Our Seoul & Jeju Island 6D5N Winter Trip Experience
First stop… off to Changi Airport Terminal 4 to do our own check-in! If you have never check-in from there, just to let you know, you have to do your own manual check-in from the kiosks (just a nice gentleman to guide you in case you have issues), print out your boarding pass and luggage tag and after that walk to the luggage counter to deposit your bags. The whole process was a bit tedious but still much better than having to join the queue for one of the counters and having to wait behind one.
After which, we went through the usual security checks and proceeded to the Cathay Pacific Business Lounge for our dinner.
Here are some of the dishes we tried..
- Pineapple Fried Rice
- Aglio Olio Pasta
- Teriyaki Chicken
- Broccoli with Mushroom
- Dory Fish with Tomato Sauce
- Dan Dan Noodle
- Chicken Curry Laksa
- Hainanese Chicken Rice
- Greens
- Thai Vermicelli
- Mixed Greens
- Kidney Beans with Corn
- Macaroni salad
- Cookies
- Mixed Nuts
- Prawn Crackers
After eating and an hour of waiting, it’s time to board!
Here’s a preview of what we ate on the plane…
- Prosciutto and Parmesan Cheese, Grilled Zucchini and Sun Dried Tomato Coulis
- Mesclun Salad with Japanese Cucumber, Radish and Tomato Miso Dressing
Mains:
- Stir Fried Beef, Sa Cha Sauce, Kailan, Oyster Mushroom and Egg Fried Rice
- Pan Fried Salmon Fillet with Sumac Spice, Carrot Potato Mash, Quinoa with Zucchini Peas, Sun Blushed Tomatoes and Dill Mustard
Desserts:
- Cheese Selections
- Fresh Seasonal Fruits
- Häagen-Dazs Ice Cream
After 3 hours 50 mins of flying, we reached Hong Kong Airport at around 00:50 and with a short transit time of 50 mins, we took the next 3 hrs 25 mins flight to Incheon Airport. Not much to post on this leg as it was time for us to catch some much-needed sleep. Good night!
On Arrival: Incheon Airport to Hotel28 Myeongdong
At around 05:20, we touched down at Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 and surprisingly the queue was not long as compared to our last trip.
Once we were out and collected our luggage, it was time to buy our limousine bus tickets. Weather wise, it was not that cold too.
In our previous trip, we had a nice gentleman at the bus stop who would collect money and issue us the bus tickets but this time round, there was no one so we had to go inside, search and ask around. Turned out that there was a new Airport Bus Ticket Office outside one of the gates for us to buy the Bus Tickets. A discount coupon for Admission Tickets to Lotte World Adventure also came along with the Bus Tickets. Update: Just found this source which shows all the locations in Incheon International Airport to buy Bus Tickets.
Note: if you see those Bus Ticket Vending Machines, you can avoid them as they are in Korean and only accept local Credit Cards for payment.
For Hotel28 Myeongdong, we bought tickets for Bus No. 6015 and we alighted in front of Ibis Myeongdong and after that it was just a short walk around the corner and we reached the hotel.
As it was still early, the Hotel couldn’t let us check in early (their check-in counter is at Level 6) so we could only leave behind our big luggage and change to our winter clothes.
Places We Went While Waiting For Check-In
— Noah’s Roasting
A cup of coffee is always the best way to start the day and so we went in search of this place (which took around 20 minutes of walking). It was initially empty, perhaps due to the reason that it was office hours when we were there. We ordered their Valrhona Mocha and Ice Vanilla Cream Latte (you can ask for this to come with Ice and at no extra charge). The place was spacious and nicely decorated and while we were there, there were some OLs who came to order takeaways.
If you like the coffee there, you can buy their small assortment of ready packed coffee beans from the shelves. They have their own branded mugs, grinders and accessories but not very cheap though.
— Isaac Toast
We missed this place on our last trip so we decided to visit this time round. We took some time to find this place and luckily queue was not that long when we found it. The menu has around 9 toast items and we tried their most popular flavor – Bacon Best. Second was their Ham Special followed by Bacon & Cheese Bagel. The queue moved quite slowly as items were cooked and prepared on the spot as the customers ordered.
Taste wise: Bread was just so-so but the layer of special sauce that they first applied over before grilling (think of it like French Toast but with their sauce instead of egg) along with the choice of ingredients in between was what made it so tasty.
