Ganghwa island.

Bomunsa temple in Ganghwa island. 

Seoul city tour to Pocheon Herb Island.

Pocheon Herb Island.
It is famous for millions of herbs which give you good smells and good night view in the winter. It is 1.5 hours distance by car. It is getting easier after opening the new freeway.

This is kind of private-owned park with herbs, green house, buildings, restaurant. It has a fresh air because it is located in the small mountain. Take your leisure time here for refresh. Visit more place near by here, ex. Pocheon Art Valley, Sanjeong lake.

You can stroll into the dozens of building to see perfumes, bar(soap), handy craft, and drink coffee like the picture above. Please enjoy the memoraable visit to the Herb Island in Pocheon.

There are "remembrance section" where you can see the miniature street in 1960s 18970s 1980s. This is another unexpected thing to see. Please fall in love with the scene of South Korean Industrial Development Era.


:)

Seoulham battle ship park.

Seoulham battle ship park at Hangang river.
It opened in 2017. It is small section of Han river side park with battle ship, submarine, and high speed war ship.


Hanan riverside park is very famous for Korean picnic. If you are planning to visit Hongdae area I suggest you to visit Hongade and this park together. Hangang was very important military location through the Korean history.

In late 19th century, there were many counties invaded to Joseon dynasty, like France, Cheong(former China), America, Japan. This place was very near at the those place of invasion was happened, because Yanghwa was the "thorough to the palace". Even though these history, Joseon dynasty survived finally and become the top 20 economic volume country.

Just forget the recent history of Korea, you can enjoy the scenery of Han river which is more beautiful in the summer.

:)

Phocheon Art Valley

Art Valley in Pocheon is famous drama location of Lee Min-ho and Ms. Jun Ji-hyun. It was the "Legend of the Blue Sea". 

The small mountain was quarry but during cop the rock it produced dust and made a pollution near by residential area. So finally it cease to crop rocks in 2000s. And not it became like small park with astronomical class hall.

The main section of this Pocheon Art Valley is the picture above. The rocks are all vertical as you can see in this picture so that this scenery makes artificial beauty. And it became looks natural as time goes by. Sometimes there is concert on the small stage near the cliff.

You can see the Sanjeong Lake and Herb Island together with this Art Valley. Please plan to see together these sites if you once to to Pocheon city. 

For more information contact Kevin H. insights.kr@gmail.com or the travel agency www.insightskorea.com

Kakao talk ID: privateguide


:)

Sanjeong Lake in Pocheon city.

The Sanjeong Lake (산정호수). 

The San Jeong means a place at the top of mountain.
The shape of lake is looks like reverse Korean peninsula, it is about 2 hours distance  (about 100 km) by car from Seoul. It is not far distance considering the Korean traffic situations and size of South Korea. It is considered normal distance to drive for leisure.

There are some places to visit together mostly this place a a place the first leader of North Korea, Kim il seong, to have a vacation, like summer house. There are botanical garden, Pocheon Art Valley, Herb Island near by here by half an hour driving.


There are some activities like:
   - peddling boat (duck boat) in summer.
   -  ice sledge, duck trailer, Korean Skate, Tricycle, etc. 
You can enjoy these activity normally in January and February according to the ice thickness. These activities will give you a variety of winter activities. There is also ice-fishing section but it is not much being held during week days, it is normally being held during weekends when there are more visitors.

But this place is normally sightseeing place so that you can enjoy country side views and pampas forest.There are one of famous pampas forest to see in the autumn. The sunshine reflection on pampas is very beautiful. This area is 2 hours away from the lake. But from the lake you can reach this area by enjoying walking through mountain area for hiking which make you enjoy the scenery.



:)

Spring has started in Seoul.

Bongeunsa temple.
Flower has started bloom here. That means flower in other place in Seoul will start to bloom soon.

http://naver.me/5hGBuqUq

Gyeongbokgung Palace.

Please enjoy just pictures in the following link. I will post in English next time.
http://naver.me/xr1ReAS0 

Gyeongbokgung is one of my favorite place to visit. Because it has hustle and bustle but if you walk just 10 minutes you will find a place like this picture. It is amazing place where is the jest 1 minute from Gyeongbokgung subway station, line #3, orange. 

I enjoy this palace as follows: 

one day, walk straight 

the other day, see from left side 

the other day, see from right side 

the other day, in the morning 

the other day, in the evening .................

:) 

Winter in Gyeongbokgung palace.

In the winter every thing is black and cold in South Korea. But it is totally different when it is snow. The snow make everything clean and white, even our mind.

The palace constructed in 1395 and destroyed and rebuilt but the Korean old history runs through  the new buildings. So that why many people comes to this palace every year.

History is more important than materials likewise mind is more important than our body, maybe. 

The beauty of hidden palace, named Changgyeonggung

Autumn scenery of Changgyeonggung palace. You shouldn't miss it if you go Seoul at around October 25.

