Hongik Area: Trick Eye Museum

When I said I'd go back to South Korea I never thought I'd go back so soon. I am just so glad my husband is so kind that he allowed me to go to Korea with my two girlfriends, my ex-roommates. It wasn't all the places I have been to last time. I had also my firsts at my second affair with South Korea! 

My friends booked us 8 days of trip. We spent 5 days in Seoul and the rest in Jeju Island. Yup! Jeju!! Which I'll be sharing later.

We spent a whole day in Hongik area. First stop is The Trick Eye Museum. This is just near the exit 9 of Hongdae Station. The place is not along the main road so you really have to keep your eye on the small signage of the museum.

The Trick Eye (or Art) Museum is a gallery of paintings that uses trompe l'oeil technique which creates illusion in flat surfaces. This allows an interactive experience with the characters and the visitors. Everybody would surely enjoy this place no matter how little art inclinations you have. The paintings are changed every few months.

The small English sign of the museum.

 

We really enjoyed this place and consumed a lot of space in our SD cards. It brought out the playful and silly side of us!

 

Once In My Life

I hope to visit the Holy Land. I hope to do a pilgrimage to the very place where Jesus lived his life and his passion. I envy the people in Israel because they are able to walk the road that Jesus have tread on and touch the things he might have touched. They are lucky people! The most favored!

I promised myself that we won't be travelling out of the country until we visit Israel. This is going to be a spiritual journey and not just a tourist travel because we would be joining either with Fr. Jerry Orbos or Bro. Bo Sanchez.

If the Muslims make it their ultimate goal to do a pilgrimage in Mecca at least once in their lifetime then we, Christians, should do, too. This journey is going to be expensive but it will all worth more than anything else because I'll be able to relive the journey of my salvation. May God grant me this grace. Amen.

sources:
CFC Global Mission

Joe Walsh Tour
Pilgrimages.com

Seoul Korea, Day 4, Everland

I know that if you want to make the most of your stay in a theme or amusement park it would take you the whole day. So we headed to the Seoul Station as early as 930am because the trip would take about more than an hour to Gyeonggi-do province where Everland is located.

Bus stops in front of Seoul Station.

Taking the bus is the long route and scary since you wouldn't know whether you're at your stop or not. Luckily the people are really kind and helpful so we survived. At past 12noon we were at Everland and met some Pinoys on a break due to the holiday.

Everland is a huge theme park that would test your endurance for long walks and patience for the long lines. It is ranked as top 4th theme park in the world.

After the long travel we were both dying to eat.

The food was so so but for any hungry souls these are all heaven.

Halloween themed.

The polar bear is what I'm all excited about. But they seem agitated as they kept walking back and forth.

Aesop's Village.

Safari World.
Urgh! Can't this get any longer?

Who needs to go to Africa, ei?!

Bird Sanctuary. You can feed the birds at a price.

The famous T Express. The world's steepest wooden roller coaster that would give you the most exhilarating experience at a speed of 104kph! Only the brave and crazy will be able to do this!

Hubby and I loved going to 3D or 4D theaters. We would check out if there's any 3D or 4D show that would beat Hong Kong Disneyland's Mickey's PhilharMagic, which for us is the best.

Pororo 3D Adventure.
The kids will love this. But for us no. The 3D is not so 3D and there's no English translation. Even the bus driver cum tour guide in the Safari World didn't speak in English so we're kind of out of place. English translation is important if you really value your tourists.
An intro to Pororo 3D Adventure

By 530pm we headed to the bus terminal back to the city. We found out that the better way to Everland is via bus 5002 at Gangnam station. 5002 route is direct to and from Everland/Gangnam. But, there's a new station that is about to be finished that will stop at Everland. By then going to the park will just be a breeze!

Since we came hubby have been telling me that we will hoard Lotte goodies. So we looked for a Lotte mart and accidentally found Lotte Mall but unfortunately was closed as it is holiday but luckily found something under the mall.
Star Avenue. Avenue of Korean Stars.

This made me happy!

Then came our usual problem, where to eat. We had our dinner at a burger chain, again.

Some Tips:
1. Take the bus 5002 at Gangnam station going to Everland. Or you can take a tour bus to save time and effort.
2. Self-busing is a practice in every food court, food chain and self-service restaurant in Korea.
3. Check the website of Everland for the tourist coupon to get ticket discount.

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Seoul Korea, Day 3 - Nami Island!

Ok, we're on day 3. Monday. Sept 12. We woke up early because we'd be going to Naminara Republic or Nami Island which became popular during the Winter Sonata drama series rave.

We went Nami Island Seoul Center in Insadong to buy tickets for the Tour Bus which departs everyday at 930 am. As early as 9am we were at Insadong which is surprisingly quiet and all the stores are closed. We waited until 10am and decided to go to Pagoda Park where the terminal of the Tour Bus is supposedly at.

There were other tourists waiting there and since it's already past 10am we all assumed that there will be no Tour Bus that would drive us from Seoul to Nami Island. Oh! It's Mid-autumn Holiday, that's right. No wonder. Being determined to go to Nami Island and so as not the ruin our itinerary, together with three Filipinas, the husband and I took an alternative route. via Subway. It took us 2 looong hours to get there. Urgh!

Nevertheless we arrived whole and excited.

From Jongno-go,3 station we went to Gapyeong station and took a taxi from there to Nami Island wharf.

The lovely girls we met at the Pagoda Park.

Waiting for the taxi in front of Gapyeong station.

At the Ferry terminal.

This is a standing-only ferry.

After about 30min, Nami Island!

Happy Garden sculptures greeted us as we enter the island with elation.

The captivating Winter Sonata drama series shooting locations.

They even made a gallery out of it.

There are also a lot of things that can be done here. I took advantage of my injured foot and took a UNICEF train going around the island.

Glass making lessons.

Biking.

Encounter with the squirrels!

Laze around with your beau. (sayang, the couple is too washed out.)

Of course eat!
We were served with marinated chicken, lettuce, bean sprouts, kimchi, big green chili, and steamed rice.

A pure Pinoy that we are we ate the grilled chicken with rice and the rest separately. When we looked at the other table this is how the Koreans eat.
You put a little of everything together with a chili sauce.

Roll it.

And go!

This place is just amazing!

I want to go back!

Some tips:

1. Check out the updated Nami Island website for the schedule of the tour bus and the ferry. Namisum.com

2. If you can finish touring Nami Island by mid noon you can go to the Petite France which was the shooting location of Secret Garden via Gapyeong Tourist Sites Circulation Bus.

3. You can take the Gapyeong Tourist Sites Circulation Bus near Gapyeong station to go around the Gapyeong province. First bus leaves as early as 8:20am. You may call for more info: Gapyeong (031) 582 0239

4. Try the zipwire/line going to Nami Island if you're brave enough!