Winter Trip with Family - Bukchon Hanok Village, Gyeongbokgung & Murree Restaurant

Assalamualaikum. 안녕.

Previous post (here).

Few things happened this past few days.

Nenek Jawa; Ezza's grandmother from her father's side passed away last Sunday. Al Fatihah to her. And, new semester started last Monday. Jadinya telah secara tiba² menjadi busy. Pagi di cafe, petang attend tahlil. Kepenatan melampau, shall I say?

Hence, tertangguh entry balik kampong. Walaupun sebenarnya excited mau share. Tapi tulah, time constraint. Tettt!!!

21 Jan 2015
Bukchon Hanok Village

Ok lets continue to our 4th day in South Korea. Today, I decided to bring the family jalan² around Seoul only. Sudah dua hari bangun awal; travel few hours away from Seoul. So harini, boleh bangun lambat sikit. Breakfast pun ala santai. Nothing to rush.

Naik subway from Euljiro sa-4 ga & turun di Anguk Station. Antara subway station yang ada staircases super pembunuh. Amazingly, family members aku yang lain sangat enjoy turun naik tangga. Especially the three sisters. Tidak ku sangka, langsung tiada rungutan from them! Aku pula yang banyak pancit masa naik tangga. Sobs.

# First stop was Bukchon Hanok Village.
 As Bukchon is a residential area, so kenalah hormat their privacy. Tu yang sampai 3 exclamation marks.

Saja bawa diorang masuk area ni sebab hanok (Korean traditional house) ni selalu jak muncul dalam Kdrama. Kali ni pergi for real...and ambil feel.

Honestly speaking, aku belum pernah lagi jejak 8 photo spots yang famous di Bukchon ni. Maybe ada few aku accidentally jejak tapi memang ndak pernah ambil tau pasal spots tu. Next visit, akan ku gigih completekan all 8 spots. Insha Allah.

# Group photo & aku jugalah segumpal di depan sekali.
Alhamdulillah, diorang suka jalan² area ni. Apa lagi pagi tu ndak berapa sejuk. Again, walking on the hilly terrain means nothing to them. Daebak betul! Proud gila aku sama diorang ni. 

# Random pic.

Sebab selalu datang Bukchon, aku suka jalan tanpa arah...this time pun aku buat macam tu juga. Dengan kembang kuncupnya hidung aku bagitau diorang...we need no map today. Although almost all the alleys look the same, alhamdulillah I managed to 'guide' them without getting lost.

U can browse here for pictures of Bukchon I took a couple of years ago. 

# Thanks for not complaining! Ikut pi mana jak aku bawa.

# Tabahlah layan the only bujang senang. Nasib owner motor tu tiada. Else, merasa lah kena ceramah free di pagi buta. Sukasuki buat motor orang macam harta sendiri.

# Untuk kesekian kalinya, I am easily amuse with little thing such as this.

# Because Bunda loves that small stool. Like Mother, like daughter. Ntah papa jaklah yang attract our attention.

# Aunty ambil feel cherry blossom; di musim winter. Walaupun pelestik, yang penting pose. 

# Paksa Ezza pose depan this shop. I like its white brick wall. 

Sedang asyik layan view kedai comel & kreatif, suddenly Ezza decided to enter Etude House to purchase something. And the rest pun haruslah join juga. Dari cuma mau beli 1 barang, ended up keluar dengan berbakul² pink paperbags. Spent nearly 2 hours dalam ni. Kejadian paling haru betul kan! Awal pagi perabis Won. 

Aku pun ndak terkecuali sebenarnya. I spent almost 60,000 Won! Sebab aku belum sure when my next balik kampong trip will be...so aku pun pulunlah top up itu ini. And alang² juga aku beli terus kiriman Ms G. Aku memang sangat sangat jarang terima pesanan orang; only certain people akan dientertain. Banyak faktor kenapa aku malas terima. So selalu aku akan terus terang cakap; tiada pesanan diterima. Simple. And direct to the point. 

