South Korea Travel I

August 15, 2012 by · 1 Comment
Filed under: South Korea Travel I 

South Korea Travel I

Introduction

Flag of South Korea

Flag of South Korea

South Korea is a well-known country in the world. She produces and exports things that carry her own brands, such as Samsung, Hyundai, Kia and LG, just to name a few. I guess many foreign households have at least one of her items, either a car, electronic, electrical gadget, cosmetic, perfume, ginseng, or other product. Furthermore, her Korean dramas, movies, musics and cultural shows are becoming popular, especially, in countries of South-east Asia.

Division of Korea

The Korean peninsula was divided just slightly north of the 38th. parallel into two countries immediately after World War II(1939-1945) ended with the Soviet Union occupying the northern part, North Korea, and the U.S.A. the southern part, South Korea.

Korea Before 1945

Korea Before 1945

Two Koreas separated by Han and Imjin Rivers

Two Koreas separated by Han and Imjin Rivers

North and South Korea since 1945

North and South Korea since 1945

In 1948, the two countries formed their own governments with the communist one(the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) ruling North Korea, and the democratic one( the Republic of Korea) ruling South Korea.

In 1950, Korean War broke out when North Korea invaded South Korea. It lasted for over 3½ years, resulting in a total of 2½ million casualties. An armistice in 1953 ended the war committing both countries to a ceasefire. Although the treaty was signed, North Korea continue to intimidate South Korea, militarily. In spite of North Korea’s unfriendliness, South Korea continues to seek out a peaceful reunification plan with North Korea.

South Korea Tour Diary

South Korea Tour Group

South Korea Tour Group

To learn more about South Korea, my wife and I joined a small tour-group of Malaysians, left Changi International Airport in Singapore and flew by a large Korean Air plane to that country on 31 May 2012. Irene Lee from Sri America Travel Corp Sdn. Bhd,, a travel agency in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, was our tour leader.
Below is my diary of our unforgettable 8-day trip in South Korea.

Day 1 Thursday 31 May 2012

Flight to South Korea

At 3.00 p.m.(Singapore time), we left Changi International Airport in Singapore, and six hours later, we arrived, safely, at South Korea’s largest airport, Incheon International Airport, on an island that is connected by two bridges to Incheon City on the Korean Peninsula. At the airport, we were greeted by a Korean Chinese tour guide, Angel, who would bring us around in South Korea. Then a Korean tour bus-driver, Chow, brought us to a restaurant in Incheon City for a simple Korean dinner.

Tour Leader and Tour Guide

Tour Leader and Tour Guide

Hotel Secret in Incheon City

Hotel Secret in Incheon City

South Korea Tour Bus-Driver

South Korea Tour Bus-Driver

After dinner, we retired at a hotel known as Secret Hotel in the city. As the hotel provided free high speed Internet service in my room, I sent an email to my children and loved ones, informing them of our safe arrival in South Korea.

Day 2 Friday, 1 June 2012

Cheongwadae Sarangchae(Exhibition and Museum Centre)

Our actual South Korea tour began today. The first place we visited in the morning was Cheongwadae Sarangchae, an exhibition and museum centre, in Seoul City. It is a place where visitors can learn about the past, present and future of Seoul and the entire nation.

Cheongwadae Sarangchae(Exhibition and Museum Centre)

Cheongwadae Sarangchae(Exhibition and Museum Centre)

The Present and 17th. President of South Korea(Lee Myung-bak)

The Present and 17th. President of South Korea(Lee Myung-bak)

First President of South Korea(Rhee Syng-man)

First President of South Korea(Rhee Syng-man)

On the 2nd. floor of this centre is the South Korean Presidential Exhibition Hall where visitors can read about the significant events happened during the office of 17 presidents of South Korea. Besides, there is a mock president’s office in a room where visitors can sit on the president’s chair pretending to be a South Korean president, and have their photos taken. In another room, visitors can take a virtual photo together with the present South Korean President, Lee Myung-bak, and his wife.

Writer in the President's mock office

Writer in the President’s mock office

Phoenix Fountain is behind the writer and wife

Phoenix Fountain is behind the writer and wife

Writer and wife taking a virtual photo with President Lee and his wife

Writer and wife taking a virtual photo with President Lee and his wife

While I was there, I took the opportunity to ask someone to snap a photo of me alone in the mock president’s office, and another photo of my wife and I together with an image of President Lee Myung-bak and his wife on a large screen in another room.

A portrait of a pretty Korean lady in Cheongwadae Sarangchae

A portrait of a pretty Korean lady in Cheongwadae Sarangchae

Shin Saimdang, a famous Joseon artist and calligrapher

Shin Saimdang, a famous Joseon artist and calligrapher

A portrait of a pretty bride in Cheongwadae Sarangchae

A portrait of a pretty bride in Cheongwadae Sarangchae

Cheongwadae (Blue House)

When we came out of the centre we noticed a beautiful garden in front of us. It had a colourful flower garden and a large fountain, Phoenix Fountain, next to it. Then we walked to the right to the North Gate of the famous palace, Gyeongbokgung Palace. Standing in front of this gate which is known as Sinmumum Gate, I saw, not far away, the South Korean present president’s residence-cum-office, Cheongwadae(Blue House), which was heavily guarded by soldiers. Behind it is a majestic-looking hill known as Bugaksan Hill(342m).

Sinmumum Gate(North Gate)

Sinmumum Gate(North Gate)

Writer, wife and South Korean cyclist-police

Writer, wife and South Korean cyclist-police

Cheongwadae(Blue House)

Cheongwadae(Blue House)

Before my wife and I entered the compound of the palace, we met two young friendly Korean cyclist-policemen at the Sinmumum Gate. We chatted in English for a short moment. After taking a photo with them, we followed our tour-guide, Angel, and tour-members for a tour of Gyeongbokgung Palace where Angel would teach us about the history of Joseon Dynasty(1392 – 1897) and its kings.

Gyeongbokgung Palace

The palace was built by King Yi Seong-gye, in 1395, three years after he
established the Joseon Dynasty. When it was completed the king moved the capital of his dynasty from Gaegyeong to Hanyang(now known as Seoul). In 1592 when the Japanese invaded Korea, the palace was completely destroyed by fire. In 1868 it was rebuilt by King Gojong.

In 1895, after the assassination of Empress Myeongseong by Japanese agents, Emperor Gojong with his family fled the palace and sought refuge at the Russian legation. Two years later, he went to another palace known as Deoksugung Palace to stay. That palace was located south of his former one.

A pictorial plan of Geongbokgung Palace

A pictorial plan of Geongbokgung Palace

Tour-guide, Angel, in Geongbokgung Palace

Tour-guide, Angel, in Geongbokgung Palace

A building of the Joseon Dynasty architechural style

A building of the Joseon Dynasty architechural style

During the Japanese colonial rule in Korea(1910 – 1945), many imperial buildings in Geongbokgung Palace were destroyed by the colonialists. In 1990, the South Korean government started restoring the imperial buildings in the palace area to their former glory, as they are the legacies of the Joseon Dynasty and the pride of the nation. Now Geongbokgung Palace is one of the main tourists’ attractions in Korea.

