Goyang Flower Festival 2015 Ep. 14: The Special Package

We purchased the package from Timon online shopping where we could get a discounted price fo both the flower festival and Aquarium in Ilsan. 

Of course. ..it's relatively cheaper.

We got to go to the Timon counter to show that we paid it online in order to receive the tickets.

then...let's go explore! 

It's about 2 pm and...boy it's windy...and a bit hot. Bearable, though.

... .... ...

Bug-eyed Freya....

It surely ticked us to see what's in store for us in this year's exbexhibition!

The tank (the real one) and DMZ to denote this year's theme: flower and peace. 

DMZ clad in flowers.

What We Could Learn From Ads in Subway...

A contest of DMZ related content to attract everyone to share their visions on DMZ.

A picture I took ....which is actually a part of Seoul city campaign to make Seoul an integrated social and economic network of people.

And....the creativity of Seoul's communities. ..to be a better place for all.

*oh....these pics were taken by me....they just looked cool.

DMZ Train (part 10): On Our Way to Seoul

One of the best features of the train is that we can see the upfront view of the locomotive. This was the view of the bridge over Imjingang River. It used to be inaccessible for public until March...before this DMZ train was launched. 

On both sides of the screens, we could see real-time how the journey is unfolding right in front of our eyes. 

One more picture of the Imjingang river. 

The looks from inside the train.

The whole pack of kids we traveled with.^^ Eyra, Freya, Sofyan, and Biruni. The last two were Pak Nugroho's sons. 

Eyra tried to get wacky on board the train. Actually there's a contest during the trip for everyone to participate in. Be the wackiest on the train and share the picture to all passengers.  

This is what the kids did.^^ The pictures were then shared live via TV screens on each compartments for all of us to enjoy. 

The last message from the stewardess of the DMZ Train.

Yes, they pretty much organized the whole trip from A to Z.

Salute. 

The ticket for bus-trip within the DMZ zone: Dorasan Observatory + The 3rd Tunnel.

adult  8,700 won.

kid 6,700 won.

It run for 2 hours.

DMZ Train (part 10): Going Back to Seoul

It's 17.20 and in ten minute-time, the Seoul-bound DMZ Train would depart. Everyone's queuing to enter the platform. No need to purchase the ticket since everyone ON DMZ Train tour MUST have bought return-ticket as one of the requirements. 

We just needed to return the name tags we got when we arrived at the Imjingang station security check-point three hours earlier.  

Now...the train was ready. As always we got to find our seats. Here came my 'happy' frustration since 8 of us were separated in 3 different compartments!!!!!!!! 

I love this picture. The kids were in queue embarking onto the train. What a cute little thing to cherish. 

Oops ...Mama also wanted me to take a picture of her embarking on the train.

Bon Voyage, Mama.^^ 

Now..let's enjoy the interior design especially the so many languages posted with the same message. I found Javanese language....^^ 

My first mother tongue: tentrem tresna harmoni^^ ㅋㅋㅋ

Though I know its individual words...still it doesn't make any sense at all..

even the Indonesian language translation is jumbled. that's too bad.

I wish the management had contacted someone who knows Indonesian language or Javanese.

I don't know about any other languages.

I looks like they translated the language using online dictionary:) so..it's all mixed up. 

Well...all in all..that 'minor'(?????really minor??) ^^ 'cough' did not ruin my holiday on DMZ train. In fact it sort of 'alleviated' the heat of summer...by looking into all of the posted words and pictures. 

Yes..it could be soothing at the same time. Walking from compartment to compartment ...admiring the pictures hung and posted on the ceilings and walls of the train. Most of them are surely about ecosystem found unobstructed within the DMZ. 

so..bye bye..Dorasan Station.

This picture was taken by Freya. ^^ Thank you, Freya.

DMZ Train (part 9): Returning to Dorasan Station

A view from the bus window where I was sitting. The other two buses that took us for the 2-hour tour @ DMZ were ahead of our bus, all were heading towards the Dorasan station where we'd take the 17.30 DMZ train back to Seoul. 

Along the way, I noticed and learned that this whole vast area was the very spot where all goods were transported back and forth between the two countries, especially to connect the South and the North's Gaesong industrial complex.  

Almost getting there...*gosh..the blistering sun* 

But..the nicely trimmed green lawn along the way...seen from the comfort of air-conditioned bus....was enough to cast away the heat. 

Passing by the Dorasan Peace Park.... 

before finally came to a complete stop right in front of Dorasan Station that marked the end of our 2-hour trip to DMZ. 

Show us your ID card, Mama.  

Getting off the bus and...entering Dorasan Station again. 

Time for some souvenirs hunting....

Then I bumped into (again and again)..The ONLY one chocolate in DMZ. I wonder if this marketing gimmick indeed enticed customers/tourists to buy them, though. 

A facade of DMZ souvenir shop @ Dorasan Station.  

The very place where we booked our bus tour that day. 

and..the kids seemed to have extra energy to run around the station....

DMZ Train (part 8): The 3rd Tunnel

In front of the 3rd tunnel entrance. There were these two 헌병 or police officers mostly found around the DMZ area. But...these ones were...well, statues. Oh, well.. 

Let's get back to the bus... 

but..not just yet..since we got to take a must-do pose @ the site. Photographing ourselves in/on/at/over this DMZ signage. 

Why not? D for Mama, M for Eyra, and Z for me. 

For any one visiting this site...it looks to be a not-to-be-missed pose. 

What about this one? 

Though not necessarily, but for the kids..it intrigued them to get a better understanding as to why such a place does exist in the first place. By looking at the symbolic meaning of this statue.....they learn what the whole thing was all about. 

Eyra, at least, came to understand more about the present state of North-South relation.

And..that's what the tour was all about.