— Myeongdong Underground Shopping Center
This is one place you definitely have to pass through in Myeongdong. It provides a warm break from the cold air outside and leads to the train stations.
— Lotte World Adventure
From the Myeongdong Underground Shopping Center, we took the metro line (around 30 minutes ride) to the Lotte World Adventure. As we had the discount pass given to us when we bought the Limousine Bus Tickets, we got slightly more than 20% off the Adult Price (Before – 57,000 Won; After – 44,000 Won). There were two sections to buy the tickets and queues moved fast. You can check the Ticket Prices and Facilities from their official website.
After entering, we found that the Lotte World Adventure is one gigantic place with an Indoor and Outdoor sections. The indoor section caters to the younger children at the top level, VR/AR attractions and cafes at various levels and there is a museum there too. You can also find one ice rink at the ground floor and a very high ceiling for roller coaster and balloon ride.
There was a parade at the time we entered, with the theme park’s characters dancing to Christmas songs. We stood there for some time and watched how the performers interacted with the kids while dancing to the music. If you are into parades, they have a few lined up throughout the day.
We wanted to try the Drunken Basket ride which is their version of twirling Cups on top of a Tilted Rotating Platform but it looked highly possible that we might be giddy after the ride. On the other hand, we found ourselves too lazy to turn the cups. Hence we gave it a miss and decided to move out to the Outdoor section.
At the outdoor section, it was another big area with all the rides for the daring hearts but with long queues everywhere.
We queued (not too long and fast moving) and took the Bungee Ride which basically brought us to the height of 38 meters before suddenly dropping us down at a speed of 90 km/h. We could feel our butts and our bodies dangling in mid air. This was repeated one more time before we could even settled down. The whole ride took around 30 seconds. Simply exhilarating! A must-try! You can also go for their Gyro Drop which is an upgraded version.
We also went on the Gyro Spin ride which we queued for slightly more than an hour. For this ride, we had to straddle the seat and we were spun round and round. The cold air blowing across our faces and lips made it more interesting. The upgraded version of this ride is their Gyro Swing.
For quick bites, we tried their BHC Colpop Chicken (4,000 Won) which was a medium size cup with 2 sections – Popcorn Chicken (120g) on top and Coke (225 ml) in the bottom. Queue was a bit long. Taste was like KFC Popcorn Chicken with a layer of Cheese Powder.
There were few more rides we wanted to try but temperature was getting colder towards the evening and we were getting tired from our earlier flight. We decided to head over to our hotel to complete the check-in.
— Myeongdong Street
Check-in was pretty fast and the hotel staffs were very helpful by following us to our room while carrying some of our bags. We settled down fast and decided to go out to the Myeongdong Street for some quick bites as our dinner.
This year round, we found the items at Myeongdon Street to be more expensive. Just last year, a cup of Korean fried chicken costed 3,000 Won but now it costed 5,000 Won. We also went to find the stall which sold the popular Jajjangmyeon but it did not taste as good as last year. We were thinking if that Ahjussi who made it tasty had already retired so there was a drop in quality… We just bought some Gimbap and a bottle of Lotte Milkis (a type of Soda Beverage) and went back to the hotel. It was getting colder and there was no sign of snow.
Nothing interesting on the streets as well – just a few new stalls selling cheap earrings and many (and it was really a lot) selling Supreme merchandises like Socks, Beanies and Bags.
Review On Our Hotel28 Myeongdong Room
Room layout was rather spacious.
Sink and the Bar Counter were placed together and not much of a big area for putting personal stuff. We were worried that some of our stuff would get wet around the sink area and we could accidentally splash some water onto the boiling kettle during washing. Next to the Sink Area was the Hanger Area with limited space. The trash bin was rather small and there were no other trash bin outside the hotel room – so please take note if you intend to buy back and eat inside the room.
Toilet and Bath Area were separately located in front of the Sink Area. Water pressure for the bath area was pretty high and the temperature could be set hot enough to feel really shiok when bathing. The hotel was using the C.O Bigelow Bathing Series which smelled rather therapeutic and nice and can be worked into a good lather (sponge was provided).
