It's finally the last post of my Seoul travelogue! Can't believe i took like 5 months to complete it. That's an average of 1 post per month. Unknowingly it's my 3rd time to Korea, the country where a lot of people are planning and always wanted to visit because of the K-Pop and K-drama hype over the past few years. I got to witness snowfall for the very first time during my first trip in 2010. Then in 2013, i got to experience traveling to the outskirts of Korea and in 2014, i explored the rest of Seoul that i missed out during the first 2 trips. I wonder when will be the next time i visit Korea...
Before i go on this final post, here's a recap and link to the previous posts:
Basically our return flight is in the late night so technically we had the whole day to ourselves. At the same time, it wouldn't be advisable to travel far so i planned the itinerary such that we will explore nearby our hostel so we can easily return in the evening to collect our luggage and proceed to the airport. The final day would be just visiting N Seoul Tower and Myeondong and our hostel is directly right smack in the middle of these 2 places, walking distance! :D
Before i go on this final post, here's a recap and link to the previous posts:
- Travelogue Day 0: 안녕하세요 Seoul! Scoot, WIFI egg, AREX, Seoul tower Hostel and Black Hair Salon! (LINK)
- Travelogue Day 1: 안녕하세요 Seoul! Hongdae, Trickeye Museum, Ice Museum and Dongdaemun! (LINK)
- Travelogue Day 2: 안녕하세요 Seoul! Lotteworld and Myeongdong! (LINK)
- Travelogue Day 3: 안녕하세요 Seoul! Gyeongbokgung Palace, COEX Aquarium and Itaewon! (LINK)
- Travelogue Day 4: 안녕하세요 Seoul! All the way to Everland 에버랜드 via Yongin Ever Line! (LINK)
- Travelogue Day 5: 안녕하세요 Seoul! Myeongdong 명동, N Seoul Tower N 서울타워, Good Bye Korea.
Basically our return flight is in the late night so technically we had the whole day to ourselves. At the same time, it wouldn't be advisable to travel far so i planned the itinerary such that we will explore nearby our hostel so we can easily return in the evening to collect our luggage and proceed to the airport. The final day would be just visiting N Seoul Tower and Myeondong and our hostel is directly right smack in the middle of these 2 places, walking distance! :D
Woke up early to get the usual breakfast - Issac Toast! Throughout the whole 6 days trip, we practically had Issac toast for at least 4 days. The toast is that good and we simply couldn't bother to find other breakfast options, other than one of the days where we woke up late and had the Budae jjigae for "brunch" LOL Highly recommended for those who is staying at Myeondong. It's not expensive also, i think my ham, cheese and egg toast cost about $3? Definitely worth it!!!
Since it's Don first time to Korea, visiting the iconic N Seoul Tower (서울타워) is definitely a must. During my last trip to Korea, i had half a day to myself so i went all the way up the tower for the very first time. This time, i could easily navigate myself up without a map. *flicks hair If you are going there for the first time, this guide is pretty useful - LINK
Since it's Don first time to Korea, visiting the iconic N Seoul Tower (서울타워) is definitely a must. During my last trip to Korea, i had half a day to myself so i went all the way up the tower for the very first time. This time, i could easily navigate myself up without a map. *flicks hair If you are going there for the first time, this guide is pretty useful - LINK
There are a couple of ways you can get to the tower but the most common way would be via the cable car. Tickets cost about 6300 won for a round trip and it brings you to the bottom of the tower. If you are wondering whether to go further up the tower, i would say... don't bother. Save that 7000 won admission because the view below is just as good.
Most people would just pay for the cable car and remain at the bottom of the tower. The iconic N Seoul Tower has been featured in countless of K dramas and what most couples would be interested in would be attaching their love lockets ♥
Got myself a stick of Churros ♥
If you are one of those that intend to attach your very own love lock, i would suggest that you get one before hand from somewhere else because the ones that they sell there are overpriced. Then again, you don't put a price on love. And most people would still pay for it because the one store there is the only place that sells the locket! HAHAHHAHAHAHA
Other than locks, some people put key chains, fake diamond rings, even handphone cases. If you look closely, you realised some of them are not for their other half but to their favourite Kpop idol instead, lololol. #foreveralone I wonder if they clear lockets every once in awhile. Cannot be they just let the fence accumulate like forever right. O_O
Went to Myeondong to do our last minute shopping and spend away all our remaining Korean Wons! Myeondong is the place to get all the facial products like masks, BB creams and they are typically cheaper than in Singapore. Got myself some facial wash, hair products and facial cream! At Myeondong, you will also get to see posters and standees of Kpop idols everywhere as they endorse the products. The more famous ones during the period i went was Kim Soo Hyun, Jun Ji Hyun (mainly because of the hit drama - "My love from the star"), EXO and G Dragon. They are literally EVERYWHERE.
Come to think of it, Myeondong is like the Korean version of Taiwan's Ximending 西門町 where by they have all these facial brands, lots of street food and performances along the way. They have this famous "pipe" ice cream (I have no idea what's the exact term for it.) but what they do is stuff soft serve ice cream into this tube. Did not try it though...
Not forgetting my favourite egg bread (Gyeran bbang ,
In the midst of all the shopping and stuff, we came across an underground mart and literally went crazy buying all sorts of Korean snacks which cannot be found in Singapore. I grabbed an empty basket and dump all those interesting looking ones, my favourite Market O Real Brownie, a huge box of Choco pie and eventually paid about SGD$75 for everything - without considering whether there is space in my luggage. By the way, i hand carried all the food back. WORTH IT. LOL
Found a Budae jjigae 부대찌개 restaurant and decided to have it for our very last meal in Korea. Come to think of it, i seem to have never across Budae jjigae in Singapore. Anyone can recommend me a good one? I love how they mix all sort of random stuff (but they are mostly things that i eat) into this mild spicy soup base. It's like a steamboat, HAHA ♥
At around 4 plus, we went back to our hostel and dragged our luggage to the common area where we tried to re-packing everything and try fit in the last minute buys. I ended up with a huge bag pack, one filled to the brim luggage and one huge tote bag. It felt almost impossible to carry all our stuff and walk through all the crowd at the substation to take the airport express train to the airport so i suggested taking Airport bus 6015 instead. The Airport bus cost 10,000 won per trip and takes about 40 mins to travel from Myeondong to Incheon Airport. Much more convenient i would say. Phew
The thing i learnt while researching for this Korea trip would be to keep the VAT receipts for Tax refund. Basically if you spend more than 30,000 won at a participating retail store, you are eligible for tax refund (Participating stores are designated by the "Global Blue Tax Free" or "Global Tax Free" logo.) Trust me, it's super easy to hit 30,000 won (SGD$36) especially at those facial shops and branded store. Tip: Keep all the VAT refund receipt in a single envelope!!
Do cater time for tax refund as there can be a queue at the airport. At the airport, look for the tax refund counter and show the purchased goods to the customs officer (normally they won't check) and get the "All Goods Exported" endorsement on the refund receipt. After going through customs, proceed to the Refund Counter on the departures floor to get your cash refund. You probably can get quite a sum of money in return, then again... there is no where to spend already since you are already past the customs which explains the remaining Korean Won i'm left with now, Zzz.
I think i spent some of the "refunded" Korean Wons getting food on the plane. Took the Scoot return flight back to Singapore which includes a transit at Taipei. Eventually arrived in Singapore at about 5am+ in the morning. This marks the end of my 6 days Korea travelogue! If you came across my blog while researching for your upcoming Korea trip, i hope my travelogue is useful! Nevertheless, i hope you enjoyed reading my adventure in Korea! Till the next trip ♥
감사합니다,
