This tour was completely free and led by a local. Remember the ajusshi I met on the day 3? He said that he would be around Insadong area in the morning, if I wanted to join him, he would pick me up at my hotel and we would go together. On my initial plan, I would spend this morning strolling around Ssamzigil to get more postcards. So walking around would be a good idea to keep me away from spending money again.  

It came as a surprise that the ajusshi was a former Korean Nation University graduate. How could he manage to get there?

The place we visited was Bukchon Hanok Village, a home to traditional houses. Photos look flawless. No Instagram filter, I swear – only a Iphone 5 creates magic haha.

One funny thing about my plane back to Ho Chi Minh city. The plane I booked was on May, 1^st, 2017. In Vietnam, holiday lasted from April 28^th, 2017 to May, 2^nd, 2017, I guessed a lot of people would take the May, 2^nd plane. So my plane was quite empty. Nobody sit in the other two seats in the same row with me. The plane did not have LCD to watch movies so there was nothing I could do except for sleeping. I just laid down, stretching my legs in the row of 3 seats – feel like flying on the business class.

Safe and sound got back to Ho Chi Minh city.

Day 1: Kimchi Museum – Insadong – COEX Aquarium – Han River Cruise – Gingseng centre – Jogyesa Temple

Day 2: Nami Island – Petite France – Gingeng Centre

Day 3: Jogyesa Temple – Gyeongbokgung Palace – National Folklore Museum – Korean Folk Village

Day 4: [PHOTO only] Bukchon Hanok Village

I am truly sorry for keeping you waiting for this third part of my Korean trip series so long. I have been through a pretty tough week after I came back so unable to get this and the final parts done. Imagine people’s brain is a memory on which if we store too much information, will be exploded very soon. I; as a matter of fact, had some difficulties trying to recall sweet memories of my Korean trip by scrolling hundred photos I took. Before they are completely replaced by 19 eastern suburbs of Melbourne, I have to finish writing them down as soon as possible.

Why do Melbourne’s 19 eastern suburbs have something to do here? You will find the answer down in my post.

Life is absolutely a chain of challenges when you have to excel in your career, maintain a social life, drink enough water, exercise, text everyone back and be happy. But I still manage to be too pure, too cute, too fresh and too young haha.

Could not get my joke? That is OK, not your fault. Just sometimes my sarcasm is hard to get.

Day 3: Jogyesa Temple – Gyeongbokgung Palace – National Folklore Museum – Korean Folk Village

On this tour, Sunny was my tourist guide.

Jogyesa Temple

Jogyesa temple, along with Gingseng Centre, is one of the places I visited more than once. Jogyesa Temple is near my hotel, which took 3 minutes walking. This was chosen to be the meeting point of the tour. I was the last one to get there and saw a bigger group than previous days. The day 3 group, without a doubt, was the biggest group with different people from different nations: Vietnam, Japan, Indonesia, Germany, Turkey, Philippines and India.

I will skip this one since I already mentioned it in my day 1.

Gyeongbokgung Palace

I had to copy the name of the palace from the tour information, but actually, except for Nami island, I copied almost all tourist destinations I had been before in Seoul. Still I have no ideas how to write them correctly.

We were taken on a bus to Gyeongbokgung Palace, which is the first palace built by the Joseon dynasty and the largest out of 5 places. We came just in time for the royal guard changing ceremony. I heard that there are two shifts – day and night. Get the opportunity to see the guards in their traditional costumes.

I was in Taiwan before and saw military solder changing ceremony which is somehow similar to Korean one, so was not impressed much this time.

Inside of the palace, it looks quite similar to Vietnamese ancient palace.

Sunny told me some funny yet interesting facts about Korean history. Back then when there was no medical technology advancement, the only method that doctors used to check on the king’s health condition was to taste his poo. We all eww-ed but Sunny said it was a highly prestigious job at that time. Also when the king did his private business, there were more than 2 servants besides him. OMG, how could they bear that? They could sense awkward sound and smell. When I do my private business in the restroom, I just want my phone with me. Haha.

National Folklore Museum

This is inside the palace.

I got some nice stuff there

Dorayaki’s making friends

First is the Turkish guy who travelled to Korea on his own. He has been to a great number of countries, including Vietnam. He loves Vietnam and Vietnamese people a lot and that’s why he took good care of me. He showed me photos he took in Vietnam and I could tell that he went from the North (Ha Long Bay) to the South (Sai Gon and Mekong Delta). He helped me take nice photos and bought me water. He went around, telling people in the tour that I am his daughter and I could sense people’s eyes staring at him with a big question on their face “But you are Turkish and she is Vietnamese”.

I also met a nice Japanese guy who is a medical doctor on the tour that day. On Nami island, I could see  Japanese people there but did not have an opportunity to talk to them. And this was my perfect time to boast my Japanese ability.

