I guess many travel/go on a holiday to wind down and chill, and spend quality time with the ones they love; but travelling to me is as a learning experience, and definitely solo travelling. Once a KPOP fan, I was always curious about the Korean culture and thus Korea was the first country I chose to explore. In 31 months, I went to Seoul 4 times! Along with other small towns of South Korea.
相信许多出国旅游，都是为了放松心情，和身边的人聚一聚。不过，旅游对我来说是一种学习体验，而且我都选择单人旅游。曾经迷上韩流音乐的我，对于韩国文化感到特别兴趣，好奇。于是韩国便成为我探索的第一个国家。在31个月内，竟然去了4次的首尔！当然也包括在韩国的不同小镇。
Yes, I definitely picked up Korean too. I went solo on my first trip, and I realised though English is an international language, but it is still not used that often in Korea. Only main areas and tourist places in Korea have signs and directions written in English. Also, majority of the Koreans do not speak English, especially street vendors and tenants in traditional places like the local markets. Without knowing any Korean, I had a hard time conversing with the locals and depend greatly on Google translate. With a little knowledge of the language and how to read it, it really does help a lot!
当然路途中，也渐渐开始学上韩语。第一次单人到首尔时，发现虽然英语是个国际语言，但在韩国很少用到。只有韩国的主要地区和旅游景点才有英文标记和指示。大多数韩国人都不说英语，尤其是街头小贩和传统地区，如当地市场。不知道什么韩语的我，和当地人沟通非常困难，都用手语和 Google Translate。知道一点韩语还是真的能帮助很多。
This time, I will be there to experience its winter! Seoul does not snow everyday, most of the time probably 3-4 times during the winter period that goes from end of November till about February. This might be a good thing as snow is actually clusters of tiny ice crystals, hence floors with snow will be extremely slippery! Outskirts of South Korea will have a higher chance of snowfall. January is the coldest month, so chances of catching the snowfall within this month might be higher.
这次到韩国体验冬天！首尔不是每天都会下雪，真个季节从11月尾到大概2月，可能最多才3-4次。这也是种好处因为下雪的路非常滑。雪花其实是一群群非常小的冰块，所以一样是水，和下雨天路滑一样的概念。到韩国的外区见到雪花的机会比较高。1月也是整个冬天季节最冷的月份，所以在这个月内见到雪花的机会也可能比较高。
#1: Time for a plane ride again! #seoulexcited
This trip to Seoul, I’m taking Cathay Pacific, transiting at Hong Kong. The flight from Singapore towards Hong Kong, on flight A350-900, was extremely comfortable. The usual economy class is a little space constraint, with meals that are just good enough. This time round, the seats were much more spacious. I’m 165m in height and usually after I sit down, there wasn’t much space left between my knees and the seat in front of me. If I were to slouch a little, my knees will hit the seat in front. However this time round, there was still a space of about 30cm after I sat down. The meal, which was fish fillet and rice, was really good! There’s bun and fruits as well. Some nuts before dinner is served, and some Haagan-Daz ice cream after meal. The ice cream was quite frozen, and it was such an enjoyable time scrapping the ice cream, a little by a little, while I watch Venom.
这次飞往首尔，韩国，乘搭国泰航空，在香港转机。从新加坡前往香港的这趟班级，A350-900，非常舒服。以往的经济舱，空间狭窄，食物也很一般。这次座位空间非常阔。我身高165米，以往坐下来，膝盖与前方座位空间非常少。如果稍微坐出一点，就会碰到膝盖。这次膝盖与前方座位坐下来后，还有大概30公分的空间。食物也好好吃，是鱼柳与饭，还有面包和水果。饭前有一包花生，饭后还有 Haagan-Daz 冰淇淋。冰淇淋很冰，看着 Venom，一点点一点点吃着冰淇淋好过瘾！
The flight from Hong Kong towards Korea was the usual constraint-space flight. Trying to catch some sleep but couldn’t really with some neck aches and sore legs, as I couldn’t really stretch out my legs. I used to had knee and lower back pains that I sustained during my dancing days about 5yrs back. It still aches every now and then if I were to sit too long or not in the right position. Even though it was a transfer flight, a light meal that consists of egg salad bun, cookie, muffin and fruits, was served.
