I
usually go to Europe in May but had to change my plans this time around as my
new boss wanted me to handle a major event in the second week of May. However,
as it turned out, I needn’t handle the event anymore as it became part of my
colleague’s portfolio. It was too near to May to plan for a trip so I decided
to look elsewhere instead.
I
had finally decided on a destination but when I checked again a couple of days
later (on Kayak and Expedia, the ticket price had increased. I was not happy
and kept checking every few days. Finally I decided to try PYO Travel (as I did
for my Macau hotel booking and second trip to Taiwan) and guess what, while the
price was higher than when I first searched for the flight, it was nowhere as
high as those quoted on Kayak and Expedia (Kayak did suggest using Budget Air
but the reviews put me off and anyway, it turned out to cost more than what PYO
Travel quoted). So I decided to purchase my return ticket using PYO Travel. The
only snag is the different price structure if you pay for the ticket
immediately (no charge if you use CIMB Clicks but you need to pay an additional
amount for using Maybank2U) and if you pay using your credit card (you need to
pay a higher amount for using credit card). As I absolutely hate paying more
when I can pay less, I decided to pay for the ticket in full using my
colleague’s CIMB Clicks. Of course this led me to being broke in February (and
March when I utilised PYO Travel again to buy ticket for my long break but
that’s another story for another time, insyaAllah).
Friday,
27 April 2018
I
was woken up ridiculously early but the bloody evil bloodsuckers and as much as
I tried to reclaim sleep, it eluded me. I finally gave up and got up to get
ready for work (even watered the plants at 06:00 a.m. after morning prayers!). I
left home with my suitcase as I was planning to go to KLIA from the office. I
had initially applied for leave in the afternoon as my flight was at 19:10 but
decided to cancel it after discussing with my boss. I didn’t want to be at the
airport too long and was debating if I should kill time at Nu Sentral or take
the shuttle from KLIA to Mitsui Outlet Park. Logic prevailed and I decided I
would do neither. I would not be tempted to window shop (I might end up buying
something and it’d be pretty silly to haul it to my destination and back). I
should not be spending money unnecessarily! So I discussed with my boss and she
agreed for me to clock in early and leave slightly early. I told her I would
make up for leaving 15 minutes early by working half an hour during lunchtime
so I wouldn’t be short-changing my employer. It’s better for me to save my
leave in case I need to use to utilise them later what with dad’s condition.
It
was a battle getting to work that morning as the buses were late and filled to
the rafters. I only managed to push myself (and bag) onto the sixth or seventh
bus. I ended up arriving 5 minutes late to work... (made up for it by working
during lunch).
CT
came to send me to KL Sentral and despite a wrong turn, we reached KL Sentral
in time for me to board the 17:15 train to KLIA. There was hardly any queue and
as I’d checked in online the evening before, I went to drop off my bag before
going to buy bread.
I
was a bit surprised that I had to take the aerotrain to the gate as it was a
regional flight. Anyway, I was lucky as the aerotrain arrived as I got to the
platform. I arrived at the boarding gate around 18:30 and we were called to
board about 15 minutes later.
We
landed at Hanoi International Airport before 21:30 local time and I went
through the transit process. It was a bit difficult trying to find a power
outlet to charge my devices and finally I used the outlet behind the TV screen
near my gate.
Saturday,
28 April 2018
We
were called to board just after midnight. I probably dozed off during take-off
but woke up soon after. The crew then served us late dinner and I wondered why
they couldn’t serve early breakfast instead about 90 minutes before landing.
Anyway, despite my earlier meal, I was hungry.
I
tried sleeping but sleep was not surprisingly elusive (not helped by the Korean aunties sitting near me who kept yakking at each other). Finally I got up and
went to perform ablutions for morning prayers.
We
landed at Gimhae International Airport just after 06:00 and it was already very
bright. We had to fill in landing form; I did try getting it on board the plane
but was given one in Vietnamese (well, I flew Vietnam Airlines anyway). It was
a slow process at the passport control with only two counters opened for
non-Koreans. Even then, there were still a lot of people at the bag carousel
waiting for our bags. My bag emerged just as I came out from the bathroom.
After freshening up, I went to 7-11 to buy Cash Bee card for transportation
within Busan. I only realised that I could not use the card for the bus to
Gyeongju and had to buy another ticket. The card itself costs KRW5,000 and you
can top up as much as you want; I chose to top up KRW40,000 into the card.
