Living In Seoul: The Airport Limousine Bus

"Welcome to Korea!"

That's what the overhead screen read as I walked out from the arrival gate. After passing under that 'welcome' sign, it was pretty much a mad dash to the main terminal. Why? Because everyone wanted to get in line at the Immigration counter as soon as possible, considering the hundreds of other foreign tourists arriving at the same time. And usually, for faster processing, the Immigration officers open up more lines to process foreigners if there were no long lines at the counters processing locals.

For foreigners living in Korea (on selected visa types), there's actually a very short cut through the Immigration check: the Smart Entry Service. This Smart Entry Service allows one to pass through Immigration using biometrics and facial recognition, instead of having to line up in front of an Immigration officer. 

(My ube-jam colored suitcase with real, yummy ube jam inside waiting for the Hannam-dong bus 6010)

                           (A bus ticket vending machine)

But after Immigration, I had to quickly drag my heavy luggage from the baggage carousel to the airport bus stop in order to catch the next trip. I usually had to be quick, just waving my 'Customs Declaration' questionnaire through the Customs officer, declaring nothing but my independence. Or at times, my innocence. Ha-ha-ha!

And finding myself standing at the airport bus stop always gave me some relief realizing that this would be the last leg of my journey. With tired legs and an almost empty stomach, I was just a bus ride away from home!

          (People waiting for their buses at Incheon Airport)

            (Bus markers at the airport limousine bus stop
                             at Incheon Airport)

If it's your first time in Korea, your hotel should advise you which gate number you should wait for your airport bus number. And next to the bus stops, there are ticket vending machines from which you can buy your bus tickets. Also make sure you put your luggage right next to the bus marker so that the bus-stop staff would know there's a passenger awaiting for that specific bus number.

And on my last trip back to Korea last month, I was surprised that my Airport Bus 6010 has finally installed a 'stop button', just like what they have in all transport buses in Seoul. It's that red button overhead that you need to press if you're getting off at the next bus stop.

                                       

                           (The red stop button overhead)

     (Somebody is getting off at the next stop when it's lighted)


I am glad they installed this, too, in airport limousine buses because you usually have to advise the bus driver that you're actually alighting at the next stop. Last January, on my return from my Christmas vacation in the Philippines when the 'stop buttons' weren't installed yet, the bus driver almost missed my Hannam-dong bus stop even after I told him earlier.

I have always appreciated these airport buses. They make living in Seoul, or Korea for that matter, easier and convenient. Now, with these 'stop buttons'  they even made it more convenient for me; I don't have to scream: "Ajussi! Yeogi-yo!"

(My luggage at the airport bus stop next to....garbage bags dumped by Hannam-dong residents)

Living in Korea 101: Today's Civil Defense Drill In Seoul And My Emergency Kit!

Today, August 23, 2017, at 2PM, the sirens will wail again for three minutes throughout Seoul and Korea. That signifies the start of a 20-minute stoppage of vehicular traffic everywhere. That signifies the start of the civil defense drill in Korea.

I was caught once in a cab when the drill started. The cab driver and I just sat there helpless and unable to do anything, except amuse ourselves with the idea that everyone else around us was also trapped in the traffic. If my hangeul were good enough then, we would have told each other our life's story and ended up as best friends after the 15-minute drill was over. Instead, he ended up grinningly happy at the end of the drill; my cab fare doubled without him having to move.

According to the Safe.Seoul website, "a civil defense drill refers to a series of activities conducted in order to protect the lives and properties of the public from emergency situations, including wars and natural disasters". 

It added that "when an emergency situation occurs, air sirens will go off to encourage evacuation".

Hmm. Encourage? I suggest they change the word to a more urgently sounding verb like 'enforce'. 'Encourage' sounds like it's just another event or festival where attendance is, well, encouraged.

But putting aside the choice of words, I am sure when an actual disaster occurs, everyone will just be rushing to save themselves and their families, and follow that the drill.

Here are the things to remember during an evacuation from the same website:

1. "When an air-raid warning is issued, you shall close the gas valves, turn off electronic appliances and go to the nearest shelter". 

This means whatever brownies or cakes you're planning to bake in your oven, they will have to wait. Gas valves should be shut down. You also need to turn off the TV and watch your Korean dramas next time during replays.

2. "If you hear an air-raid warning when you are outside, move to the nearest shelter and follow the guidance of the safety staff.

If you cannot find a shelter, look for any cover you can find."

This means, if you're far from any subway station, which usually doubles as a shelter, you may have to go down into the basement. Going to the rooftop to take a selfie would not be a good idea. If there's an actual disaster that's happening in the atmosphere, that would be the last selfie of yourself.

3. "After arriving at the shelter, stay informed with TV or radio on, and follow instructions of the National Emergency Management Agency".

This means that your smartphone would be the first thing you should grab before rushing to the shelter. This way, you can be informed by watching the live news on your phone. Or better yet, you can just read the updates of the disaster through your Facebook friends' status updates or tweets. You can also find out if they're nearby, or if they're still alive, in which case, you can post your good-byes on their Facebook walls.

Aside from your smartphone, I suggest you also bring your family along with you to the shelter. And probably your pets, too.

