한국의 최동쪽 - 호미곶

The most eastern end of Korea, if you exclude the islands, is a place called Homigot (호미곶, 虎尾串). "Homi" means tiger's tail. If you look at the map of Korea, the shape of Homigot looks just like a tail and hence its name.

The New Millennium Memorial Hall (새천년기념관, 新千年纪念馆），the Homigot Sunrise Square (호미곶 해맞이광장) and the "Hands" sculpture (相生의 손) were built to welcome the new millennium.

"相生의 손" comprises the "Right Hand" (sea) and the "Left Hand" (land) facing one another. The 8-metre tall untouchable "Right Hand " with its strong and spread-out fingers symbolizes sunlight or the "yang" energy. The 3-metre tall touchable "Left Hand" in a receiving disposition, depicts the stable and accommodating nature of "yin". Together, they portray the harmony of "yin-yang" and the image of the new millennium.

The "Right Hand"

The strong and spread-out fingers of the "Right Hand" symbolizes the "yang" energy - sunlight

I have concluded that Homigot was the most beautiful place I visited in this trip. Standing at the observation deck of the New Millennium Memorial Hall, the exhilarating view of the Sunrise Square and the East Sea was worth all the troubles getting there. Spring can be beautiful without flowers.

Homigot Sunrise Square (호미곶 해맞이광장) from the top of New Millennium Memorial Hall

Homigot Lighthouse (호미곶 등대)

The "Left Hand" in a receiving disposition

Till the end, hand in hand

Seabirds and the "Right Hand"

The East Sea

An evening of fishing at Homigot

영일대해수욕장

Yeongildae Beach (영일대해수욕장, 迎日臺海水浴場) was open in 1975. Initially, it was called the Northern Beach (북부해수욕장, 北部海水浴場), a rather uninspiring name. It was renamed Yeongildae Beach on June 2013 in conjunction with the opening of the Korea's first floating pavilion on sea - Yeongildae (영일대, 迎日臺).

The white sandy beach， located at North Gyeongsang Province, Pohang, North District, Duho-dong (경상북도 포항시 북구 두호동, 慶尙北道 浦項市 北区 斗湖洞)，is about 1.7km long with a width between 40 and 70cm. Its main facilities include Yeongil Pavilion and a high-rise fountain. The Yeongil Pavilion stretches out 100m seaward into Yeongil Bay (영일만, 迎日灣). The high-rise fountain is capable of blasting water up to a height of 120m. The Pohang Fireworks Festival and Pohang Bada International Performing Arts Festival are the major events held annually at the beach.

To get there, take bus 105 or 200 at the bus stop opposite of Pohang (bus) Terminal. The bus ride is about 20 minutes and T-money is accepted. Alight at "롯데아파드" bus stop and walk towards the beach. You should be somewhere middle of the beach.

Just a recommendation, when in Pohang, you should try its garlic chicken (마늘통닭). With generous amount of garlic bits used to cook the dish, it's tongue-numbing good.

Yeongildae Beach

Yeongil Bay

General holds a writing brush and book instead of sword, serves to remind people of the importance to have a good and correct understanding of Korea's history.

Sun setting at Yeongildae Beach

Nightfall at Yeongildae Beach

Night fell at Yeongildae, lights up at POSCO

POSCO (Pohang Iron and Steel Company) lit up like a amusement park

Pohang's garlic chicken with tongue numbing goodness

영일하러 가자

To watch sunrise at Yeongil Pavilion (영일대，迎日臺), I have to pull myself out of bed at 5am. Sunrise was expected at 5:30am. There wasn't anybody at the pavilion, so there was no need to jostle for a good spot. The time for sunrise arrived but the sun was nowhere in sight. I left Yeongil Pavilion a little disappointed, but about 25 minutes past sunrise, the sun shyly revealed its face from behind the hilltop. Another day has began and it's a little different from yesterday.

Time before sunrise, the sky turned purple at Yeongil Bay

At time of sunrise, the sun has risen but hidden somewhere

Yeongil Bay was still asleep

Fishing vessel leaving port on a calm sea day

Leaving Yeongil Pavilion with a little disappointment

The sky was getting brighter and then suddenly...

... Sunrise! The sun slowly rose up from behind the hilltop

해상누각 - 영일대

Yeongil Pavilion (영일대，迎日臺）sit on Yeongil Bay of Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province with POSCO (the pride of Korea's iron and steel industry) as its background. Officially open on July 2013, it was the first floating pavilion in Korea that was built on sea. "Yeongil" literally means to receive sunrise and I was quite sure I would be "receiving" sunrise the next morning at Yeongil Pavilion.

(Click to see larger image for all the pictures)

진주성

The night I arrived at Jinju (진주, 晋洲) from Gwangju, the first thing that caught my eyes was the Jinju Fortress (진주성, 晋洲城) and its reflection on Nam River (남강, 南江). It was quite a scenery especially when viewed from the Jinju Bridge.

The Jinju Fortress is a symbol of the city and CNN recommended it as one of the fifty places in Korea tourists should visit. How do I know? Because the information was printed on the entrance ticket which cost 2,000won.

The main attractions of the fortress are the Chokseok Pavilion (촉석루, 矗石樓) and the "Righteous" Rock (의암, 義巖). Chokseok Pavilion got its name from the soaring stone peaks around it. The breathtaking view of the pavilion and its surroundings made it one of the two most famous pavilions (the other in Pyongyang) in Korea. It is also praised by many poets and artists in their works. The "Righteous" Rock was named in remembrance of a patriotic gisaeng (female professional entertainer) by the name of Non-gae (논개) who jumped off from it dragging a Japanese commander along with her into the depth of Nam River during the Japanese invasion of Korea (1592-1598).

Jinju Fortress probably doesn't look as scenic as it used to be in the olden days as the area around it is highly developed, but I still found it a very nice place to learn a bit of Korea's history and enjoy the scent of spring. It is quite convenient to get to Jinju Fortress. It is located about 200-300 metres from Jinju Inter-city Bus Terminal.

Jinju Fortress and its reflection on Nam River

Jinju Fortress's main gate - Chokseokmun  (진주성 촉석문, 晋洲城 矗石門)

Lantern of dragon warrior in front of Chokseokmun

The 12 zodiac warriors

The gate is open without sentry but that doesn't mean entry is free. Entrance fee 2,000won.

Every time I enter a gate, I like to raise my head and look at the decorative painting of dragons.

Inside of the fortress

A prominent Commander-In-Chief's flag

Chokseok Pavilion (촉석루, 矗石樓) facing the Nam River

Shoes are neatly arranged on the steps of Chokseok Pavilion

Full view of Chokseok Pavilion, not very big though.

Underneath the pavilion

Spring flower - Purple Magnolia

Spring flower - Rhododendron

Spring flower - Peony

The "Righteous" Rock (의암, 義巖) - where Non-gae dragged a Japanese commander down with her into Nam River.

Like a picture out of a water color painting

Nam River, a tributary of Nakdong River, flows through the city of Jinju

More spring flowers along the way

Spring in the fortress

A relax pace of life

Exiting the fortress by the main gate

Walking along Nam River towards Jinju Inter-city Bus Terminal. Jinju Bridge at far end.

I thought Jinju is famous for its  bibimbap but all I saw was eateries specializing in eel dishes

End of walk. Going up the slope on the left to get to the bus terminal.