It’s another long ride again to Seoul, at early morning around 4 Am we arrived at Gangnam Express Bus station. The terminal bus is very large, then continuing our sleep at the bench in waiting room. Ticket counter for foreigner would be opened at 6 AM. Just because I’m very curious about this terminal that has basement market, so I start looking around and trying to find any convenience store that still opened until this hour. But it looks so spooky, I try to find gate to subway but still couldn’t find it, so I’m heading back to the bench, turn on my Ipod, and start sleeping again.
Waiting Room at Gangnam Express Bus Terminal
At 5.30 AM we could see, some citizen started their activity, some people wear rain coat and boots, because it’s rainy outside. I’m headed to toilet and once again I realize that this toilet also clean, when I washing my face some woman headed to big mirror at the toilet, then put make up and lipstick on their face, the most important thing to heal drowsiness face is eyeliner, Korean girl really like smoky eyes style, and they didn’t even put any attention to me whose keep staring to them 
, then before I got scolded by them I going to outside and searching something to eat, but citizen just started open their shop, I found food stall selling jajangmyeon and ramen but all written in hangul, so I didn’t know if it contains pork or not. Ahhhh I’m so hungry right now, so I’m back to waiting room again. Dinda and Sonia already wake up, then for early breakfast Sonia gave me biscuits which she brought from Indonesia. We out of stock mineral water, then me and Dinda start searching convenience store. Dinda already found GS25 close to hall where bus parking, there was also magazine stall, at GS25 we bought 2big bottles mineral water that cost KRW1200, the shopkeepers was an old man, I found it interest watching CF from cashier video there was Jokwon, Im Seulong, Changmin, and Jinwoon for advertising model hehehehe it was called hallyu effect.
At 6 AM headed to ticket counter for foreign, we purchased ticket to Sokcho, first express bus to Sokcho at 06.30 , fortunately we got discount it cost only KRW17.000 , normal fare about KRW23.300. At ticket you could see platform number to find your bus, so no difficulties at all to find your ride although you didn’t knew Hangul. We spent 25 minutes before departure time for taking pictures, and observation citizen. At rainy days like this Seoul citizen still looked fashionable, one by one I noticed from top to toe everything looked very match and cute. Only at Korea you could seen rain boot in pink, peach or yellow with stylish ribbon.
Gangnam Hall
5 minutes before departure time we headed to platform 17, there was a driver stand beside the door, we gave our baggage to him, and another thing that I realized all driver must wear suit complete with black tie and white gloves and make it very formal. My seat number is 15, just like express bus from Busan, this bus also very big, wide, made from leather and perfumed, I am very satisfied for the services.
Ticket, Platform, Hall, and the Bus
Time travel from Gangnam to Sokcho about 2,5-3 hours. There was only 7 passengers in this bus. The bus departure on time at 06.30, you couldn’t found something like this in Indonesia. Yeahhh Indonesia never been on time. Wowww, it’s heavy rain in Seoul, hopefully it’ll end before Sokcho. I couldn’t enjoy scenery on my way to Sokcho because of foggy, so I decided to sleep again. 1,5 hours already pass, I woke up when the bus stopped at the rest area. It reminds me rest area in Cipularang. I had to go to toilet, and changed “something” (according to woman stuff), ahhhhhh it still rainy outside, I used my coat to cover my body from rain, it works. I noticed the bus driver outside the café enjoyed his coffee. I want it too, something that could warm my throat, but not coffee I couldn’t drink it, I want a hot milk or hot chocolate to gained my energy. Unfortunately, I realized that I left my wallet in the bus so I couldn’t buy hot drink. T_T. I run toward the bus into the rain, why it hadn’t stopped yet (sighhh). Dinda and Sonia still sleep tightly, I want to do the same thing, so turn on my Ipod again, select Korean playlist then Jonghwa’s voice accompany me to dream world.
At 9 AM I shocked and suddenly woke up because my alarm keep ringing. Aissshhh I forgot turn off multiple alarm which set before. Actually, the alarm would be ringing at 7 AM, to remind me for taking bath before head to work, so in Indonesia it still 7 AM now. The drowsiness still hang on my eye, but when I take look at the window, the rain had stopped and I could see riverside, what a nice scene. I want to wake up Dinda and Sonia but they look too tired. I brought out my pocket camera and started taking some good pictures.
Beside riverside there was hill and mountain in green, though some fogs still hang on the sky, but it makes the landscape more fascinating to see. Claudia Kaunang was right, riding bus to Sokcho was unforgettable experience, I didn’t got bored anymore. Between hills there was some house and villa with unique architecture, there was also 3 sides windmills, behind the hill. Because too happy and enjoyed the landscape, I didn’t realize that my mouth opened too long, I hope there was no bugs come in hehehehe. Once presented with row of hills and then I could seen row of mountain, very unique because it was rock mountain which called by Seoraksan.
