Posterous theme by Cory Watilo

Captivating Korea Seoul Tours and Travel Packages

Captivating Korea Seoul Tours and Travel Packages

From http://www.MomToursAndTravel.com

Hi Everybody,

We are back from a 4-day Korea Seoul tours and travel adventure package.  Beautiful sceneries, very cold weather, indeed a walking tour. Tourist spots are from east to west, thus, we have to change hotels everyday to save on travel time for the next itinerary. Travelling time takes around 1 – 2 hours from the last destination to the new one.

We were served authentic Korean food from breakfast to dinner; kimchi and steamed bean sprouts are always included in the menu. Everything was spicy, super spicy, and all meal packages include vegetables and cooked in different Korea bulgogi ways.  The good part of a travel package tour was to experience the real korean way of eating & cooking via the misono way, one-burner stove at every table, style .

United States dollars are only accepted at duty free stores,  big cosmetic shops and high end malls that were  included in our travel package.  I was able to buy an amethyst bracelet because of its’ medicinal powers and some korean cosmetics.  Only cosmetics of well known Korean brands turned out to be cheaper by at least 35% compared with that in Manila. All the rest were way too expensive. Even souvenir items and Korean products at the supermarket were priced higher.

Word of advise, to those planning to go to Korea, I strongly advise that you exchange your United States dollars to Won at the airport as the banks give very competitive rates.  Korean shopping centers only accept Won as with all restaurants, buses, taxis and trains.  Only the tourist guide speaks fluent English. If you shop at the stores, do remember to bring a handy calculator.

If you are not joining a tour and travel package tour, I suggest that you plan your daily Korean itinerary ahead of time because tourist spots are far from one another.  The entrance fees to most tourist spots and amusement parks are also expensive. You should also try to start your independent tour early in the morning, most especially in theme parks, as they have lots of tourists, queueing ahead. We did not have to queue because  everything was paid for and entrance tickets were bought in advance at much cheaper than regular rates because of the group rate discount.  I will lend you my tourist map and Korea Travel Guide compliments of Jeju Air so you can better plan your Seoul, Korea vacation deals.

DAY 01   :  ICN / Nami Island / Mt. Seorak                                        

We arrived at Korea Seoul Incheon International Airportaround 7am and waited for our Korean tourist guide from Jeju Airways. This was the maiden flight and Korea tours and travel package of Jeju Air so everything was still a bit unorganized but definitely not disappointing. When the tourist bus arrived, we were brought to a Korean restaurant just 10 minutes away from Incheon for our breakfast in a local restaurant . Breakfast was rice porridge and with, you guessed it, kimchi! Breakfast was eat all you can and you can have second or third servings if you wanted to.

After a belly filling authentic Korean breakfast, we rode the bus towards our first official tourist stop, Nami Island. Take note that our luggages were still in the bus and were told that the hotel will be our last destination for the day. The voyage to Nami was a little over 3 hours  plus a 10 minute ferry ride to this 6 kilometer wide crescent moon shaped independent state that requires on site “visa” processing.

Nami Island Tours and Travel became famous because of the hit Koreanovela television show Winter Sonata that was eventually translated to numerous languages. This started the Korean trend of producing soap operas and exporting them to the world. Nami is a peaceful island with lots of nature inspired tourist areas. It is definitely a must see and one day would not be enough to enjoy this eight wonder.

We ended the tours and travel day so tired that once we arrived at our hotels, all we could do was take a bath and sleep.

And this is just Day 1 of our truly wonderful Korea Seoul Tours and TravelPackage!

 

How to make a simple bouquet of flowers

Travelled to Dangwa in Manila to observe how fast and beautiful they can make a bouquet of flowers for less than US$7 during off-peak seasons. To be able to do this, you first need to pick the flowers, the materials, and then add anywhere from US$1.50 to US$2.50 for the labor of assembling it into a bouquet. Materials like ribbon, chinese wrapping paper would cost a total of US$0.50 while the flowers themselves will set you back at US$4 to US$7 on your ordinary roses.

 

Dangwa originally referred to the name of the bus company that plied the route from Baguio (where the flowers are grown) to Manila. People would send the cut flowers by bus from the cold Baguio weather and travel around 4 to 5 hours to reach Manila. This is the flower capital of Manila.

More of Mom's blogs at: http://www.MomToursAndTravel.com

 

Swinging Tours and Travel in Singapore

Went on a halfday city walking tours and travel to Little India, Chinatown, Merlion Park, Gem factory and Botanical Garden, then went on our own  to Vivocity to get our Sentosa Island tour and had fun until 11pm. It was all trekking under the 35 degrees celsius heat and humidity at 90. I had to take occasional rests along the road. I had to insist and urge my children to watch the Songs of the Sea. I was told by my friends that it was something that the family can enjoy; but with a S$15 price tag, my grandchildren would rather spend it on rides. I knew they will see it my way, and in the end, everyone was glad that I had urged them to watch the beautiful water and laser show.


