(Wednesday, September 18th, 2013)
Butterflies are everywhere!
We decided to spend our first day of Chuseok vacation exploring the Korean Folk Village and a few other areas in Seoul. It was actually a really, really long day but we got to do an see so much!
The day started early - we had to leave around 8:00AM and head South on the Bundang line then take a short bus ride in order to get to the Folk Village.
It was surprisingly easy even though it was our first time navigating by bus alone. We actually got there on time and then purchased our tickets (it was even better because we had a coupon)! Let the exploring begin!
I'm glad we were able to see some flowers still in bloom...
Of course, the village has been the filming site for pretty much every sageuk (historical drama) ever and just in case you didn't know that, they show you...everywhere.
Since this is one of my favorites (Rooftop Prince)...
Then this stuff happened:
But really, the Folk Village is beautiful and if you are a history buff like myself, it's pretty fascinating.
It was like taking a step back in time and the good weather combined with the lush scenery just made it all the more beautiful.
Gah. So pretty. I couldn't take enough pictures! We decided we may even try to go back there sometime in another season because you really could spend all day there just enjoying the view.
Since we had other plans though, we only stayed until noon and then had to head allllllll the way up into Seoul (we're talking over 20 stops on the subway line) to proceed with the rest of our day (yeah it was a great plan).
We did account for the long travel time though and decided that the area of Seoul we would be hitting up would be Gangnam because it is the closest. First stop on the list: Mango Six café.
It may seem weird to make a specific trip to a specific café but because we are drama fans there's usually a good reason why we are going to that particular place...
This Mango Six happens to be the café from quite a few scenes in the drama A Gentleman's Dignity. Since Jenee and I are both really big fans of that drama we decided make a special trip this shooting location.
Scene from A Gentleman's Dignity at Mango Six
It's pretty popular even amongst Koreans to visit drama shooting locations so even though it feels über awkward at first taking pictures at seemingly normal places you quickly get past that because right behind you is another group of people doing the same thing. Of course, sometimes you still get weird looks and stifled giggles but usually just from passing ajusshis (middle-aged men), so whatever.
After drinking some delicious bubble tea we headed to another area in Gangnam called Seolleung Park. It's a nice green area that houses the tombs of King Seongjong, Queen Jeonghyeon (Seolleung) and King Jungjong (Jeongneung). It's part of the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty and is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Walking around the park was relatively easy (there are only a few slopes and some stairs) plus you get to see some really pretty scenery.
After we made our way around the park we left to our next destination: Coex Mall.
This mall is very famous in Gangnam but unfortunately it is undergoing some huge construction so a lot of it is closed and empty. Lucky for us our purpose for going there wasn't shopping...we wanted to visit the aquarium!
I'll admit: I had dual motives for going. First of all, Jenee has never been to an aquarium before so one of the things she wanted to do while in Korea is visit one!
...I just happened to choose this particular aquarium to visit because it was a shooting location for one of my faaaavorite recent dramas: I Hear Your Voice. (But really, it's supposed to be the best aquarium in South Korea anyway...).
Scene at Coex Aquarium in I Hear Your Voice
It was actually really cool. They have a lot of exhibits in different themed areas and we got to see a lot of different aquatic fish and animals!
After the aquarium we got some dinner and then decided to try some patbinsu at the Baskin Robbins in Coex...
Chocolate.
it was the best thing ever. America needs this. Now.
Finally, it was time to head to our last destination: Banpo Bridge. Every night the bridge has a "rainbow fountain" water show. It is apparently the largest bridge fountain in the world and there are 200 lights that illuminate dancing jets of water.
The only problem is that getting there is confusing and difficult. There is not a subway station directly near it, so you have to go to the closest station and walk for about twenty-minutes. The long walk is a bit daunting but what is really hard is figuring out where to walk. Once you get off at the station there are no signs and the map is unhelpful.
We must have looked really lost because some nice older guy told us we could go up on the bridge that was right near us and we would be able to see Banpo bridge just fine. Once we got up there, we realized where we could have just walked and it wouldn't have been that great of a distance but since we were already waiting on the other bridge, we decided to stay.
The show was very pretty...it was just far away. Hopefully, we will go back some time and go closer. Apparently there is also music that is synchronized to the water show so that would be nice as well (of course we couldn't hear it).
Our next big dilemma was getting off the bridge. What we hadn't really noticed coming up was that the elevator and stair case were covered in spiders. And these weren't little bitty spiders, either.
I know that sounds unbelievable coming from me (the one who is terrified of spiders) but Jenee can vouch for me...they even freaked her out. And the thing is...that elevator and stair case is the only way down from the bridge.
Well, it wasn't happening. Especially since we could see spiders loosing their grip and falling and all I could imagine was that one would latch itself on to me and I would have a heart-attack.
Our only other option was to walk all the way across the bridge (and it's a big bridge) and try going down on the other side. Fifteen-ish minute walk? I'll take that over jumbo spiders any day!
So we started walking, no big deal. There is a walking path that is in-between the guardrail and then the rail that runs along the edge of the bridge. Everything was peachy until we got a little over a quarter of the way in and realized that guardrail AND the other rail are COVERED IN SPIDERS.
I really wish this was just a nightmare and not something that actually happened but I'm seriously not lying or imagining things.
Spiders.
Everywhere.
And I was trapped, right in the middle.
I'm unashamed to say that I cried the whole rest of the way. Sobbed, actually. I was scared senseless and I'm really proud of myself for not just launching into traffic and taking my chances with the freeway.
I think I will have bad dreams about that walk for the rest of my life.
But if I had to go back I still would of done it because there was no way, no how that I was getting in that elevator or walking down those stairs.
Once we reached the other side of the bridge there was a different (uncovered) staircase that wasn't infested with spiders so we safely made it down.
Then we were lost.
Like, really lost.
The signs told us we were somewhere in Hangang Park but psst that thing is huge so who knows. There were bike trails and lots of grass...and the river. We eventually walked out of it and into civilization where we were able to wave down a cab and take it to a nearby station so we could head back home.
It was a great day and a very traumatizing evening.
I will never go up on a bridge here again. Ever.
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