At 09.30 KST arrived at Sokcho Express bus terminal, straight to bus stop, there was some driver cabs, just like in Busan, they approached us and asking about our destination. I showed them the House Hostel address, but they avoid us and gave it back to us. This situation made us confuse, why they refused us? Is it too far or too near? According to Claudia’s book “3 Juta keliling Korea” it’ll cost only KRW4.400, it means, the distance was average not too short or too long right? Then we tried to catch any cab that pass in front of, luckily an old man stopped and I gave him paper address, and he told me “ne, chamsimannyeo” and he opened the store luggage. I won’t seat beside driver again, so I told Sonia to seat at the front side, hehehehehe (devil friend mode ON)
At the cab, I kept staring to displayed cost and pray it won’t cost more than KRW5000. 10 minutes later, the cab stopped right in front of the House Hotel, I looked in the displayed monitor KRW4.500, yessss \(^_^)/ as per estimate. The driver helped us pull out our baggage, after bowed to him and said “Gamsahamnida”, we move to cute entrance the House Hostel. Alhamdulillah, Thank You Allah, I finally could reach this place. I had emailed Mr. Yoo, the manager of this hostel about our changing arrival date. In my mind, I keep thinking what kind of Korean man that I would meet here, when I emailed him, he was very friendly just like June, which very helpful, I hope so.
The House Hostel Sokcho
A man with his thick round glasses approached us.
Mr.yoo: mm, can I help you miss?
Me: Oh yeah, my name is Nurul, I already booked a private room here for 3 persons(showed my booking paper).
Mr.Yoo: Oh Nurul-ssi, yeah I emailed you before, sorry your room have not prepared yet, so would you like to wait, because I have to give you some information about Sokcho, excuse me, where do you come from?
Me: Indonesia
Mr.Yoo: Is it your first time to Korea?
Me: No, this is my second time to Korea, but also first time to Sokcho
Sonia: but the two of us is our first time here, so she(pointing in me) become our tour guide *grin
I make self observe about Mr.Yoo while he explained to us about transportation to go to Mount Seoraksan, the bus stop position, BBQ all you can eat, convenience store, and some necessary things. Mr. Yoo seems very nervous towards 3 beautiful woman like us (over self confidence), he kept looking back to us and sometimes cough, and said “sorry” many times then showed us worried expression which could be interpretation he worried that we couldn’t understand what he said, honestly his English quite good and could be understanding . After explained it, made some graffiti on the map, he gave us 3 name card for each person, in case we get lost.
As planned before, we would like to take bath before start up our activity today, I used to be the one who had take bath because I had to do so many things in bathroom (another woman stuff, don’t ask). After prepared all my stuff and covered it with towel, I ask Mr.Yoo the bathroom which could be used by us. Share toilet at 1st floor was in front of storage room. When I enter the toilet, I’m really shocked, is not ordinary toilet. As informed by Claudia in her book, Mr.Yoo managed his hostel wonderful cute, this small toilet very well managed and perfumed, the lamp button specially had cute sticker rabbit with green wall (my favorite color), floor made by natural stone, the door colored pink. I couldn’t explain it in word, you should experienced it by yourself.
The House Hostel
The House Hostel
The House Hostel
The House Hostel
After showered, it’s time for breakfast, unfortunately there was no bread in the kitchen, I’m extremely hungry now. Sonia told me, maybe it was taken by another guests in this hostel, because she leave some breads for me before. I had no choice, I made a cup of tea and charge my phone and camera in family room, my weapon before heading to Mt.Seorak. At 11.30 KST we started to search some foods, once we taught about having sushi at the place which showed by Mr.Yoo, but we not sure about it, also I don’t like sushi. Then we decided to buy Pizza Hut for breakfast at Rodeo street. I just found out that Lee Seung Gi is brand ambassador of Pizza Hut, I could seen so many pictures of him holding pizza. Hehehehehe. This café is just opened so we were the first customer today. The waiters showed us the menu, we asked her which one not contained pork and lard. She pointed us some of them, then we choose a large size pizza with beef and cheese. Honestly, it cost more than IDR 300.000 and obviously over budget plan. But since we were very hungry so we thought it doesn’t matter to spend some money for some good Pizza. Unexpected thing, even we didn’t regret about spending money for this pizza, because it taste very very yummy. Ahhhhhhh, I couldn’t explained it again into some words, I’m not exaggerating. I still remember how it tasted, you couldn’t find it at any Pizza Hut store in Indonesia. Large size Pizza with cassava at the outer side, special cream cheese, also beef cutlet in it. Unforgetable delicious. It cut into 9 pieces, 3 pieces for each person. Because I haven’t eat anything from hostel, obviously I’m the one who finished it. Dinda and Sonia still spare one piece to take away.
Lee Seung Gi
Unforgetable Pizza
After late breakfast we moved to bus stop, waiting bus number 7 which heading to Mt.Seorak, after waiting for 10 minutes the bus came, it cost KRW1000. Time travel to Mt.Seorak from Rodeo street about 35 minutes. Fortunately, there was a little fog, clear sky, and fresh air. Like countryside girl, I opened the window and turn out my hand, it feels refreshing and cold although in summer season like this. Suddenly, the bus stop beside the river, I thought there was something went wrong, but it’s just because the driver want take some pictures of Mt.Seorak from long distance like this. Actually, it was a good place for taking pictures, thanks a lot to bus driver which consider traveler like us who excited about scenery, for your information when heading to Mt.seorak area there was only 6 passengers.
