Buddhist Temple at Mount Sorak

About one and a half hours drive away from Seoul, South Korea, is beautiful laid-back Mount Sorak. This mountain region offers mesmerizing views and numerous hiking treks for the nature lovers, and at the foot of the mountain are various Buddhist temples from centuries of old. Here are some scenic snaps from the foot of the mountain, featuring lush green landscapes, colorful guardian statues (left, third row) and a magical water fountain (right, second row). Be sure to come back next week as we bring you more snaps, this time from the top of Mount Sorak itself!

This post is part of Photo Friday, a Blog Carnival held by Delicious Baby. Check them out for photo-sharing goodness, or take part in the carnival yourself.

The Best of South Korea

You’ve already read about how tasty South Korean food is, but what else is going on in this small peninsula? Quite a lot in fact, a great combination of nature and man-made attractions. Here’s a sampler set of backdrops that are some of the best spots to visit in South Korea.

Gyeongbok Palace. Photo credit - Laszlo Photo.

Seoul (of course)

Seoul is the capital of South Korea and the largest city, so more than likely you’ll find yourself here at some point during your visit. It’s a bustling place, with a raging bar scene (the Koreans are heavy drinkers against most standards) and the metro area is extremely expensive, so if you’re on a budget be forewarned. It’s craziness and massive sprawl is only surpassed by Tokyo; but it’s an experience not to be missed.

The Namdaemun glows impressively at night. Photo credit - Tyler Durden.

The Namdaemun (also known as the Sungnyemun) is a historic gate that was one of Seoul’s most gorgeous structures, particularly striking at night with the backdrop of water fountains and skyscrapers. The neighboring market of the same name is also a great stop to watch the hurried activity of shoppers and browsers. Unfortunately, the gate was nearly destroyed by arson last year – so the gate is looking quite sad and poignant at the moment.

Seoul shopping frenzy. Photo credit - chromogenic1.

If you can’t find what you need in the markets, head for Myeongdong, Seoul’s shopping district. It’s a bit difficult to describe – something akin to Las Vegas, but shops instead of casinos. There are department stores as well as street vendors, so it has a strange mix of options. Needless to say, if you can’t find it here, you probably didn’t look hard enough.

Lastly, don’t miss the “Five Grand Palaces of Seoul”, all of which are fairly easy to access. Gyeongbokgung  is one of the most majestic (even despite restoration still ongoing from WWII damage), but it is said many of the kings of the Joseon Dynasty – who had the palaces built – preferred to spend their time in Changdeokgung.

Jeju Island. Photo credit - don.lee.

Jeju Island

Jeju island (“Jejudo”) off the southwest coast of Korea is a place filled with my mysterious yet wonderful sights. Besides hidden waterfalls and gorgeous coastlines, you’ll find the remains of the volcano which created this island, ruins of Stone Age villages, and spooky stone statues littered about the island. It’s a favorite for honeymooners, especially in the spring and fall when the island’s wildflowers are in bloom.

The island is popular stop, with low cost, frequent air service giving travellers even more reason to stop in. You’ll get the usual island fare of attractions in full supply: endless beaches, picture-postcard waterfalls, striking cliffs, and caves to explore. There are also several museums and theme parks to see. Consider coming in February for the crowded Jeju Fire Festival.

Ganghwa Dolmen. Photo credit - Friars Balsam.

Gochang, Hwasun, and Ganghwa

The areas of Gochang, Hwasun, and Ganghwa are UNESCO protected heritage sites where you can see wonderful examples of “dolmen,” or prehistoric (neolithic) cemeteries. The stone monuments come in a variety of shapes and sizes, ranging from unimpressive to completely bizarre. These are the same structures you’ll find elsewhere in the world, but for some reason here in South Korea they are highly concentrated.

Gochang is the largest and has some of the more unusual displays, but Ganghwa Island, about an hours drive off Seoul, has one of the most important dolmen to South Korean people. The Chamsungdan was believed to be the site where the state of Gojoseon (Modern-day Korea) was first founded in the year 2333 BCE. South Korean people celebrated this every year on the 3rd of October, which is known as Gaecheonjeol, or by the english name of National Foundation Day.

If You Go

Public transport seems to be running pretty well in South Korea; from the expansive subway network in Seoul to the high-speed express trains covering the rest of the country, it is easy to get around quickly. Keep in mind that in many instances you’ll have more than one option (say, train or plane) and in some cases prices range can be different, so consider your options before booking, especially if you’re on a budget and looking to squeeze out an extra Korean won.

