Busan Airport and Busan Train Station

We arrived at Busan International Airport at around 9pm. 

Image credit to KAC (Korea Airport Corporation)

Getting our baggages was a breeze, however we had to quickly go to Busan train station to catch the Mugunghwa to Seoul. 

You have to first change your money at the forex located inside the airport. Be sure to get smaller bills. 

The usual rate is 1,000KRW to 1USD. Give or take a few. 

Travel to Busan Train Station

We were lucky enough to catch the last limousine bus headed for Busan Train Station. The fee was 10,000 KRW per person. 

You can ask the Tourist guide desk for information. 

There are also a place to keep luggage in the bus. but try to pack light so you won't have to lug so many bags, which will come in handy when you tackle the stairs from hell.

Yep, Korea has a lot of stairs in their subway. So, unless you can carry all those bags with you on their stairs, be prepared.

Busan Train Station.

Images courtesy of Wikipedia

When you go up those stairs, you'll see the ticket counters at your immediate right. 
We already have prior reservations, so it was just a case of exchanging your printed out reservations with actual tickets. 

There are 3 trains that go to Seoul

1. KTX =53,300 KRW
2. Mugunghwa=27,300 KRW
3. Saemaeul=40.700KRW

Since we arrived at the station at pretty much 11pm. We opted to go with the cheapest fare-  Mugunghwa and sleep through the 5 hour journey. 

Departure in NAIA Terminal 3 and what to do

I just came back guys! 

I was set to depart from NAIA Terminal 3. 

Here's a shot of terminal 3 from wikipedia. 

What do you need to do after you get yourself inside the terminal. 

1. For International flights, there is a Terminal fee charge of php1620 that you can pay on the counter located on the right side of the terminal. 

2. Go to your counter. Cebu Pacific International flights are on the left. Present the following:
           a. Passport
           b. Ticket
           c. Receipt from Terminal Fee Counter
    
     Now, you can have your baggage checked-in. Cebu Pacific says that if you are travelling as        a group, you can pool in your baggage allowance. 

     Also remember that you can have carry-on baggages. So, travel light! 
     Don't forget to get your boarding pass!

3. Go to Immigration. 


Immigration Hall (Picture taken from NAIA's Website)

Before you even think about queuing, remember to fill out the immigration forms located at the sides. 

Sometimes they do have those red guide lines set up but when I was there, you simply have to fall in line. They also ask you to pay an additional Php750. 

Final baggage check

Yes, they still check your carry-ons for liquids, creams and all those prohibited stuff that they confiscate in the airport. So, yeah, you probably shouldn't hand-carry your perfume. 

They also ask you to remove your shoes and belt.

Boarding area (Picture taken from NAIA's Website)

Now, the exciting part is waiting for your flight. So, sit tight and eat the munchies that you've somehow sneaked passed security. 

For more information regarding the NAIA terminals, here's their website. 

NAIA Terminal website

Final checks

I am bringing along my bag that has wheels, a backpack and a small pouch that goes around my neck. 


trolley bag
-clothes
-toiletries
-slippers
-chargers
-adaptor

backpack
-food during flight
-jacket
-medicine
-camera
-makeup
-notebook

small pouch
-ballpen
-passport
-tickets
-money

Korean Cosmetics and Skin Care!

One of the reasons I want to go to Korea is because of the cosmetics. 

I've already tallied up everything I wanted to buy and here's the list. 

I am justifying the cost by saying to myself that I'll probably be using this for the next 3 years. Yes, that's three years of supposedly not buying anything. 

One week to go and I'm off to Korea!!! 

Korean Visa

Finally, the visa here. Took me quite a while to get it. 

The funny thing is, all my requirements were complete and they still wanted you to show 3 months worth of electricity bill receipts. 

Oh well, at least I got it. 

D-day is T-8 days. 

So excited. 

Airport Fashion (or a lack thereof)

I have never had any sense of airport fashion and yes, I wouldn't change that. 

I think the more comfortable clothes you have for travel, the better. You have to be able to move in your get up in case of emergencies. 

Airport security also requires you to remove your shoes and belt for checking. I don't know if this is specific for a certain location or SOP. 

Just imagine if your flight is over 10 hours long, I think no matter what you wear, it would still be wrinkled. 

I once went to the airport wearing jogging pants, slippers and a t-shirt. 
No hassle during security checks and I was able to quickly move about. 

The List (to bring on the trip)

I think one of the most important things that you have to prepare are lists. 

