Day 2.
I actually noticed one of dorm-mate entering the room around 5am but it got me thinking 'oh great I missed Sahoor' but I really have no energy to get up at that time.
The next I woke up, I felt my face was so hot, because of fever. I only crawl to end of bed to charge my devices since I accidentally fall asleep without charging last night (bad bad consequences).
I realised I can't stay in bed, so I finally get up and decided to not fasting because I need to take medicine or it'll get worse since I need to walk around in hot weather too. I fill my stomach with bread and took my medication, shower, prayer and get ready to go out, it's around 10am when I realized.
I'm already familiar with the road to subway station, decided to just straight go to Gapyeong since it would take quite long time. I regret not going out earlier since 10am, there are already many people using train. Inside, I tried to go online BUT turned out the pocket WiFi didn't charged well (yes my fault, I should charge before sleep) and I can't connect to Internet for the whole day. I think my journey in train was only filled with me denying that Internet didn't worked and still trying to connect.
After I accepted the reality, I already waiting for Gapyeong train at Sangbong station. If you've been to Nami Island by train from Seoul, you'll probably know the train is not as frequent since it already heading to Chuncheon which is outside Seoul, unless you take ITX train which is faster. And I have to bear the waiting time without WiFi. Alone. 헐.
It's actually good to miss the train before, so I'm in front line for next train. I end up only listening to music to kill my time. The thing that irritated me is that there's one ahjussi suddenly stand in front of me to cut the queue. Excuse me, I leave the space because I want to let people pass through! Insensible ahjussi. Even discrimination. His face like he did nothing wrong is what irritates me, I'm usually fine with older people cutting line.
An ahjumma sitting down on metal bar looked like she wants to start conversation with me, but I didn't want to start talking 1st. Because I know if I do (usually in korean),the ahjumma will not stop talking (talking from experience). I'm bored but I'm not really in mood of translating in my head. Maybe because I'm still feeling sick at that time.
When the train come, oh wow, I did forget how the ahjumma and ahjussi get competitive immediately after boarding the train, fighting for seats. One ahjumma even said 'oh I can't live (survive) anymore', her destination must be far.
It took almost an hour of train ride. I decided to just stay at the door and looked out of window, enjoying the scenery. Yellow flowers and green trees are visible because it's summer. One thing caught my sight was a group of people searching for something in the middle of river. It looks so fun and refreshing.
When I reached Gapyeong, it was so hot! The unprepared me again, having hard time to decide which side to wait for the bus (actually I opt for taxi but I'm confused at that time. Too hot to think). I saw a tour bus, thought I could hop in, but in front of me full of China tourists (since they didn't understand what ahjumma was asking). I heard a Korean woman in front asking to the driver about the destination and driver said to take regular bus if only going to Nami Island or 1 place.
So I queue on taxi line (again, actually. I was very confused). In front of me are two Korean girls seems not sure if they're in right line too (more in front are larger group of Koreans). I just listen to what they're saying (80% understanding it) and forming of how to start to talk to them in my head. It's because I figured out they are heading to Jaraseom too, place where the Rainbow Music Festival being held.
After about 10minutes or so, I gather my courage (mostly my confidence in speaking Korean. I'm not that afraid to talk to strangers). I started with 저기요~and the girl in front of me seems lost of where that sound came from lol. I asked where they are going (I think so) and if they're going to Jaraseom (I honestly messed up my hangukmal. Too nervous). Turn out the girl in front of me speaks fluent English. The friend not so much but I think she can catch up our conversation.
The girl asked me if I'm going to Jaraseom too, I said yes. She offered me to join them in taxi (thank Allah🙏) because I really can't make up my sentences to ask them if I can join. So I just replied 'can I..?' she said 'yeah sure'. So we 3 get in the taxi heading to Jaraseom or Jara Island.
Inside taxi there's short conversation among us,in English and in korean because the girl besides me is curious, the one fluent in English sat in front. Said that I'm from Malaysia, how the weather so hot etc. It's actually around 4km only from Jaraseom (possible to walk but who want to in that scorching hot sunny 1 pm timing). We even visibly breath relief of the aircond from taxi.
We're not sure of where we should drop off so ahjussi said don't worry he'll send us in front. He explained a bit when we actually entered Jaraseom. We thanked him and got out from taxi. I still can remember the hotness 😵.
The taxis fare is only 3000won, so I dig up my bag for money. The girls noticed and said I didn't have to pay. Thank you girls I'm touched. We are chatting more while walking to ticket booth. Asked of whom I want to watch the performance. I said Martin Smith but they seems to have no idea, so I add Melomance (of course they know who Melomance is). Also said I only stay in Korea for 3 days and they're amused.
When we reach ticket booths, they girls bid goodbye to me and tell me to enjoy the festival. I thank them again and walked to my supposed ticket booth (wrong queue at beginning because I confused with night concert ticket). I made another big (even dangerous) mistake because I didn't bring my passport. Not that I forgot, I just didn't think it through. I forgot passport is most important overseas. It become problem because apparently Interpark ticketing need my ID at that time (importantly my face) to varify my ticket.
I had my IC in my old phone but not this one. So I had to dig up my email to look for my photo. One of the staff kinda hesitate to let me pass (I use the TOPIK application email, yes, not convincing enough for me too) but the other staff just nodded and wear the wristband on me. Alhamdulillah for another obstacles passed.
Then I walked to the island while savoring the beauty that catches my eyes (poetik pulak). Then I have to passed through a tent of inspecting bags. I thought they gonna check my bag, but the woman just check my camera bag which contains.. camera.
But I figured out they didn't allow canned drinks. Not sure why. It's a camping and music festival so I thought it would be odd to not bring any food or drinks, but yeah, not canned drinks. I walked towards island and as soon as I passed ads tent, I heard Mamamoo's song -fangirl moment-. I wanted to take picture at the nice settings but dropping the idea because my monopod is too short to make it all into frame and I'm shy to ask other people to take photo for me.
So I head towards the stage area. There are 2 stages, one is Rainbow Island and another is Blue Island. I'll only go for Rainbow Island, so I scanned the place, mentally calculating the route to go out since I'll be rushing for another concert later that night. I saw food trucks and also the backstage tents for the artists (no artists yet since the show only started at 1.20pm and Martin Smith only will sing at 2.40pm. Plenty of time left.
So I head to the food truck line to buy juice since I feel so dehydrated (I still feel guilty to eat because it's Ramadan, plus lazy to think about halal) I ordered mango juice and the girl helped me buy using her code. Actually it's more like coupon (macam kita makan kat food court atau Hari Kantin Sekolah)
The girl saw me alone, unlike a pair who the partner is a foreigner but the other is Korean so they have to do the sign up and scanned bar code etc. Another ease granted for me Alhamdulillah. After getting my drink, I walked passed people who are on foam seat enjoying relaxing time, Blue Island area, and heads towards Rainbow Island.
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| So delicious and fresh |
I asked the staffs if I can go inside already and they said yes of course. After that I was stuck of which side to go. Left is better but the front and 2nd line were already full with people, right side have overhead camera so the area is smaller. I decided for right side since it's still have spaces. (continue part 3)
