Click HERE to read about my day 1 and 2 in Korea!
Koreans have rice for their breakfast. Incredible. So, after having buffet breakfast at our hotel, we headed off to our first destination of the day – The Maze Park. The green maze of hedges is even higher than human height. Just try and imagine the maze in Harry Potter 4: The Goblet of Fire. It’s pretty similar to that. So at the end of the labyrinth, there’ll be a bell and who rings it initials one has found he or her way. From there, one goes up a bridge and will be able to view the whole amazing maze.
Ok. We went in. In a matter of minutes, we were hopelessly lost. Dad said we were supposed to keep to the right no matter what. But that didn’t work. The rest too couldn’t find their way. I kept hearing people saying, “No, no, not here!” And I can hear the sound of grasses from another lane rustling from time to time, made by Jimmy who’s running around. I remember at one point, Jimmy with his sunglasses on, stood at one corner trying to freak us out. Cunning man.
Next stop was the Jeju Folk Village, which sister mistaken it as, the Old Folk Village. I was like WHAT THE HELL? The drive to Cheon Ji Yeon Waterfall took quite long time and most of them fell asleep in the bus, except for sister and me. 5 minutes before reaching the place, Jimmy did a countdown with his fingers and we both made the alarm clock sound together.
DAY THREE, 21 Nov 2010.
Koreans have rice for their breakfast. Incredible. So, after having buffet breakfast at our hotel, we headed off to our first destination of the day – The Maze Park. The green maze of hedges is even higher than human height. Just try and imagine the maze in Harry Potter 4: The Goblet of Fire. It’s pretty similar to that. So at the end of the labyrinth, there’ll be a bell and who rings it initials one has found he or her way. From there, one goes up a bridge and will be able to view the whole amazing maze.
Ok. We went in. In a matter of minutes, we were hopelessly lost. Dad said we were supposed to keep to the right no matter what. But that didn’t work. The rest too couldn’t find their way. I kept hearing people saying, “No, no, not here!” And I can hear the sound of grasses from another lane rustling from time to time, made by Jimmy who’s running around. I remember at one point, Jimmy with his sunglasses on, stood at one corner trying to freak us out. Cunning man.
Once again, I looked up and searched for help of to people who’s on the bridge. Jimmy pointed right, and we followed. Then I only realized we were actually just turning around and around. Finally, we found our way, and rang the bell! My family was the second last. From up, I can really have a clear view of the maze. And I can too, see Jimmy running around trying to fool the last group of family. “Beware of Jimmy!” I shouted.
In our group, there’s a grandma from Uncle Richard’s family, who’s 79 this year. I have to say, she’s a really amazing woman. She was born in Alor Setar, Kelantan, speaks a variety of languages, for instant English, Chinese, Hokkien, Cantonese and even Tamil! I’m seriously really impressed by that strong lady. She too mentioned that every morning she still rides bicycle to the market and cooks every meal for her family. Incredible.
After that, we went to the Sunrise Peak. “Of course you wouldn’t see the sun rise at this time,” said Jimmy. It was really steep walking up the stairs to get to the peak. I meant like seriously, as it gets higher and higher, I was getting hotter. And I was sweating! Never expected I would felt that way in Korea.
When I finally got back to the ground, I let out a sigh of relief. It was near to noon and I was hungry already. Lunch time then, of course. And that was the best lunch I’ve ever had, Allysa added 3 bowls of bap (rice)! See how good it was?
Next stop was the Jeju Folk Village, which sister mistaken it as, the Old Folk Village. I was like WHAT THE HELL? The drive to Cheon Ji Yeon Waterfall took quite long time and most of them fell asleep in the bus, except for sister and me. 5 minutes before reaching the place, Jimmy did a countdown with his fingers and we both made the alarm clock sound together.
The waterfall scenery was exhilarating.
Not to forget to mention, another group of tourists asked to take photos with Jimmy. Again.
Then we went to the Miniature Park. “I’m gonna take you guys for a tour around the world right now,” joked Jimmy.
