Day 1 & 2 of Korea Trip : A guide to Seoul City from Incheon International Airport, Seoul Korea.

26-27 Mei 2016 ^^

Mei 26, we started our journey from Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL). We spent a night sleeping at KUL before we fly to Seoul. It was uncomfortable and cold. Luckily i brought my sweater and neck scarf with me. And just a little reminder, if you're going to sleep in airport make sure you bring a small towels and bath kit to make u a little bit comfortable later.

So, we flew from KUL to Incheon Airport (INC) for about 6 hours, arrived around 3pm. [NOTE THAT : If you're Malaysians, local time in Korea is one hour advance to Malaysia local time. ^^] Foods served twice in flight and the price for rice per serving is around MYR25 and above. If you're not a big eater then one serving is enough.

So this is what we did and you might do once you arrive in ICN airport later;

1. Head to immigration, there'll be a lady in hanbok there to greet you and will give u a basic tourist information. keep that. 
2. Buy T-money (bought it with 4000 krw and then top up a total of 10k krw. 10k isn't a must amount. you can top up according to your plan. And, don't worry, you can always top up later in subway station)
3. Buy sim card : KRW 29 000 (later we find that sim card is not really necessary because you can find a lot of place with WiFi especially on subways) But, for emergency purpose, i suggest you to buy one. ^^ This sim card will take quite some time to set up on your phone. but don't worry because all the information is written in the sim pack. ^^
4. Grab any information brochure. it might be useful later.
5. Take selfie :p and let your family know that you arrived safely. :D

So at first, we planned to go to guesthouse by limousine but we end up riding subways. It was a long and exciting journey.

So we stayed in Oh Guest House which located near to Sinsieoldong Subway Station [5 minutes walk] . If you want to stay there, you can make a prior booking through booking.com or can make a reservation through phone call : +82 70 8987 6888 and i highly recommend anyone to stay there because, it wasn't only comfortable but the owner made us feel like Korea is our home. I remembered when they offered to send my best of friend to the hospital when he was sick, giving foods and tips to recover faster and asking from time to time about his condition. Well, when you're outside of your home, nobody really care about you. But, they made it different this time because i feel like home ^^

So, how to get to the guesthouse from Airport buy subway?

1. First, you need to download this app METROID HD. You can find it in play store and download it for free. This apps will enable you to navigate freely through subways in Seoul and also Busan.
2. Second, follow the signage to the airport subway station.
3. Ride the KTX train from Incheon International Airport Railroad and stop at Seoul Station (Final Stop of the train). Total distance is about 58 km, ETA is around 114 minutes including waiting time in each train stop and fares around 4800 krw. But, there is another train , AREX. this train is faster than the KTX because it only stop twice; ICN airport and Seoul Station. The ETA is 54 minutes and fares around 9.5k KRW.
4. Once you arrived in Seoul Station, find the dark blue line - line 1, ride the subways to sinsieoldong.  This ride will take you 27  min including the waiting time, 8 stops with 1250 krw fares.
5. Once you arrived in Sinsieoldong, head to exit 12 and wait outside, make a call to the guest house and they'll fetch you there. Don't bother searching because it is quite hard to find. but, if you like to have a little adventure on your own, here is a little guidelines i can provide.

when you stand outside the exit 12, go straight until you see the 7e shop, Fried Chicken Shop and the guesthouse is located around there. I didn't take any picture of the street but you have to walk a little more to reach the 7e, not the 7e you saw near the exit.

But still, i recommend you to call the guest house and the owner will pick you up. They are quite friendly, so, you're good to go.

If you are confuse about the line colour and number, you'll understand it once you arrived. Don't worry, you won't lose because the sign-age is everywhere and it's quite clear. Just, please know that you have to know which exit you have to go because Korean Subways is crazy ^^ They have until 12 exit and surprisingly, every exit will lead you to different places and it's quite far to each other.

Ahh, another information to remember ;
1. If it is your first time in Incheon Airport, then, please remember that a journey from where you landed to the immigration check point is quite far. You'll need to ride a shuttle train. Just follow the crowd ^^

2. Seoul Station is a busiest train station i ever encountered. It was full of people and only the strongest win :D I never fight to get a way in any place before, but here, i did. It's hard to find a small way to go through. People will push you forward and backward. There will be people running and stepping over you and please don't expect an apology. when in Rome do like Romans. well maybe we arrived there at a peak hour so, crazy. It was really full of people. If you walk in a group and your group member is a new traveller and suffer a panic disorder than i advice you to estimate the ETA after 8.30 pm, less crowd and the tendency to lose your member is less.

So, we arrived in guest house around 8pm, bought our dinner just outside the guest house and, took a refreshing bath and sleep. Tomorrow is a long way to go.

I am not really good in writing a direction, so any comment positive or negative is welcome.

XoXo

I Spy Singapore

Dear daddy,
My journey to Singapore wasn't well prepared. At first, i didn't plan a journey around January to April because I have an upcoming journey to Korea in May - June. Plus, the team and I bought a flight ticket a year ago So i have to save money for that.

But something happened to my life, again. I don't know either it is bad or good. And i don't know if my decision is right or wrong too. It has been a super duper complicated choice i ever made. So, Sigh!

When it comes to friendship and misunderstanding, i'd say that is a real tough situation. I didn't know things will end up like that. I really thought that nobody cares and i didn't interfere with anything. I really thought that it's just me and a person, no (s), nothing. But sigh again. I guess i have to go through with that, no?

So, I've been looking for every possible escapes when i found out that Airasia was on sale. As a result of clicking here and there, I finally bought a flight ticket to Singapore. I never been there before. Asked few people to come with me but yup nobody can go cause it wasn't public holiday nor weekend. So it was my first unplanned solo trip. ^^

Singapore was awesome. The cleanliness, the Skypark, The Helix Bridge, The Musical Performances, The Foods, The people, The secure feelings, The transportation, The Gardens by the Bay, The Sentosa Island and the everything that i can't write in here. It's all awesome and it does add a lot of new experience and point of view in my life. It opened my eyes a lot. Especially that very moment.... wait, i want to write it in a different paragraph...here..

I was hungry and thirsty because i walked all day long. Twas' a hot day and i didn't bring my water bottle with me. So i headed to Marina Bay Food court to buy some fruits, water and foods. Next, i was eating fruits while walking and finally stopped in a corner to get some rest. And then, suddenly a person stand in front of me, for quite a long time i think. Since i know about 'Singaporean do their own things' and having someone standing in front of me for quite a long time is a little bit weird. He's a man, handsome, tall, quite a figure and best attire, with a tie, blazer, black slack trouser, looking directly at me, yes me. Was he flirting? Or was he interested in me? No. Moments later, He bow and picked up the watermelon at the floor right in front of me, smiled at me, No, smirked at me and throw the rubbish to the dustbin. You know what i feel dad? yes, you got me. I was embarrased and speechless trying to hide my feelings. Ah i stopped eating and can't get it out of my head till i get home.

I really did learn something from here. Apart from being a well-known Fine City , Singaporean really keep their country clean. They didn't wait for the cleaners to do the work. They did it themselves. And i am really proud of them.

I immediately fall in love with this country and the people in it. I'll come back soon, with mom, and of course i'll bring you in my heart, dad, Always.

XoXo