Spring Break in Korea Day 12 (8 April 2015) - Part II

Su Yeon San Bang (수연산방) tea house

After late lunch, we headed out to suyeonsanbang (수연산방) tea house in Seongbuk-Dong. This quiet traditional tea house used to be a hanok residence of the late Korean author Lee Taejun. This classic abode, with its unassuming beauty, is indeed an ideal place to take a respite from the hustle and bustle of hectic city life. Their noteworthy menu items include blueberry makgeolli and patbingsu (shaved ice dessert, excellent for summer).

From udon restaurant near Jonggak station, we took buses 150 and 2112.  Alternatively, you can take subway to Hansung University Station then change to bus.

How to get there: Hansung University Station, Line 4, Exit 6

                            Then take bus 03 or 1111 or 2112

                            Alight at Dongbang Graduate University

                            Tea house is just 3-4 min walk away

Opening hours: 11:30 - 22:00

Seriously, Google Map knows the best.  Even bus arrival times were very accurate!

We were so sad to discover upon our arrival that suyeonsanbang was closed for renovation T.T

Spring Break in Korea Day 12 (8 April 2015) - Part I

We had a pretty late breakfast at Paris Baguette (inside Seoul Station) around 11am before taking the subway to visit the National Museum of Korea. This was my first visit and many of you might recognize it from the comedic variety show Running Man. 

The National Museum of Korea

This is the largest museum in Korea as well as the sixth largest in the world.  Its a beautiful marble building which houses thousands of national relics and artifacts, which depict a compelling history of Korea. The museum also includes The National Hanguel Museum (offering a glimpse to gain a better understanding of Korean alphabets) and The Children's Museum with several hands-on activities. If time permitted, I'm sure we could have easily spent the entire day in the museum. 

How to get there: Ichon Station, Line 4, Exit 2

Opening Hours: Closed every Monday & New Year's Day

                                Tue, Thur, Fri 09:00-18:00

                                Wed, Sat 09:00-21:00

                                Sun, Holidays 09:00-19:00

Entrance fees: Free entry for permanent exhibitions but visitors need to purchase a ticket for blockbuster shows such as Pompeii. 

Spring Break in Korea Day 11 (7 April 2015)

I had meetings the whole day today so the only photos from today were of food! 

Simple yet mouth-watering breakfast, I'm craving for it even right now!

Spring Break in Korea Day 10 (6 April 2015)

We left our apartment around 9:30am to explore Paju area today.  Paju is located further north of Seoul, pretty close to North Korea.  During the bus ride, we were driving along the river at some points and we could see across the river into North Korea! Anyhow, we didn't have to wait long for bus 2200 and reached English Village around 10:45 am. No traffic at all too! haha :D

Gyeonggi English Village, Paju Camp

The most effective way to learn a new language is for you to be put in an environment which forces to you utilize that language for your daily activities. That's how I managed to improve on my command of the English language as I lived and studied in Singapore.  That's also why my sister went to Seoul for a few months of intensive language program.  

I guess that is the main purpose of this English Village - to help Koreans learn English language in a setting similar to a typical English neighborhood, complete with  City Hall, post office, bank, theater, police station, hospital, market, restaurants, cafes and last but not least, schools! This surrounding facilitates learning in terms of role-playing and in the context of daily life, as opposed to the usual boring way of memorization and regurgitation.  

Other than its educational value, this place is beautiful and quite a lot of couples go there for their pre-Wedding photoshoot. Also, a lot of you might recognize this as the shooting location for variety show Running Man. 

We came here as we had ample time and it was on our way to Paju Premium Outlet.  If you have been to Europe and are not a big fan of Running Man, you can skip this.  There are other places in Seoul you should explore, especially if you are in Korea for the first time.

