Sojourn in Seoul

Probably one of the busiest time to travel is the last week of October where it falls on a long weekend plus the holiday in the country. It has been months since we planned the trip with family and we had to consider budget fares, safety and a tour package  worth the time and best for the family.

Coming from a tropical country where one visitor would describe our climate today as  wet, wetter, dry and drier, we wanted to make this vacation an experience worth remembering. Trying out on another country with a cold weather. Indeed it  was already cold when we took off  with   a typhoon signal number 1 at NAIA for a four hour flight to Incheon, South Korea.

First we booked for a ticket, applied for visa then after having been approved we started preparing for our outfit which included winter warm touchscreen gloves, winter bonnets, jackets and boots for women with comfortable inner shirts and scarfs plus a lip balm for the relief of chapped and dry lips. Always be sure to wear good comfortable shoes and bring first aid medicine  for the family and ziplock plastic bag can be handy.

Korea is an hour advance compared to Philippine time. The airport is clean comfy and you get to have a short ride by train to the boarding area after checking in. Travelling is hassle free when you weigh your luggage and prevent excess baggage fees . Be sure to hand carry your power bank and batteries and read instructions carefully. Have a separate handbag for your passport and tickets and other travel requirements and identification cards when travelling. It saves time and stress. I get to be stressed out when digging into my shoulder bag for papers and IDs specially if it doesn’t have proper compartments.

We arrived at around 12 midnight, we passed through quarantine first, filled up a paper where they asked about your health, then if you check one of the questions then they will take your temperature, give you a number to call in case you feel sick. Immigration was okey, they printed a small paper instead of a stamp which states how long you are allowed to stay in the country. Picked our luggage then a man with a welcome sign met us at the arrival area, the moment we stepped out of the airport towards the bus the wind was so cold, it was like going inside a refrigerator.

We stayed at the Legend Hotel, the floor was warm, and they had a heater in the room. Breakfast started with kimchi and eggs and lots of meat with chopstick and a spoon for the soup. Each meal we had there was nori and kimchi. One thing I learned is that we always followed the CLAY GO rule or the Clean As You Go. They provided for a table with a basket and tray for utensils in most restaurants.

We moved to another hotel the next day as we visited Nami Island and Mount Seorak about two hours away from Incheon. The weather was  colder in the area, and we wore layers of clothes underneath our jackets. Many tourist buses were parked as visitors from different countries took a five minute ride to Nami Island just to experience the beauty of autumn with red maple trees, yellow gingko trees, running after squirrels, taking selfies here and there . It was a venue for the Winter Sonata or the filipino movie My Ex and Whys. Coming to Korea was exciting as I really wanted to wear a Hanbok aka as the traditional South Korean dress. Many would agree with me that  watching the Love in the Moonlight one summer starred by Park Bo Gum or Goblin with Gong Yoo and other Korean dramas plus k-pop performers like Super Junior, BTS or EXO, this has definitely influenced our travel plans be it young girls or mommies and grandmas too. In Korea we say the family name first before the first name.

Myeongdong is a famous shopping district for casual dining, Namsan Seoul Tower is great at night to be able to see the well lighted city, Nami Island, Hongdae for youthful shopping and nightlife with the must visit Trickeye Museum the first augmented reality museum in the world. Everland is also a must visit, we were there on all saints day and some areas had zombie themed attractions, it’s a theme park with lots of rides, a safari world where we were able to watch a sea lion show, met the flamingos , monkeys, birds and panda. Entertained with lights and we had fun with a rotating house. A parade of cartoon characters and had a choice of meals provided in European inspired restaurants.

Seoraksan National Park was indeed so cold near the city of Sokcho, we had a cable car ride to the top where coffee is available, there are restaurants , a temple where the place  is also known as  UNESCO world heritage site.

We also visited a Ginseng and Korean Pine outlet for health buffs, and a cosmetic store where one can buy so many skin care products. We also visited a duty free shop where you get to have tax refunds. We had a great time with the Amantillo  family in this part of the globe, the tour operator was good and the package was worth it.

Seoul is a must visit for the family and even the young where we learn so much be it infrastructure, culture and loving the cold climate. Indeed we had fun with 77 other Filipino visitors on a group tour to experience Autumn in South Korea.