Moran Traditional Market

Moran traditional market located in Seongnam city is has a great 50 year history. Kim Chang-suk developed the area after she came to there from Pyeongyang, leaving her morther behind. She named it Moran (meaning Peony Flower) since the area reminded her of Peony Peak in Pyeongyang.

Moran Market is open every 5 days for people to trade daily goods, and is a market bustling with people who visit for shopping and food.

Location

Moran Market is located near Moran station exit 5, so it can be easily reached from everywhere in Seoul. The Market runs every 4th 9th, 14th, 24th and the 29th of the month. 

Bucheon Hanok Village: Activity Overload

Namsan Hanok Village, Bukcheon Hanok Village, you might have heard of them, you might even visited them, however have you heard of Bucheon Hanok Village? On a lovely afternoon at the end of August I paid the village a visit and here is my review.

But first... lunch!

Arriving at samseongcheyukkwan station exit 7 the first thing we did was look for a restaurant to have lunch at. This mushroomshabu restaurant caught our eye straight away. A restaurant that attracted many famous visitor because of it's delicious shabu shabu menu. I however was craving for something a bit sweeter and got equally delicious dolseot bulgogi instead.

The village

The Village itself is super easy to find, follow the signs you can see as soon as you get out of the subway, walk less then one minute and you are there!

Activities

Now all you have to do is enjoy, There are many activities you can participate such as tasting traditional teas, making charms bracelets, participate in a traditional Korean wedding and more!

Me and my friends painted a fan and made ddeokcake (rickecake cake) and it was a lot of fun! For the finished product check my instagram~

If you are more of a sit back and relax type, enjoy some tradition tea at the teahouse, watch a farmers band perform or just enjoy the unique details of the village.

All in all, Bucheon hanok village might be on the smaller side, we still managed to spend a good 5 hours and went home with a bag full of goodies.

Have you ever been to a Korean traditional village? What is your favorite thing about it?

Love, Wietske

Korea's best Season: What to do in Fall.

My absolute favorite season in Korea is fall. Skies are bright blue. The weather is nice, and I can dress up nicely without having to worry about sweating of my make-up. Especially when I indulge in an activity that I thorougly enjoy, walking around and getting lost in wonderous new areas.

Seoul Grand Park

A perfect place to enjoy walking around in my favorite season is Seoul Grand Park, located a convenient subway ride away, just outside of the Seoul metropolitan area.

Bring your camera and go up Seoul Grand Park Forest park, which is a narrow path that takes visitors up and down the park's trails. The entrance point can be found behind the Forest Exhibition Center (to the right side of the main entrance of the Seoul Zoo in Seoul Grand Park), and another behind the Australian Pavilion.

Enjoy the changing of the color of the leaves, the fresh air, and the beautiful scenery in as little as 50 minutes or take the long route that takes 2,5 hours.

What is your favorite activity in Fall?

Love, Wietske

Must do: Hanok Stay

One of the things I recommend everyone doing when they visit Korea is to stay in a hanok for a couple of days. For many of you sleeping on the floor seems like an uncomfortable feet, and during the cooler months you would probably think you will freeze to death. However, hanoks are extremely comfortable with floor heating, and before you know it you will not want to get up from the floor.

Chi Ong Art Gallery

five-person room

You can do Hanok Stays all over country, however if you don't have much time to travel why not stay in the Gyeonggi area which is in close proximity of Seoul..Chi Ong Art Gallery in beautiful Gapyeong, offers three, five and even ten-person rooms. Very simple and clean but equipped with the a modern kitchen and bathroom for extra comfort.

Activities

café ongongya

Chi Ong Art Gallery also offers activites for very reasonable prices, things such as Ddeok (Korean glutonous ricecake) and the making of tofu and many others. And it also has a very cozy looking coffeeshop that is open everyday from 9.30 am till 10 p.m. which doesn't only serve tea and coffee but also has wine, beer and of course the side dishes that go with them

How to get there

The easiest way to get there is with the subway, or bus. You can take the bus towards cheongpyeong from the dongseoul terminal, or bus 1330 from cheongryangli station and also get out at cheongpyeong station. From there take the bus that goes to sumokwon and get of at the chi ong arts gallery.