从香港前往韩国的班级就和往日的狭窄经济舱一样。想睡一下，但睡久了就开始有点颈疼和脚酸，脚无法伸直。大概五年前跳舞时，曾经伤过膝盖和背部。时不时就会疼 - 坐太久或错误坐姿。虽然是转机，但还是有提供小点心。鸡蛋沙拉面包，饼干，杯子蛋糕和水果。
At 5:30am, I finally reached Korea! Took the Airport Railroad subway (AREX) to Hongdae Station where I will be staying. For AREX, there is 2 types of trains, All-stop and Express. A lot of people, including myself, are actually conned to take the express train, but actually all-stop train is A LOT cheaper than taking the express train. The difference is that all-stop train has 12 stops in between Incheon Airport T2 and Seoul Station, whereas the express train goes straight to Seoul Station from the airport. All-stop train functions like a normal subway train, whereas express train has scheduled trains, with assigned seats and space for luggage. It takes all-stop train an additional 15mins to reach Seoul Station, but, the price is a HUGE difference! Express train fare is at KRW9,000 per trip. Whereas, all-stop train fare is calculated based on the distance travelled. For me, I alighted at Hongdae Station, 2 stops away from Seoul Station, it only cost me KRW2,800 per trip. If you were to take the express train, you have to wait for your scheduled train, so the time required is actually about the same for both types of train.
早上5:30终于抵达韩国！从机场搭了机场快线列车到弘大捷运站，这次会住在弘大。那机场快线列车分两种，All-stop（全停列车） 和 Express（快速列车）。很多人，包括我在内，都被这个 ‘快速列车’ 给骗了！其实实际上，搭 ’全停列车‘ 比较划算，便宜很多！不同点在于全停列车从仁川机场 T2 到首尔站之间有12个站，而快速列车是直达首尔站。全停列车和一般捷运列车是相同的，而快速列车则有安排好的位子和放行李的空间，也要按照车票上的时间搭车。全停列车和快速列车比起，需要多15分钟才抵达首尔站，但，车票价格差很多！快速列车每趟车费是韩币9,000，而全停列车的车费是根据距离计算。像我是在弘大下车，多两个站就会到首尔站，车费只需要韩币2,800！而且搭快速列车必须根据车票上的列车时间才能搭，不是随便一个列车来就能搭。等来等去，两种列车所需要花的时间其实差不多。
#2: Follow this sign at the airport to get to the subway station. About 5-10mins walk.
#3: At the subway station, all-stop train is on the left, and express train on the right.
#4: To express train platform is with orange ticket gantries. I recommend taking the all-stop train instead.
#5: If you already have a T-money card (Seoul's public transport card), there are ticket machines available for you to top-up your card. If you don't, you can get a single trip ticket first, then get a T-money card at any regular subway stations or convenience stores.
#6: There are 4 languages to choose from - Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese. Places and subway stops that are frequent by foreigners, are available in these 4 languages. Otherwise, they are also mainly available in English as well.
#7: Recharging my card... I got this LINE Brown T-money card at a convenience store 2yrs ago for KRW4,000, not quite sure if they are still selling now. But these days, Kakao Friends are getting more popular over LINE Friends.
#8: The last stop is 'Incheon Airport T2', so make sure you are on the right direction.
#9: The frequency timings and time required to get to each stop for all-stop train.
I’m staying at Hongdae but it was still too early to check-in, so storing my suitcase at the baggage locker first before I start today’s journey. Starting storage fee for 4hrs was KRW4,000, pretty affordable! It adds on after 4hrs - +KRW1,000 for 4-12hrs (per hour), +KRW4,000 for more than 12hrs, and +KRW12,000 for 1 day. The first location is to Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival, and today is the last day of the festival! So after storing my luggage, I took the subway to Yongsan Station, then the ITX to Namchuncheon Station. Totally forgotten that I have to listen out for the right train to board as several trains use the same tracks. Went back and forth, and finally got on the right train, phew! Look out for ‘ITX Chuncheon’ train arriving announcement.
