It is every fan girl’s dream, they say, but for me, it was fulfilling that high school promise to bring myself to Korea when I get a [better] job. Well, perhaps it was my fan girl side, after all.
A flight was booked because of that “I think Korea is calling us” message from my super amazing friend. That night and most of the days thereafter, I never stopped thinking that finally, it is Korea.
We always knew where to go, but our itinerary was never finalized until an equally-amazing friend booked the same flight as ours.
Applying for a Korean Visa
I never worried about my Korean visa because I still have a valid US visa. Apparently, if you already have a Visa (valid or expired even 5 years ago) from OECD member countries, it is easier to be issued one from Korea. I got mine for just three days. My friends were granted few days after mine.
But it is also just easy to get a Korean Visa because the required documents depend on the applicant’s occupation and purpose of visit to Korea. As long as you pass the complete requirements, you’re good.
Click here for more detailed guide and information about the Visa application procedure.
You know that kilig clichéd feeling where you feel butterflies in your stomach? I was so kilig the day of our flight, much when we reached the land of our oppas.
Also, this, my friends, was the first foreign country I went to for my month-long YOLO trip.
First things first: Buy a T-card at the airport. It costs KRW 4,000 and you can reload it on subway stations.
WHERE TO STAY
We stayed at YOLO Guesthouse and booked it a month before our scheduled trip. I really recommend this guesthouse because everything in there is cute and clean, even the owner! *winks* Book it here.
For four nights and five days, we only paid KRW 100, 000 = Php 4, 400~ each.
On the owners: We arrived in the property at almost midnight and Shin (the owner) was waiting for us, thank heavens. He even made us a traditional Korean costume cutout thanking us for choosing their guesthouse. He is so accommodating and fun to talk with. Never a boring conversation with him. He also helped us a lot on directions — which is much appreciated. Everyone in the guesthouse is so helpful and happy-looking.
On the location: Its location is strategic, as it is — it is near Myeongdong station. There are so many food and convenience stores on the way, no worries. The guesthouse is so clean and no worries on your safety. The pictures they uploaded do not lie.
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There is a free breakfast, which is so yummy even if it’s the same meal during our stay. You’ll gonna crave for strawberries when you leave, though. 😂 This place is much recommended.
How to get to YOLO Guesthouse:
Take the Subway and wherever you are, alight at Myeongdong Station. Take Exit 2. On your left, there is a 7/11 store, walk until the intersection of Pacific Hotel. Cross at the left side, do NOT go straight to the right.
A+ for my effort, please. HAHA!Walk at the left side of Pacific Hotel.
Walk until you see the Ministop Convenience store. YOLO Guesthouse is at the right.
I should be paid for this. HAHA!
This was our Itinerary:
Day 0 – March 16, 2017
8:30 PM – Arrival in Incheon Airport
9:30 – Travel to hotel (From Incheon to Seoul is approx. 2 hours)
11:30 – Dinner near hotel
Rest
Day 1 – March 17, 2017
6AM-7AM:Early breakfast
7:00 AM – Travel from Hotel to Nami Island
How to get there:
From Myeongdong Station to Dongadaemun History (sky blue) then take Green line (towards Sindang) to Wangsimi Station. Change to JUNGANG Line, take the clue line (towards Cheong-nyangni) to Mangu Station. From Mangu station take blue line (towards Galmae) to Gapyeong station.
At Gapyeong Station, take the Shuttle Bus for Gapyeong Tourist Resort (Course A). You can buy the bus from the bus driver; it costs KRW 6,000 (cash!). The ticket is for an UNLIMITED ride and it is for the whole day! You can go to these destinations on the bus route:
Gapyeong Intercity Bus Terminal Gapyeong Station (Train Station) Jarasum Gapyeong Rail Park Nami IslandPetite France Cheongpyeong Bus Terminal Cheongpyeong Station The Garden of Morning Calm
TAKE NOTE OF THIS BUS SCHEDULE. Make sure to budget your time. We weren’t able to catch the 1:15PM bus from Nami Island to Pettite France so we had to wait for another hour.