Now, here's my running list of things I am planning to bring 

1. Set of clothes (which was detailed in a previous post)
2. Bare minimum make-up (to be placed in small containers if possible)
     a. eyeliner
     b. blush on
     c. cotton balls
     d. toner
     e. facial wash
     f. essence
     g. serum
     h. sunblock
     i. face powder
     j. lipgloss/lipstick
     k. 3 brushes
     l. natural eye palette

3. packaging tape
4. pentel pen
5. rope (for the box)
6. boxes

Coupons and money saving tips before your trip

I don't know about you but I would really like to get the most value out of my money. 

There are several ways to do that, even if on vacation. 

Here are some ways you could do that.

1. Get your airfares at discounted prices. 

This would mean competing with other people to get the slot. You might not always get the best times for a flight but at half the price, this Maria is not complaining. 

2. Travel packages might not always be the best. 

I have always researched my own trips. You may look at the packages as a sort of template but I think you can save time and money by DIY. You can skip on those places that you are not really interested in. Plus you can spend as much time as you want in a location. If you want to stay in Myeondong for the whole day, then you can do so. 

3. Tourist only coupons

Yes, sometimes they have coupons that only foreigners can use. It encourages foreigners to try out and buy new stuff. 

Here are some of the websites that I found coupons that can be printed out. 

Visit Korea Year Coupons
Visit Korea Coupons
Japanese website that has korean coupons

4. Tax Refund

I don't know if this is applicable to every purchase that you do but it doesn't help to try right?
It says that you have to have at least made a purchase of 30,000KRW
But please do check with the stores first if they are eligible.

The way this works is, you purchase at full price but you have to fill out a form for the refund. 

Here's the complete procedure 

Korea Tax Refund Procedure

5. Bring your own box and packing materials

I know this sounds a bit bothersome but hear me out first. I once had to shell out $25 for a box and packaging tape. I could have easily bought the same things in National bookstore for less than Php 150. 

I just fold the box until it becomes a square, tie it up with twine and just bring it with me when I go out of the country. Of course this would only work if you can check in the folded box.

My ticket to Korea doesn't include check in baggage so I have to be creative here.

I think that's all I can think of right now. 

The Budget

It would be helpful if you can draft out a budget before your trip. This would make sure that you don't run out of money. 

I am mostly stocking up on skin care and make up in Korea. For some reason Skinfood is severely overpriced here in Manila. Etude House has somewhat bearable pricing though. Missha is also overpriced. Tony Moly, I'm not too sure. 

I think everybody has different things that they want to buy in Korea. 

This preliminary budget has been researched to the best of my abilities. I'll just update them as soon as I get the actual cost when I go there.

I am planning to stay in Korea 4 days overnight. 

 

I think I'll just bring around $1,500 just to be on the safe side. 

Schedules do change as well as plans, so you better have something extra to tide those over. 

Getting around Seoul

There are 4 ways to get around Seoul
1. Subway
2. Train
3. Bus
4. Taxi

of course you can also walk. 

However, according to forum posts, there are several locations in Seoul which are quite hilly. 

So, be prepared and I hope you choose comfort over fashion. 

I am thinking that I'll be doing lots of walking here. (Thank you, UP. Those days where I was so stingy and just walked instead of riding a jeepney in between classes prepared me for this moment...)

Subway
I think this is the latest map of subways they have. 

Seoul Subway Map

It would be better if you print this out on a large size paper. I think you can request copies of these. 

Here's also a link on how to buy those transportation passes that they use. 

Subway Info, Transpo Cards and lockers

Bus

I think riding the bus should be left to those people who have been to Korea for quite some time. Just reading about the schemes is enough to get me confused and that's not including those buses that goes around in a loop. You might end up lost in a remote part of the country. 

For those with intestinal fortitude, may the link below serve a reference in understanding the system 

New Bus System of Seoul

Incidentally, I was thumbing through google maps on my smartphone and wonder of wonders! They provide bus schedules! Hmmm, this makes it doable then. 

Train

I suppose you can also ride the train if you want to visit other parts of Korea. Please check schedules at the KORAIL website. They say that you can purchase tickets up to one month before the schedule. 

Taxi

Riding a taxi (again according to forums) becomes cheaper if the destinations are 3 to 4 stations away and you are a group of 4. They say that it would then be cheaper than using the subway. 

I suppose you also have to consider rush hour. 

Where the heck do we start building the perfect itinerary?

You really have to consider here what you want to go to Korea for. 

Is it the culture?
Shopping?
Food?
Kpop?

or you want a hodgepodge of everything?

Well, for me I want a serving of everything please!

I don't know about other people but I found it hard to really squeeze in everything. 

I only have 6 days afterall. 

I'm afraid that the best way to do this is to read up.



According to visitseoul.net, korea has 8 themes....

