Lotte World Amusement Park, Seoul

Lotte World (롯데월드)
Jamsil Station (Line 2) - Seoul, Korea.

Price: 

Adult
44,000 W ($44)
To get in and be able to go on rides.

28,000 W ($28)
To get in and NOT go on rides.

What's it famous for:

The Gyro Swing (a huge circular swing that rotates slightly as it swings). It was so fun. I was laughing/screaming so loud! It went so high and you got sucked into your seat as it swung back down!

Also Lotte World is a lot of the k-dramas (Korean Dramas). It also has a huge indoor part which is air conditioned/heated (a huge bonus here in Korea - the place with frigid winters and sticky, hot summers).

What's here:

Inside - 

An ice rink. 

We watched all the child prodigy figure skaters and speed skaters for almost an hour, I bet. They were impressive and must be getting ready for the 2018 Olympics in Korea :) 

There's a roller coaster and a carousel. 

There's a Folk Museum. There's a Log Ride and a small trick eye art museum.

This one was our favorite!! The cool mirror thing.


There's also a hot air balloon ride that takes you all around the indoor part and gives you a birds eye view! 

Outside -

There is a roller coaster, bumper cars, paddle boats, and a few little kiddie rides.

The Gyro Drop.

There are not too many rides, but there's enough to do a few and enough other things to look at and see. 

Added Bonuses: 

A show, with dancing and some acting. We noticed a few foreigners in the cast and were quite surprised. It was quite the little production but we couldn't help but laugh a little at how 'Korean' and over the top it was. There was also a small parade of floats, people on stilts and of course more dancing and music!

And Bubblessssss ..... (fun for all ages).

My recommendation: 

I would highly recommend going during the week (we went on a Wednesday). Also get there pretty early (it opens at 10 AM) and doing the rides. We walked on a couple of the rides in the morning but by afternoon we were waiting 40 minutes for most!

Also the indoor roller coaster is quite jerky, if you have back/neck problems don't do it.


Observations/Funny things:

There were 'puke screens' or so we assumed they were on a few of the rides (the Gyro Swing and the Gyro Drop). 

The workers stood and waved at us continuously as we were on the carousel going around and around - totally Korean!

They spelled Folk - Fork a few times on a few signs. They just can't figure out the L/R thing! 

We had to wear a seat belt on the carousel and a life jacket on the paddle boat and it had to be buckled up! (it's all about safety).

There is no getting searched when you walk in - you can literally bring anything. Ok, maybe not anything. But maybe?! - I walked in with some tomatoes and celery sticks - no problem!


These - just these. 

(Well that's awkward).

my favorites: 'no drunken ride' (that ride better not have had anything to drink) and 'not allowed to pregnant' (well shoot I guess that means no kids for me, EVER, since I went on that ride!)

And then this happened. What? Yeah, It did. Because I'm crazy/awesome like that! 

10 points to anyone who has is as crazy as me and has totally done this or (for you less fun/crazy people out there) if you can at least name the movie! 

The kid right behind me asked... why? -- I tried to explain and he ran off saying.. 'no, nothing. I don't know' hahaha

Huzzah for a good day.. with some great company at Lotte World. You best believe I enjoyed that 1.5 bus ride home to Cheongju with the new bus seats and the extra big side/head rest thingers! I made it from Jamsil Station to my home in 2 hours and 15 minutes!! (usually it's easily 3) It went so smoothly, it was perfect. The longest I waited for the subway/bus was 5 minutes! 

Phil Kyung Jae - Traditional Korean Food.

Fancy, traditional, and the best Korean food I've had in Korea! 

My friend Alina has family in Korea. Turns out they own a super fancy, classy, traditional Korean restaurant called Phil Kyung Jae, located near Suseo subway stop (Orange line) in Seoul. It's maybe a 15-20 minute walk from the subway and easy to find! 

So, the menu -- you choose which option you would like (each including different food and amounts). They range from 54,000 won to 240,000 won per person. (we got the 84,000 option). I am not sure if I will ever be able to afford/ever want to spend 240 bucks on food at one sitting and I'm not sure if any of you out there could or would want to either. But if you can/want to/do let me know - you'll be my hero!

We (Alina, Kim and Tina - my co-scholar who is now working at Alina's school!) were taken to our table. Yes, it was actually a table with real chairs (which I was honestly surprised a little) but it was enclosed and we had our own private little room. The restaurant used to be (Alina's relatives') home way back who knows when and her aunt and uncle turned it into a restaurant.

Then the feast starts.....

they bring dish after dish after dish after dish of food. I just kept eating and eating and eating ohhh and eating some more!




The side dishes:

 King's Kimchi

 Named because only the kings ate it. Why? Because it's hard to make (apparently - although I am now determined to make it) and probably because it's the best!! It's hands down the best kimchi I'VE had! 

Some greens and white stuff (wow, so technical).

Salad.

Sweet pumpkin soup.

Clear, jello-y stuff with cucumbers and eggs.

Bamboo Salad.

Japchae - 잡채 (sweet potato noodles with vegetables). 

Fried zucchini dipped in eggs, some meat and more egg stuff.

An assortment of veggies/meats and little round wrappers.. eaten kind of like a little taco.

Main dishes/hot food:

Soup.

Pork and kimchi.

Shrimp.

 Dokgalbi - 떡갈비 

I am not joking I think this is the best meat I have ever had in my entire life. Coming from a girl raised on meat, that's a big deal!

Fish.

Raw Crab. (weird sounding but it was so juicy and tender. I loved it!)

More soup - Seaweed soup.

Dessert:

Fruit - Watermelon (수박) and Asian Pear (배).

Rice drink.

 I left so happy, so full but so happy. My love for Korean food sky rocketed after this experience! I would highly recommend this restaurant. Save your money by eating at home for a couple of weeks and then go here - you will not regret it! Oh and make sure you get the Dokgalbi - 떡갈비 :)




More FOOD!!


After we were stuffed.. what did we do. Oh we went and got more food! Why? because that's what we do!



We went to a famous Patbingsu (팥빙수) restaurant on the edge of the strip in Insadong - Seoul. It was a cute little place. They have a DJ there on the weekdays and you can write a letter to someone (usually your bf or gf), which will get mailed out 100 days later! The patbingsu was ok here, not my favorite - I would still say that Caffe Bene has the best! :)