Imperial Buildings

Geungjeong-jeon(Main Throne and Audience)

Geungjeong-jeon(Main Throne and Audience)

Gangnyeong-jeon(King's Quarter)

Gangnyeong-jeon(King’s Quarter)

Sajeong-jeon(King's Council Hall)

Sajeong-jeon(King’s Council Hall)

There are many restored imperial buildings in the large compound of the palace. Although we did not have much time to tour the whole place, we managed to see some of the important ones, such as Geungjeong-jeon(Main Throne and Audience Hall), Sajeong-jeon(King’s Council Hall), Gangnyeong-jeon(King’s Quarter), Gyotae-jeon(Queen’s Quarter), Hyangwon-jeon(Royal Pavilion-a hexagonal two-storey pavilion and its vicinity for kings and their immediate families to relax) and Jibok-jae(Private Royal Library-a building of Chinese architechural style used by King Gojong as an art hall, library and audience hall).

Hyangwon-jeong(Royal Pavilion)

Hyangwon-jeong(Royal Pavilion)

Third Entrance to Geungjeong-jeon(Throne Hall)

Third Entrance to Geungjeong-jeon(Throne Hall)

Jibok-jae(Private Royal Library)

Jibok-jae(Private Royal Library)

National Folk Museum

In the compound of the palace stands a large white building with two tall dark pagodas atop. It is known as National Folk Museum of Korea. It showcases the ancient traditions and cultures of the Korean people. It has a large collection of ancient artefacts illustrating the ancient traditional lifestyle of the Koreans.

National Folk Museum

National Folk Museum

"Hollye"(Korean Traditional Wedding Ceremony)

“Hollye”(Korean Traditional Wedding Ceremony)

"Gwallye"(Coming-of-Age Ceremony)

“Gwallye”(Coming-of-Age Ceremony)

More photos of the exhibits that are displayed in the museum are shown below.

Children's traditional clothing

Children’s traditional clothing

A traditional loom

A traditional loom

Traditional Earthenware

Traditional Earthenware

Ice Gallery

After a tour of the ancient palace and visit to the museum, we left for another place where we learned ice-carving. Located in the Seoul downtown, it is known as “Ice Gallery” which offers ice-sculpturing lessons and an exhibition of a few ice-sculptures.

When we arrived at “Ice Gallery”, we entered a room where a lady was waiting to teach us ice-sculpturing. To make the lesson more interesting, the teacher made it as a competition. Before it started, she taught us the way of carving a beer-mug out of a small block of ice with a chisel.

Ice-Sculpturing Teacher

Ice-Sculpturing Teacher

Winners of Ice-Sculpturing Competition

Winners of Ice-Sculpturing Competition

Writer learning ice-sculpturing

Writer learning ice-sculpturing

During the competition, we tried to produce the most creative, artistic and unique mug. When it ended, three winners with their best-carved mugs were chosen. Unfortunately, mine was not picked for a prize. At the prize-giving ceremony, we had a good laugh when the teacher put an ice-sculptured crown on the champion’s head.

After that enjoyable lesson, we entered a very cold room(-5°C) to see some ice-sculptures, like Eiffel Tower, ancient South Gate, computer, electronic organ, etc. Later we left “Ice Gallery” and went to a restaurant for lunch.

Freezing Cold Ice-Gallery

Freezing Cold Ice-Gallery

Jeju International Airport, Seoul

Jeju International Airport, Seoul

Gimpo Airport, Seoul

Gimpo Airport, Seoul

Flight to Jeju Island

After lunch we went to Gimpo Airport and checked in for a flight to Jeju Island. Later, at 6.10 p.m., we flew for an hour to the island. On arrival, we boarded a tour-bus driven by a Korean called Ko Hee Byung. He brought us to a restaurant for dinner and then a hotel known as Jeju Hawaii Hotel. As we had a long tiring day, we slept like a log in the hotel.

Location of Jeju Island

Location of Jeju Island

Jeju Hawaii Hotel, Jeju City

Jeju Hawaii Hotel, Jeju City

Writer's Jeju Island Tour Bus Driver

Writer’s Jeju Island Tour Bus Driver

Jeju Island

Jeju Island is about 100 km off the southern coast of the Korean peninsula. As it is far away from the peninsula, its ancient island-dwellers were living in isolation. Therefore, they had developed their own culture and language that were entirely different from those on the peninsula.

Jeju Island Pictorial Map

Jeju Island Pictorial Map

Breadwinners and “Dolharubang”

In the olden days, Jeju women were the heads of their families or matriarchs, as they were breadwinners. That was the reason Jeju people in olden days preferred girls to boys in their families. Another example of Jeju culture is that, in olden days, Jeju people liked to keep man-sized statues of a grand old man carved from volcanic rocks outside their houses, as they believed that he could protect them from evil spirits and bring them good fortunes. That statue is known as “dolharubang” or “stone grandfather”. Nowadays, figurines of this “deity” are sold in souvenir-shops on the island.

"Dolharubangs"("Statues of Grandfather")

“Dolharubangs”(“Statues of Grandfather”)

"Dolharubang" Souvenirs

“Dolharubang” Souvenirs

"Dolharubang" Souvenirs

“Dolharubang” Souvenirs

 

Natural Wonder Heritage

Jeju Island is the largest island in Korea with a length of 75 km and width of 64 km. It is oval in shape and was formed from volcanic eruptions that happened about 2 million years ago. The volcano of height 1950 m, Mt. Hallasan, dominates the island now. This island is blessed with many beautiful natural landscapes which were the result of volcanic activities. In 2007, the whole island was designated as a Natural World Heritage site by the UNESCO.

Day 3 Saturday 2 June 2012

Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak

In the morning, after breakfast, we travelled to Seongsan, a small fishing town, in the east coast of Jeju Island. On arrival at the town, we saw a small volcano of height 180m above sea-level not far away. Known as Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak, this volcanic cone was formed in the sea about 5,000 years ago. When it became extinct, its top sank and formed a shallow crater which looked like a large bowl. Owing to a long period of erosion, the materials from the volcano moved down to the sea and washed to the island forming a tombolo. This tombola joined the foot of the volcano to Jeju Island. In 2007, Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak was designated as one of the seven world wonders of nature.

One of the 7 World Wonders of Nature

One of the 7 World Wonders of Nature

A long trail to Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak

A long trail to Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak

Seongsan Town in the distance

Seongsan Town in the distance

 

Trail to the Peak

On arrival at Seongsan, we followed a long trail that went up to the western edge of the crater of the volcano. The last part of the trail was narrow, steep and winding. Furthermore, we had to be careful not to bump into other people who were coming down the volcano.

