Snow Sledding in Seoul

When I went to Phoenix Ski Resort in December 2009, I thought that the slopes were way too dangerous for kids and children below 7 years old to enjoy with their family. Not only that; to learn skiing or snowboarding at the ski resort will need you to rake out another 50,000 -100,000 won per coaching session. You could never be an expert in one day! Believe me..

So for those who have always wanted to experience winter, building snow man and playing snow balls but have no time or rather on a tight budget to run up the ski resorts for ski or snowboard activities, there are always other options. Hurray!!^^

Lets go snow sledding, guys!!

Korean Children's Center Snow Sledding Field at Gwangjin, Seoul-si

Official website: http://www.sselmaejang.com/ - (Only in Korean)

Operating Date and Hours: Dec 18, 2009 – Feb 21, 2010; 9:30am - 5:00pm

Rental fee: 8,000 won

How to go: Children's Grand Park Subway Station (어린이대공원역) , Line 7, Exit 2. Walk about three minutes towards Children's Grand Park.

From Myeongdong to Children's Grand Park Subway Station
30 minutes, 10 stops, 9.5km
Fare: 900 won with T-Money, 1000 won by cash
Transit: Dongdaemun History and Culture Station, Konkuk University Station

Korean Folk Village Snow Sledding Field at Yongin, Gyeonggi-do

Official Website: http://www.koreanfolk.co.kr/folk/english/index.htm - (available in English)

Operating Date and Hours: Dec 20, 2009 – Late Feb, 2010

Rental fee: Adult 12,000 won/Teenager 9,000/Child 8,000

How to go:
1-By subway
Get off at Suwon Subway Station, Line No.1
There is a Suwon business office across the street on the left side of Suwon Station.
Take a free shuttle bus in front of the office after purchasing the admission ticket or pass.
(Every hour from 10:30~14:30/30~40 min ride)

2-By Bus
Take bus No. 1560 or 5500-1 at Gangnam Subway Station, Line 2,Exit 6

From Myeongdong to Suwon Station
1 hour, 8 minutes, 25 stops, 41.4km
Fare: 1,600 won with T-Money, 1,700 won by cash
Transit: Geumjeong Station

Seoul Land Snow Sledding Field at Gwacheon, Gyeonggi-do

There are various types of sleds available, including tube sleds.
Official Website: http://eng.seoulland.co.kr/eng/index.html - (Available in English)

Operating Date and Hours: Dec 20, 2009 – Late Feb, 2010; 10:00 - 17:00

Rental Fee:
Admission + Sledding Hill : Adult 18,000won, Teenager 15,000won, Children 13,000won
(After entering) Sledding Hill : 3,000 won
All-Pass Users : Free Sledding Hill

How to go:
Seoul Grand Park Subway Station, Line 4, Exit 4.
Walk straight ahead for about 15 minute to Seoul Land
Check transportation map here.

From Myeongdong to Seoul Grand Park Station
29 minutes, 13 stops, 16.9km
Fare: 1,100 won with T-Money, 1,200 won by cash
Transit: No

Everland Snow Buster at Yongin, Gyeonggi-do

Official Website: http://www.everland.com/MultiLanguage/english/index.html - (Available in English)

Operating Date and Hours: Mid Dec, 2009 – Early Feb, 2010 ; 9:30am - 5:30pm

Rental Fee:
Monch Infant Sled, Jungfrau Sled, Finsteraarhorn sled, Bobsled are included in the admission fee.
Eiger Skisled : Adults & children-5,000 won(Free of charge for all-pass ticket users and members)
Shoe Rental : 2,000 won
Adult Day 28,000 / Night 24,000
Child Day 21,000 / Night 18,000
Adult : Above 12 years old

How to go:
Take bus No.5002 at Gangnam Subway Station (Line 2) to Everland
Note: From Myeongdong to Gangnam Station - 35 minutes and from Gangnam to Everland - about 1 hour
More info about transportation to Everland here.

From Myeongdong to Gangnam Station

35 minutes, 11 stops, 12.4km

Fare: 1,000 won with T-Money, 1,100 won by cash

Transit: Chungmuro Station, Seoul National University of Education Station

For other sledding slopes places in seoul please check the details at KNTO
Note: Rate and fare may change. 

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Bangkok Longtail Boat Ride

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5 Grand Palaces in Seoul

There are five grand palaces in Seoul during Joseon Dynasty.

With our English speaking tourist guide.

Check out my Gyeongbuk Palace post here.

