In search of BUSAN TOWER

Ok. Last night was another struggle on packing! Good thing I have Kuya Abs! He lend me a smaller suitcase since I can’t fit my things on my hand carry. Saved once again! Woot! ^^, I woke up early again today, excited? Yes we need to catch the early bus to Busan and there’s no time to waste. Also we are to meet Karen-unni and Heidi-unni in the Bus Express Terminal at around 8:30am.

The same thing happened to us! We were waiting in the other terminal to Busan and Karen –unni and Ate Heidz were waiting in the other terminal. We can’t contact each other, our text messages ain’t coming through same with our calls. Weird, eh? Anyway, we met a bit later than the agreed time. We bought tickets and went running outside just in time for the bus to leave! Whew! This starts the almost 5hrs long drive!

Everybody feels tired, Jo-unni and I from yesterday’s trip and them from today’s flight from Manila. We did a little tattle-telling but after a while we gave in to sleep. We slept halfway, did stopover then arrive in Busan!!! Yay! Arriving there you can feel the freezing breeze and the saltiness in the air. It’s different from Seoul. Going to the subway, it was really a busy place similar to Seoul. We had a bit of a hard time figuring out how to buy the train tickets, whenever we choose the English instructed ones it doesn’t seem to work, so we gave up and used the one in their local language. Boarding the train I was seated beside Ate Heidz, then Jo-unni and Karen-unni. 

Nothing’s unusual happened not until this ajeossi get in. He was standing in front of me while we were busy chitchatting with today’s happening before we met. I didn’t know he was talking with me at that moment cause I’m a F-O-R-E-I-G-N-E-R?? In case he didn’t notice I speak with a different language? I didn’t mean to be rude but I didn’t understand him. I was like ‘oh no! Ate Heidz??’ and tried to avoid his eyes. I don’t know what to say and he seemed a bit drunk. Then I heard him speak with the girl beside me, oh and he asked her to stand so he can sit? Then he explained that his knee were aching and couldn’t stand any longer… now it made me feel bad! That part I understood but when he was talking to me? I was blank! I think I panicked! Cause hey! I’m not a local. That time was really awkward! I kept looking at Ate Heidz so as not to meet ajeossi’s eyes. I felt terrible. Then after a while he is then talking to me. Again! And showed me pictures of this lady, I think it is his lover. Hmm. Quite pretty. But I also think we didn’t understand each other! Thank goodness he alighted to the next station! Really awkward! As for us there were few stations more before we arrive to our destination. Quite a long ride I thought! 

Arriving in the motel, I didn’t book it I just came along with them. (perks of having many Unni) Unni-deul made all the arrangements, and we dongsaeng-deul just went with it. The place wasn’t bad, plus the internet and wifi was really good! And oppa was really accommodating! We asked how to get around Busan, and he gave us a map although it was only in Korean and Japanese, no English map. Thank goodness we are able to read it! I also bragged my speaking and reading skills! Toink! We stayed in for a while to settle then off we go to find something nice to eat for lunch! 

lots of seaweeds and seafood!!!

We walked around; the motel was located at the heart of the market place. It was nice and accessible to the mall, subway, and walking distance to Busan tower. We found this small restaurant, it seemed old and traditional. We came in and ajhumma was nice. There were only us and another two customers at that time, maybe because it was past lunch already. As usual, generous servings of side dishes! Nice! I just hope I was fond of vegetables.

First stop after lunch was at the tourist information center. 

Fix our schedule and plan for our three days stay starting today! Then our first destination! Busan tower!! 

Walking around, we can see it. It seemed really near from where we are, it just that we can’t figure out how to get there!! Omo! Omo! Are we lost? It’s almost late in the afternoon and we wish to see it before dusk! 

We found it! It was quite a bit of a hike. The winter cold made it easier I can say. No sweat!  

We arrived there just in time for the sunset! 

Busan Tower ^_^

Since valetine’s was just last week, hearts’ day decorations were still up and we saw few more lovers dating! Some were group of teenagers; others were dating lovers, and a handful of family doing sightseeing with their kids. 

Walking around a couple had asked me to take their pictures.. Here they go again, asked me to take their pictures in their language. Do I really blend in? I’m starting to get convinced! Anyhow, I did take their photo. And oh! Clumsiness! My cam! It fell. Then their i-phone, just ALMOST! whew! We had our photos taken too!! In this bench with the huge heart and lights on it! A group of young ladies took our photos. Unni-deul did the talking, it looked like they really like to talk to foreigners to practice their English. They were nice. We did some more walking around, few more photos, wajangssil, I bought my potato chips. Then we decided to walk our way back since it’s getting darker and we were starting to think about dinner! 

♥

FanGirling eonnideul ^_^

Just after DMZ... set date with Cecile-unni!♥

We were dropped off in Lotte Department Store just a few meters away from the subway. Before leaving to meet Cecile-unni, we decided to seize the moment and take some pictures! hehehe.. Joanne unni is a fan, and I am.. well, hmm.. what am I?? I like them but not much of a fan, just fond of them..

 more stars.. ^_^

didn't have the chance to check out the notes, but I'm guessing those were love notes from fans.

 Now waiting for the train to Line 4 transfer then Yeouido to meet Cecile unni in Handel & Gretel!  

How can you not love the sunset?? I'm always mesmerized by the sun.

This is a photo taken from the train overlooking Han River at dusk.

