Namsan Tower / N Seoul Tower N 서울타워 > Seoul ~ South Korea > Day 08 (5) - 2014 October 15 (Busan, Gyeongju, Seoul, Daegwallyeong, Nami Island, Mt Seorak, Kuala Lumpur)

From Namsangol Hanok Village,  we go to Namsan Tower / N Seoul Tower. We will ride the cable car. So we go to Myeongdong Station exit 4, then until you see Pasific Hotel then took the right side and walk up to Namsan Cable Car.

Cable car return-trip fee cost W8.500/pax.

Once we arrive, we still have to climb for a while.

If you didn't want to ride cable car, you can walk this road.

Then we arrive at a big park, which sometimes there's a performance in here.

Before we go to Observatory, we walk around the park. There's a cafe and souvenir shop. There's an upstair deck, this place is where you could put love lock.

You can buy the observatory entrance ticket in here. It cost W9.000/pax.

The observatory entrance located in the middle of the park, not the same as where you buy the ticket.
Once you are at observatory, you can see a very beautiful view of Seoul City.

There's a cafe inside, and also candy shop and souvenir shop. You also can send a postcard from Namsan post. I try to send one, but because I wrote it using wrong ink pen, when I want to put it inside the red post office, the ink was spread. So I think it won't arrive at home.

From observatory, we walk around the park in front of Namsan Tower. You can see the beautiful scene of Seoul city too in here.

It's beautiful. We enjoy the view for a while. Then we go back to cable car. On the way back, we drop by a little food court and buy Twist Potato. It's delicious. Too bad, the weather is more and more cold. When we eat the potato twist, firstly it's hot. But in the end, the potato twist turn cold.

Then we go back to Myeongdong Station using cable car.

Link:
- N Seoul Tower Visitkorea
- Namsan Tower Cable Car
- Wikipedia

Gapyeong City > South Korea > Day 07 (1) - 2014 October 14 (Busan, Gyeongju, Seoul, Daegwallyeong, Nami Island, Mt Seorak, Kuala Lumpur)

Today, our destination is Namiseom / Nami Island. Located near Gapyeong City, Gyeonggi-do. We rode Kyungchun Line subway from Seoul to Gapyeong.

From Achasan Subway to Gunja Subway, transfer to line 7, then go to Sangbong Subway transfer to Kyungchun Line to Gapyeong.

It took almost 2 hours, so don't forget to calculate your time. It's better if you start earlier.

Along the journey, we can see mountain with their beautiful autumn.

Arrive at Gapyeong, we have to wait for bus shuttle. It only cost 5000 won for 1 day trip. You can hop-off whenever you want to go to some interesting place in there.

Our fisst destination is Nami Island. While waiting for the bust, we take photos around the station. There's a small garden in front of the station.

Actually, we can ride public bus. But we don't know the route. We can also ride taxi. But, the shuttle bus cost 5000 won for 1 day. If you still want to go to petite france and other place, I suggest you rode the shuttle bus. But if you only go to Namiseom, you can ride taxi.

Here if you want to wait for public bus or taxi.

A lot of people go to Nami Island. You have to queue to ride the bus. First come first ride. The shuttle bus stop is in front of Tourism Information Centre right in front of the station. Make sure you queue in the front, because you can get a seat inside the bus. It's hard to stand while ride bus, especially the road to Nami Island full of turn. You can either bus-sick or feel awful looking how the bus driver drove the bus.

It took 15 minutes.

Myeongdong 명동 > Seoul ~ South Korea > Day 06 (3) - 2014 October 13 (Busan, Gyeongju, Seoul, Daegwallyeong, Nami Island, Mt Seorak, Kuala Lumpur)

After cleaned up ourselves at guesthouse, we decided to walk around Myeongdong. Go to Myeongdong Station (line 4, blue) exit 5, 6, 7 or 8 or Euljiro Il-Ga Station (line 3, orange) exit 5. Once you get out from subway station, you will see a bright street with many store in there. That's Myeongdong Shopping Street.

