A Week in Seoul, South Korea: Arrival

We booked our trip last March of this year, and our flight going to Seoul was on Nov. 14. We only got our flight for less than Php 6,000 since it's on sale via Cebu Pacific. Just like any other trip, I was the one who made our itinerary. You know, in making itineraries, I consider the following: budget, distance, what my friends like, online reviews, my friend's reviews, and my own research.

Due to different schedules, we applied our Korean visa individually. I applied mine at the Embassy of South Korea in the Philippines, two weeks before our scheduled trip. Visa application was easy. Since I already have a Japanese visa from my trip there in March-June of this year, I just submitted a photocopy of that visa, plus my passport, and my accomplished visa application form (downloaded online), a passport size photo, and a certificate of employment. I didn't submit an ITR nor a bank certificate anymore because I have traveled to an OECD country within the past 2 years. My friend who had a US visa and another who had an Israel visa also submitted the same stuff. But for our friend who didn't have any visa from OECD country, she had to submit additional requirements -- a bank certificate with at least Php 50,000 of savings and ITR (Income Tax Return). But the good news was, we all got approved! Applying for visa is so quick. Just go at the embassy in McKinley Hill, Taguig (along C5) on weekdays (Monday to Friday) between 9am to 11am ONLY, with all the requirements. Then you will be issued a number. Once you're number is called, you'll get directed to one of the counters where you'll submit your requirements. No interviews anymore, unless they have some questions. Then you will be issued a claiming form, which usually takes 3 to 5 business days before you can claim you passport with or without visa. Take note that the releasing time is during weekdays at 2pm to 4pm ONLY. Visa application is free if intended length of stay in South Korea is less than 59 days. But for 60-90 days, Php 1,350 will be charged. Read more about the Tourist Visa requirements and procedures here.

So after a week of doing the itinerary, booking a reservation, and computing the budget, we're good to go! Everytime we travel, I am always the one who's in charge of the money. In the case of our Seoul trip, I collected Php 10,000 from each person for our expenses for one week. That means, shopping's not included. We have already booked our accommodation and train trips online so we just paid for that when the credit card bills arrived.

Anyway, we found the place we stayed at via airbnb.com. It's a nice condo unit in Hongdae that's very accessible to restos/cafes, bars/clubs, shopping places, and subway. We had a very nice host too. We only paid less than Php 6000 for 6 nights. (FYI I am more comfortable in using Php as currency for easier computation) It's a condo unit with 3 rooms. One of which has a bathroom, while the other two shares bathroom. Luckily, we filled one room (good for 4), which has a bathroom. In the other rooms were other nationalities who rented the bed spaces and/or the rooms. The kitchen, living room, dining area, laundry area, and balcony are all shared areas. It's interesting staying in a place like that 'coz we got to meet other travelers too. We used to hang at the dining area or the living room together and share our travel stories.

We arrived late that night since we left Manila at 7:35pm and it was a 4-hr flight. From Incheon International Airport, we took the airport bus going to Hongdae. The normal travel time would be an hour but since we missed the bus stop, we had to take the subway. Too bad for us because we were carrying our luggage and there were not much elevators/escalators at the subway stations. When we got to Hongdae (via Hongik University subway station), we walked towards the Prugio Apartment, where our host was waiting for us. Oh, I forgot to mention that it was so damn cold when we got there, around 3 degrees Celsius. We had coffee and late night meals, thanks to the groceries we brought haha! Yeah, we do that often if we're staying in a condo/apartment everytime we travel because we enjoy cooking, eating, and bonding inside the unit.

Total spending per pax prior to arrival in Seoul:
1. Airfare (via Cebu Pacific) - Php 6,000
2. Accommodation - Php 6,000
3. Terminal Fee - Php 1,620
4. Travel Tax - Php 550
TOTAL: Php 14,170

Total spending for 4 pax from Incheon Airport to Prugio Apartment (Hongdae):
1. Airport Bus #6002: 40,000 won (10,000 won each)
2. Subway (since we got lost haha): 4,200 won (1,050 won each)
TOTAL: 44,200 won = Php 1,694 (or approx. Php 424 each)

Here's a quick look on our itinerary:

Nov. 14 - Arrival in Seoul late at night

Nov. 15 - Seoul Downtown City Tour and party w/ Filipino and Korean friends at JJ Mahoney's, Hyatt Hotel in Namsan

Nov. 16 - Everland and dinner w/ new Korean friends in Samseong

Nov. 17 - Petite France, Nami Island, Namdaemun and Dongdaemun night market shopping, and a walk around Hongdae

Nov. 18 - Gyeongju City Tour (province) and Hello Kitty Cafe (Hongdae)

Nov. 19 - Lunch w/ Korean friends in Samseong, shopping in Myeongdong, Samgyeopsal dinner and Hello Kitty Cafe in Hongdae w/ Korea-based Filipino friends, departure of 2 of our companions

Nov. 20 - Last-minute shopping and the 1st Shop of Coffee Prince in Hongdae, shopping in Duty-Free in Incheon Int'l airport, and flight back to Manila at night

See my next posts for our complete adventures!:)

Masskara Festival at Day

The next day, October 21st, we went around to shop for "pasalubong" since some of us are already going back to Manila. Our first stop was at a market where we bought danggit (or dried fish). Then we went to Bongbong's in Araneta Ave. (if that's really the place haha 'coz that's the information Foursquare gave me) to shop for pastries. Then we saw street dancers waiting for their competition to start. In the line ahead of the street dancers was the parade of the big puppets made by engineering students. Everything was just so colorful!

