Discovering Seoul ~ Nat'l Folk Museum & a "Rainy" Night

October 13, Friday

Friday the 13th was the day when 2 of our friends arrived from Manila. Their flight's arrival was in the afternoon. So the whole morning until mid afternoon we were touring the National Folk Museum and took the City Tour Bus to go around Seoul (we know where to find the stop this time).

See the sky? Beautiful autumn blue sky greeted us
when we went out and waited for the city tour bus
to arrive in front Changdeokgung Palace.

This time since we already know where to get the bus for the city tour, it only took us a few minutes to arrive at the bus stop. Btw, remember the very long walk after we had our very late dinner? We discovered on our way to the bus stop that we could have taken 5 minutes walks instead of another 20-30 minutes. Sigh...anyway we're new here...we are tourists ^^

Won't give much details anymore on the following photos. First set is at National Folk Museum of Korea.









One of the kid (the one in red jacket and doing the v-sign) in the above photo approached us on our way out of the museum. She said "hi" and "hello" to us. Actually, these kids have been looking at us since we arrived the building of the museum. Rica said that they've been waiting until we got out of the museum. The cute kid asked where we are from and from there she talked to us a lot in English since she's half korean half american but grew up in Korea.

During our stay in S Korea, group of kids and high school especially on tour, would say hi or hello to us. We think that they're fascinated with English speaking Asians and would like to really try to converse with us in English. Since we all love kids, we would talk to them (even with boys and high school kids). They're so cute and would really say whatever English words they know. The most popular phrases are hi and hello. Others would say, "how are you?", "welcome", "pretty", "sorry" ^^ they're really cute.

Before we left the museum, we asked them to pose with us for a souvenir photo and their teacher (we guess) the guy on the extreme right on the phone, even posed with us.

After the tour at the National Folk Museum, we then went to Deoksugung.










After this palace tour we than took the bus and tour for about 2 hrs Seoul without alighting the bus anymore since we have to meet our friends arriving in a few hours at the guesthouse for a "Rainy" night.

***

Rain's Comeback Concert at Jamsil Olympics Stadium

When we arrived at SeBP, our friends were not there yet. So we just decided to rest and prepare for the upcoming concert of Rain.

After a few hours Leah and Bambie arrived. Few more hours we then left the guesthouse took the subway to Jamsil station.

Bambie and I inside the train.

The area designated for Cloud Korea and Japan. This area was
jampacked during the concert. I learned that the Japanese
had a special package tour for this event.

The mini concert of Rain was grand and beautiful. A new group, Paran, was his front act. It was my first time seeing Rain do a live performance. But my friends (all of them) are Rain fans, have seen Rain in Bangkok and Hong Kong.

Rain is sexy and good. He's now sporting a new hair, which is short and that he looks much younger in its. His production number were full of great effects. It's like watching a movie. He sang songs from his new album and few songs from his Rainy Day album. The concert lasted for 1 hour.

After the concert and having our usual souvenir photo in front of the stadium, a report introduced himself to us and said that he's from An An magazine. He wanted to interview us for his article about Rain. Geez, who wouldn't want to be interviewed? He asked us about our opinion on the concert, how we got to know Rain, what if he does a concert in our country and a few more which i forgot. After the interview we even gave him dried mangoes from our country.^^

Below are some candid shots of the interview.


After that very short interview we then went to KFC to meet our Fil-Korean friend, Jen and a Korean friend Raina (who used to work with BYJ. She's a Rain fan now but she still supports him. According to her BYJ is a real nice person).

It was a cold Friday the 13th. Not much activities but it was fun. The night ended having late dinner once again with ice cream. (",(",)

Discovering Seoul ~ Which Way to Go?

October 12 ~ Thursday

What to do on your first day in a foreign country?

Since 2 of our friends will be coming the following day. We decided to explore first the tourist spots near our place. But since we are all first timer, finding our way to the nearest exit and deciphering the map already took so much of our time.

Our first stop was Changdeokgung Palace. But when we went inside to purchase our ticket we learned that the English tour is not available on Thursday. So we then decided to postpone going to this palace and decided to go instead on a hop on hop off tour (Seoul City bus tour). Since we don’t know yet the area our feet brought us to Insadong to look for the nearest Tourist Information Center (TIC). We (4 of us, one at a time) asked the staff where the nearest bus station for the city tour and all she saidto us "It's just behind the gray fence” (where a construction at the corner of the street is on going). We kept on looking for the sign for about an hour and there was no bus station sign. Until we finally gave up and decided to take a walk farther. About a 100m away from the TIC, is where we found the bus station we were looking for.

Whew! Finally!

But then since it was already mid afternoon and touring the downtown or palaces will take lots of times, we decided to postponed it and instead went to Insadong which is only 100m away from where we were standing. So off we all went to Insadong to do little shopping and took a rest at the nearest McDonald’s ^^

Insadong is a nice place with full of souvenir items and lots of people. I love its small street, cute little stores and its pavement. The few phrases that we know such as “annyonghaseyo”, “kamsahamnida” and “eolmameyo?” had been practiced pretty well in Insadong.