Bed and pillows were firm. Blanket was thick enough to warm us up fast. Bed frame was also sturdy so we didn’t feel the bed shaking on any movement. We definitely slept well during our stay there. Their customer service level was also very personal, friendly and top-notch and this definitely improve our staying experience. One of the guys at the Check-In Counter also looked like a Korean Actor… so see if you can spot him if you are staying there.
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With this, we ended our First Day in Seoul, South Korea.
Day 2: Traveling From Gimpo Domestic Airport To Jeju International Airport
We started our Day 2 by setting out to Jeju Island and staying there for the next 3 days.
— Taking Bus 6021
The Bus Stop for 6021 is just around Hotel28 Myeongdong so we did not have to walk very far while carrying a big luggage. We were also able to leave behind our other luggage with the Hotel.
The wait for the bus was very long (waited around 40 minutes and the Bus Interval is between 35 to 50 minutes) and we were very lucky to be out early. While waiting (and enduring in the cold), we entertained ourselves with a bird which randomly pooped from a tree beside the bus stop (Alert! This spot was littered with fresh bird poops). We also answered questions from other tourists as if we knew the information about the buses well (they were asking if they could pay the 7,000 Won Bus Fare with Card instead of Cash… answer is you can do so with both).
The ride was quite long (possibly an hour plus) and we slept through most of the ride. We alighted at Gimpo International Airport. It was only until asking around that we realized we had to take a shutter bus (please take note) to the Domestic Airport. By then, we had only about 1 hour to board our flight.
For quick bites, we bought some sandwiches and Ice Coffees from Dal.Komm. We also noticed something interesting – a KOHLER branded Toilet. But personally, nothing impressive about it.
And it was time to board the plane for the 1 hour 10 minutes flight! Oh yes, we flew by Asiana Airlines and both ways tickets costed around 210,000 Won for two.
On Arrival: Heading To Hotel Shilla Stay Jeju
On Arrival, we headed out looking for the Jeju Tourism Information Center to buy the Jeju Mpass Card as what they have stated on the Tmoney Site. None of the staffs (we spoke to two and trying our luck at different time) knew the existence of this card and were very confused when we showed them the website.
In the end, we just bought two Tmoney Cards from the nearby GS25 store and we walked out of the airport to take the bus to Hotel Shilla Stay Jeju. We used the Naver Map App (90% accurate) to find the bus to take and verified with the electronic board at the Bus Stop. A good thing about the bus stops at Jeju Island is that they show the name of each bus stop (available in English) and the time of arrival of each bus (which they will rank as first on the screen).
Note that majority of the bus drivers do not speak English and they drive really fast (they do not care whether you are already sat). So be careful if you are carrying big suitcases.
Weather there was rather cooling, at around 12 degrees versus around single digit at Seoul. We expected snowing so we didn’t rent a car and opted to travel around on the local buses – our one big regret for this trip…
The bus trip to the Hotel Shilla Stay Jeju was pretty fast and with a short walk, we were at the Hotel and waiting to check in. As the day was short during the winter period, we put down our luggage after checking in, changed to something lighter and went out.
About Shilla Stay Jeju
We chose this hotel because it was located in the middle of almost everything – bus stops within short walking distance, GS25 was nearby, clothing shops everywhere, small eateries at multiple corners and just across a small night time shopping district.
The Hotel Lobby was also very big and they had this Giant Teddy Bear at one corner which you can sit on his lap and take photos with.
Overall staying experience: Service level was just formal and a lack of personal touch. Room was also normal. But the location of the hotel was definitely worth booking for.
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Places We Went That Evening
— Yongduam Rock (Dragon Head Rock)
Our first stop was the Yongduam Rock also known as the Dragon Head Rock.
We took the bus and dropped off around the Yongduam-gil area and had to walk a long stretch first. Impressively, there are a lot of rocks in this area. Our path were roads and canals that were filled with rocks. Sadly, there were not many people walking towards the area (at times we felt we were lost), but once we saw the tour buses turning in, we knew we were on the right track.
We first saw the mermaid statue when we reached. A beautiful bronze statue that was illuminated by the spotlight. Though we reached around 4 plus, the sky was beginning to turn dark and that statue stood out with the sea as the back drop.
Then we moved on to see the Dragon Head Rock (the Dragon Head is looking out to the sea). There were many tourists there and it was pretty hard to take a photo without anyone not in the picture. There is a route down to the base, but we did not attempt that. There was also a Big Rock statue with Chinese Words which is a popular photo spot for marking your attendance.
