Incheon International Airport > Seoul ~ South Korea > Day 12 (1) - 2014 October 19 (Busan, Gyeongju, Seoul, Daegwallyeong, Nami Island, Mt Seorak, Kuala Lumpur)

Wake up at 4 o'clock then ride taxi to bus station at 5 o'clock because the airport bus schedule is on 05.50. We decided to ride taxi because our luggage. And it only took 5 minutes. The bus has already in there and it cost W10.000/pax to Incheon International Airport.

The road take 1 hours. After we arrive in there, we proceed to tax refund counter. It's easy. Just go to the counter to check your shopping that wants to refund, don't forget, don't put your buying staff inside the luggage first. So after you got a stemple, then you proceed to the refund self-counter. Scan your passport, and your receipt, then the computer will tell you how much will you got.

If you didn't understand how to do this, ask the staff. They will help you.

Prepare much time before boarding.

After that, we put our buying things to our luggage, and proceed to check-in.

After that we go to subway station to refun our card which happened that we could refund at convenient store. And that's our mistake. The subway station is so far away from international departure and we waste time in there.

After that we eat breakfast on the 2nd floor of International Departure.

We passed Everysing SMent Shop.

Then there's a lot of restaurant and food court. We eat the food court. You can order on the cashier, then you will got a number. Just wait until they call your number and you can take your order.
This is also one of our mistake. It tooks time, and we didn't realize what time is it now. So we just eat and enjoy our waiting. We thought that it's still a long wait.

Then we proceed to imigrations, and take our money on refund counter. After that, we need to ride the monorail to our waiting room.

Out from monorail, when we ride the escalator, we heard a calling, Airasia to Kuala Lumpur. That's when we realize, it's only 5 minutes before departure time. OMG~~~ 5 minutes before departure time and not boarding time. I make a quick react to scream "It's us..." Then they ask us to run. Fortunately, we have prepared our boarding pass so we directly boarding.

We sit in the back, and so many people saw us haha.. It's embarrased.

Next time, If we wants to roaming around the airport, we have to come earlier. It's our mistake because we didn't predict the time too.
I never experienced this things, and this is my first time and hopefully my last time. I didn't want to risk to missed the flight.

Then we said goodbye to Korea. See you next time...

Yongsan E-Mart > Seoul ~ South Korea > Day 11 (4) - 2014 October 18 (Busan, Gyeongju, Seoul, Daegwallyeong, Nami Island, Mt Seorak, Kuala Lumpur)

On the way to Yongsan E-Mart, we passed Indonesian Embassy at Seoul.

E-Mart is the biggest and discount store in Korea. It's very famous. The E-Mart at Yongsan is the 70th E-Mart in Korea. Located on the first and second underground floors of I'Park Mall (A Giant Shopping Mall connected to Yongsan Station).

Credit: Visitkorea

It's nice in here. For a special product, you can try it first then decided to buy it or not. We bought so many snack. Famous snack recommended by my Korean Friend.

I don't know how to put it into my luggage haha...

NC Cube Canal Walk Shopping Street, Songdo > Incheon ~ South Korea > Day 11 (3) - 2014 October 18 (Busan, Gyeongju, Seoul, Daegwallyeong, Nami Island, Mt Seorak, Kuala Lumpur)

After eat lunch, they take us to eat dessert in NC Cube Canal Walk Shopping Street. I saw this area once, on Running Man. So I know what is it.

You can shopping in here. And also a lot of restaurant and cafe in here. The shopping mall is unique, there's a canal in the middle of the building, with fountain and many decorations.

After walking around, it's already 3 o'clock in the afternoon. So we go back to Seoul. My friend's husband has something to do in Seoul, so they take us to Yongsan E-Market to shopping. While her husband go to Dongdaemun.

Songdo International Business District > Incheon ~ South Korea > Day 11 (2) - 2014 October 18 (Busan, Gyeongju, Seoul, Daegwallyeong, Nami Island, Mt Seorak, Kuala Lumpur)

After put our luggage at the new hotel, then I'm going to visit my Korean's friend, Nana. We met when study Chinese at Beijing. She made Tteokbokki, from then, I like Tteokbokki.

Her house is located at Songdo International Business District. And it's far-far away from the city. We ride subway about 2 hours to Campus Town Subway Station.