Along the way to dinner, I was looking out at the cars on the road. All of them are equipped with GPS, according to Jimmy, minimum it only costs about 2500 Won, which is around 7.50 ringgit. I hope I didn’t hear wrongly though. That’s like so cheap! I doubt if that’s even possible.
After the mushroom hotpot dinner, my family and I went for a walk around the hotel with some of the members. They are Uncle Richard and his two daughters, Pearline and Michelle, Aunty Norris with her daughter, Allysa. I manage to chat with Pearline. She’s around 22 years old, previously studying on food nutrition and currently working. She’s very easy to talk to and we didn’t stop until we reached the hotel.
Finally we got of the bus and had our lunch – chicken ribs. This time, we had to sit on the floor. Cause’ I was wearing 3 layers of pants altogether, so it was really hard to bend my legs. I kept changing my sitting position. Beside the restaurant, they were people bungee jumping. “You wanna try?” asked Jimmy. I shook my head, obviously not. “This one too easy, I want more higher and extreme ones,” said Jimmy, imitating a female high pitched voice.
We took a ferry of 3 minutes over the Nam’i Island. This was where the famous drama, Winter Sonata was filmed. The tall trees full of maple leaves lined up uniformly and formed a beautiful lane beside us. But this still wasn’t the best season, cause’ it’s already end of autumn, most of the leaves had already fallen to the ground. Even so, I still manage to get quite good shots.
That morning, we were all really glad cause’ clearly it was our style of breakfast, Western style. Simon, our tour leader’s quite of a big fan of food, I saw him passing the pastry site and popped a slice of butter into his mouth. Just like that! Woah. Then we had another long ride to Sorak. Once again, Jimmy started off his funny tales.
Exhale. Inhale.
Holy mamma mia. That was the most (x100) extreme and thrilling roller coaster ride I’ve ever tried seriously. I try to explain as best as I could alright?
Not to forget to mention, another group of tourists asked to take photos with Jimmy. Again.Then we went to the Miniature Park. “I’m gonna take you guys for a tour around the world right now,” joked Jimmy.
Along the way to dinner, I was looking out at the cars on the road. All of them are equipped with GPS, according to Jimmy, minimum it only costs about 2500 Won, which is around 7.50 ringgit. I hope I didn’t hear wrongly though. That’s like so cheap! I doubt if that’s even possible.
After the mushroom hotpot dinner, my family and I went for a walk around the hotel with some of the members. They are Uncle Richard and his two daughters, Pearline and Michelle, Aunty Norris with her daughter, Allysa. I manage to chat with Pearline. She’s around 22 years old, previously studying on food nutrition and currently working. She’s very easy to talk to and we didn’t stop until we reached the hotel.
DAY FOUR, 22 Nov 2010.
Early in the morning, after breakfast, we took a flight back to Seoul. After reaching Seoul, we had a really long ride in the bus to Wonju. Along the way, Jimmy told us a lot of jokes, mainly on his own life experience in Malaysia. I wish I can write them down, but I really couldn’t remember that detailed.
Finally we got of the bus and had our lunch – chicken ribs. This time, we had to sit on the floor. Cause’ I was wearing 3 layers of pants altogether, so it was really hard to bend my legs. I kept changing my sitting position. Beside the restaurant, they were people bungee jumping. “You wanna try?” asked Jimmy. I shook my head, obviously not. “This one too easy, I want more higher and extreme ones,” said Jimmy, imitating a female high pitched voice.
We took a ferry of 3 minutes over the Nam’i Island. This was where the famous drama, Winter Sonata was filmed. The tall trees full of maple leaves lined up uniformly and formed a beautiful lane beside us. But this still wasn’t the best season, cause’ it’s already end of autumn, most of the leaves had already fallen to the ground. Even so, I still manage to get quite good shots.
And not forget to mention, there were a lot of couples, everywhere. And a lot of professional photographers too! Jimmy left us to go on our own but from time to time he still appeared out of no where. Funny guy he is. Before leaving the island, I went to toilet. And guess what? I didn’t stop laughing cause’ they actually prepared racks of books in the toilet.
