[Changwon] - Find my Name at SangSang-Gil (상상길)

Our highlight for this trip was to chase Cherry Blossom, so we had to visit Changwon by 10 April 2018 before the festival ended. We rushed there by KTX train on our second day. Although it's not the cheapest way, but it only took 3 hours instead of 4 hours by bus (KRW 36,000).

KTX from Seoul to Masan KRW 53,300.

It's cheaper to purchase Korail Pass (Saver) - KRW 91,000.

2 day / 4 day is flexible pass, not consecutive days.

We used it for a ticket back from Suncheon to Seoul KRW 44,300.

 Alighted at Changwon, one station before Masan.

My second reason to visit Changwon was to find my engraved name,

which  I participated in a campaign 'Write your name in Korea.'

As you can take unlimited train rides, we initially planned to go Tourist Information at Changwon to get complimentary city tour ticket and leave our luggage there, then take KTX to Hadong and visit Gwangyang Maehwa Village (광양 매화마을).

However, it's still early and worried that tourist information not yet open, we dropped our luggage at the hotel first.

 

Singapore flag with greetings in 4 official languages
(English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil).

The taxi driver dropped us off at the small alley, and we'd to walk a bit until we saw the colourful floor full of names!!! 

There are 23,000 colorful name plates of engraved names of foreigners and 

Korean celebrities such as Jeon Ji-hyeon, f(x)’s Krystal Jung, 4Minute, Kara 

and other popular Korean stars paved on 155 meter long street.

  

Doesn't it look like a gigantic periodic table?

Good that periodic table doesn't have 23,000 elements~! ;P

Didn't visit Changwon on our previous trip in 2015 due to time constraints.

Finally, we were able to make it this time round!

Donning a billowy Hanbok, I imagine myself strolling down

Sang Sang Gil Imaginary Street as a superstar towards

their name on Walk of Fame to sign or hand-print on it.

 Ah ha~! Here is my name... Vera Lee~^^

 Actually, my hubby's name also engraved there, but we only realised it

after we went back to the hotel at night. 

It was early in the morning, and only a few shops were open.

My hubby spent KRW 5,000 for catcher game machine, but didn't win anything. LOL!!!

 Changdong Art Village...

Is this Buljonggeori Road, where a huge bronze

 Buddhist temple bell sculpture is located?

Travelling from Seoul to Olympics Venues

It's easy to travel to Gangwon because almost all cities and counties in Korea have express bus to Gangwon province. 

 Dong Seoul Bus Terminal Ticketing Machine.

Seoul to Jangpyeong Bus Terminal.

Adult: ₩11,600 Child: ₩5,800.

 It's a 2 hour ride to Jangpyeong station, which is nearer to Elf Pension House.

Jangpyeong Bus Departure Schedule.

 Bus Departure Schedule from Dong Seoul Bus Terminal 

to Pyeongchang Bus Terminal. Ticket ₩13,300.

Now,  KTX Gyeonggang high-speed train is running on new line connecting Seoul to Olympics cities in Pyeongchang, Jinbu and Gangneung. You can purchase Pyeongchang Korail Pass to save more on transportation fees if you're travelling by railroad.

 KTX Gyeonggang Line.

 KTX from Seoul to Pyeongchang.

The Pyeongchang Winter Games 2018 will be held at Gangneung station, Jinbu station and Pyeongchang Station. Do make sure you check the nearest station of the venue of the games before purchasing the ticket:

* Pyeongchang Station: 

   Phoenix Snow Park: Free Style Skiing and Snowboard 

* Jinbu Station: 

   - Opening and closing ceremony and snow sports events are held during the Pyeongchang Olympic 

     and Paralympic games 2018.  

   - Alpensia Olympic Park: Nordic Combined, Snowboard, Ski Jumping, Cross-Country Skiing

      and Biathlon     

   - Olympic Sliding Centre: Bobsleigh, Luge and Skeleton     

   - Yongpyong Alpine Centre: Alpine Skiing *Slalom, Giant Slalom, Team Event     

   - Jeongseon Alpine Centre: Alpine Skiing *Downhill, Super-G, Combined

* Gangneung Station: 

  Ice sports events are held during the Pyeongchang Olympic and Paralympic games 2018.   

  - Gangneung Olympic Park:  Speed Skating, Short Track Speed Skating, Figure Skating, Curling  

    and Ice Hockey     

  - Kwandong Hockey Centre: Ice Hockey

Are you visiting Gangwon? I really really wish I could be there to witness Winter Olympics, admiring breathtaking winter scenery from the mountainous Gangwon and playing snow~!

Related Posts:

 

Korail O-train.

Picturesque Pyeongchang and Nearby Attractions.

 

How and Where to Learn Winter Sports in Korea?

PyeongChang Korail Pass

Though it's kinda sad that I won't be able to visit my second hometown to witness the spectacular winter sports event in Pyeongchang! However, I've a good news to share which you can save great amount of money on the transportation costs.

To commemorate Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, foreigners visiting Korea between 1 February 2018 - 25 March 2018 are eligible to purchase this special tourist pass and enjoy unlimited times on KTX and Korail trains throughout Korea within their selected pass validity period. Do note that ticket sales will only open until 10 January 2018.

Incheon to PyeongChang Railroad Map (Source)

KTX Wonju Gangneung line is ready and official KTX Sancheon service is expected to be from mid December 2017. Visiting Winter Olympics Games venues in Pyeongchang, Gangneung and Jeongseon will be a hassle-free and comfortable using this Korail Pass. Actually, with this card you can literally explore almost the whole South Korea Peninsula on railroads~! 

PyeongChang Korail Pass types:

PyeongChang Korail 5 Day Pass / 7 Day Pass.

