nami Island 남이선 南怡岛 is one of the destinations popularised by winter sonata 冬季恋歌 2002！

it’s one of the many korean dramas my family watched (still watches). haha!

we went on a korea tour in 2003 & during winter! covering chuncheon 春川, soraksan, sokcho 束草, yongpyong ski resort, when the children were still quite young.

strangely though, i remembered clearly that our korean driver took us to (to be safe especially driving in treacherous winter roads, we had a personal paid english speaking korean driver & MPV to take us for the entire trip) –

jungdo중도中岛观光地, & according to this link – 

KBS电视剧《冬季恋歌》、电影《娃妮和俊河》、SBS电视剧《父与子》等都曾在中岛取景

Now though nami Island 남이선 南怡岛 is the goto place.

after reading the many good guides on getting to Nami Island 남이선 南怡岛 by several bloggers,

we booked our tickets from yongsan (seoul) to gapyeong (chuncheon) on itx trains(for ourselves staying at hongdae, we find yongsan to be most convenient!).

its quite simple.

go to the link http://www.letskorail.com/ebizbf/EbizBfTicketSearch.do#

enter yongsan & gapyeong in the “Departure/Arrival” boxes,

choose itx-cheongchun in the “Train” dropdown menu,

pick your date & hit “Inquiry” button (they meant Enquiry la…)

be at the ticket window of a korail station early (with passport & reservation confirmation slip) to collect your tickets – like 1/2hr before.

train was quite comfortable.

on our way back though, we did not make reservation, so had to stand (sit on the floor) almost the entire journey! it was a friday! so look at the timetable & book your return as well.

we arrived at gapyeong station in chuncheong about 9.30am.

we crossed over the road to take the commuter bus. can’t remember the fare. paid with our T-money card.

the tourist shuttle bus cost 5,000 won. we were taking just one stop to nami island so did not need that.

there are many dakgalbi (chicken rib) 닭갈비 restaurants at the ferry point carpark area.

we later had lunch at mr dakgalbi. ^^

but first to get to the ferry to go over to nami island 남이섬 南怡岛.

the return adult ferry fare is 8,000won.

arrived at nami island 남이섬 南怡岛 & took some photo at the ferry point.

see here for the awesome autumn colours-

https://chefquak.com/2016/12/08/day-2-awesome-autumn-colours-on-nami-island-in-chuncheon-on-11nov2016-seoul-10-13nov2016/

they also aspire to be secret garden, one with a hundred maples….

thye got merlion too? a bit commercialised here…

& they have this obsession with naminara republic, make-believe land of fairy tales, & their passport & central bank…

a great rest stop, for coffee & more…

a nice treat, very tasty red beans, not too sweet, & hot & crispy dough….

fast food factory, can ram up production quite a bit…

we bought a second one…it was very nice.

see again the fallong leaves…in slow mo…

like this happy mother nursing sculture…

another view of this awesome red maple…

sake bottles for the wall…

we walked to the quiter side of the island.

& along the coastline back towards the ferry point.

rows of ostrich toys….

you can also take a zip wire to nami Island 남이선 南怡岛.

see the 2 black specks?

it’s a one directional journey from the tower, then by same ferry as we were taking back.

back at the ferry point on the mainland.

we checked the itx train schedule…we were in good time for lunch then catch the bus to gapyeong station to take the itx train back to yongsan station in seoul.

c.h.e.f andy