A Steep Trail to the Summit of Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak

A Steep Trail to the Summit of Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak

Tourists on Top of Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak

Tourists on Top of Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak

Top of Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak

Top of Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak

 

Volcano Summit

When we reached the summit of the volcano, we had a wonderful feeling: a feeling of achievement in overcoming the difficult climb. We noticed that the crater was shallow and covered with grass. Nobody was allowed to go down the crater, but we could only watch it from a concrete platform built on the western edge of it. Standing on the platform, we could also see a breathtaking sight of the fishing town, beaches, sea and sky, and feel the soothing cool sea-breeze.

After spending several minutes on the peak, we went down the volcano and noticed more tourists making their way to the top. Soon we left Seongsan Town and went straight to a place where it had a black rocky beach. This place was known as Seopjikoji.

Writer's young and happy tour members in Seopjikoji

Writer’s young and happy tour members in Seopjikoji

Seopjikoji

As we were walking along the beach of Seopjikoji, we could see many coloured floats popping up and down in the distance at the sea. Our tour-guide told us that those floats indicated the positions where the island
women were diving in the water searching for sea-creatures on the sea-floor and rocks, like shellfish, octopuses, squirts, sea-urchins, sea-cucumbers, etc.

Floats at Sea(Seopjikoji)

Floats at Sea(Seopjikoji)

“Haenyeos”(Diving Women)

These women are known as “haenyeos”. They wear a diving suit, a pair of flippers and a mask, and are equipped with a sharp curved rod before they dive in the cold water looking for sea-creatures. They will bring up their collections with their bare hands to the water-surface, breathe, quickly, and put them into their nets which are hanging from the floats. Then they will take a deep breath and dive into the water again to look for more sea-creatures.

These diving women are amazing as they can remain in water for 2 or 3 minutes, and dive as deep as 18 meters without oxygen tanks. In summer, they work for 5 or 6 hours at sea, but in winter, as the sea-water is very cold, they can work for a short time.

Breadwinners

In the olden days, “haenyeos” were the breadwinners in their families. While they were diving in the sea, their men were doing household chores at home. But, nowadays, men are working, too. They work in food and beverage shops, restaurants, hotels, bus-drivers, taxi drivers, deep-sea fishermen, etc. bringing home extra incomes. This is made possible by the frequent influxes of tourists from the Korean peninsula and foreign countries to the beautiful island of Jeju all year round.

The number of “haenyeos” on the island has dwindled a lot. In 1950s, there were about 33,000 of them. As more job opportunities are available on the South Korean peninsula and the island, the number of woman-divers decreases to around 5,000 with about 60% of them in the 60-80 age group. Surprisingly, a few of them who are over 80 years old are still working as “haenyeos”.

[To see photos of these amazing Jeju diving women(“haenyeos”), please click on this website: http://www.kuriositas.com/2011/11/haenyu-indomitable-diving-grandmas-of.html ]

Black Rocky Coastline of Seopjikoji

Black Rocky Coastline of Seopjikoji

A lonely church on a low hill

A lonely church on a low hill

A Lonely Church and Coastline of Seopjikoji

A Lonely Church and Coastline of Seopjikoji

 

Lonely Church

As we continued walking along the Seopjikoji rocky coastline, we saw squids hanging on long strings on the beach and a lonely church standing on a hill. The sight of the land and sea was beautiful. That place has been a well-known location for shooting Korean TV dramas and movies.

Squids drying in the sun
Squids drying in the sun
Seopjikoji Church
Seopjikoji Church
Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak in the distance
Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak in the distance

We walked to the church. While we were standing in its vicinity we could see both the spectacular land and sea views. Furthermore, we saw Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak in the distance.

Near the church was a large rectangular mound of volcanic rocks known as hyeopja smoke mound. According to the information on a board standing next to it, there were 38 such mounds on Jeju Island. In the olden days, they were used for communication and as a look-out for enemies’ ships. Smoke was used during the day and beacon during the night. But during cloudy or raining days, mound-keepers had to run to a place to deliver an important news.

Hyeopja Smoke Mound in Seopjikoji

Hyeopja Smoke Mound in Seopjikoji

Seongeup Folk Village

After that relaxing walk in Seopjikoji, we went for lunch at a restaurant near Seongeup Folk Village. After the meal, we were greeted by a local village-guide. She brought us to a gate in the village and told us about the three poles across it.

“To let the villagers know that the dweller of a house nearby is in the neighbourhood, he/she will put down a pole,” explained the guide. “If the dweller wants to be out for the whole day, he/she will put down two poles. But, if he/she wants to be away for more than a day, he/she will put down all the three poles,” continued the guide.

Three Poles at Gate

Three Poles at Gate

A Talk from Seongeup Folk Village Guide

A Talk from Seongeup Folk Village Guide

Seongeup Folk Village

Seongeup Folk Village

 

Then the guide brought us round to see a few thatched-roof houses with gardens surrounded by low walls of black volcanic rocks. In a hut, she told us about the tradition and culture of the Jeju villagers with a few jokes thrown in.

Black Pigs

After that interesting talk, the guide brought us to the back of a house to see a small enclosure surrounded by low walls of volcanic rocks. It was empty then. She told us that it was used for rearing black pigs. The owner of that “pigsty” and his family would squat on a raised platform in a corner and released their “loads” through a small hole in the middle onto the ground for the pigs to eat. They would squat there with a long stick in their hands and strike the pigs with it, if they tried to disturb them. When she demonstrated the way a villager would do his/her “business” there, we had a good laugh.

A Pigsty

A Pigsty

Village guide introducing Jeju natural products

Village guide introducing Jeju natural products

Method of collecting rainwater

Method of collecting rainwater

 

Before we left the village, the guide brought us to a room and introduced to us some Jeju natural products, such as honey and tonics made from the bones of horses that could strengthen human bones.

Teddy Bear Museum(or Teseum)

The next place we were going to visit was Teddy Bear Museum(or Teseum) located in Jungmun in the south of Jeju Island. It is a place where visitors will feel young again when they see many stuffed toys of animals, especially bears, inside the museum.

Teddy Bear Museum on Jeju Island

Teddy Bear Museum on Jeju Island

The Largest Stuffed Bear in Museum

The Largest Stuffed Bear in Museum

Writer posing with a bear family

Writer posing with a bear family

 

It was reported that the 26th. president of the United States of America, Theodore Roosevelt(1901-1909), was nicknamed by his people, Teddy Bear, because of his refusal to shoot at young bears while hunting. For this reason, the museum is named after the President’s nickname, Teddy Bear Museum.

A bear proposes to writer's wife

A bear proposes to writer’s wife

Penguins and polar bears

Penguins and polar bears

Crocodiles and rhinos in Teddy Bear Museum

Crocodiles and rhinos in Teddy Bear Museum

 

When we entered the 1st. floor of the museum we were amazed to see so many kinds of stuffed African animals “roaming” in the “Safari” on our right, and polar creatures, like polar bear and penguins in the “North Pole Zone” on our left. On the 2nd. floor, there were many stuffed bears of different sizes and heights, and wearing different kinds of clothes displayed at different places, like “Aqua Zone”, “Amazon”, “Flower Bear”, “Three Bears’ Home”, “Art Gallery”, “Miniature Zone”, and “Biggy Bear”.

