Korea was amazing! I had such a fantastic time. It's a beautiful country full of wonderful people. I'll share photos when I can they will be far more interesting than my rushed narration. Here's a brief recap of what we did:
Day 1: Leave for airport, realized I forgot my camera! Kick myself thoroughly then remember that Alina and Camille are likely to be better prepared than me. Or in the worst case, purchase new camera in Korea. Fly from Dulles to LAX. In LAX, get voicemail from Alina that she is catching an earlier flight to Seoul so please let Camille know. Send email to Camille's OLD email address with Alina's flight info on it. Camille never got the info. Then fly to Tokyo, and slept like a baby in business class (the seats lie flat!).
Day 2: Transfer in Tokyo to Seoul and arrive in Seoul. It was easy to pick out Alina & Camille because they were the only blonde's at arrivals! Caught a shuttle to our guest house in Seoul. I highly recommend the guest house we stayed at it's the Seoul Guest House. We stayed in the Sarang-chae which was a little 3 room house. It was so cute and built in the traditional way with rice paper walls, it was beautiful! Got organized in the guest house and went to bed.
Day 3: Woke up bright and early and headed out to find breakfast. Stumbled onto a great little bakery near the guest house and piled our trays full of mystery pastries (none of us knew any Korean or could read hangul). Lucky for us, all the pastries were delicious! We then headed off to Kyongbok Palace. It was great and they were reenacting a changing of the guard, and some of the Kings processionals as they were during the Chosan Dynasty. We even got our picture with the King! I'll share photos as soon as Camille & Alina upload them. We then headed off to Insadong for lunch. We had an amazing lunch. It was so delicious. I should add they we ate a huge meal about every two hours on the trip! Then we metroed to Seoul Tower, took the cable car up to the top and enjoyed great views of Seoul. We collapsed into bed exhausted at 8:00pm!
Day 4: Woke up went to the same bakery and stuffed faces again. (Notice the ongoing theme of stuffing faces!). We then went to Changduk Palace. It was magnificent. We wandered around Seoul a bit more then headed back to the Guest House to pack up and head to Camille's place. We metroed the hour and a half back to Camille's, dropped off our bags and headed out to eat again!
Day 5: We took a tour of the DMZ. This was amazing! We went to 3 different look out points where we could peer into North Korea, went to the third infiltration tunnel (one of the tunnels the North Koreans dug to move troops into the South), went to Dorasan Train Station, and then finished the tour at the Joint Security Area. Where we were told by ROK and US troops to keep our hands down, no sudden movements, gesturing or verbal/non-verbal contact with North Korean soldiers. I should add that Alina & Camille were slightly concerned that I would gesture while talking and get us killed!!! While we were in the meeting room about 5 North Korean soldiers came up and started peering int he windows. It was so exciting. Camille got a great picture of one staring in the window.
Day 6: Started off the day fully intending to go to Suwon, but got distracted in route and instead spent the day shopping. Seven large oil paintings, three purses, two robes, a blanket, a set of chopsticks, and countless souvenirs later we wrapped up this day by eating again.
Day 7: Went on a tour of Kosu Cave and took a cruise on Lake Chunchoen to the Dam. It was very relaxing and great to see the Korean country side.
Day 8: Low key day of more eating, packing, and general preparations for leaving. Alina & I said farewell to Camille and caught a bus to Incheon. Arrived in Incheon had quite the adventure getting to our hotel, and ate dinner at a nearby the restaurant. Lucky for me I can say bi bim bap! I think it may just be all the Korean I need! :) and kamsahamnida, of course.
Day 9: Catch shuttle to the airport and fly to Tokyo. Spent my 6 hour layover in Tokyo in the Admirals Club. Flying business class ROCKS! The Admirals Club had showers, nice bathrooms, free computers, free wifi, free buffet with snacks, free drinks, it was great! Managed to use my Korean calling card on Japanese phones which was a major feat considering I can neither understand or read either language! Then caught a plane to Chicago and left Tokyo.
Day 10: Arrived in Chicago wizzed through immigration and customs in record time and managed to find an earlier flight to DC. Traded my first class seat for a middle seat on a flight that left 4 hours earlier than my scheduled flight. Flew to DC squished in the middle. And arrived safely at home around 8 pm.
Korea was a terrific experience and all three of us had a great time. I managed to grow my stomach three times its normal size and learned mad charade skills! Pics will follow soon.
