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

It somehow reminded of another film locator I visited previously which is The Hobbit in New Zealand. Oh my New Zealand feels~

Day 2: Nami Island – Petite France – Gingeng Centre

Nami Island

Winnie was my tour guide on my second day. This time, I went with a group of 5 people in the family who are all Filipino. One thing I love the most about my trip is that I do not need to wake up so early haha and we started at 8.20. Since it took us more than 1 hour to get to Nami island, we had fun time chatting on the car, from showbiz to politics. I really like Winnie, she is cute. She spent one year studying in the US and met a Vietnamese lecturer named Van. That is why she loves me so much. Her knowledge of Kpop/Kdrama is so great that I think I can spend hours after hours talking with her. How could we skip Sandara Park? She is an iconic figure in Philippines and of course, my bias in 2NE1. If you want to know how old you are getting now, just ask a simple question: “Who is your favourite Kpop band?”. You lovely readers do not know how embarrassed I was when telling that DBSK, Super Junior, 2NE1, and Girls Generations while the little Australian girl said “BTS”. I had no ideas who they are. Oh I feel so old now.

Before getting to the island, we had to take a 5-minute ferry. Winnie told me that Nami island is just a like a small country (Naminara Republic) that has their own stamp, currency and even flag. We arrived at around 10 and had 2 hours there before having lunch at the local restaurant. Nami island is such a nice place for a stroll. As a matter of fact, people come here to go camping as I saw a lot of groups sitting on the grass, preparing their meals and chatting. This place is beautiful, peaceful and huge. I bet that when autumn comes, it will be extraordinary. One of the biggest shames is that I missed the signature Winter Sonata statue, which is nowhere far but on the right of Janggang and Hwangha statue. I watched “Winter Sonata” more than 10 years ago so was so unsure if the main couple had their first kiss. In the Nami map, I was supposed to see that famous place right after the ostrich cage but failed to do it. Anyway, it could have been that I passed it without any ideas.

I took a walk by the lake to get back to the meeting point. It is so great.

The downside, however, of going travelling on your own is that you just can have photos of your half body, unless you ask for people’s help for photos.

Do not believe it? Let me show you. All is my face and my pink sweater.

Selfies:

Photos taken by people:

Got a lot of nice cards

Lunch at the local restaurant. That was chicken; it actually tasted like frog though :P.

Petite France

We continued our tour to Petite France which was 10-minute driving from Nami Island. Winnie told me that everything in Petite France, from building materials to decorative items, was imported from France. That’s why it brought me my French feels. I took a couple of photos and bought nice postcards to friends. There was a puppet show at the central stadium but there were too many people, I was unable to see. I left the show, as a result, and continued to take more photos.

Oh scary doll

Gingseng centre

No, I came to this place again. Not fun at all *cry a river*

Tour ended.

Highlight of the day

Sushi and Nanta show.

Instead of my hotel in Insadong, I request the driver to drive me to Myeongdong, which is the shopping district in Seoul. In Vietnam, as netizens highly recommended a performance “Nanta cooking show” as it is internationally acclaimed and has come to many countries around the world, I booked the show on 20.00. I was dropped at Lotte Department Store and got 2.30 hours before I got to Myeongdong Nanta theatre. There were a lot of international and local brands that I really got dizzy.

And here came my sushi. Walking from 1^st floor to 13^th floor only for sushi, you must have some ideas that I was desperate for sushi.

I came to a conveyor belt sushi restaurant. It was based on the colour of your sushi dish that you would have different prices. I finished 5 dishes and got the bill of 24,000 won. OMG

Leaving Lotte Department store, I passed through the underground way to get to the other side of the street for Nanta show. I had to get there by 19.30 to get my ticket and my google map told me that I was close to the theatre, so I strolled around the street, dropping by some cosmetics store until 19.15. It, however, turned out unexpectedly that I was lost for direction. How can I put into words my situation? It was not like I was lost, I just could not find the Myeongdong Nanta Theatre. I asked for local help as my last resort, but I asked “Can you show me the way to Myeongdong Theatre?”. Yes, they showed me it. Myeongdong Theatre, which is also another theatre next to the Nanta theatre but closed at 18.00. I felt like being cheated. I continued to count on my google map. It took me back to the place I was before and the Myeongdong Nanta Theatre is actually located on 3^rd floor of a building. It showed on a tiny board, if you do not pay careful attention, you would never see it. It was too bad that I did not bring the book guide along with me. If I had done that, I would not have freaked out that like.

Something a bit unforgettable to me is that I happened to see a group of Korean girls on Myeongdong who crept me out with their heads covered with bandage, with only eyes and mouths visible. According to Winnie, plastic surgery clinics concentrated in Gangnam district so I did not expect to see these people in Myeongdong. I got so damn scared. Perhaps you have no ideas that even though I am a big fan of horror movies, I could not dare to watch “Goodbye Mommy” because the mother in the film had plastic surgery and had a bandage-head. This just activates my imagination and I could not help thinking what is underneath the bandage, a face full of blood? NO!!!

The show lasting for 100 minutes is exceptionally good, worth the money. It is hilarious and relaxing. I admire how Korean people cleverly promote their traditional culture in the form of musical performance. It is indeed of an awesome show which tells the story of three chefs receiving an unplanned wedding dinner by 6PM from their manager who also requests them to teach his nephew on how to cook. Oh it is non-verbal show, so completely comprehensive to foreign audience like me.

