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Published: June 24th 2019
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Going from point A to point B without fear of getting lost had been no longer a problem for people like me who has poor sense of direction, thanks to google maps. South Korea although having very cheap and probably the fastest internet access do not have a full functioning google maps. You can see the blue dot in there but the accuracy of your destination is not very dependable nor that dot actually seemed not to be going anywhere. So there was always a sense of panic that we are getting lost or my two kids will soon be reaching their walking quota and started whinging before I found our next destination. I feel so unsure but at the same time I do not want to take a cab when I know our destination is within 1 kilometer from where we are. But at some point I just have to backed out from the challenge of trying to find my destination in my motionless google map application and just take the cab. A cab ride is very cheap in Korea anyway and they have their local version of google maps called neighbor something. I was told it was for security
reasons from their neighbors from up north that some features of google maps were deactivated.
We haven't travel as a family outside Japan, except for our frequent trips to Manila in a a very long time. Our trip to Korea was such a blast. My kids now being 12 and 10 years old, I had so much fun time with them and I realized how funny and matured they have become. We left Japan Thursday afternoon and went back home early Sunday morning. It was a short trip with a lot of laughs and talking lots of non sense with my kids. Gone were the days of carrying heavy suit cases to make sure we have enough room for all ours and kids' essentials. Now all four of us just carry light back packs and passing through airports without young kids are a breeze. It is awesome.
As our travel tradition goes I ask them way before the trip what points of interests would they be interested in and we discussed and see what we can do and what we can chug out. So for this trip, these are the choices that we agreed upon and actually realized
it on our trip. They are both very interested in going to a Virtual Reality game cafe, Akira would like for us to try to go to Netflix's Stranger Things pop-up replica set that will run for less than two weeks in Seoul and Hannah would like to lounge into a number of cafes particularly the ones with fresh mango based dessert.
We checked in at Gangnam Family Hotel, it was a cheap family hotel. It was an old building surrounded by all grand five star hotels in the area. But it was decent and comfortable enough for the four of us. Hilarious at times when I started to wonder why I can see so many women just lazily sitting in front of the building, smoking while looking so bored, some covered with bandana, I assumed belonging to a conservative faith, until I realized most of them having busted faces or weirdly shaped or high noses who seemed to have difficulty breathing when they speak. I found out our hotel catered to those people who go to Korea to avail of their human sculpting expertise, not that I have anything against it, but having my children with me, I
just cannot think of my wife or myself opting to go under the knife for an aesthetic procedure that might risk our lives. I was already so scared last year when I went for a minor cataract removal as a result of my constant pollen allergy.
As soon as we dropped our bags at our hotel, we hopped back to the subway and went to COEX Mall to see the Oppa Gangnam Style Hand sculpture to commemorate the musical achievement of Korean pop music. We also came to see the famous library at COEX Mall. Then we went to Noryangjin Market for our most delectable and expensive meal. It was actually very cheap considering that we feasted on lobster, fresh seafood, sashimi and octopus trying to escape our plate at less than 150,000 won, 15,000 yen, it was so worth it.
Since my kids were missing two school days, a historical trip to compensate for that loss was necessary. So the next day we went to the Gyeongbokgung Palace and the National Folk Museum. We were lucky, we overheard two Japanese ladies at the train saying at each other to hurry up coz it's almost 10. Sensing something
important will be happening we ran with them, and just in time, the changing of guard ceremony was about to begin. Just when I thought the Taiwan changing of guard was so cool, this Korean palace puts on an olympic worthy pageantry. We got lost at this huge palace grounds, exiting at a different place, which led us to the serenely and very modern looking blue palace. It was the residential palace of the South Korean president. It has dignified look but also has a subtle softness to it. There was also a grand and beautiful fountain on a roundabout leading to it.
Then it was time for another market trip, Gwangjang Market for a delightful authentic Korean lunch. We ate so much. When I finally found the kiosk I was looking for, the lady that was featured on Netflix's Streetfood South Korea, there were no more room in my tummy for her famous knife cut noodles, so I just took her photo for souvenir. We then wandered and got lost at Hongdae area, short for Hongik University, no thanks to google map in search for VR cafe. We eventually found it, coz we decided to take a cab.
Then got lost again finding the Stranger Things pop up, so we decided to take a cab again. We had fun knowing we are being tricked to a media campaign by Netflix. Take 11 photos of the set, post it on instagram, then get a free ice cream plus a raffle for a chance to win Stranger Things items. Hannah was so happy that we won posters of seasons 1,2 and 3. We were so tired, so now its time to get into another Korean tradition, "Chimaek", chicken and beer. We went to the popular franchise "BBQ" and ate so much garlic sweet chicken, crispy chicken, beer and pizza.
Most Japanese people go for short trip to Korea to dine and shop and we did what we came for. Dine and chill with our kids. We also had Korean barbecue, then enjoyed the popular party streets of Gangnam. Although my kids were the only minors walking the streets of Gangnam, we didn't feel we are with kids, as both of them were jumping up and down entertaining themselves and sometimes just totally being silly with their parents. We have spent considerable hours at coffee shops and just taking the
time to enjoy each other company before we go back to our hectic work life and their equally busy school and sports life. Work loads and relax when you can.
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