South Korea is a very diverse country where the tourism opportunities are vast. The country has four different seasons and everything looks different during for example autumn compared to summer.
Something that makes it much easier for us non-Koreans in the group is that you can always count on Koreans helping you if you are ever at a loss on where to go. In spite of the linguistic barrier, they ALWAYS help out and go out of their way to do it. Out of personal experience I have witnessed Koreans walking 1 kilometer extra only to show the way (even though it was only a straight street). Other times they have said ”follow me, I am taking the same bus anyway and I will let you know when you need to get off”.
Of course there is room for improvement. If you do not speak any Korean at all you will surely encounter tricky situations. Choosing food in a restaurant from a menu board all written in Korean is hard even after half a year or more in Korea for the foreigners in this group. We recommend tourists to try to pick up some hangul skills if possible prior to departing to Korea, at least then you can read some food and place names. On the other hand, the subway system and the stations are some of the more easily maneuverable that we have seen. Most of it is written both in English and Korean and it is easy to find one’s way.
All in all, if you want to experience the numerous rich cultures in Asia, we highly recommend Korea which has not been altered much because of tourism. We would like to give a big thank you to the people behind the Korea Tourism Brand Leaders Project who made all this possible.
Ski in Korea!
For our last trip, we were supposed to go on Templestay. It's a good experience and a good chance to see beautiful landscape and nice atmosphere. But we already did Templestay before, and we wanted something more exciting. So we decided to go to ski!
We checked some ski resorts near Seoul. There are many, and we chose Vivaldi Park, a popular and quite new one.
To go there, it's better to book the pass and the equipment through internet on their website. So, we just needed to ride the bus on the morning. They have many places to depart, so it's easy to go wherever you stay in Seoul or surroundings.
We took the bust at 9, and arrived there around 10.30. Great, because it was Thursday and there wasn't many cars or traffic jams.
So, getting there we got some breakfast, and rent our equipment. The ski slopes have different difficulty levels. And original names related to music genres!
So we started our skiing and snowboarding on the 'Blues' slope. Quite good to start. But many people practicing around there. So we tried also 'Ballad' which was a bit longer and higher. We kept practicing and getting familiar with the skis and the snowboards.
We also wanted to try medium and hard levels too, so we headed to 'Jazz', 'Funky' and finally the challenge of 'Techno'. We fell down many times, but it was so much fun.
After getting some food available all around the resort (not only korean food, also fastfood, coffeeshops...) we were pretty tired and our time was over. So we returned back the equipment and took the bus back home.
Korea is getting popular in ski resorts. And all of them are really good. We can find all that you need to spend great days on the snow. And the price is also good. So, don't think it twice and go to ski in Korea!! And many of them are prepared to offer all night ski! Gotta try it next time!
We checked some ski resorts near Seoul. There are many, and we chose Vivaldi Park, a popular and quite new one.
To go there, it's better to book the pass and the equipment through internet on their website. So, we just needed to ride the bus on the morning. They have many places to depart, so it's easy to go wherever you stay in Seoul or surroundings.
We took the bust at 9, and arrived there around 10.30. Great, because it was Thursday and there wasn't many cars or traffic jams.
So we started our skiing and snowboarding on the 'Blues' slope. Quite good to start. But many people practicing around there. So we tried also 'Ballad' which was a bit longer and higher. We kept practicing and getting familiar with the skis and the snowboards.
We also wanted to try medium and hard levels too, so we headed to 'Jazz', 'Funky' and finally the challenge of 'Techno'. We fell down many times, but it was so much fun.
Korea is getting popular in ski resorts. And all of them are really good. We can find all that you need to spend great days on the snow. And the price is also good. So, don't think it twice and go to ski in Korea!! And many of them are prepared to offer all night ski! Gotta try it next time!
German Traditional Christmas Market
Last weekend we went to the German Traditional Christmas Market. It was located next to Hansung University subway station.
The atmosphere there was totally christmas: children's choir, big Christmas Tree, and really nice smells coming from the traditional food such as sausages, waffles, and good beers and mulled wine, great and warm to fight the cold this days.
Actually, the market was smaller than we thought, and not many things to do... so we left quite soon and walked towards Hyehwa, Dehagno, nice area full of arts schools which show their plays for quite good price. And full of restaurants of all kinds of food. Shops are also cool, good area to buy clothes, shoes and some nice presents, especially around Christmas dates!