# Sesi distribute belian masing². Depan kedai pun jadi kan. As if ndak boleh buat di tempat lain.

# Bundle shop at Samcheongdong 

Dari Bukchon, kami jalan kaki pi Samcheongdong. Pastu ronda area sana sambil cuci mata. Main tujuan pi Samcheongdong adalah untuk tunjuk Bunda semua cafe yang comel & unik di area ni. Selama ni kerja aku gebang pasal coffee shop di Seoul jak so kali ni aku tunjuklah versi real punya. Boleh curi idea for future project as well.

Last autumn, I went to one of the hanok cafe in Samcheongdong (here). Tapi trip kali ni tiada singgah to any of the cafes there. Ish, rasa menyesal lah pula.

From there, we walked to Gyeongbok Palace. Ni pun kena jejak kaki juga sebab Bunda suka tengok Korean historical drama. Rugilah sudah sampai Seoul tapi ndak masuk one of the palaces. At least masuklah satu, buat pencukup syarat. And yes, boleh ambil feel life raja². 

# Kalau dari Samcheongdong, masuk ikut gate ni jak untuk pi Gyeongbokgung. 

# Ancient Lunar Calendar

Kami ndak masuk National Folk Museum sebab yang lain cuma mau explore the palace's vicinity. So kami ambil gambar depan statue binatang yang represent zodiak di luar muzium jak. 

# Aunty pose mahal with Hyangwonjeong Pavilion in the background.
The pavilion is situated on an artificial island in a lake & connected to the palace ground by bridge.

# Hmmm...back to their 20s I guess.

# The Pavilion from different side.
Sebenarnya aku suka tengok frozen lake yang encircled something. Just like this one. 

# Pose depa tangan adalah pose-mesti-ada.

# Mesti lagi best kalau dapat tour this palace during the snowfall. 

# Look how massive this building is.
Baru main building. Belum masuk lagi segala istana kecil, halls, gates & gardens dalam istana ni. Super luas!

# Standing before the Geunjongjeon (Imperial Throne Hall).
This is where the King is formally briefed by His officials. Foreign ambassadors pun diraihkan sini juga. Kiranya tempat ni memang central venue for various events during that era.

# Tablets
Yang ni memang banyak kali muncul dalam Kdrama. So Bunda & Angah super excited terus bawa bergambar di sini. 

Kami sempat tengok changing of guards (evening session). Pastu diorang semua pakat lari pi Gwanghwamun Gate. The main gate of Gyeongbokgung. Mau bergambar sama guards katanye! 

# Guard yang berdiri dengan tekun regardless the weather.
Kali ni ndak boleh bergambar dekat sangat sama guard. Siap ada bodyguard yang tegur kalau ada anyone stands too close to the palace guard. Last time boleh pula bergambar sebelah diorang. I peliks.

# Angah & King Sejong.

# Selfoots. 

# Gwanghwamun Square
Bila tengok ni, automatik...rindu Seoul!! 

Jalan lebih kurang di sini, then cousins aku mengadu lapar. And laju jak disahut oleh the three sisters. Masa ni haruslah ndak kan dapat sambutan kalau aku cakap mau pi Cheonggyecheon Stream lagi. Padahal aku sudah lama 'mengidam' mau view stream tu di waktu siang. Tiap kali balik kampong, ndak pernah lagi aku berjalan area stream tu di siang hari. Ndak pa, next trip insha Allah. 

We hopped the subway train from Gwanghwamun Station & alighted at Itaewon. Initially aku planned bawa diorang lunch di Han Gwa Chae, Insadong lepas meronda palace & kawasan sekitar. But considering diorang memang sudah kelaparan, teruslah aku suggest makan di Itaewon jak. Sebab dalam itinerary, harini akan lawat Masjid Seoul.

