Presidential Election in Korea

Today, December 19th, 2012 is the 18th Presidential Election here in Korea. Most companies including mine and my hubby are closed so everyone can vote. I usually sleep late at night so last night we decided to not sleep and vote early but we felt asleep at 4a.m. The election time was 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Because we slept late so we also woke up late. I woke up at noon had lunch and went out to vote. It's so easy to vote here in Korea because everyone has its own Identification Card. Just show your I.D. and voila, you're ready to vote. Here's how to vote. First, show your I.D. and they will give you your voting number. Then proceed to the next line and they will find your name and number and you will be asked to sign. Next, go to the next line and you will be given the paper where the candidates are listed. Then go to the booth and put stamp to the one that you want to vote. It doesn't matter even when you can't read. Just remember the candidates number and put stamp on it. Lastly, insert your paper in the ballot box.

We voted at 2:00p.m. and waited for the countdown on TV. After less than 4 hours, Park Geun Hye confirmed to be the President of South Korea. It's another Korean history because Park Geun Hye is 60 years old and the first woman Korean President.

Goodbye President Lee Myung Bak! Hello to the new Korean President Park Geun Hye! Goodluck!

Picture Source: yonhap news

Beach Hotel in Jeju Island

One of the most important thing to consider when traveling is the accommodation specially in Jeju Island. Jeju Island is also famous for its beautiful beaches so your vacation in Jeju Island is complete if you get a hotel near the beach specially in summer.

This beach hotel is cheap, clean, has a nice view and near one of the most famous beaches in Jeju Island. There are different kinds of room, the double room (double bed room), twin room (two singles room), double twin room (a room with one double bed and a single bed) suite room (a double room with a living room) and the ondol room (korean style room). A Korean style room is a room without bed. You sleep on the floor with some mattresses. I recommend this kind of room if you visit Jeju in winter or cold weather or if you have a baby so you don't need to worry for him/her to fall off on the bed.

Here's the twin room. It is a good room if you are spending the night with your friend.



The double room. This room is good for couple.



The suite room. The living room is separated with the room so it's good for the whole family or for large number of people. Two can sleep in the room and the rest in the living room.





The double twin room. It's good for 3 people.



Here's the aisle.



The bathroom.





The lobby. It's a small lobby. Anyway, it's near the beach so it's better to stay in the veranda of the room or go to the beach rather than to stay in the lobby.



I recommend you to make a reservation to a travel agency than calling directly to the hotel. It's cheaper specially if you are a foreigner. I heard it's because they are giving a lower price to the agencies because they often make reservations to the hotel.

Namhae Beach

Near the Namhae Sports Park is the Namhae Beach. It's just a few minutes walk from Namhae Parking lot. After walking around the park, we went to the beach. We couldn't stay longer because it was too cold but I'm sure it's a great place to visit in the summer. It's near the park and hotel so never forget to visit the beach if you happen to visit Namhae. Here's a picture of the left side of the beach from the Sports park.

On the right side is this sunset. It was already dark when we arrived there so we were so lucky to see the sunset. But we couldn't wait for the sun to disappear because it was getting dark and it was too cold so we left the place and drove to the ferry terminal (that's for my next post).

The beach is not that beautiful. Besides there's a signboard telling that you can't swim in that area. What is great about it is, it's near the sports park and hotel. I just recommend it just in case that you are staying in the hotel or visiting the park.

Namhae Sports Park

We went to Namhae to have oysters but we couldn't find any oysters restaurant so my hubby asked me where's the best place to visit in Namhae. Because my hubby likes sports so I suggested to visit Namhae Sports Park. He was so happy when I mentioned the park. He was so grateful that I reminded him about the park so it was our first destination in Namhae.

I remember this picture. I already posted it here on my last visit to Namhae Sports Park. It looks like the superman who helped a guy.

This nude lady is so cute. She looks innocent with wonderful poise.

Too bad that the park is under renovation. The baseball stadium is messed up unlike before that there were even players playing. But the park will look great when it's done because I saw that the workers work hard and there are lots of new things to expect for. My hubby said he would probably go back there after winter.

The stadium and some area of the park are messy but the beauty of it still remains specially the beautiful view.