这次住弘大，但，离住宿 check-in 还有一段时间，所以在开始今天的旅程前，先把行李锁在捷运站内备有的行李储物柜。基本存储费是韩币4,000，可以存放4小时，觉得还蛮合理，不会贵。超过4小时就会另外计算 - 4至12小时之间，每小时 +韩币1,000，超过12小时 +韩币4,000，1天使用 +韩币12,000。第一目的地是华川三川鱼冰节。搭了捷运到龙山站，然后改搭 ITX 到南春川站。可是，却忘了必须听广播后才搭列车，因为同个轨道有好几个列车共用，结果就搭错了。来来回回，终于答对了！要注意听广播说 ‘ITX Chuncheon’ 列车即将抵达，才能搭。
#10: Finally on the right train hahaha... This was my favourite brand of instant coffee for the past 3yrs, hasn't found anything better so far. I have to get this every time I'm back. The packaging is larger and it is not too sweet. One good thing that I love about Korea is that you are allowed to eat and drink in the train! Some train rides could take about 1-2hrs, and it is a great time to fill up your tummy or take a short nap. There are even power sockets available, so you can recharge your electronics too!
From Namchuncheon Station, walk about 5-10mins to Chuncheon Bus Terminal. When you see a huge E-mart sign, you know you are at the right place! The bus terminal is right next to E-mart. Get your ticket to Hwacheon and proceed to allocated platform number and wait for the bus to arrive. It is about an hour ride to Hwacheon, arriving at Hwacheon Bus Terminal.
从南春川站步行大约5-10分钟，到春川车站。看到大大的 E-mart 牌就走对地方了。车站就在 E-mart 的隔壁。买张前往华川的车票后，到指定的月台等巴士就行了，行程大约1小时。
#11: Chuncheon Bus Terminal.
#12: First time taking an intercity bus, gosh, the wait was long! I probably waited for about 30-45mins? It doesn't even indicate when is the bus arriving!
#13: Getting to platform 13 as indicated on the ticket.
#14: Hwacheon Bus Terminal.
Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival 화천산천어축제
137 Sancheoneo-gil, Hwacheon-eup, Hwacheon, Gangwon-do
Available every January only, 0900-1800hrs
Hwacheon Bus Terminal
Walk about 1.1km to site of Ice Festival
Travelling time from Seoul: about 3hrs on public transport
Around the bus terminal, you can find the coffee museum and the ice sculpture square. It took me about 15-20mins to get to the site of the ice festival. There are lots of activities going on that are great for everybody - families, kids, friends and tourists! Winter activities, cultural activities, and the main highlight of the event - ice fishing! It does takes a lot of patience to like this activity, and I was about to give up and walk away empty handed. I give myself an hour. If I don’t catch any by an hour, then I’ll leave. Lucky enough, I finally caught one after 50mins, and the second one 10mins after. The second fish was huge! Maybe around 40cm? The first one was about 25cm?
到了华川车站后，车站的附近就能看到咖啡博物馆和冰雕馆。步行约15-20分钟就会抵达佳节现场。这里有好多好多活动，一家人，小孩，朋友，旅客，都适合！冬季活动，文化活动，还有佳节的主要活动 - 冰钓！要喜欢这项活动，真的很靠耐心。我差一点就想果断放弃，空手走掉。我给自己一小时的时间，没抓到就走。真的好幸运，在最后的10分钟内抓到了两条！第二条好大条，大约40公分？第一条大约25公分？
#15: Finally arriving at the ice festival...
#16: There are lots of activities available here! But be prepared, there is a lot of waiting time as well!
#17: Ice fishing!
#18: There are 2 fishing areas, be sure you are at the foreigners zone as it is cheaper.
#19: Managed to catch 2 fishes after waiting for 50mins! Got the 2nd one 10mins after I got the 1st one, and the 2nd fish was HUGE!
The blue metal thing is the fish rod that got really stuck on on the fin, I didn't managed to pull it out as it keep flipping.
I had the big fish grilled and the small fish as sashimi. The queue for sashimi was insane! I intended to send my fish to grill and meanwhile bring the other fish to prepare as sashimi. I queued for about 40mins for the sashimi counter and by then when I returned to the grill counter, my fish was half burnt. The thing is the staffs have so many fishes to take care of that they actually only take the fish out when you return to collect it. So the recommended time to return is 15mins. The grilled fish still taste great though it was quite overcooked. It was seasoned with sea salt before they wrapped it to grill. The sashimi version on the other hand taste really bland. It taste great if you dipped it in the sauce provided that tasted similar to tteokbokki sauce. I guess salmon sashimi still taste the best!
