Finally back with Day 4 of my Seoul travelogue. Come to think of it, it has been close to 4 months since i returned from Korea and i have still yet to complete my travelogue! Just one more post to go after this to conclude the trip. I thought i could have finished it last month during my one month break from work but damn. Recently i've been thinking where to go for my year-end trip but i can't seem to decide on a destination, maybe another beach vacation like last year? or maybe Taiwan since i missed the place and food so much. I kinda miss BKK too but BKK is like a place you can go anytime and you pretty much don't have to do any planning because there is only that few places you would want to go.
Day 4 is all about Everland themepark which i would say one of must visit places if you are planning an itinerary to Korea. Even though i have been to Korea a couple of times, i never had the chance to visit Everland so this time, i finally included it in my itinerary! I was really excited because i've seen Everland on various K variety shows like Running man and i always wanted to step into this famous themepark. In this trip, i went to both Lotteworld and Everland! YAY
Day 4 is all about Everland themepark which i would say one of must visit places if you are planning an itinerary to Korea. Even though i have been to Korea a couple of times, i never had the chance to visit Everland so this time, i finally included it in my itinerary! I was really excited because i've seen Everland on various K variety shows like Running man and i always wanted to step into this famous themepark. In this trip, i went to both Lotteworld and Everland! YAY
Woke up early and grabbed my all-time favourite breakfast from Issac toast which is just located near our hostel. If you ever come across Isaac toast in Korea, do give their toast a try! I always have their Ham & Cheese toast which comes with egg as well. SUPER AWESOME. I think i mentioned Issac toast in every single post of this travelogue. It's that nice!
While planning my itinerary, i read that i should be prepared to spend about 2 hours to travel all the way to Everland and 2 hours back. That's 4 hours of traveling in total oh my. Basically there are several ways you can get to Everland:
#1: Take Public Bus 5002 from Gangnam station. However, because this is a popular way to get to Everland, you can expect long queues and having to stand throughout the journey due to the limited seats on the bus. 2000 won ($2.50)
#2: Shuttle Bus from either Hongik Uni line, Myeondong line or Daehangno line. Refer to this LINK for the schedule and timings. The bus journey takes about 45 to 90 mins (due to the no. of stops) and cost 12,000 won ($15) for round trip.
#3: Yongin Ever Line. Take the subway to Giheung Station, and switch to Yongin Ever Line. 90 mins.
The thought of standing and squeezing throughout the whole +/- 60mins bus journey kinda daunts me so i decided to take Yongin Ever Line to Everland instead. I would say it's the most comfortable way to get to Everland as the Yongin Line is still new (the train was practically empty when i took it, lol) At Giheung Station, there will be directional signs to lead you to Yongin Line. It's like switching from the MRT line to LRT line in Singapore. Comfortable 90 mins journey :)
While planning my itinerary, i read that i should be prepared to spend about 2 hours to travel all the way to Everland and 2 hours back. That's 4 hours of traveling in total oh my. Basically there are several ways you can get to Everland:
#1: Take Public Bus 5002 from Gangnam station. However, because this is a popular way to get to Everland, you can expect long queues and having to stand throughout the journey due to the limited seats on the bus. 2000 won ($2.50)
#2: Shuttle Bus from either Hongik Uni line, Myeondong line or Daehangno line. Refer to this LINK for the schedule and timings. The bus journey takes about 45 to 90 mins (due to the no. of stops) and cost 12,000 won ($15) for round trip.
#3: Yongin Ever Line. Take the subway to Giheung Station, and switch to Yongin Ever Line. 90 mins.
The thought of standing and squeezing throughout the whole +/- 60mins bus journey kinda daunts me so i decided to take Yongin Ever Line to Everland instead. I would say it's the most comfortable way to get to Everland as the Yongin Line is still new (the train was practically empty when i took it, lol) At Giheung Station, there will be directional signs to lead you to Yongin Line. It's like switching from the MRT line to LRT line in Singapore. Comfortable 90 mins journey :)
Do note that after you alight at Everland Station. you have to cross the bridge to take a free shuttle bus at the bus interchange to Everland or Caribbean Bay. The bus journey takes only about 5-10 mins to reach Everland. Very nearby only. Entrance to Everland is 46,000 won for adults ($56) but do print out this discount coupon (CLICK HERE) to get your ticket at only 37,000 won ($45) Valid till 31 December 2014. You save 9,000 won/person, very worth it! #gooddeal :D
Every time i stepped into a themepark, i get this really 'magical' feeling, LOL It's like you are being transported to another world. Just like when i stepped into USS Singapore, i felt like i wasn't in Singapore but like somewhere overseas. If you get what i mean, HAHAHAHA Maybe it's because of the cleanliness and the music they play in the park!