Not much people yet at the street of Insadong

Beautiful wooden big masks decord at the street of Insadong

assorted wooden mask display

Rica looks so cute here. She tried on a hat that has
the same color as her jacket.

another rare photo of us together. taken by a stall owner who
mistakenly thought that i'm korean ^^

sisters, rica and anne

this stall caught our attention bec of the speil that they have
when doing the wrapping of the sweet candy. from a dough they
can make thousands of strands. their speil has japanese and
english which really attracks the attention of tourists.

Btw, in Insadong, there were some Koreans who mistakenly though that I'm Korean ^^.

After Insadong, we then decided to have the Night Tour. But since we didn't know where we were at, we again relied to the bettle map the TIC provided and looked for the “nearest” Seoul City Tour Bus Station. Geez, it was really a long long walk from Insadong.

But despite the long walk to our destination, we still have the strength to pose and shoot some photos of us ^^ until we reach the bus stop that we are looking for.

Honestly, up to now I keep on forgetting to ask my friends where we’ve seen that “nearest” station ^^ But I think it’s somewhere in Jongno-ga. Finally, we where there, hopped on the bus and enjoyed the ride for about 2 hours.

The bus made a stop over at Namsan. Everyone in the bus got off, few went up to Namsan Tower but we decided to stay and comeback another day when there’ll be more time to explore Namsan. So for 20 minutes this is all what we did…took photos ^^




After the night tour, we alighted the bus which i don't know whatstation. Despite the pain that we were feeling in our legs and feet because of too much walking for the whole day, we still found time to pose for some souvenir photos at this place.

i love the marble theme of this pass

we thought that this is a chirstmas tree and it's not

well, Rica is not a KSW fan but just of the fun of it posed for this one

After 2 hours or so, we decided to head back to the guesthouse.

We were supposed to take the subway (our very first time). But when we were looking at the neighborhood map a man approached us and offered to help us find our way. We were so happy when this man offered help and told us that SeBP is only 15 minutes walk from where we are. Again, off we go, took the underpass, walk…walk…walk…until finally we realized that the 15 minutes walk is about to turn to 50 minutes walk. Huh! Whew! And Phew! Gosh our feet and legs are killing us already. When we finally reached Anguk station we found a place to eat and rest our sore legs and feet.

We sat, ordered (the never ending kimbap and bibimbap and another one which we didn't take photo anymore), ravished our food, rest for a while, studied the map once again, paid our bills then left.

After eating and had rested for a short time, we left restaurant, took the underpass to cross the street (you should have seen us going down the stairs) and last stairs going up to the main road, we were like huffing and puffing and practically dragging or feet and legs. And this is only our first day! Geez, that man duped us…15 minutes by walking! It took us 1 hour! From the restaurant to the guesthouse it took us another 15 to 20 minutes of walking (until we discovered something the following day).

That was day one adventure …discovering our way in Seoul.

Instantly Charmed by Seoul

Finally my dream of setting my footprints in South Korea came true.

With her beautiful weather, great historical places, wide roads, smoke-belch free vehicles, beautiful people with great fashion sense I’m totally charmed by Seoul.

Honestly I never thought that I would ever go to Korea. About 4 years ago, I only thought of traveling to Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, China, Australia and US. Never in my imagination had I dreamt of going to Korea until I got hooked to k-dramas and k-pop. What k-drama got me hooked? You’re absolutely correct, Winter Love Song. And who’s the k-pop singer? Se7en ^^

I’ve done 2 trips this year. Amongst these trips, this trip to Korea is the best. I love the weather, the food, the children who gets awed whenever they hear us speak in English, and the Korean people who recognized us as Filipino by our language and the cute little guesthouse where we stayed for 10 nights 9 days.

Like what i have written earlier, my interest in Korea started while watching Winter Sonata which starred no other than but my no. 1 korean man Bae Yong Joon [read more about him in my blog which is dedicated to him].

A little about 4 years ago, I only had a very little knowledge about Korea. Few that i can remember are: their boxers are known head butters, the people love spicy food, and that during the one Olympics the north and south Korea Olympians marched together in the oval.

See? That's how I was uninterested in Korean then. But now? Geez, it's so funny that I even want to learn their language and culture. What is even ironic is that, I’m not only interested in entertainment news but as well as weather and politics. Isn't it amazing how one drama and a famous actor can lead me to be so much interested in Korea now?

Well honestly, some laugh at me and some are amazed on how I talk much about Korea, its people and culture. And from these people who I talked to, they only have one thing to say, they admire how the South Koreans were able to place their country in the rapid economy race in the world. The South Koreans advanced technology and digitally-connected country have helped them to be amongst the global leader in digital games, displays and phones.

Put aside the digital thingy, I think that the Hallyu Wave has put South Korea in the tourist map. Agree? I bet you do! Because this is how my 10-days and 9-nights vacation with my 6 friends with common denominator started.