Otw to Mt. Seorak
Reached Seoraksan National Park, Dinda would bought slipper, she felt uncomfortable with her flat shoes. Luckily there was souvenir shop which sell slippers. Paid for entrance fee KRW2500 @person, then start explore this park and got some memorable shots, then heading to cable car station. Return ticket KRW8500 @person. Follow the queue line to ride cable car, the staff took and scanned our ticket through barcode scan machine, and invited us to giant capsule. Before gate closed, 2 staff at the gate bowed to us until we leave them.
Cable Car Ticket
Subhanallah, though it wasn’t my first time riding cable car, but still I always amazing about Your creature for human brain to made transportation like this. Inside cable car there was a monk whose kept staring us. Maybe, because of too excited, we weren’t heard that he want talked to us. Sonia made video with her pocket camera. Dinda and me taking photo from above. The cable car reach station 10 minutes later. Alight from cable car, there was many tourist to this place, I found 2PM poster as brand ambassador for wardrobe, without hesitate I told Sonia took my picture with them, although there was an ahjumma sitting beside me, then took some pictures from here before heading to Gwongeumseong (860m) as the first peak of Seoraksan.
me & 2PM
To reach Gwongeumsoeong, there was provided stairs made from wood and rubber to decrease slippery. On the way to the peak, we met a cute kid and her parents, she could speak English although she was still young around 5 years old, I guess. After changing our nationality info, we took picture with her, so cute. The clear sky completed our climbing, the fog that seen before already gone when we reached Gwongeumseong. The scenery from this place was very awesome, it’s really worth to visited guys, you couldn’t found it at our country. Another photo session started from here, till my pocket camera battery drop. Satisfied about sightseeing and photos that we brought, we heading back to guesthouse, and made some sleep on the way back.
Mt.Seorak
At guest house, Mr. Yoo guided us to 3rd floor, he gave us private room completed with 2 bunk bed, a mini refrigerator, TV, computer, AC, fan, and hair dryer. While charging our battery, and take some rest, we decided going to sea side near Seorak Sunrise Park. There was something I curious about, lighthouse at the edge submarine dock and a big stone that shaped 3 side star. While watching TV I found Lee Min Ho at K-Drama City Hunter, even though I haven’t seen it, the story seems interesting, so we made promise to ourselves, that we would downloaded it after back to Indonesia. Getting Seorak Sunrise Park by bus no 7.1 it cost only KRW1000, then alight in front of The Ship Hotel, then another photo session started again in this park, also we had opportunity enjoyed sunset at Sokcho, then heading back to guesthouse before completely dark.
Private Room
On the way back to guesthouse, Dinda wanted to try on bicycle and looking around Sokcho and Rodeo street, then we decided to borrow Mr.Yoo bicycles for night tour at Sokcho (for your information Mr.Yoo had around 15 bicycles for his guests and it’s FREE). Reached the House hostel, we met other guests whose also came from Indonesia. We realize it after our ears heard their children in Indonesia language, wowwwww after 3 days in Korea, finally we met our neighborhood here, they also came from Jakarta. I made some conversation with them, and talked about how we got here, while Dinda and Sonia bugging Mr.Yoo’s dog and struggling to take out bicycle from warehouse.
After successfully removed bicycle from warehouse, then headed to restaurant Wang (BBQ all you can eat) that recommended by Mr.Yoo. Honestly, on the way to get dinner we got lost and didn’t found the restaurant, so at the quay we ask citizen which pass by, but still they couldn’t explain it in English. We decided to find it ourselves and take opposite direction, voilaaaaaaaaa we found it. After parked our bicycles, an ahjumma invited us to sit inside restaurant, and provided BBQ stuff. Dinda picked some meat and seafood, to make sure there was no pork in our plate, we asked the owner to point the meat. She removed all pork from our plate, then we take another seafood as exchange. The owner provided the grill then put aluminium foil then put our food there, however I’m really hungry, right after cooked well, I picked beef and fish then eat all of it in one shoot. For your information again: all dessert is FREE here, this dinner cost KRW 9000 for each person, you could take all the ingredients until your stomach full.
our dinner at Mr. Wang Restaurant
Our grilled always fast burned, while other customers enjoyed their cooking and drink soju with relaxed , we still struggle to make it cooked well, until other customer that sit beside us, help us how to cook it well or maybe she couldn’t stand it watching our burnt foil. Hhehhehehe (gamsahamnida ahjumma). However, we need to make our stomach full tonight, of course for better sleep. Then after finishing our dinner, last trip for tonight was heading to Rodeo Street, so let’s pedal the bicycle as fast as could. When reach Rodeo streets, there was too quiet and dark unlike Seoul, no citizen going out at this time, so we decided going back to hostel, and packing our stuff to heading back to Seoul tomorrow morning.
Rodeo Street
Wowwww, today was great, everything goes well as planned before. After showered, as usual Sonia made notes for daily expenses. Have a nice dream, tomorrow will be BIGDAY for me, because I would meet CNBLUE, TVXQ, 2PM, F(x), and the most gorgeous voice from K-Will.
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