Monday 18 November 2013

Budget Skiing in Korea





http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CCwQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.snowcity.com.sg%2F&ei=klSKUvvyNIeBrgfq2oE4&usg=AFQjCNG_cw-whYRJ30CW-hZMx43hWUJvqg&sig2=Fw14TvpxHA5RWj8VuukoAw&bvm=bv.56643336,d.bmk
Image source: Snow City official website


Discounting Snow City, the nearest and most budget ski vacation should be to go to KOREA imho. You ask me why? Read on to see how I justify my opinion.




Budget Flight to Korea


Image source:FlightGlobal.com
First, Singaporeans are lucky we have a new kid on the block Scoot to jump on the low-cost carrier bandwagon. 


Buy a no-frills (simply meaning no tv, no meals, no free blankets) return flight ticket from budget carrier Scoot for about $600 including 15kg check-in luggage. How much savings is that?


Easily a whopping $300 cheaper than normal carriers ceteris paribus!



The catch? A humble 1-hour transit in Taipei for you to stretch your limbs although the seats are quite roomy for me (im taller than the average girl)



Look out for discounts on Scoot's facebook page if your vacation period is flexible since they do have really fantastic deals at times! 


I got my tickets to Korea at $198 (all in-return with 15kg luggage) during their last promotion while my friend got it for $454 in another promotion. 


No gimmicks but you have click fast and F5 regular enough to fight off other budget travel-wannabes for a byte of Scoot's servers.





 

Ski Charges 
No entrance fees- just rent the ski gear which includes a pair of skis and ski boots which cost you from 25,000 ~ 35,000 won ($30 ~ $45). Rent a ski jacket if you are afraid of the ice-cold weather like me because they guard you from the cold absolutely well compared to our normal down jackets. However, my siblings and I ended up perspiring in 0 degrees C climate because of all that climbing (not the slopes, but after falling...) and controlling our legs (from widening too much. you'd know what I mean after you try it out :p)


Image source: intersportbansko.com
Cost of ½ day and full day rentals of ski equipment don't differ too much so go for a day pass unless you're really just there to watch others ski. If you're the pro-wannabe, pay for sky lift access pass  that helps you scale the slippery terrain and ski away your stress from great heights.


If you are skiing till late yet don't wish to dig deep into your pockets to stay over at the resort, be sure to check out the bus timings of the FREE (yes FREE!) shuttle buses provided by Bears Town which takes you to and fro the heart of Seoul. Otherwise, spend the night at the ski resorts overlooking the white slopes to complete your perfect winter skiing vacation.


Check out Korea Tourism Organisation's (KTO) official guide to major ski resorts.
Image source: KTO



My Ski Experience 


Where? Gangwon Province (aka 강원도 Gangwondo)

Where exactly?  Oak Valley ski resort

When? January 2011

Why? Thought I should ski once in my lifetime



Think you'd be skiing like this?

Image source: iPhysioPerth




Think again...

Image source: AsiaTravelCare.com


I went to Korea during Chinese New Year which coincides with Korean New Year so the ski resort was packed with young and old visitors, foreign or natives. Don't worry that you'd be stranded alone after falling at some corner because it's hard to find a corner with no one :) 



Skiing or snowboarding? 

http://www.skijapan.cn/g/gallery/images/gallery02/kids%20ski_b.jpg
Image source: skijapan.cn
Skiing requires one's boots to be locked to a pair of long runners. One glides on the snow usually after picking up speed first by walking. Although I tried skiing since I am a beginner, some Korean friends beg to differ. They recommend snowboarding to beginners commenting that it is easier and pumps more adrenaline than skiing. 



Image source: kids4sports.files.wordpress.com
Snowboarding is the sport where one's boots are bound to a snowboard before they maneuver with coordinated movements of the body and the legs in wave motion (that's what I think). 





Image source: blog.naver.com/nexyleep
Learn to ski/ snowboard
Ski resorts also offer snowboarding and skiing lessons pricing from $80 for 2-hour classes with a 1:15 teacher-student ratio. 



What to look out for

Beware of pro and especially the non-pro snowboarders or skiers descending the hill as they tend to swerve right past beginners who are (for goodness sake! trying to keep our balance..) at the flatter terrains to slow down or stop.


All in all, I think skiing is not an expensive sport for us foreigners. Think about it. Less than a 50 bucks for a whole day of fun and this will probably happen once in a few years or even once in a lifetime for most of us. Even if you are not ready to break some bones, just hop on to the snow grounds and have some fun building snowmen while eating a hot snack:)



In case you already forgot that you might win a chance before 8 Dec 2013 to go to KOREA with your family this winter for FREE...Below's the KTO event link again ^^;;



http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/HD/event/enu_20131113/event.jsp

Wednesday 7 November 2012

Autumn Vacation in Korea 2012

Korea 한국
(Gyeongju, Busan, Ulsan, Seoul, Incheon
20 - 29 October 2012


Republic of Korea, also known as South Korea or initially known as Corea, is a country with colourful culture, people and sights. The country dates back to 2333 BC and today is one of the fastest moving countries in Asia and maybe the world.