South Korea - Seoul Food

South Korean food just so happens to be one of my favorite, right up there along with Japanese food (it’s similar, but different). As such, I was delighted to be trying out all kinds of delicacies on my last visit to Seoul, South Korea. Here are some snaps from my culinary adventures in soulful Seoul!

To start with, here are some street-side snacks easily found all over Seoul. The one on the right is a long wooden stick with pieces of chicken stuck into it. The sweet marinated meat is then grilled to tender perfection and served hot!

On the left is Korean fried rice, with a generous serving of eggs layered into the dish itself. While on the right is a giant bowl of chillies in soy sauce, a common condiment it seems. Fortunately, it looks spicier than it tasted.

Here on the left is one of my favorite meals, other than the grilled meat buffet you’ll find further down. It’s called Bi Bim Bap, loosely translated as Korean Mixed Rice. It’s a serving of meat and various steamed vegetables over rice, with an egg on top of it served on hot-stone bowl. You mix the ingredients together, “cooking” it just the way you like it before eating it right off the hot-stone. On the right is Ginseng Chicken, which you add taste and flavor by pouring alcohol (soju I believe) into it.

And here now is my personal favorite, BBQ meat, or as they call it, Bulgogi. Slices of beef (chicken or pork works as well) are marinated in sweet bulgogi sauce before cooked to suit each person’s taste and eaten with various side dishes.

On the left is how I prefer my Bulgogi, thin slices of meat combined with garlic and a dash of chili (hidden), then wrapped in fresh lettuce. Yumm! Also, Korean meals come with various side dishes such as pictured on the right. Our table is always a beautiful mess!

Finally, something creepy I saw to end this post. Maggots? Larvae? Not too sure. But I stumbled upon them quite often while I was in Korea. Unfortunately, I couldn’t gather enough courage to try them out.

This post is part of Photo Friday, a Blog Carnival held by Delicious Baby. Check them out for photo-sharing goodness, or take part in the carnival yourself.

5 Spiritual Vacations for Miss Lohan

Dearest Miss Lohan. A fellow travel blog zine has recently implied your need of assistance. Apparently, you are heartbroken, broke and out of work. Adding to that, a somewhat complicated relationship problem seems to be on the horizon. As such, I would like to offer you our own suggestion of vacations that would help you heal your soul. After all, Asia has always been a land of mystical and spiritual healing. And down here, your dollar goes a long long way!

Rameswaram, South India. Photo credit - myriadity and technicolorcavalry.

Spiritual Healing in South India

The spirituality of South India is one of colour, symbols, statues, incense, flowers and singing. Stay in inexpensive government-run hostels and do darshan (greet the Gods) in some of the holiest Hindu temples and pilgrimage sites in the region. Even outside the temples, India is a country that reeks with spirituality, from the fragrant garlands hanging in market stalls to the red paste adorning the forehead of men and the smell of burning incense left in offerings to the Gods.

The holy island of Rameswaram is known as one of India’s most venerated and most visited shrines, dedicated to Sri Ramanathaswamy (or Sri Rama for short). Spend some time here to take in the epic story of Ramayana, and learn for yourself the workings of karma. Find your artha (purpose), limit your kama (pleasure or desire) and gain moksha (liberation) by completing your due dharma (duty).

Ayurveda yoga and Beruwelas beach. Photo credit - fabola and DreamwizarD.

Ayurveda Treatment in Sri Lanka

Head towards Sri Lanka for a seaside retreat involving ayurveda, the 5,000 years old Indian healing system whose name translates as “the Science of Life”. You’ll be offered an array of holistic therapies such as herbal oil massages, steam baths and acupuncture, with yoga and meditation. We recommend a thorough purging of the system by incorporating them all into your medication. You need all the help you can get!

Try to enjoy and appreciate the beautiful ocean view as you practice the traditional Hatha Yoga from the resort’s roof top. At 56 km south of Colombo, Beruwela marks the beginning of 130 km stretch of mesmerizing beach for your admiration. Spend a quiet moment of two as you stroll along the beach, a luxury you’ll rarely find in Florida’s packed beaches.

Diving in North Sulawesi. Photo credit - naturemandala and Erwin Kodiat.

Diving in North Sulawesi, Indonesia

With more than 150 dive sites and around 1000 reef fish species, North Sulawesi is a hotspot for avid scuba-divers. The beauty of the marine bio diversity here is unparalleled, one of the best diving spot in the whole world, but that’s not the only reason we recommend this site for you. There are still not much development in North Sulawesi, and it’s very easy to find a quiet island retreat away from the hustle and bustle of the world.

As you forget the stress and pressures of unemployment and impending bankruptcy, mesmerize yourself with one of the most pristine natural areas in the world. Swim with dolphin, sharks, giant turtles and even rare manatees as the local diving team guide you over vivid, unspoiled coral gardens.