 Adult (Ages 26 and older), Youth (Ages 13-25 or International Student 

Identity Card holders), Child (Ages 4-12), Saver (Groups of 2-5 people).

High Speed Trains: KTX and KTX-Sancheon
 Conventional Trains: ITX-Saemaeul, Saemaeul, Mugunhwa, Nuriro,
ITX-Cheongchun and Commuter Trains.

Tourist Trains: O-train, V-Train, S-Train, A-Train, Westgold-Train and DMZ-Train.

Purchasing process:

* PyeongChang Korail Pass can be purchased through the official website:

   www.letskorail.com/pyeongchang. 

* Ticket sales will be open until 10 January 2018. 

* Ticket sales period is subject to change without notice.

* Seats for the Seoul-Gangneung KTX line during the Olympic period (1-28 February 2018) will be

   available for reservation two months in advance. 

* Please direct all inquiries to the Korail Q&A board. 

* Ticket sales for all trains during the Seollal (Lunar New Year's Day) holiday period 14-18 February 

   2018 will be announced separately on the Korail website. 

* Seat reservation period is subject to change without notice. Refer to the reservation site for updated 

   information.

PyeongChang Korail Pass User's Tutorial.

Additional benefits of PyeongChang Korail Pass:

* Free admission to City Tour Buses in Seoul, Busan, Jeju, Incheon, Gyeongju, and Daegu.

* Commemorative reloadable prepaid transportation card
* 10% discount luggage storage & shipping through Airport Railroad
* Various discounts with connected duty free stores, hotels, museums, etc.
* Please see the BENEFITS menu on the official website for more detailed information:
   www.letskorail.com/pyeongchang.

Remember to bring along the printed Pyeongchang KR Pass

to retrieve your commemorative card at a designated counter.

How to reserve your seat.

I used Korail Pass during my visit in 2012, but that time tourist-themed trains such as O-train, V-train and S-train not operated yet. I wish PyeongChang Korail Pass will be extended to April because I'd like to visit cherry blossoms in other regions out of Seoul. Would love to ride on special trains such as A-train to go to Jeongseon, and visit Dora Observatory and The 3rd Tunnel by DMZ train. 

Related Posts:

 

Korail O-train.

Korail S-train.

Picturesque Pyeongchang and Nearby Attractions.

Must Try Mouth-Watering Foods in Gangwon.

[Korea] - Jeonju to Gongju

Spent the most time planning for this day trip. The first problem was transportation, there's no direct train from Jeonju although they seem quite near and straightforward route from the map.

Found another alternative which was to join K-Shuttle. They have tour courses that going to Buyeo. However, it's slightly above our budget for 4 of us to go. This option not only solved our first problem, but also second problem which was to book Buyeo City Tour:

*KS201 3day course : $399 per/person (FRI)  

  Seoul-Gongju-Buyeo-Jeonju-Gwangju(1N)-Suncheon-Yeosu(1N)-BUSAN OUT

*KS401 5day course : $599 per/person (FRI)  

  Seoul - Gongju - Buyeo - Jeonju - Gwangju (1 night) - Suncheon - Yeosu (1 night) - Jinju - Busan - Gyeongju (1 night) - Andong - Wonju (1 night) - Pyeongchang - Gangneung - Seorak - Seoul (Final destination)  

So, I still had to do the booking and went to KTO Singapore for assistance, but unfortunately, they're unable to assist because Buyeo is not under KTO. So, I made a direct call to Buyeo Cultural Tourism, but we'd hard time communicate through the phone. Though managed to get the email, but failed to sent to the recipient as it was rejected by the server for the recipient domain. The last attempt was when I joined VIP Invitation Tour, I seek assistance from the officer at Tourist Information at Incheon Airport. She was so helpful and called Buyeo office to reserve the tour for us, but it was too early and nobody answered the call, and I'd to leave the airport as others members of had arrived.

Though unsure whether we could just join the tour, but decided to just go there because my son was curious and he did check Wikipedia on Jumong, Buyeo and related articles after he watched ome parts of K-drama "Jumong".

 Luckily the tour start from Gongju station, so we took KTX from Jeonju

at 06:21 am and arrived at Gongju 07:01 am.

It's freezing cold early in the morning,

therefore people were hiding inside Traveler waiting room at the platform.

Not sure whether to board the upcoming coming train,

so I checked with another passenger there...

As our seats were separated, my hubby and I just forgo our seats

and just let the kids have the seats, and we stood beside them.

Maybe because me and my hubby blocking people from walking, the man came to me and asked me to sit at the back of the carriage. We're thankful because it's quite interesting although a bit squeezy,   but much comfortable than standing for about 40 minutes.

Vending machine inside the train.

Arrived at Gongju Station.

A Twosome Place Cafe...

 

 Let's order drinks and have a sit there for 2 hours!

 

A cozy cafe...

waiting for drinks to perk them up!

 Green Tea Latte and Hot Chocolate.

 

Outside still dark although it's already 7 o'clock.

Not much activities seen outside Gongju Station.

The Resurrection of Baekje 1400 years ago...

 Bracing the cold to take photos of this pretty hanbok without jacket...

I'd to go in and out the station few times to unfreeze myself with hot drink and hot pack because it's literally only another layer of normal thickness long sleeve shirt underneath the hanbok. I just slipped the fur from the jacket inside collar to keep my neck warm.

Gongju was formerly named Ungjin and was the capital of
Baekje from AD 475 to 538.

In this period, Baekje was under threat from Goguryeo. Goguryeo had overrun the previous capital of Hanseong (modern-day Seoul), which forced Baekje to find a new center of strength. Please click the link to learn more about Gongju.