"STUDY" IN KOREA #1

WELCOME TO NAMI ISLAND!

or... not. At least, yet.

It's still a long way from my Korea Trip for us to just skip to this Nami Island story and to-go-tips. Therefore, just start! 시작하자!



So let's say that I just happened to go to Korea to study this summer (July-August '12), and for some time after I'm back here in my country of Indonesia, too lazy to post anything. But then again, it'll be too wasted not to post, right? ;)

So here I am. After all this 4 months. And while "study" was my alibi when I flew there (and I really lived up to that alibi, told my father I was being a good student during my Inha University Summer School and stuffs--well actually it was true, though XDD), of course I already had more plans up in my sleeves! And those were: TRAVELING, SHOPPING, and the most important was... FANGIRLING!!

Therefore my friends and I (I wasn't alone, of course) planned to arrive a few days earlier prior to our Inha SummSchool's set up arrival date for its students (tell 'ya later about this SummSchool stuffs, 'kay? :). And since school started on July 29, the date we picked was July 26 so we were going to have 3 days and 2 nights to enjoy Seoul as 3 beautiful tourists.

Left-Right: Me (Lolita), Elin, and Lia at our hostel room

We departed from Indonesia on July 25, 2012 when we arrived the next day morning at 8.30 at Incheon Int'l Airport. Since we wanted to be more 'Korean style' (eeeyy), we decided to take KORAIL rather than the expensive taxi nor the simpler Airport Limousine to take us to our hostel. We can compare their advantages/disadvantages here:

1. KORAIL cost just about KRW 4500 or $4.5, comfortable (since we took it at it starting point: the airport, the whole train is still empty XD), but no one would help you with your luggage, moreover if it is a lot. Plus huge suitcases would be very inconvenient to other (regular) passengers. Since KORAIL is also part of subway system, careful not to disturb any people! ;)
2. Airport Limousine (in form of a bus) cost KRW 10,000 or $10, but there is a driver who'll get in and get off your luggage for you, to and from the vehicle. I strongly recommend this if you bring a lot of luggage.
3. Taxi. If you have enough money to pay about KRW 50,000-100,000 or $50-100 (from airport to Seoul) and have a lot of luggage, then just take this most convenient way :)

empty KORAIL and my belongings ;)

 And there we reached Seoul. We stayed at Sinchon Hostel near Ewha University Station (이대역) for a very reasonable price of about $180/room (3 persons) for 2 nights, which include bathroom-TV-AC-fridge inside, 2 beds (1 single and 1 double), DIY breakfast (why DIY? Because you HAVE to Do-It-Yourself, with provided ingredients from them--bread w/ jam or ramyun w/ egg or just ramyun, coffee or tea, choose yourself ;), wi-fi, the use of computer & recreation room, the use of laundry room (I did my laundry here before moving out for school, since at dorm laundry would cost about $2.2 per the use of washing machine ;p), and of course... very nice hospitality from English-speaking staffs! PS: This hostel is also surrounded by lots of clothing and footwear shops. There you go, shopaholics! ;D

with one of the staff

Kitchen, just beside the recreation room

Recreation room. PCs, game console (Nintendo Wii), large TV, even books can be found here

Phewww, I haven't even finished our 1st day and this post has already long enough. -___-

Anyway, after resting for a while, we decided to get what I called "Live-in-Korea Starter Kit" which consists of T-money and Korea Pass cards. The former is VERY (yes, "very" with uppercase) important, moreover if you plan to stay for a bit long there. T-money, as in its "T" name, used for the payment for any means of regular Transportation (taxi, subway, bus). It's cheaper when you pay with T-money rather than cash (the difference hits about $0.3 per usage), which I personally think is the way Korean government encourages more and more people using it for the sake of reducing cash-on-hand and prevent fraud.

Oh, what a good Accounting student I am to even thought deep about it. -_____-

And for Korea Pass, it's the same with T-money in term that you use it to pay. The differences lie in the way they are being used: while T-money is for transportation, Korea Pass is accepted in almost every store in Korea as a mean of shopping payment. And while you have to buy an empty T-money and top it up first before using (and don't forget to always keep enough balance! ;), Korea Pass is being sold already with specific deposit amount inside. You can choose KRW 20,000, 50,000, or 100,000 if I'm not mistaken.
There is also Korea Pass with transportation payment means. More info about Korea Pass and where-to-buy, check here.

Left-Right: Korea Pass and T-money

Sooo... after getting our "starter-kit", it's time to PLAY!

We visited the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) office first (since it was where we get our K-Pass from. Yes, through a little luck, our KRW 20,000 K-Passes were free ;p), and there we found this K-Star Gallery!!

Me with Yunho, I-don't-know, and Eunhyuk. And okay, Leeteuk (like the real Leeteuk it is) creepily got in the frame also -_-

There were still so many celebs at this gallery, including Song Seunghun, Rain, Taecyeon, Girls' Generation, etc. And there were also this Jewel in The Palace standing figures beside the gallery:

Enough taking pictures there, we proceeded to nearest tourism site we could go on foot, which happened to be.... that famous Cheonggyecheon Stream!!

Not familiar? Okay, at first I too didn't even know this place until my friend told me. So this was the place where Kyuhyun paints on Seoul Song MV.

We really played there, like, literally. Because it was just so refreshing during our 2-hour-long being there. There were a wishing well, street musician, summer breeze, kids, cute couples... even if you don't want to play, just sit around and do nothing is fine.

in front of Cheonggyecheon

PLAY!

Sun almost set, so we decided to walk again to the most hip place when it comes to fashion and beauty throughout Korea: Myeongdong!

street of Myeongdong

One (and I think the largest) of so many Etude Houses in Myeongdong

This was my first time visiting Myeongdong (because later after my school had started, I'd be going there again for two more times). And at that time, it was during the Seoul Summer Sale 2012 so every shop in the whole street of Myeongdong was giving their best prices. And the endorsement model of this event was Super Junior :))

in front of Myeongdong's Seoul Summer Sale 2012 main gate

And I was also part of many 'victims' from this sale euphoria T___T

Anyway I'm not regretting, since I got it at its best price, as I said earlier. This whole body treatment from Etude House consists of 250+50 ml for each Body Wash and Body Lotion cost only KRW 18,000 or $18!! Later, my cousin checked at one Etude House store in my home country, and the same set had a whopping price of $54! Woohooo, as my friend said, the only things rather cheap in Korea are beauty things and K-Pop CD! XDD Oh, and we also tried our first real-Korean-street-snack here: odeng and a very yummy fried sausage with chili sauce. Each for KRW 2,000 or $2. YUM!

#DAY 1 END#



Tips from day #1

1. Book your accommodation via Agoda. I believe it is the cheapest way available for those who prefer planned holidays like me, OR if you dont have credit cards (like me! :D) you can also book your accommodation via booking.com and pay on the spot!

2. Actually Cheonggyecheon is located in the area of Gwanghwamun Square. Gwanghwamun Square itself consists of so many tourist attractions, namely Gyeongbok Palace (경복궁), King Sejong and Admiral Yi Sun Sin's statues, King Sejong Museum/Sejong Iyagi (where you can try-out writing hangeul with brush and ink like you usually see in sageuk drama, for FREE), and of course, this Cheonggyecheon area with this thing I don't know the name:

Anyway since everything is on one location within walking distance, I suggest that you spare one full-day just to roam around this area. And beside Myeongdong, shopping location of Insa-dong is also within walking distance from here (it's actually nearer than Myeongdong).