Romantic Naminara Republic

Sunday, November 3, 2013. Determination to go to Nami Island was finally realized. It's been more than a year since I lived in Korea, but I have never been to Nami Island. Though I really want to see it, especially in autumn (and winter)! I missed a chance to visit Nami Island last year due to seminar. But so happy that I could make it this year, since it might be my last autumn here in Korea before my graduation next summer~

We arrived Gapyeong Station around 11.35 AM. Planned to ride a taxi to the parking lot of Nami Island, but changed our plan since the taxi line-up was so long. It might take us more than 30 minutes. Our plan B was to ride a public bus. But.. the next bus will arrive around 12 and something. So, we changed to plan C: walking. It was a bit cold that day, but 30 minutes walking was not a bad idea. The air was so fresh, and we can enjoy the view as well.

We arrived at Nami Island parking lot area right at lunch time. With hungry stomach, we visited any restaurant with 닭갈비 menu. It's a must-eat food if you visit Nami Island.

We ordered two portions of 숯불닭갈비. 닭갈비 is chicken ribs. 숯불 is charcoal. So, 숯불닭갈비 is chicken ribs cooked (grilled) over charcoal.

The portions looked a bit small. But it could really make our stomach full. ㅋㅋ

We had it with some lettuce (상추), onion (양파), and Korean paste (쌈장). This way of eating is named 쌈 in Korea.

Done eating, we then moved to the ticket counter. The ticket was 8,000 Won per person include the round trip ferry fare. It's the special price for foreigners. 

The boarding point

If you like to pace your adrenaline, you can try another way to crossed over Nami Island: flying fox. Well, it's actually not too fast to pace your adrenaline enough. But, to able to enjoy the view from up there is not a bad idea. ㅋㅋ I wanted to ride it, but the weather was to cold. ㅠㅠ

The line was quite long. But it didn't take us too long to ride the ferry. We arrive Nami Island after 10 minutes waiting and 5 minutes riding the ferry.  

All the pictures below were taken inside the Nami island with my Nikon D5100 and 52 mm lens.

프로필 인증샷 :p

Happy family ^^

See the queue? They were all waiting for the ferry. It was around 3 PM.

Which country are you?

I can feel the country~ ㅋㅋ

"Angry Ahjussi": this ahjussi was getting ready to scold those who stop at the railway to take pictures~

Love it <3

must-take photo~~ ㅋㅋ

First Kiss bridge~

It's 6.20 PM, we exited Nami Island with hungry stomach. Looked for a nearby 닭갈비 restaurant for dinner. This time was not the grilled one. It's a bit spicier than those we can find in Seoul, and tasted better (for me).

닭갈비

Amazing Autumn in Seoraksan National Park

Last weekend, my friends and I went to Seoraksan National Park (Namseorak). Our main purpose is to enjoy the beautiful foliage there. The forecasting said the weather will be good all day. But then it rains, not so heavy, but long, like it won't come to an end.

We left Inha University around 5.55 AM, brought our own lunch. We arrived at City Hall Station around 7.25 AM, and left towards Seoraksan 5 minutes later by bus. It was a very heavy traffic in Seoul! When we arrived at Seoraksan, it was almost 12 already~ ㅠㅠ Though we were scheduled to arrive at 10.30.

And one more thing: it started to rain as soon as we arrived Seoraksan National Park!

We can choose one of two tracks there:

1. 흘림골 course, which took around 4 hours. The guide said, we could actually finish this course in two and half hours. But because there were too many people, we need to walk much slower. There were so many people, Koreans and foreigners, who go to mountain to enjoy fall foliage every year, especially here, one of the most famous mountains in Korea, the four-season mountain, Seoraksan (설악산).

2. 주전골 course, which took only 2 hours.

Since we arrived one and half hour late than schedule, and the rain that seemed to be "long-lasting", we decided to go on second course. We walked, took photos, and talked along the tracking path. The view there was amazing! Though it rained, we really enjoy it. It worth all we did!

Here the pictures I took over there using my Nikon D5100 and 52 mm lens.

Because the rain got heavier, I need to put my camera into my bag to protect it. So, I didn't take many pictures there with my camera, what a pity~ ㅠㅠ

Here are the pictures taken using my camera phone (Samsung Galaxy S3).

ㅋㅋㅋ 인증샷!

We finished our track at around 1.50 PM. We then looked for a gazebo to take shelter from the rain, and had our very-late lunch there. Finished our lunch around 2.20, we moved to bus, and left towards a nearby beach namely 하조대 해수욕장. 

Me with two of my friends ^^

We then went back to Seoraksan National Park to pick up those who took 4-hours course, and departed for Seoul around 4 PM. We arrived at City Hall Station around 8 PM, and walked to Jonggak area (종각젊음의거리) for dinner.

We passed Cheonggyecheon Square, where the Seoul Lantern Festival was being held (Nov 1-17, 2013). It was so packed there, packed by humans. 

There were also a lot of food stands!

And here was my dinner that day: 간비국수 by 멸치국수 잘하는 집. This noodle tasted good! ^^

간비국수