Land of the Morning Calm: Korea 2012 Day 3 (Part 1)

This is it!!! I'm finally Masipag!! Actually, I'm thankful to the blogger app for iphone/ipad because now, I can finally create posts even if I'm on-the-go!

So anyway, I'm now on our Third Day! Yay! I will be posting two parts for this day since it was a Long 

One! Hehe! Here's Part ONE:

On our Third day, we've decided to just stroll around the city. We've started our day early and first went to Gyeongbokgung Palace. You can take the train in going here since it's literally in the middle of the city, with it's own station. One of the things that we love when travelling in a foreign country is the fact that we can actually take the public transportation, which we don't get to do in the Philippines. 

There are a lot of Palace around Seoul,so you have to choose the ones that you would like to explore. As for us, we were torn between Gyeongbokgung (The Largest Palace)  and Changdeokgung Palace (The one with a secret garden). However, we chose Gyeongbokgung since it holds more history. 

(Trivia: It was in Gyeongbokgung where the first source of Electricity in Korea was generated via the big  Hall located inside the Palace. This was also where the Royals held their parties before; will show you the pics later)

We strolled around the palace; but since it was already our second time (my mom,dad,sister,and I) we just took a rest, and let my brother and sister-in-law to roam around hehe. It was really a perfect day to just sit down and enjoy the cold weather. It was not really full-time spring yet when we came, so there were not too many cherry blossoms this time as compared to our first visit. But still, the palace looked great and it was just really the perfect day!  Here are the pics from palace:

( if you want to see the change of palace guards, go to gyeongbokgung around noon or before noon hehe)

( the hall behind us is the one that I mentioned above, which is the first source of electricity in Seoul)

( feeling part of a tour hehe)

( view from the outside)

( in Gwanghwamun Square)

( typical Scene in Seoul: Tradition meets Civilization) 

Will post the second part of this post asap! Haha!

Xoxo,

Butchik

Land of the Morning Calm: Korea 2012 Day 2

When I say Long Overdue, What I really mean is LOOONNNGGGG Overdue hahaha! This trip was way back last March 2012 and I'm only posting it right now. Oh well, better late than never! 

On our second day in Korea, we've decided to visit another amusement park. We went to Lotte World on our first day; and the next day it's EVERLAND, BABY! Hahaha! Everland is located in Yongin just around 40 minutes to an hour away from Seoul, depending on the traffic. 

My mom had been here for 3 times already, as for me, my sister, and my dad, it's only our second. But it's the first time for my brother, sister-in-law, and my cutie patootie nephew.

 In 2011, our good friend Mr. Shin, gladly brought us here via his own car. This time, we've decided to go on our own so as to not bother him anymore. Anyway, in going here, you can actually take a bus (there are several bus stops going to yongin around the city, usually near the hotels too). We rented our own limousine taxi in going to yongin since we have a two-year-old with us; but it really is more practical if you'd just take a bus. ( the transportation system in korea is very convenient anyway).

Everland is a seasonal theme park; meaning, the theme in here varies depending on the season. During the two times that we've been here, it is always Spring; and I wouldn't have it any other way. The scenery is just beautiful, with different kinds of flowers in full bloom; the weather is perfect too, it's sunny but it's cold ( the perfect weather to just stroll). 

For kids and kids-at-heart ( like us hehe), Everland is the perfect place to be. There are several rides, food carts, souvenir shops, parades, and other scheduled performances around the park. If you would go here, I would recommend you to spare the whole day. Firstly, because the park is so nice and relaxing and big that you would want to savor every second that you're there. Secondly, it's a nice experience to be away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Thirdly ( and most importantly), the ticket is a bit pricey so be sure to really make the most out of your visit hahaha! 

Here are the pics from this trip:

(Inside the limo taxi)

Enjoy!! And really try to put Seoul in your list of "places-to-visit"

Xoxo,

Butchik

My Portfolio

I've been trying to utilize the DSLR Camera that we've bought around 7 months ago...I am really trying to maximize all the things that I can do with it...I am really just beginning to get the hang of it so pardon me if they are so amateur.  Here are some of my sample pictures...

Shutter Speed: 1/10

Aperture: f/8

Focal Length: 48mm

Sensitivity: ISO1600

Shutter Speed: 1/200

Aperture: f/6.3

Focal Length: 55mm

Sensitivity: ISO1600

Shutter Speed: 1/200

Aperture: f/6.3

Focal Length: 55mm

Sensitivity: ISO100

Shutter Speed: 1/3

Aperture: f/6.3

Focal Length: 40mm

Sensitivity: ISO1600

Shutter Speed: 1/3

Aperture: f/6.3

Focal Length: 40mm

Sensitivity: ISO1600

Shutter Speed: 1/50

Aperture: f/6.3

Focal Length: 52mm

Sensitivity: ISO3200

Shutter Speed: 1/15
Aperture: f/5.3
Focal Length: 44mm
Sensitivity: ISO1100
Taken: 8/8/11

By the way, my camera is just an entry-level camera, which perfectly matches me as well: an entry-level-struggling-photographer...(or just someone who likes to take pictues hahaha!!)...I really love taking pictures..because it can paint a thousand words..hahaha!! 

Korea (Day 2): The day when I've seen it all!!! =)

Oh my...it's been so so weeks already!! And I'm only still blogging about our second day! Well, anyway, it's better late than never right?hehe

So our day started with SKYPE! We went online early in the morning just so we can skype with Oxford (my cutie patootie nephew). It lasted about 10 minutes only since he has a short attention span (not in a bad way though, just the normal kind usually for kids hehe) 

Here's Oxie on screen!!

