My Seoul Afterthoughts

We arrived in Singapore early in the morning. The long night with a painful tailbone had started to seep in and I was desperate for sleep, which came in the form of a comfort cab.

Sleep we all did, from Changi airport back home. Though I was awaken when the taxi turned into JW from my painful butt, it was a much needed nap. We were also extra mindful of the taxi no., just in case.

Daddy Lim helped with the unpacking. Although we only had 2 luggages, there was still a shitload to unpack. Daddy Lim and I then crawled into bed. The kids were strong, they seriously didn't need sleep. While Daddy Lim and I napped, the kids were happily on their gadgets and had Zaky pouncing on us 2 hours later, exclaiming that we should wake up bcos we had napped 2 WHOLE hours. Ya, why?

I could barely believe how fast 10 days past by in Korea. If I had any regrets, it must be the inability to learn snowboarding. Even to today, Daddy Lim and the kids are raving about it. Daddy Lim had complained about the Korea cold many times during the trip and remarked about how we will not go to another country in winter. Right after the snowboarding, it had all changed and he now thinks that we should go back to snowboard next year. Sob. I doubt I would be able to catch up the next snowboarding trip; Daddy Lim found expensive snowboarding classes in Singapore and said that he would sign me up before our snowboarding trip. Lol.

I was glad how our itinerary pans out. My favorite is definitely the Udo Island exploration - I love riding that little Udo car. Daddy Lim just loves the eating - oooo yes, I can remember the big slabs of black pork. If there is any bad, Lil Shauna would say the budgeted guesthouses that only provided small bath towel. Haha.

Our days after the Korean trip were equally exciting. On the same day that we were back, we arranged to meet my bro's family for dinner to celebrate the 2nd Fs bday. Before that, we baked cookies to entertain the bored kids. We are getting so good with this cookie baking. We added in the icing this time but the original ones still tasted better.

In the night, we met up for dinner.

Then adjourned to the Lakeside park bcos my bro found a whole bag of fire sparkles during cleaning.

On Monday, we dated Auntie S and the kids to USS.

It wasn't the best day to visit the park despite being a weekday. The park was so crowded that almost every ride has a Q of over 40 mins. It took us a long time before the crowd finally thinned. Fortunately, the kids still had the opportunity to take their favourite Transformer and Cylone rides.

We didn't leave until the park closed at 10pm. Oh yes, I was dead tired.

Then the kids had a sleepover at my brother's place on Tuesday and we spent Christmas together. On Thursday, Lil Shauna got to go to the SuperPark with her classmates and was reluctant to bring Zaky. So Zaky and I went for a movie date.

It was just fun and fun and more fun.

Mummy Lim

My Seoul Day 10: Legends Hero, Dragon Spa and Home Sweet Home

It was our last day in Seoul. Sob. I was lying when I said that I had enough of Korea cold; I didn't want to go home!

We only had 2 agendas for the day and it called for sleeping in late. We only went for bfast at 9ish. Again, simple bfast was provided but it was more sumptuous, subjected to our willingness to get our hands dirty.

The kids happily painted their toast.

Eggs were provided but we had to make them ourselves and washed up. Zaky enthusiastically made us eggs, which Daddy Lim enthusiastically gobbled them up. He said that Zaky's eggs saved the bfast. Hoho.

Daddy Lim thought that it was too wasted to not do some last minute shopping. We left the bags in the hotel and headed down to the streets. We didn't end up with bulky purchases; I kept telling Daddy Lim that he really had to buy us an additional luggage if we buy more bulky stuff bcos there was really not much space left.

Instead, we filled our bellies full. Apparently, Zaky's eggs were not enough. We were lured by a street food stall's hot fishcakes. Lil Shauna and I ordered some fried food too.

Daddy Lim best - still ordered ramen. The ramen came in those golden color pot!

Without anything else to buy, we headed back to the guesthouse to collect our luggage to our 1st destination - Hero Legends. I read that it is some kind of sports related games but video-game format. 

I was serious when I said that our luggage had no more space. Blue dino had to be strapped on.

Hero Legends is located at Gangnam station. Our plan was to put the luggage in the lockers at the Shinyongsan station, which was the station for our 2nd activity and enroute to Gangnam station. However, luck was not with us and we didn't manage to find an available locker in Shinyongsan. 

Without a choice, we had to lug the luggage to Gangnam. Did I tell you that there were flight and flight of stairs up and down in the Seoul train stations? Did I tell you that I hurt my tailbone and I had yet to recover and it bloody hurts when I had to go up and down the stairs plus carrying the luggage? Can cry. At that point in time, I was super glad that we packed and traveled light. 