"Teddy Stars"

“Teddy Stars”

"The Guilliver's Travels"

“The Guilliver’s Travels”

"The Birth of Venus"

“The Birth of Venus”

 

Dokkaebi-Doro Road(Mysterious Road)

Having spent a short time in Teddy Bear Museum, we left and travelled north-east to a mysterious road called Dokkaebi-Doro Road. When our bus arrived at the lower part of the road, the driver put its gear in its neutral position. It was supposed to stop and remain stationary, instead, it was moving slowly up the gentle slope of the road. Vehicles behind and in front of our bus were moving uphill, too.

“How can this happen? It defies gravity!” everybody on the bus was asking.

Vehicles on Dokkaebi-Doro Road

Vehicles on Dokkaebi-Doro Road

A Mysterious Road

A Mysterious Road

Angel's Experiment

Angel’s Experiment

 

Unusual Phenomenon

After our bus had moved uphill for a distance of 200 metres, the driver drove it to a parking lot. Coming out of the bus, we followed our tour-guide, Angel, to the mysterious road. Then Angel went to a roadside-stall and came back with a bottle and bowl of water. When she put the bottle on the road, we were surprised to see it rolling uphill, slowly. As though we were not convinced, she poured the bowl of water into a narrow shallow channel in the middle of the road and, amazingly, it flowed, slowly, uphill, too. All of us could not believe with our eyes, as the bottle and water had defied gravity. None of us could explain the phenomenon then. Some even believed that it was a ghost road!

Explanation

(Later, I read about the mysterious road in Wikipedia. It explains, “A gravity or magnetic hill is a place where a slight downhill slope appears to be an uphill slope due to the layout of the surrounding land, creating an optical illusion that water flows uphill or a car left out of gear will roll uphill, ….” )

Yongduam Rock

Later, we left the mysterious road and went to a rocky beach located north of Jeju City. On arrival at the place, we went down a cliff and saw,
clearly, a rock in a shape of a dragon head with its mouth open. They called it Yongduam Rock.

Yongduam Rock

Yongduam Rock

There are many local stories about the rock. One of them says that a dragon which stole a precious jade from Mt. Hallasan was shot down by an arrow from the mountain guardian. It fell into the sea, but its head was above the water and turned to rock. According to another story, a white horse which dreamed of becoming a dragon and flying to the sky was caught by a soldier. Later, it turned into a rock that was in the shape of a dragon head.

Having seen the rock, we went to a Jeju City restaurant for dinner and returned to our hotel to rest.

(continued on South Korea Travel II)

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South Korea Travel I

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Written by Choo Chaw, Kluang, Johor, Malaysia

South Korea Travel II

August 15, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: South Korea Travel II 

(continued from South Korea Travel I)
South Korea Travel II

Day 4 Sunday 3 June 2012

Flight back to Seoul City

At 9.45in the morning, we flew back to Seoul City. An hour later we arrived at Gimpo Airport in Seoul and boarded a tour-bus driven by Chow, a tall and quiet Korean man. He brought us to a restaurant for lunch. Then we left Seoul City and travelled a long journey to the east to visit one of the famous national parks in Korea known as Seoraksan National Park.

Seoraksan National Park

Location of Sinheungsa Temple

Location of Sinheungsa Temple

Located in the north-east of South Korea, Seoraksan National Park is a mountainous area of about 354 km² with many high granite peaks, lush valleys, hot springs and waterfalls. The highest peak in the area is Daecheongbong(1708 metres), the 3rd. highest in South Korea.

Entrance to Seoraksan National Park

Entrance to Seoraksan National Park

Seoraksan National Park is a serene and magnificent place, and popular among both local and foreign visitors, and climbers too. There are cable cars that bring visitors from Seorak Station to Gwongeumseong Peak where they can see breathtaking views of the park. The 1.5 km cable-car journey takes about 30 minutes.

A Scenic View of Seoraksan National Park

A Scenic View of Seoraksan National Park

Mountain-Hikers

When we arrived at Seoraksan National Park, we got out of our bus and walked to the oldest Buddhist temple in Korea. The temple is known as Sinheungsa Temple and about 800 metres from the main entrance. While walking to the temple, we saw many mountain-hikers coming back from a hill known as Ulsanbawi. This hill is a bare granite rock that has 6 small peaks that can be reached by climbing up 888 steps. Its height is about 873 metres and is about 4 km from the main entrance.

Tongil Daebul (The Great Unification Buddha)

Later, we came across a large bronze statue of Buddha. It was 14.6 metres high. He was sitting with his legs crossed on a lotus pedestal of height 4.3 metres. This statue was built with a good purpose: to wish that North Korea and South Korea would soon be reunited as a nation. Built at a cost of US$4.1 million donated by generous temple visitors and Koreans, it was aptly named as “The Great Unification Buddha” or “Tongil Daebul”.

Statue of "Tongil Daebul"(Great Unification Buddha)

Statue of “Tongil Daebul”(Great Unification Buddha)

Sinheungsa Temple

After crossing a white bridge over a dry river with rocks, we reached Sinheungsa Temple on the eastern slope of Seoraksan Mountain. Built in 653, it is the oldest Buddhist temple in Korea. Buddhism was spread to Korea in 372, i.e. 800 years after the death of Lord Buddha. In pre-Buddhist times, Koreans believed that spirits existed in mountainous areas. Later, when Buddhism arrived in Korea, these areas became the sites for Buddhist temples. It is surprising that today, the percentage of Buddhists in South Korea has dropped, sharply, to about 22 %.

A stone bridge over a dry river

A stone bridge over a dry river

Entrance to Sinheungsa Temple

Entrance to Sinheungsa Temple

Sinheungsa Temple on the eastern slope of Seoraksan Mountains

Sinheungsa Temple on the eastern slope of Seoraksan Mountains

Four Heavenly Kings

At the entrance of Sinheungsa Temple, there are four large painted fierce-looking statues who are supposed to be heavenly kings: King of the East, King of the West, King of the North and King of the South. Buddhists believe that they are Lord Buddha’s protectors and evil-fighters.

We walked through the entrance, under a long wooden building built on stilts, and saw the main hall of Sinheungsa Temple on a high ground. This hall is known as Kukrobojeon or Geukrakbojeon(Precious Building).

Heavenly Kings

Heavenly Kings

Kukrobojeon(Precious Building)

Kukrobojeon(Precious Building)

Heavenly Kings

Heavenly Kings

Kukrobojean or Geukrakbojeon(“Precious Building”)

Built in 1647, Kukrobojean houses a statue of Lord Buddha which is flanked by Avalokitesvara(“The Merciful Goddess”) on the left and Mahsthama-prata(“The Wise Goddess”) on the right. Although this building has been burned down and rebuilt a few times, its architectural style of the Joseon Dynasty(1392-1910) is maintained.