Songdo International Business District (Songdo IBD) is a new smart city or "ubiquitous city" built from scratch on 600 hectares (1,500 acres) of reclaimed land along Incheon's waterfront, 65 kilometres (40 mi) southwest of Seoul, South Korea and connected to Incheon International Airport by a 12.3-kilometre (7.6 mi) reinforced concrete highway bridge, called Incheon Bridge. Along with Yeongjong and Cheongna, it is part of the Incheon Free Economic Zone.[2]

The Songdo International Business District will feature the Northeast Asia Trade Tower and the Incheon Tower. Schools, hospitals, apartments, office buildings and cultural amenities are to be built in the district. Replicas of architectural hallmarks, including New York City's Central Park and Venice's waterways, will also be incorporated. This 10-year development project is estimated to cost in excess of $40 billion, making it one of the most expensive development projects ever undertaken.

Credit: Wikipedia

The first impression for this city is, Wow... It would be nice to live here.

My friend pick us at the station, and then we ride car to her apartment. This time also, her husband cook Tteokbokki for us, and it's delicious. Too bad, I don't know why, but this time I travelling to South Korea, I didn't feel hungry at all. Even I still wants to eat, but I'm already full.

The apartment is nice and comfy. I would like to have one if I have a chance. haha...

Last Time at Phil House > Seoul ~ South Korea > Day 11 (1) - 2014 October 18 (Busan, Gyeongju, Seoul, Daegwallyeong, Nami Island, Mt Seorak, Kuala Lumpur)

We move to other hotel today. The hotel name is Blessing in Seoul. It's budget hotel and nice, but unfortunately, the location is a little far away from subway station. From Phil House, we ride taxi.

Let's see for the last time of Phil House 8 dorm room.

Then we move to Blessing In Seoul Hotel near Dongdaemun.

Blessing in Seoul
2-7 Cheongnyang-ni-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, Korea
+8270-4632-3290

The hotel is nice, it's a budget hotel. And the receptionist when we arrive is so kind. He really help us. We still can't check-in that time, so he said that he will help us to put our luggage on our room once the check-in time allowed.

Unfortunately, the hotel locations is far away from subway. Walk took 20 minutes to Hoegi Station, and this is the closest station to Kyunghee University and University of Seoul.

So there's so many students in there and also shopping street, restaurant and cafe.

Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain 반포대교 달빛무지개분수 > Seoul ~ South Korea > Day 10 (8) - 2014 October 17 (Busan, Gyeongju, Seoul, Daegwallyeong, Nami Island, Mt Seorak, Kuala Lumpur)

It's already evening, and I promise my friends to meet them at guesthouse at 17:00. So I decided to go back to the guesthouse. While on the way back, I drop by Wangsimi Subway Station, to go to E-Mart. I bought some snack, and also bread for my dinner.

Today is my friend's last day in Seoul, tomorrow they will go back to Indonesia. So tonight we plan to watch Rainbow Fountain at Banpo Bridge.

Only 4 of us go there, the others feel tired already.

After rest for a while, then we go there. We stop by Gangnam Subway station and walk along their underground mall first. It's cheap and many things sell in there. If you would like to shopping, this place is one of the suggestion.

The rainbow fountain show is 20:00 o'clock. At 19:30, we walk to Banpo Bridge directions. A lot of people go back after watched the 19:30 performance.

We passed by underground tunnel.

Banpodaegyo (Bridge) is a two-tiered bridge over the Hangang (River). Its lower level, called Jamsugyo (Submergence Bridge), is designed to be below water during the rainy season. In 2009, Seoul Metropolitan Government added the Moonlight Rainbow Fountain to the Banpodaegyo, creating the world's longest bridge fountain (as recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records) with 380 water jets and a dazzling array of multi-colored lights.

Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain is the world’s longest bridge fountain. The fountain is programmed to play different shows during the day and night. During the day, the fountain shows a hundred different configurations meant to evoke waving willow branches and willow leaves. When the sun goes down, 200 lights illuminate the fountain as it sends up dancing, rainbow-colored jets of water in the air in synchronization with music.

The Moonlight Rainbow Fountain's water jets are dynamic and can move in time to music creating spectacular ever-changing displays. Add to that the hundreds of rainbow-colored lighting combinations when night falls, and it is easy to see why Banpodaegyo is a magnet for tourists year-round.

The park also has outdoor stage, eco-observatory and picnic spots.

