Travel Photo: Jinju Lantern Festival

The Jinju Lantern Festival was so beautiful! The big floating lanterns on the river were quite a sight to see reflecting off the water. The small lanterns floating by could be made at a stand and you write your wishes on them before setting them off to float along the river. It was all very magical and surreal. We had an amazing time! Expect a full report soon! :)

Victoria's Peak in Hong Kong

If you have only one day or even a couple of hours in Hong Kong, then definitely don't miss a trip up to Victoria's Peak. Of course, something this great is undoubtedly inundated with tourists, but it's worth it--especially if the weather is nice. The line can be murderously long at times so it's best to go in the morning when there are less people.

the line

We showed up around noon and waited in line for a half an hour before we made it onto the tram. The area for the line is very wide and there was some sneaky cutting and light pushing. Thankfully, I had some patience that day and figured we'd just get there when we get there! Also, there are some cool old photos and displays to look at along the way. It made the line more bearable.

waiting for the tram

plaque on the tram

I was originally sitting down but then an older lady got on and she was going to have to stand so I gave her my seat. I stood in the middle where the floor is angled so you can keep a better grip while climbing on the crazy incline but it was still work just to stay standing! It was almost laughable how much I struggled!

The ride up is very steep! It's really fun to see the world from that angle. Also, there are a couple good views of the skyline on the way and everyone says "ooohhhh!" and "ahhhhhh!" It's exciting and made me feel like a kid again, discovering something new for the first time. 

 

After getting off the tram, we went up about twenty escalators all the way to the top viewing deck. It was a beautiful clear day and we were able to see the harbor and skylines perfectly.  

I was in awe! It's an amazing sight. 

See our Flickr for more pictures from Victoria's Peak and the rest of Hong Kong.

The tram costs HK$65 (about US$8.35) to ride the tram and go to the viewing platform and HK$41 (about US$5.27) to just ride the tram. Click here to go to the official website for Victoria's Peak. 

Travel Photos: Everyday Suncheon

Here are some photos I took a few weeks ago while exploring our city, Suncheon.

This smiling horse is so playful and stately all at the same time.

Clock shop--look at those cuckoos! 

I love this new take on the classic red brick wall.

Damyang's Bamboo Forest

Last weekend we decided to get our butts off the couch and get outside. The weather was sunny, cool, and breezy and it was practically demanding we go spend time in the warmth before the chill of winter sets in.

We decided to head a couple hours north of Suncheon to a little town called Damyang, which is known for it's bamboo forests. The guidebook says something about enjoying the sound of the wind rustling through the bamboo and that sounded very charming and delightful to me.

We stepped off the bus in Damyang and into the smallest bus station we've seen yet in Korea. We thought maybe there would be a map or something to help us find our way to some bamboo since this small town was known for it. Alas, no. There was nothing.

We walked out to the street, looked both ways, and turned right since it seemed like there was more stuff that way. We passed several groups of boys who had obviously just gotten out of school and at least one out of each group would say hello to us. When a Korean group of kids sees a foreigner, one will always pluck up some courage and say hello. It's really very cute and welcoming.  Plus, they think it's hilarious so fits of laughter were all around us!

When we found a park with a tourist map (in Korean) we waited there looking confused until a group came up to us and asked us where we wanted to go. We pointed to a picture of bamboo and they said, "go that way, turn left." So we did and within about 15 minutes we were at the entrace to the forest!

We really had no idea where we were going and they saved us. It seems like kids are our saving grace in Korea. Not only are they the reason we are able to get a job here, but they also are always willing to speak English and help us out if they can. (Thank you boys of Damyang!)

Spencer bought our tickets (2,000 Won each or about $2) and we started our journey into the bamboo. It was really cool to see all the tall stalks together and the weather was perfect for walking along the paths. The sound they made when the wind blew was, in fact, charming and we enjoyed a nice stroll around the hill. It was a Saturday and pretty busy but even so, it was nice.

When we reached the summit, we went down the back way and down into a big open area with ponds and old fashioned Korean buildings.

