Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Oh My Seoul!


 I usually travel towards the end of October because it is our term break. Last year of October, I stumbled upon a seatsale going to Seoul for P2300 so I booked myself a year in advance. Time flies so fast, that the time came for my solo trip to Seoul. I am so excited as I will be seeing my childhood friend who was generous to let me stay for the duration of my trip. I stayed for eight short days in the city, been to a lot of beautiful parks, visited their awesome public libraries, ate their delicious food and rode their very efficient public transportation (Seoul metro and bus!).

While it is still fresh, let me share with you places I've been to in the short days that I stayed in this city. I'd say it is my favorite city so far. One that I will never get tired of visiting over again. Getting a visa is a different story.

As my friend works until 8 in the evening, I did not ask her to fetch me at the airport. Instead, I just asked her how to get to her place. From Incheon International Airport, I rode the air limousine 6101, paid for 15000 won and alighted at Ssangmun and voila, I arrived.

It was a sweet sweet reunion with my childhood friend!

My unni on the first night I arrived.
As my unni works in the day time, I tour by myself. Tip: Download the Seoul Metro in your smartphone and you will never be lost in the city! You will also enjoy walking because the weather is cool! 

Here are the places that I have visited:

Day 1: Coincidentally, a classmate of mine was also in Seoul when I arrived so I met him on my first day of tour. As we are librarians by professions, we paid a visit to the National Library of Korea. What an awesome national library!

Address: 201 Banpo-daero, Banpo 4(sa)-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Nice interior.
This where a person should take a call! 

View from the second floor.


Day 1: Palaces in the city

1. Deoksugung, also known as Gyeongun-gung, Deoksugung Palace
Address: 99 Sejong-daero, Jeong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea

beautiful old structure



2. Changdeokgung Palace
Address: 99 Yulgok-ro, Waryong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

trying to look bigger than the scene


with my suplado chinggu :)


3. Changgyeonggung Palace and Secret Garden
Address: 185 Changgyeonggung-ro, Waryong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea


Relaxing view for royalties


Fall foliage


A photo with an ippo Korean girl in Hanbok


Changgyeonggung Palace


Day 2: Namsan Park, Namsan Public Library and N-Seoul Tower
I was supposed to be at Nami Island but I found the bus stop late so I decided to walk to Namsan Park that day!

Going to Namsan Park

Along the way

Dove-lovers

Namsan public library entrance

Their mobile library version

Entrance  to N-Seoul Tower

Better to walk the 1.3 km to the tower

The tower
Day 3: Dongdaenum History and Culture Museum 
Take Line 4 Exit 1

The entrance


What a modern world!


Beautiful color while walking outside DDP!

A big luggage to put all the Oppas :)

Day 4: Yangju Nari Park
Address: 산46 Mansong-dong, Yangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea

It was a weekend so my unni was free from work. Together with another friend of hers who have two cute babies, we headed to Nari Park where flowers bloom in different colors. 

flowers!


Our gang!

At the center of violets!
Day 5: A birthday party and noraebang with Filipino friends of my unni!

Day 6: Olympic Park and Seoul Forest

Olympic Park
Address: 424 Olympic-ro, Bangi-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea
I took Line 4, transfer at Dongdaenum to Line 5 going to Olympic Park stop.


The Olympic symbol

The thumb!

Awesome autumn colors!

View while walking!

Gommal bridge!

Seoul Forest
Address: 685 Seongsu-dong 1(il)-ga, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea
From Olympic Park, using Line 5, I alighted at Wangsimni Station and took the Bundang Line (Korail) going to Seoul Forest. 

The sign!

I love empty bridge!

Couple spotted!

Trying out a selfie with nature!

Waiting to be seated.
Cool lake view!


Day 7: Nami Island
Address: 1 Namisum-gil, Namsan-myeon, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, South Korea
How to get there by bus: Gate 1 Namdaemun Market.
I took the bus without reservation. It leaves exactly at 9.30am. Roundtrip bus fare is 15000won and entry visa to the island is 8000won. 

beautiful gingko leaves


In full bloom!


I got here!


Leaves and leaves


I wanna grow old with you scene


Encounter with a Vietnamese girl


I only had a week and I had a slow paced tour but I truly enjoyed every moment in this city. I will really visit again. Maybe during winter season! Sarangheo Seoul, sarangheo fall! Till I set foot in your beautiful city again! In all honesty, I don't want to go home yet...if only! :)








Monday, November 6, 2017

Backpacking SEA - Last Part: Yogyakarta, Indonesia



As I have mentioned previously, I am skipping Singapore as we literally just passed by that progressive city. Though we visited Merlion and National Gallery of Singapore, we did not do much in that city.

To continue, we catch our next flight to Yogyakarta from Singapore. We stayed about two weeks in Indonesia. Our first stop was the special region of Yogyakarta. We found a very kind and friendly couchsurfing host who hosted us for about 6 days.

What to Do in Yogyakarta: There are many things to visit and try in Yogyakarta. Of course, it depends on your budget (which is always a concern) and also how long you will stay to visit places. In this article, I will only post those that we have visited.

1. Shopping and Bargaining at Malioboro Street

http://www.indonesia.travel/en/destination/point-of-interest/malioboro

2. Kalibiru National Park by Motorcycle

My amazing Indonesian friend drove us to Kalibiru by motorcycle!

At Kalibiru!

3. Underground Cave Tubing at Goa Pindul

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-Z_aNy6_FE8/maxresdefault.jpg

4. Trek Sri Gethuk Waterfall

Feeling free at the falls!

5. Riding the Manually operated Gondola at Timang Beach

The crazy gondola!

Yoga pose to calm my nerves after the ride!

6. Visiting the UNESCO heritage Borubudur

Finding an empty spot at the famous Borubudur.

7. Eat, eat and eat!

https://www.indoindians.com/10-must-try-dishes-from-yogyakarta/
      My friend and I really enjoyed this place! This is somewhere worth returning to. From Yogyakarta, we took a train to Banyuwangi, where we took the bus going to the ferry station to cross first to Lombok island before going to Bali, our last stop. Indonesia is a neighbor country that is very similar geographically and one worth visiting! Till next time Indonesia!