Vacation in Seoul, Korea (Part 2/3)

So, this is the 2nd part of my Seoul, Korea Vacation Chronicles of Awesome! The first two days were fun and cute but the next two days were… HARDCORE! Seriously. I WARN YOU THAT THE PHOTOS WILL KILL YOUR BROWSER BUT I’LL GIVE YOU FREE COOKIES IF YOU FINISH ‘TIL THE END. Mwah!

Day 3. November 27, Saturday

I specifically allotted a day in my trip to stalk Korean celebrities. I mean, I had to shoot an episode for Who Dares Kring, where I’d have to make celebs or people ask for my autograph. And I did, although I didn’t see that many celebrities. I actually ended up TELLING EVERY SINGLE FUCKING PERSON ON THE STREET THAT I’M AN ACTRESS HERE. True story.

This day wouldn’t have been as fun without the help of my friend, Chesca Tan (whom I only got to hang out with there). She’s a Pinoy Cassie and she helped me “stalk” Kpop artists because she’s a pro in that. In fact, she was in Korea for that sole purpose. Lolz. Joke. Love you, deary! We agreed to meet up at the 정발산역 Jeongbalsan station, which was about an hour subway ride from where I was staying.

Bitch. I live in Fairview/Novaliches. 1-hour by train is NOT far in my standards.

I had Tom n Tom’s coffee before heading to the subway station. It was surprisingly cheaper!

Kring blooper # 2: In Manila, trains are so fuckin ugly, they’re actually Satan’s babies, we don’t really have a concept of “for senior citizens/pregnant women/disabled persons ONLY“ seats. Yes, we do have an allotted coach for women and the like, but even my transvestite friends can sit anywhere they want. Again, nobody told me about the senior citizens/pregnant women/disable persons seats in the Korean subway. -_____- So during my train ride to 일산 Ilsan, I was seated in that area, surrounded by coughing lolos. FML.

I finally met Chesca around lunch time and we started to shoot for Flippish. But yeah, after 10 minutes of walking… 민사랑 MIN SARANG PIZZA!!!

My girl, Chesca, with Min Sarang Pumpkin Cheese Pizza and Seafood Pasta something.

Because there was a JYJ concert that night (which I didn’t get to see tyvm for not asking why), many Japanese fans flew to Korea to watch, and of course, they dropped by this resto, too. We had to wait a couple of minutes before we got to sit down but it’s cool… BECAUSE WE GOT TO CHAT WITH JUNSU PAPA US AND EVERY SINGLE FAN IN THE SHOP!!!!!

I’m sure everyone who’s ever experienced meeting the man can attest to his friendliness and I-pwn-you powers. I was seriously taken aback. I mean, I thought I was a people-person! Junsu Papa made me look like a snob bitch. I tell you, that ahjusshi was super cute, I wanted to turn him into a key chain so I could bring him along with me in my pocket wherever I go!!! Hahahaha!

By the way, the food’s pretty good but it’s a bit expensive. The pizza alone costs about more than Php500 and it’s just for two persons. WTF. But we all know that people don’t exactly go there for the pizza. They go there for the Papa. WAHAHAHAHAHA. That should be their new slogan. Min Sarang: Not just for the pizza, but also for Junsu Papa. Shit, I should have that copyrighted.

Nope. I doubt Junsu’s that tall. -___- Also, YEY FOR CUTE PHOTO OP (which you will definitely have if you go there. No, the man will even ask you to take his photo and autograph lolz).

I did enjoy my meal there, for sure and maybe, I’d go back the next time I visit Seoul. And oh, it also made me feel young being amongst OLD JAPANESE FANGIRL MAMAS. >_< We were the youngest people there, I kid you not.

Anyway, about 15 minutes from Min Sarang is the MBC Dream Center. We were supposed to watch Music Core that day but didn’t get to anymore. It’s cool! At least I got to drop by and see the literally hordes of fans, waiting in vain for your love line for the show (at 6pm, btw…) Made me think about how dedicated Jolina-Marvin fans were.

The obligatory pa-cute pose of fail.

