Birthday Trip to Seoul, Korea (Part 2: Couple Lock in Seoul Tower, More Food, Going Home)

** Loaded with pictures**

After our visit to the markets in Dongdaemun, Namdaemun, Insadong, and Myeongdong, (Click for Korea Part 1), Darrin and I decided that we have to go to at least one famous Seoul attraction before we leave the next day. I love couple accessories, clothes, activities, etc., so... we choose to go to N Seoul Tower (Namsan Tower) to put up our very first COUPLE LOCK!! It's gonna be our last full day in Korea! 

Me n Darrin in Seoul Tower

For breakfast, we ate at Myeongdong Gyoza (address: 25-2, Myeong-dong 2-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea). I'm guessing the restaurant had upstairs and downstairs seating because when we entered, there were 2 long line full of people waiting to be seated. I could totally tell it's a very popular restaurant in the area. Darrin and I waited about 20 minutes to be seated. The restaurant itself is not small, just packed with people. Very face paced too!

Must try noodle and dumplings!!

Good flavoring! DAEBAK!!

Fast service and attentive waitress. Their goal is have you quickly finish and go (in a nice way)! Ahahaha! Then we went to get the tall ice cream I saw on YouTube.

Ice cream was not as tall as we thought it would be... Is there a designated area to eat the ice cream? Everyone was just standing near the ice cream stand with their ice cream. So Darrin and I thought we should just follow what others do! Hahahhaha!

From the map, the location that we are in is kinda close to the Namsan Cable Car, which can then take us to the Tower. Lemme show you which online info I followed.

Tada!! From a picture in my phone

Boy... was it a long walk. There was also stairs too and a steep hill! Someone from Korea told me it was a romantic path for couples to walk to the cable car station! Ha...Ha... Ha.... No comment!

Going on right track if you see Pacific Hotel

Directions for the cable car

Yay! After  ~ 20 min of walking... we arrived

And got our tickets^^

Some of the views

On the cable car^^

The cable car was crowded with people so it was hard to take pictures (and breath). I thought it was like individuals... nope, not this ones. And it was stuffy too... That's what I get for coming in the summer huh?

vending machines and full of trees

This guy's  tired from the ride + heat

 ~ Then once he saw the potato, he rejuvenated O.O ~

Picture of idols with potato

 ~ Look how happy he is^^ There's locks behind ~

Enjoying our food

Alright! Continue to explore^^ Walked up the stairs and saw a double heart!! 

The double heart

~ Running Man did a mission here ~

      

Brought our lock from the gift shop

Went to a place with view to write on it^^

I saw on a TVB drama that there was also a place for locks in Paris. Haven't been there yet but it seems that Seoul Tower have more locks than Paris. Might be wrong since the drama showed only part of the bridge in Paris with locks.

Wow!!! O.O

Look at the amount of locks

There's more...

...and more!!

Took us a while to think of a good place to put our lock. Darrin said he wanted our lock to look at the world! Hahahhah! So cute!!

Darrin looking for a secret place for our lock...

Guess he found one^^

Wah la!! What a nice view!!  Our lock overlooking Seoul!!!

 ~ Picture with our lock behind us ~

The cup has the tower logo n website

Seoul Tower

We didn't go up to the tower tho. After we finished putting up the lock and sight-see a bit, we were starting to get hungry. Going back down to the main streets take a while too... We took the cable car and walked the same road down. Then, I realized there was actually a bus that can take us to and from the Namsan Cable Car Station!! The bus had the cable car logo on it!! It says "Namsan Cable Car" too!! OMG... On the bright side, exercise is good for body^^

I love anime and manga

He thinks he's joker. Hahhahah!!

Migabon, located in Myeongdong, is another popular restaurant according to trip advisor (address: 2F 2-23, Myeong-dong 2-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea).

Migabon on the 2nd floor

Right across from Citibank

Mine: Abalone porridge

His: Ginseng chicken porridge

For dinner, we headed to Tosokchon, traditional Korean restaurant for Samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup). Tosokchon is very big and can hold more than 400+ people. Darrin and I scanned our Seoul City Pass and got off at Gyeongbokgung Station, then headed to Exit #2. Walk straight for about 3 minute Tosokchon is located in a alley near the GS25 store on the left (address from visitkorea: 5, Jahamun-ro 5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul). 

Have to take off shoes before entering dining area

The small cup is ginseng wine! Bitter ><

The menu

Radish and kimchi as sides

We both ordered original samgyetang

~ More than 30 different herbs and grains + huge ginseng!! ~

Drink the ginseng wine! Bitter, but I heard it's good for body^^ Can also pour the wine into the samgyetang for more taste... we drank the wine in one gulped because we didn't know at first. Hahahha! I felt the burn!!

 The chicken soup is interesting and we will return again for it the next time we go Korea. Definitely worth a try and price is reasonable. At 15,000 won you can eat the ginseng chicken soup which is stuffed with glutinous rice, herbs, ginseng, and more!!

Gonna miss Korea and our mini vacation! The next morning, we packed and went to eat breakfast at the hotel before we check out.

Running Man while packing^^

Bad habit! iPhone while eating... tsk... tsk

I actually think Doulos Hotel have good breakfast. I love the apple juice and the potato salad! Unlimited too^0^ We saw some reviews online about the hotel having bad breakfast. I can tell you it's "Jamie Approved". I'm not too picky because breakfast was included in the rate when we book the hotel. Clean utensils, decent food, and friendly staffs. Nothing to complain. There's also an Agoda trophy behind Darrin, meaning it's one of the top rated hotels^^

To the bus stop we go

Airport bus stop! 4 min walk from hotel

Street view while waiting

Cost 10,000 won to ICN airport! Can use city pass to pay^^

The hotel provided a shaver, but no shaving cream. Guess what? He used my Lancome facewash as a shaving cream. Apparently it worked wonders:

Look at his face shine +.+

Oh yea... We forgot to visit this place!!

Hyundai police car O.O

Soon we arrived at Incheon Airport. The airport is HUGE!! Technology is amazing!! 

Bus driver was very friendly!!

Hallo ICN!

Darrin leads the way

Information on flights

Going to grab lunch before our flight

Such a cool airport

Restaurant on the 2F... forgot the name

His

Mine

About to board the flight to home^^

More escalators and security check before the jet bridge

The airport and gate area is definitely very big. Quite a distance to the gate and to the plane. There was also a second security check before they let us walk to the jetbridge. All passengers were required to open their bags and let the agents do a final check! Darrin and I can't wait to go home and pick up our lovely baby from my sister.

 ~ In front of her place waiting to get in ~

There's Miku!!

Big "thank you" to my sister for babysitting Miku while we go on vacation. Love you very much^^

Korea was different from what we have expected. We thought the food would be more tempting and shopping would be more exciting, but we understand that every culture is different. Maybe the weather affected our mood?? Now, I know not to go there during the beginning of August. So HUMID!! No kidding...

Aside from the heat, Darrin and I did enjoy our mini trip to Korea. Looking forward to go again when it gets cooler! Darrin always say "It's not the place that matters, it's the experiences you had". He told me he got it from a book^^


Much Love,
                Jamie