Autumn Travelogue: Exploring Cheongok Cave

Still in Kangwondo, there is a natural underground cave that we visited they call Cheongokdong. It's hard to miss as it's located right in the middle of Donghae. They call this a limestone grotto, and is estimated to be about 400-500 million years old. You have to obtain a ticket first before you enter.

At the mouth of the cave, there is a guy that will assist and provide you with hard hats like the ones you could find in construction sites. It's necessary that you wear these hats because the sharp edges of the rocks could hurt your head immensely.

The trail is not steep, you only have to go down the stairs of approximately a hundred steps. After that, the journey would be mostly on level surfaces. The total length of the cave is about 1,400 meters, but part of it remains closed to preserve the diverse community of insects and small animals that lives there. oEut 400 to 500 million years old



Cheongok cave could also be considered as a cave museum. Here they showcase different crystals and interesting stones that were probably unearthed while they were developing the cave.

Enclosed within are beautiful rock formations like calcified limestones, curtained stalactites, mounds of stalagmites, and bizarre looking rocks.

Water seeps down through the ground, and drips through the roof of the cave forming these beautiful stalactites.

When the exposed area beneath the drip forms stalagmites, they sometimes meet to form a column. It takes hundreds, even millions of years to form these.

In some parts of the cave, the formation is still under progress, and it's absolutely necessary that we do not touch these formations as it could discolor them, and inhibit further development. CCTVs are installed basically in every angle, and a huge fine will be given to those who do not follow this rule.

It's colder by several degrees inside, and there is a constant sound of trickling water from the walls and underground springs. I also noticed a very distinct smell (perhaps from the animals that live there) percolating in the air.

It's well-lighted inside, and there is no need for flashlights. In areas where it's dim, they installed safety railings and metal ceilings.

There are parts where you have to squeeze yourself in and bend over in order to pass. In some areas, you have to twist your body and bend your back really low to almost in sitting position (depending on how tall you are). I strained my back and my hips from all the twisting and bending... ^^

Cheongokdong gives visitors a chance to educate themselves with it's different geologic properties, archaeological and cultural importance, as well as providing an interesting study of wildlife in their most mysterious habitat. Not only that, it's also a good way to explore and appreciate the natural wonders God has given us. For these reasons, Cheongok cave is definitely worth a visit.

Autumn Travelogue: Sunrise in Chuam

Daybreak came bringing a kaleidoscope of subtle colors into the skies, hinting a glorious morning. We were sleep-deprived, and barely running on little energy, but we managed to wake up early, eager to see the spectacles of sunrise in Chuam. We visited this place before, but we came an hour too late, so the trip had been uneventful. This time around, Chris wanted to make sure that our next trip is going to be anything like that.

There was a sense of urgency as he drove like a maniac, skidding and swerving as though the timetable for us to get there is incredibly short. But as I predicted, all the hurrying was in vain. We were there early, and had ample time to collect ourselves, and relax as we take in the magnificent view of the sea, the rock formations, and the skies. Everything looked appreciably different from the last time..

The air was cold and moist against my skin, but in a way, it was also refreshing. It was still dark and the only illumination came from the skies.

This was our first glimpse of the sun.

It's amazing how time seemed to have stopped, and with it came a churning jumble of inexplicably good feeling.

As it moves it's way up, high above the horizon, the clouds slowly changed color.

The bright, golden rays settled, basking everything in warm, golden yellow color. It was one rare occasion where I actually enjoyed the warmth of the sun against my skin.

When the sun was at it's peak, and barely visible thru the throngs of cloud, we decided to go. Simple as it may seem, but for us, it was an amazing experience having to witness this kind of thing.

To get to the car, we had to pass a small village. It was still on the early part of the morning, and the villagers seemed to be in slumber, unaware of the herds of photographers and tourists marveling over what has just unfolded. Part of me envies them. They are so blessed for they could see this spectacular phenomenon every waking day of their lives.

Autumn Travelogue: A Day's Catch at Mukho Harbor.

I crave raw seafood like a Japanese, and each visit to a sashimi restaurant has always been a rewarding experience for me. In Korea, restaurants like this are plenty in areas near the sea, ready to give that ultimate fresh, raw seafood fix like no other!

