Day 6: Last Full Day in Seoul

The week went by so fast, I suddenly felt loneliness knowing that I soon have to leave this beautiful country without any plans of coming back soon. I didn't want to leave just yet but since the day has started, why not continue with my plans?

On this day, all four of us decided to do our Solo Trips in the morning and meet up in the afternoon then eat together for dinner. (Robert went to visit the National Museum, Ryan went on a Hike, while Shai and I are spending the rest of the day after Church). My bestfriend and I wanted to make the most out of this day because this is our last date before I leave for Australia. True enough, it really was. We didn't see each other after this Trip and I am looking forward to reuniting with her this December!

Our sixth day was a Sunday! First Sunday of December 2016. Dad never fails to remind me that if I happen to be somewhere else on a Sunday, I have to go find the nearest LDS Church and attend meetings there. So, I decided to find an English Ward of our Church. Looking it up online was easy, but navigating my way to it was definitely not! I totally forgot that the pocket wifi was with Ryan when I left alone for church. I wanted to be there in time for the Sacrament so I risked taking a cab! 

The cab driver couldn't understand what I was saying (even if I'm trying my hardest to speak in Korean LOL). I just told him to drop me off a train station that I know but when I check the screenshot of the map I just went on to tell the driver about the directions from it and finally, found the church. I was exactly on time! The moment I got in, the congregation has already started singing the opening hymn. 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Seoul English Ward Building

A copy of the Korean Hymnbook!

Day 5: The true meaning of Hectic in South Korea (lol)

Korea has been a beautiful dream! Just by reviewing our photos from our winter visit last year, I can feel that cold winter breeze and the unexpected tourist frenzy moments. I know this post has been long overdue (which I am sincerely apologetic about!). I'm sorry, blogging has been out of my mind for ages...but the good thing is I'm back at it soooo, let's celebrate! lol. 

It's our 5th day in South Korea and we still wanted to explore more places. With this in mind, we visited four completely different locations which exhausted every ounce of energy we had for that day. We squeezed in one day to visit Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village, Pocheon Art Valley (which is about 1 hr away from the City) and more shopping at Myeongdong. 

The visit to Gyeongbokgung Palace was my second time but I haven't tried on these palace guard costumes so Robert, Ryan and I went to try it! The best thing about it? It's FREE! My bestfriend Shai was back at the Hostel still preparing for our day. She stayed back since she's been at the palace for three times already! 

The Morning of our fifth day was spent at Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon Hanok Village. These places are one train station apart, and it is always a must to visit these two spots together when in Seoul! 

A selca for our palace guard costumes! Would we pass as palace guards in Joseon Era? LOL

Met a Filipino couple and had our photo taken with them because why not?!

Selfie with Ry while waiting for Memshie Rob to get dressed ;) 

The men went to have a look around the palace while I went to meet up with my bestfriend (in a secret cafe) hahaha. We didn't tell the boys about us eating here but they end up finding us! That moment crack me up. We were literally trying to hide from them so my bestfriend and I can catch up on everything we've missed out on while away from each other for months! Too bad, the boys are too keen on finding us because they happen to be hungry, too HAHAHHA! Food gets us all together <3 

Winter in Korea: Baekje Cultural Land (Day 3)

The Entrance to the Main Hall of Sabi Palace

I must have already mentioned a thousand times that Baekje Cultural Land is one of my most favorite places that I've visited last winter in Korea. Even until now, I still can't forget how beautiful this place is. You should definitely put this location on your must-see places when you visit Korea. I promise you will adore this place. 

Baekje Cultural Land is a huge area composed of several villages. Each village has reproduced a variety of culture from how people lived in the Three Kingdoms Era (Goryeo, Silla, Baekje) influenced by the Japanese. The construction of the whole Baekje Cultural Land took 17 years to finish. This tourist spot has been a shooting location for famous TV Shows including "Running Man" and the Korean Drama called "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo". 

Our sole reason for visiting this amazingly designed location was to recreate a scene or at least photograph a frame from a scene in the Korean Drama that my best friend and I were extremely obsessed with. Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo will make you feel all sorts of emotion in just one episode. So if you wish to watch this drama, be ready for a series of extreme scene transitions and mood swings, too! hahahaha

Behind me is a five-story pagoda from the Neungsa Temple on the left of the Sabi Palace.

The Life and Culture Village photographed at a Jehyangru on the hill. Credits to my Bestfriend Shai for this photo!

On our way down, my Shai and I wanted a photo together but an ahjussi who's also going downhill joined us in our photo.

I miss traveling :(

It feels weird for me that I have not traveled for over a year now. As a newly employed in the government, I'm still not entitled to any form of leave until I'm six months old in the job. I got one month left before turning six months! However, the process of getting a Travel Authority from our Department Secretary is very very veeerrrryyyyy tedious and tiring. I need to prepare it months before actually going out of the country. So that's the downside of being a government employee and at the same time having love for traveling. 

If ever I'm not lazy to prepare all the documents to travel, the only country that I would love to go back to would still be SOUTH KOREA. I miss the spring season! I miss the food! I miss the places and the people I met there! Korea is a place that I would never get tired of visiting. It's like a second home to me.

I'm hoping that before I leave for the "great down under", I could visit this beautiful place again.

xx,

T