4. "If you are driving, park your car in an empty lot or on the right side of the road."

Well, that is if, by an amazing stroke of luck, you happen to be driving in Seoul (where cars, motorbikes and pedestrians compete for space even on the sidewalks), and you and your car are right next to an empty lot or next to a parking space. And with valet parking at that!

Make sure you don't forget your valet parking ticket before rushing to the shelter.

5. "Be prepared. Check where the nearest, designated shelters are. Prepare a medicine kit, emergency items and gas marks at home in advance."

Well, for me, the Hangangjin Station is quite far to run to. But I think there's a building nearby, whose basement is actually a spa! Everyone can have facials while the disaster is going on.

And I don't exactly have a medicine kit. But for an emergency kit, I can put my Mary Grace fruit cake, frozen ube jam and dulce gatas, and Coke in a bag. Throw in a Macbook Air, toothbrush and my Bacolod Masskara t-shirt, and I have a survival-slash-emergency kit!

So, don't be alarmed today when the sirens start wailing at 2PM. And do stay out of the road if you don't want to get caught in a stand-still traffic for 20 minutes. According to the Seoul Dasan 120, the subway trains will run as scheduled though.

Seriously, now. Do you know the shelter nearest you? And what is in your emergency kit? 

And don't forget your smartphone charger!

#PopeFrancisInKorea: Pope Francis 'Has Left The Building'!

Well, as they say 'Elvis has left the building'!  Sadly, Pope Francis 'has left the building', too.

And just as a huge rock star that he is, Pope Francis left Seoul yesterday, and everything seems back to normal now. 

No more detours for closed avenues, no more closed subway stations, and no more bus loads of police lining up the streets of Seoul.

Pope Francis souvenirs are almost sold out, but photographs, news and personal stories about him are still everywhere.

I was in Gwanghwamun during the beatification ceremony and the night before that. And I saw him off after his last Mass at Myeongdong Cathedral. With a lot of photographs and memories in my camera, I have to sort them out and write about them. 

And being a Catholic, seeing Pope Francis in person before he left Seoul was a big deal. And even a bigger deal for me is having seen in person the last three popes. I saw Pope John Paul II when he was in Manila, Philippines, in 1995. I saw Pope Benedict XVI in the Vatican in 2010, and now, Pope Francis! 

He may have gone; but Pope Francis still remains in the hearts of many.

A couple of #PopeFrancisInKorea blogs to follow soon....

#PopeFrancisInKorea: The Papa Francesco Souvenirs!

He is one rock star pope! 

Since his election at the conclave on March 13, 2013, Pope Francis has been one very popular leader of the Catholic faith. And since his arrival in South Korea last Thursday, the whole country, especially the Catholic population, has been excited and busy with preparations for the ceremonies and events the Pope would preside over and attend.
                      

               (Police buses at the Myeongdong Cathedral 
                        during the Pope's visit in Korea)

A papal visit doesn't happen every year (the last visit of Pope John Paul II was in 1989), making memorabilia and souvenirs of this visit popular, especially for Catholics like me.

So last week, a kababayan shared with me a link online featuring souvenir items that are on sale at the Catholic bookstore next to the Myeongdong Cathedral. I just had to visit the bookstore myself to check out the souvenirs myself. 

When I got there, there were already a lot of parishioners (and international tourists!) shopping for these items. I guess the most popular of these items are the Pope Francis t-shirts, which were displayed outside the bookstore in boxes. They came in maroon and white colors, and I just had to get both of them! The facial expression of the Pope on the shirt was just cute. This is what I liked about the print; the Pope looks like he's having fun being a pope.

                       (Boxes of Pope Francis t-shirts)

Aside from the shirts, there were figurines, stickers, rosaries, books, cardholders with mirror, wrist bands, veils, hankies, keyholders, tote bags and some shopping indulgence. And basing on the long line at the check-out counter, a lot of people really liked to have a few of Pope Francis souvenir items. 

                             (the Pope Francis t-shirts)

                   (Standing in line inside the bookstore 
                          at the Myeondong Cathedral)

I wonder I'd feel holy if I wear the shirt. Or perhaps, for those who bought the Pope Francis keyholders, they wouldn't lose their keys. Ever. Ha-ha-ha!

I heard today from a friend who was at the bookstore on a Sunday that most t-shirts were sold out. I actually saw boxes of t-shirts being sold after the beatification ceremony at Gwanghwamun last Saturday, and that stall was swarmed with people interested to get Pope Francis t-shirts for themselves.

(Other Pope Francis souvenirs)

               (The crowds at Myeongdong Cathedral)

Aside from the Pope Francis souvenirs, the Korea Post also printed commemorative stamps for the Pope's visit, which I also bought at Korea Post's main office in Myeongdong. It's actually accessible from Exit 5 of the Myeongdong Station. I rushed to the Korea Post during lunch break and there weren't much people when I got there.

              (My Pope Francis commemorative stamps!)

And if you have a bigger budget for the souvenirs, you can place an order at a bank for the commemorative coins. I haven't done that yet. Still thinking. Ha-ha-ha!