Just near the entrance of Everland is this K-POP Store which sells official KPOP merchandise and they have this 2 photo booths inside which allows you to take a photo with either Big Bang, 2NE1 or PSY. Me and don literally spent 30 mins in the store trying to get the perfect shot before getting it printed out. Thank god the store was empty as we were hogging the photo machines, lolololol. Really like the end product of the photo! Seem pretty legit right! HAHAHHAHAA
Right beside the KPOP Store is the first attraction which is the K-POP Hologram Theater where you get to attend either Big Bang, 2NE1 or PSY concert by YG entertainment. The theater is able to accommodate 100 pax and each concert last for about 20 mins. It felt really like the artistes are really physically on the stage. Technology nowadays so li hai, LOL
Right beside the KPOP Store is the first attraction which is the K-POP Hologram Theater where you get to attend either Big Bang, 2NE1 or PSY concert by YG entertainment. The theater is able to accommodate 100 pax and each concert last for about 20 mins. It felt really like the artistes are really physically on the stage. Technology nowadays so li hai, LOL
Everland is divided into different areas so we decided to start with Zoo-topia instead of going for those thrilling rides just in case. Went through the zoo and saw a lot of cute animals. I'm a huge fan of zoos and i can stare at the animals for the longest time. So fascinated that there are animals like these out there free in the wild. Then again, it's quite sad that those at the zoo have to be in their enclosures for the rest of their lives. I wonder if they are happy... Oh wells.
LOOK AT THOSE CUTE PAWS OF THOSE LION CUBS! ♥ ♥ ♥
Queued up for this ride without knowing what it was and it ended up being a water boat ride. The ride is called 'Amazon Express' where you take this boat through a 580 meter long jungle. The current was so strong that it splashed onto our 'boat' and my shoes got wet! This auntie beside me was screaming in Cantonese throughout the ride, super hilarious!!!
The next ride we queued for was the "Safari World" where we take this bus into the natural habitats of the wild animals. The animals were roaming freely while we are in this bus. It becomes like we are in the enclosure while the animals view us. LOL We got really close to some animals, some of them just directly beside us. I think they are used to the bus already coming to disturb them every now and then, most of them don't really seem to care what's going on, heck care.
Even though the animals are allowed to roam freely, they are still divided into different zones by these metal cages. Obviously you can't put the lions or tigers with the deers what. I don't think they will be able to live together so peacefully. You will probably see lesser and lesser deers. HAHHAHA The white tigers are really majestic. So pretty ♥.♥
There were couple of times when the bus had to stop because animals were crossing the path. The first time was because of this giraffe and we had to wait for it to slowly cross the road before we can move on. Another giraffe came right beside our bus and was able to stick its head into the bus to look for food. What a close encounter for everyone! It's not everyday you get to be face to face with a real life giraffe. Our guide eventually fed it some leaves to munch on!
Another encounter was with a huge brown bear! It stood up and lean against the bus and asked for food from the driver. I think it's a routine that the bus will stop around the area and the bear will auto come and ask for food. The bear was HUGE when it stood up! Definitely taller than me. Another close encounter. Bears can be really scary but cute at times.
