WINTER SONATA AT NAMI ISLAND
I do
watch Korean dramas but unfortunately, the famed Winter Sonata was not on my
list. The cinematographic location of
the said series is said to have been filmed in an island known as Nami.
I
know the names of the lead characters but I don’t know the storyline. But whatever it is, the island sounds a
must-go for hopeless romantics and curious travelers including myself. And so we heeded the call.
The
experience of a snow fall sounds remote and close to impossible as of the
moment. But to the last minute, I knew
there must be something else in store at the island.
A
train, bus and ferry ride encompasses the journey to Naminara Island, popularly
known as the Nami Island. Situated 63km
from Seoul in the middle of the Han River, the island is noted to appear on a
birds-eye-view as a leaf floating on Cheongpyeong Lake.
Thousands
of trees are planted in the island which makes it a notable eco-tourism
site. The island was named after General
Nami, a notable figure in Korean history who courageously fought in battles but
died at the age of 26. Today, Nami
Island is a place for rest and relaxation, though highly commercialized in
nature.
As
soon as we disembarked from the ferry, visible are the portions covered by snow
yet slowly vanishing. We were in time
for the transition of winter to spring.
The
460,000 square meter island boasts of breathtaking walking paths. But before we reach the walking paths, the
wharf greets us with a statue of a mermaid and a portion covered by hanging heart-shaped
cut cardboards of scribbles that might have been of the same concept as the
love locks in other key cities of the world.
For
a minimal fee, the island can be explored through a rented bicycle. But we opted to explore by foot.
When
spring comes, Nami Island is covered in flowers. In summertime, the river winds blow through
the shady woods. In autumn, the fallen
leaves carpet the earth, while in winter the island is transformed into a world
of icicles and snow. But none of which
was offered for our sake. The winter has
passed and spring was about to commence, which leaves us with a boring
landscape. But boring as it is, still
panoramic and picture-worthy as backdrop, making the island picturesque on
whatever season it may be.
Every
nook and corner of the island is associated with scenes from the famed Korean
drama, Winter Sonata. You could find
markers everywhere, in the likes of the first kiss, lane for biking, proposal
and all other unforgettable scenes for the viewing public. This makes me think
if the island would still gain the same popularity as it has today if the famed
drama series was not filmed in the island.
Like
any other park, there are stalls and restaurants in the island but quite
pricey. We found a familiar restaurant
offering Asian cuisine which served as our refuge from the cold breeze that
hover the island.
An
open fireplace likewise sits in the middle of the walkways under a canopy of
tall trees, some in the corner and hordes of tourists enjoy the landmarks and
attractions surrounding the vicinity.
There are installations and pieces of artworks scattered in the island
making the same an open gallery and exhibit.
A
gaze through the souvenir shops’ paintings, key chains and ref magnet pictures
reveal the beauty of the island particularly on either autumn or spring, which
makes me think of visiting the island on a different season.
The
Winter Sonata experience at Nami Island is still worth the time. Though it could have been more picturesque on
other seasons, the relaxed and slow-paced discovery of the island with my
travel buddy makes the tour unforgettable, rejuvenating and hassle-free.
A slow
and easy exploration it is, which would never be achieved had we availed of
group tours.
HOW TO GET THERE
Train
Gyeongchun
Line: Sangbong – Gapyeong Station (about
50 min.)
ITX-Cheongchun: Yongsan – Gapyeong Station (about 42 min.)
Chuncheon – Gapyeong Station
(about 20 min.)
Shuttle Bus
Insa-dong/Namdaemun
– Nami Island
Direct
Shuttle Bus (Mon-Sun)
Seoul Insadong 9:30 (Nearby the west gate
of Tapgol Park)
Seoul
Namdaemun 9:30 (Sungnyemun Square Bus Stop in front
of Namdaemun Market)
Nami
Island 16:00 (Parking Lot in front of the ticket
office)
Adult: KRW15,000 (round trip)/KRW7,500 (one way)
Child: KRW13,000 (round trip)/KRW6,500 (one way)
Note: Child is aged between
24 months to 12 years
Admission Fees:
Regular
is KRW10,000
Discounted
rate of KRW8,000 for foreigners
Special
rates of KRW4,000 for visitors aged between 3 and 13; visitors after 6:10PM
(December to March) and visitors after 7:10PM (April to November).
Note: Admission fees include the round trip ferry
fare and tax included. Child aged 36
months and under is free.
Ferry Schedule:
07:30-9:00
- every 30 minutes after the first ferry at 7:30 departure – Gapyeong Wharf
09:00-18:00
– every 10-20 minutes
18:00-21:40
– every 30 minutes until last ferry at 21:40 departure – Nami Wharf
3 comments
Love ur commentary,very informative as if am travelling with your group.I agree that travel tours dont do justice wd their itenerary.
ReplyDeleteLove ur commentary,very informative as if am travelling with your group.I agree that travel tours dont do justice wd their itenerary.
ReplyDeleteLove your commentary,very informative,like am travelling with your group.
ReplyDelete