First Night in Seoul

I arrived at Incheon Airport (via Cathay) 15 minutes ahead of my friends who took the PAL flight. We agreed to meet at the immigration area. I was surprised to see Incheon with only few people at the counter [well actually after alighting the plane I went to the washroom and probably most passengers have already been cleared…but still not that quite a busy airport]. After waiting for a few minutes my friends, Rica, Anne, Elle and Nimfa arrived. Then we did the usual stuff upon arrival.

4 of 7 buddies…all first-timer in S Korea.
Rica was the one taking the photo.

At 9pm our pickup service from Seoul Backpackers Guesthouse (SeBP) will be at the Bus No. 5 waiting area. Two of our friends, Elle and Anne will take the Airport Bus and will just meet them at the guesthouse. So off we go to Bus No. 5 waiting area.

When we set our foot at the door to go out to meet our pick-up, we were greeted by cool air. Oh, I love how the wind hugged and welcomed me to S Korea. Only a few minutes of waiting a tall guy approached us and he happened to be the staff from SeBP. His name is Jong [cute and nice fella] and whew, he speaks English. After a few introductions we then walked to the parking area. Btw, he might have been a little worried when he saw our big sets of luggage. But when he stuffed everything at the back of the van, all bags perfectly fit the van. Geez, but we all guessed the he might have hurt his arms carrying all our heavy suitcases. Poor Jong.

Seeing Seoul for the very first time, at night time, upon our arrival, I was really awed. With its huge highways, road structures, flyovers, bridges and still many vehicles on the road I was like “ohs” and “ahs” for about 1 hour from Incheon Airport. I love to try driving around Seou (hope to fulfill this dream ^^). All the way to SeBP, Jong must have been listening to us because I sometimes would see him smile. He must have been thinking that these Filipinas are crazy.

After an hour of ohs and ahs, we finally arrived at Seoul Backpackers. A cute little homey guesthouse near Insadong which is run by Mr Han with help from Jong, Min, Sang Min, Sang and the very very cute KC.

I’ve been mentioning Seoul Backpackers. Where is Seoul Backpackers Hostel?

Seoul Backpackers Hostel
30-1, Iksun-dong, Jongno-gu
Seoul, Korea

Tel. No. =82.2.3672 to 1972

Homepage : www.seoulbackpackers.com

The building with the yellow signage is SeBP.
The big van is the one that was used to pick us up
at the airport.

Ok, before I continue to go on with my story, let me tell you first a little about SeBP’s location. It’s a walking distance from 3 palaces namely Unghyeongung Palace where some scenes in Goong (Princess Hours) were shot (check episode 3), Changdeokgung Palance and Changgyeonggung Palace. It’s also very near the Japanese Embassy, Insadong market and few meters walk to Anguk station.

For breakfast from 8 to 9:30am, they serve (at the kitchen) toast, butter, jam, peanut butter and macaroni salad (I miss the salad which I believe is being prepared by Min). The kitchen every morning is always full of guests from different countries. It’s actually the time to get to know the other guests in the house.

SeBP's living room

cute decorations on top of the fireplace

shoeshelf at the entrance and beside it are brochures
and public pay phones

computer area that can be accessed 24 hours daily
except weekends

cute decor at the hallway of 2nd floor.
i hope that they'll relocate that fire extinguisher ^^

another cute set-up at the middle of the stairs
to the 2nd floor.

view of the stairs from the 2nd floor

wall decorations at the hallway of the 2nd floor

decoration at the wall in the entrance of our room

Hee, btw, I mentioned very very cute KC. Who the hell is KC? This is KC ~

I think KC knows that i love dogs. On the 2nd day of our stay, he would go to me for greetings, go to the entrance and fetch a slipper, he will then bring it to me and i would get it from him and throw for him to fetch again. He would do that until we leave the guesthouse or one of the staff stops him. Btw, we can't talk to KC in english so he have to learn few korean words just for him like "iriwa". Of course we can use too him words that we picked up from dramas like "anjo", "kah" and "annyeong kshie" ^^.

After settling our stuff and a few picture taking inside our room, at around 11pm we then decided to have a very late dinner. Oh btw, when we arrived at SeBP we were greeted by Min [another young staff of SeBP] and helped Jong bring our bags inside. But it was Jong again who brought our entire luggage all the way to the 2nd floor.

the very few photos that we are all together.

l-r : me, rica, anne, nimfa & elle

We found a small place to eat along Jongno 3-ga. There were several police officers eating so we thought that the food must be good there. Btw, while looking for a place to eat, we saw many tents along the street with many patrons. One of us said, “It’s for real, it’s not only in the drama.” Hee, I guess most of you would know the feeling when seeing the real thing than in the tube.

Because we are too hungry we forgot to take a photo of the bibimbap and only took a shot of the kimbap.


This is the place where we had our very late dinner.


A little over 1am we were back at the guesthouse, we took a bath/shower, arranged our schedule for tomorrow, then had our first good night sleep in Seoul. I’m pretty sure that every one of us slept with cute little smile on our face thinking that in the next few hours; little by little we will be discovering Seoul.

Day one will be next ^^