Bamboo Forest in Damyang Jeollanamdo

When was the last time that I came here? That was several years ago no wonder why I saw many changes in the forest. It has improved a lot since I last went there. Although the bamboos are still the same, but the totem poles have increased in number.

Also these camping area looks more peaceful. Unlike before that it looks dirty and wasn't as eye-catching as now.

This area has also developed a lot. I think I saw this on a scene in Korean movie or drama. It looks familiar.

It's also my first time to see these plastic windmills. Never mind my hubby's umbrella on the upper left. It was raining when we went there with our friends.

I think it's the cutest totem pole in the forest.

Have I seen these statues before? I don't think so. But the mermaid looks very old. It's like a ghost. It scared me. Really!

It looks like old and dried dead mermaid in the forest that becomes real at night. Oooppss...

This hut looks scary, too. It seems like a ghost appears at night or maybe the mermaid lives here. Aahhh... My imagination is killing me again. Anyway, it looks scary but it is used in making films. Who knows that your favorite actor or actress stayed here. hehehe...

Yes, lots of movies and dramas were filmed in Damyang Bamboo Forest. Here are some pictures of the scenes.

Celebrated Korean Chuseok

A few days ago, we celebrated Korean Thanksgiving Day which is called Chuseok in Korean. It was last Tuesday but before and after the celebration are also holidays. Chuseok always have a 3-day vacation. Before, during, and after! I think they consider the people who go to their hometown because it's the time for the family to get-together. We usually go to my in-law's house on Chuseok but this year, it's opposite. My in-laws came to our house.

Although we had visitors, I didn't get tired preparing food or anything. My mother in law prepared everything. I just helped her a little and she did most of the cooking. She prepared a lot that it's hard to put everything in our huge refrigerator. There's also a kimchi-refrigerator but it's also full. Some soup and side dishes were rotten so lots of foods were thrown-out. It's my mother in law's style. She always makes too much!

My mother in law was too excited to prepare a lot of food but when our visitors (my brother and sister-in-laws with their family) came, they didn't want to eat anything. They just wanted to have chicken and beer that's why until now we are eating the main dishes and side dishes that she prepared. They didn't want to have meal when they came. Beer and alcohol with finger foods like chicken are the best during the occasion in Korea. We had meal together once but that wasn't enough to eat everything. Actually, they wanted to go out to have meal because my brother in law wanted to treat everyone at the good restaurant but my mother-in-law rejected it because she prepared a lot. She said why did we have go out when there's a lot of food to eat? So my hubby told her not to prepare too much next time.

Our friends also visited us but they only had fruits. We were insisting them to have lunch because we had lots of food but they said they have just had lunch. After having fruits and chatting, we decided to go to coffee shop and have patbingsu (Korean sherbet).

Well, my in-laws left last Tuesday and my hubby said that it's really good to be home with me alone. It's relaxing and he could taste the food well without the kids (nephew and niece).

Early Bird Korean Mother In Law

Korean mother-in-laws get up so early. It's the reason why we can't live with my mother in law because she gets up too early but me and my hubby sleep late. My mother in law is an early bird but we are night owls. Last night, my mother in law sent me a text at 2:00 a.m. She asked if we were still awake so I called her. She said she has just got up but we were still awake. She was telling us to sleep early but we can't. It's not easy to sleep early when we always get up late. We get up so late so we also sleep late. But my mother in law sleep so early that's why she gets up early. She sleeps around 9:00p.m. and gets up around 3:00-5:00 a.m. In our case, we usually sleep around 5:00 a.m. and get up at noon and sometimes 2:00 p.m.

Most mother in laws are like my mother in law. They sleep early and get up so early. I heard from my students who live with their grandparents said the same thing. Some of them even complain because they can't make any noise at night. Also, they are force to sleep early because of their sleeping grandparents. They also complain that their grandparents wake up so early and clean the house so they make noise in the morning. I understand how they feel because when we sleep in my mother in law's house she makes noise so my hubby hugs me and covers my ears in order not to hear her noises. I could hear her cooking, cleaning the house and doing the dishes.

Korean mother-in-laws are early birds so if you're living with them, you will be forced to get up early, too because there are mother-in-laws who want their daughter-in-laws to get up early so that they can help them with the household chores.

Want To Marry a Korean Guy?