I wasn’t bitter about not having been able to watch because there was no Big Bang. Or 2NE1. Or even FinKL (wut?). But there was A LOT of PRE-PUBESCENT FANBOYS AND FANGIRLS. >___>

Because I work in media, I was thrilled to check out their little broadcast museum. It was interactive, accommodating and it made me realize why I do what I do. It was super fun! I even got to sit on the news desk and read the news in Koryan (and got laughed at by 5 year-old kids).

Old equipment are old.

From Ilsan, we then went to the 합정 Hapjeong area, which was closer to the city proper but was still quite far. Why? YG FAMILY BUILDING, BABY! I knew in my heart I was gonna meet my TOP finally. OMG I was internally spazzing but had to act cool in front of Chesca. Furthermore, I still had to shoot my episode so I had to focus.

After doing an amazing race just to find the building, we eventually spotted it. AND BOY, WAS IT BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!

Someday, Imma be hangin’ out inside that building. Someday…

But for now, I shall stalk you, my loves, from the outside. Like the typical tourist fangirl that I am.

You have no idea how happy and fulfilled I was to be standing so close to the YG building. It was real and surreal at the same time. Many have this concept that Kpop idols don’t poop, or are so divine, they live only inside your innarnetz. And then you go to where they live and do their daily routine and you realize they’re just like you and me – except, hotter and more talented.

Anyway, a super FML moment happened when we heard something playing in the background. A TV. And then it dawned on us that they’re in Macau for the Mnet Asian Music Awards. Whatev, we got to see their uhm, posse.

From Hapjeong, we then went to the 강남/ Gangnam/Apgujeong area. Chesca was running late for an event so we had to rush things up. I didn’t get to see the SM Ent Building up close but needless to say, it was… WTF was that? It’s supposed to house the biggest names in Korean entertainment and my office building in Ortigas is bigger.

However, I got to check out the JYP Ent Building and even saw a trainee (I got you on cam, bitch!) walk inside. Also, there were a bunch of girls waiting outside to audition. Seriously. I dunno why they were outside but they were there to audition. Watch the crack on Flippish.com.

I liked YG’s building the most but at least, SM and JYP’s are in the center of the city…

At around 6pm, Chesca and I had to part ways. I went back to my hostel and washed up/dressed up up to meet my friend, Loy, at Hongdae. I was geared up to go clubbing! Fuck, I even wore my tube top in winter.

홍대 Hongdae was bustling with young adults, mostly university students. That area, like Daehangno, feels like home to me. Artsy and young! However, when I met Loy, she said she had to leave at 11 to catch the latest train because she lives a little outside of Seoul. No prob! I didn’t want to trouble her anyway. So we just had dinner. A VERY SPICY DINNER. I forgot the name but it’s super spicy. And has seafood and rice cake.

Korean food are either just bland or spicy. Nothing in between. No gays.

Going home, I took the subway again of course, and there were vomit everywhere (more on Koreans getting drunk later).

Day 4. November 28, Sunday

What!?! We’re just on Day 4?! I felt like I’ve been there for two months already!!! COOKIES! READ TIL THE END!

Anyway, let it be known that the day before, it snowed for the first time in Seoul this year so I guess, even the Koryans were excited. Hahaha! But, can you just imagine how thrilled I was seeing those balls of ice fall down from the sky?

Sunday morning, however, was a different story. I have never seen Korean sky so blue until that day. It was indeed perfect for going around, doing tourist stuff – which was our itinerary for the day. I met up with Loy and decided to do the Seoul City Tour Bus thingamajig. It was a fail. I lost my card after the first stop and it was worth 35,000 won. -____-

Also, I do not recommend the City Tour Pass if you like to stay in a place longer. Not worth it. However, if you just want to go to, say a palace, take an ugly selca and then ride the next bus, then gooowwww!

First stop – the 국립민속박물관 National Folk Museum, Seoul. Have you any idea how much I love museums? No? Well, now you do.

This is not the museum. This is outside of the museum. Erm.

