Travel Boo

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16th & 17th (final days in Korea)

16th day is our shopping day. We split up where my daughter & wife went for a fan meeting (VIXX) at Seoul Station Centre while I went for a shopping spree (actually buying things that already being ordered by our relatives..hu..hu..)

I went out of Seoul (Sinju) looking for my in law motor pool pants (Uglybros).. after the original place in Banpo actually an office is closed on Saturday!!! from there, I went again to Namdaemun Market to buy some more souvenir. there, I enter a shop that sell Hanbok (Korean Traditional Dress). We actually already plan to buy a hanbok for our daughter as her attire during her school farewell dinner. From what we heard, the pricing is quite expensive.. I believe it is because of the traditional design and also the high grade material (silk). But, the one that I went to I believe is the modified version of hanbok (to make easier for foreigner to wear) and the material is not silk.. the price stated is 90,000 Won but manage to bargain for 80,000Won (RM240). Since the price is quite reasonable, I also buy one for myself.. hi..hi..

Later we met up at hotel before shoot to Lotte World Mart at Jamsil. There, my wife found this wagon which she has been eyeing since we went to Nami Island where parents pull their children in the park.. looking in her eyes, cannot say no and buy it there and then!! Have to take out from the box in order to carry around (lucky it has handle & wheel)... the size quite huge until you need to check in at the Extra Sized Luggage during our checkin at the airport. Well, at least, it does make my wife happy!!

That night, we did not sleep as too many things to be packed. We also plan to take the 1st limousine bus to airport at 4.30am.

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15th day in Korea

Today we spend our time at EVERLAND!!!

Our plan of staying there until 4pm diminished with a huge crowd (especially from local people!!!). Don't they work or go to school on Friday???? Can you imagine, the foreigner ticket counter is only 1 booth with a line up less than 20 pax while, for locals there are nearly 10 booths open for them. We nearly give up and don't want to go after seeing the crowd!!

I'm not sure, but it feels like Everland might be located at higher level since the weather  is much cooler than Gangnam area.

T-Express roller coaster is the main attraction here, as previous post, we line up for more than 3 hours for this less than 3 minutes ride!!! But, we glad we did it!! Worth it!!! Riding the T-Express, makes you feel like you have accomplished your main goal at Everland.. after the ride, we just walk around the beautiful park. We end up our time there by riding the Sky Walk (makes u feel like going to ski on the mountain).. helped us a lot that we no need to climb the hill for exit.

After Everland, we rushed to Namdaemun Market, thinking of doing some shopping as souvenir. We arrived there around 9pm and found out most of the shop area already closed (their opening hour actually from 8am - 5pm... I guess, they don't really need the money from tourist that more available on night time..ha..ha..)

Luckily, the shop that we went on our 2nd day is still open. The owner (so called Yusuf.. his glamour name) so happy that we return to his place, give us a good deal!!! that night, we nearly spent RM1000!!!! Thanks Choi Yong aka Yusuf (02-7711444).... your Malay is quite good!!!

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Halloween theme captured during the 3 hours queing for the T-Express (the wooden structure behind the figure)

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13th & 14th day in Korea

Arriving at Seoul, the weather is sooo much cooler than during our arrival at Itaewon. The winter is nearer i guess.. This round, we spend our time in Sinsa Dong.. Gangnam area. Well, if you are non muslim and enjoy night life, well, this location definitely is your place. It is happening with all the fashion and boutique along the street. My daughter session to track down the K-Pop world started!!! We start off with going to their office/studio: Jellyfish, JYP, SM Entertainment & Cube..

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From our pension, the owner drop us at bustop to catch bus no.700 that will bring us to KTX station at Simjeyoung Station (need to check the spelling)... We bought a standard seated ticket worth 104000 won for the three of us. Don't really feel the speed but from the tv monitor, it already goes yo 270km/hr!!!

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11th & 12th day in Korea

Gyeongju, a slow city. It provide calm and subtle feeling after a quite hectic activity in Itaewon, Jeju and Busan. We checked in at Attimua Guesthouse & Pension. An isolated place with a small lake to complete its view. Along the way to get there, the wave of golden paddy field really mesmerized us. The trees start changing colours since it is autumn. Even not all, but the mixing of green, yellow, red and even violet is something new to us which coming from tropical paradise. Due to the scenery is very beautiful, we actually just spend the whole 2 days in our pension. Even the owner seem to be worried why we don't go for sightseeing as normal tourist. Maybe due to its location, it rains here. A worth relaxing place before proceed to Seoul again...

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25 posts!

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WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER WHEN YOU ARE IN A BAD MOOD?

Eat...