There wasn't any available locker at Gangnam station as well. Pui! So again, we had to lug the luggages in crowded Gangnam to Hero Legends. -#&$(_)@

However, a pleasant surprise was awaiting - a light snow when we 1st exit the station! It was so light, that it instantly melted upon contact but it was snow nevertheless. See the snow on Zaky's hair!

We didn't have all day to enjoy the snow and quickly hurried on. 

We bought 2 hours Hero Legends pass from Klook. Each of us were given a pass. To play any of the games, we had to tap our pass at the machine. If there is a Q, then we had to wait until our turn was called. There were plenty to explore. 

It was a little like running man but sports theme. They also have this dunking machine that is a little too low for Daddy Lim. So funny. 

Two hours passed quickly. When time was up, the passes automatically disabled. It was then time to again lug the luggage back to the train station. 

It was still snowing very lightly and we saw people crowding to look at some performance. 

The kids were actually very excited about being in Gangnam bcos of Gangnam style. Lil Shauna had to take this picture for memory sake. 

The next activity was the Dragon Hill Spa. We were running out of time to fully enjoy the Jjimjilbang. It was hard to discribe to Daddy Lim and the kids what it really was. Lil Shauna was just very upset that there will again be many naked people. Lol. 

The Dragon Hill Spa was less than 5 mins walk from the station. It was very brightly lit. Cannot miss de. 

The staff was nice enough to help us keep our luggages in the office and then told us to keep the shoes and to get change. It was the same concept as the Blue Canyon, the key to the shoe cabinet also opens the locker in the respective sex changing room. The gender separated sauna is located within the changing room and very much back to bathing suit concept. 

We didn't have time to enjoy the sauna, which pleases Lil Shauna very much. Walking around naked or seeing others walking around naked is not her thing. Haha. We got changed and went back to meet the boys for dinner. Food was the only thing that Daddy Lim really cared about. 

Luckily there was a proper restaurant with proper food or I would have an very upset Daddy Lim. While waiting for food to be served, we snacked. 

After dinner, we headed to the main hall and the kids excitedly tried out the different rooms, from the very cold one to the very hot ones. 

I wasn't interested, I only want to eat the hard-boiled eggs, like the K dramas. I forgot to bring the provided towel and cannot do that meh meh headgear.

But I did lie down and nuah, just like the locals. 

The kids were happily playing the phones while I was contented to just nuah. 

My initial idea was to go to the Jjimjilbang to burn time as we had a late flight at 11.15pm. Ended up, we had less than 2 hours. There were so many facilities (heated swimming pool, gym, etc) that we didn't get to explore. The kids were reluctant to leave and so was I. Actually I only want to lie on the heated floor and not move, no need to explore. Haha. 

Soon, it was time to leave for the airport. 

The staff had advised us to use the train to Seoul Station for the airport railway instead of the airport bus due to the traffic. 

We started our way for the airport. Once at the airport, it was a mad rush to change out, vacuumed the winter clothes for checked in, refund the T money and return the wifi egg. We literally ran; Daddy Lim took care of the wifi egg return while I ran to refund the T money. Then we realised that the check-in counter was miles away and the whole family ran to check-in. We were perspiring by the time we managed to do so. 

The security check Q was horrible. We were given a priority Q card that says "kids accompanying". Suddenly, I love the kids so much. Lol. The priority Q though shorter was still crowded and I was seriously worried about missing the flight. The immigration check was a breeze once we cleared the security checks. 

Then it was a quick walk to Gate 23. I didn't know I will be so happy to see the gate. 

It wasn't long before we were asked to board. We again opted for the 2-2 configuration. Zaky again made me promised to wake him up for bfast. 

Zaky declared that he would sleep soon after we took off. Sleep was really tough for me. I couldn't find a comfortable position and it was made worse when the passenger in front of me full declined her seat. I dozed and my tailbone hurts too much from the body's relaxed position that I gave up on sleep. I ended up watching movies instead. 

Bfast was served and again, I tried to wake the boy. It was impossible. He stirred but continued to sleep on. I did keep some food for him to sleepily munched on when we arrived back in Singapore. 

Finally, we are back in Singapore and this marked the end of our wintery Korea holiday. 

Mummy Lim

My Seoul Day 9: Phoenix Snow Park Part 2

We could take our time this morning bcos we didnt want to spend too much money buying the ski lift passes. The plan was to sleep in and then checked out before heading to the snow park. Ironically, Daddy Lim was up by 7ish. It must be the Korean style mattress on the heated floor. My back!

