Korea Family Trip 2019
Yeah! We finally travelling again.
March was too busy for me and being the second time to visit Korea.
The planning was all done by my friend. Special thanks to her to help us to plan out the whole trip.
A lot of first time for this trip.
1. My mom is travelling with us with the kids.
2. Fly with Korean Air.
3. Staying in Airbnb.
4. Family trip with my friend along.
5. Midnight flight.
We gotten the air ticket 1 month plus before the trip after much consideration and discussion. We choose April as last year trip was a bit warm for us. Not the cheapest airfare we manage to get. And was too late when I realized we could get to see Sakura if we move forward the date by 2,3 days. As the duration is 10 days 9 nights, so we decided to cover both Busan and Seoul for our trip.Hotel was booked for Busan as there is limited choice of Airbnb that meet our requirement. As for Seoul, we manage to book an Airbnb for our entire stay in Seoul.Instead of getting WIFI router, we decided to take up the sim card. And book tour through KLOOK as well.
Day 1
Our flight is on Wed Night flight, both WH and I took half day leave, so that we have ample time to prepare for departure. We brought 4 luggages, 1 big, 2 medium and 1 small. Check-in to the flight is smooth and the ground staff manage to swap our seat that Kayden can get a seat by himself too. We did check-in for the seat for bassinet, however the bassinet for Korean air is simply too small for Kayden. So it was very nice for the staff to help us arrange this and I don’t need to carry him throughout the flight.
Once we board the aircraft, air stewardess pass the kids with toys =) The kids was so excited with the entertainment system. To be frankly their entertainment system less variety compare with SQ. Due to our flight time, the meal served was actually midnight, Kayden was fall asleep and missed his meal. He did wake up and manage to get few bites of my meal instead of his baby meal. After June, he will no longer entitled for the 10% airfare. The food was just ok, the bibimbap seems better but they only serves with beef. You will know it’s meal time, as the air stewardess will start wearing the apron when serve the food. I feel warm in the aircraft, thus did not manage to sleep well.
We touch down Incheon Terminal 2 around 6am. We utilized the priority queue and clear from custom very fast. While waiting to meet my friend, we spend time exploring the new Terminal. After that we took the Arex from Incheon to Seoul Station. And from Seoul station took the KTX to Busan. Busan was so much colder as we reached the Busan KTX, the wind is chilling. We manage to locate our hotel that near to Busan KTX station. The hotel room size was small as expected, quite clean and not far from the metro station. The nearest Metro station is Choryang station, but the exit only have staircase. Nearby got GS25, MiniStop, 7-11, very convenient, but their convenience store was less exciting compare to Japan. Hotel provide free simple breakfast too.
After check-in and rested, we explore near our hotel and bought some snacks & drinks. We walk back to Busan station as we thought the metro station is linked. However, the Busan metro station is actually not linked with the KTX Busan. We manage to ask for guidance and locate the station and by the time we reached Nampo station, it’s already near dinner time. We spend some time to locate the restaurant, the restaurant only sell army stew (Budae jigae), come with freeflow of rice and ramyeon (noodles). We stroll along the BIFF Square before we go back to hotel for rest.
Day 2
Knowing that pork rice soup is famous in Busan, we decided to try out as our breakfast. Simple meal and warm, it’s nice to have something warm in the cold morning.
We took the metro, change bus to go to our destination of the day, Gamcheon Cultural Village. We bought the tourist map from the Tourist Information centre and asking the direction of toilet. Their public toilet is very tiny and need to walk some staircase to reach. And please bring tissue along as there wasn’t any in their toilet.
After we gotten the map, we started to explore the place. To get Ainsley excited, we encourage her to collect the stamps. There are small museum, some art displays. We saw a lot tourist wearing hanbok exploring the village as well. There is signage everywhere to request us do not disturb the resident there. We spend few hours there as we lost our way also. A lot of walking here, staircase, slope, etc. Wear comfortable footwear, else you be regret. The queue to take picture with the little prince is too long, so we did not manage to take photo. We didn’t manage to collect all the stamp but they still allow us to exchange for the post card.
Thereafter we leave gamcheon Cultural Village and go to Samyeon station. Had our late lunch at Wu Fu Ginseng Chicken Soup restaurant, we are the only group there. We ordered the Ginseng Chicken Soup, Seafood pancake and Abalone Porridge, the food was nice, our favourite is the abalone porridge.
After meal, we window shop at Samyeon shopping street.Dinner was around Samyeon station, Seafood meal. It looks nice with variety of seafood and big portion. I would not recommend this shop as the food was so-so, we feel cheated. There was whole stack of not nice bean sprout beneath the seafood, the shell was not properly prepared as well.
Day 3
We had simple breakfast at hotel before we set off for the day. Today we going to the Haedong Yonggusa, famous temple near Haeundae. Need to take metro to Haeundae Station and change bus 181. From the bus stop is quite a walking distance to the temple. The temple must be very famous, we saw so many tour buses. Again a lot of staircase and a lot of people, we was lucky to be there earlier. The crowd is even more when we leaving the place. There was some stalls along the way before we reached the temple, selling snacks, seaweed, etc. Very interestingly they have statue for praying of Education & Work and also praying of getting son.
We took the bus back to Haeundae station, it took quite awhile for us to reach the lunch place. Again we are late and the only groups eating their famous Cod Fish soup. I must say their Cod fish soup is really yummy, probably we too hungry and tire =) The cod fish doesnt have the fish taste, we also ordered the stir fried tanghoon. Next we stroll back to the Haeundae Station, nice and relaxing walking street. We bought the ice cream despite the cold weather, yummy.
Next, we go to the Centum city for shopping and relax. There was dinosaur theme children playground at the top floor. The kids enjoy playing and running, however it closes at 6.30pm. So cold and windy there and we could also view nice sunset there. We settled dinner at their food court. Most of them have limited display of chinese/English menu, it was around 8pm but some store has already sold out their food. So we just have quick bite and head back to the hotel.
We notice Busan people seems to be rest quite early. No crowd at the Choryang station even on weekend, very quiet. We requested the hotel to help us order the fried chicken. The delivery guy actually went up to our room for delivery. That’s the best fried chicken we ever had in Korea. The fried chicken shop is named BBQ, it is so much nicer than our KFC. The fried chicken delivered to us is like just freshly out from the oven, even the kids also enjoy it.
Day 4
We didn’t plan any activities as we will be going back to Seoul today.
So after breakfast and checkout, we head to Busan station with our luggage.
Lesson learnt of the day, always buy the ticket in advance especially on weekend. We only manage to get the train at 3.45pm.
trinnie@wonderland 