Gwanghwamun Square

Napping in Kimchee Guesthouse Sinchon

16 June 20224 July 2022travelingpersecond

Forgot to take a photo while staying…. Hihihi.

I was still standing motionless in north of square to enjoying the majesty of Gwanghwamun Gate , the six-century gate belonging to Gyeongbok Palace. Gwanghwamun Square with its andesite rock floor and a mix of green garden grass seemed to be starting to fill up with the flow of tourists visiting.

Apart from the statue of Admiral Yi Sunshin, the golden statue of King Sejong, the Great-the fourth king of Joseon Dynasty was an important destination for travelers. They were too fascinated by that statues when I preferred to pay attention to the bustle of United States Embassy in the edge of Sejong-daero Avenue next to National Museum of Korean Contemporary History.

It didn’t feel like time had passed since midday, the rest of sleepiness after spending the night in Seoul Express Bus Terminal made me unable to hide the sleepiness in my eyelids. My body which hadn’t been soaked in water since 30 hours ago also made me not feel comfortable.

“It’s better to just go back to the inn”, so excited, my mind aborted my enthusiasm to continue exploration. “Damn….I give up this time”, I was groaning in annoyance, I entered the gates of Gwanghwamun Station.

“Goodbye Jongno District”, I quietly thought as I jumped into Seoul Metro Line 5 carriage. Without noticing commotion inside the carriage, I immediately headed to an empty seat near carriage’s connection. Without further ado, I immediately closed my eyes because of sleepiness.

Now, I was heading to Hongik University Station with one stop at Chungjeongno Station because to get to Kimchee Guesthouse Sinchon in Seodaemun District I had to take Seoul Metro Line 2.

24 minutes later I arrived at my destination. Before actually leaving Hongik University Station, I took time to go to T-Money card vending machine at the corner of corridor to refill my T-Money which was almost out of balance. That time I filled my Seoul city travel card with 10,000 Won, more than enough for the end of my adventure in Seoul.

My back and forth at Hongik University Station ended up at a G-25 minimarket for a simple lunch. I managed to get a piece of packaged Kimbab for just 1,300 Won. Enough or not, that was the only lunch that I had to accept.

After eating it in convenience store table, I immediately climbed the escalator which rose to surface, passed Sinchon-ro 2-gil alley, crossed Sinchon-ro Avenue, then rushed to the inn.

“Hooohh….You, Donny. Welcome, your room is ready”, said the same receptionist who greeted me this morning.

“Hi, Sir….Thank you. I think I should go to bed soon….Hahaha”, I lihgtly answered while clutching my blue backpack which I had put in the corner of front room since this morning.

“Oh yeah, you look tired”

“Yes, I spent my last night at Seoul Express Bus Terminal”, I agreed.

After receptionist scanned my passport which I gave to him, the room key was given. Not waiting long, I immediately went upstairs, entered the room, took off my winter jacket and shoes, then immediately jumped into bunk bed to daub myself until afternoon.

Next Story—->

The Candlelight Revolution in Gwanghwamun Square

14 June 20224 July 2022travelingpersecond

<—-Previous Story

It was almost noon as I slowly descended alley after alley of Bukchon Hanok Village. Stepping between traditional Korean buildings seemed to throw me back in time, a time when Joseon Dynasty was enjoying its golden era.

A few moments later, my steps were parallel to Bukchon-ro Avenue section. I casually walked enjoying cool midday air of Seoul while occasionally stopping in several winter jacket sellers. But its price, which was still above 125,000 Won, made me reluctant to stop any longer.

I quickened my pace when the face of Anguk Station could be seen far ahead. But a few steps later, I slowed down my steps, my ears could barely hear Indonesian language from a small shop, four Indonesian travelers were enjoying a dish of Chimaek (a dish of fried chicken mixed with South Korean beer). Their joking fun made me reluctant to greet them but I was able to confirm that they were from the same nation as me.

Entering Anguk Station, I headed straight for the platform. Catching the Seoul Metro to get to Sejongno area immediately. Seoul Metro arrived just moments after I reached the platform.

Entering a carriage, I couldn’t hide my chuckle. “Oh, No……”, this Seoul Metro was similar to the old Jakarta’s Commuter “Very funny …”, there were a seller screaming explaining goods they was selling.

That was not enough… there were men quickly walked through carriage after carriage to simply slip business cards between doors, carriage poles and whatever places to put it were possible. “Ohh my God…”, I was even lowering my face I still couldn’t hide my amusement.

That funny moments was closed with another funny scene where train officer combed the carriage to take all business cards which were tucked away before I got off in Jongno 3(sam)-ga Station.