So, if you want to get some souvenirs at the bookstore, and pray for some good graces while shopping, the Myeongdong Cathedral is a walking distance from Exit 9 or 10 of Myeongdong Station.

In the meantime, with my KRW7,000 Pope Francis t-shirt, let me just enjoy feeling holy. :-)

Hangangjin Station's Blue Square And The Infinite Fans

It used to be a 'lonely bus stop', as I described it when I took a photograph of that space back in October 2009. 

                (Pre-Blue Square: the lonely bus stop)

Then sometime in 2011, a huge complex arose on the same spot. That complex turned out to be a theater and performance venue. Since then, musicales such as Cats, Wicked, and Phantom of the Opera (with their pricey tickets!) made the spot busier. 

                      (The bus stop and Blue Square)

On my way home from work, I sometimes take the subway, ending up at Hangangjin Station of Line No. 6. Before its construction, only a few passengers would alight from that station. Now, on performance days, there would be a lot of people also getting off from Hangangjin Station, making it busier and less lonely.

(The early bird catches...the best spot)

And this week, Infinite, a K-pop boy band, is holding a series of performances, which made the area the most crowded it has ever been! Before, concert-goers would just fill the lobby. But these days, or should I say, these early mornings (!), Infinite's fans would already be queuing up in front of Blue Square! What loyalty!

Last weekend, during a morning walk around Hannam-dong, I spotted the long line of girls (literally, early birds!) already sitting on the pavement probably to secure a good spot inside the concert venue. Covering themselves with umbrellas (and hopefully sunscreen, too!), they sat chatting and patiently waiting for the start of the concert that evening. They would be waiting there for about ten hours! I wondered how would they be able to grab lunch or early dinner. Or even have a toilet break? They must have some food and drinks with them.

                                (A souvenir vendor)

I hope the members of Infinite and the concert producers appreciate the sacrifice, patience and the loyalty of these fans who endure the sizzling summer temperatures outside Blue Square. But I'm thinking, if nobody faints outside the concert venue while waiting for the concert to start, would any fan faint inside Blue Square due to too much excitement?

So, if you were one of the fans who watched the Infinite concert, I hope you had fun. 

And by the way, how much were the tickets?

A Global Seoul Mate Mission: S.E.O.U.L.

As the first mission of the 2014 Global Seoul-Mates, we needed to come up with a blog on how we define Seoul plus an introduction of ourselves and where we live.

Well, let me define Seoul by spelling it first: S-E-O-U-L

'S' is for shopping!  Yes, that's what most tourists want to do in Seoul. 'Shop and till you drop', as they say.  And shopping is not just limited to the Myeongdong area. The malls and factory outlets like the outlets in the Garibong area swarm with shoppers who want the best bargain deals!

And if you're a nocturnal shopper, the bag market in Dongdaemun is open from midnight until the next morning!

'E' is for an eco-friendly environment. 

The city government has always been spearheading environmental consciousness. With projects like the Cheonggyecheon (Cheonggye Stream) and buildings in the city that save energy, Seoul is an example of how the government and its citizens can work together to preserve the environment, even providing Seoulites with spaces and parks to relax and exercise.

'O' is for 'organized'. I have always appreciated Seoul's transport system, which is very organized and efficient. Riding the bus and subway trains makes your journey from point 'A' to point 'B', and even up to point 'Z', very easy and convenient. With most citizens commuting to work everyday, the organized scheduling of the buses and train has everyone arriving at work and school (not to mention parties and weddings!) on time! For me, one other very organized system is the transport bus to and from Incheon International Airport, which always makes my journey to Manila hassle-free all the time.

'U' is for 'upbeat'!  Yes, Seoul certainly has some cheerful and optimistic atmosphere to it, every time you walk around downtown, which are always busy with events and so-called festivals. As most celebratory holidays are always observed with performances and at times, parades, there's always a cheerful vibe that rubs off on everyone, especially the kids. And speaking of festivals, there's one right here in my Itaewon neighborhood! 

'L' is for living!  I have lived in Seoul for many years now, and as long I take extra care in crossing the street to avoid the reckless Korean drivers who don't follow traffic lights, and take precaution from the motorbikes who speed through the sidewalks, living in this city is generally okay. I find that my neighborhood is safe and getting home late at night is not a worry. Proper sanitation is clearly enforced and the city streets are always cleared and cleaned. Plus, the Seoul city government has put up the Seoul Global Center to provide information and assistance to the foreigners living in Seoul.

Seoul is like my second home already. I am from the Philippines, which is just four hours away by plane. But unlike the Philippines, Korea has four seasons, which means I am not able to wear short pants throughout the year. Ha-ha-ha!

(My first home)

But be it winter, spring, summer or fall, living in my Hannam-dong neighborhood in the Yongsan District in Seoul, has been convenient and satisfactory so far. Hannam-dong, a neighborhood sandwiched by the most popular mountain, Namsan, and a very famous river, the Han, has some restaurants and cafes, and a hospital. 

And if you're visiting my neighborhood, welcome!

                     (A view from a hill in Hannam-dong)



 

(Sorry, I can't squeeze the letters into one line. Ha-ha-ha!)  

"This is where I live. This is Seoul."