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Asia Hopper 2019 ✈ Korea Transit Tour

Our 2019 home trip gave us the opportunity to hop through (and visit) 5 Asian cities within 2 weeks. Our itinerary consists of a mix of countries that I've already visited in the past but it was nice to revisit these places with hubby and MIL, and most importantly spend time with families!

Asian Hopper 2019:
Aug 31: Seoul
Aug 31 - Sept 7: Taipei
Sept 7 - Sept 8: Hong Kong 
Sept 8 - Sept 15: Penang
Sept 16: Tokyo 



Trip Planning
If you've been following our past travels, you'd notice that our trips always seemed complicated and long, definitely not a style that fits most people. The thing is, we want to spend time with my families on the other side of the world, and we also want to see new places, but we have limited vacation days. Being an optimizer, it's a fun challenge to  look for ways to make the most of our vacation and our hard-earned points and miles.

I started planning for our 2019 trip right after returning from our NZ trip last December and managed to book our flights in January using United miles and the Excursionist perk. We invited MIL to join us on this trip because it has been about 6 years since she last visited Malaysia. Besides, she had a accumulated good bit of United miles from credit card signup bonuses (yes I'm her CC 'consultant' =P), so she decided to join us on this crazy trip. 

Aug 29-31 (Thurs-Sat): Huntsville - Chicago - Seoul

I decided to fly solo 2 days earlier than hubby and MIL for the first leg of our trip due to several reasons:
- Hubby's vacation is very limited (10 days/year) and I had a lot more vacation days to use
- I wanted to fully utilize the 7-nights hotel certificate for Taipei
- My flight had a long layover in Seoul after the long 13-hours red-eye flight, which I planned intentionally because it was perfect for a free transit tour, but I know my travel companions will be too tired to enjoy it so I'd rather go solo. 

Our initial plan to travel light (with just a backpack) failed miserably because 3/4 of my luggage was filled with stuffs for family and friends in Malaysia. Not fun lugging this big a** luggage all around Asia...lol!

2-hour positioning flight on United to Chicago to connect to Asiana Airlines for the long transpacific flight (always prefer Asian airlines for long hauls).

Our flight departed at midnight, which explains my ready-to-sleep look. This was my first time traveling on Asiana Airlines. The leg space was good (benefit of short people) and I was glad to have an empty seat between myself and another lady.

Traveling on Korean flights means Korean food! Not gonna lie, I was looking forward to having bibimbap onboard. Guess I'm one of the rare ones who gets excited about airplane food. =P Bibimbap at 1am and kimchi pork rice for breakfast...totally fine!

Aug 31 (Sat): Landed at Incheon airport at 3.35am and was welcomed by an empty airport. They had a pretty nice lounge area for transit passengers, including a nap zone, but pretty much every sleep-able space was occupied by people sleeping (and snoring).   

After spending a few hours chatting with hubby and charging my gadgets, I went to the shower room to get a good free shower and freshen up. 

Quick tip for those who have a long transit in Incheon airport, they have a number of free transit tours available throughout the day. This time, I opted for the 5-hr tour to Gyeongbokgung Palace and Insadong. While the tour is free, I paid KRW11,000 ($9) for the palace entrance fee and lunch at Insadong...not bad at all!

Hopped on the bus at 8am and headed towards Seoul. Our tour guide was pretty good and asked us to choose one of the 2 lunch options - Bibimbap or Bulgolgi stew.

Arrived Gyeongbokgung Palace at 9am. We spent approximately an hour here with a guided tour provided by our tour guide. 

Thankful for the beautiful weather!


The last time I visited this place was 13 years ago!

Hahahaha!! Massive throwback to 24 December 2006.

Managed to see the guard changing ceremony at 10am before leaving for our next stop.

Early lunch (10.30am) at this little restaurant at Insadong. I was hungry already so the timing was perfect. Since I already had bibimbap in the flight, I chose the Bulgogi stew. Shared a table with a couple from the US and another lady from Russia.

