Day 1 - 12th April 2018
South Korea / Busan
I'm going to start on my Day 1 of..... Yes! Korea!
As you all know I was still quite new into my job, just days before heading off to Korea, I was still adjusting to the working environment there. Everyday there felt so tiring and exhausting that I haven't got time to pack anything. I even knock out early by 10pm. Anyway, D had already pack his luggage days before the trip and I was busy packing mine few hours before the trip. I actually didn't sleep the whole night till we headed to the airport while D had his good few hours sleep.
Reached the airport, collected our Router from Changi Recommends. I started to not feel well after that as I was down with a terrible diarrhea and nausea. I was vomiting so bad that I was having shortness of breath. We almost cancel the whole trip because I felt like I cannot tolerate the pain anymore but looking at D's upset face, I forced myself to feel okay and we boarded the flight. We have already spent close to almost 5K for this trip. =X
6 hours 35 mins long flight. To me this is long enough and I was already feeling so restless. I have no idea how people do even longer flight than this. I can't sit still and I feel so suffocated. But girl can't complain because girl have to fly to travel anyway. I tried to ask for airsick pill like I used to before but yerps, they no longer carry them pills anymore. So sad!
We got Ice-cream but my tummy wasn't feeling too well for Ice-cream.
Victoria & Abdul on flight.
I know people always have good reputation of SIA but for the FIRST time in my life we had such a bad turbulence experience for almost close to an hour. So bad that I really thought I wasn't going to make it out of the plane alive. I kept looking at the live map on the plane screen and gosh! We were in the middle of East China Sea, nowhere to even land! And I can't even freaking swim in deep cold sea. I keep saying my prayers and so were the rest too. The air stewardess & air steward stayed in their sit for long before we finally hit Jeju and the lights & bell were on again, I think indicating it's safe now. Alhamdulilah for a competent Pilot. Good job!
Incheon Airport - South Korea
I was super excited when we landed, like FINALLY I'm breathing a different atmosphere but as excited as we are, we were also slightly feeling homesick! Hahahaha! Both D and I are hopeless! We have never been away from Singapore this far and as for me from my parents too. So we felt something was amiss. After making through South Korea's custom, we headed off to retrieve our luggage. And of course both noob have no idea where to go but it does not mean we're not smart. Lol! We recognize people who took the same flight as us and we follow. HEHEHEHE!
KTX Tickets
We wanted to cover both Seoul & Busan, so we did something different from what the rest would do. People will usually explore Seoul first and then headed for Busan, while we did the other way round. We reach Seoul, collected our KTX tickets that we have purchased them from Klook and took the KTX to Busan. We have our reason for doing this because, Busan doesn't have nothing much to shop (for us) compared to when you're in Seoul. Thus, we get to reserve some money in Busan first before heading off to Seoul (especially in Myeongdong) to splurge. I'm afraid if we follow the latter, we might end up not having any cash, in case we spend them in Seoul and end up with heavy lugagge when we head to Busan.
Collecting KTX tickets is "slight complicated" for noob like us but not to worry! You can ask around in the airport and mostly all of them can speak English, well of course they have to since there are a lot of Ang Mohs coming to Korea as well. We were directed to the KTX counter at the basement (one floor down from the arrival hall). Upon seeing another information counter (you can ask this information counter again for KTX counter if you're feeling unsure. That was what D and I always do/ask) walk past it and walk all the way straight to the back, that is where the KTX counter is located. We collected our tickets and sadly, there isn't any KTX from Incheon Airport to Busan (no idea if it's a new thing or just happened to be like that, that day). We had to travel to Seoul Station and take the KTX from there to Busan.
The KTX lady asked if we wanted to get the 6pm or 6.15pm seating KTX tickets. I was afraid we would not make it to Seoul in time to catch the 6pm KTX but the lady assured us that we have more than enough time. So we trusted her and chose the 6pm KTX tickets. Collecting the KTX tickets in Incheon Airport is also another better way to save time than collecting/buying them in Seoul because it will be super crowded there.
So we bought the AREX tickets and headed to Seoul. AREX are fast, non-stop train that goes from Incheon to Seoul or Seoul to Incheon for just 43 mins. We bought this AREX ticket opposite the KTX counter in Yellow. 2 tickets cost us 3,200 won. And not to worry if you don't know numbers in Korean because usually they will punch the number in the calculator for you to see.