My father in law asked me to find a Philippine woman to get married a korean guy. He said, find someone who's as kind as me (I was happy to hear that but would be happier if he said as pretty as me ^-^). The guy is over 40 years old. I was willing to find a Filipina when my father in law said that the guy was his nephew (his sister's son) and my hubby's cousin. Later on, I found out that the guy is a farmer living in the countryside. My husband is against it. He said the filipina will be very pitiful. She can't have some money and will have a hard time living in the country. She will live without friends and work in the farm even in the cold weather. Not to mention the language barrier, the weather and homesickness. I agree with him.

The next day, my father in law invited us to visit his sister. His nephew's (looking for a filipina wife) mom. We went to their house. It's an old house in the countryside. It was too cold so we stayed in one room with old, dirty and cracked wall. It was grandma's (my hubby's aunt's mother in law) room. I couldn't go out of the room because it was too cold. The living room, the kitchen and the bathroom were too cold. I was freezing. The living room doesn't look like one because of lots of stuffs stocked that are mostly crops. The small dirty kitchen has lots of big old pots. The cold bathroom has also lots of stuffs that I couldn't imagine if someone could take a bath there. There is no shower and bathtub, just faucet and bucket under it. There are lots of basins and washing machine is also there. It is too stuffy. I'm not sure if there's hot water to use. My hubby was too sleepy so they told us to use the other room and sleep. But my hubby's cousin's niece was there using the computer. Beside the two tables was a quilt and heavy blankets. We lay down but we couldn't sleep because it was too cold. So, do you want to get married this guy and live there?

I don't know why people from the Philippines think that once you got married to a foreigner, you are lying in the bed of roses. There are so many women out there dreaming of coming to Korea and get married to a korean guy. Don't you know that those who are looking for Filipinas are those who got divorce or old guys who couldn't get married to Korea because Korean women don't like them? Most of them are farmers or fishermen living in the countryside.

Do you still think that all filipinas who got married to korean have good lives here in Korea? I'm telling you. You are definitely wrong! You don't know how hard their lives are, living with someone they don't know well. You don't know how they suffer specially to those who live with their parents-in-law. (Most of them are living with their parents in law. Another reason why Korean women don't like them (korean guy married to foreigner) because Korean women can't live with their in-laws.) Don't envy those filipinas because they are married to korean guys. You are luckier than them. Living in the Philippines is more fun with friends and family. Nothing can compare to the happiness when you talk in your own language and eat filipino dishes. I think most of you have even better house than the other filipinas here in Korea.

There are some who live well but don't expect that you will also do, specially if the married is just a match. For those who got married because of love (courted in the Philippines), some of them still face some problems here in Korea because of the against parents because if the korean has good education, young and live well in Korea.

Seomjin River in Hadong

It's now autumn in Korea and it's getting cold everyday. My hubby has been waiting for this season because he can eat his favorite; the seafoods! My hubby loves seafoods but he doesn't want to eat it in the summer. And now that it's fall, we went to Namhae to eat seafoods. We went back to the restaurant that we've been to, to eat Rawfish in Cold Water.

On our way home, we decided to go to Seomjin Kang (Seomjin-gang) or Seomjin River which literally means "toad ferry". It is believed that 1590s during the Hideyoshi's invasions of Korea, a swarm of toads blocked the Japanese army from crossing the Seomjin into Northern Jeolla.

Seomjin-gang drains southeastern Jeollabuk-do as well as eastern Jeollanam-do and western Gyeongsannam-do provinces, and flows into the Korea Strait. The river rises from Palgongsan and flows for 212.3 km. before it reaches its final destination to Gwangyang Bay.

Our navigation brought us to Hadong County. Here's the map of Tourists sites in Hadong-gun.

The river doesn't have much water. It's dry maybe because it didn't rain for a long time. I want to go back there again in the summer.

I think there are many people swimming in the summer because there are tubes near the benches.

Eventhough we couldn't enjoy the river, there's a trekking course that takes 4km to Seobon Park. We are planning to go back there and go trekking. I can't wait!

Here's the trekking course.

There's also a bridge to cross the river.

I think there's also a temple across the river on top of this mountain. I couldn't see it well but my hubby said it seems like a temple specially when we heard a sound of the bell.

Cheers to all Myeonorideul

Thanks God Chuseok is over! Today is the day when Myeonorideul or daughter-in-laws feel relieved because chuseok has passed after the long long day of Chuseok. On Chuseok day, lots of daughter-in-laws complain about the hard job they do on this special holiday. They have to prepare lots of food while the men in the family drink and make noise. I'm glad that in my hubby's family, nobody likes drinking except my brother in law and his wife so they drink together after hyeongnim does her work. But they don't drink much.

