travel: South Korea 2013 Day 3: Changdeokgung Palace, COEX Mall, COEX Aquarium, Kimchi Museum

Rant:
Australia winter has nothing against South Korea's urm... spring... or at least beginning of spring... because it does not feel like spring.

Cold to the bone.

Rant over.

Today we checked out of Soriwool and headed to our next accommodation for the rest of the length of our trip. Lavinia is a modest but clean and very functional motel type accommodation located also close to Anguk station; but from exit 4 of the station (Soriwool is most easily reached from exit 1). We booked the room via airbnb site.

The room is small, but it has everything needed and most importantly - private bathroom.

After dropping our luggage, we headed to Changdeokgung Palace. I booked the Secret Garden tour in advance before I left for Korea, and it is recommended to do so, as the English speaking tours are quite popular and it was fully booked today.

Secret Garden Tour costs KRW5000, but you also have to pay KRW3000 for the general palace entry. (so KRW8000 all up). I prefer this palace than the Gyeongbokgung we visited a couple of days ago.

half expected something would come out of that eerie door...

Having enough of the palace, we headed to COEX Mall - can be reached by taking the green line (line 2) to Samseong station and towards exit 6. The mall is connected.

Had lunch at one of the many eateries inside the mall. Kimbap (the sushi roll thingy), Dumplings, and Tteokbokki only costed us KRW13500.

Then we headed to the Kimchi museum (KRW3000 per person entry fee). Nothing much to see apart from, well, kimchi. Actually, the replicas of various kimchis. They do provide free tasting of only a few of the kimchis though.

kimchi free tasting

replicas only

Then we headed to the Aquarium, still located inside the mall. Fare is KRW19500 per adult. I really think it is worth it :) Well, I love animals... I love fish... fish are yummy... urm... I'll stop there...

Their displays of incorporating various small fish into various daily objects is also amusing.

I love the prairie dog and the beaver. So cute.

look at his omnomnomsodelicious expression!

the rest of wacky animals...

Heading out of the aquarium and feeling a bit peckish again, we dropped by Angel-in-us Cafe for some sweet treat. 

Max Brenner who? Give me this waffle any day instead!

We headed back to Anguk station and had some very late dinner, but not so very light dinner. It was at a traditional Korean restaurant that sells mainly BBQ dishes. The Gal-bi (beef ribs) here is the most tender I have ever had at a Korean BBQ.

They were so generous with the side dishes and I have never seen most of them (except the cabbage kimchi which is the most common). It makes me think - Koreans can probably make kimchi out of plain grass growing in their backyards. 

Total damage: KRW43000 and bursting stomach.

travel: South Korea 2013; Day 2: Seoul: Lotte World

Woke up to a crazy cold day - my iphone showed 0 degrees. It felt 0 degrees alright. But the sky was bright and apart from the cold, it's a beautiful day.

Today we went to Lotte World, a massive complex consisting of department store, indoor & outdoor theme park, and a hotel.

Took the green line (no. 2) to Jamsil station, then headed to exit 4. 

The fare for the theme park is KRW40000 for a full day pass, inclusive of attractions and various rides in the theme park. You can also gain access to the theme park only without going on any rides (good for old people or babysitters or people who definitely do not want to go on rides) for KRW25000.

We used the discount coupon we got when we bought our TMoney card, giving us 10% discount.

The complex also houses Folk Museum, that honestly, I enjoyed more than the theme park itself. It is Monday and the theme park was packed; all rides needed 1 hour wait, and I don't think the rides were worth the wait. (yeah, I expected too much... .)

My favourite part of the Folk Museum would be the miniature buildings in Chosun era exhibition. Amazing attention to detail depicting palace life and village life.

All in all, I think Lotte World is pretty expensive for what it is. The rides are so so. Adults would most probably enjoy Universal Studio or Disneyland more, but I guess you just have to make do with what is available... .

Having enough of the theme park, we spent some time inside the department store and bought the infamous Korean strawberries. If you like strawberries and you are in Korea, get them. They are big, juicy, and sweet.