It has been our tradition to eat sashimi whenever we come to Kangwondo, and surely, a visit to one of the restaurants that thrive in the area seems fine, but what's even better is a visit to a Harbor where fishing boats dock, carrying their day's catch. It's a place where you could get the freshest, most delicious seafood at a fraction of the price.

To fulfill our own simple tradition of eating sashimi for dinner while we're at the scenic province of Kangwondo, Chris brought me to Mukho Harbor. We came off the noisy road jammed with pedestrians towards an even more bustling place filled with tourists and locals ogling at buckets and buckets of alive, squirming, and wriggling fish. Apron-clad and boots-wearing vendors warmly call to them in hopes that they would in return, purchase the day's catch.

Sea creatures both alive and carefully preserved on ice are on display. Autumn is the time where the produce is at it's most bountiful, and prices are relatively cheaper compared to other season. One of the biggest seller there is octopus. Koreans love this steamed, as an ingredient for soup, or simply eaten raw. You can't get octopus fresher than these anywhere!

In the distance, we could see the sunlight glint from the sea. Boats were nosily running their motor, slowly heading towards the fishing ground.

Other boats remained stationed at the dock, and fishermen are busy prepping them.

Weather is unpredicatable in this side of the province. The skies could turn from clear blue to gray in a matter of few, short minutes.

We left at sundown carrying the fish and the squid we bought. An ajumma cleaned and sliced it nicely for us, ready to be eaten. We stopped at a local store and bought ssamjang, wrapping lettuce, garlic, and liquor, and we brought everything to the hotel where we spent the night.

Dinner lasted for almost three hours! Of course it included a movie running in the flatscreen, interesting conversation in between mouthfuls of food, and shots of nice cold liquor on the side.

Autumn Travelogue: More from Samyang.

We relentlessly followed the pathway for hours under the heat of the sun. Our cheeks turned crimson, and our arms went a few shades darker as we marvel over the 360 degree view of the vast green field. In a relative short distance, we went through open grass fields, to maple tree covered grounds, and we saw creatures like squirrels, frogs, birds, and butterflies loafing idly in their natural habitat. Due to the spectacular views and the abundant wildlife, there is no shortage of opportunities to take photographs.




I was exhausted, sweaty, and thirsty beyond imaginable. I heard the constant sound of water trickling from a small brook nearby that added to my thirst. We came to see it, but it's not much of a picturesque brook as there were a lot of wild bushes and trees obscuring it. But I'm guessing the ice cold running water is definitely nice to clean up a bit, and cool off from the heat. Deers, sheeps, cows, and other creatures in various shapes and sizes come here to drink. We even saw a snake (hope it's not a poisonous one), but before we were able to take a picture, it crawled towards the bushes.

It took a long while before we saw the first sign of the cows, and I was so excited to see them! It's highly prohibited to enter the grassy area where the cows graze as it could contaminate their food source.

One cow wandered away from the others, and was grazing not far from where I stood. At first he was totally oblivious of my presence, so I was able to take a picture in close range. But as soon as he noticed me, he instinctively moved away.

A few kilometers away from the cows, we saw the sheeps. There were several hundreds of them, chewing on fresh grass and some dried hay.

Unlike the cows, the sheeps don't run away from people. You can feed and touch these adorable sheeps!

I had a similar adventure not so long ago at a sheep farm near Samyang, the only difference is, the sheeps here are much bigger in number.

This stream marks the end of the trail, but our journey didn't end here.

Then came rest... This was our final stop. They sell food and refreshments here.

I was so thirsty so we went straight to the beverage rack, but instead of water, we bought milk. This milk came from the dairy cows they raise at the ranch. It's not mass produced, and the stock is limited to a day's supply. It's the most delicious milk I've ever tasted, and I'm not exagerrating on that. The feel of their cold milk against burning throat is UNBELIEVABLE!!! For those who plan to visit Samyang Ranch, don't miss the opportunity to taste their milk.

Our journey to Samyang officially ended over a delicious cup of instant Ramyeon.

Autumn Travelogue: Samyang Ranch, Sweeter the Second Time Around.