Prominent spots are well-lit so you can get some nice photos of the rock and the surroundings.
— Black Pork Street / Hwaro Hyang
The second place that we went was the Black Pork Street. Along the way, we found stacks of stones (these were meant to have personal wishes granted). By around 6pm, it was already dark and some how we could not find the bus stop (listed on the App) to take the bus to the Black Pork Street. There was also no electronic board or list of buses. We waited around for some time and gave up after seeing no buses going past. We decided to walk to the Black Pork Street. It was roughly half an hour walk. Both of us used Google Maps and Naver Maps to ensure we were on the right track.
Black Pork Street was quite an interesting place to visit. Basically you can smell the place before you see it. There is actually an entrance with a sign to this area and you will be greeted by some cute copper pigs. The first big and crowded restaurant we saw was Dombedon (Michelin starred with many photos of celebrities). We decided to stick to our initial plan of eating at Hwaro Hwang (located just next to Dombedon) because it seems less crowded and hence less stressful to order and eat there.
— Review On Hwaro Hyang
For a start, we were glad that that there was someone who could speak Mandarin. He took our order, cooked for us and taught us how to eat. Place looked very traditional, was half occupied at that time and we had no problem hearing our own conversation.
How To Eat: Basically we had to wrap a small serving of all the seasonings, cooked pork and side dishes (don’t finish them up before the meat is cooked else they have to refill) together with the a piece of vegetable and stuff it into our mouth. Korean drama made it seem so easy, but we had a hard time wrapping and stuffing the whole thing into our mouth.
We ordered a small platter set for 2 at 50,000 Won. Set came with around 400g of Pork, 3 pieces of Abalone, 1 Soybean Soup and 1 Steamed Egg. Other prices are at 70,000 Won (Big) and 90,000 Won (Extra Bag). You can order extra servings of pork which starts from 14,000 Won for 180g. Taste wise, the pork was really tender, chewy with layers of juicy fats and tasted really satisfying after grilling.
It was either the cool evening or the place was well ventilated because our clothes did not smell when we were out of the restaurant.
— Jeju Dongmun Market
Time was around 8 when we were done with dinner. By that time, most shops were closed. To get to our bus stop, we had to walk inside this neighborhood with many intersecting streets. By time we were out, we found ourselves at this Jeju Dongmun Market with many fruit stalls still opened. You will find stalls selling many variations of the popular Jeju Orange.
We were afraid of missing the last bus so we skipped the exploring of the market. We found our bus stop, waited for 30 minutes for the bus and another 30 minutes of traveling before we reached our Hotel.
This ended our Second Day of our Seoul Winter Trip and First Day in Jeju Island.
Day 3: Exploring The Central Area of Jeju Island
We started our Second Day in Jeju Island and the morning by visiting the Starbucks opposite the Hotel Shilla Stay Jeju. We tried some of their special menu items like this Black Pork Sausage Sandwich and Jeju Orange Flavored Ice Latte. After that we headed out to our next attraction spot… by walking!
Places We Went
— Halla Arboretum
Our intention was to go to Arboretum Theme Park which was supposed to be a 35 minutes walk on foot (according to Naver Map) but we ended up trekking to Halla Arboretum before turning out to the Theme Park.
To get to Halla Arboretum, we entered through this entrance which led us to a slight upward sloping forested trail (note: you will sweat if you are in your winter clothing). Our rewards were that we got to enjoy the beautiful surroundings and the fresh air. We also saw many ahjussi and ahjumma doing the forest trail and we really applaud their stamina.
We knew we had reached Halla Arboretum when the forested trail led to a big open space with tour buses, kids running and people strolling. Our stay here was really short as we still got few more places to go. It took us another half an hour of walking past landed properties and a few small personal oranges farm before we reached the Arboretum Theme Park.
— Arboretum Theme Park
When we reached the Arboretum Theme Park, the main thing that caught our eye was the many Food Trucks there. None of them was opened so we guess the excitement should be in the late evening.
The ticketing office to the Theme Park was just a short walk down the path from the Food Trucks.