Then we went to Chun Cheon Myeong Dong. I bought a new boots and souvenirs too. Dinner that night was different. It was a set for each individual and all the dishes were placed on the table. There were so many of them I was even starting to worry the table wouldn’t be able to fit all of them.
I guess Korea’s toilets are a little different. The restaurant’s toilet bowl is unbelievably warm! That’s seriously one thing I didn’t expect to see.
After dinner, we headed to Wonju Inter-Bungo Hotel. When we got off the bus, we starting non-stopped blowing and exhaling to see ‘smoke’ coming out of our mouth. “Hey, no smoking here!” Jimmy said. “Why don’t you stop smoking first?” Uncle Richard replied. And Jimmy called it, the Dragon Breath. I had the most awesome and warmest shower that night.
I guess Korea’s toilets are a little different. The restaurant’s toilet bowl is unbelievably warm! That’s seriously one thing I didn’t expect to see.
After dinner, we headed to Wonju Inter-Bungo Hotel. When we got off the bus, we starting non-stopped blowing and exhaling to see ‘smoke’ coming out of our mouth. “Hey, no smoking here!” Jimmy said. “Why don’t you stop smoking first?” Uncle Richard replied. And Jimmy called it, the Dragon Breath. I had the most awesome and warmest shower that night.
DAY FIVE, 23 Nov 2010.
That morning, we were all really glad cause’ clearly it was our style of breakfast, Western style. Simon, our tour leader’s quite of a big fan of food, I saw him passing the pastry site and popped a slice of butter into his mouth. Just like that! Woah. Then we had another long ride to Sorak. Once again, Jimmy started off his funny tales.
Not long then, we reached Teddy Bear Farm. “So they grow teddy bears here?” sister joked. The teddy bears are really adorable! After buying souvenirs and ready to hop up the bus again, I said, “Look we’ve bought the seeds for growing teddy bears!” The restaurant where we had our lunch was just a few corners away.
When we’ve finished our lunch, Dad asked Jimmy, “So how long is it to Mt. Sorak? Half an hour?” Jimmy made a not-such-a-good-answer face. “45 minutes?” Dad guessed again and Jimmy shook his head. “1 hour?” Then, Jimmy broke into a smile and answered, “Just 10 minutes!”
When we’ve finished our lunch, Dad asked Jimmy, “So how long is it to Mt. Sorak? Half an hour?” Jimmy made a not-such-a-good-answer face. “45 minutes?” Dad guessed again and Jimmy shook his head. “1 hour?” Then, Jimmy broke into a smile and answered, “Just 10 minutes!”
We walked till the end of Seoraksan National Park and reached a temple. The place was really quiet and relaxing, as there were no time limits for that particular day. Everything seems so great, no rushing here and there. We just sat there, taking deep breath of the refreshing mountain air, chatting endlessly, enjoying the scenery. Aah, just so peaceful.
After getting enough rest, we took a cable car to get up to Mt. Sorak. Then, I see stairs leading up to the peak of the mountain. “The first to get to the top is the winner! Even though I don’t have any prizes to give though.” Jimmy said.
And so we walked. I almost ran out of breath when I reached the top. It’s not even the peak yet, just the top. I know there’s a little of confusion over there. But after the stairs, we’re supposed to climb with the assist of ropes, none of us were daring enough to though. Climbing up looked easy, but it’s the climbing down part that’s heck frightening. From far the rocks don’t look that convincing, as if it’s going to fall off any second of the minute.
And Jimmy was the last to reach the top. “You’re a loser Jimmy!” “Hey that’s not fair, I went to the restroom ok?” he defended.
Only me, Jimmy, dad, and Aunty Lim with her 12 years old son climbed up to half way. Jimmy’s leather shoe broke, so he couldn’t go on higher. And he kept complaining, “Just because of the pride!”
After he went down to join the rest, I started hearing girls screaming, “Your handsome guy’s coming down!” I know immediately they’re talking about Jimmy. No doubt. And I was right. The girls are Malaysian too, and after sometime, Jimmy sort of unwillingly stood up from the rock he was sitting on and walked towards them. Yes, to take photos again.