Sebelum pi makan, kami singgah bank untuk tukar duit. Won Angah makin susut. Ada try withdraw duit dari ATM tapi asyiklah ndak boleh. Bila sudah sampai bilik malam tu, barulah aku perasan kebingaian aku yang tiada tolok bandingnya ni. Instead of choosing saving account, aku secara super pintar pi pilih current account. Walau seribu ATM kami cuba pun memang confirm ndak kan dapat withdraw duit! Kesian Angah terpaksa tukar duit di bank. Exchange rate haruslah mencekik darah! Murah gila diorang ambil currency kita. Sobs!

# Murree Restaurant
Memang semua laju jak masuk. Aku jak terkedek still di luar ambil gambar segala. 

# Telek menu.
Ezza just ordered anything yang aku cakap sedap. Senang kan lidah universal ni.

Before pi sini, aku selalu baca di blog orang Murree ni famous dengan 'makanan lambat sampai' & 'servis lambat'. It was my first time dining at this restaurant. Mau bagi family rasa local cuisine yang halal so aku yakinkan diri bawa diorang makan di sini; dengan harapan janganlah lambat seperti yang diwar²kan.

Alhamdulillah, we waited not more than 15 minutes for the food to arrived after we placed our order. Except for Bunda's sebab Anakonda dia yang bertuah lupa untuk order. Memang terbaik melantun²kan perangai gitu. Punyalah sedap jamu perut sendiri...suddenly

"Why my food hasn't arrived?"

"Ya kan. Order apa tadi?"

"Dalsot bimbimbap."

"Alamak! Macam tidak terorder oh tadi. Lupa!"

Dan cengkerik pun berbunyi. Nasiblah lepas tu cuma dengar arahan suruh order lagi sekali. Semboyan ndak larat berbunyi sebab lapar. Wachaaa!

# My luncheon. Fav aku gaul nasi sama kim (seaweed) tu.
Kimchii jigae ni ndak pekat macam yang aku makan di Chilgabsan last year. Tapi the one at Murree ni pun sedap juga. 

Sudah kenyang semua...jadi marilah tunaikan kewajipan sebagai hamba Nya. Aku yang mula tu ingat mau order dessert terus cancel niat. Takut ndak larat mendaki bukit pi masjid. Ada nanti yang kena suruh mengensot macam siput.

# Syukur! Diorang sempat solat di sini.

# Jea's favourite restaurant. Lupa ambil gambar Abang Sado ko wei!
Sebabkan Angah baru tukar duit, so dia belanja ayam golek untuk dinner di rumah. Gembira diorang jumpa ayam golek di bumi Seoul ya tuan puan! Tapi rasa nan hado. 

Singgah beli Turkish delight di Salam Bakery. Sudah jalan naik turun bukit, haruslah perut start berdangdut balik. Aku beli baklava. Girl & Adek beli aiskrim Turki; RM 12 sebiji! Pasrah jaklah, mau merasa sangat kan. Biar sejuk gigil, gigih mau makan aiskrim juga. 

Then kami pi Foreign Food Mart untuk stock up groceries. Nasi himpit kami bawa dari Malaysia sudah habis so haruslah beli beras. Telur pun siap beli 1 carton sebab bak kata Adek "telur kalau campur apa jak pun, tetap sedap". Memang aku sokong! Boleh buat spagetti goreng! Ntah apa lagi yang kami beli tapi masa di kaunter aku ingat Angah bayar dalam 90,000 Won. Sila nangis! And paksa diri untuk jangan convert pi RM. Nasiblah tong² bayar. 

Dari Itaewon, kami terus balik rumah. Dinner sungguh meriah sampai langsung tiada 'nafsu' untuk ambil gambar. And aku ndak keluar lagi malam tu. Leka layan Kdrama lepas dinner. 

Aku tidur awal! Macamlah penat gila kan?? Padahal bukan jauh pun aku menapak siang tu. Alasan aku sebab esok paginya kena bangun awal. Akan pi luar Seoul lagi! 

eryantierdabdulkarim

CutiCuti: South Korea Day 1 - Itaewon Mosque

Assalamualaikum. 안녕!