Some Sevit (=Floating island, Sevit Seom)

Some Sevit is artificial island which is next to the Banpo Bridge where moon light fountain is played.

There are three islands in this Some Sevit. You can enjoy beautiful night scenery of Han river and cafe, restaurant.  You can enjoy the beautiful scenery from out of the islands. It is belong to the Banpo Hangang Park which is south side of Han river and 15 minutes away from Gangnam station.

The lights on the islands change colors ever seconds. It make the islands more beautiful.

People are get together there, have small talks. They go on a picnic when it is hot at night. The cool breeze from the Han river cool you body and your mind. You can take slow deep breath and blow you stress away.

It was part of Hangang Renaissance Project in 2009. The project had been floated, because the way how to operate and economical feasibility. After some difficulties, it was opened finally in October 2014.

:)

Korean Beauty, Pine tree.

Have you thought about what is Korean Beauty?

70% percent of Korean peninsula is mountain. The majority of trees is pine tree.

One of the famous Korean Beauties is Pine tree on the rock. It had survived on the rock enduring the bad weather.
I see almost all people go to the Palace, Insadong, Cheonggyeocheon stream, N Seoul Tower, etc. I highly recommend you to visit one of mountains if you have more than 4 hours in Korea. Because there lots of mountain those will take from 1 hour to 12 hours for trekking.
Even there are many parks in the foot of mountain. All Ajumma(아줌마, married woman who generally have grown-up children and in their forties or over) are there. If you understand Ajumma's style, you are understanding half of Korean culture.

Just forget these things.
Take a deep breath in the any mountain.
These mountains are just near by all of your hotels.
It is very beautiful even though it is not famous. But it is real nature.
let's go back to the nature in the mountain. Jest at the edge of the mountain, it is enough.


Kevin.

Lotus Lantern Festival in Cheonggyeocheon stream.

There are beautiful festivals in South Korea. 

One of them is Lotus Lantern Festival. We can see this festival at the heart of Seoul. In other worlds, you can see this festival at Cheonggyeocheon stream. It falls on normally May 15 or before and after some days. 

Please check the beautiful scenery at Cheonggyeocheon stream, when you visit Seoul. You can see these Lotus Lantern Festival all across the country. Don't be disappointed if you are out of Seoul. There are many Buddhist temples where you can see Lotus Lanterns, for example Bulkuksa temple, Seokguram grotto in Gyeongju etc. 

This festival originated from Silla dynasty(BC57 ~ AD935), and became very popular during Goryo dynasty (AD918 ~ AD1392). It is very popular still in Korea. in case of May 16, 2015 300,000 people participated in the parade of Lotus Lantern festival. 

Cherry blossoms in South Korea.

Cherry blossoms bloom at around 10th of April in Seoul. Many people miss the moment. So I have a suggestion. If you miss cherry blossoms in Seoul, go to Incheon airport (ICN) early. Enjoy the cherry blossoms and check-in at the airlines.

2 hours tour for cherry blossoms will be enough. So you can estimate the arrival time in the air port. It will take 15 minute from the cherry blossoms road(공항북로=북측갑문=North Road of Incheon Airport)  to the airport. 

Tips.
You can also enjoy the last minute at very near port(삼목항=Sammok harbor or 용유도 선착장=Youngyudo harbor).

Night Views in Seoul and provincial.

Here are some Night Views of Seoul and Province.

#1 

#1-1

↑ Naksan Park 

#2

#2-1

↑ Gwanghwamun square 

#3

↑ Samsheong-dong cafe street 

#4 

#4-1

#4-2

↑ N Seoul Tour 

#5 

#5-1

↑ Bukchon Hanok village 

#6

↑ Garden of Morning Calm 

(Gyeonggi-do province) 

#7

#7-1

↑ Anyangcheon riverside
(Spring) 

#8

#8-1

#8-2

↑ Haneulgongwon park 

#9 

↑ Above the one of roads in Seoul 

#10

#10-1

↑ Gwanghwamun square 

#11

↑ Seodaemun (nearby) 

#12

 ＃ Dongnimmun Gate  

#13

#13-1

↑ at Han river (=Hangang) 

#14

↑ Cheongna International City 

(IFEZ : Incheon Free Economic Zone) 

#15

↑ at the Mt. in Seoul 

(Mt. Cheonggyesan) 

#16

#16-1

↑ Jeju island 

#17

#17-1

↑ Cheongna International City




#18

↑ Seongsan Bridge.





#19

↑ Han river





#20

↑ Gwanghwamun square




#21

#21-1

#21-2

↑ jeongdongjin (east coast)






#22

#22-1

↑ Cheongna Central Lake Part in Incheon










#23

↑ Some Sevit (Sevit Seom)
(Artificial island in Han River)







#24

↑ Dongdaemun DDP