Now, I was changing to Seoul Metro Line 5 to get to final destination of Gwanghwamun Station. Not passing another station, so I quickly arrived at Gwanghwanum Square.

Impatiently stepping the escalator, I tried to get as fast as I could to surface. Arriving at the exit I could only stand frozen, staring at a statue of a legendary South Korean fighter. It was a statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin who proudly stood with a sword grip in his right hand and a suit of armor which covered almost his entire body.

Admiral Yi Sun-sin himself was a Joseon Dynasty era warrior who with his 12 fleet of warships fought Japanese invasion in 23 major battles at sea.

Meanwhile, Gwanghwanum Square used to be one of the most famous royal squares because several royal government buildings were placed around this square.

However, my arrival seemed to coincide with a large demonstration that was remembered as The Candlelight Revolution, a popular protest against corruption scandal which carried out by the President of South Korea, Park Geun-hye.

Next Story—->

Beberapa tenda demonstran masih tampak tersisa di kiri kanan sisi patung Laksamana Yi Sun-sin. Tetapi itu semua tidak mengurangi rasa antusiasku untuk menikmati Gwanghwamun Square.

Tidur Siang di Kimchee Guesthouse Sinchon

2 May 202112 June 2022travelingpersecond

<—-Kisah Sebelumnya

Aku masih saja bediri termangu di utara alun-alun untuk menikmati kegagahan Gwanghwamun Gate , gerbang enam abad milik Istana Gyeongbok. Alun-alun Gwanghwamun dengan dasar batuan andesit serta paduan hijaunya rumput taman tampak mulai dipenuhi oleh arus kunjungan para pelancong.

Selain patung Admiral Yi Sunshin, patung emas Raja Sejong yang Agung-sang raja keempat Dinasti Joseon adalah tujuan penting para pelancong. Mereka terlalu terpesona dengan patung-patung itu ketika aku lebih memilih memperhatikan kesibukan Kedutaan Besar Amerika Serikat di tepian Sejong-daero Avenue yang bersebelahan dengan National Museum of Korean Contemporary History.

Tak terasa waktu telah bergulir lewat dari tengah hari, sisa kantuk usai bermalam di Seoul Express Bus Terminal membuatku tak mampu menyembunyikan rasa kantuk di pelupuk mata. Badan yang belum terguyur air semenjak 30 jam yang lalu juga membuat tubuh tak merasa nyaman.

“Lebih baik pulang ke penginapan saja”, begitu seru batin menggugurkan semangatku untuk melanjutkan eksplorasi. “Sial….Aku menyerah kali ini”, dengan bersungut-sungut kesal, aku memasuki gerbang Stasiun Gwanghwamun.

“Selamat tingga Distrik Jongno”, lirih batinku ketika melompat masuk ke gerbong Seoul Metro Line 5. Tanpa memperhatikan keriuhan di dalam gerbong, aku segera mengarah ke tempat duduk kosong di dekat sambungan. Tanpa basa-basi aku segera memejamkan mata saking kantuknya.

Aku kini menuju ke Stasiun Hongik University dengan sekali transit di Stasiun Chungjeongno karena untuk menuju Kimchee Guesthoouse Sinchon di Distrik Seodaemun aku harus menunggang Seoul Metro Line 2.

24 menit kemudian aku tiba di tujuan. Sebelum benar-benar meninggalkan Stasiun Hongik University, aku menyempatkan diri menuju T-Money card vending machine di pojok koridor untuk mengisi T-Moneyku yang hampir kehabisan saldo. Kali ini aku memenuhi kartu perjalanan kota Seoul itu dengan 10.000 Won, angka yang lebih dari cukup hingga akhir petualanganku di Seoul.

Hilir mudikku di Stasiun Hongik berakhir di sebuah G-25 minimarket untuk sekedar makan siang seadanya. Sepotong Kimbab kemasan berhasil kudapatkan dengan harga 1.300 Won saja. Kenyang atau tidak, hanya itu jatah makan siang yang harus kuterima.

Usai menyantapnya di meja minimarket, aku segera menaiki escalator yang menjulang menuju permukaan, melewati gang Sinchon-ro 2-gil, menyeberangi Sinchon-ro Avenue, lalu bergegas menuju penginapan.

“Hooohh….You, Donny. Welcome, your room is ready”, begitu sosok resepsionis yang sama sejak pagi tadi menyambut kedatanganku.

“Hi, Sir….Thank you. I think I should go to bed soon….Hahaha”, aku menjawabnya ringan sambil merengkung backpack biru yang sedari pagi kutaruh di pojok ruangan depan.

