Suggested Itinerary for Seoul, South Korea (with DMZ)

DAY 1

1. Cheonggyecheong Stream
Getting there:
- City Hall Station (Seoul Subway Line 1, 2), Exit 4. Walk 250 m north to Cheonggye Plaza.

2. Deoksugung Palace
Getting there:
- City Hall Station (Seoul Subway Line 1, 2), Exit 2.
- Go straight 100m to arrive at Daehanmun Gate on the right.
Or
- 5 minutes walk from Cheongyecheon Stream

3. Sejong Center
Getting there:
- Gwanghwamun Station (Seoul Subway Line 5), Exit 1 or 8.
Or
- City Hall Station (Seoul Subway Line 1 or 2), Exit 3.
- Walk 10min towards Gwanghwamun Station.
Or
- 10 minutes walk from Deoksugung

4. Gyeongbokgung Palace
Getting There:
- Gyeongbokgung Station (Subway Line 3), exit 5.
Or
- Ganghwamun Station (Subway Line 5), exit 2 and walk 400 meters.
- Exit gwangwamun
Or
- 5 minutes walk from Sejong Center

Admission Fee: Adults (ages 19-64) 3,000 won
Interpretation Services (1 hour):
* English: 11:00, 13:30, 15:30
Performance Times:
January 1-December 31 (Closed on Tuesdays)
10:00-15:00(6 times a day/on the hour)

5. Namdaemun Market
Getting There:
- Hoehyeon Station (Subway Line 4), Exit 5


DAY 2

1. Shinsegae Mall
Getting There:
- Hoehyeon Station (Subway Line 4), Exit 7.

Tips:
- Mall opens at 1030am
- Food Garden at 10th Floor

2. Korean War Memorial
Getting There:
- Samgakji Station (Subway Lines 4, 6), Exit 12.
- It is 5min away from the station

Admission Fee:
- Free

Tips:
- Closed on Mondays
- Opens at 9am

3. Bukchon Hanok Village
Getting There:
- Anguk Station (Seoul Subway Line 3), Exit 2.
- Go straight for about 300m to arrive at Bukchon Hanok Village

Tip:- Drop by Tourist Information Center and get a copy of area map

4. Changdeokgung Palace
Getting there:
- Anguk Station (Subway Line 3), Exit 3.
- Go straight for 5min.
Or
- Jongno 3(sam)-ga Station (Subway Line 1, 3 or 5), Exit 7.
- Go straight along Donhwamun-ro Street for 10min.
Or
- 10 minutes walk from Bukchon Hanok Village

5. Myeongdong Shopping Street
Gettting There:
- Myeong-dong Station (Seoul Subway Line 4), Exit 5, 6, 7, or 8.
Or
- Euljiro Il-ga Station (Seoul Subway Line 2), Exit 5

Things to buy:
Cosmetics – watch out for freebies (note:30,000 up=tax refund)

Things to try:
a. Sausage
b. tteokboki roll
c. Dried squids
d. Egg muffin
e. Korean bread/pan cake


DAY 3

1. DMZ
Tip:
- Book via a local tour agency

2. Lotte Mart
Getting there:
- Euljiro 1(il)-ga Station (Seoul Subway Line 2)
- Lotte Department Store (Main Branch) is directly connected to the station.

Things to buy:
a. scorched rice candy
b. tteokbokkic.
c. real brownie by orion
d. seaweed snacks
e. banana flavored milk by binggrae


DAY 4

1. Tapgol Park
Getting there:
- JJongno 3(sam)-ga Station (Subway Line 1, 3, 5), Exit 1
- walk 5 minutes toward Jonggak.

2. Insa-dong / Ssamziegil mall
Getting there:
- Anguk Station (Seoul Subway Line 3), Exit 6.
- Go 100m straight, then turn left
Or
- Jonggak Station (Seoul Subway Line 1), Exit 3.
- Go straight 300m, and turn left at the 4-way Intersection
- Go straight 100m, and take the left road towards Insadong-gil Road
Or
- 5 minutes walk from Tapgol Park