We had breakfast at a nearby (just a 2-minute walk from the hotel) local Korean restaurant..I tried something different that morning;actually, i forgot what this meal was called but it was sooooo delicious!!! (it's a kiddie meal, i think)

My YUMMY  BREKKY

Right after our very HEAVY Breakfast, we've then decided to take a stroll around dongdaemun..

The Streets of Dongdaemun

Since it was still too early (10 am, go figure!), there were not too many stores that were open yet, and so we just decided to go to Gangnam on our own via subway!! yay!!

Sindang station (around 20 minutes away, we thought this was the closest one to our hotel; but turns out that there was another one nearby..and it's just a 3-minute walk!haha!!oh well)

It was our first time to ride the korean subway..The first for my mom and dad (AS IN FIRST), but not for me and my ate..we ride the LRT back in the Philippines whenever we get lucky haha!! So, during that time, we were not aware that the machine does not accept large amount of bills...we were trying to insert our 50,000 won but the machine won't accept it..So we went out again and then looked for a nearby convenience store. We found one, but instead of sticking to the original plan which was to exchange our bill for smaller bills, we just bought a can of mineral water. Turned out that that the lady cannot understand and speak english! She even called an interpreter..but the interpreter knows chinese only! She thought we were chinese pala!haha!! So anyway, after we got the bills, we returned to the station and this time, the machine accepted!!

Here's me, my ate, and my mom feeling victorious!haha!!

Oh and btw, before I forget, in Korea, everytime you buy a single journey card for the train, you would have to pay an additional amount as a deposit..this deposit, however, would be instantly refunded after you got off the train! amazing huh?=)

It took us around 30 minutes to get to Gangnam station. This was way more savvy as compared to a taxi ride..Actually we were not really sure if we were really supposed to be headed to Gangnam. We just took a wild guess if it was the right station. Luckily, when we got off, we found this sign:

KOREA ELECTRIC POWER CORP!! We were right!! We walked a little bit more..and found the building finally!!

KEPCO Head Office (This is the main office of the company where my mom and dad works!)

We went inside and looked for my mom and dad's boss (he was the vice president back when he was in the Philippines, but now he's back in here). He asked us to go first to the nearby COEX Mall (which was just literally across the office), and asked us to meet him again at exactly 3:15 pm!!haha!! He asked us the places where we wanted to go and listed them all down!

COEX MALL!! The largest underground mall in Asia!

Some cute kids that  we saw..hihihi..so ADORABLE!

At 3:!5, we were back in KEPCO! We met again with Mr. Shin (my mom and dad's boss), and he then took us to the different places where we wanted to go!We passed along Apgujeong a.k.a. Rodeo Drive, then we went to our first destination! First stop: N Seoul Tower!! This tower is the most famous tower in Korea..actually it was named as the Most Beautiful Tower in Asia..People go up here to chill during the day..but it was actually really famous for COUPLES..They go here and put up locks (i will show later the picture) to profess their love, and to signify their sort of "FOREVER AND ALWAYS" thingy..that kinds of stuff haha!! The place was filled with many of these!! and it really looked SO AMAZING!! It was nice to know that a lot of people are FANS OF LOVE..haha!! Although, it would be really nice to know how many of those locks have actually served their purpose..haha!!

Note:

Click to see the more info about N Seoul Tower

(Seoul Tower)

The view of Seoul Tower as we were getting closer!!

btw, this tower is located at Mt. Namsan, so it was really high! Some people take a walk, but it would be rather convenient to ride a bus, or a car. Once you're there you would then have to ride a cable car to go the tower. This was a fun ride! =)

The view of Seoul Tower from the Cable Car

Mr. Shin's car which practically brought us around Seoul! Thank you!! =)

More Tower pics!

Locks of LOVE!!

Me in front of the TEDDY BEAR MUSEUM (This was featured in the Korean Drama, "Princess Hours")

Waiting for the elevator that would take us up to the TOWER! =)

Inside the tower, there's this what they call the "Shocking Step". I don't really understand why, I was not shocked in the first place hehe..more of amazed actually.. So there, there are different glass panels with different names of places and their distance..It was said that these windows literally points to where that specific place is. We were so happy to see Manila!!! =)..also, there's a telescope that you can use; although I don't think that you could literally see those places using that telescope

Manila!! So we were this far away from home!=)

 Jeju Island!!

After going to Seoul tower, we were then taken to Yeouido Road a.k.a. The Cherry Blossoms Road!! This street is actually famous during Spring, because it is filled with almost a thousand cherry blossom trees!!! We were really lucky during our trip because it was the peak of the BLOSSOM!!haha! What I mean is that it was during that time when the trees are in FULL BLOOM..So we literally see the white trees so nicely lined up!! =)..People go there to spend their afternoon eating snacks with the view of the HAN RIVER. It was really nice there!!

Note:
Click to see the more info about Yeouido
(Yeouido Park)

Me eating sausage under the cherry blossom tree!haha!

The view of the Han River during SUNSET!! =)

Cute Korean Baby that I saw climbing the mini hill, unaccompanied!!haha!! she really amazed me!!! I even ran after her..she was super fast!!haha!!

We then went to 63 Convention (Which was featured in the Korean drama, "My Girl"). We had dinner there, then went back to the hotel right after. It was a LOOONGGG DAY...But we were really happy that day!!!! We saw the BEST OF SEOUL in JUST ONE DAY!!! =)