8 Days of Seoul & Jeju Island, South Korea Itinerary (2011)

For this 8 days of Seoul & Jeju Island trip, it took me more than 4 months to come out with total of 4 pages of itinerary including the estimated budget for accommodation, meals, transportation and admission fee throughout the trip. My friends didn't assign me to in charge of handling and drafting the itinerary and programme but I just love the feelings of doing so. At that moment, I still remembered I was more motivated to search for all the information regarding Seoul & Jeju Island trip instead of focusing on my professional accounting papers where I did research until 3 o'clock in the morning.

This South Korea's pamphlet, tourist guide, tourist map were not from South Korea but were actually I brought all of them to South Korea with me. I prefer to read these instead of boring Lonely Planet. It's too dull for me. Most of these I took for free from Matta Fair which I went August last year (click here) and not forgetting, thanks to my close friend for pass the info above once he returned from his South Korea trip.

UPDATED:

As I found out my Seoul & Jeju Island's itinerary has been misused and transmitted without my permission, hence I am NO LONGER able to share my itinerary. Hope you guys will understand this. But anyway, most of information such as direction, admission, opening hours and more are being share here. If you still have any doubts and queries, you are welcome to email me. And because most of you don't have the time to read through all my blog, hence I had simplified all my South Korea travelogue for you guys in this post.

Here is my complete itinerary throughout the 8 days in Seoul & Jeju Island of South Korea:

Day 1 (8 September 2011)

First Footsteps In Seoul 

T-Money card - 2,500 won deposit and it's non-refundable. You can purchase at any convenience stores; such as 7-Eleven, Family Mart or any subway stations. This card is very useful especially for the travellers and foreigners to pay transportation fares on public buses and subways around Seoul and Gyeonggi area and helps to prevent from all the long queue and hassle.

Accommodation in Seoul: Namsan Guest House 

Out from the airport, heading to the gate 5B to wait for the airport limousine bus to arrive. The bus number we're taking is 6015 and we'll get off at the last station, Sejong. Namsan Guest House is divided into 3 different guest houses -1,2 and 3 and we prefer to stay in Namsan 2 and 3. This guesthouse is highly recommended especially for its excellent and great location.

Day 2 (9 September 2011) 

MyeongDong, Seoul's Shopping Haven

How to get to Myeong-Dong: Subway line 4, Myeong-Dong Station, Exit 8

Dongdaemun, 24 Hours Shopping of Seoul 

How to get to Dongdaemun: Subway Line 1 or 4, Dongdaemun Station 

Namdaemun, My Favourite Souvenirs Market

How to get to Naedaemun: Hoehyeon Station, Subway Line 4 – Exit 5, 6 or 7 (You can get off either one of these exit to the market)

Cheonggyecheon Stream

How to get to Cheonggyecheon Stream: It is just located at the center of Dongdaemun area, therefore take subway Line 1 or 4 to Dongdaemun Station and exit 1. 

Day 3 (10 September 2011)

How To Get To Everland Resort?

Overview of Everland Resort & 5 Different Theme Areas


Gangnam Station, The Stopby Station


Day 4 (11 September 2011)

Nami Island, The Winter Sonata Island

How To Get To Nami Island (By Subway & Cabs)
Start from Myeongdong Station, Subway Line 4 and we have to interchange the following stations:

1. Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station, Subway Line 4
2. Gunja Station, Subway Line 5
3. Sangbong Station, Subway Line 7
4. Gapyeong Station, Subway Line Gyeongchun.
5. Upon arrive at Gapyeong Station, can opt either to take bus or taxi. But the local recommended taxi cause it cost less than 3,000 won for a trip. You can walk if you want but I warn you, it is so far away.

The admission fee for Nami Island is 8,000 won which included 5,000 won for entrance fee and 3,000 won for round trip ferry. 

MyeongDong After Dark


Day 5 (12 September 2011)

Gyeongbokgung Palace

How to get to Gyeongbokgung Palace: Gyeongbokgung Station, Subway Line 3 - Exit 5

Admission Fee: 3,000 won per person but because the time we visited here, it was Thanksgiving day in South Korea and it's free admission. This is where my friends and I got to experience wearing hanbok for free.