Who wouldn’t love this fish that resembled Flounder?

May 01 – Day 03

Whole day at Universal Studios smaller version of Universal USA, but enough for all rides and shows and as expected did not make rides and went chaperone to my grandchildren and watched their bags.


Universal Studios in Resorts World was about a 25minute taxi ride from our YMCA Hotel, Fort Canning Road.

I tried the Transformers Ride, and I had to close my eyes during the entire 3D ride because the action was too quick, the car movements too fast and the flashing lights so blinding. Good thing I took Serc before.  Then, in the afternoon, I went with my family to Revenge of the Mummy Ride, an indoor mild roller coaster, and so my children told me,  but it was super dark. An hour before I took Plasil for fear I might vomit during the ride and true to my instincts, I felt dizzy during the entire ride and did not see even the tomb of the Mummy because I had my eyes closed the entire time.  When we went out, they have to find a seat for me because I could hardly walk and about to faint. Sweat running down my forehead, my hands feeling numb and cold. Good thing my daughter in law brought the Origins Sensory therapy ointment I bought for them from Macy’s while in America and after rubbing to both temples and nape, in a matter of seconds, i felt better and the headache and sweating were gone.  It was a mistake for me not minding the caution sign at the entrance, ” Warning,  people with motion sickness not allowed to ride “. Good idea I tool plasil but I felt that  I should have taken another Serc in the afternoon.

We then went to the Universal Waterworld  ”wet and wild stage show” and if they see people covering their faces with hats or umbrella, the actors would approach them and give them a squirt from their water guns. Indeed a good and funny show, We even had a group picture with the handsome lead actor and the protagonists.

The middle of the action where the hero rescues his leading lady…or so he thinks!

Fireworks filled the entire scene. The music was loud that it added to the suspense of the musical. Youw ould have to watch the climactic ending!

We waited for the Parade of Stars at 7pm and positioned ourselves infront and when I saw the robots with water hose and looking for unsuspecting “victims”,  I covered my face with my umbrella to hide… but alas!  he went infront of me and pointed the water hose to my body… it was really fun to see my grandchildren laughing at me.  Then my children and grandchildren took another ride at battestar galactica cyclone roller coaster, the mummy ride  and transformers the ride.

We went to the pick-up point at around 7:45pm but the tour bus to the hotel left because  nobody read the copies of the ITs and instructions I distributed to my children (the very reason I gave them copies is that I cannot follow simple instructions and at times don’t pay attention ) that 7pm is pick-up time on a 1st come, 1st served basis and one trip only.  So we took a taxi back but all was well for if we went out early, we would have not have seen the parade of stars and enjoyed the repeated rides.  When we went home, my son tempted me to go back to the Resorts World Casino and gamble my  S$50.00 in the pocket, but I told him of the odds and I felt so tired that day.

May 02 – Day 04

After breakfast and last minute packing, we went out for some shopping, lo and behold, Orchard Road is a high end section so all the malls are selling signature items so we did not dare buy but just ate our lunch. Arrived Manila at 8:20pm very tired bringing back with us the funny experiences & fond memories of my bonding with my 3 grand daughters.  You know, in my 4 days at Singapore, I was only able to consume 15 sticks of Marlboro because it was so difficult to find a designated smoking area. Also, our hotel is non- smoking and I have to walk to the street corner for a garbage can with ashtray on top.

This ends our 4 days and 3 nights tours and travel in Singapore.

 

 

Tours and Travel in Bangkok Bangkok Thailand

Hi Everybody,

Just got back last night from a 5D/4N tours and travel to Bangkok, Thailand bringing back with us another travel experience and funny stories to tell. Bangkok has nothing much to offer except for lots of shopping and indeed very cheap as 1 Baht is equivalent to $.03! One has to be a good negotiator to get super bargains. If you feel that an item is expensive, just turn your back away then leave and they will call you back for renegotiation until you come to an agreement. You can just try to haggle for the price so you’ll know how much you can buy the same item at the next store.
As usual, me and my daughter went all out and literally shopped until our feet were sore from walking. Prices are really cheaper, that is if you buy at least 6 pcs per item.  We only did our shopping at MBK Shopping Mall because it was only a 10 minute walk from our4-star Asia Hotel Bangkok or a  3 minute “tuktuk” ride.  We did not bother go to their bargain shopping mall because it was quite far from our Asia Hotel.
Bangkok is known for temples and buddhas. they seem to have all the configurations:  from gold to emerald, to standing, sitting, reclining, etc. Since I have been to a number of Asian country vacation deals, I was already used to seeing buddhas, palaces and temples.  We took the floating market tour but did not like it. It was a narrow river similar to Venice but a bit dirty .  Too bad we weren’t able to try the local food being sold by the boat peddlers as we just had our meals. The floating market is an hour and a half from Bangkok and it was a welcome sight to see for ourselves and experience the much talked about Bangkok Thailand floating market.


