27 Sep 10 - Day 4 (Yasan Farm, War Memorial, Jeju)

This morning the morning call was at 6:30am. As usual, I got up first to wash up before waking M up. We had breakfast at 7:30am and left for the Yasan Farm (Agroland) at 8:10am. We saw many big cows, sheeps and horses. We even get to feed the big cows with grasses and the younger cows with milk. We were told that most cows would be slaughtered at the age of three. One particularly big cow was aged seven and we were told that because this cow was tamed and was used as cow ride for the children before, she was able to escape from being slaughtered and now kept as a pet.

Pet cow with length of 1.7m

The owner told us that for a normal cow, she could give birth to 11 times during her life span but if the cow is one for farmer to milk, she could only give birth about four times. At her prime, she could give out 50 liters of milk a day and if a milk cow is coming to the end of her usefulness, the farmer usually would give her away coz he wouldn’t bear to kill her. The meat of a milk cow is not as tasty as those breed for meat and different parts of a cow are sold separately.

Then we were given a chance to try our hands at milking another cow. Most of the people in the group were scared to try their hands at it and I was getting impatient with them. Just when I wanted to go and be the first to try, finally one of the group members tried her hands at it. Soon one followed the other and I pushed M to have a go while I helped to take photos. I didn’t milk the cow since I had tried it before when I was in Perth couple of years back.

M trying cow milking

After that, we went on a tractor ride around the farm before leading to a place where we get to do ice cream. We were again teamed with Cynthia. Gathered around the front table to see how it was done and then were told that there were three flavors to choose from, Strawberry, Chocolate and Banana. M didn’t want Banana and I didn’t want Strawberry so we chose Chocolate before Cynthia could protest. We did the process quietly with Cynthia making comments on and off. Finally we were done and got to taste our own ice cream. Cynthia didn’t eat much coz she didn’t prefer chocolate so she went to taste the others.

Some photos of the farm animals :

Finished up our ice cream and headed to another place in Seoul for lunch where we had Saba fish and Yellow Flower fish. Since we finished lunch early and still have time before going to Gimpo Airport, we headed to the War Memorial of Korea in Itaewon to look at the weapons used by the Russians and Koreans during the war back then. M and I covered most of the grounds and most of our group members only covered half. After spending some time there, we continued our journey to Gimpo Airport where we took a domestic flight to Jeju. Recalled a blogger saying that the tomato juice was good and so told M about it. Chose tomato juice when the flight crew was serving drinks and indeed the juice was very refreshing.

End product of our ice cream making

Some photos from the War Memorial :

 

Reached Jeju about 5:50pm and headed to the underground shopping street – Tapdong Street. It was basically one long underground street with shops lining the two sides and a few short side streets. We were given one hour there and so browsed through the shops. Most of the clothes were for autumn season hence not suitable to buy. As for boots, most of them were with killer heels hence couldn’t get any either. Passed by Innis Free and bought the Olive real-Eye Cream that sis’s SIL asked. Saw the other group members and they were spotted carrying big bags of facial products from Etude House and other facial product shops.

Passed by a music CD shop and went in to check out the prices for the CDs. M saw a few that she had on her shopping list and so bought them. She was happy coz according to her; she found the first album of Girl’s Generation. The rest of the disks were also rather cheap after conversion and compared to our local prices. Left for dinner before going to watch Nanta Show at 7pm. We were seated on the left of the stage second row. As we still had some time before the show started, we went out to look at the merchandises. M was eyeing the t-shirt and so bought one in the end and I didn’t get anything.

Stage of Nanta Show

The Nanta Show was basically a simple plot where four chefs had to prepare for a wedding dinner in one hour and there little dialogues and mainly sounds made from hitting the various pots and pans. It was very funny and all of us laughed out loud. In between, audiences were invited to participate in the show and in our group, the guy Norris from the couple was chosen. Oh man, compared to the other guy who was also invited, Norris was really slow to register what he had to do on stage.

Towards the end of the show, small plastic balls were thrown to the audience and M picked up two to keep as souvenirs. Show ended at 9:35pm and we headed to Jeju T.H.E. Hotel to stay for the night. Settled down, watched a bit of tv, packed a little and slept.

Thoughts: Was happy that M enjoyed the farm experiences and I got to learn how to make ice cream. Will probably try out the ice cream making at home someday. Nanta Show was really good and I wouldn’t mind watching it over again.