Anyway, we drove for many hours to get to my parents-in-laws house and this is the first time that they didn't do "jesa" or memorial ceremony so we were free from lots of work. We used to get up early in the morning to prepare for "jesa" and everyone must be ready to bow at 7:00a.m. but last Wednesday night, before we went to bed, my father in law said that we sleep as much as we want. And to those who don't want to have breakfast like us (me and my hubby) don't need to get up and help to prepare breakfast. Wow! Amazing!

The next day at around 9:00 a.m., I heard someone doing the dishes but I didn't get up. When everything was done, I woke up and went to the bathroom but my father in law was in the living room watching TV and he said I can sleep more. I didn't see anyone in the living except him, so I guessed everyone was still asleep so I went back to bed again and woke up at five before noon. I was too shy because I saw everyone in the living room and when they saw me, some of them headed to the kitchen and prepared for lunch so I helped them. We had beef barbecue for lunch.

After lunch, we had dessert in the living while watching tv and when the sun started to go down, my father in law invited us to go to Namsan Hanok Village and went home for dinner. Actually, he wanted to dine out but we went to some restaurants and they were closed so we just went home and had beef and rice soup for dinner. While having desserts, my hubby told my father in law that we had to go home because our dog was left alone at home. He's afraid that my dog will make noise and disturb our neighbors. My father in law didn't allow us at first but my hubby insisted him so finally before they went to bed, he allowed us to leave. And now we are now home safe. Thanks God!

As I watch the news, the traffic is bumper to bumper because people are now going home. The traffic is not as heavy as few years ago because the roads were developed a lot but still there's a traffic jam and I'm glad that we never had traffic on Chuseok or any special holiday because we are on the opposite direction.

To all Myeonoris out there, cheers! You guys did a good job! Once again, you made Chuseok very special because of your hard works.

Next Week is Chuseok

Next week is Chuseok or Korean Thanksgiving Day. Today, I went to the supermarket and there are lots of people buying some gifts and groceries to prepare for chuseok. On this day, most myeonori or daugher in laws are busy preparing food while men are playing card games or drinking. Children are so lucky on these because it is like the celebration of Christmas to some countries, children eat lots of food and receive presents from oldies.

And because next week is Chuseok, we are going to my in-laws house which takes 4 hours drive. There's always "Jesa" or Memorial Ceremony in my father in law's house during Chuseok and Seollal so we are always busy on that day. My "hyeongnim" or sister in law (hubby's brother's wife) always does most of the work and I just assist her. Of course my mother in law is the food taster.

Sometimes, because of my hubby's work, we can't go there earlier. We are supposed to go there the day before the occasion because it's the time to prepare some "Jeon" or fried dishes and "namul-namul" sprouts dishes and different kinds of side dishes. But my hubby can't drive during the day because he's a night owl so he is asleep during the day. But this time because of long holiday, we are going there on time but I heard that this year, we are not going to prepare for Jesa which is really great specially for my hyeongnim.

My hubby doesn't like this kind of occasions because he doesn't drink so he feels bored so he said we'll just go there and take a walk around my father in law's neighborhood. And that's more exciting, I think!

Imjingak Tourist Site

Except from Unification Observatory, we also visited Imjingak. Another worth-seeing in Gyeonggido which is also related to unification and freedom. At the Imjingak Toursit Site, you can see the Bridge of Freedom, Peace Bell and Unification Fond. It is free of admission and open throughout the year.

The Peace Bell which is 2.23m in diameter, 3.8m high and weighs 21 tons is made of bronze and tin in the korean traditional style. The bell pavilion which is made of wood with a four-sided arched roof, sits on an area of 70.5m² and is 12.18m high.

Those who are interested in ringing the Peace Bell, in the name of peace, unification and hope may purchase tickets which cost 10,000 won or around $10. The ringing time is 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. The method of ringing is seven strikes by individual or a group.



Standing behind Mangbaedan Memorial Altar at Imjingak Square, Freedom Bridge takes its name from the return of 12,773 prisoners of war in 1953 in the first exchange of prisoners after the signing of the armistice agreement that ended the Korean War.