It was so beautiful down there. It felt like we were back in time. There were a lot less people around and it was a big wide open space compared to the trails through the bamboo.

We watched a woman in traditional clothing playing a drum and singing along with three little girls for a while. I took a video of it, if you are interested.

After that, we watched the coy in the coy pond glide along the top of the water, admired the leaves that were just beginning to change color, and then made our way back to the teeny tiny bus station to start our journey home.

See all our pictures from Damyang on our Flickr.

Directions:
From Suncheon, we took a bus to Gwangju where we transferred buses to go to Damyang. Damyang is a small town with a tiny bus station. If you're coming from anywhere in Korea, you'll probably have to go through Gwangju. It took us over 2 hours to get there. We had to wait incredibly long to get a bus to Gwangju from Suncheon, so that added a lot of time. Actual riding time on the bus was about 45-50 minutes each. 

Have you ever been the Damyang? What did you think about it? Did you get there a different way than through Gwangju?

Hiking at Suncheon Bay

 
A few weeks ago, we took a day trip to Suncheon Bay. Several of our students told us that they like to go to Suncheon Bay with their families, and we would always ask them if they went swimming. Every time we mentioned swimming, we were met with a strange look and a laugh. Little did we know, no one goes swimming when they go to the Bay. Everyone goes hiking!

When we arrived and started the hike, we realized that swimming wasn't really an option around Suncehon Bay. The area is designed to let people get up close and personal with the scenic landscapes and the nature. You get great views of the water, but you just don't go in the water. We walked on a raised wooden walkway to protect the plants and animals below.

It was great to feel so connected with the natural environment and know that you were not destroying the habitat around you. We saw so many little crabs and other creatures scurrying around in the mud below. It was so fun to be so close to the crabs in their natural habitat.

The hike from the entrance to the observation deck on the top of the mountain  only takes about an hour, and there are numerous rest points, benches, bridges, and other surprises along to way.

The end of the trail is an observation deck with three levels. It provides an amazing view of Suncheon Bay and the surrounding coastal wetland. Well worth the hike!

You can see all the photos from our hike at Suncheon Bay on our Flickr page.

Chuseok: Korean Harvest Celebration

This weekend is Chuseok in South Korea which is a three day harvest celebration comparable to American Thanksgiving. All the kids said they are going to their grandmother's houses and will be eating lots of songpyeon. In Korea, Songpyeon is to Chuseok like turkey is to Thanksgiving back home.

Everyone makes it!

 It's a soft little "dessert" thing made out of rice. I say "dessert" because it's not sweet. It kinda tastes like one huge grain of soft, soft rice with random nuts and spices inside. I think the outside part is made of rice flour and water, but I'm just guessing.  

It tastes horrible.

It sticks to the roof of your mouth and the sides of your teeth. The filling has the consistency of sand and I'm pretty sure there is some form of pine needles in it. I can't see why, but the kids all love it.

We don't have grandmothers in Korea and will definitely not be eating songpyeon but we have some perks too. One of which is, we get a four day weekend! Yay! Four whole days of freedom and bliss!! A four day weekend is the perfect opportunity to visit other parts of South Korea. However, we are both sick and the weatherman is calling for thunderstorms for most of the weekend so we decided to stay home and rest. A little stay-cation is just what we need at the moment.

Our other perk is, we get presents! A few of the students got us presents and the school gave us presents, too. The school gave us....wait for it....a spam and tuna gift pack! That is right. Spam, tuna, and two bottles of oil all nicely displayed in a bright yellow gift pack. Korean gift giving at its finest! They also gave us a box of 100 instant coffee packets.
 
Gifts we got from students include a set of his and hers traditional Korean slippers, cherry blossom scented body wash/lotion, and lip gloss. As you can see, Chuseok gifts can vary widely. One of the other teachers got a Costco sized box of pears!

Happy Chuseok!!!

Travel Photo: Sailing Belize with the Ragga Queen

We took this picture while on our honeymoon in Belize. We did an amazing sailing trip with Raggamuffin Tours for three days. Our boat was dubbed the Ragga Queen and we had a blast. Read more about our sailing adventure here.