Tip:
- Starbucks is only branch in Korea where outside signage is written in hangul

3. Jogyesa Temple
Getting There:
- Jonggak Station (Subway Line 1), Exit 2.
- Go 70m forward, then cross the street.
- Go 100m more to arrive at a path to Jogyesa Temple.
Or
- Anguk Station (Subway Line 3), Exit 6.
- Go 50m forward, then cross the street in front of Dongduk Gallery.
- Go 50m more to arrive at a path to Jogyesa Temple.
Or
- Gwanghwamun Station (Subway Line 5), Exit 2.
- Go 150m forward to arrive at a path to Jogyesa Temple between YTN Parking Tower and Hana Bank
Or
- 5 minutes walk from Ssamziegil mall

4. Gwangjang Market – dinner
Getting there:
- Jongno 5-ga station (subway line 1), exit 8
Or
- Eujiro 5-ga station (subway line 2,4), exit 4

Tips:
- Best place to buy silk, fabrics
- Shops close at 6pm then food stalls open up
- 12,000 per meal (can be shared)

Things to try
a. Bindaetteok
- pancake made from ground mung beans with various meats and vegetables
- 4000-5,000 each
b. makgeolli (traditional Korean rice wine)
c. mayak gimbap, literally “drug gimbap,” bite-sized rice and dried seaweedrolls
d. Sundae, or Korean-style black pudding (made of pig’s intestines stuffed with cellophane noodles, barley and pork blood)
– 5-6,000 per serving
e. Tteokboki (chewy rice cake) and fish paste in seaweed soup


DAY 5

1. Bank of Korea Museum
Getting There:
- Namdaemun Market

Admission Fee:
- Free

2. Shinsegae Mall
Getting there:
- Hoehyeon Station (Subway Line 4), Exit 7


Additional Places to See:

1. Dongdaemun – shopping/ street food tripping
Tips:
Zone 2 – recommended for shopping/ best to go after 10pm
Regular top – 20-30,000
APM mall and Migliore mall – cheaper clothes

Things to Try:
a. Giant sausage coated with fries
b. Oksusu Cha (roasted corn kernel tea)

2. Nami Island
Getting There:
a. BUS – recommended*
Shuttle Bus Schedule:
- Insa-dong, Jamsil Station → Namiseom Island: 09:30
- Namiseom Island → Insa-dong, Jamsil Station: 16:00*

Bus Stop:
1) Insa-dong (Jonggak Station, Subway Line 1, Exit 3): Next to Tapgol Park
2) Jamsil Station (Subway Line 2, Exit 4): In front of Lotte Mart
Round Trip:- 23000 won for round trip ticket + entrance visa to Nami Island + ferry ticket.
- 50 minutes from port to Gapyeong wharf

b. SUBWAY – too many transfers
- go to Sangbong Station (line no.7) and take Gyeongchun Line. It takes about 45 minutes to reach Gapyeong Station (1800 won one way).
- Get off at Gapyeong Station, take a taxi to Namiseom parking lot (travel time: 10-15min, 3000 won).
- Take the ferry from Namiseom Dock to Namiseom Island. (travel time: 5-6min)

3. Tongin Market
Getting there:
- From Gyeongbokgung Station (Seoul Subway Line 3) take exit 2 and contniue straight for about 700m. The market will be on your left.



NOTA BENE: This itinerary has been scheduled this way to accommodate my elderly parents’ physical limitations and interests.