After
buying the card, I dropped by the Information counter where I was directed to
the bus stop for the bus to Gyeongju. The fare cost KRW9,000 and you can pay by
cash or card. The bus arrived shortly after at 08:20 (you can find the schedule
here) and after a brief stop at the nearby domestic terminal, we were on our
way.
I
managed to doze off and woke up just as we reached Gyeongju almost an hour
later. After storing my suitcase into the small locker (it fit just nicely! The
small locker at the bus station cost KRW1,000 while the bigger one cost
KRW1,500), I went to change a KRW1,000 note into coins for the locker. After a
quick check at the bus schedule for the bus back to Busan (08:30, 10:00, and
every 90 minutes thereafter), I went out to get the bus to Bulguksa Temple. You
can ride buses no. 10, 11 or 700 to Bulguksa and bus no. 12 from Bulguksa to
Seokguram Grotto. I used my newly purchased Cash Bee card to pay for my bus
fare and settled down. There were a few American travellers in the bus too.
We
reached Bulguksa Temple bus stop at 10:20 and I dithered if I should wait for
the 10:40 bus to Seokguram or head for the temple first. I finally decided to
head for the temple rather than waste 20 minutes so I went up across the park
and up the road leading to the temple. It was starting to be a very hot day by
then so much so I quickly shed my cardigan off.
After
paying the entrance fee of KRW5,000, I went into the temple grounds. We were
greeted by a gorgeous garden with a lotus pond. There are willow trees and
shrubs with giant carp weaving through the lotus stems. It was so very peaceful
and serene that I was almost reluctant to leave the pond but I finally walked
up to the temple complex. There were already a lot of people around. Well, it
was a fine spring Saturday anyway. I spent about an hour there before returning
to the bus stop for the 11:40 bus no. 12 to Seokguram. There were more people
arriving as I was leaving.
It
was a 20-minute uphill winding bus ride to Seokguram. I read that it’s part of
the Bulguksa temple complex and that it’s possible to hike there from Bulguksa
although if you’re thinking of doing so, I would strongly suggest you visit
Seokguram first before going down to Bulguksa because it’s a mighty climb up to
Seokguram. I followed the other visitors along a winding path to the grotto. Photography
is not allowed in the grotto. The centrepiece of the granite sanctuary is a
Buddha statue seated in the main chamber on a lotus throne with legs crossed. The
Buddha is surrounded by panels of ancient Indian gods in the rotunda. I thought
the KRW5,000 entrance fee was very steep compared to what I experienced. By the way, Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
I
walked back along the path back towards the bus stop and waited for the 13:05
bus no. 12 back to Bulguksa. From the Bulguksa bus stop, I joined many other
visitors for the bus back to Gyeongju. Bus no. 10 finally arrived at close to
13:30 and I was back at Gyeongju Intercity/Express Bus Terminal at 14:21. I had
enough time to buy the ticket for the 14:30 bus to Busan (cost KRW4,800),
retrieve my suitcase from the locker and use the facilities before boarding the
bus. We reached the Central Bus Terminal almost an hour later and I followed
the signs to Nopo metro station. I rode the metro from Nopo (station no. 134)
to Busan station (station no. 113).
From
the station, I took the elevator up and went to find Kimchee Busan Station Guesthouse
where I would spend my first night. It may have guesthouse in the name but it’s
a hostel. I was surprised to find a Malay family of six at the lobby (I never
met Malaysians at the hostels I’d stayed before!). I checked in and found two
other Malay girls were in my dormitory room. In fact, there was a Malaysian
student there working at the guesthouse (the guesthouse provided complimentary
accommodation in exchange for two hours of work in the hostel; I thought it was a very good
offer).
After
settling down and performing prayers, I went to explore the surrounding area. The
guesthouse is in Chinatown so I was surprised to find a lot of Russians and
Russian businesses invading into and overtaking Chinatown. There was a small neighbourhood
market and the larger Choryang Market. I had dinner at a small noodle shop a
few steps away from Choryang Market and very near Top Mart, the neighbourhood
supermarket. The woman didn’t understand English and I don’t speak Korean so I had
to draw poor representations of fish, cow, pig and chicken to tell her my dietary
requirements.
After
dinner, I browsed Top Mart before returning to the guesthouse. I had to wait to
use the bathroom. The two Malay girls returned after 10:00 p.m. and I went to
sleep just after 11:00 p.m. It had been a long day which followed a sleepless
night the evening before and the unplanned ridiculously early start on Friday.
To
be continued
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