We then proceeded to the Bridge of River Kwai for a historical tour. Having watched  ”Bridge on the River Kwaii ” , I was familiar with the history and saw for myself the bridge that was bombed by US airforce men and was rebuilt to its original structure and still being used today by selected passenger trains. We also visited the War Museum and the War cemetery where almost 7,000 POW soldiers were buried and one can really feel the sadness of the River kwaii history from the photos that were displayed.
The whole day ( Floating Market & River Kwaii ) trip was quite long at around 6 hours round trip under the 32 celsius heat. I hope my comments did not in anyway draw negative tourism effects as we only saw some of Bangkok’s highlighted tours.  If and when you decide to go to Bangkok, book at Asia Hotel Bangkok, a low price hotel, and you won’t regret it.
On my next Asian travel pass, I will forego the temples and war museums and go modern this time.  I really loved our Vietnam & Korea Seoul travel package trips because of its historical places with only a handful of temples and palaces.  
I am looking at Kuala Lumpur Malaysia or Taipei tours and travel for my birthday treat come November. I would also like ko to see Japan, but I still fear the recent earthquake and tsunami.

 

Malaysia tours and travel by mom

Malaysia Tour Day 5: Happy to go back home from our tours and travel - Thursday - Oct. 25

http://www.MomToursAndTravel.com

After 830am breakfast, I just stayed at the hotel and Jovi  rode train from KL Sentral to KLCC station to visit the National Mosque and KTM Headuarters and went back to Hotel Sentral by 12nn for check-out. 

 

[caption id="attachment_658" align="aligncenter" width="300"] National Mosque[/caption][caption id="attachment_659" align="aligncenter" width="300"] KTM HQ Kuala Lumpur City Centre Malaysia[/caption][caption id="attachment_660" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Inside National Mosque[/caption][caption id="attachment_661" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The park outside National Mosque[/caption][caption id="attachment_662" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Park outside National Mosque[/caption][caption id="attachment_664" align="aligncenter" width="300"] National Mosque[/caption][caption id="attachment_665" align="aligncenter" width="300"] KTM Headquarters[/caption][caption id="attachment_666" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Mini train Museum at KTM[/caption][caption id="attachment_667" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Being lost at KLCC Station[/caption]

 

RM7 taxi to KL Sental for Burger King lunch and 130pm check-in at KLIA Ekspress. Arrived at KLIA for duty free window shopping and tour between terminals.  Boarded plane at 540pm for our return flight to Manila.

[caption id="attachment_669" align="aligncenter" width="300"] KL Sentral Bus Terminal[/caption][caption id="attachment_670" align="aligncenter" width="300"] KLIA Airport Terminal[/caption][caption id="attachment_671" align="aligncenter" width="300"] KLIA resting places[/caption]

 

Before boarding our planes, I discovered this inviting area at the KLIA Terminal called the Boardwalk. It is centrally located and has more than 50 plant and tree species. It was a welcome sight to see and feel how Malaysia is so concerned about greeneries and the environment.

 

[caption id="attachment_675" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Kuala Lumpur International Airport Boardwalk[/caption][caption id="attachment_674" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Kuala Lumpur International Airport Boardwalk[/caption]

 

 

KL is much much better than Bangkok, there are many places to visit and explore, transportation is superb, all are timed in, bus and train stations are liken to airports, sad to say, mas maganda pa kesa sa our own airports here, the only hitch are the female restrooms with only 1 cubicle na may toilet bowl.

 

KL is really a walking tour, only that I did not prepare for it and sabi nga ni Jovi, once we go on our Cambodian tour, January 2013, I should be rested at least a week before and start my walkings around the village and take my vitamin C at least 2x a day.

 

Our special thanks to Cherry for giving us tips and feedbacks as we always do with each other, we gave them tips and feedbacks sa South Korean tour coz we went ahead, thus freed us from culture shocks and prepared us for exciting adventures. Cherry, we will give you tips and feedbacks on your Vietnam tour come June 2013.  Good I had Jovi with me who was my personal tour guide and super bright in reading maps and monorail lines and for taking good care of me during the entire tour seeing to it that I am left at a comfortable place and well rested in the hotel.

 

As I kept saying, all my tours have different stories to tell, except that I caught flu this time.  I did not go shopping coz, unlike Bangkok, KL is more of a tour than shopping and their tiangge is no comparison with our Ghills tiangge, low quality and not much to buy except pashmina, batiks and malay bandanas; all I was able to buy are KL keychains, Beryl chocolates and Old Town Coffee, the best coffee in Malaysia.

 

These are all and thank you for patiently reading .... am recommending KL .... " selamat sejahtera "

More of my adventures at:http://www.MomToursAndTravel.com