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South Korea 2014: Day 1 - Namsangol Hanok Village, Express Bus Terminal, Viva Polo

Annyeong Haseyo!

We had an early flight from Manila to Seoul at 2:25 in the morning, our estimated time of arrival is 7:25am in Incheon International Airport, a total of 4 hours travel time. There is time difference between Manila and Seoul, the latter is 1 hour ahead.

Incheon International Airport


We arrived in Namsan Guesthouse 3 at 10:30am, we only leave our luggage and get back around 2pm for their check in time.

How to reach Namsan Guesthouse 3 from Incheon Airport:

By subway:
You can choose between "All Stop" or "Express"(non-stop)
Get off at Seoul Station, then transfer to blue line and get off at Myeongdong Station
Take exit 3.
*Express (non-stop) has a promo price of 8,000 won until December of this year, original fare is 14,000 won.

By Airport Bus:
Take Airport Limousine Bus 6015 at the Incheon airport 5B or 12A bus stops, and get off at the Sejong Hotel (The last stop). Then go straight 170M and there is Myeongdong station Exit No.8. From here, you will find a crosswalk after cross the road,   please turn right and go straight 30M. There is Y intersection with Pacific Hotel on your left. Please go straight up to right side road (way to Namsan cable car) about 150M , You can see GS25, Family mart and Namsan guest house (cr: to Namsan Guesthouse 3 website).



Day 1 at Myeongdong


Day 1 with LMH ♥



NAMSANGOL HANOK VILLAGE
Address:
28, Toegye-ro 34-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

서울특별시 중구 퇴계로34길 28 (필동2가) 일대



How to get here:
From Myeongdong Station take line 3&4 and get off to Chungmuro Station, Exit 4.
Admission fee: FREE (Closed every Tuesday)

This place is also known as "A Village of Traditional Houses in the Namsan Valley".


From here you can also see Namsan Tower.


This village have 5 restored traditional Korean houses, recovered from different parts of the city and relocated to the northern foot of Namsan mountain. The interiors of each of these five houses reflect owners from different walks of life, from the middle class to the yangban (who were mainly high government officials, noblemen and aristocrats).




Visitors can participate in traditional Korean activities such as archery and enjoy traditional Korean performances as well. A Korean wedding ceremony reenactments take place every weekend.There is also Taekwondo experience program for foreigners held at 11am 2pm, and 5pm during Wednesday and Saturday.


Aside from traditional houses, you can also see ponds and pavilion, you can really enjoy some time walking.



The Pavilion


And at the back of this village, you can see "The Time Capsule", it was buried in 1994 commemorating Seoul's 600 year anniversary and is scheduled to be reopened after 400 years!

Time Capsule

We only spent some hours here, still tired due to lack of sleep from early flight, and the weather is also hot that we just want to get some rest.




EXPRESS BUS TERMINAL UNDERGROUND SHOPPING MALL

A bit tired but we still decided to visit Express Bus Terminal Station for the underground shopping mall! We just stroll a bit, for newest fashion and affordable clothing, accessories, shoes, bags, etc you can find it here.
How to get here:
Take Seoul Subway Line 3, 7, 9 (take exit 1 or 2)


This place is shopping haven, of course for "us girls" , there are widely selections of new trends clothing ranges from 5,000 KRW and above. You can also find shoes and bags starting from 5,000 KRW - up.


After strolling the underground mall we head to Viva Polo for dinner!

VIVA POLO
Pizza and Pasta
1631 Yangjaedae-ro, Myeongil-dong, Gangdong-gu, Seoul
(서울 강동구 양재대로 1631)



Viva Polo is an Italian restaurant owned by Park Chanyeol's(EXO) Mother. I'm sure Kpop lovers/ EXOtics (EXO fandom name) is familiar to this restaurant.

EXO's Park Chanyeol

EXO



How to get here: (cr. to Manager Hyung)
Take Seoul Subway Line 5, and get off to Myeongil Station, exit 1


 Yes this place is so easy to find!

One of the reasons I include this place to our itinerary is because I've been watching "Roommate" and Chanyeol is one of the them, I find him really cute and funny! The fact that EXO is so popular who wouldn't want to go here and of course we wanted to eat Pasta! ^_^




My niece really really REALLY like Park Chanyeol, I asked her to write a letter and we'll make sure that it'll be posted in Viva Polo and she really did her best to write a letter in Hangul (Korean)!

packed with girls, girls, girls


Viva Polo is a franchise restaurant only, what makes this branch different is the overload pictures of CHANYEOL (recent and childhood pix) and letters from fans!

Hall of Chanyeol

We are not surprise when we arrived that customers of Viva Polo were all girls! What makes us curious is when they keep looking on the corner (this section is like for VIP only) and when we catch a glimpse of the person inside it's none other than PARK CHANYEOL! Lucky day for me and my dongsaeng! DAEBAK!
                                                                                 Chanyeol~ah


We ordered pizza and carbonara, when Chanyeol went outside, I was really starstruck! I have never imagined that he is so handsome! He is tall, fair complexion, wearing plaid polo, glasses and snapback! Yey~EXO!

 
OVERDOSE w/ CHANYEOL >.<

Amazing dinner!!! We are still feeling great for seeing Chanyeol! Soooooo happy!!! ^_^ 
Well we end the day with a BIG SMILE ^_____^

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