Temple stay in South Korea. Photo credit - dailytransit.

Temple Stay in Seoul, South Korea

Seoul, South Korea, offers a variety of temple stay at one of its many Buddhist monasteries. One such place is the Woljeongsa Temple, a 7th century temple located in Pyeongchang County, a few hours east of Seoul. Wake up at 4 in the morning to the sound of moktak – a long, wooden, percussion instrument Buddhist monks use to start their day. Lateness is not acceptable, and will be punished by 3,000 times of bowing for punishment, and a day of fasting for everybody else!

The rigorous pre-dawn ceremony is designed to clear the minds – chanting prayers, standing and then bowing gracefully, repeating it for 108 sequences, symbolizing the 108 worldly desires you need to renounce. Attend Buddhist sermons by the monks, preaching the teachings of Buddha and how you can incorporate them into your life, and spend the remainder of the day helping out with chores, admiring the scenery and meditating in calm contemplation.

Meditate in the silence of nature. Photo credit - felix42 and aimforawesome.

Silent Retreat in Thailand

The idea of a silent retreat is simple. You go somewhere quiet and don’t talk. Not only that, most artificial sounds and distractions – reading, writing, music, caffeine, alcohol and music – are not allowed. The Suan Mokkh Temple in Thailand offers 10 days of silence in which you simply sit there and do nothing but meditate. A senior monk leading the retreat chimes in time to time with teachings to contemplate.

The concept behind this is that our mind is constantly bombarded with distractions and information. It is over-saturated, always thinking about the next thing to do, always contemplating about the past which has happened. The silent retreat is designed to have us confront these distractions, to know these shallow pleasures and let go of them. Only then will you be able to connect with your true self.

The attrition rate for silent retreat are high up at around 25% in the first few days, and usually ending with less that 50% the original attendees. With the constant distractions that’s been bombarding your everyday life, we felt this would be good for you, so try to last till the end will you?

T-Express at the Everland

After showcasing the scenic routes around Christchurch, New Zealand in the past two Photo Fridays, I decided to switch focus elsewhere, less you all get bored with same old same old.

I visited Everland in South Korea late last fall, and the main attraction there was the T-Express, this gigantic wooden roller-coaster. I have to be honest, I’m no coaster expert, so I was very surprised to find out that it was supported with wooden base. Initial thoughts? Not safe! But hey, there are people sitting on it, and they’re either having so much fun, or just scared to death screaming their lungs out. Probably both.

Some stats for the coaster-freaks. Length: 5383’ 10”. Height: 183’ 9”. Drop: 150’ 11”. Inversions: 0. Speed: 64.6 mph. Max Vertical Angle: 77 Degrees.

The ascend towards the first drop was the one final chance you’ve got to say your last prayers. After that, we accelerated and zoom! It was hard to do anything else but scream! Great fun!

This post is part of Photo Friday, a Blog Carnival held by Delicious Baby. Check them out for more photo-sharing goodness, or take part in the carnival yourself!

Locked in Everlasting Love

Locks and love aren’t exactly synonymous. Love after all, was supposed to set you free. But at the N Seoul Tower in Namsan Park, South Korea, you’ll find thousands and thousands of locks symbolizing the love between couples. Unearthing Asia takes a peek behind this unusual tradition that has seen tourists both locals and internationals alike flock the site.

A spectacular night view of Seoul from up at the Seoul Tower. Photo credit - ziczic90

With a spectacular night view of Seoul and a wide range of restaurants, the N Seoul Tower (simplified as just Seoul Tower) is emerging as a hot spot for a growing number of romantics, both young and old. Located in central Seoul in the middle of Namsan Park, the tower reaches 480 meters above sea level, allowing a luxurious view of the entire city and the surrounding areas.

During the weekend, the tower is almost always full with visitors, both locals and tourists alike. Most visitors ride the Namsan cable car up the mountain, and then hike up to the tower. As I made my way up towards the base of the tower, I spotted plenty of couples mixed with various groups large and small. Obviously, it was a popular place for lovers, tho I can’t understand why quite yet – I personally prefer peace and quiet for a romantic date, instead of large crowds and boisterous teenagers.

Inside the Seoul Tower. Photo credit - hyku

The Seoul Tower is actually a communication tower built in 1969, and opened to the public in 1980. At the foot of the tower, there is a plaza with various amenities and facilities. You can find a Food Court, various Multi-Media Show and Media Art installations, as well as a Lobby & Media Zone whose seats were cunningly designed to fit two people just nicely. A great place to relax and enjoy the view.