Some cut parts of the Nanta cooking show

Thinking that I may have missed the show really scared me haha.

Oh, I came to Seoul in the event of celebrating Buddha birth, so the street was crowded with people, lanterns and of course, the performance.

End of day 2

#photowithyourtourguide

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

Before getting down to the Seoul trip, let me explain to you a bit why I chose to travel alone. After conducting several surveys which I would take as conversations with interviewees (friends), I categorised into main 3 theories:

Theory A: “Dorayaki has a secret boyfriend with whom she promised to meet in Seoul, Korea and they planned on going a trip together”

Theory B: “Dorayaki desperately needs a full package of a face job (nose job, jaw job and eye job, blah blah). She must go to Seoul, taking plastic surgery to save her face and even her future”

Theory C: “Dorayaki has become a psychopath recently. She is filled with hatred towards the world that she needs to leave to another country to find peace”

Which one do you think of among 3 theories? Let’s come to the answer of each one.

Theory A: “You overestimated me. Perhaps I get one once I finish my trip”

Theory B: “The only problem I have found with my face is my excessively unnecessarily disgustingly big eyes which are the result of my wearing thick glasses since secondary high school. If I can find a way on how to reduce it, I will do it, otherwise, no plastic surgery”

Theory C: “Hmmm… 50/50”

My loyal readers, I am trying not to make you feel like you are reading a blog of a mentally unstable but sometimes I just feel lost and even, broken. I had no ideas where negative emotions came, and they came like a flood that I just stood still, feeling helpless. I had a couple things in my life that went off track and felt nothing but tiredness. So I think of a way to get rid of it and that is travelling to another place, to feel “me” again.  Now you have learnt that Dorayaki is much more complicated than you think she is!

As a matter of fact, Seoul is just an alternative plan after my plan to Tokyo failed. I am not going to mention it here though :D.

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

I got to Seoul around 7.00 AM and it took me around 1 hour and 30 minutes to get to my hotel, which is located near Insadong. Since I booked a half day tour starting at 12.15, I got a plenty of time visiting Insadong and some of the places I got to were Kimchi Museum and Ssamzigil. There was nothing spectacular about Kimchi Museum, except for free kimchi tasting samples which were put there in a refrigerator for you to try. I ate many and of course, kimchi’s sourness has exceptional effects on your digestive system, but in my case, it did not come on the right time. I had to stop it before feeling stomachache.

I left Kimchi Museum to get to Ssamzigil. This special place is a shopping complex featuring café galleries, stationery shops, handicraft stores and restaurants. I saw a lot of highschoolers there shopping and eating. So fun!

Lunch in a nearby restaurant:

Lena was my tourist guide on that day. She is so nice and her English is excellent. Before that, I heard a lot from friends that Korean people are not that good at English but I was surprised at how good they are actually. They speak pleasant English accent which is much clearer than Singaporean speaking English to me. So no language barrier here!!

Together in the tour were two brothers from Australia. Lena told me much about the Korea’s current situation now when it has to deal with many political issues that not only come from North Korea but also Japan and China. She mentioned the tension between China and Korea, which could not be left out the Lotte Mart’s being shut down in China. That’s why I did not see many Chinese tourists in Seoul.

But it remained a question for me that how come DMZ (the boundary between North Korea and South Korea) is still one of the most popular tours in Seoul haha.

COEX Aquarium

A huge number of cute sea creatures, including beavers. I had to show Cheese, that’s her haha.

Han River Cruise

Gingseng centre

This place was plain boring and I did not take any photos, not a single one. Oh, hold on, they do not allow taking photos either.

Jogyesa Temple

This temple is the last stop on the tour and it is also opposite my hotel. I came on the event of Korean’s celebrating the birth of Buddha. So they hang colourful lanterns on the tree with wishing papers attached to each. As far as I remember in Jogyesa temple, there are two black and white pine trees which represent Chinese ying yang (“balance”).

Inside the hall are 3 giant Buddha statues and they even have a section dedicated to spirits tablets of people who have recently passed away. People come there, reading Buddha scripts and praying. In Vietnam, we have similar things. It is not my interest so pardon me for skipping this one.

Highlight of the day

Meeting unnie after almost 10 years.

Minkyung sshi was my friend and we went to the same English class together in around 2009 ~ 2010. When I got to Seoul, I wanted to meet her so had her contact through a mutual friend of us. Our meeting point is Jamsil so from Jogyesa temple, I took a train there to meet unnie. After all these times, unnie is still so nice, and even aging backwards. She just got married last month and has a happy life. Unnie took me around Jamsil where I saw Lotter World park and Lotte World Tower, which was inaugurated in April, 2017 and recorded as the tallest building in Seoul. We got a pleasant strolling around the part and stopped by a mall nearby to have dinner. I even got a cute gift from unnie.

I was genuinely happy to see unnie again, but somehow, there was nostalgia in me that made me sad at the same time. Any possible way that I could turn back time to live in 2010 again, but I would not want to wear braces again

Unnie instructed me how to take a train to get back to Anguk station which is 10 minute walking to my hotel. But damn, I safely returned from Jamsil to Anguk station, but from Insadong I was unable to remember my way back to the hotel haha.

End of day 1

#photowithyourtourguide

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