Korea Late Winter Sonata 2015 -Gapyeong- Petite France

So I planned a day trip away from Seoul to Petite France on 1 of the days since we pretty much have nothing to do in Seoul without all the shopping plans. Turns out, this is where we have the most fun in this trip.

We are to take the train to Gapyeong and then transfer to a bus to reach petite France.

Platform going to Gapyeong

The ride to Gapyeong is about 45min and we took the 9.17am train. You can check the trains' timing via Korean Rail website and plan your route.

There's also the shuttle bus departure time to take note. I think it runs every hourly from Gapyeong train station, bypassing another train station(Cheongpyeong) and Cheongpyeong bus station then onwards to the tourists attractions. 

A ticket costs KRW 5,000 and you can get on and off the bus freely as long as you produce the ticket when boarding.

Train interior

Train tickets

Shuttle bus

Whole day bus tickets

The bus will make it's stop at another famous tourists' attraction -Nami Island where Winter Sonata was filmed. You will need transfer to a ferry to get to the island. Since Mr Love did not watch the show and it's crowded with tourists, I decided to forgo this place.

The next famous attraction that the bus is stopping is Petite France.

However the ride there is like through a hilly area where there are endless turns. If you have motion sickness, then good luck to you.

Petite France from afar

Entrance

Was quite excited to visit here after seeing this place featured in Running Man. To our dismay, there are bus loads of tourists from the most undesired country of tourists and they are basically blocking the whole entrance.

Only saving grace is they came here on tour which means there is a time limit to stay here. On the other hand, we have all the time in the world to explore. So I shall wait patiently for you all to leave and pray that no other buses are coming later haha.

Show times

Tickets are priced at 6,000KRW and opposite the ticketing counter is the showtime timetable.

There are some shows here with the timetable at the entrance. Didn't managed to check out any.

Pretty flowers in bloom

We actually did not have a plan in mind for here and just walked around aimlessly checking out random houses and structures.

It's early spring already but the weather is still chilly. However there are still some pretty flowers around the place.

Duckies

Truth to be told, it's a little boring here for there is nothing much to see except for the houses and some decorations. Gift shops did not sell any decent souvenirs too.

Still I'm determined to tour this place since it look so good on TV haha.

Gift Shop

Using his hp as brush

Little Prince

At 1 point we got so bored that we decided to self entertain by monkeying around. I.E strike funny poses when taking photos.

End up we had a good time laughing at who is the more silly one and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves here.

Little Prince drawings

More drawings

Books but  not sure you can borrow for reading or not

We came into an art gallery where its empty. Saw a statue and decided to mimic and pose beside it.

Mr Love's version

I failed. Cause I am unable to tuck in my legs. Fatty boo.

My version

Took no interest in the drawings and we moved on. We are now at 1 of the highest point in the village. View was nice and so went another round of selfies taking.

Mr Love and his little lamb

Reach for the stars

Noticed that I keep carrying 1 red recyclable bag? It's full of snacks and it came in useful later on when we found out that the only restaurant here is not open for business today.

There was a game room somewhere there and we spend a long time here trying to play and out win each other.

There is this slanting table where there's a hole at the top. You have to slide a big circular wood block in to it. Looks easy but it is not. Mr Love and I did not even succeed once in the hundred times we tried.

Towards the end, we were just frustrated and anyhow slide the wood block up.

My turn

Trying hard

Old flower eyes

Flower grandpa 1

Mr Grasshopper

Going up

View from tower

Lots and lots of plates

We faced off at this game for a good 20 min and I lost

Just resting

Hey mate!

You from the stars

Secret garden

Running man

SNSD

We were disappointed and shocked to find the only restaurant closed but to have no choice to rely on my chips ration. Haha Times like this makes me feel that I am not the kiasu auntie who lugs food around while travelling. It's life saving essentials ok?

Cafe Menu

Found a cafe and ordered ice cream to eat out in the cold. Our favourite kind of thing.

Chocolate ice cream soft cone

Mr Love's version

My version

Closed!!!

Playing a fool again

Last 1 before we leave

For what would take about 30min to finish touring this place, we used nearly 2hours since we keep taking and retaking pictures to capture the most funny version.

From the initial disappointment, we turned it into a fun filled trip. We might not visit this place for a long time but will always have beautiful memories of us laughing and smiling so happily here.

So long Petite France. I'm glad we found you fun.

2016 in a nut shell

2016 is the most exciting year of my life and therefore I think I should write a recap on this year on this last day of the year.

January

This is the most nerve wrecking month of the entire year. I'm at my 31st -35th week here in this month. Dinos are mostly baked and would be ok if they choose to enter into the world albeit need staycation at NICU.

But of course I would hope they are able to hold till the planned delivery week at 36th where they would bee consider full term babies for twins pregnancy.

It's the longest 1 month of my life. So near yet so far but I'm glad we pulled through.

35weeks 2days

February

I gave birth successfully in this month!! It will always be the most special month & year for me since after waiting for 8 long years then I became a mother.

