대관령 삼양목장

Samyang Ranch (삼양목장, 三養牧場) is located in the mountainous Daegwalleong in Gangwon Province. I left Seoul at 7am on a Hoenggye-bound bus and arrived at the ranch by noon. I could have arrived much earlier if I have skipped my ramen breakfast at a convenience store and taken a taxi instead of walking. I shall account how I get there in a separate post. As for this post, it will be solely on ranch itself.

Admission fee into the ranch is 7,000won. The counter staff told me not to throw away the ticket as it can be used to redeem for food products. I found out later that it can only be redeemed when purchasing a box of Samyang Ramen (20 packets) worth 10,000won.

The counter staff also informed me that the next shuttle bus to the observation deck is leaving at 12:30pm. The observation deck is the highest point of the ranch which is 1,140m above sea level. Of course, one can choose to walk up and enjoy the view along the way but I didn't see anyone doing that.

As the fully-packed shuttle bus made its way up the winding road to the top, the view outside was so beautiful that I could not wait to get out of the bus. It didn't take too long to get to the top. I was in the open a short while later. Just follow the pictures and captions below and 'walk through' the ranch together with me.

When I saw this sign, I was almost at the ranch. But you probably won't see this sign if you are going to the ranch in a car, taxi or tour bus because it is by the roadside and not at the ranch's entrance. By the way, there is no public bus servicing the ranch and the nearest town.

Track cutting through a field. The ranch's entrance is still quite some distance. However, at this point a row of wind turbines can be seen. I could not hold my excitement. It's so near but yet so far.

I have entered the ranch after paying 7,000won for my ticket. The board on the right shows that this ranch is a popular filming sites for many Korean movies. Advertisement for its own brand of Samyang Ramen is at the bottom of the board.

A full view of the rest area and shuttle bus's waiting and alighting point. An engraved rock is placed at the centre of the area which says, "Mountain is the source of protein." It took me quite a while to make sense of it. The protein here means the protein of cow milk which this ranch produces.

The ranch's resting area or 쉼터

A shuttle bus waiting to depart for the observation deck. Bus leaves at regular interval so there is no worry if you miss any bus because the next bus will depart for the top not too long after.

This row of wind turbines were the first thing which caught my eyes when the bus reached the observation deck. There were many people around at the top and a large group of high school boys on excursion was creating quite a din.

Behind this rock is the observation deck which look out to the East Sea. It is said that Mt. Seorak can also be seen clearly from this point. However, on the day of my visit, thick mist was hanging over the Eastern shore. I could see absolutely nothing which is quite regrettable.

My bus stopped beside this giant wind turbine. This is probably the only wind turbine which I can get very near to. The rest of them could only be viewed from a distance.

Shuttle bus dropping off visitors at the observation deck which is 1,140m above sea level. The dark shadow at the foreground is created by the giant blade of the wind turbine behind me.

High school boys on excursion

A view of the ranch's 'endless' grassland from the top.

Looking at wind turbines in the direction of sun. It seems like that there are hundreds of wind turbines around but the fact is only 53 were installed.

I have decided to walk down the ranch from the top. The track down to the base is about 4.5km which would take more than an hour. Of course, taking the shuttle bus back to the base is possible for people who don't like walking. I think it would be a waste if you can't take your time to enjoy the breathtaking scenery.

A last look at the top before I headed down the slope.

This scenery is real.

Blue sky, white clouds, green grassland and majestic wind turbines. Nothing can be more perfect than this. I like how the wind turbines and the terrains 'interact' to give very interesting scenery.

Exact sites where movie filming took place. I have not watched any of the movie above so I could not associate the scenery I saw with anything.

More pictures of wind turbines and more to come ^^

It was not down slope all the way.

People are like dots when compared to the giant wind turbines.

Do you see a 'special' tree over the other side. It is supposed to be the tree that appeared in the Korean movie "Lover's Concerto" (연애소설). I am on my way there.

Scenery like this, does not look like typical Korea's scenery.

On my way to the tree in "Lover's Concerto". I don't know why I am so excited about seeing the tree up close when I didn't even watch the movie in the first place. By the way, the fence marks the walking track and not to fence off farm animals. I have yet to see any farm animals until this point.

Almost near the tree.

Finally, the tree is right in front of me. Benches are provided around it for tired visitors to rest and enjoy the scenery.

The scenery when looking out from the tree. More wind turbines lining the mountain ridge over the other side.

A model of milk cow at the midway point. However, there is still no milk cow in sight. I have expected to see milk cows all over the grassland since this is a ranch.

Looking down the grassland.

The road leading back to the base. Dust flew whenever a vehicle drove past. As I was thinking why can't they do something about it, a truck drove up the road spraying water onto the dry and dusty road. I was very impressed.

A view that makes me relax. It would be good to live in the ranch for a day or two. The air is so fresh and cooling and the scenery great.

Shuttle bus stop at the midway point. This is the second stop I came across after leaving the observation deck but I am not taking any bus because walking is more enjoying. The temperature is about 24degC but the sun is very strong.

There are vending machines inside the bus stop. The bus stop is very clean and neat, a sign that the ranch is very well managed.

Trying to take some CF pictures for the soda I was drinking. The vast grassland is a very beautiful backdrop for any picture.

Beautiful sceneries seen along my way down.

Finally, the milk cow appeared

Milk cows grazing on a slope. Not many of them around.

Opposite where the cows graze, is the grazing field for the sheeps. Contrary to what was said about sheeps being 'shy', those sheeps which I saw at the ranch were not afraid of people. In fact, the sheep above stood still when it saw that I was taking a picture of it. Another sheep kept following me around the fence in an apparent attempt to get me to feed grass to it.

Like the milk cows, there were not as many sheeps as I thought. What I mean is there are many sheeps but not many enough to make you think that you are in a ranch.

At the ostrich farm. Like the sheeps, the ostriches were also not afraid of people. Two of them 'stared' at me for a long while like they were waiting for me to feed them grass. When they didn't 'see' me doing anything (there wasn't any long grass around the farm which I could pluck), they just walked away.

Can you see what is so special about these two trees?

They are named after Eun-seo and Jun-seo in the Korean drama "Autumn in my Heart" (가을동화). I guess they also appear in the drama.

Finally, after about 2 hours later, I am back at the base. Cosmos by the side of a road (above picture).

As you can see, advertisement of Samyang Ramen is all over the ranch since the ranch is owned by Samyang. This advertisement is on the shuttle bus. Although, I did not buy any box of ramen at the end, I was given a free packet of ramen as a gift at the exit.