Really Winter: Frozen In Nami Island

Nami Island, I’m back.

Two layers of leggings, pants, two layers of socks, three layers of shirts and a cape. Plus boots.

I was prepared to withstand winter. 

I was able to go to Nami Island using the subway + cab + ferry – like how I did it two years ago.

From Banana Backpackers:

• Ride Jongno 3(sam)-ga (Line 5) and get off at Gunja Station
• From Gunja (Line 5), transfer to Sang bong (Line 7)
• From Sang bong (Line 7), ride Gyeongchun Line going to Gapyeong station. The whole train ride cost me ₩ 2,050 and took me over 1 hour (including waiting for the next train and asking directions).
• From Gapyeong, ride a cab going to the ferry going to Nami Isand. 

From a distance the world looks blue and green and the snow-capped mountains white. 

The train ride to Gapyeong wharf took around an hour – including waiting for the next train. I was unlucky with my cab driver: He took the roundabout way going to the port. The ride cost me ₩5,600 instead of the expected ₩ 3,000. Boooo you. Opportunistic taxi drivers exist in first world countries.

The line was a bit long but moving. Tickets cost ₩8,000. I knew the drill. Get ticket. Ride the ferry.  The ticket attendant was Pinoy, "Enjoy kababayan!". Nice. 

I veered away from the crowd after I had my photo taken at the entrance.

Thanks to a couple who took my pic, after I offered to take theirs.

I took the  Riverside Lover's Ginko Tree Lane route - a different path from the usual. The tourists were quite few. I had limited opportunities to ask someone to take my photo. I couldn't really use my tripod, as the possible surfaces where to put it was covered in snow.

I eventually reached the famous Metasequoia Lane. This is how it looks during winter. I was so lucky that it was snowing that day. 

Do you wanna build a snowman?

A couple of snowmen (snowmen is the plural of snowman, right?)

They were building a snowman. I was apprehensive to approach them because the path was slippery.

Now this is not made of snow.

I ate at the same ramen canteen where we ate two years ago - the ramen still costs ₩ 5,000. I got a nice Korean family as tablemates. The wife was eager to practice her English with me. They shared their Korean Pancake with me. Hehehehe.

I was able to walk around the entire island. Snow is quite magical.

When the chill was slowly seeping to my bones, I entered the gift shop and pretended to look around. I was just taking advantage of the heater in there. Hihihihihi.

 The path in some parts were icy and...sloshy. I managed NOT to fall on my butt. I saw someone walking casually and he just slid. Good thing he had friends to pull him up.

Let it Go! Let it go! 
Feeling Elsa lang.

The cold never bothered me anyway.

  
 For dinner, I decided to drop by Nandaemum. I traced my train path in the map, and got of at Hohoyeon Station. Nandaemum market looked a lot like... Quiapo. Most of the goods looked like some sort of knock-offs (I think). There were a couple of local-looking souvenirs and food stuff but I didn't feel like buying.

Nandaemum Market. Quiapo ang peg.

I was successful in finding a local restaurant. I was the only foreigner there, I think. The thing is, the whole set cost me ₩ 25,000 - which is good for a family of even 6. Well, I had leftovers.