Expenses for Seoul, Korea (2014)

		Individual Expense	Group of 4
Day 1
	travel tax	1620
	terminal fee	550
	airport limo	10000
	taxi to hotel	1250	5000/4
	TOTAL	PhP2170
		KRW11250
Day 2
	T card	2500
	T card load	10000
	bfast at pomato	2000	4000/2
	snack (korean pancake)	1167	3500/3
	gyeongbokgung entrance	3000
	late lunch at korean resto	3000	6000/2
	ref magnet	2000
	winter jacket	6000
	bingrae banana drink	1200
	TOTAL	KRW31867
Day 3
	brunch at korean resto	4000	8000/2
	pasalubong (daiso)	4500
	bb cream	8900
	cardigan	9000
	dinner at outback	8800	17600/2
	TOTAL	KRW35200
Day 4
	DMZ tour	46000
	late lunch at shinsegae	3750	7500/2
	grocery at Lotte Mart	22470
	TOTAL	KRW72220
Day 5
	bfast at pomato	2750	5500
	souvenir	16000
	snack (sweet custard bread)	1000
	taxi to gwangjang market	1000	4000/4
	dinner at gwangjang market	3000	12000/4
	TOTAL	KRW23750
Day 6
	bfast at Shinsegae	4940	9900/2
	tea	5500
	taxi to airport	750	3000/4
	airport limo (bus)	10000
	TOTAL	KRW21190
	RT airfare (no baggage)	6588.37	19765.11/3
	hotel accommodation (5 nights)	4058.72	16234.85/4
	TOTAL	PhP10647.09
	TOTAL (without airfare & hotel)	PhP2170 + KRW195477 (PhP8171) = PhP10341
	TOTAL EXPENSES	PhP20988  (KRW1=PhP0.0418)

Visual Adventure: Siem Reap

Suggested Itinerary for Siem Reap, Cambodia

 

Day 1

PM

745pm - flight to Siem Reap (3 hours)
930pm - arrive Siem Reap (Siem Reap is 1 hour behind of Manila)
1045pm - check-in at hotel

 

Day 2 (Angkor Wat & Angkor Thom)

AM

7am - bfast
8am - off to Angkor Wat
815am - buy Angkor Pass
825am - arrive at Angkor Wat
-Angkor Wat
11am - lunch

PM

12nn - head to Angkor Thom
1215pm - arrive at Angkor Thom
- South Gate
- Bayon
- Baphoun
- Terrace of the Elephants
- Terrace of the Leper King
- Royal Palace/Phimeanakas
- Ta Phrom
430pm - head back to hotel
6pm - Dinner buffet & Apsara Show

 

Day 3 (City Tour)

AM

715am - bfast
8am - off to Tonle Sap Lake
9am - arrive at Tonle Sap Dock
- Chong Kneas Floating Village
11am - lunch at Pub St.

PM

1pm - explore Angkor National Museum
4pm - checkout local supermarket
430pm - ice cream break at Swensen
530pm - souvenir & pasalubong (gifts) shopping at Old Market

 

Day 4 (Rolous Group)

AM

715am - bfast
8am - tour Rolous Group
- Lo Lei
- Bakong
- Preah Ko
- Banteay Samre

PM

1230pm - lunch
130pm - continue with temple hopping
- Banteay Srey
330pm - drop by Landmine Museum
4pm - head to Pre Rup for sunset
420pm - wait for sunset
530pm - sunset
7pm - dinner
9pm - souvenir shopping at Old Market

 

Day 5 (Grand Circuit)

AM

5am - off to Angkor Wat for sunrise
520am - wait for sunrise
6am - sunrise
730am - more temples!
- Preak Khan
- Neak Phean
- Tasom
- Bantay Kdei
11am - head back to Siem Reap
1122am - stop by hotel
12nn - lunch

PM

2pm - rest at hotel/late checkout
7pm - head to airport
10pm - flight to Manila

 

Day 6

AM

2am - arrive at Manila (Manila is 1 hour ahead of Siem Reap)

 

NOTA BENE: This itinerary has been scheduled this way to accommodate my elderly parents' physical limitations and to minimize temple fatigue.