Three seasons ago, we were at the same ranch, enjoying the most beautiful winter scenery we've ever seen. This time around, without the snow and the sub-zero temperature, we got a clearer picture of how truly marvelous this place is. Samyang Ranch is Asia's largest green pasture on a plateau. This vast meadow is where milking cows feed. It's located high above Daegwallyeong, one of the highest and coldest places in South Korea.


The journey to get there is already an adventure itself. The roads are long and tortuously covered in bumps and small rocks, however, the view along the way makes up for the uncomfortable ride. Pine trees perfectly line the road, with rows of beautiful mountains, valleys, and rivers as backdrop. We passed by a small village where houses are built mostly of wood in traditional fashion. There were several farmers, busy tending their rice field that looks sparklingly golden from afar.


We arrived mid-afternoon, and the heat from the sun made the cold temperature bearable. We parked at a gravel-covered ground, next to a bridge. I stopped and took a picture of the stream, the first of the many beautiful sights in Samyang.

We spent a few, good minutes traversing the gravel-covered ground till we saw the entrance marked by some Chinese letters.





While Chris was at the men's room, I was busy exploring the area. I saw this really nice gazebo hidden amongst thick trees.

The ranch stands at 1,470 meters above sea level, and it overlooks the East Sea and the green fields from the West. To get there, we need to take a bus. The bus ride is for free, but some people chose to climb the very steep road to the top on foot!

At the top, vast green fields and gigantic wind turbines await us. The sky is at it's bluest state there, and the wind is chilly and strong. I've never seen a place so wide, so vast, and so beautiful.

From where I sat, I could literally smell the fresh green grass! It's such an awesome treat to see the vast green field that covers the entire area like a thick carpet.

It's understandable why this place is frequented by couples and 'honeymooners'. The air is definitely laced with romance!

They raise plenty of animals inside the ranch but to see them, we had to follow a walking course that lasts for a couple of hours. The walk is awfully long, especially under the intense heat of the mid-afternoon sun, but it's the best way to enjoy the beauty of the grand ranch.




The view from the plateau peaked by giant turbines we saw along the way is spectacular. We didn't mind our aching feet, our sunburnt skin, or the fact that I was so thirsty I could literally drink from the stream where the cows, sheep, and squirrels drink! Chris had to stop me saying there might be a vendo machine hidden somewhere. Like a 3 year old, I believed him, but like most of you could guess, there was really no vendo machine.

A bigger adventure lies on the next part, so stay tune for more!

Celebrations.

As years, months, and seasons pass, we go through a kaleidoscope of crazy and wonderful experiences. These experiences shift and shape us, opening new avenues to help deal with the curve balls that life throws us from time to time.

To commemorate the end of a spectacular summer, and the beginning of yet another colorful season, we embarked on a journey towards the East where the air is perpetually cool, and the sky is at it's clearest, most beautiful shade of blue. This is where the province of Kangwon-do lies. We chose to visit this place for it's unsurpassed beauty and incomparable wonders of nature.

Autumn is our favorite season, and to celebrate the most beautiful time of the year, we wouldn't want to settle for anything less than spectacular.



Join me in yet another travelogue celebrating life, love, and beauty of early Autumn.

Highway Rest Stops in Korea.

We love traveling to distant places, and see the most alluring cities and provinces laced with romance, history, and extraordinary culture. We love seeing ancient historical sites, walk around in museums and parks, or simply explore a small country-side village with picturesque mountains and valleys as backdrop.

But the long drive and tortuous heavy traffic could sometimes be hard to endure, and it's necessary that we visit a rest stop to recharge. In Korea, there are plenty of rest stops along the highway. It has everything from gas station, to supermarket, restaurants, souvenir shops, even tourist information center where you could use the Internet for free!

I enjoy going to rest stops, and one of the things I look forward to whenever we go there is the food. They sell plenty of delicious snacks there. My favorite is the stone roasted squid. I think you could get this for less than 4,000 won.

Rest stops are also a great place to walk around in. Sometimes they have lakes and gardens which at sundown, can turn into a wonderful setting for a romantic stroll.

