December 28, 2014 Korea
We joined a big bus full of tourists mostly from the Philippines on our second tour day.
Before heading-off, the tour guide gave us a few minutes wee break. She accompanied us to a modern building in Itaewon, an affluent shopping district located in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea.
We were surprised to see a twin brother of our snowman at home.
The trip brought us past the Olympic village and to several quaint villages outside of Seoul practically covered with snow.
There was a few minutes delay due to a road accident.
I spent a lot of time wiping off the moist on the window. I wanted to see kasi the views.
We drove for almost two hours to reach the port to Naminara Republic or Nami Island. It was named after General Nami, a key figure in South Korea’s history of battles. He died at the age of 26.
When I was booking this tour from Rakso Travel, they assured me that there wouldn’t be any boat ride because the island is accessible by bus. Yun pala meron. Eh di ba merong nalubog sa Korea na boat? The guide said it would only be a 5-minute ride.
I was feeling a bit anxious.
It was only a very short distance, not 5 minutes, but maybe a ten minute ride thru icy waters. I didn’t get nervous na. The ride was very smooth kasi wala namang waves.
This was not an island pala before. Seasonal rain transformed this land into an island. But after the construction of Cheongpyeong dam, it became an island all year long. In 1965, thousands of trees were planted by Mr. Byeong Do Minn.
This was where the famous Korean tele-novela or movie Winter Sonata was filmed according to our guide for the day, Sharon. She counted the number of people who had seen this movie, only a handful. She was expecting more. They’re probably proud of this movie. This particular tour package is actually called Winter Sonata tour, after the title of the movie.
We crossed an icy river to get to this privately owned Nami Island, an UNESCO World Heritage site.
This is our third day in Korea, our bodies have more or less acclimatized to freezing temperature. As an added defense, we quadrupled our clothing. I was wearing two thermal pants plus my outer pants, three inner thermal shirts, a sweater plus the quilted jacket. Still I felt cold.
Sharon did a head count and some people were missing.
A family with a small baby was left behind at the port. Our guide had to go back and look for them.
We were given an hour and a half to explore the small island.
The fire pits saved me from turning into a popsicle.
Ang ginaw talaga.
We bought a selfie stick from the night market in Myeongdong and we’re still having trouble using it. Hundred tries before perfection. Ay baligad yung Happy New Year sa likod.
Grrrr!
I was sitting on a block of slippery ice.
We were waiting for the ostrich to look up so it would be in the picture.
Mukhang masungit. We were afraid to move closer kasi para syang ready for the kill.
This must be romantic at night with all the glimmering lanterns.
Dapat dito meron kang kaakap habang naglalakad. Patagilid ang lakad nyo.
My favorite spots, the fire pits.
to be continued
