when we have only each other.

After so many days of harrassing our koreans in bringing us around, we decided to arm ourselves with a map and a korean phrase book and walk into the city without any knowledge of the korean language. (or any help that is).

so yesterday, it was a saturday (yay no work) after waking up at 6 for the last three days we woke up at 11 for lunch and laundry. We were in slow-mo mode... we end up heading out at about 2pm. to Suwon, our first adventure was to take a bus there and visit the world heritage fortress.

we were able to find the bus-stop outside school after some pointing, gestures and primitive english with some locals. we also managed to get up the bus all the way to Suwon from Ansan. so smart!

we were lucky there was a tourist information centre nearby and we asked for directions. Apparently the fortress looks very near the bus station...

the information lady was very nice she drew on the map as she speaks...

'you have to pay 1000won for the bus ride there'

'pay another 1500won for the entrance fee'

'pay 1000won for the fortress ride'

'on your way back you have to pay another 1000won back to the station.'

all i heard was PAY PAY PAY. i think i was traumatised or something.. i gave her the shocked face and she looked at me puzzled... oh man i will never be able to afford korea.

she also drew out the whole distance the bus has to travel and the map looked like its being doodled over and over again...

we decided to be adventurous (since we were able to take the bus we sure can walk there on ourselves..) and walk to the fortress itself. we were so sure of ourselves.

we spent the next 2 hrs finding the place.

i must emphasize that its not our fault or we that we have no direction sense... the map is the most horrible map on earth and maybe on mars and jupiter as well! they have nothing in sight that is on the map and nothing on the site that is on the map. they dont show any contours when the place is ACTUALLY hilly. we were actually perspiring in korea!

then there was em. pretty em. luckily we have em. she just have this manipulative vice on men. she manage to get this guy to show us to the palace fortress, the main tourist attraction. so we ended up at the place at about 5pm. and the palace closes at 6.

BUT hopes were not down, we still enter the palace with full enthusiasim, marvelled at the battle outfits the warriors wore, their weapons, their lifestyles as kings, queens, eunachs, and maids... and most importantly their architecture, from their configuration of spaces to the structures of the roofs. Apparently, Da Chang Jin was filmed in this palace, together with many other korean serials. maybe. within the first 5 min of entering the palace, we were in cam-whore mode. ill just let the photos do the talking...

cam-whoring when were lost...

we finally found the place!! YIPPEE!!

omg i love this pic.. its like we are filming for a taiwan drama serial

We didnt finish with the cam whoring when we were chased out of the palace.

then it was dinner time. a time we look forward to and dread at the same time. somehow we got conned by emily to have KFC for dinner coz... i also dont know why. it was pathetic. four of us had to share a drumstick. coz it wasnt feeling enough. hahaha. that was really a scene not to be forgotten.


On our way back, looking out of the window of the 1600won ride home, i thought the money spent was well worth it. we succeeded in travelling around a country we have no knowledge of in place and language. not to mention we(me) were poor as beggers. we are so smart! and capable! and independent! and fun! no wonder i have so many friends! yay!



-the evil fish