List of Attractions include:
- First Floor:
- Ice Craving Experience
- Jeju Ice Museum
- Picture & Crystal
- Snack Bar
- Second Floor:
- Cafe & Making Experience
- Souvenirs Shop
- Korean Restaurant
- Third Floor:
- 5D Theater
- 3D Optical Art
Ticketing:
- Ice Museum & 3D Trick Art:
- 12,000 Won for Adults
- 10,000 Won for Youth
- 8,000 for Chil
- 5D Theater for 5,000 Won
- VR at 5,000 (1 Time), 12,000 (3-Times) & 15,000 (Survival)
- Making Chocolate at 8,000 (Stick Type) & 13,000 (Box Type)
- Making Ice Cream for 2 persons at 14,000
There was not much crowd when we were there so we deliberated for some time before deciding to go for the Ice Museum & 3D Trick Art. Our first stop was the 3D Trick Art. It was recommended that we download the Camera & Video App (Android) first for best experiences in the museum. Note that there is no clear instructions in English on how to download and we managed to do so after many attempts. This app basically helps to bring out some AR effects on some of the art pieces and you can do a video or take a photo with it.
Our last stop was the Ice Museum. It was freezing inside and well decorated with Ice Sculptures with a Christmas feel. There was also this fun slide which you can play (watch out for the super excited kids). You get to bring up this “float” (which was quite heavy and the kids made it seem effortless) but the ride was worth it. You really have to hold tight while sliding down.
For the making Chocolate and Ice Cream, we saw a few kids doing them at the Cafe while we got a drink (not cheap). Quite a straightforward process – just mix the ingredients together, pour, wait and you are done.
— Jeju Loveland
Our next stop was the Jeju Loveland. We wanted to take the Bus but we saw stop was at Halla Arboretum so guess what… we walked again! The path was mainly along the road so we thought we looked rather silly as we saw many cars passing us by. The bus we wanted to take never went past us till we were like 90% reaching the Museum (which meant that we had to wait around an hour). We also got to see 3 Mini Horses at close range and smell their natural environment.
Jeju Loveland (Jeju Museum of Art is just next door) is a big place where you get to see different era of sculptures of male and female in their bathing suit and some in compromising positions. There is also a small museum of engaging toys and thought provoking 3D Figurines. We were quite entertained by the locals where some of the elderly guys were engaging the sculptures and their female counterparts were laughing so loudly. The walk took us around an hour.
— Osulloc Tea Museum
Our next stop was to head down to the Osulloc Tea Museum before they close for the day (at 6pm). We took the bus and the ride was around 45 minutes. By time we reached, it was near to 5.
Main attraction of the Tea Museum is not the Tea Museum but trying out the Green Tea Cakes, Drinks and Ice Cream and buying from the store. Our queue for the food was long but really fast moving. Seats were mainly fully occupied but a short wait could get you one or two and we managed to get one at an isolated corner.
We bought their Green Tea Croque Monsieur (5,500 Won) which was their ham, egg and cheese sandwiches, Green Tea Roll Cake (5,800 Won), 2 Green Tea Latte (7,000 Won each) and a scoop of their Green Tea Ice Cream (5,000 Won). The Green Tea Latte actually came with a scoop of Ice Cream on top so the ice cream we bought was a bit extra. Taste wise – the Green Tea Flavor was very thick and aromatic and we enjoyed the food.
The museum was a very short and fast walk and mainly talked about the evolution of Green Tea from past till present as well as the company history. There was also a few machines which you get to see on how they prepared the Green Tea. A lot of Green Tea related merchandises at the store like Tea Leaves, Cosmetic and Bathroom stuffs.
— Innisfree Jeju House
Innisfree Jeju House is located next to the Osulloc Tea Museum and a short 5 minutes walk up the slope will bring you there. There is a cafe there which promotes their healthy living food stuff but we did not get to try anything as it was already going to close. They have this soap making workshop as well and we saw a few kids doing the final touches.
Lots of cosmetic items to try and buy there. If you are into scents, they have a wide range on display to disrupt your sense of smell. Our visit was rather short but we managed to mark our attendance by taking photos with their bright outdoor Sign on a stoned wall.
— Osculloc Tea Farm
Our last spot was the Osculloc Tea Farm located just across the road. You won’t miss it because you will see many tourists stretching out their hands at one of the many rows of tea leaves bushes. The other main attraction at this spot was the two tea cups. We waited a long while before we could take a proper photo (with many failed attempts due to photobombing) to mark our attendance.
