South Korea- Seoul is known as The Land of the Morning Calm

1. South Korea- Seoul is known as The Land of the Morning Calm a country with a people obsessed with nature, and with mountains in particular. The Republic of Korea represents a fascinating blend of the past and present.  The Korean people are proud of their long history and unique cultural traditions, and they remain committed to preserving their heritage into the next millennium. Korea and its capital, Seoul, offer a wide range of both cultural and recreational opportunities.  By providing a lifestyle that includes a combination of both the unique and familiar, Korea will prove to be a fascinating place to visit. Taken from:http://www.singaporetours.com.sg/160013.page

2. Comparison of Travel Packages

3. Comparison of Travel Packages (cont’d)

4. Selection of Travel Agent & Tour Package • Travel Agency #3, ASA Tours Pte Ltd, is selected because • Price is the lowest for family of 3 persons ($3264) • Package covers more days (6D5N) • More meals covered • No need to incur cost for transportation as all days are covered under the package • More savings to spend on other items • Pace of tour not so hectic • Covers more sites/places than other 2 agents

5. Allocation of Travel Budget(based on Agency #3) Budget of $5,000 for entire family (2 adults, 1 child)

6. Places of Interest Covered under Package • Kangwon Land– will visit facilities like • 4D-Cinema • Russian Fantasy • Performance, • Adventure Palace Themepark with Indoor Swimming Pool and Sauna, • Kangwon Land Cable Car Ride, Mountain Top Café to enjoy aromatic coffee • kimchi making and take photos while dressed in hanbok, the traditional Korean costume.

7. Places of Interest Covered under Package • Lotte Worldis like a small city with an amusement park, folk museum, sports center (including a skating rink and pool/water slide park), shopping center, and hotel. Most facilities are indoors, so they can be enjoyed throughout the year. The central area is open, so that several levels of people can watch the other people ice skating, enjoying the rides, eating, and shopping.Amusement parkLotte bills its World Adventure amusement park as the world's largest indoor theme park. Opened in 1989, it was designed by some of the world's most prestigious amusement park designers. The park has rides for everyone in the family, ranging from tranquil tram rides to exhilarating roller coasters. In addition to rides, the park has several shows each day and costumed characters that roam around. Operating hours: 9: 30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. (Open 365 days a year, also in the evening.)

8. Places of Interest Covered under Package • Dongdaemun Marketis located near its namesake of Dongdaemun(Great East Gate). Korea's largest wholesale and retail shopping district has 26 shopping malls, 30,000 specialty shops, and 50,000 manufacturers. Within the ten blocks of the market area, you can find silks, clothes, shoes, sporting goods, plumbing and electrical supplies, electronics, office supplies, toys and just about everything else imaginable. Traditionally, wholesalers operated from 1:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and retailers were open from 1:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Buyers came from all over Korea to take advantage of the cheap wholesale prices during the wee hours of the morning, creating an unusual nightlife in the area. Now, the area stays open from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 a.m., allowing shoopers to do their thing almost any time the mood strikes them. (Most stores close on Mondays and holidays.) http://www.lifeinkorea.com/Travel2/15

9. Places of Interest Covered under Package • Gyeongbok Palace - Built at the beginning of the Chosun Dynasty when the Yi Dynasty moved the capital to Seoul, this palace remained the main seat of power for Korea kings throughout much of the time to the present. Gyeongbok means Shining Happiness. The main gate (Kwanghwa-mun) separates Gyeongbok Palace from one of the busiest areas of Seoul. Gyeongbok Palace was built as the primary palace of the Chosun Kingdom by its founder, King Taejo in 1395, the fourth year of his reign. • It was destroyed during the Japanese invasion of 1592 and left in ruins for over 250 years. Starting in 1865, it was rebuilt to its original grandeur. When Korea was annexed by Japan in 1910, most of the 200 building on the palace grounds were torn down by the Japanese, leaving only a dozen structures. The map near the front entrance shows the arrangement of the complex during the latter part of the reign of King Kojong. It shows the major hails, pavilions, offices, storerooms, gates and bridges of the 419,100 square meter grounds. http://www.lifeinkorea.com/travel2/seoul/66/

10. Souvenir for NE Corner - Papercrafts • Hanji, a kind of traditional Korean paper made from mulberry bark, is characterized by its durability, luster, and absorption. • Papercrafts made from this traditional Korean paper have a splendid colour. • Papercrafts are considered a valued asset to Korea's arts. They can be bought in ornamental boxes at folk souvenir shops in Insa-dong. Characteristics of the Craft – In ancient times, jewelry boxes, clothes chests and paper boxes dyed in red, blue, yellow, black and white were the most popular items made from paper, particularly for weddings. To make items moisture proof and more durable, artists used to coat the paper with oil. Modern artists make items from traditional patterns and colors, although lacquer and varnish is used to coat them. Many tourists purchase papercraft items, and they are one of the most popular souvenirs. http://english.whatsonkorea.com/main.ph?code=H&scode=H-29&pst=L