Story of My Life - Nami Island Travels

Namiseom (also known as Nami Island) is the perfect place to visit as a one day trip for it's fall colors. Although the weather is getting colder, it is worth the travel to Chuncheon (north of Seoul). This moon shaped island is known for the popular Korean drama, Winter Sonata. It is the ultimate couple's spot with rental houses by the water to vacation.

Although the island is extremely small and you can walk the whole thing within 30 minutes, there are a ton of activities. A handful of concerts have been held on the island, which includes Jason Mraz. There are also a handful of group activities and many photo friendly places to visit. There is even a map to guide you to each recommended photo locations and a handful of signs with Winter Sonata memorable locations.

A few of the must sees are the "wild ostriches," the "foe hawk" chipmunks, the fat lady naked statue, and of course the Winter Sonata statue. You'll definitely find a handful of other things along the way, but make sure you have a little scavenger hunt for these things!

One of my ultimate favorite thing about Namiseom is the recycle project they have. They are extremely green and try to recycle as much as they can. In addition to this, there is also a UNICEF building. I am a big fan of this because it has been difficult to find UNICEF in Korea, but I'm glad I found one in an unexpected place!

It is easy and cheap to get to Namiesom, but a little time consuming. Depending on which part of Seoul you are coming from, it can take at an average of two hours. Simply hop on the train and take a ferry boat over to the island. When getting off the subway, it is recommended to walk to the ferry which is 15 minutes away because everyone is waiting to grab a cab and hop on the bus. Worse part is, there's probably a bunch of traffic heading that way so you can beat the rush.

Plan accordingly on the time to leave the island because the wait for the ferry boat can stretch from the beginning to the end of the island (we were nearly at the end), but because the ferry holds a lot, the wait was roughly 30 minutes. There will be a handful of people cutting in as well, it's going to happen!

Restaurant Review - Hua's Restaurant

Named the best Chinese Restaurant by the Wall Street Journal, there are a handful of this restaurant chain all around the world. Although the menu can be a bit pricey, there are a few signature dishes that are extremely worth it. Getting a taste of the Chinese culture (although not all on point) through Hua's Restaurant is recommended. 

Because it is a Chinese restaurant, the style of dining is family style where you order a few dishes and share with the guests at the table. Depending on the number of guests you are with, it is recommended to order a few appetizers and main courses and split a noodle or rice dish between the group. Because proportions are fairly large for the rice dishes, it is best to eat a small amount and sample more of the other goodies they have to offer. 

One of the recommended dishes at Hua's Restaurant is the Peking duck. Freshly roasted daily when ordered in the restaurant, it is served crispy and fresh. Although it is also the priciest thing on the menu, it is definitely worth trying if you have never before. It is their signature dish that sold the name of the best restaurant. 

 

In addition to this, there are a handful of other dishes that are recommended which includes their dim sum, spring rolls, and sweet and sour dishes. The roast pork bun was one thing that caught my attention, but the weird Hua's Restaurant cooks up their own kind. With a sweet flour based bun and an interior that is nothing like a red roast pork filling, it is definitely unique to taste. 

Presentation is extremely valued at Hua's Restaurant so you are paying more for presentation than the taste of such dishes. If you are looking for authentic Chinese food, this would probably not be the place. It is a top restaurant for Chinese infused Korean goods. By that, the expectations to consume traditional Chinese dishes should be omitted. 

Visiting the one in Nami Island, after waiting for quite some time, the food was more mediocre to me. Maybe the expectations were high because it was labeled as the best restaurant in the world, but the cultural infused dishes takes away from the actual authentic taste. Nonetheless, the dishes stood on its own for its signature tastes. Although it was a bit odd to taste, it is still a recommended restaurant on the list.