Cultural Heritage 
Landmarks 
Experience Traditional Culture 
Shopping 
Museums and Galleries 
Entertainment 
Hangang Tour 
Savor Seoul 

which can also be divided into their 12 most interesting districts

Gwanghwamun 
City Hall Area
Cheonggyecheon∙Jongno
Insa-dong
Samcheong-dong∙Bukchon.
Myeong-dong∙Euljiro
Namdaemun Market 
Hongik Univ.∙Sangsu Station area
Dongdaemun Market
Itaewon
Apgujeong-dong∙Cheongdam-dong
Samseong Station area


You can read all about these in their free ebooks which are downloadable. I think it would be best if you read through the books first. So you know how you want the sequence of your trip to go. You don't want to waste precious time getting lost now, do you?

Useful Websites

I have found these websites useful when planning your trip to Korea. 



Visit Korea Website
-Really comprehensive website about Korea. If you are patient enough, reading through the pages will give you a thorough understanding and will guide you on planning your trip. 

Visit Seoul Website
-As the name says, specifically for Seoul.

Republic of Korea Website
-Another great website to learn about recent events in Korea. 


Also, don't forget to check out blogs, forums and videos of people who have traveled to Korea. So, you may know the ups and downs of their culture. 

Please also research on common courtesy gestures and language. Mind your manners. 

It is not them who must adjust to our customs afterall. As they say, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. 

I've also read pages upon pages of forum entries from Girltalk and PEx where people discuss how they found travel in Korea. It seems to be a general consensus that Korea is a great tourist destination. 

Luggage? Back-pack?

It is always better to travel light.

Cebu Pacific allows you to bring one carry-on item and another small bag on board the airplane.

For 7 days, I am only planning to bring the following

1. 2 pairs of shorts
2. 3 sets of undies
3. walking shoes
4. 2 day shirts
5. 1 set of sleeping clothes

You can always do laundry. In fact, the place I am renting has a laundry machine. Anything else that you need (in terms of clothes that is) you can buy there. 

My mom told me that Korea usually have sales on their summer clothes during fall. She would know since we've lived there in  the 1980's for two years. So, I think my mom would be buying clothes there as well... Yes, she's on a Php 10,000 budget. 

Hay... the last time she was there a USD is just Php 18. She'll probably be shocked at how much everything has changed. Me? I am too young to remember. Hahaha

Won now? or Won later?

I was thinking on what would be better?

Buy KRW here in Manila or just bring USD and exchange for KRW there. I have come to a compromise. 

I believe it is better to buy a few KRW here in Manila. Say around Php 5,000 worth.  This would cover the cost of initial taxi fare, food, and basic toiletries that you would need after you land. 

I don't know airport exchange rates but i'm supposing that they are a bit higher that what you would get from the city. But if they aren't then no harm done since I've only exchanged a few thousand anyway. 

I've found two foreign exchange establishments here in Manila that will be able to sell you KRW. 

Sanry's Money Changer

Czarina Foreign Exchange

Personally, I will be choosing Sanry's just because its so near my workplace. I've heard reviews that both are easy to deal with. 

As for USD, I think it's better if I buy from BDO. Why? Because I think you get that extra assurance that what you are carrying are real USDs. Heck, they even give you a list of all the serial numbers of the USD that they are giving you. Plus you can always get back to them if there are problems with the USD, right?

How much will I be bringing? 

I will be there for roughly 7 days. I will be bringing about $1500. Yes, this is a bit inflated because I will afterall be buying a lot of makeup and skin care products. But for some, I believe Php 25,000 is enough for 7 days. 

If you ask my mom, she'll only bring Php 10,000. That makes me a bit concerned so that's why I'm bringing extra funds just in case. (Personally, I would like to see my mom budget that 10,000. She has always been quite frugal. Well, I am also frugal but you have to have something for eventualities.) 

Korea's International Airports (Cebu Pacific friendly ones)

Ok. Here's the deal. 

There are two international airports in South Korea that Cebu Pacifiic lands in---Gimhae in Busan and Incheon, near Seoul. 

When buying tickets know where you want to go. Arrgh. Don't be like me who wanted to go to Seoul but ended up buying tickets for Busan, now I'll have to travel to Seoul by train. 

Blogs say that it takes 50 minutes by bus to Seoul from Incheon and it takes 5 freaking hours by train from Busan to Seoul. (Yes, I am upset that I got the wrong tickets so please forgive the mild explosion of anger.)

I plan on detailing my trip here so stay tuned for the nitty gritty details. 

Since I am a bit OC when it comes to money. I will also be including a list of everything I've spent money on. 

Korean Embassy in Manila

The Korean Embassy in Manila is located in Taguig. 

Just go to Market-Market and ride the taxi there to the embassy. It costs less than Php100. 

I was scouring pictures of the embassy and here's what I found. 

Application for visas starts at 9;00am. 

Be there on time and you can process it in less than 30 minutes. 