After he went down to join the rest, I started hearing girls screaming, “Your handsome guy’s coming down!” I know immediately they’re talking about Jimmy. No doubt. And I was right. The girls are Malaysian too, and after sometime, Jimmy sort of unwillingly stood up from the rock he was sitting on and walked towards them. Yes, to take photos again.
Next, we went to Daepohang Port, which is actually a fish market. They sell all kind of seafood there, and to me, most of them are queer ones. The crabs and clams are extremely huge. There are fishes, with totally weird flat bodies. I do hope you know what I meant. And there are coral reefs, which the first second I saw them I thought there were human hearts. No, of course not with the veins and the arteries.
After dinner, we went to Daemyung Resort. The funniest thing happened when we reached our rooms.
Pearline was the first to get in and she rushed out, “There’s NO BED!” I ran from the lifts while shouting, “Seriously?” I peeked into her room and the next and the next and my own too, and there’s really no bed. And that night we slept on the floor. I didn’t know which were the mattress and the blanket at first. What a funny experience.
Everyone was talking about the war that blew off between North and South Korea during the breakfast. In the bus, Jimmy calmed us down and told us the war’s not such a big deal but he definitely understand our worried feelings especially coming to a strange different country and encountered such problems. But it’s really nothing.
Simon was late and dad joked, “Maybe Simon had already flied back to Malaysia!” He overslept and was the last to get in the bus. “Did you guys have a good sleep yesterday night?” Jimmy asked. Dad joked again, “I’m sure Simon did,” and the rest of them laughed.
3 hours ride to Everland flew really fast. We had endless laughter in the bus, cause’ we sang karaoke! Jimmy sang, if not mistaken almost 5. And we all got to sing, we started to get addicted to it. It’s was hell fun. Besides, we taught Jimmy how to sing our traditional Malay song, ‘Rasa Sayang’.
After dinner, we went to Daemyung Resort. The funniest thing happened when we reached our rooms.
Pearline was the first to get in and she rushed out, “There’s NO BED!” I ran from the lifts while shouting, “Seriously?” I peeked into her room and the next and the next and my own too, and there’s really no bed. And that night we slept on the floor. I didn’t know which were the mattress and the blanket at first. What a funny experience.
DAY SIX, 24 Nov 2010.
Simon was late and dad joked, “Maybe Simon had already flied back to Malaysia!” He overslept and was the last to get in the bus. “Did you guys have a good sleep yesterday night?” Jimmy asked. Dad joked again, “I’m sure Simon did,” and the rest of them laughed.
3 hours ride to Everland flew really fast. We had endless laughter in the bus, cause’ we sang karaoke! Jimmy sang, if not mistaken almost 5. And we all got to sing, we started to get addicted to it. It’s was hell fun. Besides, we taught Jimmy how to sing our traditional Malay song, ‘Rasa Sayang’.
We didn’t have much time at Everland. So me, Allysa, Pearline and Michelle headed off for the T-Express, which was highly recommended by Jimmy after our lunch. After waiting for more than half an hour, finally it’s our turn to get on the roller coaster.
AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Exhale. Inhale.
Holy mamma mia. That was the most (x100) extreme and thrilling roller coaster ride I’ve ever tried seriously. I try to explain as best as I could alright?
The climax of the ride was – the whole ride. Cause’ there was so many tracks going downhill I’ve totally lost count of them, and the most incredible thing is – all of them are 85 degree heading downwards. I couldn’t see the bottom of the roller coaster I’m riding, but only the tracks beside. It’s exactly like I’m falling. I was hell frightened and excited, both at the same time, so coward me closed my eyes every time we reach a downhill. I kept screaming from the beginning, but half way through the ride, I stopped, it’s either because of the ride was too long, and I was too tired, or the speed was too quick that no sound came out of my mouth. I really don’t know. But it was just exhilarating, super-brilliant, amazing, marvelous, and totally mind-blowing.
I suffered from neck and shoulder pain the next day.