— Issues On The Naver Map App
By around 6:30pm, the whole place was already dark and we had to walk down to our bus stop. Here, the Naver Map App gave us misleading information like the bus was coming soon (but never ever reached us) and alternatives were at another bus stop (and not at where we were).
We saw many 800 series yellow buses driving past us but we did not dare to take. It was until one of them stopped and asked us where we wanted to go (the driver did not understand English so we had to show him the location on the App). We were also afraid of getting kidnapped but luckily turned out that this driver was quite popular and friendly and many of the passengers knew him. He also enlisted the help of one of the passengers to speak to us in English and that we could follow her down to reach our next stop.
— Moise Haejangguk (Main Branch)
The place we wanted to go was to try some Hangover Soup as our dinner and somehow we googled Moise Haejangguk out and it seemed to be quite popular.
We tried their Yukgaejang (9,000 Won) which is their thin sliced beef soup and Kongnamul Haejangguk (8,000 Won) which is Hangover Soup with Bean Sprout. Both were served piping hot and were quite big serving. This also came with free flow of radish and kimchi. The taste was quite familiar like the kimchi ramyeon soup but minus the spiciness. Beef was too thin (and possibly cooked for too long) to get the taste. Once we were done eating, we could feel the warmth in the stomach and we were very full.
This restaurant was somewhere near the Hotel so we decided to walk back to digest the dinner. Unfortunately it rained during the way so we had to hide under a few buildings and braved the rain at times before we could reach our Hotel.
This ended our Third Day of our Seoul Winter Trip and Second Day in Jeju Island.
Day 4: Exploring The Southern Area of Jeju Island
We started the day early as we intended to explore the Seogwipo Area which is at the Southern Area of Jeju Island.
Places We Went
— Breakfast at Kobongmin Gimbap (고봉민 김밥)
We found Kobongmin Gimbap, a small little restaurant during our walk to Halla Arboretum. Many eateries were not opened in the early morning so we decided to have our breakfast there. The place was really cozy and just nice there was already one couple in there having a big breakfast. The menu was very simple and the item I wanted was not ready yet so we both ended up having Ramen (3,500 Won). Taste was really like the instant noodles we cook in Singapore.
We also decided to buy their Shrimp Gimbap (3,500 Won) for lunch later as after 1 day of travelling around, we realized we may not find food that we prefer readily available where we were going. Note that their popular Gimbap is their Kobongmin Gimbap (2,500 Won) which we didn’t know until we googled about them.
— Shilla Duty Free
One perk of staying at Hotel Shilla Stay Jeju was that we were given free Shilla Duty Free Membership but we need to go down to Shilla Duty Free to redeem it. While the shops were slowly opening, Shilla Duty Free was already bustling with tourists activities and there were already many Chinese Tourists shopping and making long queues when we were there.
Even the signing up process also catered to the Chinese Tourists and we had to download WeChat App just to scan the QR, sign up, do screenshots and we were given the Gold Membership which we enjoyed some member discounts shopping at the Jeju International Airport.
After that we were off finding and taking a long bus ride down to Seogwipo.
— Take Note Of Bus 600
The Naver Map App listed Bus 600 as an option to take to Seogwipo. This is incorrect and this Bus is a Limousine Airport Service. We were sort of scolded by the Bus Driver when we tried to take this bus and telling him that we wanted to go to Seogwipo but he was trying to tell us that this bus only stops at the airport.
— The Long Bus Ride To Seogwipo
The Bus Ride was very long but yet interesting. The bus took us from the city area to a forested area with long winding roads which we saw female hikers alone and an accident whereby a car literally overturned but nobody was injured. We saw the kindness of the bus driver where he allowed the elderly to board the bus without having to pay. We were also amazed at how they managed to open up the roads through the forests and maintained them so well.
— Jusangjeolli Cliff
After near to 2 hours of bus ride, our last stop was the International Convention Center Jeju and from there we walked down to the Jusangjeolli Cliff. Along the way we also saw small fields of brown Pampas Grass (or Oksae / Silver Grass).
Entrance Fee to see the Jusangjeolli Cliff is 2,000 Won. The place was very big but the main attraction was this staircase which brought us closer to the crashing and thundering waves. There was a huge crowd when we were there so it was rather hard to take photos and videos. But overall the view was mesmerizing and it was an unforgettable experience on the wonders of nature.
