[Part 1] 154. Back in Korea!

Last night, I checked in at the airport at 10pm. My luggage was 25.9kg heavy!

I chatted with my parents and brother while checking out the SQ cabin crew members who walked past us till 11pm before I entered the departure hall. It's always difficult, trying to put up a brave front and not cry when departing! But it's all in the mind and with the right frame of mind, you can control yourself.
3 weeks back in Singapore passed so fast :( But in the same light, the next 2 years will pass really quickly and the next thing I know, I'll be back in Singapore :) :( I love Korea and I love being in Korea but duty beckons back in Singapore and I need and want to be with my family. I'll just be away, temporarily.

My kind brother knew that I preferred the Bose earphones with mic so he asked me to give him my current set and to buy one with the mic from DFS and so I did. It's S$186 and I believe it's retailing for S$199 in stores (if they don't have any promotions). I also bought the camera lens for android phones which my uncle recommended for S$39. Accessorize didn't carry the hair clip I saw in Orchard...darn, should have bought it when I saw it then! Bought my CC masque for S$218. I believe it's retailing for S$281 or something and 260,000원 in Korea. Wish I didn't buy so many other products during my makeover because they are so much cheaper in DFS! The Le Blanc corrector's going for S$93 or S$99 in DFS but S$122 in stores.

The flight back to Korea was more crowded than the one I was on back to SG.
I slept for about 3 hours before watching Argo but I never got to watch the whole movie before my plane landed :(
Oh yes, I looked out of the window at 3am and saw so many stars! It was SUCH an incredible sight but sadly, I wasn't able to photograph it. Do look out of the window on an early morning flight next time. For the first time, I felt really close to the stars too. Stars everywhere, like a Disney dream.

Eggs and sausage for breakfast :) Missing a hashbrown though.

Hello Korea, hello Incheon!

I arrived in Incheon at 7.35am but took so long to clear customs because the queues were soooooo long. After collecting my luggage at long last, I manhandled it all the way to Gimpo Airport on the AREX which costs 8,000원. Not cheap but it's the fastest option to the domestic airport! I left my luggage with the luggage deposit area and paid a total of 17,000원 for 24 hours. There are only the 6 hrs and 24 hrs options. My check-in luggage was considerd a special size and bigger than the big size, so I had to pay 10,000원 for it and my hand-carry was considered a middle size and I had to pay 7,000원 for it.

From Gimpo, I took the subway to Jongno-3-ga to get to Insadong. From the Insadong exit, you'll find yourself near the music building, which is just beside Fraser Suites (where my cousins stayed at last year, so it's in a very good location!).
I had a great time shopping in Insadong because the streets were relatively empty, probably because it was a Monday morning. On my previous visits to Insadong, it was always very crowded and I couldn't really shop in peace and at my own time but today, I managed to do so :)
I gave myself 2 hours to shop and I spent the whole time in Ssamziegil, my favourite shopping spot in Insadong. I went to Moony Orgel and finally bought a music box for myself! I've wanted one for ages, especially one from Moony Orgel but never ever did so. Today, I got one in the same print as the one I bought for my mum. I had a hard time deciding on the music because while I prefer my all time favourite Moon River, I wanted a Korean song to add meaning to the music box and my chosen print so I settled for Kiss The Rain by Yiruma. The music box cost 38,000원 and it took 15 minutes to be assembled. While waiting for the box to be assembled, I went into the beautiful accessories shop next door (which I've always gazed at from the outside) and ended up buying 2 handmade brooches that can be worn as pendants too. The designs were all so exquisite that I had a hard time narrowing down which to purchase. Each costs 70,000원 but with the Korea Grand Sale coupon, I got 10% off and paid 126,000원 for both. You can view the other designs offered by the shop here: http://ottgallery.co.kr/front/php/category.php?cate_no=25



From Insadong, I walked to Myeongdong and window shopped at Lotte.
I walked the whole of Myeongdong and I realised that there’s nothing much in Myeongdong. Ok, maybe it's because I’ve been there too many times in the last few months!
I met up with Tae Kue, who was my closest exchange friend last year, for lunch at Myeongdong Gyoza for 칼국수 and 만두. Even though I last met him in April last year, it seemed as though I haven't seen him for ages! After lunch, we explored Myeongdong and went to the cathedral.

Since there wasn't anything else to do at Myeongdong, we went to Cafe Pascucci for drinks and to talk some more lol. I was supposed to leave for Gimpo at 4pm but we had so much to talk about that I only took the subway at 4.20pm. Tae Kue sent me off at the platform even though he wasn't even taking the subway in the same direction as me! So nice of him :) I'll get to meet him more often when I'm in Seoul. Just 5 more months before the big move up!

I reached Gimpo at 5pm and thought that I was late but thank goodness, I was still in time :)
The check in luggage limit for Air Busan's actually 15kg but I wasn't charged for excess baggage!^^
Checked in at 5.30pm and had to wait till 6.15pm to board the plane. And I was unlucky :( Most of the gates had aerobridges to the planes but Gate 13 = having to take a shuttle bus and then walk up the plane with my heavy hand luggage that I couldn't even lift up to put in the overhead compartment despite numerous attempts while blocking the aisle. This very nice Korean guy noticed and helped me with my luggage. And once we had arrived in Gimhae, he brought my luggage down for me before leaving the plane while I was stuck in the window seat and couldn't get out till most of the passengers had alighted. So much for wanting a good view on the plane right? I ended up being one of the last few to disembark. And my hand carry was so heavy because of my finance textbook and notes. Brought them over to study before my masters start in August!

From Gimhae, I took a cab back to Silla. This time round, the journey took 15 minutes and the fare amounted to 12,000원. Back in my dorm, I spent the rest of the night unpacking before calling it a day.

My parcel from the UK; thank you Adie!!!!!

and 2 dresses from Warehouse!

Someone was supposed to pick me up at the airport but he didn't. I still feel quite sad about it ㅠㅜ
It sucks, coming back to a hostel knowing that he won't be here anymore. And I thought that we had at least a week together to explore more of Busan together before he moved back to Ulsan!
I feel as though I've returned back to the start when I first arrived in Busan, all alone :'(
I'll need a long time to adjust back to being alone again. For the past 4 months, we spent almost everyday together!
I guess this will train us before I move up to Seoul later this year. And I think this is for the better too in the long run. At least he has a new environment and won't be the one left behind in Silla for another 1.5 years when I move up.
Ahhhh but it's going to be so difficult. I see traces of him everywhere in the dorm!!!!! 난 괜찮을거야 ㅠㅜ