Address:
30, Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul-si
서울특별시 중구 을지로 30 (남대문로2가)

Myeong-dong (명동) is one of the primary shopping districts in Seoul. The two main drags meet in the center of the block with one beginning from Myeong-dong Subway Station (Seoul Subway Line No. 4) and the other from Lotte Department Store at Euljiro. Many brand name shops and department stores line the streets and alleys. Common products for sale include clothes, shoes, and accessories. Many designer brands are sold in Myeong-dong. In addition, several major department stores include Lotte Department Store, Shinsegae Department Store, Myeong-dong Migliore, Noon Square and M Plaza. The department stores carry many premium labels and other fashionable goods at reasonable prices.

Myeong-dong also has family restaurants, fast food, plus Korean, Western and Japanese dining options. Many restaurants in Myeong-dong specialize in pork cutlet (donkas) and kalguksu (thick noodles). Other businesses include hair salons, banks and theaters. Myeongdong Catholic Church is also a well-known tourist attraction. It is pillar of the Catholic church in Korea and was built in the Gothic style. Behind the church is a quiet space for relaxation.

Link:
- http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264312
- http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SH/whereToShop/whereToShop.jsp?action=about&cid=995821
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myeong-dong

Don't forget to go to M Plaza 5th floor at Seoul Global Culture and Tourism Centre. You can try Hanbok for free. But you have to queue. So when you have a chance to go here, registered first then you will got a number and time. Then walk around the area while spending the time. Then at the time, go back to the M Plaza 5th floor to take your turn. (Queue time is about 1 hour).

Credit: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SH/whereToShop/whereToShop.jsp?action=notable&cid=997021

We spend time to buy cosmetics. The korean brand like Face Shop, Etude, Nature Republic, is much cheaper than in my country. So we spend time to buy it. Don't forge to ask for tax refund form if you bought in there.

At night, there's so many street foods in there. You can try it while walking around.

Daegwallyeong Samyang Ranch 대관령 삼양목장 / Eco Green Campus 에코그린 캠퍼스 > Pyeongchang ~ South Korea > Day 06 (2) - 2014 October 13 (Busan, Gyeongju, Seoul, Daegwallyeong, Nami Island, Mt Seorak, Kuala Lumpur)

Address: Hoenggye-ri, Daegwalnyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Kangwon, South Korea
Phone: +8233-335-5044 ext. 5

Credit: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264459

Arrive at Hoenggye at 10:50, it's raining really hard. I have already espect the rain, because the weather forecast. But I didn't know that it will be this hard. We decided to eat first, and based on can't speak Korean, and don't know what to eat because there's no familiar food near there, so we decided to eat at the restaurant accross the bus station.

Ahjumma is very kindly. Fortunately, there's picture for the food. So we eat pancake and cold noodle. And I don't like it but have to eat it, because I don't have any options.

After eating, we rode taxi to Daegwallyeong Samyang Ranch. There's a taxi base camp in front of the bus station. Don't forget, if you can't speak Korean, write the destination, and show it to taxi driver. Then the driver tell us how much. I pay for 13.000 won one way for 20-30 minutes ride. And he gave me his name card, and ask me to call him again when we want to back to bus station. He is very kind, he even let us borrow his umbrella. Actually, I don't know how to call him back, because my country phone number didn't have signal at all. Just think about it later.

The ticket entrance to Daegwallyeong Samyang Ranch is 8.000 won, include the shuttle bus to go around the ranch. The shuttle buses travel non-stop for 20 min from the Welcome Square to the Dong Hae Observatory. On your way down, there are five bus stops where you can get off the shuttle to view the area at your leisure, then hop back on whenever you like. (Bus service runs from May through to November).

At winter season, shuttle bus is not available, instead you can enjoy the farm with your own car or by foot.

Daegwallyeong Samyang Ranch is Asia's largest green pasture on a plateau. This ancient and vast meadow is where milking cows feed. The view from the plateau is remarkable as well. If you go up to Daegwallyeong Observatory early in the morning, you can witness the spectacular sunrise from the East Sea beyond the peaks of Mt. Odaesan. The lake where cows drink water is called Samjeongho Lake.

It's a bad weather when I came there. Hard rain, thick mist, and we can't enjoy the scene much. But because we have already arrive in here, so we have to visit the place.