 
Insadong Street

How to get to Insadong Street:  
1. Anguk Station, Subway Line 3 - Exit 6; or
2. Jonggak Station, Subway Line 1 - Exit 3; or  
3. Jongno 3 (sam)-ga Station, Subway Line 1,3 or 5 - Exit 1

Lotte World

How To Get To The Lotte World: Jamsil Station on Line 2 or 8 - Exit 3

Day 6 (13 September 2011)

Arrived Jeju Island

All flights to Jeju Island depart from Gimpo International Airport. Because our flight was in early morning and the train and subway hadn't operated yet, we had to take the shuttle service from our guest house that costs 30,000 won for a trip and it can fits up to 4 pax and the journey took less than half an hour.

List of Airlines To Jeju Island From Seoul 

We flew with Air Busan and Eastar Jet for our trip to Jeju Island. If you want to know more information about airlines to Jeju Island from Seoul, you can check out here. 

Accommodation in Jeju: Jeju Hiking Inn 

How To Get To Jeju Hiking Inn: Take limousine bus from Jeju International Airport (Line 600) and get off at Seogwipo Bus Stop which located opposite of Sunbeach Hotel. Walk ahead in the direction of Cheonjiyeon Falls and it's on the right hand-side. The journey from airport by bus took 1 hour and 10 minutes and the fare is 5,000 won. Not recommended to stay in this inn.

Cheonjiyeon Falls, The God's Pond

Situated just 10-15 minutes away from our lodging in Jeju Island. The admission fee for Cheonjiyeon Falls is 2,000 won for adult and 1,000 won for children. If for group of 10 or more, you might get discount.

Teddy Bear Museum

Admission fee for adult is 7,000 won whereas for children, senior and disabled person is 5,000 won per person. We took taxi ride that cost us more than 10,000 won (approx. RM30) from our lodging cause there's no any sign of the bus coming.

Day 7 (14 September 2011)

We hired a local driver around Jeju Island which he charged us for 120,000 won for 9 hours drive. We also need to pay for his lunch as well.

Seopjikoji & Seongsan Ilchulbong

The admission fee for Seongsan Ilchulbong is 2,000 won for the adult where as for children and youth is 1,000 won.

Seongeup Folk Village & Yongduam


Jeju Love Land

The admission fee for Jeju Love Land is 9,000 won and this park is strictly for adult from 18 years old and above to enter.

Day 8 (15 September 2011)
- Last Day In South Korea & See You Someday

Extra Features

• 2011 Seoul & Jeju Island, South Korea (Sneak Peek)
• It's My Haul From South Korea 
• Travel Expenses

UPDATED:
If you plan to hire a local tour guide/driver in Jeju Island, here is the detail and contact: 

Mr Won - Email: maarooii@yahoo.co.kr

He charged 120,000 won for 9 hours drive and this included petrol and parking fee. 

Before I completely ended my South Korea posts, hereby I would like to thanks to Tommy Ooi (a luxe traveller which I met online) for the advise given and he even willing to share his whole South Korea's itinerary with me and Siti Nurbaya for helping me and answering all my doubts and enquiries towards my South Korea trip. Thanks so much to both of you. Not forgetting to Biqque for your informative South Korea posts which I did referred to when preparing the above itinerary. So, that's conclude the end of my South Korea travelogue. An-nyoung-hee-ga-seyo!!!

NOTE: I have tons of travelogue in pending status - Singapore, Jakarta & Bandung, Phuket, Brunei, Philippines, Ho Chi Minh, Bali, Hong Kong & Macau and the latest one Melbourne, Australia. Deng!

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Last Day in South Korea & See You Someday!

Finally, my South Korea travelogue comes to its end. I guess everyone has the same feelings as mine when the vacation comes to the end, it's hard to accept that cause we have to go back to the reality. Until now, while blogging about this South Korea travelogue, I am freaking miss South Korean so much and plan to re-visit there again. But wondering when will I have this chance? Waiting for the cheap airfare if possible!

Well, on the final day in South Korea, we had to take flight back to Seoul from Jeju Island in order to catch our flight back to Malaysia at night.

Yummy breakfast that I bought from Family Mart - Corn Mayo Sandwich and Starbucks Chocolate Mocha. 

We took the earliest flight at 8.45am so that we could spend few hours in Seoul for our last minute shopping and also to have final gathering with our Korean friend, Kyung Hee before bidding goodbye to South Korea.

For the flight back to Seoul from Jeju Island, I had booked Eastar Jet that cost 40,100 won per person (approx. RM115). Wanna book air ticket return ticket from Jeju Island to Seoul by yourself, you can do so and here is my sharing on the list of airlines flying in and out between Seoul and Jeju Island (click here).