Gyeongbuk Palace - translates in English as "Palace of Shining Happiness." located in northern Seoul, South Korea. the main and largest palace of the Five Grand Palaces built by the Joseon Dynasty. originally constructed in 1394 by King Taejo, the first king and founder of the Joseon Dynasty. houses the National Folk Museum of Korea and the National Palace Museum of Korea. (Source: Wikipedia)

Official Website: http://www.royalpalace.go.kr/html/eng/main/main.jsp

Operating Hours:
March ~ October 09:00-18:00
November ~ February 09:00-17:00
English Guided Tour: 11:00, 13:30, 15:30
Closed every Tuesday

Admission fee: 3,000 won (Adult)

How to go:
1. From Exit No. 5 of Gyeongbokgung Subway Station (Seoul Subway Line No.3), walk 5 minutes.
2. From Exit No. 2 of Ganghwamun Subway Station (Seoul Subway Line No.5), walk 5 minutes.

Source: KNTO

If you go through this gate in Changdeok Palace, you won't 

get old. Try it! My post here. 

Changdeok Palace - the second palace after Gyeongbokgung. The literal meaning of Changdeokgung(昌德宮) is "Palace of Prospering Virtue". referred to as the East Palace(東闕, Donggwol). was the site of the royal court and the seat of government until 1872. added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997. Portions of the palace were used to film the hugely popular Korean Drama Dae Jang Geum. (Source: Wikipedia)

Official Website: http://eng.cdg.go.kr/main/main.htm

Operating hours:
April ~ October: 09:00 - 17:30
November/March: 09:00 - 16:30
December ~ February: 09:00 - 16:00
English Guided Tour: 11:30, 14:30
Closed every Monday

Admission fee: 3,000 won (Adult)

How to go:
Anguk Subway Station ,Line 3, Exit 3, walk 5 minutes

Ticket counter at Deoksu Palace. Check out my post

here for more pictures of Deoksu Palace.

Deoksu Palace - was originally the residence of Prince Wolsan, the older brother of King Seongjong. This residence became a royal 'palace' during the Seven-Year War after all of the other palaces were burned in 1592 during the Japanese invasions of the Seven-Year War. (Source: Wikipedia)

Official website: http://www.deoksugung.go.kr/eng/index.asp

Opening time:
09:00 -21:00
Closed on Mondays
English guide tour: Tuesday to Friday 10:30

Admission fee: 1,000 won (Adult)

How to go: Subway lines 1 or 2, City Hall Station, exit 3 walk towards Deoksugung (Palace) 

The other two grand palaces in Seoul that I haven't been to are: 

Picture courtesy of Picable

Changgyeong Palace - referred to as the East Palace(東闕, Donggwol). Originally the Summer Palace of the Goryeo Emperor. (Source: Wikipedia). My friends Iris, Nyna, Hanim and Fiza visited the palace recently and I'm going to put up a post for it sometime later.

Official website: http://english.cha.go.kr/

Operating Hours:
April ~ October 09:00 - 18:30
November/March 09:00 - 17:30
December ~ February 09:00 - 17:00
Closed on Mondays

Admission Fees:

1,000 won (Adult)

How to go: Jongno 3-ga subway Station, line 3

Checkout picturesofkorea

Gyeonghui Palace - literally Palace of Serene Harmony. served as the secondary palace for the king, and as it was situated on the west side of Seoul, it was also called Seogwol (a palace of the west). The Secondary palace is usually the palace where the King moves to in times of emergency. (Source: Wikipedia)

Official website: http://english.cha.go.kr/

Opening time:
Weekdays 09:00 - 18:00
Weekend 10:00 - 18:00
Closed every Mondays.

Admission fee: Free 

How to go:

Get off at Seodaemun Subway Station,Line 5, Exit 4, walk for about 10 minutes.

More info on Gyeonghui Palace here.

Note: From May 1st, 2010, visitors may visit and take a tour of Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace (Rear Garden included), Changgyeonggung Palace, Deoksugung Palace, and Jongmyo Shrine by buying one all-inclusive ticket. The ticket is 10,000 KRW and may be used within a month after purchase.
Source: KNTO

For more info, check out KNTO and RoyalPalace

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South Korea v/s North Korea at it again.

I regret to put this kind of post in the blog. For once, I wish this act could stop. It alarmed everyone in the country and us, the innocent travellers who want to experience the beauty of Korea.

Last night, I called my Korean friends worried about their condition but all of them replied nonchalantly that it was normal for them. North Korea's threats to start war with South Korea happened almost everyday that the people get used to it.

In fact, I was in Gangwondo when the sinking of Cheonan submarine happened on March 26th 2010 (my mom gonna kill me if she knew this!). Apart from the jets flying frantically on top of our heads there's nothing much happened on that day. South Korea wanted PEACE and safety for his people. I am glad that I went through the day safely while I was there.

Hmm..for those going to South Korea any time soon, I will not give my assurance that nothing of that sort gonna happen but just be safe. I doubt that both sides want war. It's gonna be difficult for both nation and too much heartache to be undone since the 1950's Korean War.

I had the chance to visit Geoje Island POW camp (Prisoner of War) and I don't want the people to go through the same cycle. Never again.

Check out the Kosmo write up and Yahoo News on the issue.

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