Seoul-searching - Day 1 (of 12) of our South Korea Adventure - Yoo's Guesthouse, Changdeokgung Palace, Yeuido Park

This is an account of our trip to land of the morning calm - South Korea. It's our first time in this country. And we really had a grand time. This our travel story.

Day 1
Around 8pm of April 8, I went home to prepare for our 2:25am flight to Incheon, South Korea the next day.  We booked a taxi at 10:30pm through GrabATaxi.  When we arrived at Terminal 3, we were informed that our flight would be delayed for four hours due to heavy fog at Incheon airport. So we're resigned to our fate. We didn't have a choice but to wait. We found a spot to charge our gadgets. 

Waiting game

Later on, we transferred to airport chairs and slept to pass the time. Good thing our children were cowboys who didn't complain about sudden detours. So finally we were able to board at around 6:10am. We landed on Incheon airport almost around noon. 

Touchdown: Incheon, Seoul, South Korea

We rode a monorail to get our baggage.  

Incheon airport's monorail station

We went to Airport bus stop 6011. We purchased our ticket at the nearby counter. Airport bus 6011 stops near Yoo's Guesthouse - our hanok home stay. We waited for around five minutes and our bus arrived. 

Bus time!

It was a scenic drive. Spring was in full swing.

Inside airport bus 6011

Joyriding!

After more than hour, we finally went down at Anguk bus stop. But we probably had the wrong information because we can't seem to find our hanok. So we went to a nearby ginseng store to ask for directions. I gave her the printed paper with the Korean address and telephone number of Yoo's.  Since she couldn't seem to figure it out either she just called them. She told us that the owner would just pick us up. She asked us to enter the store and wait inside. She even gave ginseng candy to my daughters. After almost half an hour, Deborah, the owner, arrived to pick us up. We walked two blocks. She told us that we should have went down on the next stop (Changdeokgung Palace). Oh well, first booboo for us first timers.

We were greeted by a wooden gate and a narrow path leading to a wooden door. It was very reminiscent of Korea's traditional houses, those I saw on TV.  Upon entering Yoo's Guesthouse, we saw a table and some chairs in the middle of a quaint reception area. Around it are five rooms, each with wooden doors - 3 of which are guestrooms, one room is a shared bathroom and the other is a shared kitchen. We were led to one guest room. It's quite small but enough for all four of us.  It also has an ensuite bathroom. This is where we got to experience the ondol - their heated floor. It was amazing. Even the bathroom floor was heated. In a very cold weather not once did our feet felt cold at Yoo's. Deborah gave us the key and showed us how to lock the entrance door. 

Yoo's Guesthouse - a hanok experience in Seoul

After she left, we just arranged our luggages then head out to do some sightseeing. We planned to go to Yeuido Park to catch what's left of the cherry blossoms.  We went to Anguk station for Yeuido. We bought a t-money card at the nearby 7-11 and loaded it with KW10,000 (P435). 

Riding the subway

From Anguk (orange/line 3) station, we transferred to Jongno3 ga (purple/line 5) and then went down at Yeuido Station. We asked someone for the directions to the Yeuido Park, she directed us with hand signals.  She even motioned that the cherry blossoms have fallen. But we're not about to be disheartened. We headed towards the direction she had given. And we saw the sign right away. We crossed the street to the Yeuido Park sign. 

Our trail to Yeuido Park

We walked further and saw the expanse grounds of the park. And the lady was right, the blossoms have fallen. There were no cherry blossoms in sight. But we're not about to give up. We asked the person at the tourist information center for the possibility of cherry blossoms sightings. He asked us to go around the block, which we did and we had a grand time taking photos of spring flowers, wooden bridges and you guess it right, cherry blossoms. We felt giddy. And it felt more wonderful when the wind blew and blossoms were falling like snow.

Flowers of spring

Park time

Bonding with nature

Just across the park was KBS (Korea Broadcasting System) and their grounds were still lined with cherry trees. So we crossed the street and took more photos. By the time we're done, it was almost 6pm and the sun was still up. But it was getting colder. So we decided to go back to our place. We rode the subway, and went down at Anguk station. 

KBS grounds

We looked around for a Korean restaurant, which we found right away. Since there are more people inside this restaurant than the others around the area, we decided to dine here. We had samgyeopsal, grilled pork wrapped in lettuce with garlic and a red dipping sauce. Since I don't eat pork, i contented myself with grilled mushroom which was also great. But the best part was their kimchi. It's fresh lettuce and it was so crunchy and tasty. In our 12 days in Korea, we haven't forgotten this kimchi from this restaurant.

Korean resto on the block

Sampgyeosal and the best kimchi ever

We walked home after dinner. We followed Sunnie's penguin walk to keep our minds away from the coldness. The Changdeokgung Palace main entrance was beautiful and irresistible at night. So we didn't let it pass without a photo.  After our very short photo op, we retired to our hanok.

Changdeokgung Palace at night 

On our own and loving it!

Day 1 in a nutshell: Things you might need to know

1. Incheon airport to Yoos Guesthouse (hanok homestay)
Board Airport Bus 6011 (Go down at Changdeokgung Palace)
Bus fare: KW10,000 (P435) for adults; KW8,000 (P348) for child (S is still free)
Yoo's Guesthouse - KW315,000 (P13,702.50) for 3 nights

2.  It would help if you have the name, address and telephone number of your accommodation in Korean.  This will come in handy if you need to ask for directions.

3.  Spring is cold.  Colder than I expected.  It would be best to bring jackets, scarfs, socks even gloves and bonnets. Any piece of clothing that would keep you warm is good.

2. Buy T-money card to ride subway - KW500 (P21.75).  This is cheaper than buying single way tickets to your destination.  We initially loaded our T-money with KW10,000 (P435).  

3. Directions to Yeuido Park from Yoo's Guesthouse: Anguk Station (orange/line 3) to Jongno3-ga (purple/line 5)
Go down at Yeuido Station (Exit 4), around 10 minutes walk
Fare: Child - KW1,050 (P45.70), Adult - KW1150 (P50.05), S is still free

4. Yeuido Park is free.