Spring Time in Korea - Part I

POSTED ON: Friday, March 25, 2016 @ 3:23 PM | 0 comments

So I completely forgot about documenting my trip to Australia last year. Dear oh dear. Hopefully I get around to doing that before I leave for Europe mid this year.

But for now, I'll leave you with a short 6-day post on my itinerary of Seoul, Korea. Especially since a few of my friends/colleagues have asked for my itinerary. In case you were wondering, this trip was with my mum, so it was basically a shopping and eating spree.

Day 1
Morning 8.05am flight with Singapore Airlines to Seoul Incheon Airport. The total flight time was approximately 6 hours and 20 minutes but SIA served a good brunch to make the flight seem a little shorter.


Upon arrival, we collected our wifi router at the counter (which we previously reserved online). My mum thought the router was a good idea since we could share the wifi and still have our Singapore SIM cards in our phones in case friends/family/colleagues needed to call us on our phones. I apparently beg to differ. The router's battery only lasted for about 5 hours so we had to charge it using a portable charger (which was obviously super slow), and everyone in the group sharing the router had to stick together. In the unfortunate event that anybody got separated from the group, he/she will not get any wifi. But the lack of long battery life still annoyed me most.

Took the Airport Limousine Bus #6015 from bus stop 12A at the first floor of the airport. For only 10,000 won per person, the limousine bus took us right to the doorstep of our hotel.
More information about Airport Limousine Buses HERE.


Stayed at Hotel Skypark Myeongdong III for all 5 nights. Very tiny room, barely enough space for both of us, but super duper convenient location since Myeongdong Shopping Street was just behind our hotel and the Myeongdong subway station was just in front of the hotel entrance.

Hotel Skypark Myeongdong III
139, Toegyo-ro, Jung-gu
Seoul, Korea
[Myeongdong Station, Subway Line 4, Exit #9]

Oh yes, one thing to note, the subway stations in Seoul have many exits. So I'll be including which exit to take for each attraction. It's really much easier that way than randomly exiting and trying to find your way around.

First dinner was definitely Korean BBQ! Read about this Wangbikib Korean BBQ online and since it was just behind our hotel, we had to try it.


Not a single bit disappointed. The side dishes were delicious and the meat was grilled to perfection. It was so good that my mum was determined to return to this same Korean BBQ restaurant again on our last day.

Wangbikib Korean BBQ
Seoul-si Jung-gu, Myeongdong 8 ga-gil
26, 2F
[Myeongdong Station, Subway Line 4, Exit #9
Go straight 50m, turn right at the first corner, continue straight 70m and turn left]

Day 2
Breakfast at Paris Baguette. They're found all over Seoul. Freshly baked goods and beverages served in cute little paper cups. I think we visited Paris Baguette at least thrice in our 6 days in Seoul.


Gyeongbokgung or "The Palace of Shining Happiness" early in the morning. The palace opens from 9am to 6pm (closed on Tuesdays), with changing of guards hourly from 10am to 3pm.



Most amused by the changing of guards and how they march around in circles.

[Gyeongbokgung Station, Subway Line 3, Exit #5]

We exited the palace through a side gate and walked towards Bukchon Village, Google maps is always extremely helpful overseas. Alternatively, you may take a train to Anguk Station, Subway Line 3, Exit #2 and walk straight for about 700m.



An old village filled with quaint little houses and shops for tourists to rent the traditional Korean costume, or Hanbok. 

Lunch at one of the little shops at Bukchon village. Quiet and charming shop but the ginseng chicken soup wasn't quite up to expectations. 



Insadong was just nearby so we followed our trusty Google maps and headed over too. Or you can also take the subway to Angkuk Station, Subway Line 3, Exit #6 and walk straight for 100m then turn left.
 

Pretty street lined with photo perfect trees, but nothing to buy. We were highly satisfied by the green tea desserts at O'sulloc Tea House though. Wanted to visit the same one at Myeongdong, near our hotel. But since we stumbled across one at Insadong, it was a great way to compensate for the not-so-satisfying lunch we had earlier. 


O'sulloc Tea House 
오설록티하우스 (Insadong branch 인사동점)
170 Gwanhun-dong,
Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

[Angkuk Station, Subway Line 3, Exit #6]

Dinner was random street food at Myeongdong shopping street. Overpriced but still yummy! The 32cm ice cream was on the top of my list of food to try in Seoul haha! 




Day 3
Thanks Nature Cafe for brunch. This sheep cafe is a must if you're an animal lover like I am. Even if you aren't, I'm sure you love the pair of fluffy white sheep circling around you at the cafe. 





The cafe was a little difficult to find, so do look out for this entrance and the cafe is just after the flight of stairs leading down. Food ain't fantastic but we thoroughly enjoyed the company of the pair of sheep! Worth a visit! 


486 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
[Hongik University Station, Subway Line 2, Exit #9]

Hongik University street for some shopping and Ewha Women's University Town for more shopping after we filled our tummies at the sheep cafe.

Ah yes, the very popular photo taking spots at Ewha Women's University. 

[Ewha Station, Subway Line 2, Exit #2]



Non-stop shopping and back to Myeongdong for dinner at night. Authentic kimchi stew, bunch of side dishes and an omelette. I am actually getting really hungry posting all these food pictures.

 

Stay tuned for the next post for my remaining 3 days in Seoul! 

Love, 
Lorraine 


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