South Korea Trip: Everland Theme Park

Travelling to Korea won't complete without visiting Everland theme park. So, the last day before leaving Korea, we visit Everland. We stayed at Seoul 24 Guesthouse, which's really close to Seoul Station. After breakfast, we walk to the station. Even in early morning, we could see some people exercising in the park. I wish I have such park near my house so I don't have to go to the gym for just some stretching.

Park with Gym Equipment

kids playground nearby our guesthouse

Everland is located in the far south of Seoul. Therefore it took us about an hour to arrived at Eveland using Yongin Ever Line (train). From Everland station, we follow the guidance at the street then we arrived at the Everland bus stop. The bus that took us from the station to Everland is free of charge.

Everland Bus Station

inside Everland bus

After arrived at the Everland, we bought the entrance ticket for 37,000 won each. It accept credit card if you don't bring enough cash.

the entrance ticket

another side of the ticket

Everland entrance gate

The first thing we did after entering the gate was having a brunch. we haven't had our breakfast yet, so we stopped by at the nearest restaurant, whose name Venezia. The taste was so so, but because we're hungry it become a bit delicious.

Venezia Restaurant

our brunch menu

After loaded our stomach, we visit the nearest attraction, which is K-Pop Hologram. It was the time for 2NE1 show. I almost shed a tear when watching the show, it looked and felt so real and they're so beautiful as well.

in front of K-Pop Hologram

The next destination is the Magic Tree. This giant tree is famous, since all my friend who went to Everland always take a pic of this tree. Fortunately there's a LINE store in front of the Magic Tree, since I really love LINE characters and wanted to buy one of its authentic product in Korea.

the Magic Tree

under the Magic Tree (yes, it was this huge)

Brown, Cony, Sally, and me

The main attraction that we wanted to try was T-Express. T-Express is the world's ninth fastest, fourth tallest, and sixth longest wooden coaster. The queue for this attraction is so long, because it's the most famous attraction in Everland.

me trying to capture T-Express from far away

it's really made of woods

Actually I wanted to try the other roller coaster too, the Rolling X-Train, but it was closed due to maintenance at the time came there. There also plenty of thrilling attractions, but my sister was too afraid to try. So the other 'thrilling' attraction that she dare to try was Racing Coaster, which was only really thrill for kids :(

in front of Rolling X-Train

In front of Racing Coaster

queuing among children

Besides attraction, it also has a music show to entertain the children at the Carnival Square. I also ate some snacks during my time in Everland including the Minimelts ice cream (I did not remember it was really Minimelts or just its wannabe).

Show at Carnival Square

our Minimelts

The topography of Everland is like hills and valley, once you go to the valley (where T-Express located), you will have to go through a climb a steep road to get back to the hill (the entrance gate). Luckily there's a travelator that can help you overcome this. Such a great idea.

my favorite travelator

Another famous icon in the Everland beside the giant tree is its garden. When my friends came there in October, the Four Season Garden and Rose Garden were covered with flowers including tulip. But since I came there in mid November, the flowers already gone and replaced by beautiful lights! The garden was so big, and it's all covered by little lamp. A really romantic ambiance if you went were there with your love one.

beautiful lights at Four Season Garden

Blue lights at Rose Garden

another view of the Rose Garden

That night was quite cold and the nicest thing was the park provided a room to warm up your body. It's located in several places and really useful especially if you bring little children in that kind of temperature.

the warming room at Carnival Square

Before leaving the park, we passed by the giant tree again and it looks more beautiful since it's already covered with lights.

XOXO,
The Tourist

South Korea Trip: Reminiscing Winter Sonata in Nami Island

After we arrived at Gapyeong station, we took a taxi to Nami Island. There're plenty of taxis outside Gapyeong station, so you don't have to worry about this. I forgot how much we paid for the taxi, but it was around 3000-5000 won (if i'm not mistaken). The ride was only 10-15 minutes, but it was worth since we had no clue where nami island was located.

Arrived in Nami port, our taxi directly taken by other passenger, i guess they were just lazy to walk, since if they want to get taxi they have to walk out to the port gate first. We continue our walk to the ticket counter. The first question that we asked was, "where's the locker room?". The officer said the lockers are behind the ticketing office, side by side with the toilet.

our "visa" to Nami Island

there's a Nami Island map behind the visa (if you understand)

here are the locker room

We put our luggage in two lockers and only bring what we needs like camera and gloves. Lucky us the ferry was about to sail, so we didn't have to wait. At the ferry, we can find flags from many countries including Indonesia :D

Indonesia flag!

From the ferry, we can see another ferry from Nami island that also sailed near our ferry. Besides ferry, actually you can also go to Nami using flying fox or also known as Zipwire. The tower for the  Zipwire is near the port, and it will take you directly to Nami only by a single rope!

the return ferry

Zipwire tower

are you dare enough?

After arrived in Nami island, we were welcome by the gate and a huge Nami Island map. If you're looking for taking pictures at the tree lane, don't worry, you'll find lot's of it in here. I even confused which lane of trees is the famous one. But since this island is really a tourist spot, so it you'll found many interesting photo spots in here. They even prepared an alley that already covered by autumn leaves and white lamps, which was looked so adorable.

welcome gate

Giant Nami Island Map

another Indonesia flag

White Pine Tree Lane

White Pine Trees Lane with autumn leaves

Metasequoia Lane

Ginko Tree Lane

We was prepared ourselves by re-watching Winter Sonata series before going to South Korea. So seeing each of the winter sonata monument was really made us happy.

Winter Sonata First Kiss scene location

Winter Sonata statue

Winter Sonata poster

After took some walks, we felt a little hungry, so we went to a coffee shop named Ethiopia coffee. My sister brought churros, while I only ordered hot chocolate mint. The chocolate mint was amazing, it tasted like Baskin Robbins mint chocochip ice cream in a hot liquid form. Really recommended!

Ethiopia Coffee

Besides the trees and winter sonata monuments, we can also find other interesting building and statue in here, such as UNICEF hall which looks like a castle, water stage swimming pool, Naminara Republic central bank, woodmen statues, and breastfeeding statue (seriously).

UNICEF hall

Water Stage Swimming Pool

Naminara Republic Central Bank

Woodmen Statue

Breastfeeding Statue

a local peacock was taking an afternoon walk

When the sky is almost dark, we decided to leave nami island to catch a train to Seoul. We took a taxi outside the port to Gapyeong train station, then took ITX train from Gapyeong to Yongsan (in seoul).  To get the ITX ticket, you have to enter the normal train gate first, after arrived at the platform, search for a box/room with ITX word at it, then you can buy the ITX ticket using ticketing machine in there. This one is an express train, with limited stops, and it took us directly to Seoul in only an hour.

Nearby the port, I could spot my company logo >.<

ITX Ticket

XOXO,
The Tourist