Showing posts with label snow. Show all posts
Showing posts with label snow. Show all posts

Monday, 17 November 2014

Korea 2012: Day 15 (Petite France 쁘띠프랑스 - Nami Island 남이섬 종합휴양지)

Hey there! So we're down to pretty much the second-last day spent in Korea during my holiday in 2012. We went out of Seoul once again to explore some famous filming locations (not that I actually watched any of them - but they were really beautiful sceneries). I have absolutely no regret travelling all that way just to catch those views.

The journey to Petite France 쁘띠프랑스 can be excruciatingly painful for people with motion sickness. The roads are extremely winding and thus buses have to drive slowly and sometimes jerkily (due to other bad drivers). One girl that took the shuttle bus with us actually puked due to the winding roads and her friends ran to the back of the bus complaining that it was too smelly. HOW MEAN OF THEM!  >: (

The concept of Petite France 쁘띠프랑스 encapsulates ‘flowers, stars, and the Little Prince.’ The village contains a memorial hall dedicated to Saint-Exupery, the author of the celebrated French novel, Le Petit Prince (1943) and as such it is called the Little Prince theme park. It also has a gallery displaying sculptures and paintings of le coq gaulois (the Gallic rooster), the national symbol of France; Orgel House where a 200-year-old music box plays a sweet melody; a shop that sells herbal and aromatic products; a souvenir shop; and many other locales where you can experience French culture. The village can accommodate up to 200 visitors with 34 guest rooms that hold four to ten people each.

Filming Location
My Love from the Stars 별에서 온 그대
In Episode 15, Do Min-jun kisses Cheon Song-yi by employing his supernatural powers. This romantic scene unfolds at Petite France 쁘띠프랑스 in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi-do, which has since drawn considerable attention online. 


It was also a filming location of variety program Running Man.



The entrance of Petite France 쁘띠프랑스.

Petite France (쁘띠프랑스)

1063, Hoban-ro, Cheongpyeong-myeon, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do
경기도 가평군 청평면 호반로 1063
Operating Hours: 09.00 - 18.00

Admission Fees:
Adults: 8,000 won / Group: 6,000 won
Youths: 6,000 won / Group: 5,000 won
Children: 5,000 won / Group: 4,000 won
* Group: 20 people or more

How to Get Here:
From Dong Seoul Bus Terminal or Sangbong Bus Terminal.
Take an intercity bus to Cheongpyeong (청평).
From Cheongpyeong Terminal, take a local bus bound for Goseong-ri (고성리).
* Bus Schedule: 06:30-20:00, runs 9 times a day.
OR, from the Cheongpyeong Terminal, take Gapyeong Tour Bus to Petite France.
* Bus Schedule: 08:30-17:30, runs 7 times a day

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Most people make the trip for Petite France 쁘띠프랑스 and Namiseom 남이섬 together (because they are the two attractions closest to each other and are accessible by the same shuttle bus). After walking around Petite France, we went to check out Nami Island 남이섬!

Namiseom Island 남이섬 was formed as a result of the construction of the Cheongpyeong Dam. It is a half moon shaped (462,809㎡) isle, and on it is the grave of General Nami, who led a great victory against the rebels in the 13th year of the 7th king of the Joseon Dynasty, King Sejo (reign 1455 ~ 1468). Namiseom Island is 63 km away from Seoul in the direction of Chuncheon, and is famous for its beautiful tree lined roads. The island is 30 minutes away from Chuncheon and an hour away from suburbs of Seoul. Since it is not far from Seoul, many couples and families come to visit.

The view while on the ferry to Nami Island.
Lingering Autumn
Nami Island is famous for these straight-lined trees which adds on to the romantic atmosphere.
Poor Dirty Frosty!
Everyone huddling around the fire for warmth - the ducks too!
Oh dear! Frosty looks like he's been mugged!
Mother's love~
General Nami's tomb
Goodbye Nami Island!
Taking the ferry back to the Namiseom dock.


Namiseom Island (남이섬 종합휴양지)
1024, Bukhangangbyeon-ro, Gapyeong-eup, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do
경기도 가평군 가평읍 북한강변로 1024 (출입국관리사무소)
Website: www.namisum.com (Korean, English, Chinese)

Ferry Schedule
07:30-09:00 (30min intervals)
09:00-18:00 (10-20min intervals)
18:00-21:40 (30min intervals)

Admission FeesAdults : 10,000 won
Youths, Seniors (over 70) & People with disabilities: 8,000 won (ID required)
Children (ages 3-13) : 4,000 won
Visitors arriving after 18:00 (Dec-Mar), after 19:00 (Apr-Nov): 4,000 won

※ Round-trip ferry fare & tax included.

How to Get Here:
From Gapyeong Bus Terminal or Gapyeong Station, take a taxi to Namiseom parking lot.
(Travel time: 10-15 min). Take the ferry from Namiseom Dock to Namiseom Island. (Travel time: 5-6 min)

Shuttle Bus From Seoul to Namiseom Island
* Bus Stop 1) Insa-dong (Jonggak Station, Subway Line 1, Exit 3): Next to Tapgol Park
                  2) Jamsil Station (Subway Line 2, Exit 4): In front of Lotte Mart

Shuttle Bus Schedule: Insa-dong, Jamsil Station → Namiseom Island: 09:30
                                 Namiseom Island → Insa-dong, Jamsil Station: 16:00
※ Advanced reservation required (Inquiries +82-2-753-1247)
※ More info about the shuttle bus on this page.

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We had one of our most awesome dinners on this night: I apologise though for not taking more photos and taking information of that shop down.

SPICY OCTOPUS! Oh.My.Gosh this was so amazing! Spicy yes but DAMN SHIOK (excuse my Singaporean slang here but that comes out when I eat really good food). This was way too spicy for my tastebuds - I was refilling the water tumbler continuously while no Korean got up to get more water. OMG how do they do that? Haha I almost died! 매워!
The order of spicy octopus was ordered in a set where we had this lovely mussel soup to accompany the spicy octopus! So good! No bad unfresh seafood taste, just the natural sweetness of seafood.

Can't seem to find the name of the stall or any trace of it and I do apologise for that since this food was so amazingly delicious =(

I promise I'll be more alert and conscientious about taking photos this time! =)

And we'll be down to the last post of Korea 2012 next time =)


Lots of love for all your support,

Fly Safe and Eat Happy,
V

Wednesday, 12 November 2014

Korea 2012: Day 8 (KBS Suwon Centre KBS 수원 센터 - Korean Folk Village 한국민속촌 - Korean BBQ)

Hey! Just an update from where I am. I'm back in Singapore now after my 3rd year of studies at uni for our summer break (Australia - summer's at year end). Its about 9 days more to my Korea trip so I'm way too excited but that also means I need to get a move on with these blog posts before I get some serious backlog.

We made a trip to Suwon on Day 8 to visit the KBS centre and also to meet Jess' lovely friend Sue who brought us around =)

Woke up to a free tattoo from the electric blanket in the guesthouse haha.
The trip to Suwon from Seoul is not too short especially if you don't have a seat, so if you're travelling with older people please be cautious of that. The trip will take an average of 1 hour and 20 minutes.

The KBS Suwon Centre has tours conducted in Korean only, and have to be booked in advance as well. Sue helped us do that in advance. We met her at Suwon station and off we went! Thankfully we had Sue who translated most of the tour for us!

Indoor set pieces of traditional Korea.
Look at the lights above!
The outdoor sets! Truly awesome! Surrounded by modernity, these old sets feel so real and you only realise that you're simply in a fake studio filming location when you look up and spot the modern high rise apartments around.
We even managed to catch a glimpse of an actress filming! If only I could remember what she was wearing!

KBS Suwon Centre KBS 수원 센터
경기도 수원시 팔달구 인계동 468번지 우)
Tel: 031-219-8081 / 82
How to Get Here: Take Bus Number 2-1, 9, 82-2, 83 from Exit 4 of Suwon Station 수원역 4번출
                             구 and alight at "Baeksong Hospital 백성병원", and then cross the road
Admission is Free


Visit this blogger's post for more information about the tour!
http://sgkidstravel.blogspot.sg/2012/09/kbs-suwon-center-suwon-korea.html


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After that, Sue's father picked us up and drove us to the Korean Folk Village. It was so cold and we were grateful for the warm car and comfortable journey!

Awesome horse riding skills! WOOHOO I was cheering crazily because I was so impressed.
Sue getting "punished" haha!
Hello there donkey!
Drying corn and other vegetables on the traditional houses.
Love this section =) and the soft fluffy snow!
Kinda tastes like muah chee but instead of peanuts, its bean powder. Interesting taste and also delicious.
I wanna get a son! So here I am rubbing the statue's nose!
Night beginning to set in on the traditional folk village.

Korean Folk Village (한국민속촌)
90 Minsokchon-ro, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do|경기도 용인시 기흥구 민속촌로 90 (보라동)
Telephone: +82-31-288-0000
Website: www.koreanfolk.co.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)

*For more information on how to get here, visit this site: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264121

※ Folk Performance Schedule

Farmers Music and Dance
10:30 14:00 (Performing arena)
Acrobatics on a Tightrope
11:00 14:30 (Performing arena)
Traditional Wedding
12:00 16:00 (House on 22)
Equestrian Feats
11:30 15:00 (Performing arena)

Operating Hours

-WeekdaysWeekend/Holidays
Spring(March~April)09:30~18:0009:30~18:30
Summer(May~September)09:30~18:3009:30~19:00
Autumn(October~November)09:30~18:0009:30~18:30
Winter(December~February)09:30~17:3009:30~18:00

Admission Fees

Classification
Admission Fees
Adults (19+)
Individual
15,000 won
Group
12,000 won
Youths
(ages 13-18)
Individual
12,000 won
Group
10,000 won
Children
(ages 4-12)
Individual
10,000 won
Group
8,000 won

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We ended off with Korean BBQ for the night at Kang Ho Dong's BBQ =)
Thinking about that egg makes me so happy =)
You can never go wrong with Korean BBQ can you?

Till the next post... leave me any questions or feedback on my posts and I'll answer them promptly!

Fly Safe and Eat Happy,
V