Van Gogh~Seoul Station!~Kang Woo-kyu~ ..... and a Night Wanderer

First time ever ...being able to see the old Seoul station at night when no one's around. Apart from that, I also learned that this station-museum had Van Gogh's works on display.

The night vista of the old station really warmed me up on my way to the nearest bus stop where I got to catch the 심야버스 or night bus. I just realized that this kind of bus is not allowed to operate around the station since lots of taxis are there...queuing up...waiting for the passengers.

Some snaps I took while walking aimlessly..at first. Shivering in minus 4 Celsius. 

One particular wonder I noticed was..the brightest start at night..shining down on the earth. ㅋㅋㅋ

And then...I also learned about the bronze statue erected (in 2011) at the center of Seoul station plaza. This is a statue of Kang Woo-kyu (강우규), dubbed to be one of Korea martyrs who fought against Japanese colonialism in Korea. 

Waiting for Godot??? ㅋㅋㅋ

Of course...Godot did come, eventually.^^ 

After one-hour long of experiencing an excruciating cold night at an open plaza around Seoul station, I had no options but to keep on walking away from the station where I could find the still-operating 심야버스 or night bus.

The positive side of being stranded at night was the fact that I could wander around the city with less people and cars..to see what it's like at night. This is 숭례문 or the famous Namdaemun Gate (The Great South Gate) of Seoul--once burnt down & now resurrected.

Ok...kept on walking until I found a bus-stop where I clearly could convince myself to stay put..and be patient..that the good things would come eventually...like the coming of the (K)night bus I was waiting and hoping for. Yup, like waiting for Godot. I felt like I knew it surely would come..but boy..the bus-interval really knocked me down.ㅋㅋㅋ

Had it not been so cold (minus 4 Celsius), I would've just fine...enjoying the night...being alone at the sidewalk..in Seoul. Though I knew where I was..but the feeling of being 'there' stranded...really got me shivering.

But..DID I enjoy it? Well. I SURELY DI ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

To my surprise, I was really enjoying my time 'waiting for GODOT'

It's an empty street of Seoul that kept me enjoying 'THE' experience.

An Empty Seoul Station @ Night

I was going home from Ansan by subway..and later on found out that the train I was on....stopped at Sadang station which was still far away from home. So, got out of the subway station..trying to find the bus..only to find the only one bus no.502 heading towards Seoul Station transfer center. Okay..got it. Then...after about 20 minutes or so, I arrived at Seoul station...and luckily it was still opened..at about 01.20...I still had time to go inside and use the restroom^^..and boy..its' the first time ever that Seoul station was in its state of 'void' from people....^^

Yup...it's almost 01.30 am where the passengers gone..and no trains coming in or out of the station. It's a new feeling of being inside the busiest station in Seoul....with not many souls visible.

So..I took the chance to look around and take some snaps of it...while I could.^^

The people I saw were mostly the security in charge of keeping the station safe and sound.

Not a minute too soon...at about 01.30...there's an over-voice heard....asking us to exit from the station since it's going to be closed.

Yup, that's a new experience of being inside Seoul station...on Saturday, Feb.07,2016..when not many people were around.

To think that it's Seollal's holiday..!!

On Board Daejeon-bound KTX

Leaving Seoul station at 08.10...

Bound for Daejon

On a rush trip to...

Attend the 8th Cisak*

Gleefully capturing....

Each passing moment

On a bridge above Han River

On a Sunday morning

Couldn't use my camera well

But ....at least it's an early entry into...

a world of my Sony...

Crazy November - December Trip Highlight!

What a MONTH! Yup, last year's December was a crazy month.

Seoul-Daejon-Seoul: meeting+meeting!!

Seoul-Cheonan-Seoul: a friend's wedding.

Seoul-Busan-Seoul: seminar!!

and..all in the last week of November right until December 2014.

I remembered booking all of those tickets!!!

Even ..some were 입석 or NO SEATS at all...which meant only one thing: I got to stand along the way. 

Was it fun? I always enjoyed the journey to places... 

Like..taking a picture of a BUS on top of a building..on my way to the station! 

or...taking a beautiful view over Han River...recorded it on a video....

and then..started to take pictures frame by frame..

along the time I spent while crossing over the bridge. 

with 63 Building as its background. 

I would not have been able to take a picture from a moving train, had I not been on a train trip, right? 

So, basically..this is a great way to enjoy my travel. 

a bright morning over Han River in Seoul... 

all enjoyed from within a passing train.

DMZ TRAIN (part 3)

One more special feature of the DMZ Train trip is that apart from having to bring our ID card (passport/alien card), we also have to fill out two forms of our identity as a visitor. Both the forms and the ID card must be presented at the Imjingak Station immigration/security check point. 

The left part is to be presented when we booked the trip after arriving at Dorasan Station.

The right part is to be presented to the officer in charge of the bus* we take for the tour. 

Yes...the bus...since we'd take the bus tour starting from Dorasan station.

Even Freya was so excited of signing her own autograph...Yes...it's in Hangeul, of course. 

She seemed to be so seriously immersed in filling out the form, though. 

Passing some sort of factory I was not sure where..but surely on our way to Dorasan. 

Another look into the train interior. Ooops...I thought I was in Love compartment, it turned out that we're at Harmony compartment or 화합실.
The fun part of the train was that the TV kept on displaying informative news about our trip, also occasionally, the camera (via CCTV) deliberately took the shots of our activities on the train and broadcasting them live to all compartments for us to enjoy. 

The one-hour-and-a-half-trip was truly a memorable one since the kids could do lots of things...there were also tables and snack-corner to cater the needs of its customer's appetite for in-between snacks. 

Practically...Dorasan Station..the place we're heading to.....is a station WITHIN the demilitarized zone..which means that we have to be alert or aware of where we were along the way. 

Oh..in one section of the train, I noticed lots of people posting or hanging the postcards ...wishing the good future of South-North relation. 

Then..you could also put a stamp on it to prove that you HAVE been to Dorasan via DMZ Train or 평화열차.

It's definitely another experience to root for.