Tips 1: Train tickets will indicate what is your seat number and keep your train tickets. Sometimes, well most of the time the ticket conductor will always walk around to see your tickets and your proof of purchase.
And if if if possible buy your going back tickets too! Because we didn't do that and bought them last minute, we end up not having tickets and had to purchase a freaking standing tickets to go back from Busan to Seoul.
And tell me about it. As if 6 hours 35 mins flight wasn't long enough, it was another 3 hours crazy KTX ride to Busan. D and my butt was super numb from sitting down too much but we had no choice but to suck it up. Lol! We kept sleeping and waking up, sleeping and waking up till we had a headache from too much sleeping & waking up.
Busan
We finally reached Busan at 8.25pm! It was late and erm..while it was still relatively safe there but mostly, the streets are slightly dark and quiet. I booked our apartment at Haeundae station so far from Busan station and that was another problem for us. We couldn't find the Subway station from the KTX station and imagine with our luggage walking up and down like crazy. Plus the cold weather isn't helping! It was 12 degrees and with the wind blowing, I felt so so so so cold and felt like crying. I wanted to cab to our apartment but I remember friends telling us even cab is cheaper there but to cab to a 45 mins subway station ride it will cost us a bomb and the cab driver do not know how to speak English.
It was almost 9pm, we asked the almost closing counter they mentioned exit 5 but we don't see any subway station at Exit 5. We have been going up and down the escalator when we finally found a nice young Korean couple and approached them. Yes, younger people usually know how to speak English and we asked them for direction, showed her to map that I wanted to head to take Subway to head to Heaundae.
The girl suggested taking a bus there but her boyfriend (I guess) was quick to correct her and told us to just take the subway and mentioned to the girl in korean and said 'luggage'. Yes, I've read that it is less convenient to travel in buses with luggage. So they told us 'Yellow sign there' where the subway station was and my goodness! It was like 5 mins walk from the KTX station! I thought it was connected but nope. So D and I had to carry our luggage walk past the bumpy road and headed to the Subway station slightly across the road. It felt like 100 staircase down.
Tips 2: Always ask around when you don't know and hopefully someone is able to speak English and help you. Tickets information counter are good and so are younger couples.
I regretted taking an apartment so far plus it was already so late. From Busan we had to change to another station in Seomyeon and then headed to Haeundae station but luckily, the train was quite fast we reached Heaundae station at almost 10pm.
Tips 3: Their train station mostly do not have an elevator. Mostly are stairs. So yes, you or your partner have to be strong enough to carry the luggage up and down the stairs.
Haeundae Station
D suggested to take the cab to our apartment because initially we wanted to walk the 15 mins walk to our apartment but we were sooo exhausted already. I tried to show the map of our apartment to one of the cab driver but none know where it was and rejected us because they cannot speak English. Until one uncle, he was soooooo nice and asked us where we wanted to go. Even let us sit inside the cab first while he figure where we wanted to go. He called his taxi company via speaker and ask those operator to speak to us in English and translate to him back in Korean language. Nobody know where my apartment was because it was a new apartment I guess. Until I recalled that I google that our apartment was near Busan Paradise Hotel and told him to drop us there and then hoping that D and I will try to figure out the place to our apartment on our own when we reach Paradise Hotel Busan. So I told the operator Busan Paradise Hotel and then the uncle drove us there.
As he was approaching Busan Paradise Hotel, I saw my apartment name 'Prugio City' and I quickly told the uncle and pointed our apartment there there there. So Alhamdulilah! We finally we alighted at our own apartment instead of Busan Paradise Hotel. The cab driver was sooooo nice, he even went like "Annyeonghaseyo" when he was about to drive off. We keep bowing and thanking him so much. May God bless that uncle. So so touched for a wonderful uncle.
Put our luggage and went to 7 11 to buy some food and drinks and went back to our apartment. We ate, showered and knock out immediately. My body was in pain and aching horribly. I totally needed that rest and sleep and so did D.
Tips 4: Buy all your activities and train tickets like AREX & KTX from Klook as much as possible. It help you lessen the trouble of not knowing how much to change Dollars to Won. And Klook is so much cheaper and trustworthy. Print the confirmation letter sent to your email and just show to the counter etc when in korea. So the money left for you to change to Won are now basically for spending and for food plus Subway transportation. You can buy their T Money Value card (like EZ Link card) at any Convenience store (GS5 / 7 11).
It has been a long entry for a Day 1.
Till I write again for Day 2.
XOXO,
Princess Azie Anni ♥