It was the first time Michelle ever tried a roller coaster. She’s has hell lot of guts, courage and bravery to try out the scariest ride even though it’s her first, whereas on the other hand, Allysa’s always been the wild kind. She had tried out all the rides in Times Square, Sunway and Genting Theme Park. And when the ride finished, she said Malaysia’s roller coasters are totally incomparable to T-Express.
We only get to try out T-Express and only once in Everland and we had to dash off already.
Then we got to Dong Dae Mun Market. I know it’s called a ‘market’ but that name’s seriously not suitable for that tourist attraction. It’s something like Bukit Bintang. The classiest department store there, Doota is pretty much something similar to Pavilion, but still more high class, if you understand me. Doota’s so awesome really, there are so freaking many clothes, shoes, accessories, that I got so lost inside. There’s no way you can finish walking that place in one day. Besides, Korea have underground shopping areas. I went down and the sight was breathtaking. In what kind of sense? Not beautiful scenery of course. But piles, oh no, should be mountains of choices of shoes. They have absolutely every kind of shoes you want. I was so mesmerized.
I saw Girls Generation’s calendar and my mind popped out the guys’ faces. Yes yes yes, you guys. In the end, no, I didn’t buy them, cause’ I think that doesn’t seem quite appropriate as a souvenir. And I left.
We all waited outside Doota. Everyone was there, except for Jimmy. Then, we started talking about Jimmy and his girlfriend, who’s a model. Jimmy was a model previously too, so I guess that’s probably how they got to know each other perhaps? Michelle and I guessed that no doubt he’s going to be taking a bag of stuff when he comes later.
And we’re right. “You’re late Jimmy!” I said. “No I’m not, I said 6.05pm. And my phone now shows 6.04pm.” “But all of our watches show 6.06pm!” Uncle Richard added cheekily.
Jimmy took us for the most expensive dinner of ours, ginseng chicken soup. “Wah so tasty until nobody speak!” Aunty Norris laughed. Practically I don’t really fancy it. But oh well, it’s healthy.
Then we were dropped off at Samjung Hotel, and Jimmy went back to his home.
I suffered from neck and shoulder pain the next day.
It was the first time Michelle ever tried a roller coaster. She’s has hell lot of guts, courage and bravery to try out the scariest ride even though it’s her first, whereas on the other hand, Allysa’s always been the wild kind. She had tried out all the rides in Times Square, Sunway and Genting Theme Park. And when the ride finished, she said Malaysia’s roller coasters are totally incomparable to T-Express.
We only get to try out T-Express and only once in Everland and we had to dash off already.
Then we got to Dong Dae Mun Market. I know it’s called a ‘market’ but that name’s seriously not suitable for that tourist attraction. It’s something like Bukit Bintang. The classiest department store there, Doota is pretty much something similar to Pavilion, but still more high class, if you understand me. Doota’s so awesome really, there are so freaking many clothes, shoes, accessories, that I got so lost inside. There’s no way you can finish walking that place in one day. Besides, Korea have underground shopping areas. I went down and the sight was breathtaking. In what kind of sense? Not beautiful scenery of course. But piles, oh no, should be mountains of choices of shoes. They have absolutely every kind of shoes you want. I was so mesmerized.
I saw Girls Generation’s calendar and my mind popped out the guys’ faces. Yes yes yes, you guys. In the end, no, I didn’t buy them, cause’ I think that doesn’t seem quite appropriate as a souvenir. And I left.
We all waited outside Doota. Everyone was there, except for Jimmy. Then, we started talking about Jimmy and his girlfriend, who’s a model. Jimmy was a model previously too, so I guess that’s probably how they got to know each other perhaps? Michelle and I guessed that no doubt he’s going to be taking a bag of stuff when he comes later.
And we’re right. “You’re late Jimmy!” I said. “No I’m not, I said 6.05pm. And my phone now shows 6.04pm.” “But all of our watches show 6.06pm!” Uncle Richard added cheekily.
Jimmy took us for the most expensive dinner of ours, ginseng chicken soup. “Wah so tasty until nobody speak!” Aunty Norris laughed. Practically I don’t really fancy it. But oh well, it’s healthy.
Then we were dropped off at Samjung Hotel, and Jimmy went back to his home.