The atmosphere there was totally christmas: children's choir, big Christmas Tree, and really nice smells coming from the traditional food such as sausages, waffles, and good beers and mulled wine, great and warm to fight the cold this days.
Actually, the market was smaller than we thought, and not many things to do... so we left quite soon and walked towards Hyehwa, Dehagno, nice area full of arts schools which show their plays for quite good price. And full of restaurants of all kinds of food. Shops are also cool, good area to buy clothes, shoes and some nice presents, especially around Christmas dates!
Snow & Ice!
This week we got some snow in Seoul.
It's amazing how beutiful is the city, after the nice autumn colors, now comes the white snow whith clear blue sky days!
If you have the change you should step by some special spots around!
Check them out:
The Seoul Festival of Lights brightens up the night with installations and displays by top artists and technicians from Korea and overseas. Focusing on the area around the Cheonggyecheon, the festival mixes technology and art to bring beautiful works of light art to public spaces. Cutting-edge technology like LEDs will keep energy use down, a must in these ecologically conscious days.
VENUE: Cheonggye Plaza & five bridges between Mojeongyo Bridge and Samilgyo Bridge
PERIOD: Dec 11, 2010---Jan 9, 2011
ADMISSION: Free
MORE INFO: (02) 120
GETTING THERE: Cheonggye Plaza---City Hall Station, Lines 1 & 2.
Garden 5's "Ice Garden" Outdoor Ice Rink Opens on the 4th of December!-Open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day, costs range from 1,000-2,000 won per person, plus only 1,000 won to rent skates!
Beginning December 4, 2010, the “Ice Garden” outdoor ice skating rink located in front of the Life Building within the Garden 5 complex will be open to the public for all to enjoy!
Up to 400 people can skate at one time under a beautiful "Ice Garden" LED light display
Garden 5, Seoul’s massive, one-stop cultural, entertainment and shopping complex will be opening a spectacular “Ice Garden” outdoor skating rink on Saturday, December 4, just in time for the winter season.
Located just outside the Life Building of the Garden 5 The “Ice Garden” will be large enough to accommodate up to four hundred people at one time inside the ice rink. Skaters will surely marvel at the “sky umbrella” dome LED lights that provide an exciting and romantic atmosphere.
Enjoy skating at only 1,000-2,000 won per person, and rental skates are only 1,000 won
The skating rink will be open from 10 a.m. till 10 p.m. daily, and the cost is just 1,000 won for elementary and high school students and 2,000 won for adults. Skaters can take advantage of the ice and skate to their hearts' content during seventy-minute intervals, up to eight times a day. Skates will be available for rent at only 1,000 won for all visitors.
For more information, contact the Seoul helpline at 02-120.
Seoul Plaza Outdoor skating park
On December 17th, 2010 at 5 pm, enjoy the opening of the Seoul Plaza ice skating rink under the theme of "Caring, Harmony and Joy." The rink will be open until February 13th, 2011.
Enjoy the ambience of Sejong-no (Intersection) from Gwanghwamun to Sungnyemun (Gate) as it will be decorated with romantic lighting that illuminates Seoul Plaza. This year, the skating facilities have been improved. In particular, beginning this year foreigners can make reservations and pay in advance online. Also, rest areas and toilet facilities were expanded for the convenience of visitors. Additionally, there will be a music booth, a lounge and other amenities that allow visitors to enjoy their time at the rink comfortably.
On opening night and throughout the rink's operating period, there will be cultural performances and other events for visitors to enjoy.
One change in particular is that there will be more skating classes available.
Skating Classes
Operating period for the skating class- Weekdays: Monday, December 20th, 2010-Friday, February 2nd, 2011
- Weekends: Saturday, December 25th, 2010-Saturday, Febraury 12th, 2011
Operating hours Weekdays: Monday-Friday 9:00-10:00, 10:10-11:10, 11:30-12:30
Weekends: Saturday-Sunday 9:00-11:00 (1 hour skating lessons and free skating)
Cost: 10,000 won
※ Additional charges - Luggage storage and gloves 500 won
- Socks 1,500 won
Number of people per class- Weekday: No more than 225 people per session (5 groups of people allowed per session/with no more than 15 people in each group)
- Weekend: 40 people at a time (8 people are allowed in each group)
○ Class target: At least 6 years of age
○ To register: www.seoulskate.or.kr
Special Events
○ Opening Ceremony- Date: Friday, December 17th, 2010, 17:00~18:00
- Opening ceremony events: Figure skating performances, various cultural events
○ In addition, various events will be held throughout the season.