Day 1: Leave for airport, realized I forgot my camera! Kick myself thoroughly then remember that Alina and Camille are likely to be better prepared than me. Or in the worst case, purchase new camera in Korea. Fly from Dulles to LAX. In LAX, get voicemail from Alina that she is catching an earlier flight to Seoul so please let Camille know. Send email to Camille's OLD email address with Alina's flight info on it. Camille never got the info. Then fly to Tokyo, and slept like a baby in business class (the seats lie flat!).
Day 2: Transfer in Tokyo to Seoul and arrive in Seoul. It was easy to pick out Alina & Camille because they were the only blonde's at arrivals! Caught a shuttle to our guest house in Seoul. I highly recommend the guest house we stayed at it's the Seoul Guest House. We stayed in the Sarang-chae which was a little 3 room house. It was so cute and built in the traditional way with rice paper walls, it was beautiful! Got organized in the guest house and went to bed.
Day 3: Woke up bright and early and headed out to find breakfast. Stumbled onto a great little bakery near the guest house and piled our trays full of mystery pastries (none of us knew any Korean or could read hangul). Lucky for us, all the pastries were delicious! We then headed off to Kyongbok Palace. It was great and they were reenacting a changing of the guard, and some of the Kings processionals as they were during the Chosan Dynasty. We even got our picture with the King! I'll share photos as soon as Camille & Alina upload them. We then headed off to Insadong for lunch. We had an amazing lunch. It was so delicious. I should add they we ate a huge meal about every two hours on the trip! Then we metroed to Seoul Tower, took the cable car up to the top and enjoyed great views of Seoul. We collapsed into bed exhausted at 8:00pm!
Day 4: Woke up went to the same bakery and stuffed faces again. (Notice the ongoing theme of stuffing faces!). We then went to Changduk Palace. It was magnificent. We wandered around Seoul a bit more then headed back to the Guest House to pack up and head to Camille's place. We metroed the hour and a half back to Camille's, dropped off our bags and headed out to eat again!
Day 5: We took a tour of the DMZ. This was amazing! We went to 3 different look out points where we could peer into North Korea, went to the third infiltration tunnel (one of the tunnels the North Koreans dug to move troops into the South), went to Dorasan Train Station, and then finished the tour at the Joint Security Area. Where we were told by ROK and US troops to keep our hands down, no sudden movements, gesturing or verbal/non-verbal contact with North Korean soldiers. I should add that Alina & Camille were slightly concerned that I would gesture while talking and get us killed!!! While we were in the meeting room about 5 North Korean soldiers came up and started peering int he windows. It was so exciting. Camille got a great picture of one staring in the window.
Day 6: Started off the day fully intending to go to Suwon, but got distracted in route and instead spent the day shopping. Seven large oil paintings, three purses, two robes, a blanket, a set of chopsticks, and countless souvenirs later we wrapped up this day by eating again.
Day 7: Went on a tour of Kosu Cave and took a cruise on Lake Chunchoen to the Dam. It was very relaxing and great to see the Korean country side.
Day 8: Low key day of more eating, packing, and general preparations for leaving. Alina & I said farewell to Camille and caught a bus to Incheon. Arrived in Incheon had quite the adventure getting to our hotel, and ate dinner at a nearby the restaurant. Lucky for me I can say bi bim bap! I think it may just be all the Korean I need! :) and kamsahamnida, of course.
Day 9: Catch shuttle to the airport and fly to Tokyo. Spent my 6 hour layover in Tokyo in the Admirals Club. Flying business class ROCKS! The Admirals Club had showers, nice bathrooms, free computers, free wifi, free buffet with snacks, free drinks, it was great! Managed to use my Korean calling card on Japanese phones which was a major feat considering I can neither understand or read either language! Then caught a plane to Chicago and left Tokyo.
Day 10: Arrived in Chicago wizzed through immigration and customs in record time and managed to find an earlier flight to DC. Traded my first class seat for a middle seat on a flight that left 4 hours earlier than my scheduled flight. Flew to DC squished in the middle. And arrived safely at home around 8 pm.
Korea was a terrific experience and all three of us had a great time. I managed to grow my stomach three times its normal size and learned mad charade skills! Pics will follow soon.
2 comments:
sounds like an amazing time melanie! can't wait to see pix!
Mel, it has now been 21 days since this post. Where are the pictures?!! Glad you had a great time.
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