South Korea Trip: Seoraksan National Park

Early morning we woke up and directly prepare ourselves to go to the Seoraksan National Park. We went to the nearest bus station and waiting for bus 7-1 that will bring us to Seoraksan. After waiting about 10 minutes, it finally come, we almost decided to walk to walk to Seoraksan since the weather was too cold to sit quietly at the bus stop.

in front of our motel, Songwol Park

view from the bus stop

another view

inside  the bus

After we arrived at Seoraksan National Park and bought the entrance ticket, and the first thing to do was to take a picture with the symbol of Seoraksan, which is the black bear.

Seoraksan parking lot

the ticket office

the entrance ticket

with the black bear

Then we walk to the cable car station. We came too early, even the station not yet open. So we took a look around there and pay attention to the location map.

the cable car station

Seoraksan location map

After the station open, we found out that the locket was not yet open, so we queue in front of the ticket locket. At that time there was a group of old men who wants to go to the top of mount Seorak as well.

the cable car ride price

the cable car ticket

a group of old men who wanted to take the cable car as well

When we're travelling with gondola to the top of the mountain, the song that was played inside the gondola was Maps by Maroon 5. Since then, I fell for that song, hahaha..

the view from the cable car

view at the other side

After arrived at the higher station, we have to walk about 5 minutes to the top of the mountain. The view from there was really good. When we arrived at the top of the mountain the view was great, this peak was surrounded by other mountain's peak. Even in the high place like this, there's a photo sellers, if you want to get your picture directly printed.

the view from the walking path to the top of mount Seorak

here's the top of Mount Seorak

photo, anyone?

the Koreans really like to play the piling rocks game

view of other peak from Mount Seorak's peak

We did not spend too much time at the mountain peak since there's not much to see in there. So we get back to the station and waiting for the cable car to the lower station. While waiting, we heard some tourist speak Indonesian language, it turns out some Indonesian tourist just arrived at the higher station.

the Indonesian tourist

Before we leave mount Seorak, we ate our breakfast at a restaurant inside the lower cable car station.

the restaurant

our breakfast

After filled our stomach, then we walked out from Seoraksan National Park and wait for bus number 7-1 to get back to our motel.

waiting for the bus to the motel

this is the nearest hotel from Seoraksan National Park, within walking distance.

From our motel, we took bus 7-1 to Sokcho terminal. From inside the bus, I can see the sea from there, also a unique building in Sokho.

the sea view from the bus

it's amazing to see such unique building in this small city

From Sokcho bus terminal, we too a bus to Chuncheon, and the continue with bus to Gapyeong to visit Nami Island.

ticket to Chuncheon

Sokcho bus station

ticket from Chuncheon to Gapyeong

Chuncheon station

XOXO,
The Tourist

South Korea Trip: First Snow Experience in Yong Pyong Ski Resort

I lived in a tropic climate where I can only get rainy and dry season only. So, during our trip to Korea, we want to feel what a true snows really felt. That's why we put Yong Pyong Ski Resort as one of the destinations during our trip in South Korea.

From Seoul, we took a bus frong DongSeoul to Hoenggye. The ride is around 3 hours.

ticket from DongSeoul to Hoenggye

After we arrived at Hoenggye, we took a local bus about 1000 won per person. Actually there a free shuttle from Hoenggye to Yong Pyong, we just don't know where is the shuttle since it was located outside the terminal.

Someone gave us this this schedule if we want to go back to Seoul

After we arrived at Yong Pyong, we went to the main building, Dragon Plaza, and the the location is only walking distance from there. We put our luggage in the coin lockers first and then went to the ticket locket to buy ticket for the gondola. yes, we did not try skiing, we just too glad to see the snow, and this way is cheaper too :P  

our first time seeing snow

The ski slope near Dragon Plaza

in front of Dragon Plaza

inside Dragon Plaza

the coin lockers place

the gondola

view from the Gondola

Using Gondola, we went to the resort on the highest hill, Dragon Peak. This was the resort that were used in Winter Sonata movie series. The location was quite empty, maybe because the skiing season has not started yet. In the Dragon Peak, we can see huge poster of Winter Sonata. Yes, the movie really risen up this resort.

Winter Sonata poster

Winter Sonata casts

the Dragon Peak

The view from outside the dragon peak is amazing. I can see layers of hills from there. There's also snow up here. It is a real snow, since I can feel the softness of the snow, softer than the snow in the skiing place near Dragon Plaza. We took some of our happy faces with the snow here.

layers of hills

view from the helipad

me with the snow

this one made my hand freeze actually

really cute hand print made by a little boy

Usually professional skier took a ride with the gondola and the start skiing from up here. Pretty scary I guess.

the ski trail

After done with all the photos, we use the gondola to get back to Dragon Plaza, pick up our luggage, and then waiting for the free shuttle to Hoenggye. Please pay attention to the schedule, because if you come in the low season, the frequency of the bus will be low to, which will impact you travel schedule.

From Hoenggye, we took a bus to Gangneung, and then we continue with the bus to Sokcho. From Sokcho terminal, we went to a bus stop near terminal (don't cross the road), and waiting for bus 7-1. We plan to sleep in Sokcho close to Mount Seorak, so in the morning we can go to Seoraksan National Park.

ticket from Gangneung to Sokcho

Schedule for bus number 7-1

We slept in Songwol Park. The motels building was quite old, but it has a vast room, and we it only took us 5 minutes bus ride to Seoraksan National Park.

inside our room in Songwol park

it even has a kitchen in it

XOXO,
The Tourist