Rest stops are meant not only for lavatory breaks, getting snacks, and merely taking a few minutes off the road to stretch your tired legs. For some it could mean the beginning of the adventure as it could be entertaining and enjoyable like that of tourist spots. It's definitely worth a visit. Here's Chris getting cozy with two little kittens at some random rest stop we visited on our way to Kangwon province. He had a blast petting and feeding them the squid I bought.^^

Suwon's Finest: The World Cup Stadium.

Suwon is synonymous to two things; Hwaseong Fortress and Suwon World Cup Stadium. I live near both, but the distance of the latter is much closer.

During daytime, the Stadium turns into one busy arena, holding multitude of soccer fanatics. It's the home of Suwon Samsung Bluewings, a popular team in the K-League - Korea's top professional football league. Chris could get free tickets at work if the team has a match, however, both of us couldn't endure sitting and watching a soccer match for long hours (for some reason, it bores us to death ;p). At night it looks even better, so whenever Chris and I feel like going for a late night walk, we head to World Cup Stadium. It looks really cute when the purplish and pink lights are turned on. A lot of people go there to jog and exercise, some people choose to spend time in a random cozy spot and drink coffee. This is how the World Cup Stadium looks like up close.

The Stadium also has park-like amenities and there are tons of things you could do while your there. There are exercise equipments you could use for free, cozy-grassy areas where you could have picnics, and a huge space to jog and do in-line skating. On our most recent visit, we had a picnic there. We ordered chicken (and YES, they deliver EVERYWHERE!), and bought a six-pack beer. We've had one of our most meaningful conversations there. Stars were unusually plenty that night, and I could barely tolerate the crisp autumn air. It was a magical evening, and it's hard to believe that a night as perfect as that, we could get for free. Now I stand by the famous and overused adage "The best things in life are FREE."

If you happen to be in our City, head to the East. Visit the World Cup Stadium, and experience what over a million inhabitants get to enjoy for FREE.

The new 50,000 bill.

The new 50,000 bill began circulating since June of this year. It's currently the highest denomination in Korean money. "Oh-man-won" is predominantly yellow in color, and is slightly bigger than 10,000 won. The figure on the bill is Shin Saim Dang - the first woman to appear on a Korean bank note. Shin Saim Dang is a renowned writer, artist, and a calligrapher. She is also the mother of the famous Confucian scholar Yulgok whose face appears on 5,000 won. Koreans have divided opinion whether she is an excellent choice to be the face of the bill. Some said she is a perfect representation of a dutiful daughter, a devoted wife, and a caring mother, but her traditional ideals are not appropriate for the modern Korean society. But more than the figure on the bill, a bigger controversy lies on the creation of the bill itself (people who think it's disadvantageous comprise the bigger margin). Critics mentioned the negative impact outweighs the good as it can spiral the cost of goods, increase corruption, and encourage excessive spending amongst people.

The new bill looks slightly similar to 5,000 won (especially when you're inebriated), and it takes some time getting used to. Chris learned a valuable lesson in paying closer attention to details when we went to a small supermarket to buy ice cream. He gave the 50,000 bill thinking it was 5,000 won (which was also the total amount of our purchases). We were already inside the car when he realized he made a terrible mistake. But we were fortunate cause when we came back to the store, the owner gave the 45,000 won change without question. The new bill surely has some positive impact, but for many others, the negative exceeds whatever good it has to offer.

A Cute Cafe in Bucheon.

Three weeks ago, I visited Bucheon to meet friend "T". She just moved there from Seoul and was halfway thru arranging stuff in their new pad. We met at Bucheon Station, one of the biggest and busiest station I've ever been to in Korea.

We went looking for a place to eat near the station and we found this really cute Italian cafe. The interiors are amazing! Walls are painted white and the whole place is brimming with cute little plants. There are wooden structures there that serves as division for tables. I love that it's adorned with hanging plants and ferns.






Lights are subtle and easy on the eyes. Flowers are everywhere and cute little lamps provide a more pleasing effect.



The cafe is small and could only accomodate a few number of customers at a time. They also have limited choices in the menu. We ordered a basic Spaghetti in Tomato Sauce and Bolognese.

Food is anything but spectacular, needless to say, the lunch turned out to be disappointing. But we did enjoy the delightful ambiance, which is probably the only reason why people visit this place. Like others, I recommend this place not for the food, but because it gives visitors a visual treat.