2024 South Korea Trip Day 1 : Welcome to seoul

The plan is now set into motion (after countless of hours of research) and after 12 years,  I am back again in Seoul. This time around the plane landed in ICN T2 and I took Korean Air.   

ICN T2 is like a budget terminal and it seems like nothing much was there. There was no NewJeans sign to welcome you to Seoul (or did I miss it). It was very bare and like an after thought. (or just built anew, but the whole lot was dedicated specifically to their flag carrier, Korean Air. The departure was quiet too , no paps on site)

Clearing the immigration was such a breeze. There wasn't much people in the counters when we landed at 6AM.  It was just working our way to immigration. Meeting the immigration officer (just ensure that you have eTAs or visa to enter the country, and of course passport must be valid within 6 months), then it was off to baggage claim and customs. So far, you only need to fill up the arrival card (which you will pass to immigration officer) when you land in Korea, and pass through Custom gates after getting your luggage, then you are basically a free to roam Seoul. 

First order of business, is to eat a full meal after landing. So off to basement we go, Korean Food Street, and find where most flight attendants get their food (or so they say). 

Choices were a lot, so we settled with  교동짬뿡, 짜장면 (jajangmyeon) ,₩7500 @ 한옥집

 김치찜반상 (kimchi jjim ban sang), ₩9800 (FYI: 찜 means steam) 

What I like about Korean dining , be it in the airport, in the city, in the province (just basically everywhere), is that everything is within reach, whether it be the (Free) water, utensils, side dishes, apron or serviettes. No time wasted asking staff where are these things (you just need to grab and go). 

After a hearty breakfast, we just followed the signs to go to the airport bus (from the food court)  and buy tickets from the counter. The ticket seller will point you to the (door) gate from where you should exit & of course the bus you are going to board (We only bought one way. Going back to the airport, you can use your transport card, or pay cash upfront to the driver. In Korea, you can pay for others using your own card)   

Note: Airport bus 6015 comes at an interval of 15-20mins so you just need to wait for the timing.  

Inside the bus, you can charge your phone and recline your seats comfortably (If only all the buses in  are like this, I wouldn't mind commuting). Your big bags  are stowed inside the bus compartment.

Depends on the conductor, they may ask you to bring the cabin baggage up. (esp if it light), from which you can put the luggage in front (near the bus driver's seat). 

There was a traffic jam (so do not plan any activity just in case it will be too tight)  so we only reached Seoul nearly 3hrs on the road (usually, it only takes 1.5h to 2h). The bus was comfy enough so I did not have any complains (and usually I do not plan anything on the first day, in case there will be some delay happening.) 

The hotel was just opposite the bus stop for the airport limousine bus in Myeongdeong. Thinking that the check in time might take some time and rooms are not ready, I was only going to leave the luggage at the concierge but surprisingly, the room was already ready so I can do an early check in (and another surprise of the day, is that for the duration of my stay in Seoul, we were given free breakfast.) 

After freshening up (and since we were still full from the meal), I only have 1 plan for the day which was to go to Garden of Morning Calm (to see flowers). So off we go, along the way, because of QoT, I was looking for Hodu Boom, and luckily was able to find one in the station (Forgot which one! But do get the custard.₩3,500  for 5 pcs, and I saw that Dongdaemun Stn Exit 7 has a branch.) 

There were so much line transfers we did before we were able to reach the garden of morning calm (It was that far from the city) .I just followed Naver directions to get to the place. (Timings are so far accurate. 

Note: Be on a lookout because sometimes the bus stops are inconspicuous. 

The train station where we alighted. 

Inside the bus. you need to tap in your card, and tap out when you alight. The small board on the bus will tell you which is the next stop, so you will know where to alight. 

A short walk from the bus stop is the entrance to The Garden of Morning Calm. 

Contrary to popular belief, you can actually clear the park after some 2-3h (esp if you are just to admire the flowers and not a photo hogger). Just be wary of the bus timings, the frequency is not that often (and do check what is the last bus that goes from that bus stop).  

Thought i would be seeing something in season but alas, it was just bare and normal park (but it was still ok to see) albeit the long travel from Myeongdeong.

After spending a few hours, we went back to the bus stop where we alighted (as morning calm is the last stop) and take the bus back to Seoul. The buses run at an hour interval (you can rest up at the bus stop while waiting for the bus, there are nearby stores that serve snacks. but of course, since this is a tourist spot, prices are on a higher side). 

Back in Seoul, it was a no brainer to eat at Myeongdeong Kyoja (the queue was fast, so you'll be seated in no time)  

We ordered 

1. Kalguksu #갈국수, ₩11,000 x 2 (because 1 is not enough ) 

2. Mandu #만두, ₩12,000

Tip:

Go around 5 or 6pm

Note:

• The restaurant is small and always busy.
• They will give you small share plates.
• They will take your order first and pay on the spot
• All are nett prices and no service charge
• Water bottle is also provided on the table.

 

After dinner , we went to go shopping in MD. (a lot of people and very crowded) and by10PM, we were already working our way to go back to hotel. The hotel we are staying is Seoul Prince Hotel. Tomorrow is an early day. 

Seoul Prince Hotel 

PRO 

• they gave us free breakfast coupon (for the duration of stay, however they didn't pack us any breakfast on the day we can't make it. ) 
• they gave us our room before check in time (Horray for early check in!) 
• opposite airport limousine bus stop (just across the street) 
• Opposite the street is the famous Myeongdeong night market (that even on a weeknight it is full of people)
• daily clean up of the hotel room (unlike in Jp). A lot of things got downgraded while in Jp . 
• Beside emart and 12 storey Daiso 
• Amenities : 2 bottles of water daily, room cleaning daily
• No fee for kept bags for days but need to ask front desk (left our luggages for 5 days)  to open your locker after checking back in (Also, keeping your luggage in the locker is self service. you just need to use the locker and remember where you put your things.Also, remember the locker number aside from code. 
• near mrt line 4 myeongdeong exit 1 and  line 2 but need to walk far unless myeongdeong night market is your aim
• Free upgrade on the first few days of stay : Twin room , with bath tub (but paid for shower only)
• Room is big enough for 2 big 25 inch bag opened side by side 

CON 

• so far as the bed and room was wide enough compared to hotels in Jp. not much of a con. 
• probably just the mirror facing the bed (don't really like seeing myself sleep) 

The free locker room

The hotel room