Welcome to the world, Dinos

March

Mr Love went back to work after spending 1 month with us after the Dinos' birth. I missed having him waiting on me hand and foot as I start to care for the Dinos after my confinement.

This month we also started doing the night duties once my confinement end. It's the start of many sleepless night especially for me who is mostly doing the duties since I am still on maternity leave.

Family photo during their full month

April

Tried bringing the Dinos out for dinner in their super big lorry (pram) and man what a disaster it was. We had to take turns to eat ( there were 3 of us including my mummy) and take turns to bring the Dinos to changing room for diaper change. It would be quite a while later then we attempted to bring them out again.

Dinos in their lorry

May

Its Mr Love's birthday month and we decided to ditch our boys for a short getaway in Taipei. I did regretted a bit though since I missed them tons when we were there and I was told Big Dino was cranky when I was away. He missed mummy too!

However I am also glad we did this trip, to recharge after a long stressful pregnancy and also overwhelmed from being first time parents to twins!

May this year also marks our 15th dating anniversary. Sometimes I cannot believed that we are together for this long for when I look at him, I still find myself very much in love with this man :)

With love of my life

June

June officially marks the end of my long hiatus from work. 7months to be exact. It's also the start of my 24hours work shift. Full time day job and juggling with night time duties.

But I am quite seasoned with night duties by now and surprisingly, I adapt quite well when I went back to work. To think I was still worrying about not coping. I guess every month will step up to any challenge that comes their way.

Back to work

July

We finally get to try the crab feast buffet at Park Royal Beach Road hotel. Previously either I forgot to book and realized the buffet is over or last year because of pregnancy and I couldn't touch crabs.

In any case we had a great time eating the crabs and hit our full year quota. Haha

Full of crabs

August

The Dinos started solid in this month when they turned 6 months. I started them on cereal when they are 5months plus and they seems not ready.

But when we started puree in this month, they are taking it quite well.

This month also saw the beginning of mummy taking extra effort to make puree every 3days and freeze for Dinos' consumption. Sometimes I do feel pretty tired from work but other times I am encourage by their good appetite. So overtime it is!

Dinos' first food

September

We muster all our courage and try bring the Dinos out again this month for a quick dim sum breakie that mummy me is craving for months.

It was a success and we felt more confident to bring them out on short trips after this outing.

To be fair, it is not impossible to bring Dinos out. Just that the logistics part is a bit of a put off. And moreover they rely a lot on the cradle to fall asleep.

We have since trained them to sleep while I baby wear them.

Dim sum brunch success

October

 Following the success of bringing the Dinos out, I went a bit more and try to bring them out for half a day shopping trip with my mummy.

Since there are only 2 of us and my mummy cannot handle prolonged carrying of the Dinos, I took 2 half day leaves on Fridays to bring them out 1 by 1.

Love the individual bonding time we have with the Dinos.

Small Dino meeting Auntie Lena from Taiwan

 Thankfully, the Dinos were generally well behave and cooperative during the trip. They enjoyed themselves too while taking in the sights. This is the first time that I brought them to take long distance bus and train rides into town and both of them were in awe of the surroundings.

Afternoon tea and shopping session with Big Dino

November 


Mr Love and I went to try out Cheese Mookata at the recommendation of his colleagues for our Nov couple date.

Had always wanted to try this Thai steamboat cum BBQ but found no chance.

We felt in love with the heavenly taste of the soup after the fats from BBQ meat flow into it.

Sinful I know but it is just superb. It would be a very long time later before we would come back since we only can try 1 new thing every month now. Haha

Nov 16 couple date

 

 

 

 

We celebrated piggy brother's this month at Yum Cha restaurant. He was overjoyed to have his 2 panda nephews with him though they did not manged to wear his gift of panda suits after Small Dino had an poo explosion.


December

We have come to last month of the year and this is the most happening month of all.


I slotted in 4 afternoon high tea in this month. Haha. To think I had never been to an afternoon high tea in all my life.

Met up with Partner for a good afternoon chat. I am so glad to have her in my life all these years and more so when we became mothers since she understands my situation and took half day leave just to have some chilling time with me without our children.

Partner and I

Then I also finally met my twin mummies friends whom I have chatted with for the past 7months over group chats. Cannot wait to meet all of them along with our buds. It will be so so interesting to have at least 30 children but only 15sets of parents. Haha

Small Dino solo date with mummy

New friends:)

Then I met up with my secondary school friend and her daughter who is a month younger than my Dinos.

With Alison and our buds

This month also saw me bringing the Dinos out solo to the gatherings. I must say it is pretty smooth sailing and my boys did me proud by being cooperative.

The final couple date of the year saw Mr Love and me sipping afternoon tea at Fullerton Hotel. What a way to sum up our 2016 monthly dates.

Dec 16 Couple date

In conclusion, I had a blast this year. No doubt there are other unhappy things happening but I choose to focus on the happy things instead.

After having my Dinos, I realized nothing in the world can be compared to them. As long as they are healthy and happy, there is nothing that I want to ask for already.

Family photo 2016

May 2017 be as good as 2016 and I look forward to the year witnessing my Dinos' growth and also happiness in my household.

Cheers.