just got back from a 5-day trip yesterday. malamig na sa umaga and gabi. need ng medyo makapal na jacket. pero sa tanghali kahit sweater and another layer, puwede na. autumn foliage meron na sa nami island and everland. within the city di ko pa masyado napansin.
we stayed in hostel korea 11th, near changdokgeung palace, clean and accessible within jongno area. beside 7/11 and gs25 convenience store. with breakfast and elevator. double rooms are not that big pero good enough for 2pax with 2 medium size luggage. big cr and with rain showerheads. located between jongno3ga exit 3/6 and anguk exit 4. walking distance to bus stop 6011 to and from the airport (10,000krw per pax). madami restos sa jongno3ga exit 3/6 area di ka magugutom though you need to prepare a budget for food talaga, medyo mahal ang pagkain lalo na if palagi ka magcoconvert to peso.
1st day - late night arrival, check in hostel korea 11th.
delayed ang cebu pac so arrived at incheon around 10pm. exited immigration, pick up luggage then rented wifi egg at the SK telecom counter. (5500 per day, 200,000 KRW deposit via credit card pero irereverse naman nila once you return the wifi egg). wifi egg is very useful lalo na sa mga di familiar sa place, kung naliligaw na, madali lang makapagsearch via google maps kung nasaan ka na. free wifi hostpots is not readily available in korea, usually nasa coffeeshops or restos ka lang tsaka ka makaconnect sa free wifi. bought also , T MONEY CARD. 2k won +. loaded 25kwon worth. puwede naman marefund yun matitira pag pauwi.
anyway, rode bus 6011. 10,000 krw each, paid in cash. around 1 hour to the city, dropped off the the changdeokgung stop. 5mins walk to the hostel, got there around 11:30pm na. 11pm kasi they close the main door and meron passcode to enter, buti na lang the staffs are still at the lobby kaya nabuksan kami ng door. fast checkin, just gave our itinerary confirmation from EXPEDIA, then binigay na nila yun room card.
2nd day - everland
from jongno3ga exit 3, go to gangnam exit 10. walk straight, 2 blocks away in front of WHO.A.U store is the bus 5002 stop to everland, 1 hour trip. then sa shuttle station, ride the everland shuttle to the theme park entrance (around 5-10mins), we were dropped off at "parking 4,5". remember the signage, kasi dun ka rin sasakay pauwi. we bought the entrance ticket via fantastic korea (funko) website 35000KRW, mas mura and cheaper than at the theme park itself. once paid online, they'll send you the QR codes via email. screenshot or save the email, then scan at the park entrance. no need to print the tickets. di na namin in-avail yun shuttle ride ni funko kasi mabilis lang naman ang papunta ng everland using bus 5002. just be sure to be early at the bus stop to get a seat, kasi yun iba nakatayo na lang. unahan kasi sa upuan din. you can wait for another bus pero sayang yun time naman. spent the whole day there, food is a bit expensive pero its a theme park so expected naman yun. make sure to ride the T EXPRESS and SAFARI. para sa akin, sila yun must-see attraction sa everland. di na namin mahintay yun fireworks kasi 9pm pa. around 7:30pm, we rode the shuttle bus at "parking 4,5" and then bus5002 back to gangnam. diretso hotel na to rest.
**regarding their subways, if you've been to HK, parang ganun lang din ang subway nila but there's A LOT MORE walking involved. bihira kasi sa kanila ang may escalator na exit. so if you're with a senior citizen, please look for a hotel na malapit lang sa subway, kasi kawawa naman si senior. my mom, kaya pa maglakad ng malayo pero nahirapan siya. pahirap daw kasi yun subway and mga transfers dun.
3rd day - city tour
from hostel korea, we walked to Insadong. cultural district, art galleries ang marami dito. bought some 10,000 won bags dito, mura na rin and styles are cute. uso sa kanila yun "messenger" type of bags. meron din kami nabilhan ng earrings, 3900krw lang, puwede na pangsalubong. sa papasok ng insadong, meron nga pala tourism office, you can get maps there on how to go to bukchon hanok and gyeongbongguk palace.
after insadong, walked to gyeongbokgung palace (10mins). naabutan namin yun changing of the guards sa entrance gate. nakakatuwa lang. paid entrance 3k won per adult, senior citizens are free entrance (just present the passport for proof of age). malaki ang gyeongbokgung, ang pinakanagustuhan ko is their garden. ang sarap magpahinga dito. nung palabas na kami ng palace, may nagseset up ng mga harang, may pupunta pala na artista sa palace. yun sina park bogum and cast nun isang drama. sayang di na namin naabutan pero ang daming fans na naghihintay na.
had (late) lunch sa resto near jonggak station. grilled meat, kimchi jigae and pork stew with rice. total is 48000krw for 4pax.
after, rode the mrt to myeongdong and search for the bus to n seoul tower. pagkalabas ng myeongdong exit 3, tawid ka lang then dun na yun bus stop for YELLOW BUS no. 5. mga 30mins din ito, sa drop off. you can walk to n seoul tower na. ang sarap dito, malamig. para syang PEAK Mall sa Hk. may mga kainan and shops sa taas. may maliit din na park. puwedeng upo ka lang dun while looking at the city lights. nandun din yung love locks.
from n seoul tower, rode bus # 5 again back to myeongdong. nag ikot ikot, shopped and tried their street foods. usual price ng street food is 3000krw each. nasarapan ako sa tempura nila, 5 pcs. sa nagtitipid puwede na itong dinner then bili na lang ng rice sa convenience store. meron din lobsters, steak and scallops. streetfood lang pala yun sa kanila hahaha medyo mahal lang, lobsters were 15,000 krw each. ^__^
sa beauty products naman, marami dito. marami silang ibibigay na freebies if bibili ka sa kanila. pero some shops lakas maka-hard sell. kukulitin ka talaga. mga 10pm, went back to the hostel na.
