South Korea Day 1

Annyeong Haseyo!!!

Today is Sunday - February 12, 2012 now in Myeong-dong Seoul, South Korea!

We had our breakfast at the basement of the guesthouse, you can get the Ramen at the reception. The basement has two computers with internet, a telephone that you can use to call abroad (free for 5 minutes), there's coffee, bread and jams, there's a fridge, a stove, a microwave, oven, iron and water dispenser, and even weighing scale for your luggage.

The luggage area is also located at the basement, you can leave your luggage before you check in or after you check out the guesthouse.

Done with the breakfast, the adventure starts now!

T-Money

In our itinerary, we should buy the T-Money card at the airport but we forgot ^^ On our way to our first destination we saw a "Family Mart", we buy our T-money for 2,500won and charge/load of 10,000won.




Myeong-dong Cathedral

What a cold Sunday morning! Let's start the day with a prayer at "Myeong-dong Cathedral", just near in Namsan Guesthouse.

Directions: 

Myeong-dong Subway Station, Exit 8 or 5

Walk along Toegyero-gil St. for about 300m and turn right at the intersection

Walk along Myeongdong gil st. for 100m to the Catholic Center

Walk up along the center.

We ask a Korean on the street for the directions, she's so kind that even draw the way to the cathedral. 

They have English mass for 7:00 - 10:00am, we missed the English mass, no choice but to attend the Korean Mass. ^^

If you're into Korean Dramas, you know this place in the drama "He's Beautiful" or "Minamishineyo"  a scene was shot here near the cathedral.

Minam near Myeong-dong Cathedral

Namdaemun Market

This was not supposed to be the next stop, but due to cold weather we have to go here to buy some winter battle gears! ^^

I bought a beanie (10,000won), scarf (15,000won), earmuffs (5,000won) and gloves (2,000won), complete winter battle gears! Ready to fight the cold weather!

Bukchon Hanok Village

This next destination is for my oppa "Lee MinHo", Korean Drama "Personal Taste" or Kaeinui Chwihyang. "Sanggojae" located in Bukchon Hanok Village was one of the main filming location of this drama. We got lost finding this particular hanok, we came across to this American man who was also assisting some tourists, this man understand and can speak Korean very well, he ask the tourist assistant located in Bukchon (who knows English too), which we did not see the  first time we roam to that area. Finally after a twist and turn, we reach the "Sanggojae" or Park Gae In house in the drama. I was so happy to see it, I can imagine that Lee MinHo has been here in front of this hanok ^^ How I wish we can go inside ^^ but this is a private hanok and cannot be visited. So all we can do is take pictures outside this hanok, it is fun anyways ^^ (for the love of Lee MinHo - always a fan girl ^^)

Lee MinHo at Sanggojae

Direction:

Anguk Station (Line 3), Exit 2

Go straight for about 300m to arrive at Bukchon Hanok Village

I love the Hanok Village, beautiful structures of traditional house! There are lots of tourist here, there are special spot/angle to take good photos here in Bukchon Hanok Village. It was so funny that we were taking pictures in front of someone's residential house ^^

Changdeokgung Palace

This next destination is one of the Four Palaces, it is near Bukchon Hanok Village. We paid 3,000won for the entrance ticket. A lot of "group tours" were here, you can see outside their Tour Bus. Changdeokgung Palace is a huge palace! I'm so amazed of it's architectures and designs, this Palace was so enchanting! I am currently watching the new Korean Drama "The Moon That Embraces The Sun", for me seeing a real palace is a great experience, imagine the King walk to that Palace!  The "Secret Garden" was also located in this Palace, but you need to be on a tour group in order to enter the garden.

did the KING sit here?

snow? 

After touring the palace, we go back to the guesthouse and take some rest, next destination is N Seoul Tower which is near to our guesthouse^^

N Seoul Tower

We can see the Tower already in our place (Namsan Guesthouse 3), if you are a Korean Drama addict (like me) you already seen this Tower several times in the Kdramas like "Boys Over Flower", "My Name is Kim Sam Soon", "Princess Hours", "Can't Lose" and more.

We ride the Namsan Cable Car that cost 8,000won for a round trip ticket. 

Reaching the N Seoul Tower with a very cold weather!. After taking some pics of the tower we buy tickets for the Observatory Deck and Teddy Bear Museum that cost 14,000won. 

Teddy Bear Museum

I want to visit this museum because of the Korean Drama "Princess Hours" but the museum that was shot in the drama was located in Jeju Island, but still I love this museum with lots of teddy bears, so cute!!! ^^

Observatory Deck

To view the beauty of Seoul visit the "Observatory Deck" of N Seoul Tower specially at night.

Beautiful Seoul

Love Message Block

Love Locks

After viewing the beauty of Seoul, we go down to see the Love locks, there are really lots of locks in there, as in lots!!!! 

N Seoul Tower is a must visit in Seoul, ride the Namsan cable car or a bus to get to this place. It was an amazing experiencing seeing this "TOWER", I've only seen this before on Korean Dramas, I remember the scene from "Boys Over Flower" when "Jun Pyo" waited for "Jan Di" here at N Seoul Tower and he was freezing!!! Now I was here, awwww so lovely place! I Love KOREA!!! ^^

Myeong-dong Shopping Area

Very near to our guesthouse is Myeong-dong shopping area, we will always be here (I guess), it's just few minutes away and there are really lots and lots of things that can be bought here from cosmetics, clothing's, foods, accessories, etc.

dukbokki (spicy)

That's it for Day 1, enjoying my stay here! ^_^