 Me: “Hello, what’s your name?” (in English)

Yuuta: “My name is Yuuta. What’s your name?” (in English)

Me:”… watashi…” (What kind of language is that?)

Yuuta: Yes…watashi… go on… go on (*encouraging voice*)

Me: “…no…” (Still could not get the kind of language here)

Yuuta: Yes… no (*still very patient)

 Me: “…namae” (???)

Yuuta: Yes… yes.. good… namae

Me: “Oh forget it. My name is Dorayaki” (in English)

That is how I failed. I took a Japanese course in August last year since my then company was Japan-owned one but I got a new job offer in an Australian company. There is no point studying Japanese but I made a promise to Yuuta that I would get back to studying Japanese again, if I have time (it sounds impossible though).

We passed by Blue House. Since Park Geun Hye was impeached and is in jail now, the vice president was in charge; that means the Blue House was not left empty. On the previous day, I was told that the former president was Korean’s embarrassment since never before did they have a president who was currently in office and had to be served in jail. Though some people, just like my father, still believed that she was only used by people with bad deeds. This is still being debated in South Korea.

Suddenly, I feel like missing my dad. I have never found such a kind hearted man like him, always choosing on the positive side to believe. That is unfortunate that his daughter could not inherit his good characters. Some loyal readers who are also Dorayaki’s friends will help to defend her by saying that she has bright and cheerful character too but Dorayaki is just narrow-minded and does not expect bad things to come haha.

National Folk Village

After lunch in a local restaurant in Insadong, we split into 2 groups: one went to the National Folk Village and another stayed in Insadong and Myeongdong district for shopping.  I had to say goodbye to Yuuta and my so called Turkish daddy to go to the National Folk Village with a German guy and an ajusshi.

And I was very happy to have Winnie as my tourist guide the second time.

Ajusshi told me that Samsung is among the largest corporations in South Korea and if a family has a daughter/son that works for Samsung, it is the family’s pride (*For your information, my Cheese used to work for Samsung in Vietnam, I am so proud of my Cheese). The National Folk Village was built by Samsung to enhance awareness of Korean’s traditional culture to local and international people. It is also a film location of many well-known Korean dramas, e.g.: “My love comes from the star”, “Sungkyunkwan Scandal” and so on.

There were 2 must-see performances: martial art on horseback and Jultagi (tightrope walking).

We spent an hour there discovering pottery making, basket weaving and the hand-making of winnows, musical instruments, embroidery and bamboo, wood and brass wares.

Highlights of the day

Self discovery at Myeongdong

I left one night to go freely where I would want to go. On my first day, I asked Lena if there were any bookstores near my place, she told me “Yongpong” and “Kyobo”. I visited these two places, expecting to buy some cute stationery for onee san. When getting there, I was a bit disappointed as there were no scrapbook materials available. Both of two bookstores were huge and filled with a thousand of Korean books.

Leaving the bookstore, I passed by Gwanghwamun Square where you would see a huge statue of King Sejong – the creator of Hangul writing. By the time I got there, it had already been almost 18.00, so neon lights were lit. The square is home to a memorial of victim of Sewol Ferry in 2014. We may have known about Sewol – one of the worst maritime disasters in South Korea– that took the life of 304 people most of who were high school students. The Sewol sinking disaster deeply traumatised South Korean people. Even me felt so hurt when walking by the square.

I read the news that Jo Eun Hwa – one of nine missing passengers was finally found after 3 years. From the news, I learnt that the 17-year-old student, when she was still alive, was a nice girl who always thought of her parents first before herself. Today is Mother’s Day, so I wish the best to Jo Eun Hwa’s mother. Even though her daughter could not get back to life with her, at least, her body was brought out of cold and deep ocean.

I continued to go to Myeongdong. Previously, I went to Lotte Department Store, this time I would go to Avenue and Lotte Young Plaza. I found at B1 a whole place dedicated to SM lovers. Did you know that I was a big fan of Dong Bang Shin Ki and even went to 2 of their concerts? I saw a lot of DBSK merchandise and believe me if I had been 5 years old younger, I would have found every single way to bring all these stuff back home with me. But the 25-year-old Dorayaki still stood there calmly, took photos and left the place. That’s why growing up sucks, I hate it when all passion has died out.

Imagine if Yunho appeared in front of me now, OMG. I. WOULD.DIE.

Dinner at Myeongdong

End of day 3

#photowithyourtourguide

 So you have found the answer for “Melbourne’s 19 eastern suburbs”? Not yet? Yeah, congratulations, you got trolled.

Day 1: Kimchi Museum – Insadong – COEX Aquarium – Han River Cruise – Gingseng centre – Jogyesa Temple

Day 2: Nami Island – Petite France – Gingeng Centre

Day 3: Jogyesa Temple – Gyeongbokgung Palace – National Folklore Museum – Korean Folk Village

Day 4: [PHOTO only] Bukchon Hanok Village