신안 튤립 축제

When I saw a picture of windmills and tulips, I told myself I have to go there and went I did. The icons of the Netherlands can be found in Korea at Shinan County (신안군, 新安郡), Imja Island (임자도, 荏子島). Shinan County is the "hometown" of islands and well-known for its skates (cartilaginous fish), sea salt (천일염, 天日鹽) and tulips. But tulip alone was enough to make me embarked on the long trip from Seoul to South Jeolla Province to witness once-a-year spectacle of spring. To me, it was once-a-lifetime experience. As I was preparing this posting for publishing, I could still feel my excitement.

A tulip garden or dreamland. Spring has never been so colorful and sweet scented. 

Scarlet tulips adorned the side of the road to the entrance. 튤립을 보자마자 기분이 업업업ㅋ

More teasers before the grand spectacle. 이제 흥분이 가라앉지 않았다.

A big windmill welcomed visitors at the entrance. It served both as an observation deck and a gallery.

Photozone in front of the big windmill 

Even restrooms are made to look like windmills

Tulip field with different species of tulip planted in neat columns

Tulips made of glass. Regardless real or glass tulips, they are all fragile.

Banner: Flowers bloom by white sandy beach at Imja Island, Shinan County!

Finally, windmills and tulips, the view I have been dreaming of.

Two days of rain had battered the tulips quite a bit but the view was still beautiful

The air at the field was lightly scented by the thousands of tulip flowers around but picture can't tell.

There were so many tulips I have probably seen my lifetime's share of them.

So beautiful that I forgot how to stop taking pictures

The observation tower provides exhilarating view of the tulip field and the surrounding sea

A bird's eye view of the main tulip field. There are more than 30 concentric rings of flowers. 대단하시네요.

숲에 들어가면 숲을 볼 수가 없다. 꽃밭에 들어가면 꽃밭도 못 본다.

세상에 알록달록 꽃보다 더 아름다운 게 있다. 그 건 50년이 지나가도 변하지 않는 사랑.

Looking out at the Yellow Sea from the observation tower

The design of the tulip field may change every few years. The design this year was a giant tulip.

A field of golden canola flowers and tulips where you can experience riding on horseback.

Even though it's not the real thing, I can't resist a closer look.

Kissing triggers release of feel-good chemicals like serotonin, dopamine and oxytocin. Being among flowers probably has the same effect. Is it any wonder love and flowers are a good match.

More tulips by the waterside garden and beyond

Slope almost covered in a hue of purple. Visitors were jostling for space to take pictures at the foreground..

Even the gazebo was painstakingly decorated with small baskets of pansies. A lot of hard work has been put in.

A cartload of tulips and pansies

Taeguk Tulip Field

A confirmation shot that this is Korea and not the Netherlands

The visit ended with a walk in the canola field. Another dream realized.

충장로 - 광주

Gwangju (광주, 光州) is the provincial capital of South Jeolla Province (전라남도, 全羅南道), a metropolitan city where the Conservatives can never win an election, a once neglected child of regionalism politics and the birthplace of Korea's democratization movement.

I was back at U-Square Gwangju bus terminal again after 3.5 hours bus ride from Seoul. Gwangju serves as a convenient base for one to explore the South Jeolla Province. In the evening on my arrival day, I visited Chungjangno Street (충장로, 忠壯路). A short description of the place would be it's the "Myeongdong" of Gwangju but less vibrant. That's because there's no throng of tourists to fill the street like Myeongdong. "Chungjang" is actually a posthumous title conferred on a locally born general who led a volunteer army against the invaders during the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592.

In my opinion, pictures of Myeongdong and Chungjangno don't differ much. This walking street can be reached by taking Exit 3 of 문화전당약 (Culture Complex Station), Gwangju Subway Line 1.

밤빛

I like to take a walk in Samcheong-dong at night for a reason; the light emanating from the shops along the street is alluring. The place never fails to impress me and that's why I keep going back whenever I'm in Seoul. However, there was one thing that constantly gave me headache - taking pictures of light at night. They are either overexposed or underexposed.

Bikes are part of shop frontage, not mean of transportation

The door is wide open to welcome you

Shoes under spotlight. Totally can't miss them.

I like the contrast of bright shop and dark street

The iconic building of Samcheong-dong

My attention was drawn from the street into the shop by the light.

추억쟁이

Visiting Kyunghee campus is a like a "pilgrimage" for me. Afterall, it's the place where most of my memories of Korea were made. Although many years have elapsed since I completed my study, my affection for the place has not waned. While the campus has not changed much, one of my 단골집 (frequently visited eating house) in Hoegi-dong has since changed hand. Feeling a sense of loss was inevitable but at least I could still have cheese 'galbi' rice as comfort.

Those familiar buildings, fountain and trees

Those stone lions, warm sunshine and spring spirit

A touch of Europe in one of the Hoegi-dong's alleys which I frequently used as shortcut

My favourite Omurice house has been taken over by Sulbing, sad.

The chicken steak house was under renovation. I couldn't have my favourite chicken steak set.