We had about half an hour to stroll along Insadong shopping street before heading back to the airport at 11.20am. Made it back to the airport at 12.30pm with sufficient time before boarding for my 2.20pm flight.

2.5 hr flight on Asiana from Taipei. Nice that they served a meal for this short flight!

Seoul free transit tour 

13 September 2016

No luck for empty seat for the full flight from KL to Seoul on Korean Air. Unfortunately we both didn't get much sleep on this red-eye flight so we were zombies during the transit tour.

Nice benefit of transiting in Seoul...free transit tours. We picked the 5hr tour to Bukchon Hanok Village and Gwangjang market. Last time I visited Seoul was 10 years ago but I've never been to these 2 places so I figured the transit tour would be an easy (and free) way to see some sights and have some Korean street food. But to be honest, the tour was a lil' boring.

Bukchon Hanok Village (Korean traditional village)...a popular filming site.

We were given about 40 minutes to walk around but the main thing was just this street.

Gwangjang market...one of the oldest and largest traditional markets in Korea. Running Man filmed episode 186 here. The food market here is famous for bindaetteok, Mayak (drug) kimbap and meat dumplings but we only tried the kimbap and fish cake here. Most of the stalls sell the same thing so it was quite difficult deciding which stall to eat at. Somehow I felt that this place was too touristy, especially when the ahjumas started speaking in Mandarin...such a turn off. We did meet some nice sellers but you could easily find good street food anywhere else.

We made it back to the airport at 2pm and with a few more hours to spare, we enjoyed a free shower (for transit passengers) and did some craft work using hanji (traditional Korean paper) at the Traditional Culture Workshops. Incheon is another nice airport for transits.

Finally...it's time to say goodbye to Asia and head back to the US. AA's flight from Incheon to Dallas was entirely full but I managed to sleep a pretty good bit. I actually enjoyed the bibimbap and Kimchi fried rice.

christmas holiday in seoul

20 - 25 DECEMBER 2006

21.12.06 6.30am: Arrival at Incheon International Airport...
Since it was still early, we could feel the cool breeze and it was really COOL!!
Haha...can see that from my mum's action! A wonderful start for my Korea trip!!

21.12.06-8am: Our 1st destination...Seagull Cruise
We had the chance to feed the seagulls from the ferry....but...
i guess we are not attractive enough for the seagulls to come near us..haha~~!!

21.12.06 9am: Seoul World Cup Stadium
Had a photo with the Korean players during 2002 World Cup

The field is filled with snow...but of course..there's something covering on top.

My bro and I at the player's bench...we were both wearing white...looks nice??

Outside the stadium....scenery's beautiful!!

21.12.06 11.30am: Ginseng Chicken Soup & Ginseng Wine for lunch...
Yummy yummy~~delicious!!

21.12.06 1.30pm: Namsangol Hanok Village
Sounds unfamiliar right...haha...actually this is the filming site for Da Chang Jin. I'm not really a fan of this show, but the surrounding is really nice!! My first time seeing SNOW~~...so excited!!

The lake is freezing!!

Trying out one of the traditional games played by Korean kids....It's like javelin...just throw the stick into either one of the holes there. Looks easy huh...I can't even get one in!!! Am i too lousy??? Hehe!!





21.12.06 3pm: War Museum
War between North Korea and South Korea...a museum for memorial.

Watched Taegukgi before?? Yaya....that's it...
YuanBing and Zhang Dong Jian's character!!

That thing behind is made from granite...symbolising that North & South Korea are so near yet so far...apart.

Had a snapshot with some of the soldiers there....they are pretty friendly!!

21.12.06 5pm: Suwon & Hwaseong Fortress
I'm not quite sure what this place used to be...too sleepy when the tourist guide was telling the story....so...just walked around and took some photos!! Finally, I am wearing that jacket...it's really freezing colddd~~~!!!



We are family!!

21.12.06 7.30pm: Steamboat Dinner
Finally...after a long day...it's time for dinner!! There were Kimchi..some dishes which i dunno their names. The rice was nice....especially together with the seaweed!! Weather's damn cold outside...the steamboat came just in time!! It's a bit smoky cos another side is having Bbq...we're gonna eat that 2moro!