1st stop, Dong Hae Observatory (1140m above sea level) 
It should be a fantastic view of Gangneug City, Jumunjin City and Dong Hae (East Sea). But because of bad weather, we can't see anything. Only a thick mist around there. The bus drive give us 10 minutes to stop here.
If the weather is nice, you can tracking in here. The first walking tracks is Breezy Hills (550m) which is location of filming "Taegeukgi: Brotherhood of War" and "Welcome to Dongmakgol".
The second walking tracks is Leisure Forest (930m) where you can see 400Jeong, a location to view an extensive 400ha of our land. That's why it is named 400Jeong (1 Jeong is almost 1 ha).
In here, you also can see Wind Powered Generator Complex with 53 wind powered generators which in operation and provide electricity to 50.000 households which are 60% of Gangneung population.

2nd stop, Tree of Lover's Concerto, 2002 (1.080m above sea level)
Not only famous due to the popular movie "Lover's Concerto" in 2002, the tree's surroundings are stunnings.
From 1st bus stop to 2nd bus stop, also known as Eunseo and Junseo's Autumn in My Heart TV Series bike path.

We decided to stop in here, and try to walk to 3rd stop.

The 3rd walking track is Memories of Love, located between 2nd bus stop and 3rd bus stop and it took 650m. But we didn't pass the tracking because it's slippery. We walk around the main road. There's nothing can be seen, we can't see the sheep paddock. But we saw a group of sheep, and take picture with them.

3rd Stop, Office of Gangwon Wind Poweres Generator Complex
I don't know what can be seen in this area. We stop at the bus stop and wait for the bus. It's really cold and I thought I need to drink hot chocolate right at that time, haha.. :D

The 4th walking track is Meadow Stroll with distance 1.470m from the middle of 2nd bus stop to 4th bus stop. We will pass cattle paddock, ostrich paddock and sheepdog herding field.

4st Stop, Wish and Wind Post-Box
There's a "Wish and Wind Post-Box" to share your emotional experience at our beautiful farm with your postcard and put it inside the post-box, chich are provided at Cheong Yeon Botanical Garden and the Ostrich Pavilion. Postcards will be delivered full of happiness.
We also would pass Eunseo & Junseo's Tree in the TV Series "Autumn in My Heart".
The 5th walking track is Peace of Mind, which located from 4th bus stop to 5th  bus stop. The distance is 900m.

5th Stop, Welcome Square
Finally, we arrive at the main point. We bought instant noodle at the ranch mart. You can also buy souvenir from Samyang Ranch.

Behind the Welcome Square, there's a building of Eunseo & Junseo's House in the TV Series "Autumn in My Heart".

Source: Eco green Campus Manual Brochure which you can get it on the ticket entrance locket when you bought the ticket.

It's worthed to come here. And I want to come here again when the weather is nice. Maybe I could spend 1 night stay at Hoenggye.

We ask the staff at the restaurant to help us to call the taxi driver to pick us. It also cost 13.000 won to go back to the bus station. I lef my tripod at the restaurant where we eat lunch. So when I back to bus station, I went to the restaurant again, and fortunately, Ahjumma keep my tripod.

Then we bought the ticket to back to Seoul.

At 17:15 we arrive at Dong Seoul Bus Terminal and back to guest house.

Dong Seoul Terminal 동서울종합터미널 to Hoenggye Bus Terminal 횡계시외버스공용정류장 > South Korea > Day 06 (1) - 2014 October 13 (Busan, Gyeongju, Seoul, Daegwallyeong, Nami Island, Mt Seorak, Kuala Lumpur)

Woke up early today to take bus to Hoenggye at 08:05 o'clock. Today's destination is Daegwallyeong Samyang Ranch, Eco Green Campus at Pyeongchang County.

After breakfast, we go to Dong Seoul Bus Terminal. Buses (both intercity and express running to every corner of Korea including Gyeonggi, Gangwon, Gyeongsang, Chungcheong and Jeolla depart from this bus station). Bus reservations may be made through the following reservations agencies, but tickets can also be purchased at the ticket window upon arrival at the bus station.