Credit: Visit Korea, Visit Seoul

My friends said, that if you visit on weekend, there are a stall that sell Seoul Fried Chicken, which very famous. Too bad, I visit when it's weekdays, so no one sell food in there.

The rainbow fountain is beautiful. I'm not regret come here during night, in the middle of autumn cold.

Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain Time:
> April-June, September- October (Duration: 20 min)
     Weekdays: 12:00, 20:00, 20:30, 21:00
     Weekends: 12:00, 19:30, 20:00, 20:30, 21:00
> July-August (Duration: 20 min)
     Weekdays: 12:00, 19:30, 20:00, 20:30, 21:00
     Weekends: 12:00, 19:30, 20:00, 20:30, 21:00, 21:30

City Light near Banpo Bridge

Then we go back to guesthouse for rest.. Tomorrow is my last day, and tomorrow I'm gonna meet my Korean friends.

Yeouido Park > Seoul ~ South Korea > Day 10 (6) - 2014 October 17 (Busan, Gyeongju, Seoul, Daegwallyeong, Nami Island, Mt Seorak, Kuala Lumpur)

Next I went to Yeouido Park. Yes, it's only me, because my friend is sick and she said she go back to guesthouse first to take a rest.

Yeouido Park is a large recreational area located on Yeouido Island in the central part of Seoul. It was once originally covered with black asphalt, and people frequented the place for bicycling and roller-skating. The construction began in 1997, and opened officially in February 1999. It is now the place where many people in the city come to rest and enjoy strolling around, play sports, and cultural events.

The park is divided into theme-based sections: the Traditional Korean Forest, Grass Square, Culture Square, and Nature’s Ecosystem Forest. In the Traditional Korean Forest, only traditional Korean trees are planted, and it has a pond and an octagonal pavilion, with a trail walk that completes the feel of an elegant Korean garden. Grass Square has a low hill, with grass field and various trails, and nearby there are evergreens and deciduous trees to reflect the changing of the seasons. Many performances and events are held at the Cultural Square, and because there are many zelkova trees lined up nearby, it is a great place to rest. One particular part of the park that is most enjoyed is the Nature’s Ecosystem Forest – it is where you can observe nature and learn from an ecologically sensitive pond and forest, right in the middle of the city. Composed of a swamp area, waterline area, grassland area, and a forest, you can observe various kinds of life forms living in these areas.

One of the must-see areas is the Yunjunro Street, behind the National Assembly Building. This place is famous for having the loveliest cherry blossom street in Seoul. Cherry blossom trees, 30 to 40 years old, line up for about 6km, and is very popular in the spring.

Credit: Visikorea

Once out from the station, we can see the 63 building

Yeouido Park

Yeouido Hangang Park

It's a nice evening to enjoy the park. Maybe next time, I could come here with someone, and enjoy more of it's facility.

Yeouido Subway Station

Mapo-Gu Office Subway Station > Seoul ~ South Korea > Day 10 (5) - 2014 October 17 (Busan, Gyeongju, Seoul, Daegwallyeong, Nami Island, Mt Seorak, Kuala Lumpur)

From Ewha, I plan to join my other friends, who are at Odbo Cosmetic Store in Seoul which there's only 1 outlet. I go to Mapo-Gu Office Subway Station.

Credit: https://seoulinspiration.wordpress.com/2011/11/16/odbo-outlet-in-seoul/

Credit: https://seoulinspiration.wordpress.com/2011/11/16/odbo-outlet-in-seoul/

I found this website before and try to follow it's instructions. Exit Mapo-Gu Office Subway Station exit 3, the area is different with others subway station. It's quiet, only traffic.

I just drop by and then back to continue my journey. I didn't found my friends there because they are already done.

Let's take it as walking around Seoul.. Haha..

Ewha Women's University Shopping Area 이화여자대학교 > Seoul ~ South Korea > Day 10 (4) - 2014 October 17 (Busan, Gyeongju, Seoul, Daegwallyeong, Nami Island, Mt Seorak, Kuala Lumpur)

From Gyeongbokgung Palace, after rest for a while near the palace area, we go to Ewha Women's University shopping area.

Stop by Ewha Women's University / 이대 station then exit 2 / 3 and walk for 5 minutes then you will see a lot of store.

I didn't buy anything in here, just walk around, until I found the entrance of Ewha Women's University. Because it's university area, so there's so many students in here.

There's so many street food and cafe too.