Theme parks always make you go through their stores before exiting the ride so you will be tempted to get a souvenir, like a soft toy or something which you might want but do not need at all. Was so tempted to get something but i quickly got out of the store. HAHAHA After exploring the whole of Zoo-topia for close to 2 hours, we decided to have lunch! :D
My average cheese pork cutlet set with udon. Not very nice and expensive. Meh
After lunch, we rest awhile and finally decided to start on the thrilling rides. Honestly, i'm not a fan of roller coasters and high element rides because of my phobia of heights but since i'm already there, i decided to go for it. Wanted to start with a less thrilling ride and we came across this roller coaster "Rolling X-train" From the outside, it seem pretty harmless but what i didn't realize is that the front building of the attraction is blocking the 2 loops behind it -_- There was no queue and there was no time to think so we got on the ride. 2 huge 360 degrees loop and 2 of those 'rolls' that overturns the roller coaster for a moment. Wo de tian ah. After the ride, i felt like i could go on any other rides. LOLOL
Took the sky ride to the other area of the themepark and caught a glimpse of the most famous ride in Everland - The T Express. The steepest wooden roller coaster in the world. Even on the sky ride, you can still hear people screaming on that ride. Just by looking at the steepness of the roller coaster is enough to freak me out. I have never once thought of going on that ride. Forget what i said previous about being able to go on any ride after that previous roller coaster. LOL
Other than the sky ride, there is also a cable car inside the theme park which brings you to another part of the park!
Inside Everland is also this famous Four Seasons Garden which is decorated with beautiful flowers arranged like a French garden. The garden is surrounded by architecture, the gardens are the stage for seasonal flower festivals (Tulips from April to June, Lilies from July to August, and Chrysanthemums from September to October) If i remembered correctly, it was Rose display during the period i went there! Spent a good 20 mins at the garden away from all the exciting rides :D
Not forgetting to take a couple of selfies! ♥
Saw the Ferris wheel from faraway and wanted to take a ride on it thinking i can get a good view of the whole themepark but after navigating myself to the Ferris wheel using the map, i then realized it's not an actual ride. #FML
Bought myself a soft serve ice cream along the way. #happyboy
Basically after the Zoo-topia. there wasn't a plan on we will 'conquer' all the rides in Everland. We just went on whatever ride that we come across. Towards the end, we found a flume ride and decided to go on it. Anyway we went on a week day and there wasn't much of a queue for most of the ride. At the most i think we waited 10 mins? Lucky us.
When we finished most of the ride, we were pretty tired and suddenly my mind was on the T Express. Me and don was like thinking, we came all the way here. Are we going to just give the most famous ride a miss. I kept psycho-ing myself that the ride will be over in a few minutes and we should totally give it a try. After like 20 mins, we finally decided pluck up our courage and queue for it. Not the easiest decision to make because both of us are scared of heights. LOL If you watch the recent episode of Running Man, i think episode 211, you will know that Yoojaesuk and Sungjae went onto the T-express and you can see how steep the first drop is and even before you recover from the first drop, it's time for the second drop. Wo de tian ah. Anyway, we decided to go for the ride and have a ride of our lifetime. HAHAHAHAHA
This is officially one of the scariest ride i have ever took in my life. Damn scary omfgzombbq 吓死我
End up after the T-express ride, we decided to wait for the 'Moonlight parade' parade featuring floats and performers decorated with lots of lights. They literally turn off most of the lights in the themepark when the parade started. It was such a happy feeling with everyone dancing along the street! After which we headed for the "Dream of Laciun fireworks show" at 8.40pm, having our dinner while waiting to start. The day ended with us taking the free shuttle bus back to the station to take the Yongin Ever Line back, another close to 2 hours journey all the way back to Myeondong. Oh wells...
photo credit to http://nkikichua.blogspot.sg
At Giheung station, we had to tap out from the Yongin Line and switched back to the main line to get back to Myeondong. We then realised our T-money card was out of credit and the stupid top up machine somehow refuse to accept our notes. In other words, we were stuck at the station and there was no one to turn to because the station was empty. I then realised the gantry was open and it will remain open for passengers to cross when they tap their T-money. It will close only when the sensor sense that someone is trying to get through within paying. So i decided to do the bravest thing and just zoom past the gantry before the gantry closes and somehow, i managed to get in. MUAHAHA I know it's not the most ethical thing to do but that is probably the only thing we can do at that point of time.
Anyway when we arrived back at Myeongdong, we couldn't tap out because technically we did not tap in in the first place. So we act blurred and was directed to the top up machine (which finally accepts notes!) and topped up credit into our T-money card and tapped out of the gantry. So we did pay our fares in the end! What a "Mini adventure" we had in foreign land. LOL That's all for Day 4 post at Everland. One last day before departing back for Singapore in the night!