Statue of Lord Buddha in Kukrobojeon Hall

Statue of Lord Buddha in Kukrobojeon Hall

Johnny Swee and family make a temple donation

Johnny Swee and family make a temple donation

Myeongbujeon Hall

Myeongbujeon Hall

Temple Donations

At Sinheungsa Temple, one of our tour-members, Johnny Swee, donated some money to the temple and was given a new roof-tile to write his wish on. Written in Chinese, he wished his family good health, peace and harmony. We hope his wish will come true.

Many generous visitors had donated money to the temple as lots of new roof-tiles with their wishes written on them could be seen near the large statue of Lord Buddha, “Tongil Daebul”.

Temple roof-tiles from domestic and foreign donors

Temple roof-tiles from domestic and foreign donors

Cable cars going to and from Gwongeumseong Peak

Cable cars going to and from Gwongeumseong Peak

Seorak Cable Car Station

Seorak Cable Car Station

Cable-Car

Having seen the well-known temple, we walked back to our bus. On the way, I stopped at a cable-car station and watched for awhile a cable-car ascending to a peak known as Gwongeumseong Peak which was 860 metres above sea-level. From the peak, visitors could see a breathtaking panoramic views of the Seoraksan mountainous landscapes.

Daepo, Sokcho Town

Daepo Fishing Wharf

Daepo Fishing Wharf

A dried seafood shop

A dried seafood shop

Daepohang Road, a seafood street

Daepohang Road, a seafood street

Soon, we all left the cool and serene highlands, and travelled south-east to a fishing wharf, Daepo Wharf, in Sokcho Town. Twenty minutes later, we arrived at the wharf. As we were strolling along a street, Daepohang Road, near the wharf, we were amazed to see a row of shops selling all kinds of live and dried seafood, like crabs, clams, fish, sea-urchins, sea-cucumbers, prawns, squids, octopuses, etc. A visitor who loves seafood will be spoilt for choice there. Besides, he/she can choose live seafood in a shop, get them cooked and eat them at the shop, immediately.

Malaysian tourists looking at live seafish

Malaysian tourists looking at live seafish

A spider-crab for a customer

A spider-crab for a customer

Seaworms for sale

Seaworms for sale

An Unfortunate Incident

While we were in that narrow street, an unfortunate incident happened to a Malaysian tourist from another tour group. His right foot was run over by a wheel of a slow moving car. The kind driver of the car offered to send him to a hospital, but the latter declined his offer, as he thought his foot was not hurt, seriously. But many concerned people who were around him advised him to see a doctor, as soon as possible. We left the place without knowing the poor man’s final decision.

Seafood Snack-Stalls

We walked to another place nearby where there was a row of stalls selling seafood snacks. I noticed that all the stall-owners were old Korean ladies with light makeup. I guess it is a Korean culture for old ladies to look younger, clean and pretty with a little makeup.

My wife and I stopped at one of the stalls and bought a large squid stuffed with rice or squid sundae. It would be our supper that night.

Seafood-snack stalls

Seafood-snack stalls

Squid Sundaes

Squid Sundaes

A seafood-snack seller

A seafood-snack seller

Later, we left Daepo Wharf and went to a nearby restaurant where we had a delicious Korean seafood dinner. After that mouth-watering meal, we travelled westwards for about 20 minutes and arrived at a large resort on a high ground surrounded by scenic landscapes in Gangwon-dom, Goseong-gun. It was known as Daemyung Sorak Resort. We spent a very comfortable night there.

Writer's mouth-watering seafood lunch

Writer’s mouth-watering seafood lunch

Daemyung Sorak Resort

Daemyung Sorak Resort

Writer's wife waiting for the seafood to be cooked

Writer’s wife waiting for the seafood to be cooked

Day 5 Monday 4 June 2012

Everland Resort

After breakfast at Daemyung Sorak Resort, we travelled south-west for a few hours and arrived at Yongin City which is 43 km south-east of Seoul City. In this city, we visited the largest theme park in Korea known as Everland Resort. Opened in 1976, it boasts of five different zones for visitors of all ages. They are Global Fair, Zoo-Topia, European Adventure, Magic Land and American Adventure. It is comparable to any Disneyland in the world.

Writer's tour members in front of Everland Resort

Writer’s tour members in front of Everland Resort

An arm-wrestling match in Monkey Valley

An arm-wrestling match in Monkey Valley

In Everland Resort

In Everland Resort

Safari World

On arrival at the theme park, our tour-guide, Angel, brought us to Zoo-Topia first. It has a mini-zoo where many kinds of animals, like birds, polar bears, sea-lions, penguins, tigers, primates and foxes, can be seen there. Then Angel brought us to Safari World where we queued up for 40 minutes for a bus ride in a fenced-up area to see lions, white tigers, bears and a liger(a hybrid cross between a male lion and a tigress). While we were on a slow moving-bus in that mini-safari, we saw many large animals having a siesta under trees along the road in the hot weather. We were quite excited when our bus was moving closer to some of them. For one moment we thought we were in a safari in South Africa.

Lions having a siesta in Safari World

Lions having a siesta in Safari World

Black bears in Safari World

Black bears in Safari World

White tigers in Safari World

White tigers in Safari World

Four Seasons Garden

After that safari experience, we went to a cafeteria to have lunch. Then we were on our own to explore the other places in Everland Resort ourselves. As my wife and I were walking further in, we saw a mini-train going round a colourful and beautiful garden, a garden of diverse flowers in full bloom. That area was known as “Four Seasons Garden”. To enjoy the sight of the whole garden comfortably, we sat on a mini-train that moved round it, slowly.

As we were coming out of the mini-train station, we, suddenly, heard loud sound of wood rattling and humans screaming at the top of their voices in a distance. Looking in the direction of the source of the noise, we were surprised to see a giant rollercoaster that looked like a monster. It was called “T Express”.

Mini-train in Four Seasons Garden

Mini-train in Four Seasons Garden

T Express Rollercoaster

T Express Rollercoaster

Four Seasons Garden

Four Seasons Garden

“T Express”

Opened in 2008, “T Express” is the highest(56m), fastest(max. 200 km/h), longest(1.8 km) and steepest(77°) roller-coaster in Korea. Besides, it is the first wooden roller-coaster built in Korea. Its loops, cock-screws, twists, turns and fast speed(max. 200 km/h) will undoubtedly make a rider feel shaken, dizzy and nauseous, after that three minute ride. But, there are four other roller-coasters which are less extreme than “T Express” in Everland Resort. Therefore, a visitor has a choice of one or more of them.

Rose Garden

Entrance to Rose Garden

Entrance to Rose Garden

Writer and wife in Rose Garden

Writer and wife in Rose Garden

Beautiful Rose Garden

Beautiful Rose Garden

As we had no courage for “T Express” ride, we went to a quiet but romantic place. It is another garden that grows nothing but roses, and is aptly called Rose Garden. In the garden, there are many colours of roses, but the most striking one is red. Many people like red roses, as they are attractive and considered as a symbol of love.