NEON!!!

with the street dancers

minions!

Pacman!

Comedy King: Dolphy

After that quick stop, we headed to Calea to buy cakes. On our way to the airport, we dropped by The Ruins. It's so picturesque! We super loved that place. Then we had another stop where we bought more pasalubong, but i forgot the name of that place. Anyway, after sending two of our friends to the airport, three of us went back to the city. We had dinner with my friend's relatives at Bascon's Restaurant then we headed to Flow for KTV! We were so full because of the unlimited treat of my friend's relatives haha!

so picturesque!

it looked like I was pasted on this photo

fountain of our friendship :)

:)

i swear, they were not moving!

at the balcony

the WATER room at Flow

The next day, October 22nd, was the day of our flight back to Manila. We had lunch with my friend's relatives, who were also our hosts there, at Delicioso. Yummy food! I loved their paella and Bailey's cheesecake! We spent the rest of the day in SM City Bacolod. Then we headed to the airport. Too bad my Sinamak (spiced vinegar) got confiscated 'coz it's not allowed in the plane. And I didn't like the fact that their luggage x-ray machine was busted so the security had to manually inspect our luggage. Anyway, but those things were not enough to ruin the entire trip because we totally enjoyed the trip!

yummy paella :)

I have this thing about having a photo taken at provincial SM Malls :))

Jojo Vito's Masskara-inspired home decors

our home and service (van) for the weekend :)

thanks Bacolod, we had a blast!)

I see myself coming back to Bacolod City...most especially during Masskara Festival! I really had so much fun! Bacolod, indeed has a lot to offer -- yummy food, good people, and nice places.:)

Masskara Festival at Night

October 20, at night, we headed to the Lacson St., also known as the Tourism Strip during Masskara Festival every year. Since roads were closed, we got off the van somewhere near Lacson St. and walked our way 'til we find a good dining place. We decided to have dinner at Chicken Deli. Yes, it's two inasal dinners in a row!:)) But I just realized that our meals were really cheap like around Php120 or less per head.

Neon night!:)

Dinner at Chicken Deli

 free photo at the Merci (pasalubong) booth :)

After dinner, we explored more of the Tourism Strip. While waiting for the Inter-Barangay Electric Masskara parade, we had dessert at Calea. I just couldn't get enough of all those sumptuous cakes! I was too overwhelmed that I forgot how much we paid for all 5 cakes, which we shared among ourselves.

 fruity cheesecake, oreo cheesecake, apple pie, chocolate cakes

heaven!!!

After dessert, we looked for a spot where we can watch the parade. I noticed that the policemen there were very calm. You know, despite the fact that they're stopping people from crossing the human barricades to give way for the parading floats, some people just ignored them and totally disobeyed them, but they never got mad at those disobedient citizens. Anyway, another trouble at the parade was the lack of portalets. Imagine, I really needed to use the restroom but when I entered Chowking, there's a signage saying, "No Receipt, No CR." So were they saying that I have to eat siomai first before using the restroom? So I went out of Chowking, watched the parade for a bit, and headed to McDonald's. That night's event host was McDo. The stage was right in front of McDo so there were really huge crowds within that area. It was a struggle for me to get inside McDo. And when I got there, the line outside the restrooms were like a line for the fan sign of One Direction haha! But seriously, it took me around 20 minutes there.

the long line at McDo's Restroom

Then we headed to the Sun Cellular booth to see Kiefer and her mom. We stayed there for a couple of minutes, then we headed to L'Fischer. It's been a struggle going there due to lots of people walking! two of our friends headed back home 'cause they couldn't withstand the stressful environment. While three of us headed to L'Fischer Hotel where we met up with my friends from Vans. We got VIP stamps for the Neon Party of Globe Tattoo/Republiq/Opus. When we got to the rooftop, I was surprised to see such a huge roof deck filled with lots of people. A lot of my friends from Manila and Iloilo also happened to be there. Well I think, Luzon-Visayas-Mindanao people were all there!:))

while fans were having photo ops w/ Kiefer, we were goofing around:))

we invaded the Sun booth!

group pic with Kiefer

 Neon party!

 friends from Vans

 sisters

view from the VIP area. that looked like a fun mosh pit over there!:))

We left the party at around 2am and had a food trip along Lacson St. I had balut! haha! Our next stop was at Dugout, wherein a Smart-sponsored party was just about to end. We headed home around 3:15am riding a tricycle. We got lost on our way back because the place I pinned in Google Maps was inaccurate haha! When we finally found the house, we asked the driver how much we're supposed to pay. He said, just any amount will do. But just when I was about to hand him Php50, he asked for Php100. What?!? Seriously? Then the next day, I was informed that it's only worth Php70 if we went home by taxi. Uhm, ok, I just charged it to experience. haha!

Wait for my next post about Masskara Festival at Day. :)