大条的做成烤鱼，小条的就做成 sashimi，sashimi 的队超长！我是打算先送大鱼去烤，烤着的当儿，就去排 sashimi。可是结果 sashimi 区排了40分钟！回去烤鱼区领鱼时，已经被烤焦了一半。烤鱼师傅因为有很多鱼都等着被烤，所以他们不会帮你一只一只看熟了没。就你大概15分钟后回去领鱼就对了。结果就因为 sashimi 那里排了太久，所以迟回去了。不过，虽然有点过熟，不过还是很好吃。烤前他们有帮忙沙点海盐。Sashimi 呢，就没这么好吃，因为三川鱼的肉本生没什么味道，他不想鲑鱼或其它海鲜类，有自己自然的甜味。不过沾了负有的辣酱，类似韩式炒年糕酱，就好吃多了。还是鲑鱼 sashimi 最好吃！
#20: My half-burnt grilled fish.
#21: Sashimi version.
I was pretty exhausted from the lack of sleep, traveling, walking and standing, that I left once my fishes were done. I initially intended to try the activities, and visit the ice sculptures and coffee museum. Also, my phone was left with just 9% battery life that I didn’t dare to stay any longer. My portable charger was also out of battery. Successfully made my way back to Hwacheon Bus Terminal and bought my ticket back to Chuncheon. This time round, the seats are pre-assigned, so the next available bus was at 7:40pm, about an hour to go from time of purchase. Lucky enough, there was a cafe nearby, so I went in for some coffee and to charge my electronics.
因为睡不够，加上一直在走着，站着，已经是疲惫不堪，所以搞定鱼儿们就离开。原本打算玩一下佳节中的活动，和去一下冰雕场和咖啡博物馆。而且，手机也快没电了，只剩9%，所以也不敢多留。充电器也没电了。终于，在手机还没完全没电时，成功抵达华川车站，买票回春川。这次呢，巴士就有安排好的位子，所以下一班有空位的巴士是7:40pm，离买车票时还有大概一小时的时间。在附近走走看看，很幸运刚好有咖啡厅！所以就进去点了杯咖啡，顺便充电。
Hwacheon Bus Terminal > Chuncheon Bus Terminal > Namchuncheon Station > Yongsan Station > Hongdae Station
After about 3.5hrs of traveling back to Seoul, finally time to check-in to my Airbnb! It has been such an exhausting day of continuous traveling, walking, fighting with the cold weather, waiting, queuing, standing... Every time I got the chance to sit down, I would fell asleep the moment I close my eyes. Gosh!
华川车站 > 春川车站 > 南春川站 > 龙山站 > 弘大站
过了3.5小时，终于到了首尔！提取行李，准备到我的 Airbnb check-in！真是个超级无敌累的一天，一直走，一直排，一直等，一直站，还有面对寒冷的天气！每次有机会坐下来时，闭上眼睛，就会不知不觉的睡着。。。天啊！
#22: Checking-in to my Airbnb!
#23: There are a total of 8 doors to this house! The main door, the balcony door, 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
Each bedroom is a listing on its own, so the other spaces are shared. There are 2 1pax rooms, a 3pax room, and a 4pax room. I think this Airbnb is great for families!
#24: Couch and coffee table.
#25: Kitchen, with almost everything you need, even cooking oil and seasonings.
#26: Kitchen.
#27: Pretty little set-up corner on the kitchen table top.
#28: Dining table.
#29: Hair dryers available, and table sanitiser.
#30: Another pretty set-up corner. There are USB cables available in the basket.
Pre-expenses
Flight (Cathay Pacific): S$826.50
Airbnb: S$314.07
Travel Insurance: S$31.72
*Wifi Router: S$37.50 (25% off) - broke down on day 3, pending for refund
DMZ Tour (day 3) booked via Klook: S$60.85
Total Expenses: S$1,233.14
Exchange Rate: S$1 = KRW825
Expenses for Day 1
T- money Card top-up: KRW50,000
Luggage Storage: KRW4,000
Coffing Road Coffee: KRW2,300
Egg Salad Sandwich: KRW2,200
Strawberry Cream Sandwich: KRW1,600
Bus Ticket, Chuncheon > Hwacheon: KRW4,600
Ice Fishing: KRW8,000 + KRW5,000 voucher
Fishing Rod: KRW5,000 (free)
Grilled Fish: KRW2,000 cooking fee
Sashimi: KRW2,000 prep fee
Bus Ticket, Hwacheon > Chuncheon: KRW4,600
Caramel Macchiato: KRW3,900
Additional Luggage Storage Charges: KRW12,000
Total Expenses for Day 1: KRW97,200 = S$117.80
Previous Expenses: S$1,233.14
Current Total Expenses: S$1,350.94