— Jeongbang Waterfall
As we were running out of daylight, the rain seemed to be coming and the bus took long while to arrive (the stop was in a residential area and it was pretty quiet)… we decided to skip our visits to the Cheonjiyeon Waterfalls and Oedolgae Rock and to head down to Jeongbang Waterfall instead.
Likewise, there was an entrance fee to visit the Fall and a long narrow staircase to climb before we could get near. The fun part of this visit was both of us had to move strategically around the pointy and slippery rocks and with a daring heart. Good non-slippery shoes are also recommended. The reward was that we got to see the waterfall really close and it was really a nice and memorable place to take selfies, photos and videos of the waterfall and sea. If you have the time, you can pick the small stones around. make your wish and try stacking them up.
There was also a tent for fresh seafood nearby which we did not try.
— Skipping Seongsan Ilchulbong & Sangumburi Crater
We had planned to visit these two places but looking at the time, it would be around 5 plus (no more daylight) when we arrived and the sky was still showing signs of rain. We decided to skip these two places and we planned our way to eat at Cafe Aewol Monsant – a cafe opened by G Dragon.
— Bulgeun Jeju (Seafood Restaurant)
Before we reached, it started to rain quite heavily and by time we reached Cafe Aewol Monsant, it was already 6pm and the cafe seemed to be closing. We tried some of the cafes around but they seemed to be closing soon too. We ended up at this seafood restaurant called Bulgeun Jeju and we tried their dinner set for 2 (70,000 won).
Food items include:
- Abalone
- Cheese
- Rock Shrimp
- Jeju Conch
- Jeju Red Crab
- Rock Octopus
- Fried Pork
- Seaweed
- Steam Bun
- Bean Sprout
- Fried Rice
The whole dinner had a interesting theme to it.
Their design of the plates we ate from was inspired from Handam Beach and the main plate with the food items was shaped like the Jeju Island. The mountain-like shape on the main plate represented Seongsan Peak. After that there was a short fire performance where the staff used a fire torch to cook the food items.
We were supposed to eat while they cooked but the motions were so fast that we decided to just wait for her to finish cooking and eat just the way we wanted it. If you want to follow the correct way to eat, there’s an illustrated guide.
The overall taste was good and the money was well spent for this dinner experience. Only thing was our clothes smelt of smoke when we left.
We went to the nearby bus stop and waited for the bus back to our hotel area.
— Sul-bing Cafe
We visited the Sul-bing Cafe around our hotel area before we went back.
Not sure why, the lady at the counter looked very unhappy while taking our orders (she was all smiles serving the customer who came after us). But we still went ahead to order one of their latest arrivals – Macaroon Sulbing. The macaroons were very sweet but their ice shavings was still one of the best we had tried.
This ended our Fourth Day of our Seoul Winter Trip and Third Day in Jeju Island.
Day 5: Back To Seoul & Hotel28 Myeongdong
— Instant Porridge & Mixed Rice Bab Bar
One of the interesting finds at GS25 was these instant Porridge and mixed rice bab bar for breakfast before we flew back to Seoul:
- Emperor Seafood Porridge
- Ginseng & Chicken Porridge
- Abalone Mushroom Porridge
- Spam & Kimchi Mixed Rice Bab Bar
These four were filling enough for both of us and they tasted really good on a cool and rainy morning.
— Ride To Jeju International Airport
There was a bus stop right in front of Shilla Stay Jeju Hotel and the ride took around 10 minutes to reach the airport.
— Shilla Duty Free Membership & KAKAO Friends
Face Masks seemed to be very popular and we found many variations in the airport. Our Shilla Duty Free Membership also provided a bit more discounts. We also managed to get the limited edition Ryan (of KAKAO Friends) wearing a Hoodie and a Tangerine on his head in the Jeju Airport Duty Free Outlet.
— Taking Bus 5021 Back
We reached Gimpo Domestic Airport at around 3 pm. It was only until 4 plus then we could take the Bus 5021 back. Also, we were lucky that some passengers unknowingly gave way to us and we took the last two seats. The rest of the passengers had to wait another 1 hour plus before the next 5021 arrived.
