I think everyone must have discussed my absence in class because my classmates all asked me how the DMZ trip was when I'm pretty sure I only told the teacher. As long as they weren't saying bad things, lol. I also had to take that vocab test after classes were over. Thus, even though we were supposed to meet at the glasses store after class, we were a little late. It was sad to go to the glasses store that day because it was the last day we were going to go there. WE got there right as Umma was saying goodbye to them. Goodbye ALO in Sinchon. We'll miss you next time we have to get new glasses.
Then, we jumped on the subway to head across the river towards Lotte World. It was a pretty long-ish trip, but whatever. It could have been worse.
When we got there, the first thing we ran into was a giant underground market.
For James, who had been looking forward to a shopping free day I imagine, was very distressed about this because he thought that Lotte World too was all shopping. He consoled himself with ice cream as he often does.
After circling the market, we spent an incredibly long amount of time trying to figure out how to use the lockers in the subway station. We didn't want to have to lug our books around Lotte. The happy locker (Asians have a tendency to put faces on any inanimate object, I've discovered. Most amusing has probably either been the smiling blood cells on some blood drive truck) told us the lockers were easy to use, but apparently the smiling locker is a liar.
Outside of the Lotte Department store, they also had a giant replica of the Trevi Fountain. I don't actually know why, but it was kind of cute.
We made our way through the madness that is Lotte to make it up to the folk village for lunch. It took a while to find places suitable to eat. Most of what got what I can only describe as a bancham and bulkogi party. Unfortuantely, it wasn't that good. We also had to deal with this sudden disgusting fascination with water bears.
Our next stop was the Lotte Folk Village. We went through it relatively quickly. It's actually a very cute thing to see and they've got huge set up of little figures displaying scenes from the Joseon dynasty. I think we've just gone through a lot of folk villages recently or something. We also wanted to get to the rides. They also apparently have some new-ish (new since the last time I've been here anyway) exhibit on Korea during Japanese occupation.
We next tackled the amusement park itself. Our first stop was the hot air balloon ride, which also probably had the longest line we had to stand in all day. Going on a weekday as opposed to a weekend makes a huge difference in terms of crowds of that park. I guess that applies to any park really, but Disneyland relatively remains hellish in the summer during weekdays. They also give you a discounted price if you enter the park after 4pm. Mia and I want to suggest that Disneyland offer such a discount to season pass holders on non-summer blackout days. We don't know how to suggest this and are pretty sure they aren't going to like that idea, so not much is going to happen with this plan.
Anyway, the first ride we did was the scary hot air balloon ride that takes you around the indoor portion of the park. It's actually not bad after you do the initial lift off. And it gets you a nice view of everything in the park.
A popular trend in Lotte is to get obnoxious headbands and wear them around the park. Compared to Disneyland hats, they are also quite the bargain. Actually, regular headbands in th States generally cost this much. A lot of guys also wore them. Because we are a pretty undignified family, we all partook in this great trend. And by all, I mean 3/5 of us. This upset Auntie Maureen when she met with Umma later that day.
Our next stop was a ride that was essentially a blatant copy of the Indiana Jones ride. They added some sharp turns and an unexplained giant crocodile, but it was pretty much the same ride. Not complaining, though. It was another reason I appreciated the lack of crowds. When we went on this ride two years ago after it had recently opened, we had to wait 2 hours to ride. This time around, it couldn't have taken more than 20 minutes.
We made our way downstairs to the Stairway to Heaven mural. As you might have seen in my last post and when we did the Lotte World trip last time, it's kind of tiny. I'm under the impression that a bigger one was once there (I mean, it has been 5 years since the show came out and all).
We circled around the park for a while to get to the Magic Island (outdoors portion of the park). Castle look familiar at all? Oh yeah they're also celebrating their 20th anniversary this year. I guess that means that Lotte World is around Mia's age. lol.
We went on this space-themed ride that was a cross between a tilt a whirl and a roller coaster. It's actually not as terrifying as it sounds. However, I think it's because I was by myself in one car and, therefore, threw off the balance, I span around constantly from the beginning while Mia and James barely moved in their car.
Umma left shortly after to eat dinner with Auntie Maureen. We were supposed to go on a few other rides before meeting up with her again afterwards. She apparently got lost on the way out and had to be guided out by Lotte park officials. All while wearing the headband.
There is one ride at Lotte that I do really want to ride and it's the Atlantis-themed water roller coaster. James and I were going to ride it, but decided against it after we saw the 45 minute wait. Maybe next time.
We did go on this crazy spinny ride, which also was not as terrifying as it looked.
Halmony also made Mia and me go on this drop ride because she said it didn't look scary. James chickened out. I think it might be the first time I've gone on a drop ride that wasn't the Tower of Terror.
James really wanted to go on the swing ride. I did it last time and it was not a comfortable ride, so I opted out. I guess this was good because Mia did not feel well afterwards.
We went back inside for dinner. James and I had jajangmyun and Mia had kimchi fried rice. James also dragged my to a candy store so he could buy an overpriced lollipop which he later dropped and shattered into like a thousand pieces. What a sweet kid.
We also found some spot for fun pictures. That bear in the jail is the most terrifying thing I've ever seen.
We were supposed to take Halmony on the carousel, but on our way down we found a ride that we thought would be a jungle cruise-esque ride. Turned out it was one of those white water rafting rides. For whatever reason, we went on anyway. The only one who didn't spend the whole ride terrified of being soaked was Halmony because she put on a poncho. Also, the ride was extra awkward because some random guy jumped onto our boat.
On the way down we also found this cowboy-themed shooting game. Halmony didn't want to go on. I pwned James and Mia at the game, but I think Mia didn't score any points because her thing was broken. James had no excuse, so I win.
Unfortunately, by the time we got out of the ride, the carousel was closed for some laser show. Umma also called because she was done with dinner, so we had to make our way out of the maze that is Lotte to meet with her and Auntie Maureen.
Apparently there is some unmentioned rule of the park that says that you have to take the goofy headbands off immediately after you leave the park. We didn't get the memo, so got stared at by a lot of people in the subway.
We also spent like twelve hours trying to get our stuff out of the locker. Some girl had to come up us because we were so frantic about trying to get our stuff out.
Also, the subway ride back was packed. We'd managed to avoid the experience of being on a subway that is packed so much that you cannot move let alone breathe. That was fun.
We also amused the bus driver with our headbands on the way back to the apartment.
We got back at almost midnight. Good times.
I end this post not with angsty James, but with eating James and us in front of one of Andrew's favorite restaurants in the entire world. I'm not being sarcastic. He listed Isaac toast from Korea as one of his favorite foods in the world.
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