That’s my friend, Loy… Posing like a Korean. Btw, she pretended that she didn’t know how to speak or understand Korean because she wanted to feel what it’s like to be a tourist in her homeland. Win!

I couldn’t take photos inside the museum but it was just beside the 경복궁 Gyeongbok Palace so we proceeded there right after.

I mean, WTF IS THAT? WHY WAS EVERYTHING IN THE PHOTO SO PRETTY, INCLUDING THE GIRL ?!? Let it be known that we’re right smack in the middle of the city. A few feet outside of the palace gates are office buildings and such. I swear I fell in love with Seoul after I went to this place. Damn you, Jimmy Kim, if you don’t bring me here again next time!

Jewel… in the palace. Harhar! There were so many tourists here! Speaking different languages!

Imperial guards: IT’S SERIOUS BIZNIS, BEEYOTCH! Smiling is prohibited.

Gyeongbokgung was really just for sight-seeing and after walking around a lot, we decided to have lunch and had to WALK AGAIN ahfktanginalakadnanglakadegkfhkh to 인사동 Insadong. Because Isadong is loooovvveeee.

불고기 BULGOGI. I miss Korean banchan already! T_T

Only in Insadong did I have my pic taken with a bunny mascot. I also got free hugs from people holding up “FREE HUGS” signages (I won’t be caught dead doing that in Manila). And some tree-huggers were protesting something.

The lifeblood of Insadong, art galleries. They were amazing! I swear I can live in that place!

And of course, if you’re a tourist in Korea, there is one thing that you MUST DO and that is to have a photo shoot wearing a 한복 hanbok. The price might turn you off a bit (20,000 won with costume rental and printed photo) but seriously, I’d say it’s worth the experience!

Anyone would look prettier wearing traditional Korean clothes, I tell yah!

So from Insadong, we then went to the Namsan Tower and had no more energy to walk so we took a cab. And then a cable car!

And here’s a pic as proof that I rode a cab. It cost about 6,000 won.

The Namsan Tower is really for couples IMO. In fact, if you’ve just had your heart broken, I highly advise you NOT to go there lest you want to throw yourself off the mountain from the sheer pain of seeing super in love, happy, couples.

That is what you’d look like if you’re single and you go there. LOL LOY! Btw, those things behind her are couple locks with the names of the couples written or engraved on them. Do you wanna slash your wrist now?

A nice American guy felt sorry that we were taking “sad” photos that he volunteered to take our happy pic! Hahahaha! Thanks, dude!

Outside the Teddy Bear museum, Kring and Loy saranghae-ing!

For the first time, I had my face sketched. And I was the only one doing it by myself. Everyone else were couples! Grrrrr!

And you know what’s worse? It snowed while we were on the mountain. It was nice and romantic that time around and a girl even went “OMG REALLY?!” (in Korean, of course) and then kissed her boyfriend UNDER A MOTHER-FUCKING STREET LAMP. Just like they do in the movies. I wanted to kick them in the face. I missed my boyfriend. T_______T

From Namsan, we went back to 대학로 Daehangno to meet up with Loy’s friends, who were both celebrating their birthdays! New, instant friends and they were even funny! Loy was my translator, btw…

Decent, non-fanboys, post-graduate, university students in their 20′s. And a whole lotta soju. LIKES! My kinda dinner.

That night, it snowed so hard, I saw ahjummas with umbrellas! I didn’t care, really! I LOVED IT! I was even sticking out my tongue to catch the flakes. So immature!!! Also, the snow didn’t stop the DRUNK PEOPLE WHO WERE PUBLICLY WASTED ON THE STREETS. I mean, seriously. What’s up with Koreans and getting drunk in public? Do they drink more than Filipinos do or are they just really bad with holding their alcohol? LOLZ at the girl who seriously passed out in front of me from across the street.

Whew. OMG. Done. After 3 hours. I know, I know. This entry is so epic, it has more than 20 photos and 2 videos in it. That’s how awesome Korea is. I hope you guys enjoyed my misadventures somehow and please wait for the last part. In the meantime, please go to your facebook account and share the link. Thanks! Cookie’s on me! ^^