Please take note: seats for Bus 5021 at the Gimpo Domestic Airport will be limited because the Bus is coming from the International Airport side first. Majority of the seats will be taken up at that side. It is advisable to queue up first at the Bus Stop or to make your way to the Gimpo International Airport upon arrival. This bus will take very long to arrive and the signboard is not accurate.
— Checking In at Hotel28 Myeongdong Again
One thing we liked about Hotel28 Myeongdong is their customer service and they remembered our names when we checked in again and they still helped us to carry our luggage back to our room even though we wanted to do it ourselves.
This Hotel is definitely highly recommended for its friendly services.
— Ungteori Korea BBQ (Army Stew)
We tried Hwa Tteok in our last Seoul Trip and this time round, we went to try the army stew from Ungteori Korea BBQ which is more well known for its all-you-can-eat Pork BBQ. In terms of its Army Stew, the soup base is less spicy and in comparison, items like spam and rice cake tasted normal and nothing impressive. Only thing we like was that we were able to finish the army stew here as compared to Hwa Tteok. Price was also slightly cheaper.
— Innisfree & Nature Republic
After eating, we went shopping around at Innisfree and Nature Republic. In terms of shopping crowd, it was less lively as compared to last year given that there was a huge drop in Chinese Tourists. Sales Discounts were pretty normal and not really impressive.
— Apple Konjac Water Jelly & Korean Red Ginseng Extract
Our last items of the day were trying out this Apple Konjac Water Jelly Drink & Korean Red Ginseng Extract from the Olive Young Store.
The Jelly was very chewy and not too sweet (supposed to be a healthy option) and it was pretty fun blowing hard into the packet and letting the Konjac and water flowing out into our mouths. You may also want to try it if you see them in any convenience store.
The Korean Red Ginseng Extract tasted like extra concentrated Essence of Chicken and very strong smelling. The smell also lingered on the clothes when we accidentally spilled a small bit when trying to open it up. We could not feel any immediate effect but maybe just a bit clear headed. So try it if you are keen.
This ended our Fifth Day of our Seoul Winter Trip.
Day 6: Our Last Day And Flight Back To Singapore
Our flight back to Singapore was in the late evening (around 8 plus) so we had around half a day left to enjoy in Seoul.
— Myeongdong Yongyang Juk
We walked past this porridge a few times throughout the trip and we finally decided to come here for our last breakfast.
We ordered their Ginseng Chicken Soup, Abalone Porridge and Mushroom Porridge. Their service was fast and servings of the porridge were definitely big. The soup also came piping hot. Taste of the porridge was smooth and went well with the free-flow of kimchi. The chicken was big and easy to tear off from the bone. A definite must-try for the porridge and soup when you visit.
— ARTBOX & KAKAO Friends Flagship Store
After our breakfast, we took the train down to Hongdae to see if we need to do some last minute shopping for cute stuffs at ARTBOX and the latest season release from KAKAO Friends.
We wanted to try some of the snacks there but many stores were not opened in the early afternoon. We decided to head back to Myeongdong and get ready to travel down to the Incheon International Airport.
— Lounge Pass To Airlines Association Lounge & Tax Rebate
Our last activity at the Incheon International Airport was to check out the Airport Lounge and we were given passes to the Airlines Association Lounge (a shared lounge between few airlines) instead of the one we got in our last year trip.
Upon entering, we did feel a bit short changed. This lounge was made up of a few rooms and inside a few round tables and seats. Majority of the seats and tables were already taken and we were lucky to find one. Outside of the rooms was a long table which served international range like pastas, fried rice and bread. One consolation for us was that we were able to try the local CASS beer for free! The CASS beer tasted less malty as compared to our local Tiger Beer and a bit more bubbly.
After all the eating, we went to the second level to do our Tax Rebate which was processed very quickly with their vending machines.It was then time for us to board the plane and head back to Singapore.
— Our Last Dinner In The Plane
For our meal (and dinner) for the trip and in the plane, we had:
— Starter
- Prosciutto, Bocconcini, Liguarian Olives and Asparagus along with Mixed Salad with Kalamata Olives, Tomatoes and Balsamic Vinaigrette
— Main Course
- Bibimbap (Korean Mixed Vegetables and Beef with Rice)
— Dessert
- Haagen-Daaz Blueberries and Cream
Thus this ended our Sixth and Last Day of our Seoul & Jeju Island Winter Trip. We enjoyed our Trip and we hope you have enjoyed our Trip Review!