Opening Hours: 09:30 - 18:00

How to get there: Hapjeong Station, Line 2 or 6, Exit 2

                            Bus 200 or 2200 (10-15 min interval)

Entrance Fees: 3,000 Won per adult on weekday

                       5,000 Won per adult on weekend

 View of English Village as seen from the bus stop

Spring Break in Korea Day 9 (5 April 2015)

Sunday = Lazy Day (yes, it applies even when you are on holiday :D)

Our simple yet yummy breakfast at noon

All 3 of us slept in and had late breakfast around noon! Then we set out around 2pm for Hongdae.  God, it was extremely crowded in Hongdae. I couldn’t remember Hongdae streets being this packed, except while I was chasing Jang Geun Seok during the filming of drama "Marry Me Mary" and Yoon Shi Yoon  (from drama "Baker King Kim Tak Gu") during the filming of Guerrilla Date, back in 2010, as a exchange student at Korea University.  Hahaha I did spot quite a few of Korean celebrities then.  I was such a cray cray girl for K-Pop & K-Drama back in 2010 but I'm much calmer now :D

2 of us outside Seoul Station Exit 4, nearest to AREX line

Spring Break in Korea Day 8 (4 April 2015)

After non-stop touring for the whole week, it was time to sit back and relax.  Our friends left for airport quite early around 8am. As we were waving bye to them and wishing them safe flight, we felt like we were sending off our house guests!  Haha :D

After they left, we packed our bags, cleaned up our cozy AirBnB apartment, made sure nothing is left behind then called our landlord to let him know we were ready to leave and to thank him.  He called taxi for us so that we could move to a smaller apartment right behind Seoul Station.  There was not much traffic around 11 am and we spent just 10,000 Won on taxi fare. 

Food for Thought 4 [Greatest Pop Music from My Pre-Teen Years]

The other day, I was browsing through our old stash of CDs as my car only had built-in 30-pin Apple cable and CD player.  It totally made me feel like I had traveled back in time. 

(Credit: Britney Spears Official Vevo)

Way before the popularity of iPod and iPhone, we didn't enjoy the convenience that iTunes offers - an avenue to download your favorite songs for 99 cents each.  Instead, we had to physically bring our lazy asses to the music store  in those days!  

NUS Gang in Korea Day 7 (3 April 2015) - Part II

After a satisfying lunch, we continued onto Samcheon-dong neighborhood from Tosokchon (the place marked with a red pin at the bottom left corner of the above map).

In my previous trip 2 years ago, we walked the other way round, from Samcheon-dong towards Tosokchon.  Either way is fine, depending on your schedule.

http://musingsofmissn.blogspot.com/2014/01/mr-missy-in-korea-day-13-28-may-2013.html

Samcheon-dong

We took a stroll from Tosokchon, back to the main gate of Gyeongbokgung, and along the palace walls on the Eastern side. Then cross the road into Samcheon-ro street, marked in the above map with a red line.

Alternatively, you could take subway for 1 station from Gyeongbokgung to Anguk and begin the exploration of the area from Anguk Station, Exit 3. That was our starting point of the Bukchon+Samcheondong stroll during Mister exchange student days. 

http://musingsofmissn.blogspot.com/2014/01/mr-missy-in-korea-day-13-28-may-2013.html

Samcheon-dong is a quaint area dotted with many unique museums (Owl museum, anyone?), cozy cafes, organic beauty shops and pretty boutique stores. 

Spring was admittedly more beautiful. This was taken 2 years ago in May 2013.

NUS Gang in Korea Day 7 (3 April 2015) - Part I

After a couple of days of simplified breakfast at our Airbnb accommodation,we went back to the small eatery located inside the Yeongdeungpo station for breakfast around 9am. Their menu is limited to stews, udon and kimbab but food is pretty tasty!  

Gyeongbokgung Palace

We reached our first sightseeing spot slightly after 10 as we did enjoyed our leisurely breakfast. Construction of the Gyeongbokgung Palace was completed in 1395, 3 years after the Joseon Dynasty was founded by King Taejo. The Palace as the heart of the capital city of Seoul flourished as a small city, with over 500 buildings covering 64 hectares at the height of its glorious past. Sadly, it was destroyed by the Japanese invasion not just once, but twice in 1592-98 and 1915. Since 1990, there has been an ongoing enormous effort (a 40-year project) to restore this once-stunning palace grounds to its former glory.