Korea Trip (Part 1)

During the 08 holidays, we went to Korea (South Korea to be exact). We were told that it would be very cold and temperatures can drop to less than 0 degrees C. Hence, we packed lots of winter clothes.

The 11th finally arrived. It would be my first time to T3. It was like I never imagined. It was decorated with shrubs and creepers of all sizes and shapes. There was this particular windmill that greeted tourists by moving towards them.

We checked in our luggage and went to get some stuff for family n friends before heading to the boarding gate. I got to sit at the side window. WF and Mum sat in the other 2 spaces. Dad was the lone ranger, again. The flight lasted 7 hours and when we reached there, it was dawn. We got to the immigration, got our luggage and were greeted by the tour guide.




Terminal 3, Dawn in Korea, Korean Airport respectively

We went to the Taewangsasingi Filming Site where a Korean Show was filmed. it looked like a fortress with many live-size houses, cottages and objects such as swords, axes and pots n pans.




We weren't much in a mood so didn't really enjoy.

Next was Nami Island. It was an isolated island surrounded by water, so we had to get there on a ferry. It was a 5 min ride. On there we found the 2 rows of trees used in another film called 'Winter Sonata'. It is also in a computer background.

The tour guide said that Nami Island was named after General Nami. He had stopped riots and helped the country. Unfortunately, he was falsely denounced as a traitor and was executed. We saw the general's grave on Nami island. Beside it was a poem he composed:

"I will cut the boulders of Mt. Baekdu until my sword is worn away,
I will water my horse with the waters of Duman River until it dries up,
If a man cannot subjugate an entire nation by the age of 20,
then no one will deem him a hero." General Nami

There were also lots of chestnut trees on Nami Island. Squirrels were present too. Some snow had already fallen and snowmen were lying around.


After that, we went for lunch. It was a grill. There was cabbage, meat, glutinous rice cakes, rice and many more.



After lunch was Myendong street. It was a shopping street in Seoul. The tour guide brought us to a stall called 'Fat Auntie' which sold, according to her, the freshest and tastiest fruits in Myendong. We bought strawberries from her. After that, we were free to take a look around. We tried out some local delicacies and snacks and went on our way.


After that was dinner, which was steamboat.


After all these, we went to our hotel, which was near our next day's activity, scaling Mt Seorak. We got our luggage from the coach and got to the lobby. It looked very Western with little solders. We were given our room keys and we went to our room. We were very surprised to see that it was Korean style. There was only 1 bed for 2. So, Mum and WF slept on the bed while Dad and I slept on the floor with sleeping bags. So, it was shower, change, sleep...zzzzzz