Thursday, November 23, 2017

Filming Location and Autumn Itinerary to Seoul, South Korea


Note: If first time traveler to Seoul, please visit the detailed entry and guide on Itinerary for First-time Visitors or see more autumn itinerary options on this link.

Accommodation:  Where to stay in Seoul?
Cocoon Stay Hongdae Guesthouse 코쿤 스테이 홍대 게스트하우스
34-4, Yanghwa-ro 18an-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Food Review

Itinerary: Places to go, Things to see, Points of Interest, What to do in Seoul in 5 days?
Travel Date: Nov 08 - 13, 2017
Travel Type: Fusion of autumn experience on parks and universities. Plus, reminiscing the scenes on k-drama filming location sites. And visiting cafes featured in dramas, visited by idols and themed cafes in Seoul.


Day
Places to see
Food and Restaurants
Where to Sleep
1
World Cup Park [Autumn/Bong Soo]
Seoul Forest Station [Autumn/K2/Temperature]
Konkuk University [Autumn/Goblin]
Underground Market (Seoul Bus Terminal)

2
W Hand Steak [Battle Trip]
Yeoksam: Arriate [Not a Robot]
Cocoon Guest House
3
Digital Media [Best Punch/Noona]
Cocoon Guest House
4
Alver [Arirang Live]
Blute [Bok Joo]
Pork Soup Restaurant [Bong Soo]
Cocoon Guest House
5
Bupyeong Luggage Locker
Inha University [Autumn/Bok Joo]
Café Valor [Beauty Inside]
Paris Baguette
Cocoon Guest House





Itinerary Review
  • In an article, drinking coffee or tea has been a statement in the city.  We can't deny the fact that these shops as seen in most dramas has become popular and visited by many. Although, most are expensive we can't skip not to try and taste the sight of these variety of drinks.  Moreover, we just need to complement the spending by also trying the cheaper treats from convenience stores or lovely snacks from street food carts.
  • Bukhansan will give you a challenging hike but can lead you to the top when right starting point has been chosen.
  • To set off the demanding hike and walking in the city, you can find book cafes or spa to spend sometime for resting.
  • Time wasted in looking for popular areas that were already closed like Discovery Taste (Daeuhung Station), Coffee Comma (Hongik), Baklava (Itaewon).  Make sure to double and triple check on the site and wonder if the latest tags on instagram photos has been over for months rather than days.
  • Give Samcheong-dong more time to experience traditional tea houses, museums and gallery.
  • Do not skip university parks for autumn experience and university museum for historical revelations.
  • More than walking on a broad day light, enjoy also the night views of city lights (Seoullo 7017).
  • Include visiting one of the observatories for the bird's eye view of the city. 
  • Be cautious of your time.  Although I was already in same city as the airport, it still took me more than 90 minutes to reach the airport from Bupyeong area.  I arrived 2 hours before my boarding, so it means I have no more time to play around the airport, no more window shopping in duty free shops and was not able to have a decent bite at the airport restaurants.  It was all walking and queuing for the last 2 hours (check-in, immigration, sky train, and on-the-go cafe shop).  Be careful with the x-ray (the guards are not so welcoming and looks to be stressed with their work), unpack your laptop on the tray, separate your bag or shoes on a tray.  Then if traveling during the cold season, place your jacket on a separate tray. 
  • It's not just visiting a place that was previously a filming location, but making each moment enjoyable as you long for the wonderfall (not just wonderful) autumn place, the chilly weather and something to feed your wanderlust.


2017 Autumn Forecast Seoul

There are cases that the KTO website deletes the previous forecast of fall foliage in the country.  Thus, re-posting the image (cr: kweather)



Expense Report: The Budget Travel Guide
The following expense report is computed with 0.045 conversion rate.