There's also a big hotel at the park so you don't need to worry for your accommodation just in case that you wanna stay there for a night. The hotel has also a beautiful view of the sea.

Namhae Daegyo

My hubby wanted to eat oysters so he invited me to go to Namhae. He remembered the last time that we visited Namhae, we had oysters in a restaurant. They were very cheap so now that he's craving for oysters, he suddenly thought of going to Namhae. Besides, it's also the best time to refresh and get some fresh air because winter is just around the corner so it's getting colder and colder everyday.

Our plan was to leave home in the morning but we got up at noon, had lunch and left at 1:30 P.M. so it was almost dark when we arrived there. We almost lose our way because we forgot to bring our navigation but luckily we reached before dark.

When we were in Hadong, which is the close town in Namhae, I told hubby that there is a bridge to Namhae. He said we've been to several places in Korea and I have a good memory to remember the bridge in Namhae.

This is the bridge that I was talking about. The Namhae Daegyo or Namhae Bridge. I didn't know that it's one of the most famous landmark in Namhae.

My hubby said that Namhae is as Island and the bridge is made so people can go to the mainland easily. Passing the bridge means we have now reach Namhae. Cool!

It's a long bridge and the view is so wonderful because of the water and village seen from it.

Jangseong Forest

We went for a drive again and we happened to see this forest in Jangseong. Actually it wasn't our intention to visit a forest. While driving we saw a signboard going to the campsite but we couldn't find it so when we saw a forest, we stopped by, got out of the car and took a walk, instead.

Here's the forest.

The trees are too high and it's a great place to get some fresh air and for a walk. I think it's just close to the campsite because we saw the sign again on the left side of the forest but the path is too narrow so my hubby doesn't want to go that way because he's afraid that his new car would get some scratches. We also saw some tents that are set in the street. I guess, those campers lost their way or didn't like the path either.

Anyway, here's another beautiful picture of the forest.

Btw, on our way home, near to the forest, there are also some new guesthouses, just in case that you don't have or don't want to stay on a tent.

Naju Seungchonbo

We like going for a drive and last weekend we went driving through Naju and the wheels brought us to Naju Seungchonbo. I've been to Naju several times but never been to this new project of the Korean President Lee Myung Bak, the Naju Seungchonbo.

Naju Seungchonbo is a river. It is Yeongsan gang or Yeongsan river. Yeonsan gang or river begins at Yongchu Valley in Yongyeon-ri, Yong-myeon, Damyang-gun. The stream that runs through the valley of Gamagol within four kilometers of Chuwolsan Mountain in Damyang is also called Yongso. The stream expands into Damyang Lake continuing its flow to Wolgyecheon Stream, Jiseokcheon Stream, and Yeongsan Lake. It makes its way to Mokpo and flows into the Yellow Sea past the Yeongsan Bank. The river is 138.75 kilometers long. It is one of the four major rivers in Korea beginning and ending in the Southern state and is a precious source of water in the region.

It's not only the dam or river that gives beauty to Seungchonbo but also the park. Near the bridge is the park with museum inside. You go up to the porch and you'll see the nice view of Naju.

Here's the beauty of the Naju Seungchonbo from the top view.

There's also an art museum inside. There are lots of art but I think this is what I like the best. It's like broken glasses or crystal and it looks different if you use the light.

If you're planning to visit Naju Seungchonbo, it's in 769-1, Singa-ri, Geumcheon-myeon, Naju-si, Jeollanam-do.

Jeju Dongmun Wet Market

One of the most interesting thing to do when travelling is to visit the markets specially when you travel out of the country. The reason is to know what people eat in that country, city or area if you just visit the other town. So, if you visit Jeju Island or Jejudo, don't forget to visit Jeju Dongmun Market. It is where you see different kinds of food specially seafoods.



It's the best place if you're looking for sea foods as presents to bring home for the family if you're just living in another city.





It's also fun to see how the vendors clean and cut to sell the rawfish. Here's one.



It's fun to see how fast they do it but it's also heartbreaking because the fish look pitiful.



But they also look yummy after that heartbreaking feeling. hehe..



If you can't eat raw fish, there are also restaurants inside where they serve different kinds of menu. Me and my hubby were craving for teokpokki, sundae and mandu so we went inside the small restaurant that we saw inside the market and had some. There were so many customers but we weren't satisfied with the food. It's just the same restaurant in Jejudo Island where they serve you and say goodbye. I mean it's not delicious and they don't care about it because they know that you are a traveler and will never come back again.