It's amazing how beutiful is the city, after the nice autumn colors, now comes the white snow whith clear blue sky days!
If you have the change you should step by some special spots around!
Check them out:
The Seoul Festival of Lights brightens up the night with installations and displays by top artists and technicians from Korea and overseas. Focusing on the area around the Cheonggyecheon, the festival mixes technology and art to bring beautiful works of light art to public spaces. Cutting-edge technology like LEDs will keep energy use down, a must in these ecologically conscious days.
VENUE: Cheonggye Plaza & five bridges between Mojeongyo Bridge and Samilgyo Bridge
PERIOD: Dec 11, 2010---Jan 9, 2011
ADMISSION: Free
MORE INFO: (02) 120
GETTING THERE: Cheonggye Plaza---City Hall Station, Lines 1 & 2.
Garden 5's "Ice Garden" Outdoor Ice Rink Opens on the 4th of December!-Open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day, costs range from 1,000-2,000 won per person, plus only 1,000 won to rent skates!
Beginning December 4, 2010, the “Ice Garden” outdoor ice skating rink located in front of the Life Building within the Garden 5 complex will be open to the public for all to enjoy!
Up to 400 people can skate at one time under a beautiful "Ice Garden" LED light display
Garden 5, Seoul’s massive, one-stop cultural, entertainment and shopping complex will be opening a spectacular “Ice Garden” outdoor skating rink on Saturday, December 4, just in time for the winter season.
Located just outside the Life Building of the Garden 5 The “Ice Garden” will be large enough to accommodate up to four hundred people at one time inside the ice rink. Skaters will surely marvel at the “sky umbrella” dome LED lights that provide an exciting and romantic atmosphere.
Enjoy skating at only 1,000-2,000 won per person, and rental skates are only 1,000 won
The skating rink will be open from 10 a.m. till 10 p.m. daily, and the cost is just 1,000 won for elementary and high school students and 2,000 won for adults. Skaters can take advantage of the ice and skate to their hearts' content during seventy-minute intervals, up to eight times a day. Skates will be available for rent at only 1,000 won for all visitors.
For more information, contact the Seoul helpline at 02-120.
Seoul Plaza Outdoor skating park
On December 17th, 2010 at 5 pm, enjoy the opening of the Seoul Plaza ice skating rink under the theme of "Caring, Harmony and Joy." The rink will be open until February 13th, 2011.
Enjoy the ambience of Sejong-no (Intersection) from Gwanghwamun to Sungnyemun (Gate) as it will be decorated with romantic lighting that illuminates Seoul Plaza. This year, the skating facilities have been improved. In particular, beginning this year foreigners can make reservations and pay in advance online. Also, rest areas and toilet facilities were expanded for the convenience of visitors. Additionally, there will be a music booth, a lounge and other amenities that allow visitors to enjoy their time at the rink comfortably.
On opening night and throughout the rink's operating period, there will be cultural performances and other events for visitors to enjoy.
One change in particular is that there will be more skating classes available.
Skating Classes
Operating period for the skating class- Weekdays: Monday, December 20th, 2010-Friday, February 2nd, 2011
- Weekends: Saturday, December 25th, 2010-Saturday, Febraury 12th, 2011
Operating hours Weekdays: Monday-Friday 9:00-10:00, 10:10-11:10, 11:30-12:30
Weekends: Saturday-Sunday 9:00-11:00 (1 hour skating lessons and free skating)
Cost: 10,000 won
※ Additional charges - Luggage storage and gloves 500 won
- Socks 1,500 won
Number of people per class- Weekday: No more than 225 people per session (5 groups of people allowed per session/with no more than 15 people in each group)
- Weekend: 40 people at a time (8 people are allowed in each group)
○ Class target: At least 6 years of age
○ To register: www.seoulskate.or.kr
Special Events
○ Opening Ceremony- Date: Friday, December 17th, 2010, 17:00~18:00
- Opening ceremony events: Figure skating performances, various cultural events
○ In addition, various events will be held throughout the season.
Incheon: China Town and Wolmido
Hello!
Well, we had done our third trip in Korea... This time we went to China Town in Incheon and Wolmi island!
From the station Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (외대앞) we took subway line 1 directly to Incheon station(인천); after 1:30h we arrived to our destination, which is the last station, be sure to take the right train because some trains may take to Sinchang (신창).
Just in front of the subway station you can easily find China town's entrance.
We visited Chinese cultural and history museum. It's interesting with some old materials and we had some fun trying some Chinese traditional clothes.