For recent prices and online reservation please check the website.

Love, Wieske

Koreas most beautiful garden.

The weather is finally starting to get cooler here in Korea, so it's the perfect time for outdoor activities and enjoy this fresh air.

The Garden of Morning Calm

On 33ha, you can enjoy thousands of varieties of flouwers in this wonderfull place, an absolutely must see for not only photographers, but it's a great location for a romantic date with your loved one.

The garden is the oldest among private gardens in Korea. It is an artistic space with a beautiful balance between the Korean concepts of natural curves and asymmetry, plants and other various materials.

Getting there

[Bus] From Dong Seoul Bus Terminal take a bus bound for Cheongpyeong Bus Terminal, or take bus 1330 at Cheongnyangni Transfer Center (in front of Lotte Department Store) and get off at the Cheongpyeong Bus Terminal (travel time: 1hr 45min) From Cheongpyeong Terminal, take Bus 31-7 to the Garden of Morning Calm (아침고요수목원). Travel time: 41min [Subway] Cheongpyeong Station (Gyeonchun Line) Exit 1. Go left until you reach the 3-way intersection and turn right. Continue straight toward the Cheongpyeong Catholic Church. Pass by Cheongpyeong Elementary School, turn left, and you will see the Cheonpyeong Bus Terminal. From Cheongpyeong Terminal, take Bus 31-7 to the Garden of Morning Calm (아침고요수목원). Entrance fee is only 9,000 won so take your chance and visit this beautiful place~ Love, Wietske

How to get to Everland.

I have heard many people say that they are still confused as how to easily get to Everland. Don't be scared and follow the guide I will give you today and you will get there with ease.

Subway

The great thing about taking the subway is, is that you can take the Everland shuttle bus - which is free - right when you get out of the last subway stop.  In the example above I showed you how to get to Jongdae Everland Station from Gangnam station. Click here to find out how to get to Jongdae station from your station of choice.  Going by subway costs about 3,150 won.

Bus

If you rather not transfer so much you can also take the bus,  bus no. 5002 and no. 5007.

For bus no 5002 you can find bus stops at Sinnohyeon , Gangnam and Yangjae station. Check the maps above to find the location of the busstop.

For bus no 5007 you can find bus stops at gangbyeon, jamsil, songpa and suseo station. Check the maps above to find the location of the busstop. Going by bus cost about 2,500 won.

Shuttle bus

Everland also has two shuttle bus both with multiple stops throughout Seoul. It is the most expensive option at 12,000 won for a round trip and you have to make reservations in advance. However if you are unsure about finding busstops or scared taking the subway this might be the best option for you.

Shuttlebus 1

Route	Departure	Time	Bus Stop
Seoul->Everland	Hotel Seokyo (Hongik Univ.)	08:00	The front gate (Exit No.9)
	Shinchon	08:10	Exit No.5
	Seoul City Hall	08:30	Exit No.5
	Dongdaemun History & Culture Park	08:40	Exit No.11
	Jongno 3 ga	08:50	Exit No.12
Everland->Seoul	Everland	18:00	Parking lot No.5 (Platform No.7~8)

If you wish to take this shuttle bus you have to make reservation at 82-32-322-7001   or check the website.

Shuttlebus 2

Route	Departure	Time	Bus Stop
Seoul->Everland	Hongik Univ.	08:50	Exit no.4
	Myeong-Dong Shinsegae Dept. store	09:30	Shinsegae department store bus stop (No. 143)
	Myeong-Dong Tourist Information Center	10:00	KEB Bank AirBus shuttle stop
	Itaewon	10:20	Exit No.4
	Sinsa	10:30	Exit No.5
	Sinnonhyeon	10:35	Exit No.6
	Gangnam	10:40	Exit No.6
Everland->Seoul	Everland	17:50	Group bus turning place

If you wish to take this shuttle bus you have to make reservation at 82-10-4718-7440 / 82-2-778-6212 or check the website.


Finding everland in beautiful gyeonggi should now be a breeze. Don't forget to check the website for more information.

Love, Wietske
 

Flavours of Gyeonggi

One of the beautifull things about Korea is that every town has it's own special dish. Even when traveling just outside of Seoul you can try a huge variety of different flavors.  Today I want to introduce you to three special dishes of the Gyeonggi region.

