Sunday, January 01, 2012

Day 2: Ahn Nyeong Ha Se Yo

Yup.. we're in Korea. It was a last minute plan (well all organized in less than a month.. so I reckon still can be counted as a "last minute plan"). The plane arrived at 7am local time. After clearing immigration, collecting our bags and meeting with Mr Lai, the tour leader and the rest of the tour group, we headed to the bus after we were introduced to Bob our tour guide. It was SOOOOO cold. When we arrived it was -3 degrees. Yikes. Good thing we packed our warm clothing in the hand carry and had bulked up before walking out of the airport. Incheon airport was quite a distance from Seoul, you took a nap of almost an hour while Bob shared some information about Korea to us. First stop for the trip was a museum (I have no recollection of the exact name). We bundled up and got of the bus. First thing that hit us is the COLD. It was SO SO cold. The short walk from the airport to the bus was nothing compared to this. Ah Kong and Ah Ma agreed to have their picture taken, but I was too cold to pose for daddy to take a picture of us.


We ran into the museum, walked a little and sat around for a hot drink. Having warmed up a little more, we headed out for pictures:




Then we got into the bus and headed to the next stop "Ice Gallery". Bob kept telling us we'll be making our own cups, but somehow I could not get what he meant until we walked into this open room. There was another group of tourists chipping away at blocks of ice. Ah.. it was a "cup designing" competition. Each one was given a chisel and a block of ice with a pair of knitted gloves and plastic gloves. We got started on our creation after receiving some basic instructions from the instructor. It certainly looked so simple when he made it, but it was not when we tried. You were so excited and immediately started on your ice block the moment we were told to start. Shortly after someone came and gave you a plastic apron to keep your jacket dry. I had to keep an eye on you and help you hold your ice for fear of your chipping off your finger (or even poking your eye) instead of the ice!


When ten minutes was up, we took our "cups" to be washed and filled with orange crush to drink. Then our creations were judged and 1st, 2nd and 3rd place were announced. Daddy was placed in first place. Wow!




Here's daddy with his creation in one hand, a ice vase with flowers in the other and an ice crown along with his gold medal. Great job, daddy!


Next, we went down one floor to the ice gallery. Everything was carved out of ice. Here is daddy and you trying out the ice-slide. Look at the temperature here:






Clockwise from top left: Daddy trying out a "frozen throne" to see if this is better than the one at home; with mummy posing with the cute bear; trying out the "frozen PC"; also trying out the throne.


After the ice gallery, we had lunch. It was a local dish called Samgyetang (Korean Ginseng Chicken Soup). Er.. the taste seem rather bland to me but you loved it. Ate a little of the chicken and kept asking Jeff Ko-ko (the photographer for the tour) to add more noodles for you.


Next we hopped onto the bus for a drive to Nami Island. This is an island which is very famous ever since they filmed the Korean movie Winter Sonata. We waited in the super cold for the ferry to arrive and quickly hopped into the warm ferry. It was just a short ride. After being given instructions and a map we started to walk and look around this little island. Many decorations on this island were made of recycled items.




Clockwise from top left: So excited for being able to stand of the frozen lake which we had to access via a very slippery walkway; cuddling with mummy in front of the ice sculpture; a family picture framed by the trees; grinning with mummy in another picture with the trees.


After walking quite a distance, we stopped to feed ourselves the pancake called Hotteok. It was highly recommended by Bob and you happily ate it all, although I thought you may not like it as the dough had green tea. It was so delicious eating this warm pancake in the cold winter.




We were too tired to walk back so we hopped onto this train, which is the UNICEF charity train. It took us back to the wharf where we quickly hopped onto the waiting (and warm) ferry.




It was another long drive back to Seoul but we had some time for a little shopping in Doota in Dongdaemun before dinner and checking into the hotel. A long day, but the bus ride gave us all opportunity to catch up on sleep which we missed during the flight to Korea.

0 comments: