South Korea Trip Part V

Day 6th, (Dec 27th, 2010)
8am, checked out, all big luggages left in hotel, we travelled light. Walked around 5mins to subway station near hotel heading to Seoul Station, changed our 3 days unlimited pass Koreail Tickets by showed the clerical our passports & temporary tickets I got when booked the tickets and paid deposit with my credit card. It was cheaper than buy oneway or roundtrip tickets.
From Seoul Station, we rode on bullet train (similiar with Japan Shinkansen) to Gyeongju, capital of Shilla Kingdom with hundred years historical sites and buddhist temples. I went to this place about 7 years ago by my self, travelled alone and I fell in love with this city. So peace & quiet. I dont know why but this city was very familiar.
The train was stopped at Sin Gyeongju station. At the outside of station we waited for the bus to brought us to Gyeongju Bomun Lake Complex. The bus stopped right infront of our hotel. Hotel Concorde. 4 stars hotel with affordable price. We reserved 2 rooms with 4 beds as well. What I like from hotel in Korea is they provide hotel with 4-5 beds in 1 room.

After checked in, almost 5 oclock. We took bus infront of hotel to visited few historical sites that opened 'til night.

Cheomseongdae Observatory, the oldest existing astronomical observatory in the Orient

to be continue...

South Korea Trip Part VI

Day 5th, (Dec 26th, 2010)
9am. checked out from Seorak Park Casino Hotel, had all luggages kept in hotel, we heading to Mt. Seorak National Park by taxi. The fare was very cheap (3000 won) as the distance from hotel was very close. Actually we were planning to go there by bus no 7 or 7-1, but again, with limited time we opted to take cabs. (Mt. Seorak National Park entrance fee : 2000 won/adult)

geez, the weather was extremely cold like the day before. The hotel staff have told us not to go to Mt Seorak since the weather was cold and windy. But we had no more choice as that was our last day in Gangwondo.
We were starting to freezed out in just about the entrance gate. Desperately looking for the place with heater we were grouping slipped into tourist information center for another 30 mins. After that we ran out to reach venue of Buddha statue to burn incense & candle & pray. It was totally cold with windy. We bought masks to protect our faces from freezing, lol....

I almost forget to mention there was a small restaurant inside seorak park that served yummy big bowl noodles. We had our lunch there. Our planned to go to Sokcho beach & Naksan temple was end up in vain. Had no more time left. We wasted our 1st day in Gangwondo as we couln't go anywhere but spent time in casino & hotel due to unfriendly weather outside.

Around 2pm we were back to hotel by bus no 7. The bus fare was 900/person. We called cabs to Sokcho Bus Terminal to catch bus to Gangneung. From Gangneung bus station we took cabs again heading to waiting area for free shuttle bus to Seoul following direction in the map I printed from internet. Unfortunately, the taxi driver dropped us at the wrong point. As the groups were starving, they had afternoon meals in lotteria, while I was busy run here & there in cold weather asked for the right bus waiting location. Grateful that Koreans I met on the trip were very helpful. They didnt hesitate to use their cellphone in order to helped me contact Korea tourism office to ask for the complete information.

When we reached the bus waiting area, it almost left for Seoul. We hopped into the exhaustedly for running. My uncle talked loudly in the bus, the clerical in the bus was pretty upset and kept asking him to lowering his voice. I was joking told my uncle that the clerical said if he didnt lowering his voice, he would be kick out of the bus, lol (^_^)
10pm arrived in Seoul, we went to Fraser Place to get our luggages and went to hotel Vision by taxi. We had 4 beds in 1 room.