My Travel Diary - Korea 2010

8 Days Autumn in Korea 19th Oct 2010 to 26th Oct 2010 - Seoul & Jeju

Day 1: This is my first time going Korea and its Autumn!!! Going with Huijun, May and their Mum. Spent a night at Korean Airline.

Day 2 Wednesday 20th Oct: I reached Seoul at early morning and we spent the morning touring Seoul before taking domestic flight to Jeju. During the morning tour at Seoul, i went to Kyeongbok Palace, went pass Presidential Blue House and to Shinheungsa Temple and also went to learn kimchi making at Dae Jang Guem Kinchi School.One teaspoon of kinchi gravy is equal to 4 bottles of Yakult!! Good for digestion and heard that Korea is the only country that is not affected by SARS and has very low cancer rate. All this might be due to Kimchi??  At the DIY kimchi making, we tried the Ginseng milk and also worn Hanbok costume. For lunch, i had Ginseng Chicken Soup.

At afternoon, we reached Jeju Island. I visited the Mysterious Road and had some snacks there along the roadside. Next i went to Yongduam Rock where there's a stone that looks like a dragon head. For dinner, i had seafood steamboat. Stayed at Jeju Hanwah Resort. Aircondition has been switch off for the whole resort. Basically you don't need to switch air-con as the weather is cooling.

Lunch - Ginseng Chicken Soup





Mysterious Road Side Snacks



Dinner - Seafood Steamboat



Day 3 Thursday 21 Oct: We had breakfast at the resort. Korean Pork BBQ for lunch and Bibimbap for dinner. Today trip will be to Songsun Sunrise Peak (an extinct volcanic crater) at the eastern tip of Jeju Island. The wind is so strong and cold there. You can either climb up to see the view or downwards to see the "Hai Nu" or lady divers and they do not need to wear oxgen tank when diving in to search for abalones.  One abalone is about SGD 10.00.

Abalones and Top Shells

Lady Divers

Next we went to Songup Folk Village where you can still see traditional houses. The villagers there work and share equally the profits they earn. Its a special village where tax is exempted. The children there are given free education until a certain age. They are famous for their horses. They sell horses' bones (the bones are manufactured like tiny biscuits) and "five taste drink" Wu Wei Zi...mainly sour, sweet, spicy, salty and bitter. Each individual tastes differently when they drink. For me, i taste sweet and follow by sour.

Their "live" honey when put inside water, forms a beehive shapes. It will not dissolve in water but to scope and eat as it is. Its best taken before drinking alcoholic drinks.

Next is the Chonjiyon Waterfall. Legend is that 7 fairies went down to have bath at this waterfall and one of the fairy's clothing was taken away by a man who later married the fairy. At Teddy Bear Museum, you can find LV Bear and other valuable bears. You can find many fruits trees at Jeju. I bought Laneige Sleeping Pack at a Duty Free Shop at Lotte Hotel. US18 for 1 but usually they have 6 or 8 packs promotion price. Stayed at Jeju Hanwah Resort

LV Bear

125 Karat Bear



Swarovski Teddy Bear

Persimmon Tree

Day 4, Friday 22 Oct: We had Abalone Porridge for breakfast!!!! Today we are going to Incheon. At Incheon, we had BBQ Pork lunch. Today we went to Everland. I queued nearly 2 hours for the world steepest wooden roller coaster. During evening time, we went shopping at Myeongdong, a shopping district. Hotel: Paradise Hotel

Abalone porridge breakfast

Korean BBQ Pork

Day 5, Saturdat 23 Oct:  

Breakfast at Paradise Hotel and we had Mushroom Steamboat for lunch. Dinner at own expense. Went to Ginseng Monopoly Showroom. At the Ginseng showroom, i bought the ginseng chicken soup packet. One packet (13,000 won) consist of 3 same packs of herbs with ginseng. I went to Amethyst Factory, Cosmetic House, Namsangol Hanok Village - a place for you to know more about traditional houses and games of Korea. Lastly we went to Lotte World.

Mushroom Steamboat

Oh, one thing i must mentioned is the Cosmetic House which sells many brands there. I love the Lady & Skin Hydro Care Water Drop!!! Each bottle cost 30,000 won. Their sleeping serum cost 30,000 won too. Buy 5 bottles mix and match entitles you a free bottle of Peeling Gel. There's the Annagaspi Placeta Intensive hand cream. The hand cream is the best one that i have ever tried!! I should have bought more then. Cost 8,000 won each. The most expensive product i bought there is a two boxes of Cell Emotion RX Prestige System by Lady & Skin. Two boxes equals to one month supply. Each box costs 80,000 won.

L&S Hydro care water drop. Q10 Coenzyme

L&S

Annagaspi Placenta Intensive Hand Cream

L&S

Cell Emotion RX Prestige System by Lady & Skin

Dual Sleeping Serum by L & S

Perfect Clear Peeling Gel by L&S

Day 6,Sunday 24 Oct:

We went to a Chinese restaurant for breakfast. Soyabean drink with youtiao, porridge, buns and other dishes. We took a boat to Nami Island. Its beautiful there during Autumn. The gingko trees and the Maple trees are so beautiful. But its a long queue when leaving. Lunch is the Hot Plate Spicy Chicken. The best dish i tried so far these few days. Simply must try!! Next is the ChunCheon Myeongdong, i bought Derma Mask at only 3,000 won for 10 pcs! Hotel: Grand Hyatt

Hot Plate Spicy Chicken

Day 7, Monday 25 Oct: Weather drop to lowest 6 degree C today.

Went to Mt Sorak National Park, Waterpia and Sokcho Abai Village. Sokcho Abai Village is famous for their squid stuff with rice. The floor of the resort is warm. You can lay the mattress and sleep warmly. Hotel: Sorak Hanhwa Resort.

Day 8, Tuesdat 26th Oct: Lowest temperature 4 degree Celsius. Went to Sinchon Fashion Street and at last bought 2 tops costing only SGD6 each. There's a famous woman's university there. Lastly we went to a shops selling local products. Afternoon flight back to Singapore.