With RM115, I got to get my favourite seat - the window seat and we were given a refreshment drink for an hour flight. Eastar Jet's cabin is so colourful with the blue sky poster on the top which looks so real.

Once we reached upon Gimpo International Airport, we planned to go N Seoul Tower for final visit but unfortunately when we arrived there, we found a bit confusing regarding the direction to there. Therefore, we changed our destination to Insadong Street cause two of my friend guys would like to buy handbags for their mother and sisters. Oh! Don't you think both of them so lovely?

I missed out this Ssamziegel building during my maiden visit which tucked in the middle of Insadong Street. Ssamziegel is a four-storey complex clustered with boutiques, art shops and restaurants. At here, I noticed that almost the whole building is filled with unique sculptures, murals and creative arts.

Our final pitstop will be non other than MyeongDong to have our final shopping. The other reason we went back were also to take our huge and heavy luggage bags which we left inside the guest house that we stayed previously in Seoul - Namsan Guest House.

After bought lots of accessories which are so dirt cheap, killed my time by having sweet time with ice-cream in Cold Stone Creamery while the rest of my friends keep shopping and shopping for the remaining few hours left.

Before officially saying goodbye to South Korea, we met up with Kyung Hee and she brought us to this local restaurant that serve this awesomely delicious Budae Jjigae. It is a thick soup that mixed with modern ingredients such as instant ramen noodles, sliced sausages, canned ham, spam, sliced of American cheese, garlic, onion, kimchi together with traditional spicy soup flavoured with red chilli paste.

It my first time having this and for your information, I'm not really into Korean foods but this one is really taste good! It's ramen and it's spicy. It also mixed with most of my favourite ingredients. That's why I love this meal so much but I spotted this meal in KK lately, it is so damn expensive. Kyung Hee brought us to two local restaurants and all the foods she introduced are simply delicious. The first meal she introduced was Seoung Kee was taste so good too - click here for more.

The ladies!

4 years ago, we met Kyung Hee (middle one) for first time during our Europe trip and travelled around Europe together for 20 days and 3 years later, we met in South Korea. Recently, I received a good news from my friend told me that Kyung Hee is pregnant. Might going to South Korea again to visit her and also to see her baby soon.

After spending 8 days in South Korea, my friends and I didn't feel wanna go back home but like I said before, we have to face the reality. Goodbye South Korea and I pray hardly that I will see you soon! One thing that I proud of myself was I brought only 1 luggage bag to South Korea, and also only 1 luggage bag back to Malaysia. Wanna see my travel haul from there? Stay tune for the upcoming post.

So, that's the end of my travel adventures and experiences across Seoul and Jeju Island for 8 days together with my perfect travelmates. I really having a great time with them. Hopefully we could travel together again next year, my friend!

NOTE: Another scheduled post I prepared earlier cause I on vacation for a week.

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Jeju Hiking Inn

NOTE: Another scheduled post again cause I am tripping again. My 6th international trip for this year.

When comes to accommodation, the main concern will mostly relating to the price. Since we had paid RM285 for return flight from Seoul to Jeju Island, my friends suggested to search for cheap accommodation in order to keen within the budget. After doing extensive research, I came across this Jeju Hiking Inn which only surcharged less than RM20 per night for a person. Plus, it only required 10% down payment and we paid the rest upon check-in. 

Situated in Seogwipo City that overlooks the Seogwipo harbour and it is just few distance away from the beautiful Cheonjiyeon Falls (click here).

We booked Deluxe 3 Bed Private Ensuite that comes with a queen bed and a double decker bed. The room is quite small but since we didn't brought along our huge and heavy luggage bags with us, so we didn't bother with that. The only thing that annoying me was since the room was located on 5th floor, therefore the WiFi connection was not strong enough. I can't live without Internet!

Although Jeju Hiking Inn is somehow alike backpackers' hostel, but it enclosed with private bathroom for every room. It's looks old but it's quite clean. They even provided us with basis toiletries such as bath gel, shampoo, towels and hot shower.

The front-desk with good English speaking owner. I read lots of negative review relating to the owner but when myself personally asked the owner few questions, he replied me with friendly tone. He even helped us to find taxi driver for us. I guess depends on his mood.

The living room and this is the place where I got strong WiFi connection.

Facilities included a well-equipped self-catering kitchen

Free computer with Internet for the customers

And even do some workout at their mini gym.

If you wanna wander around Jeju Island using bicycle, you can rent from this inn for 10,000 won per day.

Recommended by Lonely Planet but if you are travel with high-moderate maintenance, this inn is probably not your best choice.