 

Suwon Wanggalbi.

Suwon Wanggalbi got its name from the size. A single strip of galbi coul be as large as five meters. Therefore Suwon galbi became known as wanggalbi which translates into big-sized beef short ribs. You can enjoy this tender and delicious meat at [Gabojeong 가보정 | Suwon-si Paldal-gu Ingye-dong 958-1] which is only a short busride away from suwon station 수원역.  Get off at Seongbin center hospital 성빈센처병원, walk for about 400 meter and you are there!

Icheon Ssalbap-jeongsik

From ancient times Icheon rice is considered to be the best rice in korea. Therefore it is not suprising that Icheons most famous dish is a rice dish. It is so good that it was served to the kings of the Joseon Dynasty. Curious what Icheon Ssalbap Jeongsik is? It is rice served in a stone pot along with about 20 tasty side dishes. A treat for both the eyes and the taste buds. You can try this meal fit for a king at [Cheongmok Hanjeongsik (T. 031-634-5414)]. You can find this restaurant close to Semastation 세마역. Take the bus from there and guess of at 1danji semadong 1단지 세마동 station and you can enjoy this delicious meal.

 

 

 

Yangpeong Okcheon Naengmyeon

 
One of my favorite dishes during the hot summers days is naegmyeon (buckwheat noodles in a

chilled broth). It might be a bit strange at first but this tangy soup will cool you down for sure. Most of the famous restaurants serve pyeongyang-style naengmyeon which combines beef stock with chicken, phaesant or pork. Hwanghaedo-style Okcheon Naengmyeon doesn't only uses only pork to produce the stock, the dish also uses Okcheonsu (water of Okcheon) for the stock.  The water, reflecting the spirits of Yongmunsan Mountain, was known as precious water that helped treat  ilnesses of the kings  of Joseon Dynasty. Want to try this refreshing dish? [Okcheon Naengmyeon | Yangpyeong-gun Okcheon-myeon Okcheon-ri 760] Take the bus from Asin station 아신역 to Okcheonmyeon samuso 옥천면사무소 and walk another 600 meters to try these delightful flavors.

 

Which of these three dishes would you like to try?

 

Love, Wietske

 

*pictures taken from www.ggtour.or.kr

 

Jarasum International Jazz Festival

At the beginning of this month I posted the gyeonggi-do festival guide. Today I want to dive a little bit deeper into one of the mentioned festivals.

The beginning

On the otherwise quiet Jaru Island you can enjoy an amazing Jazz Festival every autumn. Jarasum International Jazz Festival began in 2004 with 30 teams of jazz artists from 12 countries. This exciting event attracts a diverse audience and provides spectators with many unforgettable memories.

International

According to their website the "international" in Jarasum International Jazz Festival is not just inviting foreign artists from other countries. Since it's excistence the festival has hosted 535 artists from 41 different countries. It also has a yearly national focus project, last year it was Norway, this year Germany. The yearly national focus project introduces a specific country to the audience by working together with countries embassies and cultural institutes. 

2015

The first line up for this years festival has already been announced and with names such as Juan Carmona, Igor Butman and Moscow Jazz Orchestra and many others it looks promising. So if you are into Jazz don't make any plans for october 9th until october 11th. (More artists will be anounced in August)

Tickets

Adult: 3-day Pass 90,000 Won. 2-day Pass 70,000 won 1-day Pass 45,000

On-Site Tickets: 50,000 Won

Youth: 1-day pass 30,000 Won

On-Site Tickets: 35,000 Won

*all tickets include one 5,000 Won Gapyeong Love Gift Certificate per each ticket. 

Booking period June 23th ~ October 6th 2015 (more details here)

Transportation

Bus: Take an intercity bus or ITX or subway to Gapyeong. It's a 10-minute walk from Gapyeong Intercity Bus Termnial or a 15-minute walk from Gapyeong station.

For more details on transportation and the festival check the official website here.

Anyone willing to go here with me? 

Love, Wietske

My dream holiday destination.

What if, right at this very moment, you would get the opportunity to go on a short trip. You don't know the details, not if you can go alone, with your adventurous friend or with your lover and you have to pick your destination right at this very moment. Where would you go?