Skyline and traffic in Seoul

Sweetie Grandmothers (할머니들)

At that time in the train, we were standing by the door since there were no more seats available but those for disabled people, pregnant women and elderly. Those seats were restricted and saved for only them, therefore we cannot sit on them. While chatting, I felt someone touched my right shoulders and saw one of the elderly ladies, the one seated in the right in black coat. She told me that we can sit because there were no grandpa's around! "앉아요. 할아버지들 없어요. 앉아요." lol. It was really nice and cute. All we said was, "괜찮아요. 괜찮아요 할머니." (It's ok.) I deliberately took their pictures because I really liked them. It was a bit candid as I was still asking them when I took it. They didn't want to be photographed, really. Good thing I already caught this moment. Awesome! 

Yay! Hello again Yeouido! Around this area is where I stayed on my first trip to Korea. Being here again makes me think all about it again. It was a really nice trip and even now I managed to keep in touch with Happy Mama, our tour guide.

Walking our way to Handel & Gretel. Cold! brrr...

Finally!! we met Cecile unni. I was looking forward to meeting Yesung's eomma, but unfortunately she wasn't there. Too bad! FACEBOOK! thanks unni, we were able to check our facebook and emails! hihi

Transferred seats!!! woot! I dislike the heaters! It's cold on winter, yes, but still.. I can't love the heaters.. It is soooo warm for me.

~I was outside in the cold. =D

waiting for my Latte...

☺ finally! an almost decent photo of us! ☻

After our date with Cecile unni, we dropped by to Myeongdong before heading home. I need a smaller personal bag for our trip tomorrow to Busan. The one I had was really bulky and heavy. I've been enduring it for the past 3 days!!! No fun at all.. While browsing the streets of Myeongdong, unni bought a couple of cute pairs of socks, then I saw this red muffler then *I die* and bought it. While paying for it I spotted MY BAG! and then the shopping's over, just as easy as that! XD

Now time to pack again and prep for BUSAN!!! woot!♥

I don't know what to expect but I wish I'll love it there...

~ like meeting the North

hmm.. I was really tired from yesterday's long dayyy.. Yet I was really excited about this! I wonder why? I am really curious with the northern part of Korea. Dangerously exciting in my taste! eh? Also, there was a dress code: no ripped jeans, no exercise clothes, no sleeveless shirts, no miniskirts, no casual sandals, no sandals without heel straps or slippers. Good thing it was winter we need not to worry about the dress code!

Early we go again to catch the early subway ride to avoid rush hour plus we need to grab something for breakfast. It's freezing in Seoul! We headed to Myeongdong to grab something to eat and found only McDonalds open at that time.

After grabbing something to eat we went up to the set meeting place indicated in the itinerary but first we needed to get our tickets and other details in PTC office (http://www.panmunjomtour.com/) located in Lotte Hotel, 6th Floor with our passports. It was also in the hotel's lobby where we waited for the tour bus. As I remembered, Joanne unni and I were really excited and couldn't stop checking the time and guessing who were the people joining us in the trip. We even thought if there would be young, hot oppadeul who'll be joining! And then we kept teasing each other.

It was just about time when we boarded the bus with few of those who are early waiting there. The two of us were seated almost together with the Japanese tourists and I think the Japanese tour guide thought at first that we belong to their group. The tour set up was like this, Japanese tourists have a separate tour guide and us English speaking tourists were in a separate group too but we are in the same bus. Imagine how the tour guides do their work; one explaining in Nihonggo and the other in English. Our tour guide was really nice and she really knows what she's talking about. Very accommodating and friendly I must say. She do keep us in check, always reminding us the dos and don'ts and because of that we really felt how dangerous it could be for us, especially the moment where we were asked to sign a waiver.

First stop was at the Unification Observatory at Odu. 

More story telling on history. This helped me more to understand where is which and where the events took place since I'm not good with maps and locations this illustration of the North and South really made it clear.

Above was an example of a school classroom in the North. It was told that it was still the same at present.

We were lucky to have met a N. Korean defector. Her life story for me was really sad, yet it was something I admired her for. She is really something to have gone through everything she had. It is a plus that she is really pretty! How did she do that??? *envy* I really wish her well! She told us that she is to meet her husband and little girl this year, hope she really does. She deserves to be happy. Everybody does! ^_^

This is how the inside of their houses look like. It is mandatory to keep those two photos of their leaders. I bet it'll be three by now.

view from the observatory

Next stop was at Imjingak Park

The Bridge of No Return

Notes and wishes from the loved ones in Seoul for those in the North

DeMilitarized Zone

The Bell of Peace

On our way to lunch.
Do we look like starving and tired? I think our eyes looked a bit puffy. Back from the observatory, they let us watch a short documentary and it was really heartbreaking.. It stirred our emotions quite a lot. Yes it was sad and touching. I felt the pity and the want to sympathize but I feel more aggravated from what I saw. I know things could be unfair at times but after seeing that.. It hurts to know more and not do anything because of the fact you can't really do anything about it. I thought some things were really made broken for us to fix it and learn from it, I just wish the time to fix it and learn from it will be soon. It is really not fair to suffer without a cause and to die for nothing.

♥Hearty lunch!!! BULGOGI♥

Second half of our tour is in Panmunjom. We waited for a few minutes in the bus before we'd gained access inside. Our tour guide said that we needed to wait for our military escort. If we are lucky, we will just be waiting for a bit and if not, like the other batch from the other day, we won't be able to do our second half of the tour. The main reason is for our safety and security. We didn't thought it is this serious not until this moment while we waited. Rules were strictly implemented and taking photos were prohibited in some areas. We went to the Freedom House, Conference Room and 3rd post observatory.

Joint Security Area Security Center

few meters away from the border!

up close look on the other side..

N & S

Just awesome! Now I'm even more curious to see the other side!

♥