Previous:
Arrival & Namsan Guesthouse 2
Namsangol Hanok Village

The only mosque in Seoul is the very place I regretted not visiting last year. I remembered we arrived from Yongpyeong resort a bit late that evening. Though we had dinner at one of the Pakistani restaurant in Itaewon...the evening cold weather forbids us from proceeding with the plan to walk further up the hill; where the mosque is situated. It was our first time experiencing winter & the time we had wasn't enough for the system to adapt well with the coldness. 

As I planned to come back to South Korea again one day, I convinced myself that I will not miss the mosque! Alhamdullilah, The Almighty answered my prayer. 

On the first day I set my foot upon the Land of Morning Calm, He gave me the opportunity to visit this sacred place. No words could explain how happy I am. How bless I feel. Syukran Allah.

To get to Itaewon Central Mosque, we took the subway to Itaewon Line 6 (Exit 2). From the exit, walked straight to the first traffic light. Crossed the road *see pic above*. And walked straight ahead. Take the third junction on the left & keep walking until the end of the road. The mosque main entrance will be on the left side. 

Love sign for the far away husband...I forced her to take a picture with the signage. But that love sign she did wasn't my idea. 

Because Itaewon is inhabited mostly by foreigners; it is rather easy to find halal restaurants at this area. U just have to make ur pick. 

Halal products can also be easily found here. 

I overheard the immigration officer at LCCT promoted this restaurant to one of the passenger while we were at the boarding hall.

"Cari kedai nama Siti Sarah; diorang jual masakan Melayu"
Kepochi that I always be; I whispered to Ms G 
"Siti Sarah restaurant. Yang penyanyi tu ka?" 
Ngek!

Yup the menu is  indeed something I would normally find in Malaysia; only the price differ. But it's understandable. For me the price is reasonable; considering where the restaurant is located. Mau dapat barang mentah + halal bukan alang² punya harga bila di sana, ok.

We were supposed to have our luncheon here but because we got to check-in early...we had our lunch in the room instead. Changed the plan to dine outside to another day. I read from many blogs that we can get to taste the local dishes from this restaurant. Kunun mau merasa bulgogi stew or bibimbap halal...ndak kesampaian. Next time perhaps.

After few minutes of walking; layan nafsu mata with loads of choices for halal restaurants & bakeries...we finally stood before this blue entrance. My heart beats faster. 

"Bie, u're here" I whispered. 

Subhanallah. A place where Muslim is just a minority, stands this mosque. Aku terkedu lagi. 

We walked up to the mosque...and found out, the Ahjussi who take care of the place is a Korean Muslim. I don't know whether he is Muslim-born or he converts. He was not at this pondok jaga as he was in the mosque together with the other jum'ahs; performing Asr' prayer. I didn't perform my solah as I already did my jama' at the hostel. Menyesal ndak singgah solat sunat. Insha Allah next time visit mesti singgah solat.

The view from the stairs heading to the praying hall is indeed soothing. Very calm & peaceful. It was overwhelming as well seeing the new sisters in hijab & some with niqab. For a moment there, I felt a bit embarrassed. I may born as a Muslim but the way I live my life sometimes is too far from what the Qoran teaches me to. Astagfirullah.

Pelbagai bangsa solat bersama. Subhanallah, betapa kesucian agama ini mampu merapatkan silaturahim bangsa yang berbeza.  

Aku berjaya datang...berdiri di hadapan rumah Mu ini ya Rabb. Moga diberi kesempatan lagi untuk jejak di sini. Dan untuk solat sekali. Insha Allah, insha Allah.

Anyway, it's a total bummer that I don't have any picture of Ms G wearing the black long skirt at the mosque.

As a mark of respect, those who who wished to visit the mosque have to wear an appropriate clothing. But worry not, to those who didn't dressed accordingly the management provide long skirts or sarong. 

