Most places that I always been going on holiday to Seoul, Korea. I feel like Seoul, Korea is almost like my second hometown. Again! On this time, I have been traveling to Seoul, Korea in seven (7) times since 2013. Thanks to my mom, who is sponsoring me on this trip as my birthday gifts. Another mission is my mom wants to play with snow so because of that reason, I was planning this trip as free and easy by myself. It is not difficult to me for planning all this by me because I have been familiar with most of the things in Seoul, Korea. 

I think the winter trip will not be complete if we have not visited Ski Park, right? I also notice that Seoul City, not all day have snow inside the city. If I am lucky the snow falling heavily in the city so I did not have to go to Ski Park but I don't have any choice about that. I try to find the Ski Park that has easy access by public transport from Seoul City. For me, I not really type of person can hold cold well so I feel convenient if I can go and back home based on my personal time and mood. Then, I was found the information about the Elysian Gangchon Ski Resort (엘리시안 강촌 스키장). 

It will be nice if I can plan to go the Elysian Gangchon Ski Resort in 1 day or half day. It is because I can't stand outside in a long time around the cold weather. I decided to go the Elysian Gangchon Ski Resort first, since me not really familiar with the journey and it's my first time to go there. We start our journey around 8 am from the guesthouse and the journey it takes almost 2 hours by subway from Hongik University Station. 

The Elysian Gangchon Ski Resort is the only ski resort in Korea that can be reached by either subway or train. The Baegyang-ri Station, a subway/ railroad, is located right inside the resort. This will make me feel convenient to directly and easily reach the resort at any time from anywhere. It can take either Gyeongchun Line of Seoul Subway or ITX Cheongchun High-Speed Train without inconveniences such as traffic congestion and bad weather. Lucky, the Elysian Gangchon Ski Resort also provided the free shuttle bus from the Baegyang-ri Station to the resort every 20 minutes. The rental ski stuff for 4 hours adult is KRW 60,000 per pax (RM 222.60).

But I'm not rental the ski stuff because I just went there for taking photos with snow only and I not in the mood to play ski. At the same time, my body not really fully recover from fever. My mom and I just play around Ski Park and take a lot of photos around the resort. The operation hours are daytime from 09:00 am – 17:00 pm; evening time from 18:30 am – 23:30 pm; night time from 21:30 pm – 03:00 am; early morning time from 23:30 pm – 03:00 am. The snow grooming hours from 17:00 pm – 18:30 pm. All the information has in the Elysian Gangchon Ski Resort website. 

Actually, we just hang out at the Elysian Gangchon Ski Resort around 2 – 3 hours. Then, we decided to walk to the Baegyang-ri Station because we saw the journey not to take a long time to walk, maybe around 20 – 25 minutes. By the halfway we walked from the resort, the driver of the bus shuttle stop the bus and he asked us to take the bus together because he is on the way to go to the Baegyang-ri Station. It is lucky to us on that day when we get the chance to meet such as a kind driver. Maybe he thinks in the cold weather, its better take the bus rather than walk to the subway station. We feel grateful and thank you to the kind's driver bus. 

Address: 688, Bukhangangbyeon-gil, Namsan-myeon, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do

[강원도 춘천시 남산면 북한강변길 688 (남산면)]

Direction: Take the subway (Gyeongchun Line) or ITX-Cheongchun Train to Elysian Gangchon It takes only 60 minutes from Sangbong Station to Baegyangri Station (Elysian Gangchon Station). A free 2-minute shuttle service operates between the Baegyanri Station to the condominium entrance every 20 minutes beginning on the hour. ( 00 / 20 / 40 min)

TIP: Mostly the subway station of the outside Seoul City is the outdoor station so better you are well prepared in the cold weather for who is can't stand cold weather like me. It's not kidding the term cold and sometimes the train takes time to arrive at the station. 

The next destination is the most popular place among the tourist, which is Nami Island. This is my second time went to Nami Island. I quite surprised when my mom told me that she never been to Nami Island before this. This is the fourth time my mom went to Seoul, Korea. The first and second-time travel to Seoul, Korea by company trip but they did not go there. 

Since Nami Island is pretty close too from the Elysian Gangchon Ski Resort, then I decided to go there. We just take the subway from the Baegyang-ri Station and get-out at the Gapyeong Station (Gyeongchun Line) – just gap 2 stations only. Lucky, when we have arrived at the Gapyeong Station, I saw the Gapyeong City Bus at the in front of the station. We are walking fast to the bus and paid the 1-day bus ticket thru the bus driver. The 1-day unlimited ride bus ticket is KRW 6,000 per person (RM 22.30). The journey takes around 15 – 20 minutes from the Gapyeong Station to Nami Island by Gapyeong City Bus. 

The Nami Island is popular with the Korean Drama of Winter Sonata because this is the place of the drama shooting set location. The open hours by ferry schedules are 07:30 am – 09:00 am (30 minutes intervals), 09:00 am – 18:00 pm (10 – 20 minutes intervals), and 18:00 pm – 21:40 pm (30 minutes intervals). The entrance fee as a Naminara Visa for the adult is KRW 13,000 per person (RM 48.25), which is including the ferry fare (return). 

When we've arrived there, I straight ask my mom to take our late lunch at the Asian Cuisine Halal Restaurant. This restaurant is located inside the Nami Island. It's easy to find it and they also offer a variety of menu too. I ordered the Spicy Seafood Noodle Soup with the price is KRW 12,000 (RM 44.50) and my mom order the Crab Meat Fried Rice with the price is KRW 13,000 (RM 48.25). The meals are delicious and it's suited to my taste.  

After finishing our late lunch, then we just walking around inside Nami Island and take the photo as many as we like. I notice the Nami Island have quite many changing and I like so much. Since it's the winter season, so it has the special zone of play snow and ice carvings. This special zone is quite interesting and fun for us. We just hang out there in a few hours before we're headed to Seoul City by Gapyeong City Bus and subway.

Address: 1, Namiseom-gil, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do. [강원도 춘천시 남산면 남이섬길 1].

Direction: [Subway] Gapyeong Station (Gyeongchun Line) then takes the Gapyeong City Bus.

TIP: In the winter season, the day time is short and night time is long so better managing your time if you plan to take photos in the day time. Most the cold time is the night time so be prepared yourself in this period of the season.