Showing posts with label Seoul. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Seoul. Show all posts

Sunday, 16 September 2012

PORORO PARK, SEOUL, KOREA

뽀로로파크 . ポロロパーク . 小企鹅主题游乐园


Although I'd much prefer my LEGO Ninjago over this little penguin anytime, my visit to the Pororo Park was totally awesome! Mom had first introduced Pororo to me when she brought back books or toys featuring Pororo from her Korea work trips. I liked them a little because Pororo and his friends are all so colourful and cute!


About Pororo Park

There are 2 different Pororo Parks in Seoul, with one in D-Cube City (서울시 구로구 신도림동 360-51 디큐브시티백화점 4층 Tel: 02-1661-6340), and the latest one in Jamsil Lotte World (서울시 송파구 잠실동 롯데월드 지하3층 Tel: 02-1661-6371).

Mom's Korean friend suggested that we visit the Jamsil one since it has just opened and would be less crowded.

 

Getting In

After getting our tickets, we were each tagged and then Mom went to deposit our bags and shoes in the locker (no shoes to be worn inside). Mom wasn't sure if we needed to pay to use the lockers because the staff helped Mom with it.


Ticket Counter
Lockers
Paper wrist tag







And I could not wait to start!
Mom reminded me that we would only have 2 hours here as she did not want to pay more if we overran our time. Aye aye mdm!





 

So Many Activities!


Bumper Car
Note they have regular 10mins intervals
of ride "rest-time"



 

Sandy Playground

Boots for use and wash area


Ferris Wheel
Kids only
 
Bouncing Sea Playground

Activity Rooms with scheduled activities taking place every 3 hours
 
Train



Pororo's House
Shrunk to kid's size!



Camping Playground





Theatre - 15 mins show
Different shows on different days

Merry Go Round

Photos with Pororo
 
There were plenty of opportunities to take a photograph with Pororo and his friends, and even a mascot appearance!







 
Amenities
 
There is a small cafe inside the park that sells burgers and pastries, but since it was close to dinner time, Mom suggested that we eat at the Lotteria Fast Food restaurant next door instead (there are many restaurants and even a food court nearby).

Pororo-themed toilets
Water dispenser + wet tissues provided
Gift Shop
Snack shop outside the park

 
Mom's Notes
  • Website is in Korean only, and the Park staff speak minimal English
  • No English brochures available
  • Entry discount is available for local credit cards only - good time to ask your Korean friends to help purchase the tickets (tickets can be purchased online)
  • No need to wear socks into the park
  • Plenty of food options near Pororo Park, plus a good view of the ice skating rink and Lotte World Theme Park above (where several Korean dramas have been filmed here)

  • Fans of the K-drama "A Gentleman's Dignity 신사의 품격" will be familiar with the Mango Six chain which was constantly featured in the show. There is a small take-away outlet just outside the Lotte World Theme Park entrance.



Park Details

Opening Hours:
10am - 8pm (Mom-Fri, Sun)
10am - 9pm (Sat)
Last entry is 2 hours before the closing time.

Ticketing:
Adult - 10,000 won for first 2 hours / 500 won for every subsequent 10 mins
Child - 20,000 won for first 2 hours / 1000 won for every subsequent 10 mins

Free entry for children below 1 year old.
Children must be accompanied by an adult.




Getting There

Take subway Line 2 or 8 to Jamsil Station (잠실역). From the Lotte World / Lotte Department Store exit (Exit 4), we walked towards the direction of the Lotte World Theme Park.

In front of the Lotte World Theme Park entrance, take the escalator down 1 level to the ice skating rink and turn left (you can see the signage). The Pororo park is at the perimeter of the ice skating rink, next to the Lotteria Fast Food Restaurant.



 

 

Saturday, 15 September 2012

THE SECRET GARDEN of CHANGDEOKGUNG PALACE, SEOUL, KOREA

창덕궁의 비원 . 昌徳宮の秘苑 . 昌德宫的秘院


We arrived at Donhwamun 돈화문, main entrance of Changdeokgung Palace 창덕궁.



After Mom collected our entry and tour tickets, we walked for about 10 mins to Hamyang Gate 함양문, the entrance of the Secret Garden / Biwon 비원 / Huwon 후원. Mom said the palace is very big so we need to walk a lot. Oh no ...

Blue line - the walk from Donhwamun to Biwon Entrance
Red circle - Area covered in the Secret Garden Tour
Grandma and Grandaunt waiting under the trees for the tour to start

Many people joined this tour, and Mom said our tour guide was dressed in a Korean traditional dress called hanbok.

Entering the garden
Our tour guide

The first stop was the Buyongji Pond 부용지 area - where Yeonghwadang 영화당, Buyongjeong Pavilion 부용정, and Juhamnu Pavilion 주합루, etc were.

Yeonghwadang 영화당 - civil service examination hall
Juhamnu Pavilion 주합루 - library and reading area

On the other side was the Gioheon 기오헌 area - where Aeryeonjong Pavilion 애련정, Geummamun 금마문, Bullomun 불로문, and Uiduhap 의두합, etc were.

Aeryeonjong "Love of Lotus" Pavilion 애련정
Geummamun 금마문 - entrance to Uiduhap 의두합
Bullomun 불로문 - Gate of Long Life
Uiduhap 의두합 - reading and studying place for the Crown Prince

Then, it's a short walk to the Yeongyeongdang 연경당 area - men's living quarters.