My two-cents:

Here attached the direction map to Seoul Central Mosque from Itaewon subway station. Trust me, it's so easy to locate the mosque. Although I doubt my decreasing ability to read map these days...alhamdulillah, akhirnya sampai. Dulu baca direction dari blogs orang, aku pening lalat. I always have this kind of thinking...

"Macam susah jak...kalau sesat memang naya".

With His blessing...I reached the mosque without getting lost. Out from the subway station, confident jalan ikut peta dalam minda. As the bestie always say; niat kena baik. Perbetul kalau ndak ngam. 

eryantierdabdulkarim

Edisi: From Seoul to Yongpyeong Ski Resort to Itaewon

That man on the left wearing the green soldier uniform; might be a trainee only. Or what we referred to as PLKN trainee. It is compulsory for the Korean to enrol in military. Semangat juang negara mereka adalah tinggi ok. Years of being under the Japanese rule, during the war; they somehow embodied a strong patriotism spirit. The Koreans are very proud of their own country. And that's what I highly respect about them.

 Ehem...eheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeem. While waiting for the bus. At the parking bay of Dong Seoul Bus Terminal, bound for Yongpyeong Ski Resorts. 

Tall building scattered around the city. Just like in their drama/movie. Fine, aku memang ndak sah kalau ndak mention pasal Kdrama/Kmovie kan. Sila terima dengan paksarela please.

 Gangbyeon Station. The pedestrian crossings are extensively utilized. This was taken from inside the bus soon after leaving Dong Seoul Bus Terminal; bound for Hoenggye. 

 Foggy window tells me enough of the cold weather outside. We arrived at Hoenggye Intercity Bus Terminal after 3 hours of journey from Seoul. 

 First time in my life! What would u expect? Harus lah kan aku jaks di situ. Di KK ndak da benda ni. Kak Sya jalan terlajak ke depan.

We took the free shuttle bus to the resort in front of the post office (behind me near tiang yang ada garis kuning hitam tu).

 I've always want to have this lied before my eyes ever since I was a kid.

Tu dia. Tourists tegar. Siap ada angin bayu meniup manja rambut.

 Their version of Mc'D.

Maybe next time, ok Pijah.

Uri chingu merangkap guide kami. Gomawo!

Bila lah akan terlaksana impian untuk main ski. Or snowboarding.

 We took the gondola to reach the peak.

Reached the Dragon Peak.

Alhamdulillah. It's a dream came true! 

Verangan adalah perlu. What's with his poster up there? Oh yeah, u got it right. Some of the scenes in the infamous K-drama; Winter Sonata was filmed here. 

I had so much fun I totally forgot my numb foot.

 Us ladies. Having so much fun up there despite the coldness.

 MakSu & Yours Truly in the gondola on our way down from The Peak.

YongPyong Hotel Condo & Apartment at the resort. Located on the ridge of Mount Balwangsan it is the first domestic ski resort opened sometime in '75.

It would be great to have the opportunity to stay there & experience playing with the snow late night. Gerenti lah kan muka jadi kebas segala. 

View of Seoul at night. We took a bus from the resort straight to the city. Hopped off the bus somewhere near Hyundai Department Store after nearly 1.5hours stuck in a traffic congestion. 

Took the subway to Itaewon. Jumpa kedai with Halal sign adalah sangat nikmat!!! Biar lah kebab tu sebiji RM12 sekalipun!!

Our dinner at a Turkish restaurant where Lisa did her part time job during her uni year. The menu was briyani kambing. Paratha bread. Lamb curry. Chic curry. Finally!!! Jumpa nasi!!! Super sedap!

Was supposed to visit the only mosque in Seoul but because most of the ladies were already tired...and the idea of climbing more steep road made them immediately gave up with the plan. Letih oii! Walau aku adalah sedikit hampa...*wink at Ernie* but never mind that for I have already plan a trip to SK with Bunda. Cuma ndak tahu bila lah kunun akan tercapai impian itu. Insya Allah.

Mari doa sama²...gomawo. Yay!!

eryantierdabdulkarim