There is also the Pavilion, a cultural experience space with performances and exhibitions for adults and children. Outside the plaza, the Teddy Bear Museum is always popular with the girls, with cutesy illustrations of Korea’s cultural history.

I eagerly made my way up towards the sky terrace attached to the tower. The air is cool and breezy, with a great open view of Seoul. “This is probably better than the view up at the top, from behind those glass walls,” I thought to myself. The freedom of being out in the open air always excites me, and this was no different.

Because of the large crowd, I had to push my way through to get to the edge of the fences, and thats when I found out why this place was so popular with the romantics.

Thousands of locks adorn the fences on the terrace at Seoul Tower. Photo credit - Jinho.Jung

Thousands of locks adorn the fences, hung by couples both young and old, with the keys thrown away to ensure that the sweethearts’ vows to never separate are kept forever.

Now the idea of a lock as a symbol of love is a double-edged sword. Its a promise and commitment to being together, a vow to never separate. At the same time, it is also the end of freedom, a symbol of being caged in prison for the rest of your life. Fortunately for us, Seoulites has embraced the former much more than the latter.

This idea originated from local tourists a few years ago who saw the same thing at Tokyo Tower. Recently, it’s enjoying a renewal after two stars dated there in a popular reality show. Since then, locals flock the site, and international tourists have similarly embraced this novel idea.

Most of the locks are decorated with writings, drawings and stickers while some cannot even be called locks. Some used chain locks for bikes shaped as hearts, as well as pink and red heart-shaped ribbons on their locks.

The chain fence is in danger of buckling down under the increasing weight. Photo credit - stari4ek

Unfortunately, the chain link fence was not designed to accommodate this extra weight. As more and more locks are left behind, the weight increases and the fences are starting to bend. With the locks filling the whole area, its almost impossible for children to enjoy the surrounding view. Since the tradition includes throwing away the keys to the lock, there is also a danger that other people under the terrace might be hit.

Romantics from all over the world certainly hope that this beautiful tradition can continue, but what can be done to safe the overburdened chain fences? Simply replacing it with a new one may prove to be an unpopular decision with the various couples whose locks adorn the fence. In the mean time however, Seoul Tower’s locks of Love remains a memorable, must-do event for both local and foreign tourists.

Cheonggye Stream - The Heart of Seoul

Cheonggye. The very meaning of the name, “clear creek”, implies a natural clear water flowing through Seoul’s city center. A refreshing breeze of picturesque canopy, it shelters its various inhabitants from the steel glare of modern Seoul.

An abundance of fish glides their way around, among reeds, plants and small stepping stones placed at intervals throughout the stream. Its hard to believe all this exists literally seconds away from the towering skyscrapers of Seoul. Even harder yet to imagine the dry and polluted concrete that lies on top of it a mere five years ago.

During the first half of the century, squatters filled the stream as Seoul’s homeless sought refuge there in makeshift shelters. The stream broke its banks whenever it rained, making the area reek of sewage. In 1968, it was paved over and buried beneath an elevated crosstown highway. By the turn of the century, it had all been dead and buried, forgotten by Seoul’s inhabitants except for one, Lee Myung-Bak, Seoul’s now president of South Korea.

An ambitious project to restore the stream was launched, starting with the concrete flyover - out it went and in came 20 scenic bridges in its place. The stale, stinking water was flushed out and restored. Along with the new water, almost 11km of greenery and wildlife came as well.

Seoulites loved it. The beautiful night lights and natural embrace of the stream serves as an oxygen mask in a city that is quickly outgrowing its capacity to expand. To many, the stream provides a much-needed breath of fresh air, even as the supply to this “oxygen mask” is just as artificial.

The problem is that during spells of dry weather, Cheonggye Stream would be nothing but a cracked stream bed. In order to keep it flowing all year round, water is now pumped from the Han River and from nearby sources. Detractors pointed out that the government has created a faux vision of nature instead of restoring the natural ecosystem here.

Even so, it seems harsh to focus only on these and dismiss the stream as a sham. Follow the windy breeze next to the river and you’ll notice right away how Seoulites have embraced the stream.

Families gathered around Palseokdam – a pond carpeted with various rare stones – to enjoy a breath of fresh air while their children squeals in delight as they spot ducks and cranes. Couples strolled arm in arm, enjoying the refreshing breeze and the occasional jet of water. Colorful murals adorn the walls flanking the stream. Further along, both the stream and its walkway grow wider, and nature truly takes over with an abundance of trees, fish and birds.

Cheonggye’s successes were plenty, and though mistakes were made – both cultural and technical – it shouldn’t detract from its achievement. The government has managed to reclaim an area of natural beauty in the heart of a bustling city, breathing life back into its downtown.