allowance dahil ginawin ako! Kaloka naman ito. May bakas pa kaya ng autumn sa panahon ng punta namin? tsktsk. Hello moisturizers and lotions.

i was in seoul last year din 2015 november 9-17.. malamig na nun time na yun and umulan  nung isang day nagpunta na lang kami sa mall

[mariz11]

^Yes sis may mga blog nga akong nabasa na may chances of rain nga. Though we're still hopeful na no chance of rain pagpunta namin ahehe. Thinking of what to bring na. Mag-plan na kami ng activities para ma-budget na ang pang-ukay. ahehe!

[dishie]

Hello! Kakareceive ko lang ng passport ko yesterday. Tuloy na ako sa 20-27!

Sa mga kinakabahan sa application process, share ko po ang chakang profile ko:
28F S solo travel
4 months employed (unemployed for years before that)
bank account with 60k php ADB
may travels yearly (some years more than once) + Japan SE visa 2015

Ang pinass ko lang new and old passport, ID photo, photocopy ng new and old passport +old Japan visa, certificate of employment, bank cert, bank statement.

Hindi daw tumawag sa office yung embassy. Akala ko denied na ako huhu. Buti naman nabigyan kahit single entry. Feel ko big factor yung old Japan visa ko + previous travels (mostly SEA). Nakita nila na mahilig talaga ako gumala at wala akong balak magTNT sa Korea lol. 

Meron po ba akong kasabayan sa 20-27? Pasabit naman sa ibang days hehe.

[Pepper23]

how's the weather today? we will be leaving for korea on the 27th of october. will a sweater and a heattech suffice?

[ma_angelica]

worried lang kami to apply for a visa because aside from it is our first time, wala din kaming matinong savings. we are very irresponsible i know.

is there anyone her na first time traveler din? can you please share your experiences when you applied for a korean tourist visa?

[sherlock]

thanks mga sis sa comments!

will edit my itinerary, lessen the places na lang din para di masyado jampack. also, anyone who has excess korean won? willing to buy. di na ako nakapagpareserve sa bdo, sobrang gahol na sa oras eh monday na flight namin. if wala talaga makuhang won, will just bring USD and puwede rin withdraw via atm.

to those na nakatry na ng atm withdrawals, hindi ba malaki charges nila? and how much yun max na puwede i-withdraw per txn/day? or does it follow kung magkano yun max withdrawal din dito sa atin  pero converted lang to k-won? also, for usd to won exchange, aside from myeongdong meron pa ba ok na forex in jongno area? staying near anguk kasi, a few blocks away from changdeokgung palace.