Even though it was early summer, we were very fortunate to see all the roses still blooming, beautifully, in Rose Garden. At the main entrance to the garden, there was a large arch in a shape of a heart covered completely with red roses. It was a favourite spot for young and old visitors to take photos.

Red roses

Red roses

Orange roses

Orange roses

Pink and white roses

Pink and white roses

When we entered the garden, we were mesmerized by a sea of roses of diverse species, sizes and colours. While strolling in the garden, we had a feeling of relaxation and peace, and a mood for romance and love. The rose flowers were so lovely that I could not stop clicking my camera away.

Carnival Fantasy Parade

The leader of the Carnival Fantasy Parade floats

The leader of the Carnival Fantasy Parade floats

Another Carnival Fantasy Parade float

Another Carnival Fantasy Parade float

A Carnival Fantasy Parade float

A Carnival Fantasy Parade float

Later, we waited near Rose Garden to watch a parade, “Carnival Fantasy Parade”. At 3 p.m. sharp, a loud music was played and the parade started. Over ten tall beautifully decorated floats which were carrying ladies and men dressed in colourful costumes were moving in a single file, slowly. Furthermore, each float was led by a group of pretty dancers in colourful and fashionable clothes dancing to the loud and lively music from loud-speakers placed along the parade route. Crowds were feeling excited and cheered loudly as the procession was moving slowly. That parade was the highlight of the day in Everland Resort.

Pretty dancers in Carnival Fantasy Parade

Pretty dancers in Carnival Fantasy Parade

Pretty dancers in Carnival Fantasy Parade

Pretty dancers in Carnival Fantasy Parade

Pretty dancers in Carnival Fantasy Parade

Pretty dancers in Carnival Fantasy Parade

Rotating House

After the parade, we walked to the main resort exit to meet up with our tour-members at 5 p.m. On the way, we chanced on an attraction known as “Rotating House”. When we entered the house and sat on a long bench, the lights went off. Then we had a spooky feeling in the darkness and did not know what to expect next. Most of the time we could hear two “ghosts” quarrelling, loudly, with each other, and saw dim coloured lights being switched on and off, frequently. Then, suddenly, we had a feeling that we were rotating in the house. It lasted for several minutes. When it was over we were glad to get out of that “haunted” house, quickly.

Looking at our watches, we realized that we had few more minutes left to meet up with the others at the exit gate. When all of us had gathered there, we left the theme park feeling tired but satisfied with the few unforgettable experiences we had there. Soon we travelled back to Seoul City and had a delicious dish of stewed chicken with a Korean ginseng root for dinner.

Stewed chicken with ginseng

Stewed chicken with ginseng for dinner

A crowded walkway in front of Migliore

A crowded walkway in front of Migliore

Doota Mall in Dongdaemum Market

Doota Mall in Dongdaemum Market

Dongdaemum Market

After dinner we went shopping at Dongdaemum Market or Great Gate Market. Located in Jongno-gu in the centre of Seoul City, it is a large commercial district that has traditional markets and shopping centres. Over 30, 000 specialty shops and 26 shopping malls are located there. Some of the malls open 24 hours daily. It is the most popular shopping area in Seoul and was designated as a Special Tourism Zone in 2002.

Owing to time constraint, our tour-guide, Angel, brought us to one popular shopping street only, Meokja Street. Along this street were some famous large multi-storey malls, like Doota, Migliore, and Hello apM. Besides, there were lots of stalls selling cheap merchandise on the walkways and along some streets. While we were there, the walkways, shops and malls were crowded with people. After spending a short time there, we left for a hotel, Seoul Olympic Parktel, in Songpa-gu in the city outskirt where we spent a night. That hotel was built in commemoration of the 1988 Olympic Games in the Olympic Park.

Stalls on walkway in front of Hello apM Mall

Stalls on walkway in front of Hello apM Mall

Seoul Olympic Parktel, a hotel in Seoul outskirt

Seoul Olympic Parktel, a hotel in Seoul outskirt

A shoe=stall on walkway in front of Migliore Mall

A shoe=stall on walkway in front of Migliore Mall

Day 6 Tuesday 5 June 2012

In the morning, we left Seoul Olympic Parktel Hotel early and travelled to a restaurant in Seodaemun-gu in north-east of Seoul to have breakfast.

On arrival at the restaurant, I was surprised to see a multi-parking machine or car multiparker which looked like a small ferris wheel. It allowed a total of 8 cars to park in it and helped to solve a parking problem at a place where parking space is scarce.

Car Multiparker

Car Multiparker

After breakfast at the restaurant, we went to a shop selling Koreans’ popular dish, “kimchi”. There is a Korean saying about “kimchi”. It goes like this: “A man can live without a wife, but not kimchi.” I wonder if this is true. I have yet to ask a Korean man about it.

“Kimchi”

Vegetables, like cabbages, radish, egg-plants, and cucumbers, are used for making “kimchi” in Korea. “Kimchi” is made by soaking a vegetable in salt-water overnight, mixing with various seasonings and then leaving them in a fridge for three weeks to ferment. A “kimchi”, usually, has five tastes: sweet, bitter, salty, sour and spicy. Among all the types of “kimchi”, “baechu kimchi” is the most popular. The vegetable for making this “kimchi” is napa cabbage(celery cabbage).

Two Simple Salad Dishes

Classroom for learning "kimchi"-making

Classroom for learning “kimchi”-making

Ingredients for salads

Ingredients for salads

Napa cabbage and white raddish for salads

Napa cabbage and white raddish for salads

When we entered the “kimchi” shop, we attended a “kimchi”-making class conducted by a lady-teacher. Before the lady began the lesson, she showed us the method of making two simple vegetable salad dishes. First, she cut a napa cabbage and white raddish into pieces and put them in two stainless steel bowls, separately. Then she mixed them with chilli powder, salt, oyster sauce, sesame seeds, ginger and garlic. Those two dishes looked like Malaysian “rojak”. The teacher told us that we would get to eat them after she had taught us the way to make “kimchi”.

“Kimchi”-Making Lesson

Writer's "Kimchi" Teacher

Writer’s “Kimchi” Teacher

Writer's wife learning to make "kimchi"

Writer’s wife learning to make “kimchi”

Writer learning to make "kimchi"

Writer learning to make “kimchi”

Standing at long tables with plates in front of us, each containing a piece of napa cabbage that had been soaked in salt-water overnight, and some “kimchi” dressing, we watched and listened, carefully, to the teacher’s instruction on the correct way of dressing up the vegetable and tying it up in a small bundle. We found that it was quite easy to do it. In a short time, all of us finished doing it and then went to the front table to taste the teacher’s salad dishes. Later, a pretty Korean girl went round collecting the “kimchis” we had made. The teacher told us that they would be kept in a fridge for three weeks to ferment before they were given away to old people staying at old folk homes in Seoul City.