This is my 3rd trip to Korea but only my first time exploring the country without a tour agency! I was excited nearly 2 years before the trip although actual preparation really only started a few months before :P


Cities covered during this Autumn getaway included: Gyeongju, Busan, Ulsan, Seoul, Incheon


As for how my 10-day trip went, I'd let some of my pictures speak it all :



19 Oct 2012: Day 0- Singapore >> Korea



1124km and 6 hours away to Incheon Airport



I feel like Christopher Columbus except that my mode of travel is up in the sky :P


2nd trip to Korea and 5th overseas trip together with my buddy Hwee San

20 Oct 2012: Day 1 - Incheon/ Seoul/ Gyeongju

 
Got these as breakfast from a convenience store in Incheon Airport for 2000 won (app. 2.30 SGD) : Triangular Korean rice roll & banana milk in that ever-cute bottle.
Did I say I was really contented because this was really yummy?
43 minutes from Incheon Airport to Seoul station via Express Train : 8000 won (app. 9.20 SGD) 


The seat on the Express train definitely beats the one on KE641 Airbus 830 from Singapore to Korea the previous night. I reckon I dozed off within 5 minutes.. and 43 minutes passed before I could start snoring...  





(Money) Saver Korail KR Pass

Korail KR Pass (Saver)
is made available to all tourists in Korea for travel on KTX trains that reach many cities in Korea. Tourists can reserve their tickets online and exchange for the pass at the Seoul station.

Ticket prices
vary according to the
(1) number of days you are travelling via KTX
(2) number of passengers travelling together.

Tip: 


1. This is really for heavy travellers..say 1 city every day? I travelled several times more in Korea after this trip and realized it isn't that expensive to get normal tickets separately either.

2. In any case you require to travel in a different route from your fellow traveller who is included in the pass (Korail only issues only one card but generates several tickets), fret not. If you should ask if you can get a ticket to a different route from your friend, the people at Korail would tell you that you cannot travel separately. 

Just ask for 1 ticket first and then perhaps come back later to get the ticket from preferably a different officer or like in my case (I travelled to Ulsan get a separate ticket with the card pass at the designated city you're travelling to. I tried and they allowed with no questions asked ^.^


#cost-saving #time-saving  #multi-city travel #
KTX



Meanwhile...@ Seoul Station




We had 4 hours to kill while waiting for our train to Gyeongju at 1330hrs so we walked around Seoul station and bumped into this art gallery with understandable art pieces. 

# free    # photography allowed     #cute & polite receptionist guy
Colourful and healthy 김밥 (rice roll) as snacks en route Gyeongju



Gyeongju 경주



Yay~ No skyscrapers in Gyeongju


Gyeongju is a peaceful and safe city which may excite mainly history-seeking travellers or photographers loving pagodas, tombs and temples. Historical sites sprawl all over this then-capital during Shilla Dynasty and most have English/ Chinese boards explaining its origin.

It may be a far cry in terms of shopping compared to metropolitan cities like Seoul and Busan but Gyeongju will wow visitors with their mountains, cool weather and good air. 


 Hwangnam Bbang 황남빵 that consists of red bean paste
Waited 1 hour for this ~~It tastes pretty good indeed~ especially when eaten hot~  


안동 찜닭 Andong Braised Chicken in Spicy Soy SauceEating Andong chicken in Gyeongju !! ㅋㅋㅋ
경주에서 안동찜닭 먹었다
안동 찜닭 Andong Braised Chicken in Chilli Sauce
Never judge a dish by its colour.
This dish has a dash of sweetness and is less spicy than the latter above.



Open concert by various underground bands who were really popular from looks of the loud cheers from the audience


21 Oct 2012: Day 2 - Gyeongju/ Dongdaegu
Gyeongju City Tour
We walked 20 minutes to Cheon Ma Guan Guang 천마 관광 from our guesthouse (near Gyeongju station) for the city tour at 10am since we reached Gyeongju late on the first day. There was a marathon event held that morning so roads were really empty and no taxis and bus ran. It did feel like I was in North Korea for a while.

Tip: City tours run daily ( http://cmtour.co.kr/index.php ) at a minimal fee of 10, 000 ~ 15,000 won per pax that covers transportation for the day.

Entrance fees depend on the sites you are visiting but they are pretty affordable from as low as 4,000 won.

Non-korean speakers may find themselves alienated from the group because the tour guide only explains in Korean language. Nonetheless, they play English/ Chinese dvd tour guides on  the bus enroute to the various tourist sites so you'd still have some background knowledge in head while pretending to understand the guide onsite :)




Royal tombs is a common sight and hundreds (?) of them stand tall all over and underwater of Gyeongju (see Underwater Tomb of King Munmu below)




Entrance to 석굴암 (石窟庵) Seokguram




1000 won for one strike of the huge bell to ask for blessings 
(or asking for the Divine's attention with the sound? haha)


I HAD to take this because I simply love the colours of autumn there !!


Below these rocks bury the Underwater Royal Tomb of King Munmu 문무왕 수중릉


Gameun Temple 감은지 삼층석탑






Devotees may write their wishes on these tiles with a minimal donation. 
I believe these tiles would be utilised for temple construction in future.

Anapji 안압지 (雁鴨池) 

A playground for Kings throughout the Shilla Dynasty

To be continued...