 

I know the perfect spot, where no matter who I go with, or don't go with I know I will have a blast. It's a place called Nami Island.

Healing time

 

 

 Beautifull scenery, fresh air and only in close proximity of Seoul, Nami Island is the perfect spot for some healing time. Even alone it's great to just wander around and take it all in. Listen to some soothing music and take a deep breath and enjoy that clean air that only an island like this can bring.

A spot for lovers

 Even though it was broadcasted even more then 10 years ago, the korean drama Winter Sonata, still gives Nami Island romantic vibes. With cute photo ops, beautiful tree lined paths and secluded seating areas it is a must visit for every couple in love.

 

 

 

For the thrill seeker

More in for a thrill? Nami Island has something for you as well! Instead of taking the boat, why not zipline to the Island. You start from a tower 80 meters high and in one minute and 30 seconds you zoom down to the island. There are also various other water activities and even bungee jumping towers, everything to make you heart beat faster

Where

A great thing about this amazing holiday spot called Nami Island or 남이섬 in Korean is that it is located in beautiful Gyeonggi-do  incredibly close to Seoul.

You can take the subway Gyeongchun Line or ITX-Cheongchun to gapyeong Island from where you can take a bus to the Island. Or take the shuttle bus from Insa-dong or Namdaemun which is only 15,000 won for a round trip. Or get a package deal with entrance to the Island for 23,000 Won.

For more information check the website.

What is your dream holiday destination?

Love, Wietske


*photo credit* All pictures taken from http://en.ggtour.or.kr/

Feel #Gyeonggi: My Favorite Summer Activity

*edit* 2015-9-6  I have unfortunately been informed that Wolmi-Do is in fact nog in Gyeonggi. I am truely sorry for this mistake. However I still recommend you reading this article and going to Wolmi Island!

With only one more day of school, and 1 exam, left in this semester I have started making plans of what to do this summer. I want to explore many new places in Seoul and #Gyeonggi, however there is on thing on my to do list that I do almost every single summer when I am in Korea. And that is make yet another trip to Wolmi-Do.

 

Photo Credit: http://HappyDalki.blogspot.com

 

Wolmi-do is located roughly 1km off the coast of Incheon, right next to the sea which gives it a nice breeze, perfect for those hot summer days! And it is fairly easy to get to as well it is only 10 minutes by taxi or can take the subway and then get off at Incheon Station (Seoul Subway Line 1).When exiting the station, take local bus from either 2, 15, 23 or 45 bound to Wolmido and get off when Wolmido City Tour, Wolmi Culture Street, or Wolmi Final Bus Stops are announced. (source)

You might be wondering why I would 100% recommend you to go to Wolmi-do. First of all, it is the many great memories I have there. From celebrating my friends 30th birthday and eating aweful sweet potato cake (which my friend loved) too holding on for dear life in the disco ppang ppang while getting made fun of by the guy who runs it.

 

Secondly, I really enjoy the casual atmosphere. Because there is no entrance fee, you only need to pay for separate rides, there is no actually pressure to have fun. The low cost of hanging out at Wolmi-Do means there is also a great mix of people there.

 

There are parents with their little kids. Teens trying to off amongst their friends. Couples sharing cotton candy. Young adults, and older people watching their grand-childeren and living life vigorously trough them.  Honestly, one of my favorite things is to just sit down and watch these people living there life while enjoying the slight breeze.

 

Try running trough the fountains for a quick cooldown

 

However, if you are slightly more adventurous. There are many other ways to cool down - or work up a sweat - depending on what kind of person you are. My personal favorites are the viking or one of the two freefal rides. If you rather stay inside and not work on your tan, there are also a few arcades located on the premises.

 

If you are in Seoul this summer and are hot and bothered, I recommend you go check out Wolmi-Do! Gyoenggi's most underrated amusement park.

 

 

 

If you have been to Wolmi-Do before, let me know which ride you liked best! Or share your favorite summer activity.

 

Love, Wietske

 

p.s. Check out Gyeonngi's Facebook and Twitter.

 

p.p.s. I wrote this article as part of my application to become an #GGKoreasupporter; however I 100% mean everything I said in this article~