Fortunately, there was cheese "galbi" rice to relieve my nostalgia pang

제이드 가든의 봄

The cherry blossom season was over but I was not a bit disappointed. One flower doesn't make spring. You also cannot stop spring from coming by removing all the flowers.

My first destination in spring was Jade Garden, located five train stops before Chuncheon Station on the Gyeongchun line (경춘선). The train ride to Gulbongsan Station (굴봉산역) from Sangbong Station (상봉역) took about an hour. Sangbong Station is the main station in Seoul where you can change to the Gyeongchun line.

The Jade Garden's shuttle bus stop is located just outside Gulbongsan Station. Although there is a bus schedule but the operator is quite dynamic in their transport arrangement. So long as a queue builds up at the stop, the shuttle bus will operate outside its scheduled timing to move the crowd quickly. Private vehicles may also be activated to ferry visitors.

The shuttle bus ride took less than 10 minutes. After purchasing an entrance ticket for 8,500won, I was ready to explore the little "European garden" in the forest of Chuncheon. Jade Garden is not as big as the Garden of Morning Calm but is big enough to give you good workout. From the entrance to the end, you will move from low to high ground. Two hours are probably enough to have a good look of the garden.

The entrance of Jade Garden with its European-styled facade

I think the most beautiful part of the garden is the entrance area

Gardeners tending the lawn at the Italian Garden. It would be nice if the water fountains were working

.

Moving on to higher ground. More and more greenery come into my view.

The freshness of spring is best felt by talking a walk in a garden

A reminder that cherry blossom season is all but over

The Water Garden

Cottage Garden - mid-point rest area. Drinks and snacks are sold at the little "cottage"

Waterfall Garden

Picnic in the garden

Exploring the Rhododendron Garden but the flowers were only starting to bloom

Moving on to higher and higher ground where air is much fresher and view better.

Classy daffodils lining the hill slope

Sunberry - snack and blue berry bar at Wedding Garden. The last rest place before turning back

Closed? It can't be, I need a ice-blended mocha. Sunlight was plentiful and I was perspiring despite the cool air

On the return route. Resting beside the water fountain in the Cottage Garden

Mid-noon sun beaming down strongly on a cloudless day

Posters of four not-so-recent dramas and movies which have used Jade Garden as filming site

On my way to exit the garden

How to get there?

To get to Jade Garden, take the Gyeongchun line train (above) from Sangbong to Gulbongsan Station and then take the Jade Garden's shuttle bus.

Gulbongsan Station, not a very busy station

Shuttle bus leaving Gulbongsan Station for Jade Garden

Shuttle Bus Operating Time. The 1st column shows the departure time from Jade Garden. The 2nd column, the departure time from Gulbongsan Station. Note: during weekday, bus does not depart at 12:45pm from the station. It will only depart at that timing during weekend and public holiday. Also important to note, the bus operating time will vary according to situation. 

빙수의 천국

The "bingsu culture" in Korea has made some good evolutionary changes in the last few years. It used to be red bean bingsu or yogurt bingsu, but these days there are much more choices to choose from. Flavours like injeolmi (인절미), chocolate, strawberry, mango, blueberry and cheesecake are making bingsu much more appealing than ever. However, bingsu indulgence doesn't come cheap, it's average price 10,000won. What I like about Korea's bingsu is they don't just look nice, I always got a sense of satisfaction after every round because of the generous amount of fruits chunks and cheesecake added. Some also comes with calorie-loaded goodness like ice cream or sherbet topping. Personally, bingsu by Cafe Droptop is top in my list and Sulbing is second. Also worth a mention is bingsu by Twosome Place, it comes with a slice of nice cheesecake and a free cup of americano.

자몽베리 빙수 Grapefruit Berry Cake (Twosome Place)

팥빙수 Red Bean Sherbet (Dal.komm Coffee)

베리베리 아이스탑 Very Berry Icetop (Cafe Droptop)

블루베리 치즈설빙 Blueberry Cheesecake (Sulbing)

프리미엄 망고코코설빙 Premium Mango Coco (Sulbing)

프리미엄 생딸기설빙 Premium Fresh Strawberry (Sulbing)

유쾌한 이별

When I came it was spring, when I left it's summer. While, it's not really summer yet but the weather was not quite different from it for the last one week. I lost count the number of times I visited Korea. What I intend to do during my stay changes over time. Compare to my earlier trips, I am no longer one who will wake up early in the morning and come back late at night just so that I could cover as many places as possible. These days, I slept to my heart's content and returned to accommodation early. Sightseeing is no longer important, living life is. I am quite satisfied just enjoying the cool weather during spring.

철쭉꽃 피는 오월

Rhododendrons are blooming. People are everywhere enjoying the gift of spring. How did I miss so much when studying in Korea?

It's a holiday today but the street demonstrators were not resting. I found myself caught inside the ring fence set up by the riot police around Anguk to obstruct the planned march to the Blue House. Caught in such situation, my advice is to stay calm and follow the locals to get out.

꿈꾸는 삶

Are you dreaming today?
Dream of being out at a garden during spring, surrounded by plentiful sunshine, beautiful flowers and vast greenery. You won't feel like going home.