Well, if you visit Jejudo, it's better to eat raw than going to the restaurant where you will just feel upset and disappointed because of the food.

Jangseong Confucian Temple

My hubby bought a new car so we had to break-in the car. My hubby just drove the car without nowhere to go so the wheels took us to Jangseong. We drove around Jangseong and when my hubby saw a small road in the county where there were some rice planted in the farm, he directed the road and we happened to reach the Jangseong Hyanggyo.

Jangseong Hyanggyo or Confucian Temple in Jangseong is a national school established in local districts to teach Confucianism. This school was first established in Osan-ri in the 3rd year of King Taejo (1394), but it was merged with Jinwon Hyanggyo before it was relocated in the 33rd year of King Seonjo (1600). Then, Ipam Mountain Fortress was built as a tactic of the expansion of armaments in the 9th year of King Hyojong (1658) and the status of Jangseong-hyeon was promoted to Dohobu. Later the school was relocated at Jangseong-gun, Jangseong-eup Seongsan-ri 110. There remain the tablet hall, a lecture hall, gates, a school office and other minor structures. Hama monument is erected outside Oesam Gate. This compound follows the typical arrangement of traditional schools with the academy facing the front and a shrine at the back.

Sandwich Day!

I'm back! After a few months, here I am again back to the blogging world. I really miss updating here on my blog. I was just busy for the past few months. Hang on there fellows, I've got lots of things to share after the long vacation that I had here on my blog. But first of all, I just want to update my blog for now. I just feel good because it's Friday tomorrow and "Chuseok" or Korean Thanksgiving Day is coming. So there's no work from Saturday to Wednesday. Actually Chuseok is on Sunday and after Chuseok is always holiday to give prior to the people who visit their relatives to far places. So Monday is also a holiday. Tuesday is not a holiday but it's a sandwich day because Wednesday is another holiday, it's the National Foundation Day. Instead of working on Tuesday, most of companies, schools, etc. are having a holiday from Saturday-Wednesday.

Ahhhh, it's really good to have a long vacation. Thanks to Sandwich Day!

The Best Place

We've been to Canada a few months ago and we like it a lot. My hubby wants to live there someday. It was my hubby's third time in Canada and Calgary is the best place for him so he's thinking of living there someday if he can get a chance. We visited some real estate agencies when we were there and asked about the prices of some houses just in case that we immigrate there. And I think Calgary Realtors can help us fine the best one.

I heard a lot about the Calgary real estate and I'm sure that it can help us get the right place specially in a place that we are not familiar with, yet.

I think it's time to choose the best Calgary Realtor now. I can't wait to see and live in a place that we like the most. After travelling for many times, we finally found the best place to live on. But we can make it through the help of Realtors in Calgary, of course.

Jeju City Traditional 5 Day Market

Jeju Oh Il Sijang or Jeju Traditional Five Days Market is one of the best place to visit if you are travelling in Jeju. You won't miss it because there's a sign going to the market.



One of the most exciting things to do when travelling is to visit the markets to learn and see the countries culture and what people eat. At first I wasn't interested in going to the market when we travel. I thought it wasn't fun at all but I realized it's the best and most interesting thing to do when travelling. You can see lots of unique stuffs and there are different kinds of food to try.



Although Jejudo is just a part of Korea, I couldn't eat different kinds of food because we lived near the beach where there aren't lots of restaurants that serve delicious food specially street food. Because Jeju is a place for tourists most restaurants don't serve as delicious as in the mainland. They are the kind of restaurants that say hello, eat here and goodbye! Which means you can't come back here anymore so I don't care if it's delicious or not. Goodbye!

So before we left Jeju we decided to visit Oh il sijang. "Oh" (means five) "il" (day) "sijang" (market) to eat snacks or street food that most koreans enjoy. We had hotteok and odeng here. I also bought corn on the next store.



We had tuikkim or fried octopus here. It's delicious and cheap.





Doesn't it look yummy?



Jeju Traditional Market has everything. There are pet animals



Plants and Flowers



Grains



Clothes, etc..