The Guesthouse manager told us the day before that bfast was provided and asked us for our choice of drinks. We didn't at all expected that it was room service. We were very impressed. The staff rang our room at 8am. Luckily we were already up, just that the room was very messy. Oopsy.

It was also time to collect back the swimming stuff that we hung out to dry the night before. We were half joking that they would be frozen by the next morning. It wasn't a joke - they really were. Lol.

Daddy Lim's rash guard looked like it was doing some serious yoga pose. They weren't as bad as they looked; most of the water had dried before the remaining froze, we just needed to loosen up the pieces and the heated flooring come in very useful.

Lil Shauna even found icicle and was very amused.

We brought back the ski suit yday as we would be renting the ski suit and equipment from them for another day.

Given how my tailbone was still hurting and I am already significantly lousier than the rest, I decided that I would skip the session today.

We packed and checked out at 11am and headed to the rental shop. We had been packing and changing so many hotels (also guesthouses and hostels) in this trip.

Though Daddy Lim and the kids no longer needed more lessons, we decided to hire Young Won for 2 hours to snowboard with the kids. We were charged 100k won but willingly pay all in the name of safety. I was worried that somebody would fall and get stuck on the slope. This time, we also paid for 3 ski lift passes so that they can all snowboard at the same time.

The staff at the rental shop were super friendly, chitchatting with the kids as we burned time. Finally, it was time to head to the snow park. They were queuing for the ski lift only to realise that the park was closed until 12.30pm for lunch and so we had lunch too.

On the way to the cafeteria, I stepped on ice and landed on one knee. My back! I is old already. I think it was a good choice; I shouldn't further injure my tailbone or anywhere else.

The cafeteria was super crowded with school kids. We managed to find a table for a quick lunch. You could imagine how crowded the slopes would be when these kids were all transferred to the slopes.

Daddy Lim and the kids ran off excitedly to meet Young Won at 12.30pm. I found a table beside the window (and heater) and made myself comfortable. It took some skills to be able to sit comfortably with the injury.

The seat was perfect bcos I realised that I could see Daddy Lim and the kids!

Daddy Lim was absolutely making the right choice to choose an orange jacket. I could spot him so easily on the slopes. Haha.

I was happily blogging; I finally had possession of the phone. Two hours past in a wink and Daddy Lim and the kids came running back. Young Won had left and they decided to take a break. They apparently had a wonderful time, trying more adventurous beginner slopes - Penguin and Panaroma. The Panaroma course was 2.8km long! I can imagine how tiring it would be to be holding the position at the speed that they were snowboarding. The kids were telling me how much they fell. Lol.

To go up the Panorama course, it wasn't the ski lift anymore but some cable car ride. So nice.

Without Young Won, Daddy Lim and the kids could only self attempt the Dodo and Penguin course. By then, they were stable enough (or I hoped!) They still had a lot of fun going up the ski lift and down the slopes.

At 4pm, we left the snow park and Young Won was waiting to pick us up, back to the rental shop to return the ski suits and equipment. The staff also nicely showed us the videos taken. It looked really fun. I am so jealous. Boo.

Young Won then kindly sent us and the luggage back to the snow park to catch the bus back to Seoul. This was also pre-booked with Trazy. It was a little worrying trying to find the purple bus again. Luckily we asked and the drivers were friendly and pointed us to the right bus.

The whole bus booking was easy just that Trazy (unlike Klook) will send the final confirmation after the initial confirmation when we 1st booked and paid. I panic a little when I realised the day before that I didn't receive the final confirmation for the return trip but fortunately the Trazy staff responded fairly quickly to emails.

It was another 2 hours' ride back to Seoul. I tried to sleep but couldn't find a painless and comfortable position with my painful tailbone. The ride was antagonising and worse when there was bad traffic. We only made it back to the same train station after 2.5+ hours. After which, we had to take the train back to Myeongdong for our final guesthouse.

The Myeongdong Sunshine Guesthouse was right smacked in the middle of Myeongdong. We got a chance to snack on hot fishcakes and fried squid before we check-in. So nice in the cold!

Though it was a guesthouse, we had a room with 2 double beds and a private toilet. There weren't much space but the beds were so much nicer and fluffier than other beds at the other guesthouse/ hostel.

The guesthouse location was so good, it was a chance not to be missed. We found dinner at one of the Korean eating places. I was craving for Ginseng Chicken Soup and we had that exactly as well as bulgogi.

It was good, so good that we finished every drop of the ginseng chicken soup. Yummy.

The kids were asking to go back to the room. We sent them back, gave them wifi and then ventured back to Myeongdong for last minute shopping.

Sleep on the last night was definitely easy. Yawn.

Mummy Lim