It was already lunch time so we decided to have lunch in a Chinese restaurant.
We ate jjajjaangmion and some tangsuyook pork, it was really good.
Later we decided to take a walk in China Town, the place is really nice even though is a little bit small (just few streets) but it is beautiful. There are many paintings in the building's walls.
Near there is the Jayu (Freedom) Park, where you can see Incheon's Port and the sea; also there is the General MacArthur's statue statue. Is autumn, so as you can imagine the trees' leaves were red, yellow, brown... the scene was beautiful.
In the park we ran into a group of mixed families that were playing some games, we were invited to play with them and share some traditional Korean games.
After we saw an old man that was painting in the traditional rice paper, he called us and gave to one of us a painting we had just finished.^^
By the evening we took a bus and went to Wolmido.
Wolmido is an island that is really near from Incheon, it took less than 10 minutes to get there.
There is an amusement park in this island, which is famous for two games: Disco and Viking, we decided to ride Viking; it was extreme!
We went to the mole and saw some small ships... the people there is just walking around and having fun with their friends.
At night we came back to Incheon and went to a small but famous Mandu (만두) restaurant. We ate quite well for cheap price.
Well, we had done our third trip in Korea... This time we went to China Town in Incheon and Wolmi island!
From the station Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (외대앞) we took subway line 1 directly to Incheon station(인천); after 1:30h we arrived to our destination, which is the last station, be sure to take the right train because some trains may take to Sinchang (신창).
Just in front of the subway station you can easily find China town's entrance.
We visited Chinese cultural and history museum. It's interesting with some old materials and we had some fun trying some Chinese traditional clothes.
It was already lunch time so we decided to have lunch in a Chinese restaurant.
We ate jjajjaangmion and some tangsuyook pork, it was really good.
Later we decided to take a walk in China Town, the place is really nice even though is a little bit small (just few streets) but it is beautiful. There are many paintings in the building's walls.
Near there is the Jayu (Freedom) Park, where you can see Incheon's Port and the sea; also there is the General MacArthur's statue statue. Is autumn, so as you can imagine the trees' leaves were red, yellow, brown... the scene was beautiful.
After we saw an old man that was painting in the traditional rice paper, he called us and gave to one of us a painting we had just finished.^^
By the evening we took a bus and went to Wolmido.
Wolmido is an island that is really near from Incheon, it took less than 10 minutes to get there.
There is an amusement park in this island, which is famous for two games: Disco and Viking, we decided to ride Viking; it was extreme!
We went to the mole and saw some small ships... the people there is just walking around and having fun with their friends.
At night we came back to Incheon and went to a small but famous Mandu (만두) restaurant. We ate quite well for cheap price.
Trip to Gwanaksan (관악산)
Gwanaksan (관악산)is the mountain lying behind the Seoul National University campus and the Gwacheon national government complex lies to the east.. Its name literally means 'Mountain of the Hat-Shaped Peak', Mt. Gwanaksan is a good-sized hill that marks the southern limit of the Seoul basin and it is 629m tall.
We take the general course; which starts next to Seoul National University. To get there we took subway to Seoul National University Station, Line 2, exit No.3, there are two ways to get to the mountain; by bus or taxi. If you are going on weekend you need to know that a lot of people go hiking too, so don’t be surprised if there is a long line waiting for the bus. As an advice if you are 4 people, taking a taxi is not so expensive and you can avoid the long bus’ line.
When you get there you just need to start hiking. The first half of the way is quite easy and plane; but as you go higher you start to do real climbing. The views are really beautiful and even it is hard it totally worth it, especially in this season of the year.
On the top of the mountain you can see Buddhist temples as Yeonjudae (연주대), downtown of Seoul and Han river.
After coming back, we went to have dinner at Shigul Bossam(시골보쌈) that is near from Sadang station, exit No. 13. Were we ate Bossam (보쌈), it was so good that we order twice :)
Having this experience of hiking in Korea was awesome, despite it was tired but because we are not use to exercise^^, watching the autumn colors was awesome and beautiful, and the fresh air gave us energy to continue to the top :)
Trails
Seoul National University Entrance (11.3km, 4 hours) Siheung-dong (11km, 3 hours, 30 minutes) Anyang amusement park (12km, 4 hours, 30 minutes)
Getting There
Seoul National University Station, Line 2. Then take bus 95, 25, 94, 121, 289, 303, 55-2, 114, 142 or 289-1 to entrance of Seoul National University
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