Korea - Day 5 (Myeongdong - Alpensia Ski Resort)

- March 31, 2023

We booked our ski shuttle bus service from Myeongdong to Alpensia Ski Resort via this website: https://www.tourtokorea.com (Bus fare - ₩ 42,000 per person for 1 way). It's a smooth check out at Nine Tree Hotel Myeongdong and by 8.35am we have reached Myeongdong Station Exit 1. The shuttle bus pick up point is just 5 minutes walking distance from Nine Tree Hotel Myeongdong. It's a sunny Wednesday morning and temperature is around 4℃. The shuttle bus departs on time at 8.45am and make 3 stops to pick up passengers. Finally the bus stops at Jamsil Sports Complex. At this station, the bus driver checked our tickets and some may have to change buses as they congregated passengers going to the various Ski Resort. If you missed the bus at Myeongdong Station Exit 1, you can take a taxi and go direct to Jamsil Sports Complex before 10am.

The bus finally departs to Alpensia Ski Resort at 10.05am from Jamsil Sports Complex. The bus driver did not stop for any toilet break and the journey took approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes to reach the resort. It's snowing when we arrived and I finally witness the first snowfall in Korea. It's one of the best experiences in my life. I saw little flakes of white snows everywhere while it's falling down from the sky. However, the snow shower only lasted until 5pm that day.

Myeongdong Station exit 1

Bus to Alpensia Ski Resort

Winter trees

Welcome Center at Alpensia Ski Resort

Alpensia Ski Resort

We stayed at Holiday Inn Resort Hotel for 2 nights and glad that they allow us for early check in at 12.45pm. We had our lunch at this Japanese restaurant named Kisoya. I had Japanese ramen in miso soup comes with bean sprouts, half boiled egg, fish cake, a slice of meat and spring onions. My partner on the other hand had a set of hamburger steak comes with a small bowl of udon, rice and shredded cabbages. My ramen taste like yellow noodles and it's overcooked. For the first time I didn't really enjoy my meal in Korea.

After lunch, we explore the ski resort. In total there's 6 slopes in Alpensia Ski Resort - Foxtrot, Eco, Delta, Charlie, Bravo and Alpha based on their ski skills. Alpha is the beginner slope while Bravo is the intermediate slope. The other slopes are for advance skier. There's 3 ski lifts to bring you up to the top of the mountain.

Kisoya Japanese Restaurant

Restaurant ambience

Cold water

Kimchi

Japanese ramen in miso soup - ₩ 10,000

Set of hamburger steak - ₩ 12,000

Udon

Alpensia Ski Resort

Food truck

Alpensia Ski Resort

Instructor conducting ski lesson to participants

Alpensia Ski Resort

We had our tea break at CU convenience store. I bought an oval shaped waffle with vanilla flavoured ice cream but the waffles have gone a little soft and it's chewy. Besides that, my Baskin Robbins very berry strawberry milk tasted bland and boring. My partner bought cuttlefish and peanut instead. He had it with his bitter black coffee. After tea break we went back to our room to take a rest before we had our dinner at 6pm.

Total bill - ₩ 11,200

CU convenience store

Baskin Robbins very berry strawberry milk - ₩ 1,200 and waffle with vanilla ice cream - ₩ 1,800

Waffle with vanilla ice cream

Black Coffee - ₩ 2,700

Cuttlefish and peanuts - ₩ 5,500

Cuttlefish and peanuts

It stopped snowing by the time we went down for dinner. We walked around the resort and decided to have our dinner at Yong Woo Dong. My partner had soy bean soup with beef brisket and rice while I had fried pork cutlet with cheese, salad and rice. My pork cutlet is crispy and tender. I like the kimchi too. My partner's soy bean soup tasted so-so only.

Alpensia Ski Resort

Alpensia Ski Resort ticketing counter

Alpensia Ski Resort (night view)

Yong Woo Dong Restaurant

Cold water and soup

Side dishes

Soy bean soup with beef brisket - ₩ 9,000

Rice

Fried pork cutlet with cheese and salad - ₩ 10,000

Temperature is below freezing (-5℃) at night. We stroll around the resort. I always wanted to make a snow angel and my wish has been fulfilled. Night skiing is available at Alpensia Ski Resort from 6.30pm to 10pm. Before we walked back to our hotel room, my partner went and sign up for his 2 hours ski lesson at 10am tomorrow (Price - ₩ 310,000 for 1 to 1). The staff stationed at the snowboard school only speaks Korean but they are very helpful and called up the ski instructor for us so that we can get a clearer picture of the ski lesson. My partner is very excited for his ski lesson tomorrow whereas me the scaredy-cat, looking forward to make more snow angels and snowman.

Note: ₩ 1,000 = RM 3.40