Once arriving at the ferry wharf, proceed to the ticket booth to buy your “Entry Visa”. It costs KRW 8,000, which includes the ferry ride to and from Nami Island and the entry pass to the island.
PETITE FRANCE until 5:40 PM *starts singing You are My Destiny*
Film Locations of: TV drama ‘Beethoven Virus’, ‘Secret Garden’ and ‘My Love from the Star’
Operating Hours
Sun-Thu 09:00-18:00 | Fri-Sat 09:00-20:00
Imagine your Korea: The concept of Petite France encapsulates ‘flowers, stars, and the Little Prince.’ The village contains a memorial hall dedicated to Saint-Exupery, the author of the celebrated French novel, Le Petit Prince (1943) and as such it is called the Little Prince theme park.
Movie “The Letter (1997),” “Detective K (2015),” “Addicted (2002)”
Drama “Smile Again (2010),” “You’re Beautiful (2009),” “A Love to Kill (2005),” “Love in the Moonlight (2016)”
Variety Show “Infinite Challenge”
Operating Hours
11:00-21:00 *On Saturdays, open until 23:00
Day 2 – March 18, 2017 (Saturday)
8:00 AM – Breakfast
Set off to Palace tour
What to do:
Buy Integrated Ticket of Palaces. For KRW 10,000, you will be able to go to most of the palaces in Seoul. Just present the pass. You can save because the entrance fee to each palace is listed below:
If you visit all the site listed above individually, it would cost you 14,000 won. Purchasing the pass will save you 4,000 won.
How to get to Gyeongbokgung Palace:
From Myeong-dong station, transfer to Chungmuro (orange line) to Gyeongbokjung, exit 5. Just walk, there is only one way to Gyeongbokgung Palace. DO NOT MISS the changing of guards ceremony every hour!
Directions: Alight in City Hall Station (Seoul Subway Line 1), Exit 2 and walk for about 2-min. City Hall Station (Seoul Subway Line 2), Exit 12 and walk for about 2 minutes.
It is also near the Hanbok Village.
We weren’t able to go to other palaces. Make sure to go to Changdeokgung palace and don’t miss the Huwon Secret Garden guided tour!
We also went to N Seoul Tower after our palace tour. It is near YOLO Guesthouse and is also located in Myeongdong. You just have to walk straight to the right (instead of left) of the Pacific Hotel.
Day 3 – March 19, 2017 (Sunday) EVERLAND!
8:00 AM – Breakfast
10:30 AM – To Everland Theme Park
We were on time for Tulips Festival even though we were there during the transition period.
How to get there via Subway:
From Myeongdong, take the line going to Chungmuro (orange line). From Chungmuro, take the line going to Dongguk Univ., stop at Yangjae station. At Yangjae, take the brown line to Jeongja station then transfer to the yellow line going to Giheung. From Giheung take the only green line to Everline.
From Everline station, look outside where you can see the free Shuttle buses to Everland.
Bus from Seoul
Go to Gangnam Station Line 2, Exit 10. Walk for about 300m to the bus stop and ride bus no. 5002.
On our fourth and last day, we roam around Myeongdong and Insadong because shopping! *winks*
I have more pictures, of course but I decided just now that it is better to do another blog post because this one is too long now.
TIPS:
1. Check the weather. Bring thick clothes if you’re in there on Winter to Spring. I got cough and colds during our last day. I had to buy Korean medicines that I am not so sure on how to take. You need to bring your own medicine, for the record.
2. I think Korea has the largest subway. You should learn how to navigate, for all intents and purposes.
3. Try out different Korean dishes. I will never have the same taste for Philippine-served Korean food again.
4. Fall in love with the culture of Korea. They are not only for K-pop and K-dramas. Theirs are so rich that you might want to extend your trip a little bit longer than four days.
Also, we were three weeks too late for winter and a week too early for spring. *chuckles*
I’ll definitely go back. ~
All photos were taken using my GoPro Hero 4 Silver and my friend’s Fujifim X-A3 ~
Neyziellewanders 
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