26 Sep 10 - Day 3 (Yongpyong, Korean Traditional Centre & Duksan Spa Castle)

Morning call at 7am, washed up and M got up about 7.20am. I suggested to M to wear two t-shirts in case it gets cold up on the Peak. Ate breakfast at 8am at the café opposite the resort and we set off at 9am. Hanna suggested taking the Gondola up to the Dragon Peak which was also another film site for Winter Sonata. Dragon Peak stands at 1485m above sea level and the Gondola ride took 20min. We had a car to ourselves and M was excited. She took lots of photos while I enjoyed the ride and the view.

Cafe where Winter Sonata was filmed

Arrived at the Peak, got off the car, waited for the rest and walked around the area. Hanna showed us the three trees where each tree has half the tree withered and half the tree still alive with leaves. Further up, there were three big stone piles. Hanna said those were man-made by people who made a wish. A person will pick up a stone, clasp the stone with both hands, close eyes to make a wish and then place the stone on the pile of stones and with time, the piles grew to these big sizes. So M and I both looked for stones and made our wishes. Then we both looked for another two stones to bring back as souvenirs.

One of the three half alive and half dead trees

 The wishing stone pile

There were many nice flowers growing on the Peak due to the cool weather and we took photos. After that, we hurried up to the second floor where another café was to take a look and used the restrooms. M took off one of the t-shirts because it wasn’t as cold as we had expected. Took the Gondola down to our resort which was another 20min and then paid 12,000 Won each to Hanna coz the Gondola ride wasn’t part of our package.

Some photos of beautiful flowers on Dragon Peak :

Left Yongpyong Resort to the Korean Traditional Centre and during the journey, Hanna told us more about South Korea and North Korea. They were separated for 57 years and South Korea was ruled by Japan for 36 years. The separation of the South and North Korea resulted in lots of broken families (离散家庭) and to the Korean, Chuseok meant a time for family reunion. So the Red Cross tried to help the families from South Korea to look for their long lost families in the North Korea and tried to let them reunite for a few days.

As the journey was long; we had a rest at a stop point. We bought a cup of Twinberry Cheesecake ice cream from Baskin Robbins and a bag of 240g of Walnut Cake to share. Continued our journey to the Korean Traditional Centre where we were given a demonstration and explanation of how Kimchi were made. Then we had the chance to try doing it ourselves. After that, we were given ginseng milk drink each and a plate of kimchi with sweet potato and sweet potato rice cake as snacks. The Centre also sells Kimchi of different kinds and different levels of spiciness at buy 5 get 1 free. The rest of the group placed their orders and some combine orders, only M and I didn’t get any since only the two of us eat and a pack is at 1kg.

Baskin Robbins Twinberry Cheesecake Ice Cream


Our kimchi

Freshly made Walnut Cakes


Our bibimbap lunch

After that, we headed to another place within the Centre for Bimbimbap lunch before going to another place also within the Centre for Hanbok fitting. Asked M to choose for me and she got me a pink one with a green outer coat while she got a light blue with yellow outer coat. It was later that Hanna told us that the one I was wearing was a wedding dress. After taking some photos, I wore M’s light blue Hanbok and she wore a guy one and we took more photos. Then I wore the guy one and M wore another pink Hanbok and took some more photos. Left the Korean Traditional Centre and headed to a fruit farm.

As the fruit in season was apple so we headed for an Apple Farm where we got to see apple trees and asked the farmer there to help pick the apples that we fancied. It was 1-for-1 deal where we asked the farmer to pick one and we would be given another at the exit. M didn’t know about that and thought we get to pick two each in the farm, so after getting one each and while on the way out, we saw a couple of red ones and Min went to handpick them. Put two of the apples in her bag and took the given ones at the exit so we ended up with three apples each. Ate one each on the coach while on the journey to Duksan Spa Castel. During the ride, Hanna said that there were four meals which we had to settle on our own and she was suggesting that we eat together as a group for three meals out of four at the places and food that she recommended which were Korean specialties.

Apples on Apple Tree

Reached there about 4:30pm and was told to get ready at the lobby again in 20min’s time for the water park. So once we got to the room, we repacked our backpack to take out the unnecessary things and put in our swimsuits, swimming caps, toiletries, etc. and changed into t-shirts and shorts. Were the first to reach the lobby followed by the two friends, Cynthia, the couple and the daughter of the family of three whose name was Mei Shan. The water park was at the next block to our hotel. After we got there, Hanna briefed us on where the facilities were, how to use the electronic device where expenses were charged to that device and accounts settled before we leave the premises. Some of our group members didn’t have swimming caps and so had to either buy or rent and Cynthia had to rent a swimsuit.