Entering via Jangrakmun 장락문

Step on this to mount a horse!

Modelled after yangban's / nobleman's house

Next was the Gwanramjeong 관람정 area - where the Gwanramjeong 관람정, Seungjaejeong 승재정, Jondeokjeong 존덕정 and Pyeomusa 폄우사 were.

Pyeomusa 폄우사 (reading place for the Crown Prince) with Jondeokjeong 존덕정 in the background
Jondeokjeong 존덕정 - double-layered roof
Seungjaejeong 승재정
Gwanramjeong Pavilion 관람정 and Bandoji Pond 반도지
Gwanramjeong 관람정




















After walking for about 10 mins, we were at the Ongnyucheon 옥류천 vicinity - where Ongnyucheon 옥류천, Soyoam 소요암, Soyojeong 소요정, Cheonguijeong 청의정 were.

We were always amongst trees

Up a slope, then zizag down ...



 
Ongnyucheon 옥류천
Soyoam 소요암 - where the King carved a poem on the rock
Soyojeong 소요정 - of poetry and parties
Cheonguijeong 청의정 - the only existing thatched-roof pavilion, and the rice
paddy helped the King understand the importance of farming to the people

From here, we walked the rest of the way out on our own.

(Mom's Notes: The tour guide departed from the group at this point, and this was also where we had to decide whether to continue walking for about 15-20 mins to the Secret Garden exit, or to turn around & back-track to the Secret Garden entrance. Most people chose the former, but there seemed to be nothing of particular interest along the way.)


Think we passed by Shin Seonwonjeon 신선원전, but the gates were not opened
Up a long flight of stairs
Then down a long long slope
Almost there!
At the exit!

After the exit, and near Gyuchanggak 규장각, was a 750-year-old Chinese Juniper tree called 향나무.

Chinese Juniper tree 향나무 - its aromatic wood is used to make
incense for ancestral rituals at Seowonjeon Shrine 선원전
Gyuchanggak 규장각

Back at Donhwamun 돈화문, we had some time left to explore the rest of the palace, so we crossed the Geumcheongyo Bridge 금천교 and walked towards Jinseonmun 진선문.

Geumcheongyo 금천교 - oldest stone bridge in Seoul
Jinseonmun 진선문
Long path in to Injeongmun 인정문 (on the left)

Past Injeongmun 인정문, we entered the main hall in the palace called Injeongjeon 인정전, where the King met his court and military officials, and held important ceremonies.

Injeongmun 인정문
Injeongjeon 인정전 - main palace hall
Grade 1 officer! (Mom caught me mid-yawn)

The King's throne

Going past Sukjangmun 숙장문, we did not have time to see more so Mom only took pictures outside. Mom wants to see Nakseonjae 낙선재 in the next visit.

Sukjangmun 숙장문
Seonjeongjeon 선정전 (blue roof) was used for daily meetings,
and Heejeongdang 희정당 was the King's workplace
Heejeongdang 희정당 on the left, and
Seongjeonggak 성정각 (Prince's study area and the royal pharmacy) on the right
Behind and to the right of Sukjangmun 숙장문 was the gift shop and rest area

Then it's off to lunch @ Bukchon.
I was very tired after walking so much!


Mom's Notes
  • The Secret Garden tour starts from the entrance of Biwon / Huwon, and NOT at the main entrance. Hence, factor in time to walk to the Biwon entrance (which is a little distance away)
  • Download the new Changdeokgung Palace app, that tells the story of the palace. This app was not yet developed when we visited
  • You must join a guided tour in order to visit Biwon, and I'd recommend that an advanced online reservation be made (booking instructions are clearly stated). Or, you can purchase the tour tickets on the spot
  • Plenty of water, comfortable walking shoes, and a fan are things to bring along. We worked up quite a sweat during the tour although the weather was cooling then
  • There is only 1 toilet stop in this tour, which is also the same place where you can buy a nice cold drink. There were also very few places to rest your feet
  • There were many more intriguing stories told, and other highlights during the tour that we were not able to blog here (wish I had brought along a notebook to take notes)
  • Overall, a visit to Biwon is highly recommended if you are visiting Changdeokgung Palace. However, the tour might be more suitable for older children or teens who can better understand the content and historical significance, as well as tolerate the amount of walking (uphill) required
  • To read about the history of the palace, refer to the UNESCO website, the Korea Cultural Heritage Administration Website (English / Korean), or the Rediscovery of Korea website (Korean)
  • Check out these other photoblogs - Robert Koehler Travel & Photography and Kodos' Photolog



      Address:    110-360 서울특별시 종로구 율곡로 99번지
      Tel:           02-762-8261 / 9513
      Directions: 5 mins walk from Anguk Station Exit 3 안국역

Admission Fees:
Entrance Ticket / Regular Tour - Adults ₩3000 / Youth 7-18 year olds ₩1500 / Free for
                                               kids below 6 years old
Secret Garden Tour - Adults ₩5000 / Youth 7-18 year olds ₩2500 / Free for kids below 6
                               years old

Operating Hours:
Palace / Regular Tours - check here
Secret Garden Tour - updated schedule here (as of Apr 2013)

I took this picture myself!