Manila - Incheon (Nov 08-13, 2017)
 KRW
 PHP (0.045)
Jeju Air (MNL - ICN) bought last 2017/01/04
      71,667
               3,225
Cocoon Guest House, Hongdae (4 nights)
    117,089
               5,269
Thursday
top-up value for Tmoney
      20,000
                  900
CU Acacia Honey water (hot) 1300, triangle gimbap 1000
        2,300
                  104
CU hot tea and triangle gimbap
        2,500
                  113
jacket (Undeground Market Bus Terminal)
        9,000
                  405
Arriate (citon tea, cake, macaroon)
      10,800
                  486
triangle gimbap
        2,000
                    90
Daily Total
      46,600
               2,097
Friday
Snacks
        2,000
                    90
taxi to Ui
        4,100
                  185
W Hand Steak (sirloin and lemonade)
        8,900
                  401
Picture Book (hot tea)
        9,200
                  414
spicy ramyeon (samyang), rice triangle
        2,050
                    92
heat packs (3900)
        3,900
                  176
lotte nude (1200) cheese, tea (3000)
        4,200
                  189
Etude contour and highlight (2)
      24,000
               1,080
top-up for Tmoney
        5,000
                  225
Daily Total
      63,350
               2,851
Saturday


Daiso (heat pack 2pcs for 1,000krw; designed tapes)
        2,000
                    90
Brunch at Ms Lee (dosirak)
        6,500
                  293
Tea House White Birch Story (tea, cookie)
        8,000
                  360
postcard in bukchon area
        1,000
                    45
pork samgyeopsal (Sookmyung Stn)
      24,000
               1,080
Manjoo pastries (cream filled bread)
        3,000
                  135
top-up for Tmoney
      10,000
                  450
Daily Total
      54,500
               2,453
Sunday
Alver (tea, tiramisu)
      13,000
                  585
Seoul Sky Observatory
      27,000
               1,215
postcards and souvenir
      10,000
                  450
Blute (tea)
        8,000
                  360
pork soup and red bean
      13,000
                  585
flavored tea
        2,500
                  113
triangle gimbap
        1,500
                    68
Daily Total
      75,000
               3,375
Monday
Manjoo pastries
        2,000
                    90
Bupyeong Station: Luggage Locker
        3,000
                  135
Stamps for postcards across IRL, US, AU, PH)
            590
                    27
tea, cheese stick, eggs, triangle gimbap
        5,300
                  239
Café Valor: Fruit Soda
        9,000
                  405
Innisfree (cream)
      28,000
               1,260
Paris Baguette pastries
        9,900
                  446
Daily Total
      55,790
               2,511
In the City Expense (excluding flight and accommodation) - Total
    297,240
            13,376
Food (mix expensive coffee & tea with triangle gimbap)
    144,650
               6,509
Transportation (set the sequence of destinations vs subway)
      45,190
               2,034
Shopping (limit your shopping expenditure)
      80,400
               3,618
Attraction (mix expensive entrance fee with free attractions)
      27,000
               1,215
All-in Expense (including flight and accommodation) - Total
    485,996
            21,870
Accommodation (book early to get chances on private rooms)
    117,089
               5,269
Food
    144,650
               6,509
Transportation
    116,857
               5,259
Shopping
      80,400
               3,618
Attraction
      27,000
               1,215


Returning Gifts (Omiyage or Pasalubong)
  • Almonds/nuts (famous is the honey butter flavored).  But you can also try the wasabi and yogurt
  • Tea or coffee
  • Compare local and KR prices for Etude.  Buy something from Innisfree. 

This time, I bought postcards from Seoul Sky Tower, wrote notes while in Blute, drew the autumn trees while in Hongdae and sent them out from the post office at Inha University, Incheon.


I got free postcard from Konkuk University and bought one from a store in front of Choong Ang High School.



Other Itineraries

For my further sample itinerary, expense, trip reports, travel blog and PDF guides, please visit links below:
*Remember you still need to decide for yourself based upon your attraction and fascination over a place or activity.  As well as to consider the pace you want to have while traveling.  Planning too many targets on a day will either exhaust you rather than give you peace and joy on the culture and tradition.
Create your own road, rather than taking someone else's path.  
It can only be a road when one passes it.

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