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

South Korea Trip: Korean Street Foods

During the first three days of our trip in Seoul, we've already tried some of the street food. However, during my stays in Korea, I ate only twice a day, and I didn't felt hungry at all. Maybe because the city attracts me more than its food.

Street food can easily be found in shopping center like Myeong-dong and Insa-dong. The first street beverage that we tried was pomegranate juice, with price 5,000 won. Yes, it was that pricey, unfortunately we forget to take a photo with it before we drank it all up.

The next street food that we tried was fish cake. We bought it in Insa-dong. The seller had plenty kinds of fish cake. We tried the spicy fish cake. The seller remind us that it will be very spicy, but maybe because we usually eat chilly sauce in Indonesia, so the spiciness is still in our range.

the fishcake seller

with spicy fishcake

The next food is Macaroon Ice Cream. The first thought when I saw the stall was "I have to buy this one!". There are many flavors for the ice cream, and you can choose the macaroon that you want to complete the ice cream. We choose cheesecake for the ice cream and vanilla for the macaroon. The cheesecake ice cream was delicious, but the macaroon was too sweet for me.

the macaroon ice cream

it's tasty

The third food was Bungeoppang, it looks exactly like Taiyaki in Japan, a fish shaped bread with filling. Bungeoppang that I tried was using red beans as its fillings. For me, Bungeoppang taste more crispy and the shape is smaller compared to Chocolate Taiyaki that I tried in Japan.

my waarm and tasty bungeoppang

Another food that we tried was fruity ice cream. We bought it inside Dongdaemun Design Plaza. The taste is so so for me, not as amazing as it's looks. But who don't love eating ice cream in cold weather?

ice cream seller inside Dongdaemun Design Plaza

Kiwi ice cream

The rest is not Korean related food & beverage, but they're also my favorite. Since I usually need coffee to start up my day, so these two tasty Starbucks were really helpful in waking my eyes up.

Caramel Latte

white coffee

Last but not least is another amazing Kinder's product. Kinder's never stop blow me up with its products, and this one not only tasty but also healthy because it has cereals in it :D

Kinder Chocolate with Cereals

And now if I feel hungry again after writing my own review....


XOXO,
The Tourist

South Korea Trip: Kimchi Festival at Gwanghwamun Square and Lantern show at Cheonggyecheon Stream

After filling our stomach with warm samgyetang, we walked to Gwanghwamun Square. At first we only want to see King Sejong the Great statue, but luckily at Gwanghwamun Square there was Seoul Kimchi Festival. We took a chance to visit the Festival. There were plenty accessories stalls and food stalls along the Gwanghwamun Square. There were also plenty people queuing to get free kimchi. Since we've already full, so we just passed by the queue. My favorite spot in the festival was the kimchi-making stall. The ladies who made the kimchi wore traditional korean costume, so it feels like women from the past making kimchi :)

Seoul Kimchi Festival!

many people come here

the ladies preparing kimchi

I also found Kimchi bus in there. They said the Kimchi bus already traveled to many countries to introduced Kimchi. Amazing isn't it?

the kimchi bus

Inside Kimchi festival, we could found King Sejong the Great statue. and not far from the festival, we also meet with Admiral Yi Sunshin statue.

King Sejong the Great statue

Admiral Yi Sunshin statue

Nearby Admiral Yi Sunshin statue, there were some tents and fulfilled with pictures and someone prayed in from of the pictures. After paying attention to the pictures, I realized the tents was dedicated to memorized the victims of MV Sewol that sink during its trip to Jeju. Since the victims are students who're going for field trip, so most of the photos are happy face of the high school students. Just seeing this scene really made us sad and teary. 

he's praying for the MV Sewol victims

pictures of the victims :(

Then we continue our trip to Cheonggyecheon steram through Insa-dong. Insa-dong was quite crowded that night, just like Myeong-dong. Though I like Myeong-dong better, but if you want to find souvenirs to be brought home, I suggest you to visit Insa-dong since it has more souvenirs shops.

Insa-dong

Then we arrived at Cheinggyecheon stream. We thought the lantern festival has already over, so we just expect a less crowded walk along the stream. But fortunately the lantern festival not over yet, so we can enjoy the beauty of the lanterns while we walk along the stream. To be honest, during festival like this, the walk along the stream were so packed and crowded. If you bring friend, make sure you hold them tight so you won't get separated. 

the lantern festival at Cheonggyecheon Stream

After get out from the stream, I saw a traditional swing machine, just like a night market in Indonesia. amazed!

this thing also there in Seoul? :O

Before closing our journey that day, we went to Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP). This place is new and famous because of its shape and especially after it appears in a famous Korean drama "My Love from Another Star".

in front of Dongdaemun Design Plaza. It looks like a space ship :)

The best thing was, it was the time for thousands (or millions maybe?) of rose lamps festival on the top of DDP. We felt so blessed to be able to see many festivals that day. Happy!

The rose lamps festival on the top of DDP. We love it!

XOXO,

The Tourist