Less than RM20 per night for an air-conditioner room enclosed with private bathroom would be perfect choice for the backpackers and for those who wanna stay in Jeju Island for short period like us, but frankly speaking, I personally will not stay here for second time. Maybe should try Yeha Guesthouse next time (click here).

How To Get To Jeju Hiking Inn:
Take limousine bus from Jeju International Airport (Line 600) and get off at Seogwipo Bus Stop which located opposite of Sunbeach Hotel. Walk ahead in the direction of Cheonjiyeon Falls and it's on the right hand-side. The journey from airport by bus took 1 hour and 10 minutes and the fare is 5,000 won.

Source

For more information, please check out Jeju Hiking Inn official website:  

http://www.hikinginn.com/e_i.html

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Imagination Run Wild in Jeju Love Land

Date of Visited: 14th September 2011

HUGE WARNING: Before you continue to view all the photos, please make sure that you are reading this post at the right place. And make sure your boss is not behind you!

Frankly speaking, besides Teddy Bear Museum, this attraction is also one of the places that I desperately wanna go no matter how. Not just me, but even my two guy friends felt the same things too. Luckily, our taxi driver which we hired him for a day agreed to bring us there.

Jeju Love Land is a one-in-a-kind outdoor sculpture park that mainly focus on a sex theme. Because it is an erotic sculpture park that features 140 work of arts representing humans in various sexual positions, this park is only restricted for adult from 18 years old and above to enter into this park. But don't worry if you are bringing your kids along, there is a recreation and play area provided for the little one.

#1: Jeju Love Land is located just 10 minutes from Jeju International Airport and the admission fee is 9,000 won.

#2: Love this heart-shaped background. But this place is not the area of romantic. Wait till you further scroll down the photos below.

#3: When we entered the park, we couldn't helped ourselves from non-stop laughing by looking all of these. This place is seriously out of our imagination. See, such a huge penis standing in front of us.

#4: The man (left) and the lady (right) sexy butt.

#5: We did feel a little bit awkward  at the beginning but slowly, we began to do some silly and crazy stuff. Plus, by the time when we were there, there are not many visitors, roughly less than 10 people. Or else, we definitely won't managed to that.

#6: A place where sexually oriented art and eroticism meet.

#7: A giant twin hills or tit hills in the middle of the park.

#8: Various of erotic sculptures which for sure you don't want to miss any of them.

#9: Three beauty and naked musketeers sitting on top of the roof.

#10

#11

#12: Gift shop inside the exhibition hall.

#13: A kissing of a lovey-dopey couple - I like this one!

#14: Kissing couples and sexual positions from around the world: India, Japan, America, Greece & Africa.

#15: Like master, like pet.

#16: Can even sitting on the sculpture and kissing with it.

#17

#18

#19: Artistic statue. All the statues are well-maintained. 

#20: Even the signboards didn't exclude from the sex-themed.


#21


#22

#23: A pair of statue where their legs upside-down entangled around each other in a lake, as if suggesting the rest of the bodies are snuggling under the waters.

#24: Venture around their souvenirs shop before leaving the park.

Among all the five popular tourist spots we went on the second day in Jeju Island, Jeju Love Land is the one and only that we spent longer time than the rest. The four places that we went earlier - Seopjikoji and Seongsan Ilchulbong (click here); Seongeup Folk Village and Yongduam (click here), we spent roughly less than half hour but for this Jeju Love Land itself, we spent almost two hours. 

This one-in-a-kind attraction is not like that you can find in any other Asia country including Japan and it was indeed surprised for us that this place exist in South Korea, where it's believed to have strong tradition reigns. I did spot Sex Museum in Prague, Czech Republic and even we were being offered by our tour guide to watch sex shows in Paris, France and Amsterdam but my friends and I refused and rejected the offers cause we were too young at that particular moment. Plus, all those sex museums and sex shows in Europe are prohibited from taking any photo but unlike Jeju Love Land, you are freely to take as many as you want and even do some crazy and stupid stuffs like my friends and I did.

If you plan to visit Jeju Island by yourself, this place is highly recommended cause if you travel with tour, they won't bring you to this place. Jeju Love Land - a place where the imagination can run wild.

TIPS:

1. Jeju Love Land is one of the attraction that you can visit at night as it is open until midnight. But for me, I don't prefer to visit at night cause I don't have a good camera at that moment that can captured high quality of photo at night. 

[Credit To: Blog.asiahotels.com, Wikipedia]

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