 

 

 

Expenses for Siem Reap, Cambodia (2012)

		Individual Expense	Group of 3
Day 1
	taxi to airport	160
	dinner	132.53	397.59
	travel tax	1620
	terminal fee	550
	TOTAL	P2462.53
Day 2
	Angkor Pass	40	120
	lunch	6	16.75
	apsara dinner buffet	12
	tuktuk	4	13
	tuktuk tip	0.33	1
	TOTAL	$62.33
Day 3
	Tonle Sap boat	20
	boat driver tip	1.67	5
	guide tip	1.67	5
	lunch	10.42	31.25
	Angkor National Musuem Entrance Fee	12
	scarf (2 pcs)	3
	keychains for pasalubong (18 pcs)	9
	swensen ice cream	1.5
	tuktuk	4.33	13
	TOTAL	$63.59
Day 4
	lunch	8.17	24.5
	dinner	8.33	25
	magnet (5 pcs)	3
	Landmine Museum Entrance Fee	3
	tuktuk	8.67	26
	tuktuk tip	0.33	1
	tuktuk tip to night market	0.33	1
	TOTAL	$31.83
Day 5
	tuktuk	6	18
	lunch	6.84	20.5
	hotel (4 nights)	30	120
	tuktuk tip to airport	0.33	1
	TOTAL	$43.17
	RT Airfare (no baggage)	P3504.55	P10513.65
	TOTAL (without airfare)	P2462.53 + $200.92
	TOTAL EXPENSE	P5967.08 + $200.92 =   P14,204.08 ($1=P41)

Suggested Itinerary for Jakarta, Indonesia

 

Day 1

PM
755pm – flight to Jakarta (4 hours)

 

Day 2 (Jakarta)

AM
1155am – arrive at Jakarta (Jakarta is 1 hour behind of Manila)
115am – taxi to hotel
155am – arrive at hotel
7am - bfast
8am – busway to Monumen Selamat Datang
845am - photo op at Monumen Selamat Datang
850am - taxi to Sarinah Shopping Mall
9am - exchange peso for rupiah, souvenir shopping, buy lunch
11am - taxi to Monas
1110am - buy admission ticket/s, lunch, wait in line

PM
1252pm – start tour
220pm - walk toward the direction of Musueum Nasional
235pm – tour of Musueum Nasional
405pm - walk toward the direction of
418pm – photo op in front of  Istana Merdeka (Presidential Palace)
430pm - taxi to Old Town
445pm - arrive Old Town
450pm - street food trip
5pm - dinner
645pm - bargain shopping
720pm - taxi to Komplek Rasuna Epicentrum
810pm - malling
845pm - back to the hotel

 

Day 3 (Taman Mini)

AM
8am - bfast
9am – busway to Taman Mini
930am - arrive Taman Mini
1140am - lunch

PM
310pm - Mini Nonumen Selamat Datang
420pm - busway back to downtown
6pm – dinner
642pm - walk back to the hotel
8pm - freshen up
9pm – taxi to airport
945pm – arrive at airport

 

Day 4

AM
1225am – flight to Manila (4 hours)
525am – arrive at Manila (Manila is 1 hour ahead of Jakarta)

 

 

Behind Closed Doors: Ronald Reagan Presidential Library

 

Behind the doors of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library lies a treasure trove. Aside from the various presidential memorabilia inside, the breathtaking panoramic view of the hills painted with the awe inspiring colors of nature outside are a sight to behold. They are reasons enough to make a visit.

You can just drive up and spend an afternoon in the courtyard and enjoy the sunset or dine at the Reagan's Country Cafe. The courtyard and the cafe is accessible to the public without entering the museum.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Definitely a great place for a picnic date up in the mountains or a place to go with your parents or grandparents if they love a little piece of US history.

 

 

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum
40 Presidential Drive
Simi Valley, California 93065
(800) 410-8354

Hours of Operation:
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday - Sunday
(except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day)

Admissions:
Ages 18–61: $15.00
Ages 62+: $12.00
Ages 11–17: $9.00
Under age 11: Free