Lotte World and Coex Mall

Got back to Seoul from Nami-seom, we spent half of our last day in Seoul visiting Lotte World and Coex Mall.

Lotte world is a big complex with one-stop concept so you'd find anything you need from accomodation (hotel), both indoor and outdoor theme park, shopping mall, folk museum, sports facilities and movie theater in one place. The Lotte world indoor theme park is one of the largest indoor amusement parks in the world. If you are a Korean drama lover, you'd notice some spots used for filming 'Stairway to Heaven'.

If you wish to learn about Korean history and tradition then you should visit the Lotte World Folk Museum. A collection of minature and life-sized exhibition along with performance stages for traditional music and dance would amuse you while learning Korean history and culture. The traditional restaurants are located on the market (Jeoja) street on the third floor of Lotte World Shopping Mall, giving visitors the chance to taste Korean traditional dishes.

(Some restaurants inside the traditional market inside Lotte World)

How to get to there? Take subway line 2 to Jamsil station and take exit no 4 (underground plaza). Admisson fee including performance viewing is 24,000 won and 21,000 won after 4 pm.

Off The Lotte World, we jumped on the subway headed to Coex Mall, a huge shopping arcade located beneath Samsung-dong Trade Centre. It's only 3 stops away from Jamsil station (The Lotte World), got off at Samsoeng (Samsung) station and took exit 5 where we walked down to the end of Ocean Walk straight to Coex Aquarium. This Korea's largest aquarium has 40,000 marine wildlife of 650 species. Once again it's also a place used for filming a Korean drama 'One Fine Day' after the first six episodes were filmed at Busan Aquarium.

Coex Aquarium with posters from One Fine Day

Coex Mall off the Samsung station

Nami island

Nami-seom or Nami island is another 'romantic spot' in Korea, located in Chuncheon City this beautiful tiny island attracts 1.5 million visitors on average year. According to wikipedia, its name originated from General Nami, who died at the age of 28 after falsely accused of treason during the reign of King Sejo, the seventh king of Joseon Dynasty of Korea. Also known as 'Naminara Republic' since 2006, it's an imaginary country that has invented its own passport, currency, stamps for promoting its tourism. Naminara Republic is fully equipped with facilities including Tourist Info Centre which provide currency exchange for the tourist.

Famous as the shooting place of 'Winter Sonata', a famous Korean Drama by KBS in 2002, the beautiful forest path of pine trees is a must see spot in this island.

(Some snaps in Naminara Republic)

We opted to get to this island by bus from Dong Seoul Terminal headed to Chuncheon, after one and half hours ride we got off at Gapyeong bus terminal. Staff from our hotel suggested to take taxi from this point to Nami-seom wharf which would cost about 8,000 won, just say "Nami seom ga juseyo" he said, but we decided to take our own adventure riding the local bus from Gapyeong station, it took us only 10 minutes to the wharf where we boarded the ferry for another 10 minutes to the island.

If you'd rather take the train, you can take train from Cheongryang-ri station to Chuncheon and then take taxi from the station to the ferry wharf.

Enjoying the beautiful Naminara Republic for about 2 hours wasn't long enough for us but we had to rush back to Seoul for our last day visit in the city and yet to visit another places on our list.

(Our mode of transport: local bus and ferry)

(Nami seom's map, courtesy of Chuncheon City)

All In House

Jeju is the best natural shooting place, many famous Korean drama series or movies were filmed in this island, just name it: Jewel in the Palace (Daejanggeum), All In, My Girl, Goong and the list still goes on.

Our trip in Jeju was quite short so we only managed to visit Seopjikoji from All In and the other one was Daejanggeum shooting place. All In House is more like a museum that provide everything about the drama. The All In House opened its door on June 3, 2005 and it's the first drama memorial hall in Korea. The House located in a beautiful shore of Jeju's southern district called Seopjikoji.

(All In House in Seopjikoji)

As for Daejanggeum shooting place, it's hidden in untouched coastal scenery, the beautiful ocean and stunning view of cliffs and surrounding rocks is simply breathtaking, if you are visiting Jeju island, it's one of must see destinations.

(Daejanggeum shooting place)

Tangerine Farm

Tangerine is Jeju's signature fruit, you will find this mandarin orange sold in every local shops and tourist spots across the island. Visiting the Tangerine farm was one of our itinerary in Jeju. Located not far from the Folk Village, the farm allowed us to look around, pick the tangerine from the trees and taste how sweet the fruit is. We found the tangerines hang on almost every branch made a beautiful background to pose on.

Tangerine farm in Jeju

Jeju tangerine sold at a market

Beside the abundant tangerine you'd also find some cookie product made with tangerine including tangerine-filled chocolate. We did try and buy some orange choco as souvenirs, I reckon this Jeju orange chocolate is a must buy product from Jeju.

If you happened to watch Korean drama series "My Girl", some scenes were set in a beautiful Tangerine farm of Jeju, and it's one of many famous Korean drama series I've watched.

Jejudo (Jeju island)

Jejudo or Jeju island, formerly called Cheju island, is a volcanic island located in the southern part of South Korea. This relatively small island has many beautiful and unique tourist spots across the island. If you are Korean drama or movie lover you will find many 'romantic spots’ where many popular Korean drama scenes were taken such as All in and the famous Jewel in The Palace (Dae Jang Geum). This island with its fantastic and mysterious spots indeed is a perfect place for honeymoon.

(Night view from Yong Duam Rock)

Here are the spots list from my Christmas holiday in Jeju:

• Korean drama shooting places (All in and Dae Jang Geum)
• Mysterious road (a road where you can feel optical illusion)
• Osulloc tea plantation
• Lotte Hotel Garden
• Tangerine and mushroom farm.
• Seongeup Folk village
• Seogwipo sub-marine cruise
• Mongolian horse show
• Pony horse riding
• Hapy Town (Chinese circus)
• Dragon Rock (Yong Duam Rock)
• Dongbokri woman diver, a village where you can try all kind of fresh seafood.
• Love Land (Sex theme park)

I am very happy to rate Jeju island as the most beautiful island in the world! During my 3 days only visit, I had tonnes of stories to be cherished and treasured with hope that I'd make it to this island again someday.

Almost forgot, you definitely should try the sweet tagerine of Jeju when you visit this island!

I couldn't fit all my stories of this island full with beautiful nature in one post so I'l update this post in some separate posts later.

Changdeokgung (창덕궁)

Seoul-first installment:Changdeokgung Palace

As a I mentioned on my previous post, one of my 'must visits' in Seoul was Changdeokgung Palace, at that time I only knew that this Palace is one of the shooting places for the famous series of 'Jewel in the Palace' or 'Dae Jang Geum'.It was my first visit of the day since it's only a stroll walk from my hotel.

Changdeokgung Palace (literally means 'Palace of Prosperous Virtue) is one of Five Grand Palaces in Seoul built by Joseon Dynasty. Located in a large park in Jongno-gu, Seoul, this UNESCO World Heritage site can be reached by subway line 3, get off at Anguk station and take exit 3.

Accompanied by three friends from Japan and a new couple friend from Seoul, we decided to take our own walking tour instead of waiting for the next English guided tour. We explored this beautiflul Palace for about 2 hours before heading to another palace called Gyeongbokgung Palace.

Here are some snaps we took in the Palace:

Here are some useful information about this Palace:

	- Address
	1, Waryong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
	- Tel : 82-2-762-8262
	- Admission Fee
	Ages 19~64 : 3000 won Ages 7 ~18 : 1500 won Ages 6 and below, Ages 65 and up : Free Closed: Mondays For full information of this Palace you can clik here