On the second day, we're going to the Gangwon dan Gyeonggi Provinces by subway and bus. Our first place to visit is the Gangchon Rail Bike [Korea Rail Bike] (강촌레일파크). This place is located in Gangwon-do, Korea. This place is film location of Running Man Ep. 144. The journey is almost taken 2 hours from the Hongdae area by normal subway. 

Actually, we're going out late from our guesthouse so we're quite rushing to go there since I want to avoid of many people on the subway. But it happens, normally local people like to go hiking on weekend with friends or family, so I can see that on the train. I feel like we travel there on weekdays even it's on weekends. It's so pack in the train.

It has another option to go the Gangchon Rail Bike; which is by ITX train (Express Train) but when I read about it, I feel complication to take the ITX train and the fee is a little bit expensive too. So I decided to take the normal subway to go there. It's easy to access and also cheap. The subway fee per way is around KRW 2,950 (RM 11.30) from Hongik University Station (Line 2) to Gimyujeong Station (Gyeongchun Line) by T-Money card. 

Direction: [Subway] Gimyujeong Station (Gyeongchun Line), Exit 1. Just walk around 4 minutes on foot and you can see it on the right side.

Address: 1385, Gimyujeong-ro, Sindong-myeon, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do; or 강원도 춘천시 신동면 김유정로 1385 (신동면).

The Korea Rail Bike has the schedule to ride the rail bike. We've arrived there around 10:50 am and we're getting managed to ride the rail bike on 11:00 am with four-seater; the fee is KRW 35,000 (RM 133). Another two-seater's cost is KRW 25,000 (RM 95). The lunch break is at 12:00 – 13:00 pm. 

When I read about the Korea Rail Bike of Gangchon Rail Bike on other blogs, most of them are suggesting take the tour course of Gimyujeong Station Course. It's better than Gyeonggang Station Course. For your information, this is the one-way course of rail bike.

The Gimyujeong Station Course it takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes (8.5 km). The first section (6 km) is Rail Bike course and it takes around 50 minutes. After riding this course, we arrive the transfer station that it takes a short break for 15 minutes to 20 minutes. There are having a small cafeteria and toilets. We're also bought our picture with the glass frame (KRW 10,000 – RM 38) at the moment that we're riding the rail bike. It's nice to make our memories of this place. 

Honestly, I not expected the weather become super cold on that day; especially we're riding the rail bike. I can't feel my face and hands even I wear gloves, jacket, and scarf. I can't do anything. I also can't feel the hot pack inside my jacket's pocket. So when you want to ride the rail bike on winter seasons, better make a preparation for that. 

After the short break, we're riding a Romantic Train for 20 minutes (2.5 km). It's just a classics train. We're enjoying the wind and beautiful views. When we've arrived at the Gangchon Station (abolished station), we're walking to the pit-stop of free shuttle bus to go back to the Gimjeong Station. The Korea Rail Bike staffs are having around there so you don't worry about getting lost. Just ask them if you're not sure where to go. It's just around 10 minutes by walk to go the pit-stop of the free shuttle bus.

The next location is the Petite France Village (쁘띠프랑스), which is located in the Gyeonggi-do Province. This place is film location of TV Drama ‘Beethoven Virus', ‘Secret Garden', and ‘My Love from the Star'. If I not forget, the Korea Variety Show of Running Man also does have made the shooting in this place. 

Direction from the Korea Rail Bike – Gangchon Rail Bike to Petite France Village:

[Subway] Gimyujeong Station (Gyeongchun Line), Exit 1 goes to the Gapyeong Station (Gyeongchun Line). Then take the Gapyeong City Tour Bus to go the Petite France Village. The bus stop is just at in front of the subway station. The bus ticket can buy at the driver bus. The bus ticket fee is KRW 6,000 (RM 22.80) per day – that means you can use the same bus ticket you buy at the driver bus for one day. You also can get on and off the bus freely on each course. If you still confuse about this Gapyeong City Tour Bus, you just visit the Tourist Information Counter at the in front the subway Gapyeong Station.

Address: 1063, Hoban-ro, Cheongpyeong-myeon, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do; or 경기도 가평군 청평면 호반로 1063

For your information; this Gapyeong City Tour Bus also going the Nami Island inside the bus course. So you have the plan to visit Nami Island, you can ride this bus. It's easy. Just follow the bus timetable. Lucky, we have the voucher from KTO (Korea Tourism Organization) so we get discount if we're riding the Gapyeong City Tour Bus. The bus fee after discount is KRW 2,500 (RM 9.50) per person.

The journey by the Gapyeong City Tour Bus to Petite France Village is around 20 minutes. This area is mountain area so the temperature is low and super cold (1ºC) on that day. The entrance fee of Petite France is KRW 8,000 (RM 30.40) per person. Yes, we're also having the KTO coupon discount 25% voucher and the price after discount is KRW 6,000 (RM 22.80) per person. 

At that time, Petite France's staffs are making the preparation for the Christmas Event. Almost the area is cover of the Christmas decorations and Christmas trees. It's so beautiful and colorful with Christmas lights. 

This is the outdoor park so most if the time I was feeling cold. Normal method to warm my body visits the small shops in Petite France but I just can stay there less than 5 minutes, since most of the shops are pack with people. Honestly on this day, I not feeling well because of the weather super cold and improperly eating time. So the lesson of the day, I need to eat properly on time and take care myself of the cold weather. I just order hot drinks and some snacks at the Petite France Village before we're going back home. I can't remember the cost of our snacks, its maybe around KRW 34,500 (RM 131.20) for three of hot drinks, three of Churros, and one set tteokbokki. 

We just spend time at the Petite France Village around 3 hours, I think. Then, we're straight going back home from the Petite France Village by Gapyeong City Tour Bus. The funny part on this moment is we're waiting for the bus at the same bus stop that the same way the bus stops the passenger before this. So the routes of the bus are going to the Garden of Morning Calm. Lucky on the way of the routes, the bus is stopped by at the subway Cheongpyeong Station. My early plan is going back to the Gapyeong Station; since we're error waiting for the bus stop so we get on the subway from the Cheongpyeong Station (Gyeongchun Line). The subway cost is KRW 2,150 (RM 8.20) and the journey is taken around 84 minutes to go Hongik University Station. I can tell the cost is a little bit cheap. So don't afraid of getting an error or lost during traveling, because it has great reasons at the end. 

We just visit only two places in two provinces on this day. Even it's just two places in two provinces but the journey is quite far and takes time too. It's nearby to Seoul area rather than other provinces in South Korea. If you want a something different, maybe you can plan to visit these provinces on your trip.

Here, the link to the continued stories about the Trend Korea by Explore Seoul, Gangwon, Gyeonggi & Jeju Island on November 2017 – Day 1, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, and Day 10.