Two railrooad bridges on the Gyeongui Line originally spanned the Imjingang River side-by-side. Both were destroyed by bombing and only the piers remained. To enable exchange of prisoners of war, the west was rebuilt as a temporary structure over the original piers. The repatriates were taken to Freedom Bridge by trucks and they crossed the bridge on foot.

Freedom Bridge is 83m long, 44.5m wide, and 8m high. It is a wooden structure reinforced by steel. Freedom Bridge has little architectural value but hold tremendous symbolic importance of "Return to Freedom".



See that railway train to North Korea? Everything is all set and we're just waiting for the two countries to be united.



The remained of the train that was used by the people of North and South Koreans is still seen at the site. This steam locomotive is a symbol of the tragic history of the division into North and South Korea, having been left in the DMZ since it got derailed by bombs by the Korean war. It says that there are more than 1,020 bullet holes at the locomotive which shows how cruel situation had happened at that time.



There are also some pictures of what happened during the war.



There's also an observatory or lookout to see some sites of North Korea.



For more information, contact 031-953-4744.

Odusan Unification Observatory

It was summer vacation and we had 3 days vacation so we decided to visit Gyeonggido Province. Our first destination was the Odusan or Odu Mountain Unification Observatory in Paju City.

Odusan or Odu Mountain was a ferocious battlefield about 1600 years ago, when Goguryeo and Baekje bled for the posession of a region near Han and Imjin River for 106 years. Recently, the archeological site of Odusan Fortress and Baekje potteries were excavated in the vicinity and the area was designated as Historic Site No.351.

Cars are not allowed to enter the site but there are free shuttle buses so we decided to park the car at the parking lot where we can also take the shuttle bus.



On the first floor, you can see the North Korea Exhibition Hall and room to experience North Korea. At the North Korea Exhibition Hall, there are some pictures of the war and the Presidents.



It's now that I knew about the first Presidents until the former President. I felt so sad when I saw the picture of the former President Noh Moo Hyun who contributed a lot for the Unification of the two countries but too bad that he passed away without seeing the two countries United.



There are also North Korean medicines, products for export, life goods, wishing room where you can write your wish for Unification (the notes can be restored in a time capsule until the day of Korean Unification), stamps, military, culture and life, North Korean clothes, elementary school classroom and residence master bedroom.

The souvenir shop.



North Korean master bedroom.



The KTX train that shows that we can access other countries easily after unification. This train shows the access from South Korea - North Korea - Paris.



The outdoor sightseeings while waiting for the shuttle bus.



At the second floor are the Unification Exhibition Hall, Theater, etc. We didn't bother ourselves to watch the theater so we went upstairs to see the observation room and telescope in the outside area.

The theater.



The view outside. It's better to use the telescopes to see the North Korea. Just insert 500 won.





The Unification Observatory is open throughout the year from 9:00 a.m. For group reservation call 031-945-3171. From Seoul, you can reach the 120-meter hill within 40 minutes and have a good view of North Korea across the Imjin River. It's the place where the Han and Imjin river meet and flow into the West Sea. It's the place where Goguryeo and Baekje Dynasty fought fiercely in the age of the three states. The National security education in the place leads to the people specially of Korea's dream of Unification.

Korean Summer Vacation

The last week of the July is the Korean Summer Vacation so most of the students are very excited. Although they are very tired studying for their final examination, students still enjoy because after final, they can have their summer vacation. In Korea, there are lots of academies or institutes and most of the students if not all (or maybe just around 5% of students population don't go to academies, just those who can't really afford paying) go to academies or private tutorial. But all academies also have 3 days vacations so students can also spend their summer vacation without attending any private lessons that they have registered.

Most of institutes vacations was last Wednesday-Friday so including Saturday and Sunday, there are five rest days. That's really awesome some office workers also have vacations that most of them last for 1 week. They are giving everyone some time for the whole family. Children are happy but most parents are not. You know why? Because children have to stay home. They play computer games and watch TV too much. Some working parents have to send their children to other private institutes and that also mean some amount of money because nobody will take care of their kids at home. Also, Moms have to prepare some food for them or sometimes order some food and have it delivered at home.

In short, children love vacation as much as parents hate it.

Gunsan Factories

When we visited Canada, we met a Korean guy who lives in Gunsan so we went both back here in Korea, he and my hubby kept in touch. He already came over to my house twice and one day he invited us to visit his place. He showed us some places in Gunsan and what I noticed is, there are lots of factories. I've never seen lots of factories as those in Gunsan. The huge lot area has so many factories that according to my hubby, some of the area used to be sea and made it a land to build some factories. Wow! It's so amazing!