Changed into our swimsuits in front of our lockers coz didn’t want the hassle of going to the changing room and besides, the women and children there were walking around naked, not the least embarrassed about their body shapes. Then we set off to the indoor water park where there were things like Jacuzzi, bubble pool, etc. The water was warm and we soaked ourselves in the pool for a while. Then I suggested going out to take a look at the outdoor facilities. The moment we stepped out, we could feel the cold air and M was shivering. Quickly went back indoor and jumped back into the pool. I kept psychoing M to go out to play at least one slide since we were already living in Duksan Spa Castle. Told M to invite the others and we went out together again. Most of us shivered and Mei Shan tested the water and said it was cold so I tried and found it ok. All of us headed back indoor and I asked M if she wanted to do the slide. So she gave one last shot and we went out for the third time.

Quickly went to the life jacket rental counter to collect two life jackets after mentioning James Tour and put them on. M felt better after wearing the life jacket. We stood in front of the map to see which slides to play and then decided to do the Master Blazer. Climbed the steps up, paid for the ride and were guided to the 2-persons float. Sat inside it with M in front, got ready and then we found ourselves sliding down the tube. It was fun and it felt like Viking when we slide down certain parts of the tube and one part of it was in total darkness. Reached the end, got down the float and M was hooked. Checked out the map again to see what else we could do but after the Master Blazer, the rest seems tame. So we returned the life jacket and went back indoor where we found and others and described to them what we did.

After a while, we got out of the pool and went to try the hot bath which was separated from the indoor pools. So we took off our swimsuits, used the tumbler machines to dry our swimsuits and put them in the locker. Went into the normal one with 39 degrees and it was heaven. Then we went to the next one, which had brownish water and smelled like herbs. After a while, went to another one that has greenish water that could content sulfur. The last one was above 40 degrees and after going in for 5 seconds, we had to get out. The shower facilities were open type so we decided to return to our room to shower instead hence only did a quick rinse, dried our bodies, changed into our clothes and headed back to our room at 6:20pm. We were expecting ourselves to feel cold and run back to our Hotel block, surprisingly, we didn’t feel cold at all outside.

Showered and headed for dinner at 7:30pm. During dinner, most of the group members were for the suggestions of eating together for the three recommended meals and so M and I went along. We paid Hanna 40,000 Won each for the three recommended meals. After eating, we walked around the hotel and headed to the Family Mart to get yogurt drink, aloe vera drink, a cup of grape-flavored jelly and a bottle of Angel-In-Us coffee before going to the pool room where the rest of the group was. M wanted to play pool but after knowing the rate, she didn’t want to. So we hung around to watch the others play and only left the place when Mei Shan’s parents and Cythia left.

Our drinks and snacks :

Back to the room, settled down and watched I Am Legend while settling the accounts for the day, enjoying our drinks and I boiled water. The rooms in Duksan Spa Castle were those of a mini apartment that comes with a small kitchen equipped with electric stove, fridge, pots and pans, knives, glasses, cups, etc. There were two rooms where one had a queen size bed and a dressing table while the other was meant for people who want to sleep on the floor using futons coz below the floor there was heating elements. Finished the show and hit the hay past 12-midnight in the room using futons.

Some photos of our room in Duksan Spa Castel :

Thoughts: Of all the traditional costumes around the world, I have always like Hanbok best and to be able to try wearing three at one time to take photos was a dream comes true. Kimchi tasted better in Korea than in Singapore and if only sis’s family eat Kimchi, I would have ordered some myself to share. Duksan Spa Castle was great! I always like rooms that are apartment-like with mini kitchen and mini living room and there were indoor and outdoor water facilities for people to enjoy. If only we had reached the place in the late morning or early afternoon to play in the water.

25 Sep 10 - Day 2 (Everland & Yongpyong)

Touched down about 6am Korean time (1 hour ahead) and by the time we cleared the custom, it was closed to 6:30am. Met up with our local guide whose name was Hanna Che and the rest of the group. The group consisted of 14 people including us. The group make up of a family of three where the parents in their 70s and a daughter about 20s or 30s; a group of 4 ladies; a pair of ladies who were from Malaysia; a couple; a single lady in her 40s and us. Hanna gave us about an hour to rest and take breakfast before gathering again at 7:30am.

Walked around to see what’s there to eat and bought a bottle of water each while at it. Most of our group members went for MacDonald so M and I headed to KFC instead coz it was less crowded. Bought the Zinger Meal to share with M since she wasn’t very hungry and she took the chance to take out her camera from the luggage. After eating, sent her to the information counter to collect maps so that we can use them later the trip.