“Oh yeah, you look tired”

“Yes, I spent my last night at Seoul Express Bus Terminal”, aku mengiyakan.

Usai resepsionis itu me-scan passport yang kuberikan, kunci kamar pun diberikan. Tak menunggu lama, aku segera naik ke lantai atas, memasuki kamar, melepas winter jacket dan sepatu, kemudian segera melompat ke bunk bed untuk memulaskan diri hingga sore nanti.

Kisah Selanjutnya—->

The Candlelight Revolution di Gwanghwamun Square

26 April 202124 June 2021travelingpersecond

<—-Kisah Sebelumnya

Hampir tengah hari ketika aku perlahan menuruni gang demi gang Bukchon Hanok Village. Melangkah di sela-sela bangunan tradisional asli Korea seolah melemparku ke masa lalu, masa dimana Dinasti Joseon sedang menikmati era keemasannya.

Beberapa saat kemudian, langkahku sudah menyejajari ruas Bukchon-ro Avenue. Aku melangkah santai menikmati sejuknya udara tengah hari Seoul sembari sesekali berhenti di beberapa spot penjual winter jacket. Tetapi harganya yang masih saja di atas 125.000 Won membuatku urung untuk berhenti lebih lama.

Aku mempercepat langkah ketika muka Stasiun Anguk lamat terpantau jauh di hadapan. Tetapi beberapa langkah kemudian, aku melambatkan ayunan langkah, sayup telingaku mendengar Bahasa Indonesia dari sebuah kedai mungil, empat pelancong Indonesia sedang asyik menikmati hidangan Chimaek (sajian ayam goreng berpadu bir khas Korea Selatan). Keseruan senda gurau mereka membuatku enggan menyapanya tetapi aku sudah bisa memastikan bahwa mereka berasal dari bangsa yang sama denganku.

Memasuki Stasiun Anguk, aku langsung menuju platform. Mengejar Seoul Metro untuk segera menuju daerah Sejongno. Seoul Metro tiba hanya beberapa saat setelah aku mencapai platform.

Memasuki sebuah gerbong, aku tak bisa menyembunyikan tawa kecil. “Oh, tidak……”, Seoul Metro ini mirip KRL Jabodetabek masa lalu. “Gileee men….”, ada penjual yang teriak-teriak menjelaskan barang yang dijulanya.

Itu belum cukup……Seseorang dengan cepat berjalan menyisir gerbong demi gerbong untuk sekedar menyelipkan kartu nama di beberapa sela pintu, tiang gerbong dan selipan apapun yang memungkinkan. “Buseettttt dahhh….”, menundukkan muka pun aku masih tak bisa menyembunyikan kegelian itu.

Kejadian itu pun ditutup dengan adegan lucu lainnya dimana petugas kereta menyisiri gerbong untuk mengambil semua kartu nama yang terselip dimana-mana sebelum aku turun di Stasiun Jongno 3(sam)-ga.

Aku kini berpindah ke Seoul Metro Line 5 untuk menuju tujuan akhir Stasiun Gwanghwamun. Tak berselang dengan stasiun lain, maka aku dengan cepat tiba di Gwanghwanum Square.

Menaiki escalator dengan tidak sabaran, aku berusaha secepat mungkin munuju permukaan. Sesampai di pintu keluar aku hanya bisa berdiri terpaku, menatap sebuah patung seorang petarung legendaris Korea Selatan. Adalah patung Laksamana Yi Sun-sin yang berdiri gagah dengan genggaman pedang di tangan kanan dan baju zirah yang menutupi hampir seluruh tubuhnya.

Laksamana Yi Sun-sin sendiri adalah pejuang era Dinasti Joseon yang dengan 12 armada kapal perangnya melawan invasi Jepang dalam 23 pertempuran besar di lautan.

Sedangkan Gwanghwanum Square dulunya adalah salah satu alun-alun kerajaan yang sangat terkenal karena beberapa bangunan pemerintahan zaman kerajaan ditempatkan di sekitar alun-alun ini.

Hanya saja, kedatanganku tampaknya bertepatan dengan sebuah demonstrasi besar yang dikenang dengan nama The Candlelight Revolution, protes rakyat melawan skandal korupsi yang dilakukan oleh Presiden Korea Selatan, Park Geun-hye.

Kisah Selanjutnya—->

Beberapa tenda demonstran masih tampak tersisa di kiri kanan sisi patung Laksamana Yi Sun-sin. Tetapi itu semua tidak mengurangi rasa antusiasku untuk menikmati Gwanghwamun Square.