21.12.06 9.30pm: Hotel Phoenix Park
Finally, it was almost the end of the day...just checked in to our hotel. We stayed at a ski resort...so the weather was damn cold and there's snow!! There were 2 rooms...one with bed and another 1 was tatami...interesting.. It was quite a comfortable hotel...very equipped and luckily there was heater.


22.12.06 9.30am: 2nd day-Phoenix Park Ski Resort
Yo...i was so excited about today...skiing was fun! Our tour guide taught us some basics and off we go...

Yeah....it's snowing!!!!!! Quick...SMILE~~

Off we go!!!! Looks pro ler...no sweat...

Dad's excited!! Hey mum...look here...we're taking a photo..!

That ski was heavy...we were like wearing flippers...walking around like ducks... Hahaha~~! But this photo looks nice huh??

Argh...didn't have the chance to try skiing down from that slope...



Actually, this ski resort was also a filming site for Autumn In My Heart... See that house behind....it's 'Yuan Bin's' house in that drama...

22.12.06 1.00pm: Lunch -Bbq Pork
It was the same restaurant as last nite but today, we had the chance to barbeque :)

22.12.06 3.00pm: Naksan Beach
Rising Sun




22.12.06 7.30pm: Dinner - Seafood Steamboat
One thing special about this dinner was that we had the chance to try tatami style. Took off our shoes and sat on the floor to eat...nice experience... Guess what...my brother and dad wasn't comfortable with their position... their ass were burning HOT~~Hahaha...the heater is right under where they sat!!

23.12.06 10.00am: I wasn't quite sure where this place was...
Should be a rest station on the highway...I slept all the way till we reached.



23.12.06 11.00am: Chuncheong Myeongdong
Filming site of Winter Sonata



23.12.06 1.30pm: Lunch - Fried Chicken Chop

23.12.06 2.30pm: Nami Island


Beautiful island...filming site for Winter Sonata. Favourite destination for couples...scenery is nice! This photo is awesome...!!!











23.12.06 8.30pm: Dongdaemun
Our Korean tour guide, Andy.




23.12.06 10.00pm: Hotel Seoul Leisure Global
Our hotel at Seoul...new..big...modern...and...nice!! There was a jacuzzi in the bathroom...geng~~!! They even had DVD player and flat screen TV!!



24.12.06 10.00am: KimChi School
It was christmas eve...purposely dressed in red and white...match the board huh!!

Learning to make KimChi....i don't think i dare to eat it too....

Had a chance to try on their traditional dress....haha...looks weird!



24.12.06 12.00pm: Lunch-Steamboat (again)
Grabbed some time to buy some souvenirs from a stall by the road side.


24.12.06 2.00pm: Blue House

There's White House in US....in Korea...it's Blue House...
Yup...this is the president's residence...tight security...that guard behind is so pity....just standing there without moving ler....

24.12.06 4.30pm: Kyongbok Palace
Looks like China huh....even the palace looks similar...



24.12.06 3.00pm: The National Folk Museum



Our zodiac....Rabbit!!



Nice tree!!

24.12.06 8.30pm: Lotte World
Actually before coming here, we went to Seven Luck Casino...I was blocked but luckily i proofed that i was 18 already so got the chance to step in there....but...didn't gamble at all...Haha!! Well...it was christmas eve and it is the worst time to come to an amusement park....the crowd was incredible...just spend your time queing for the entire night... Supposingly, it should great to be able to count down for christmas here...BUT...my bro spoilt the night...he got sick!!!!! Arrghhhh...spent my christmas night all alone in that big hotel room...pathetic!!


After 5 days...we were back at this place...and....it's Christmas Day!!! Had a really wonderful time in Korea...good time passes by so quickly...time to head back to Penang!!

Spending Christmas onboard wasn't that fun...hehe...still had to study....


YOU....sick what sick larr...you owe me a christmas in korea!!!
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