Gathered at 7:30am and headed out of Incheon Airport to board our coach. It was cool out of the Airport. While I was able to tolerate the temperature, M was not used to it. Fortunately she was wearing her thick sweater. After boarding the coach, Hanna told us that due to some unforeseen circumstances, our Itenary had to be rearranged. So our first stop for the day was to Everland and the journey took about 4.5 hours. M was excited and kept snapping away on her camera. While traveling, Hanna told us about Korea Culture, History, Politics, etc.

Got to Everland, there were already lots of people. The decoration was that of Halloween with lots of pumpkins, scarecrows, etc. Took some photos at the entrance while waiting for Hanna to hand us our tickets, which entitled us for all rides. The staffs were dressed in nice uniforms and many people wore cute headbands on their heads. Followed Hanna for a while to familiarize ourselves with the place before heading to different directions on our own. Was told that we could either take the chairlifts up and down the place or by walking.

Look at the crowd!

Staff wearing nice uniform

The chairlifts

Took the chairlift down and got down at the front of a character shop. M saw the soft toy that some celebrities put on their shoulders while attending variety shows and she wanted one. So decided to go back to the shop later to get it. Followed Hanna for a while more and then we were on our own. Walked around the big open space where the staffs were arranging traditional games, drums, etc. and visitors were allowed to play with the things.

The parade square

Traditional dance hats

Big drum

Went back to the character shop to buy the soft toy and M was very happy. Took the chairlift back up and walked over to the Alpine Horror Village. Went to the petting zoo, saw some cute animals and took photos. M managed to see real hedgehogs at last. There was a very, very, very long queue for the Safari and so we decided to skip that. Saw the T-Express which was a roller coaster ride with a 77 degrees drop, was told the ride would last for 3min and we were contemplating if we should give it a shot. Walked over to the ride and again there was very, very, very long queue. So we decided to skip that as well.

Some pictures of the cute animals :

Saw other rides and finally decided to take the Columbus Adventures: Viking (American Adventure), the one that Dongho from U-Kiss took with his partner in U-Kiss Vampire. While queuing up, we saw the people taking the ride before our turn. The ship swung very high and the people scream while waving their hands in the air. Sat the third last row and M happened to be the one sitting at the edge. The higher the ship swung, the scarier it got and the louder M and I screamed. The little girl who sat on my left wasn’t screaming at all and I felt so paiseh. Still we screamed at the top of our lungs and tried to wave our hands in the air. Only towards the end of the ride, that I turned my head side way to see the surrounding view. Finally the ride stopped, we got down and I was so glad that I survived the ride without wobbly legs. I suggested that we buy each an ice cream cone as a reward. Ate that while walking around, saw the parade and ran towards the area but only managed to catch the end of it.

End of the parade

Explore other areas, took photos and then strolled towards the entrance area. Each of us bought two coin pouches and I bought a handkerchief for sis. Soon it was 2pm and we walked to the meeting point. We thought we were the last to arrive but fortunately the couple was the last instead. Left for lunch and Hanna arranged us to sit with the single lady named Cynthia and the family of three. Left for Yongpyong Resort around 3:30pm and the journey took 2 hours. Took nap on and off while listening to mp3.

Some photos of the rides and garden :

As the resort was on higher ground, the temperature was less than 15 degrees. Though M was not used to this kind of temperature, she was excited still. Got our room key, the lift was small and since our luggage were light, we decided to take the stairs. Took photos of the room, settled down and went out to the café opposite the resort to take some photos. It was said that the café is a film site for Winter Sonata. Then gathered around 6+pm to go out for dinner where we had tofu and fish steamboat.

Returned to the resort about 8+pm, walked around the resort and saw there was an outdoor screening of Avatar. It was below 10 degrees and if we had thicker clothing, we probably would have joined the crowed out there for the movie too. Went to the Family Mart and I bought the banana milk and melon ice cream that Hanna recommended while M bought a cup of coffee that has Lee Min Ho on it and a milk soda ice cream. Headed back to our room to enjoy the drinks and food and rest for the night.

Banana Milk and Melon Ice Cream

Cantata Mocha Java and Milk Soda Ice Cream

Thoughts: Everland was a very nice place with beautiful decorations and fun rides. Just a few hours there were just not enough for us to cover the area. Look forward to visit the place again in the near future on my own with M and explore the place properly. Yongpyong Resort was nice place to stay and I hope to go there for skiing soon.