Here are some of the factories that I've just decided to take pictures of them on our way home.









The guy thought that it's easier to meet near the factories because it's the Gunsan's landmark but we almost lose our way because we didn't bring our navigation. We drove around but we couldn't find the meeting place easily so when we saw a map, my hubby got off the car and checked. Of all the factories and wide range of land, it wasn't easy to find the location. We drove around for about 30 mins before we met my hubby's friend.

I heard about the factories in Gunsan but never had an idea how many factories there are but after seeing it, wow! No wonder why they say that there are also lots of foreigners there and it's true. There are so many foreigners walking in the street. I heard they came to Korea to work in the factories.

If you are a foreigner who wants to work in the factory, I think Gunsan is the best place. Also, if you want to meet foreigner, Gunsan is also the place to meet your countrymen.

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

A Sign from Gary of Runningman

I was at work training the new worker when somebody came and asked if he could use the bathroom in the hotel where I worked for. He looked nice so I said yes and showed him the washroom in the office. He smiled and he said he would come back. After a few minutes, he came back with Gary. As soon as my co-worker saw him, she recognized him. So we waited until he came out of the bathroom. It really was Gary of Runningman, a South Korean famous variety show that is on every Sundays.

My co-worker prepared a pen and paper and asked if she could get a sign. He asked her name and signed. I said me too! So he asked my name and gave me this.



While he was going out we saw his name at the back of his shirt so we asked if they are making a video of their show. He said yes. So it's the Runningman whose making film outside. We just saw from morning that there were many people and cars parking at the beach and there are also big cameras. We just wondered what kind of film they are making again at the beach which is just in front of our hotel but when we knew that it was runningman, we got so interested that we couldn't work well.

When my boss came, he said he would go out to see the casts of the show. I asked are you going alone? Then, he said let's go together if you want. So, I and my new co-worker that I was training went with him. They were already leaving but we saw them inside the car. I saw Kim Jong-kook, Lee Kwang-su, Ji Suk-jin, Ha-ha and Song Ji-hyo. Unluckily, I didn't see Yu Jae-suk, the leader of the team and the most famous Korean MC.

My co-worker was about to take a picture of them with her cellphone but the staffs stopped her so I didn't try to take them a picture either.

Teddy Bear Museum in Jeju Island

Teddy Bear Museum is one of the best attractions in Jeju Island. It is where you cand find everything about bears! I love teddy bears and this museum has thousands types of bears. Of course I won't leave Jeju Island without visiting the Museum again. After 10 years, I finally visited the museum again.



This teddy bears couple will greet you at the entrance where you pay your admission fee.



With lots of bears inside, it's hard to choose which one have to look first. You can't just stay in one place because your eyes will stare to another teddy bears that most of them look awesome.

Here are group of bears singing, dancing or look like performing in an opera.



There are lots of bears in group who act like people. This bears are demonstrating for Love and Peace! It seems like they are real. They are so cute!



Have you ever seen Monalisa Bear? Except Monalisa, there are lots more.



The 125 Karat Bear and Little Elephant. I wonder how much the bear is. The bear is wearing 125 Karat necklace.



There's the Kings including Gandhi!



The Prince Bears and Princess Bears.



The bears having a picnic outside.



Some bears are fishing.



A bear is driving a car.



This one great! I thought it was nothing at first but I suddenly heard a song. Goodness! The bears are holding a wedding ceremony. The bears appear according to their role. Look at the clock!



And look at this picture! The wedding couple appeared from the clock. It's fantastic if you see it in person. It's so romantic!



There's also the Elvis Presley Shop and Theater at Jeju Teddy Bear Museum. Here, you'll see the fantastic performance of the bears based on "Aloha from Hawaii", a concert performed by Elvis Presley in Honolulu, Hawaii on January 14th, 1973.



When the curtains open, Elvis Presley Bear sings and dances with other bears. It's another interesting thing in Teddy Bear Museum. You must see it! It doesn't take long.



Here's one of the performances.



If you're looking for a souvenir. There's a teddy bear souvenir shop inside.



Oh well, this one is huge! It's much bigger than I do!



Kingkong climbing up the tree outside added to the beauty of the Museum.



Mrs. Panda and her kids are extra. They are reminding us to "Save the Panda" of course.



Btw, there's also Lotteria inside, a famous Korean fastfood restaurant.