Korea: Seoraksan National Park, more fish & fireworks at the beach

Saturday, 23 May 2015

Seoraksan National Park is near Sokcho (another entrance than the one we visted 2 days ago), i.e. a more popular (= busy/crowded) one. Phew, traffic jam to get into the park. Sooo crowded but hey it's Saturday; a day off for Koreans sooo ..

We did a hike to a waterfall, admired a Buddhist temple the Sinheung-sa, this temple complex has been on this site since AD 652,  and after lunch took a cable car up into the mountains. It was a warm day, phew around 28-30 C.

After our return to Sokcho we wanted to go to the beach but phew the wind had turned and now came from the east i.e. the sea brrr we had to wear a jacket.

But, things change fast here also the wind coz after a few hours the wind turned and came from inland and it was less cold. 

We had a lovely fishy dinner outside on the terrace of 'our restaurant'.

Here in Korea it's custom to light fireworks in the weekend at the beach soo we did too. We bought a package and lighted it at the beach. Sooo much fun to share; it's as if it's the last day of the year, but then at a crowded beach with 20 degrees and lots of people encouraging you. Super! 

the waterfall hike

the Buddha

wishes hanging on lanterns

the lady that cells the wishes to hang on the lanterns in the temple

had to take off our shoes of course

Our wish, that will hang in the temple on the lantern for one day only: a Monday, coz that's the day when the Buddhas come according to the lady who sold the wishes.

Hey we are Dutch after all and EUR 56 mm that's a lot of money for hanging your card/wish on a lantern for a whole year, soooo we opted for the cheaper one day version. Now, let's hope the Buddhas will spot it this Monday.

more detailed pic of our wish

lovely lunch in the park

rice with octopus and bibimbap: very yummy

inside the cable car going up

on the top

beach hunk

fresh fish, fish and more fish

fireworks

short impression of the fireworks at the beach in Sokcho

Korea: A day of leisure (Day 10)

Friday, 22nd May 2015: a day of leisure and reading 

a large part of the coast is filled with these concrete blocks

sun/sand/reading a book and painted toe nails ^-^

fresh coquilles and a fresh fried fish (not shown) for dinner

Korea: Seoraksan, Sokcho beach & fresh fish (Day 9)

@ Sokcho beach

Thursday, 21 May 2015
After breakfast at the Starbucks in Chuncheon we drove to Seoraksan National park to do a hike. We did part of the Sibiseonnyeotang course which follows the river, goes up and down and has many lovely waterfalls. On our way we met several Korean hikers all dressed up in professional sporty outfits. 
After returning to the parking place we had a well deserved beer at the restaurant that had tables and chairs placed inside the river. Great idea to cool your bare feet after a hike. 

bare feet in the water

lots of small tadpoles swimming around my feet in the clear water 

enjoying our well deserved beer with bare feet in the river

Our next stop is Sokcho, a fishing town with a sandy beach where we plan to stay 3 nights to relax and enjoy the nearby Seoraksan parc as well as the beach. The weather promisses to be fine (26-28 degrees Celcius, no humidity).

We found out Koreans don't have the same idea about beach life as Europeans have; they don't take off their clothes to enjoy the sun/sea but tend to stay fully dressed even when going for a dip into the sea. Maybe because they think it's too cold as holiday season in Sokcho is only 6 weeks in July and August. At this time of the year a lot of places are still closed.

In the evening we had dinner outside; fresh fish we choose from the aquarium. It was a flatfish and yummie. 

Tomorrow we plan to have a day of leisure and reading. 

Sokcho beach: the water was coldddd

dinner outside; yes this is holiday

  

what was left

Korea: Wheels, Noodles & Art (Day 8)

Wednesday, 20 May 2015:
Today we will leave Soeul and start our roundtrip. 
After breakfast we went to the Avis office to fetch our rental car. It's a Kia K5, as far as we know not available in Europe. It's big, quiet and ugly, BUT most important it has an English speaking navigation system that warns us for all speed bumps, speed controls, sharp (mwah) curves, school zones, danger areas and more.
Having a car means freedom to go when and where we like, which we both appreciate a lot. Super to drive around.

First stop in the countryside. Admiring one of the many rice fields we pass and a pic of our Kia.

It's past lunch time and we are hungry. When we spot a place we assume is some sort of 'restaurant' we manage with the help of the translation in the Lonely Planet to order beer and noodles. And again instead of a knife we are handed a pair of scissors to cut the nudels if we wish. 

Driving along we see signs that indicate there is a Museum and 'Art Stay' (appartments). Wow what a lovely place: in the middle of nowhere and completely zen. We decide to visit.

great plants and trees in front of the Museum of Art Leesangwon

great mirroring effect

This evening we will stay in the Chuncheon Tourist Hotel in Chuncheon. The manager Mr. Tony is very kind and helpfull. We noticed Mr. Tony is famous, coz he is also mentioned in the Lonely Planet guide ^-^.

Tomorrow we will drive through the mountains to Sokcho, which is situated at the Japanese sea and has a beach (yeah).