Malaysians learning to make "kimchi"

Malaysians learning to make “kimchi”

Pretty Korean worker collecting "kimchis"

Pretty Korean worker collecting “kimchis”

Tasting teacher's salads

Tasting teacher’s salads

Korean Traditional Clothes or “Hanbok”

After that interesting lesson, some of us bought a few packets of ‘kimchi” products recommended by the teacher. Then we were invited to wear Korean traditional clothes or “hanbok” with vibrant colours for a photo session in the shop for remembrance. Nowadays, Koreans wear them during traditional festivals and celebrations.

Writer and wife in Korean traditional clothes

Writer and wife in Korean traditional clothes

Writer's tour members in Korean traditional clothes

Writer’s tour members in Korean traditional clothes

Writer's tour members in Korean traditional clothes

Writer’s tour members in Korean traditional clothes

Korean “Ginseng” and Skincare Products

Later, we went to another shop which was selling Korean ginseng(“renshen” in Chinese).
Korean ginseng is well-known worldwide as an ancient tonic elixir and stamina builder. The Koreans claim that ginseng can remove toxic substances from blood, invigorate digestion, counteract cancer-causing free radicals and help the body maintain homeostasis(body stability). Ginseng is sold in either fresh, dried or powdered form. It is also sold as concentrated extract and granule types of tea.

Korean Ginseng Roots

Korean Ginseng Roots

A skincare-product talk

A skincare-product talk

Jin Sun Mi Skincare Shop

Jin Sun Mi Skincare Shop

When we arrived at the ginseng shop along Moraenae Road, we entered the building and were briefed about ginseng growing and its benefits by an employee. After that, some of us both a few boxes of ginseng, hoping that it would be good for health and stamina. Soon we left for another shop, Jin Sun Mi, which was further away. It was selling skincare products in different forms: creams, gels, liquids and powder. They were for treating skin problems, like pimples, wrinkles and blackheads, to name a few.

Odusan Unification Observatory

Odusan Unification Observatory

Odusan Unification Observatory

Model of North Korea and South Korea sides

Model of North Korea and South Korea sides

Confluence of Imjin River and Han River

Confluence of Imjin River and Han River

Later, we went to a restaurant for lunch in Seoul City. After that delicious Korean meal, we travelled north to a place close to the demilitarized zone(DMZ). It took us 40 minutes to reach the place where there is a 5-storey building on Odusan Hill of height 110 metres above sea-level. This hill is at the confluence of Imjin River and Han River. That building is known as Odusan Unification Observatory and was opened to public in 1992.

Demilitarized Zone(DMZ)

North Korea and South Korea since 1945

North Korea and South Korea since 1945

According to the history of Korea, North Korea and South Korea were separated at the 38th. parallel by Russia and the United States of America(U.S.A) after World War II(1939-1945). Russia took over North Korea whereas U.S.A. South Korea. Later, in 1948, the two countries were allowed to be ruled by their own new governments. Then in 1950 Korea War between the two countries broke out and ended in 1953 resulting in the creation of a demilitarized zone(DMZ) between the two countries. It is a buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea with a width of 4 km and length of 200 km from east to west. Until now the two countries still remain divided.

Using binoculars to view the North Korean side

Using binoculars to view the North Korean side

Cosmetics and perfumes used by North Koreans

Cosmetics and perfumes used by North Koreans

Kitchenware used by North Koreans

Kitchenware used by North Koreans

North Korean Side

Located on top of Odusan Hill, Odusan Unification Observatory offers a good view of the North Korean side, a distance of 2.1 km across Imjin River. With the aid of a few coin-operated binoculars in the outdoor on the 3rd floor, visitors can see close views of farms, roads, houses, flats, primary school, community hall, guard-posts, etc. on the North Korean side. Within the observatory building, exhibits of North Korean present way of life give a visitor an impression that the standard of living of the North Koreans is very low.

Unification Exhibition Hall

There is one hall on the 2nd. floor that is called Unification Exhibition Hall. In this hall visitors can read about the events happening between both countries since they were separated, such as a South Korean warship sunk by the North in 2010, Yeonpyeong Island attacked by the North, two battles of Yeonpyeong, talks between the two countries on unification, North Korean nuclear program, exchange visits of separated families and art performance groups, outbreak of the Korean War(1950-53), economic co-operation, North Korean missile launches, and many more. Although both countries have many talks for many years, they are still divided.

A simple living room in North Korea

A simple living room in North Korea

Visitors' wish cards in Wish Room

Visitors’ wish cards in Wish Room

A North Korean primary classroom

A North Korean primary classroom

Wish Room

Next to this Unification Exhibition Hall is a small room, Wish Room, where a visitor can write on a green card a wish that both North and South Koreas will soon reunite as one nation and hang it among other written ones on the wall. While I was inside, I took a blank card and wrote the same wish that both countries would reunite soon.
When we got out of the Odusan Unification Observatory, we had a sad feeling that Korea had been separated for 67 years and not reunited yet.

Statue of Jo Man-sik

As we were walking to our bus, we came across a dark statue of a man standing on a high pedestal. According to an information on a board next to it, the man was known as Jo Man-sik whom the South Koreans considered as a martyr. The South Korean government erected the statue there in honour of Jo’s attempt to promote democracy in North Korea. Besides, it awarded him the Order of Merit for National Foundation in 1970, posthumously.

Statue of Jo Man-sik

Statue of Jo Man-sik

Jo Man-sik

Jo Man-sik was born in 1883 in North Korea during the Japanese imperialism. He was an activist in the Korea’s independence movement against the Japanese rule. After World War II in 1945, Soviet Union ruled North Korea. While he was living in North Korea he opposed to communism and promoted democracy. Later, he was arrested by the Soviets and put into a prison together with others who opposed the communist ideology, too. It is believed that Jo was executed in 1950 in the prison. When Jo died, his opponent, Kim Il-sung, backed by Soviet Union got the chance to rule North Korea for 48 years. The later died in 1994 and was succeeded by his son, Kim Jong-il, and later grandson, Kim Jong-un, in 2011.

Paju Premium Outlets

Paju Premium Outlets

Paju Premium Outlets

The next place we went to was Paju Premium Outlets. Located in Paju near Odusan Unification Observatory, it houses over 150 outlets selling duty-free goods of well-known brands in the world at cheaper prices. Visitors to these outlets are spoilt for choice. They can buy shoes, sportswear, luggage, designer fashions, accessories, jewellery, housewares, home furnishings, and intimate apparel, just to name a few.
Having spent over an hour at the outlets, we left for Seoul City where we had dinner. After dinner, we went back to Seoul Olympic Parktel Hotel where we spent another night.

Day 7 Wednesday 6 June 2012

Korean Amethyst Manufacturing

Amethyst Crystals

Amethyst Crystals

"Hovenia dulcis"

“Hovenia dulcis”

Amethyst Pendants

Amethyst Pendants

In the morning, after breakfast, we went to a jewellery shop at 136, Worldcupbuk Road known as Korean Amethyst Manufacturing. It uses amethyst, a purple gemstone, to make many kinds of jewellery, like rings, necklaces, ear-rings, pendants, bracelets, etc.  Some of us bought cheap ones for remembrance and as gifts.