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Sunrise @ Haeundae Beach

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7th, 8th, 9th &10th day

From Jeju, we travel to Busan by AirBusan again.. at Gimhae Airport, we head to Haeundae Beach area by Airport Limousine Bus which cost us about 24000won. Unfortunately, our hotel not so famous that the bus driver alighted us at Grand Hotel. For that, we got to wonder around for nearly half an hour with all of our luggage until i got the familiar landmark (Novotel Ambassador Hotel) based on Google Streetview Map. But, once checked into the hotel, it is worth while!!! 2Ne1 Hotel is such a beautiful and luxury hotel.. with a colourful jacuzzy n room, plus the warm, friendly and helpful staff. It is more than we expected. The night shift manager (Mark) can speak quite fluent english.. his effort to show me the Traditional Market and Paris Baguette bakery by himself is very helpful!! So, in Busan, we do not plan so much activity as we spent most of our time either in the hotel or at the beach. The Haeundae Beach at night, got a few basking performance along the shore. On the day, we did went to the biggest shopping complex (2009), Shinsegae. My daughter got a free MCM pouch & EXO photo album after participated in promotion game (table football) with an ahjussi... The next day, we went to Gugak Show at Busan National Gugak Center. Aigoo... even the Ahjussi and Ahjumma also fall asleep watching the show.. so, better check what is the theme before go. Our's was Royal Theme.. and my daughter keep asking, why the music always the same and the dance is very slow.. well, maybe only royalty will enjoy the show...lol... For the meal, so lucky our hotel is very near to an Indian, Punjabi, Turkish & 100% seafood restaurant. We celebrate our 18th Anniversary by having a seafood delicacy that worth nearly USD100... really delicious!!!! Next, Gyeongju... here we come!!!

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Very useful for those travelling on their own without package or travel guide..

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U-Do beautiful scenery..

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6th day in Korea

Its our sixth day in Korea today. Today is the 15th of October and we decided to venture to an island off Jeju-do. We started out early in the morning as the first ferry starts its sevice at eight. The temperature was about 18 degrees celcius and since we're from a warm country......it was pretty cold for us. We arrived at the harbour on time. We boarded the ferrry an stood at the back and since i can't remember what u call this part of rhe ship....we shall leave it at that. The wind was super cold and everyone was going after the sunlight. Fortunately it was a short ŕide to Udo. The sea was beatiful though. Arriving ib Udo was memorable. Since both my hubby and myself brought our international license along, we could rent two motorised vehicle to get around the island. I got myself a cute three wheeled, two person scooter like contraprion while my hubby got an ATV. We had a time of our life riding around the whole island. With my daughter sitting behind me, nagging all the way, we saw pong pong ladies , wonderful beaches and had our first taste of abalone, sea turban & octupus. We were surprised when we popped the first raw abalone into our mouths. It was hard to even chew . I was literally swallowing it whole. Then the shop owner brought a bowl of hot water and dipped the raw abalone into it for 10 secs. Wow! The abalone became tender & it was delicious. After 2 and a half hours we arrived at the start of the route and retuned the rented vehicles. Then we went on a boat ride to see rock formations around the island. There' a cow , a moon; a crocodile, a gorilla, a dragon & a human face. Then we headed home to our beautiful padosori pension! He!He!

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See how excited the girls are??? glad to make them happy..

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These what i can share thru my phone memory.. the rest yet to be transfer from my olympus..@Jeju Aqua Planet

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Map and scenery at Phoenix Island..

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5th day in Korea

Woke up feeling fresh with the wave sound.. our breakfast for today is maggi mee goreng.. erm.. yummy!!! Relaxing and took our time to get ready since we do not set any agenda for today.. First we thought of going to Aqua Planet.. after set the gps with last 7 number of the phone number, we just follow where the voice directing us.. Just about to arrive there, i saw a junction with sign "Phoenix Island".. out of curiousity, i turn at that junction instead of direct to Aqua Planet. My God!!! The scenery is superb!!! You can choose to walk, ride or even ride a carriage! Since it is still mornong and cool, we decided to walk our way up to the cliff.. After take hundreds of picture, we decide to head for Aqua Planet.. In aqua planet, we personally think that facitities wise, nothing much impresses us compare to Aquaria KL.. but the money worth spent to see the walrus, penguin and dolphin!!! Magnificent creature.. after watched the sync swimming and dolphin show, we decide to check up and book the submarine n ticket to Udo Island (don't want to repeat Nami Island mistake).. Our luck that ticket for the submarine still available. We thought we will directly go into the submarine but, in actual, we were ushered into a ferry that brought us to Udo Island where the submarine is.. the trip is about 5 min only.. Actually we do read some negative input on the submarine activity.. but, we can officially says that we have been in the submarine that goes 30metres underwater.. a bit cramp and the seat is just like a kindergarten bench!!! A small boy look so pale and an ahjuma throw up in the submarine.. luckily it was near to the end of the trip.. The water is not very clear but my wife and daughter so into looking for small fishes thru the round window.. Today highlight is during our trip back to Jeju from Udo Island, we saw a wild dolphin following our ferry.. it was a very special moment and my wife cried out of excitement!! This is what she has been looking for every time she's on ferry, boat or even plane.. a wild dolphin!!