Experienced Korea: Day 1
- Jody Garcia
- Sep 5, 2018
- 4 min read
It's been a while since my last blog post, so I have decided to share with you my experience in one of my dream destinations--none other than, South Korea.
On July 23, 2018, My brother and I arrived at Incheon International Airport at 12 noon--and upon our arrival, we decided to buy first the t-money at CU (convenience store) and then we grabbed lunch at Burger King since the check-in at our airbnb was 2:00 P.M. Honestly, when we landed, I don't know what to feel since I've been wanting to go to Korea for a long time already and of course, thanks to my parents for granting this dream of mine as my graduation gift. I really can't explain the feeling, but I'm certain that I felt like floating most of the time. Going back, we then took the subway to Hong-ik University as our airbnb was located there. When we got out of the subway, it was really hot and I felt the heat of the scorching sun on to my skin--in fact, it was 35°C that day. It was actually really dry. When we arrived at our airbnb, we settled down there first and freshen up. My brother was in-charge of our itineraries and schedule for the whole trip, so we have to be on time always. He hates being late, but there were exceptions under certain circumstances.
Of course, our first location was SMTOWN@coexartium as we are an SM stan (especially EXO; but before EXO, my brother likes Super Junior and Girls Generation and as for me, I also love Red Velvet and getting to know more about NCT).
Indeed, a dream come true for every SM stan. When we entered, "I Want You" by SHINee was playing primarily because they were promoting their comeback and new album during that time. So, when you go up, the first thing you will see is the SMTOWN Giftshop. I really want to buy something from there, but there was no stock of Chanyeol's Cafe Universe name plate. We just ended up roaming around the shop--looking for other interesting products and looking at some signed albums, posters, etc., but we eventually left empty handed.
Then, the second floor was the SMTOWN Museum. We didn't go in there because there was an entrance fee and we felt like there's no need for us to visit it. Nevertheless, we are just happy and contented to see it from afar. Here are some pictures of what you can see outside the museum:
As for the third floor, this level has the SMTOWN Cafe | Market. Basically, you can see here the cafe (of course) and a small market wherein you can see most of their products with SM artists'/groups' logo as its packaging. But, from the outside, awards of SM artists/groups from various award-giving bodies are displayed.
Fact: The tables and chairs inside the cafe were signed by SM artists.
Lastly, the SMTOWN Theatre--which is like their own movie house since they showcase the artists' concerts and other behind-the-scenes documentaries. Also, you can see here some of the artists' 3D handprints on the wall, which is located near the vending machine (although it kinda looks hidden).
After this, we went back to the SMTOWN Giftshop--to check if we can buy something from there before we leave. Again, we left empty handed. As we exit the building, we took some pictures first and then saw these handprints on the wall in front of the building. So, we then again took some pictures and checked if we have the same hand size with our favorite artists. Honestly, it's a little bit tricky, because Chanyeol, Sehun, D.O, and Baekhyun have all the same hand size and it actually fits my hand. We are a little bit confuse with this.
After these photos were taken, we just took pictures of the building itself as a remembrance.
After roaming around one last time, we decided to have dinner at Lotteria in Hong-ik University since it was near to our place. Then, we called it a night.
For me, it is not advisable to travel to Korea during the summer season because it's very hot and really dry. Wear only light clothes, bring a fan, and an umbrella. Always hydrate yourselves.
Tips:
1. Before going to Korea or to any country, research first the places you want to visit like knowing its address/location and how to get there. This way you can travel with ease and save time. Also, prepare an itinerary for each day of your trip.
2. Know the weather beforehand. So that you'll be able to prepare appropriate clothes and know what to expect when you get there.
3. Download the Metro Seoul Subway app. It is a very helpful and easy to use app for transportation. It gives you options of what best route to use and a route with fewer transfers. With each given route, the fare and time of travel are already indicated. You can also keep track what station are you in, how many stations you'll pass by before you get to your destination, or what line and station you'll transfer. Using the subway or bus is way cheaper than a cab.
4. Buy a transportation card either T-money or Cashbee (but it's safer to buy T-money than Cashbee because there are areas wherein Cashbee cards are not accepted, but it's only for buses). At the airport, there's a CU convenience store where you can buy this with different designs to choose from. You can instantly load it at the cashier--if I'm not mistaken, the card costs 4,000 won and I loaded it with 6,000 won so that I can give him an exact amount. There are a lot of reloading machines located at the subway stations.
5. Get your money changed. We got our money changed from Philippine peso to Korean won at Myeongdong.
6. If you get lost, don't be shy to ask the locals. There might be a language barrier (cannot be avoided), but they're still accommodating and trying their best to guide you.
7. Last but not the least, don't forget to enjoy. Just keep these tips in mind (if you think it's helpful) and enjoy. Nothing beats the happiness you feel when you're in your dream destination.
End of Day 1.
Comments