The Dong Seoul Bus Terminal is located at Gangbyeon Station, Seoul Subway Station Line 2, Exit 4.

Credit: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=1113555

Bus to Hoenggye is an Intercity Bus which cost 14.500 won and it took 2 hours and 45 minutes. Hoenggye is the 3rd stop. 1st stop is 장평 Jangpyeong Bus Terminal. 2nd stop is 진부공용버스정류장 Jinbu Bus Terminal. And finally, at 3rd stop, we arrive at Hoenggye Bus Terminal.

Pyeongchang is a county in Gangwon province, South Korea located in the Taebaek Mountains region. It is also home to several Buddhist temples, including Woljeongsa. It is located approximately 180 km east of Seoul. Pyeongchang will host the 2018 Winter Olympics and the 2018 Winter Paralympics.

The altitude of Pyeongchang is wide-ranging, with 84% of its territory comprising mountains with average elevations of 750m (2,460ft). Its best-known place, the township of Daegwallyeong-myeon, averages between 700 to 800m (2,300 to 2,600ft) above sea level, with some areas over 1,000m (3,300ft) high. Daegwallyeong-myeon has a monsoon humid continental climate with warm, humid summers and long, cold and dry winters.

The area is popular with mountain hikers, especially at the southern part of Mount Seoraksan.
Alpensia ski resort is a tourist attraction and has 6 slopes for skiing and snowboarding, with runs up to 1.4km long, for beginners and advanced skiers, and an area reserved for snowboarders. The resort is open year-round. Alpensia will be the focus of the 2018 Cultural Olympiad, with a new, purpose-built concert hall within the resort. A 250km per hour KTX line will be built between Wonju and Gangneung via Pyeongchang for the 2018 Winter Olympics and will put Pyeongchang within 50 minutes of travel time from Seoul.

Buddhist temple Woljeongsa of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism is located on the eastern slopes of Odaesan. The Lee Seung-bok Memorial Center is located in Nodong-ri, Yongpyeong-myeon.

Samyang Ranch is the largest highlands farm in Asia located on the hills of Daegwallyeong 850 to 1,470meters above sea level. It was operated as a petting zoo and enjoy tha pastoral landscape. It is film locations of the drama 'Autumn in my Heart’ and the movie ‘Lover’s Concerto.’

Autumn Scene could be seen in here

2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympiade

Coco Curry Ichibanya 코코이찌방야, Gangnam > Seoul ~ South Korea > Day 05 (7) - 2014 October 12 (Busan, Gyeongju, Seoul, Daegwallyeong, Nami Island, Mt Seorak, Kuala Lumpur)

After drop our luggage, my friend take us to eat Curry at Gangnam.

Address: Yeoksam-dong 619-4

From Achasan Subway Station, take line 5 (purple) back to Gunja Station, then change to line 7 (dark green) to Express Bus Terminal, then change to line 9 (choco milk) to Sinnohyeon Station.

From Sinnohyeon, go to exit 7. You can see a big building, which is Kyobo Bookstore, a famous bookstore in South Korea. Just walk straight, and you can pass gangnam district famous street. There's so many store in there, even when you see in each alley, there's a lot of store, cafe and restaurant. Many people went there to enjoy the night.

Coco Curry Ichibanya in Gangnam, located in one of the alley. I'm not sure which alley from Sinnohyeon station. I thought, may the 2nd or 3rd on the left alley from the exit 7. Once you turn left, just walk straight (I remember it's uphill road) then after pass intersection, you can see coco curry in the corner.

My Choice

You can choose how much rice do you want and the level of spicy. You can also add more curry. I'm not fans of curry, but I'm fans of pork. So I just eat the pork with less curry. It's suitable with my taste.

This Gangnam Street is quiet famous, there's so many people espesially student and tourists.

Source:
- http://www.seoulgrub.com/2011/09/20/curry-restaurant-in-seoul/

After eat dinner, we say goodbye to our friend. He has to go back to Osan, Gyeonggi-do because tomorrow he has to work. So me and my other friend, walk along Gangnam, then back to Guesthouse from Gangnam Station.

PS: If you walk straight from exit 7 Sinnohyeon station, you will arrive at Gangnam Station