1st Day (28 Jan)
We arrived safely at Incheon International Airport. Decided to take the subway at 6am to the hotel (Uljiro Co-Op Residence @ Dongdaemun). Bad idea, the morning crowd is bad. Taking 2 huge luggages with us on a full train is badddd. Along the way made friends with 2 hongkies, Travis and Winze who are headed to the same hotel, so we walked and found our way together.
Hotel asked us to pay extra 24,000 won for early check-in. We did and slept a little before waking up at noon to go Myeong-dong for chicken shabu shabu!
And we went to check out a Green Residence place in Myeong-dong as I need to find our accomodation for the next 5 nights. No luck at GR, it was full. And we went off to Anguk to check out Noble Hotel, there’s room and its so much cheaper. 50,000 won for a night and we decided to take 1 of the nights in the suite which cost 70,000 won. The wonderful thing about Noble is that there’s in-room desktop with internet and jacuzzi bath.
After that we walked about Insadong a bit and then to Apgujeong to meet Jacob for dinner. He brought us to a beef charcoal grill place. Not knowing that I don’t eat beef. We went ahead with it and he ordered cold noodles for me which I didn’t really like either. Went off to a Flair Bar and I ordered chicken cesar salad. Quite a nice bar, the boys had beers and I watched cocktail show performance by the bartenders and played darts (I was the best).
Went home and slept thereafter.
Day 2 (29 Jan)
Woke up at 12 by the hotel, we had to check out then! Rushed and went off by 12.30 and took a taxi to Noble Hotel.
Checked in and realized its damn cheap. They gave us 10,000won discount for 5 nights stay.
Showered and unpacked a little and went off to Anam to have Biya for lunch. The waiter was surprised to see me again. And I’m happy to eat my favourite budaejigae.
Took a walk to Korea Uni for phototakings and I bought the Korean Language textbook 2! Yay, gonna get back my book 1 from Kenneth to finish up the 1st introductory book before I embark on the 2nd. And bought keyboard stickers with korean letterings for my new laptop.
Thereafter we went off to Edae (Ewha Women’s University) to buy the makeup stash for Suzi and Shuyun. I decided not to buy mine until another day. Too cold to feel like shopping. Went back to Noble after that to put the shopping items and went to have orjingordorbab (squid rice) and cheese ramen. Yummy!
And went off to Dongdaemun to shop. I bought a new winter coat! And he bought 2 shirts. Got too tired, feet was gone and we went to a nice cafe for coffee and cheese cake.
Decided to take a cab home and got scammed! Stupid taxi driver when we got on he told us starting meter 4,500 won and it will increase 800won each time. I thought it wouldn’t jump so much and decided to go for it cos’ we were so tired. Mistake. His meter was tinkered and it jumped like mad and hit 11,400 won within 500 meters. We decided to get off. And he came after us to quarrel. We shoved 4,000 won to him and got on another cheaper taxi after 10 minutes of drama.
Got back and yay! Sleep.
3rd day (30 Jan)
Got up today at noon and only managed to get out at 3. We walked around our area and decided to have chicken and pork cutlet for lunch. And then went off to Gyeongbokgung (a palace).
Entrance was 3,000 won each and man, the palace is huge! We walked around for more than an hour and left. Nothing too spectacular and I realized I been there before when I went to Korea for tour with Steven many years ago. But still, quite impressive.
And we took a walk towards City Hall/Gwanghwamun. And we walked past a super huge outdoor ice- skating rink! Only cost 1,000 won, inclusive of skates and helmet. We didn’t do it cos’ was too lazy and the queue was madness.
We continued walking and my feet were so gone by then. numb and tired. And we went to Toms N Toms at Gwanghwamun for coffee and I wanted to look for Citibank to draw cash but couldnt find one. I eventually found one while we were strolling along Cheongyecheong stream. We walked for damnnnn long and then took a cab from Dongdaemun to Anam for beef shabu shabu. Yummy!
We went to Fiesta for a drink and the owner was surprised to see me as well. Took a photograph with him and we left for Itaewon. Itaewon was boring but filled with foreigners. Hard Rock Cafe was closed. We headed off to Jongro 3-ga after that and realized all the shops were closed as well. Took a long walk thereafter back to Noble.
The in-room jacuzzi bath rocks!
And now I’m done updating the 1st 3 days here. I gonna head off to bed!
Long day tmr!