The embassy will then give you a paper slip on when you can know the results of your application. This is usually 5 days.

By the way, know that the visa (the free one) is only usable for 3 months. Meaning, don't apply too early! I think applying one month before your trip is the best. 

I've just applied last week and I'm crossing my fingers for luck. I'll be back there this Thursday to know the results. 

Korean Visa is free! (Requirements)

To go to South Korea, we need a visa. 

Research and research some more... 

The requirements are straightforward and depends on what category you fall under.

Here's a link of the complete list of requirements. All you need to know is located in the link below. Please do read carefully. And yes, magbasa muna bago magtanong. 

Official Announcements on Acquiring a Korean Visa

Basically, you would need the following

1. Application form

(download pdf file here)

Application Form

2. Colored picture 3.5x4.5cm
3. Original Passport
4. Photocopy of first page of passport
5. Copy of valid visa from OECD (if applicable)
6. Original copy Certificate of Employment (including date started in the company, compensation and designation) (if applicable)
7. Original copy Bank Certificate (including date when the account was opened)
8. Photocopy of Income Tax Return (if applicable)

9. Photocopy of Real Estate Registration under your name (if applicable) 

10. Photocopy of international credit cards (if applicable)

11. Photocopy of PRC Ids (if applicable)

12. Photocopy of pension certificate (if applicable)

I think that's it, really. 

For details, just look at the official website. 

Visa processing starts at 9:00am. 

Can you speak Korean? Does it matter?

One of the biggest barriers for me would be understanding the language. 

It would really suck bigtime when you're lost in some alley and don't know how to get back to your place. 

I found this sketch, but I don't know how accurate it really is though. So, take with lots of salt.

 But then, if this actually works then you would know how the words are read but not know what they mean...

I think I better get my butt over at National Bookstore and get 'em english-korean dictionary... 

The fastest finger gets..... the ticket!!

November 2012, 2am

*Maria is surfing the net on a weekend.

*She thinks that  all the Runningman episodes are funny. It was too bad that Joong Ki had left.

*Maria was busy looking into all sort of stuff that a young lady was supposed to be looking at, at 2am in the morning.... Stocks. (Hey, what were you thinking!)

*Suddenly she thought that it would be nice to go back to Korea. 

*Clicking-clicking and more clicking later. 

*She went to Cebu Pacific's website. Home of the fastests fingers when promo season kicks in. 

*Not really expecting anything but just trying to gauge how much a round trip to Korea costs.

*Or Vietnam because that seems to be cheaper....


*When boom!!! 

*Promo seat sale. It seems that the promo just started because the website wasn't lagging. 

*Heart palpitating. Fingers numbing. Voice choking. She wakes her mom up to say that there's a seat sale and roundtrip tickets to Vietnam was less than Php 3,000. 

*Carefully, looking at holidays for next year, Maria began to buy tickets for Vietnam. However, her mom told her that if it was seat sale than wouldn't it be better to go to Korea instead.

*Seems like mom knows that tickets to Korea are more expensive than to Vietnam. 

*Speedily changing course, Maria bought 4 tickets instead to KPOP land for Php 5,500 each roundtrip. 

*Thanking her maker for having enough balance on her credit card. She proceeded to click that Buy button. 

The End.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

This post would not be possible without the cooperation of Cebu Pacific. 

Thank you, Cebu Pacific.

♪Cebu Pacific, you're the one,
You make bargain-hunting lots of fun,
Cebu Pacific, I'm awfully fond of you....♫♪

Land of KPOP, anyone?

You got this right! 

This Maria is going to the land of KPOP, South Korea. 

Kidding aside, I am much more interested in the culture actually. Sure I've had my share of Kdramas, attending KPOP concerts in the nosebleed sections of Araneta and SM Arena but I think the culture is more interesting. That and of course the make-up. (Hey, I'm a girl afterall. ^_^)

The hunt for the ticket actually began last year around November. But that time I was looking into going to Vietnam first. I'm so glad I tried Korea first. 

The ticket adventure in the next post. 

The ASEAN....

Since I come from the Philippines, the easiest countries to go to would be those that my country has travel agreements with. Meaning, those that are not requiring visas and are relatively cheap to go to. 

I have realized that these countries in asia are Brunei, Cambodia, HongKong, Indonesia, Israel, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. 

I also think that it would be nice visiting countries that are already close together. I think it would also be so much cheaper because commodity prices would probably not vary by much. 

I have already planned a trip for October but amazingly is not among these countries. Hahaha. Tell you all about it in my next post. 

Hello!

Hello! 

I created this blog to document my joys, frustrations and experiences while I try to travel the world one country at a time. 

Wow! Even the idea seems such an impossible endeavor. It would probably take me years to save just to go to the European countries. 

So, I guess let's start this journey now.