After spending a short time there, we went to another shop that was selling a health product made from extract of Hovenia dulcis fruits or oriental raisin tree fruits. According to a shop-employee, it could help to protect human livers against harmful substances, e.g. alcohol.

Fashion Street

Ehwa Women's University in Sinchon

Ehwa Women’s University in Sinchon

A narrow street of Sinchon Fashion Street

A narrow street of Sinchon Fashion Street

Main shopping street of Fashion Street in Sinchon

Main shopping street of Fashion Street in Sinchon

After a short visit to the two shops, we went to a small shopping area near Ehwa Woman’s University in Sinchon. Known as Fashion Street, it has many streets lined with small shops selling mostly ladies’ goods, like clothes, shoes, handbags, belts, accessories, etc, and offering nail and hair services. It is a popular place among the female students from the nearby university as the prices of the goods suit their pockets. This small, colourful and charming place is now a tourist attraction.

Myeongdong Shopping District

We spent over an hour at Fashion Street before we went to a Chinese restaurant in Seoul downtown for lunch. Later, we went to one of the oldest and largest shopping districts in Seoul City, Myeongdong Shopping District. It is a popular tourists’ shopping area where many multi-storey shopping buildings, commercial banks, hotels, restaurants, cinemas, theatres and historical sites are located. Everyday hundreds of thousands of visitors, foreign and domestic, visit this area.

Lotte Duty Free Products

Lotte Department Store along Namdaemun Road

Lotte Department Store along Namdaemun Road

Lotte Young Plaza

Lotte Young Plaza

Lotte Duty Free Cosmetic and Perfume Department

Lotte Duty Free Cosmetic and Perfume Department

When we arrived in Myeongdong Shopping District, Angel, our Korean tour guide, brought us to some duty free shops on 9, 10 and 11th. floors of a tall building known as Lotte Department Store along Namdaemun Road. Well-known world brands of clothes, shoes, handbags, watches, cosmetics, perfumes, jewellery, electronic goods, etc. in those shops were sold at duty free prices for foreign tourists only. As the three floors were very crowded with tourists, we, men, just watched our spouses browsing at some shops selling cosmetics and perfumes on the 9th. floor.

Myeongdong Road

Street stalls on Myeongdong Road

Street stalls on Myeongdong Road

Tourist bus for city-sightseeing

Tourist bus for city-sightseeing

Caps and hats for sale on Myeongdong Road

Caps and hats for sale on Myeongdong Road

Later, we went to Myeongdong Road near Lotte Department Store. That long road was closed to traffic, and small stalls were set up in the middle and both sides of the road. The road was already crowded with people when we arrived there. Many kinds of things were sold there, ranging from socks, shoes, accessories, sunglasses to handbags and apparels. They were inexpensive, but their qualities were questionable.

Ganghwamun Square

After spending a few hours in the Myeongdong Shopping District, we went to Ganghwamun Square which is a short distance away. At the square there were quite a lot of people. This area is right in front of Ganghwamun Gate which is the main gate of the ancient palace, Gyeongbokgung Palace.

Ganghwamun Square

Ganghwamun Square

Multi-storey buildings and busy road near Ganghwamun Square

Multi-storey buildings and busy road near Ganghwamun Square

King Sejong the Great(1397-1450)

At the square, there are two large statues of prominent Korean figures. The one nearer to Ganghwamun Gate is a statue of King Sejong. King Sejong(1397 – 1450) was the fourth king of the Joseon Dynasty. He was well-known for his creation of the Korean writing system, “Hunmin Jeongeum”. Furthermore, he had made some significant contributions in science and technology, reinforced Korean Confucian policies, executed major legal amendments, and expanded his territory. Later, after his death, he was known as King Sejong the Great.

King Sejong the Great(1397-1450)

King Sejong the Great(1397-1450)

Admiral Yi Sun-shin(1545-1598)

The other statue which is further away from the gate is a figure of Admiral Yi Sun-shin. Admiral Yi(1545 – 1598) was one the Korean greatest heroes. During the Japanese invasions of Korea(1592 – 1598), he defeated the Japanese navy over twenty times, to the admiration of his own people and the Japanese admirals too.

Gangbuk Jeongdong Nanta Theatre

Later, we went to Gangbuk Jeongdong Nanta Theatre to watch a unique but noisy performance. It was a small theatre inside a building known as Kyunghyang Art Hill that is along Saemunan Road. The performance involves 5 persons: Manager(Dae Ho Kim), Chief Chef(Sung Dong Jo), two assistant cooks(Soo Hui Koo and Na Jun Seok), and the manager’s nephew(Woo Rin Na).

Kyunghyang Art Hill housing Nanta Theatre

Kyunghyang Art Hill housing Nanta Theatre

Gangbuk Jeongdong Nanta Theatre

Gangbuk Jeongdong Nanta Theatre

A "Nanta" Show poster

A “Nanta” Show poster

Nanta Story

The story of the show is a simple one: When the cooks are told by their manager to prepare and get ready a wedding meal in an hour’s time, the cooks turned the kitchen into a turmoil making a lot of noise with their knives, chopping-boards, and other utensils, but the noise soon became music to our ears and was entertaining. Although the performers did not talk much, their silly actions kept the audience laughing all the time.

After that 1½ hour hilarious Nanta show, we left for dinner at a restaurant nearby, and later we left for our hotel where we retired for another night.

Day 8   Thursday,  7 June 2012

The Poong Lim Store

We woke up early in the morning today, as we had to catch a flight home at 8.20 a.m.(Korean time). On the way to Incheon International Airport from Seoul, we stopped at a restaurant in Incheon where we had our breakfast. After breakfast we shopped for some Korean snacks and tidbits at The Poong Lim Store on a lower floor(below the restaurant). Many of us bought boxes of them as we wanted to give them away to our loved ones and friends in our country.

Last shopping at The Poong Lim Store

Last shopping at The Poong Lim Store

Departure for Home

Soon we were at the airport and felt happy that we had a wonderful and unforgettable trip in South Korea. Besides, we were glad that we were going home then as we had been away for 8 long days.

Writer and wife at Incheon Airport getting ready to go home

Writer and wife at Incheon Airport getting ready to go home

Finally, at about 8.30 a.m. we were up, up and away from South Korea to our homeland(Malaysia) bringing along with us a lot of experiences and knowledge about Korean history, tradition, culture, natural landscapes, shopping districts, etc..

Well, that is all about my enjoyable and interesting South Korea tour, and I hope to travel to some places in another country soon.

Acknowledgement

Thanks to SA America Travel Corp(J) Sdn. Bhd., Johor Bahru for that wonderful Korea tour. I would also like to thank our tour leader(Irene Lee), tour guide(Angel), and the two tour bus-drivers(Chow and Ko) in Korea for their excellent services. Without all of them, our tour would not have been possible and successful.
Thanks also to all my tour members for their care, understanding and companionship during the tour.

The End

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Written by Choo Chaw, Kluang, Johor, Malaysia