When you step out of Incheon airport in Seoul, you count on to drive into the town and be catapulted into scenes you might have seen in a bunch of city-slicker Okay-Dramas and movies — a powerful skyline, chaotic, but orderly site visitors, comfort shops on each road nook, and some rain for that cinematic impact.
We are nevertheless whisked away in one other course the place a protracted freeway awaits, to lead us to Gangwon. One among the many three self-governing provinces in South Korea (the opposite two being Jeju and Jeonbuk), this huge province made up of seven cities and 11 counties doesn’t all the time function excessive on first-time vacationer itineraries which give attention to Seoul, Busan, and Jeju. We nevertheless need to tread otherwise, and in viral journey vlogspeak — are right here to discover some hidden gems that the nation has to supply.
With lower than 48 hours right here, the sight of a vibrant blue sky studded with cotton sweet clouds and a pleasing chill within the air has us enthused, and we overlook any residual flying exhaustion as we make our method. It helps that we’re munching on juicy strawberries we decide up from one of many many relaxation stops we go by on our method right here, with massive meals courts, scores of retailers promoting cute trend equipment and most significantly, glowing clear bogs.
On location, Okay-Drama type
Tall timber body the strolling paths at Nami Island
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
Less than two hours away from Incheon, we arrive at Nami Island in Chuncheon, a scenic vacationer vacation spot that has a self-declared micronation for vacationers. A brief ferry journey takes us to the island, which has lovely strolling trails framed by rows of majestic, tall timber, peacocks, and a smattering of cafes and eating places for guests. The location rose to prominence after it was featured within the 2002 Okay-Drama Winter Sonata, and introduced in Japanese vacationers in hordes who got here right here on a pilgrimage of types to see and recreate scenes from their favorite present. The tour guide, realizing I’m a Okay-Drama fan, encourages me to strike a Winter Sonata pose, which I ponder and then determine in opposition to. On a weekday, the island is calm, the air feels refreshing, and the paths are excellent for gradual walks. For the more adventurous, there are bikes to lease, or perhaps a zipline to strive.
Diving right into a bowl of Makguksu
A bowl of makguksu with banchan(aspect dishes) and jeon (pancakes)
| Photo Credit:
S Poorvaja
All the strolling has made us hungry. There could be a chill within the air however for lunch, we strive Gangwon’s regional speciality, makguksu. Buckwheat noodles, spicy sauce and boiled eggs in massive bowls are drenched with a relaxing, flavourful broth poured from aluminium kettles. “You try the noodles first and then add a soy sauce, spicy mustard or vinegar depending on your palate,” says Kim So Hee, a advertising supervisor with the Gangwon Tourism Department who guides us by how to do that regional delicacy. There is loads of banchan, or Korean aspect dishes that refill the desk, and the limitless refills have us thrilled for each meal within the coming days.
A cable automotive with a view
Views of Uiamho lake and CHuncheon metropolis from the Samaksan mountain cable automotive
| Photo Credit:
S Poorvaja
A group of aged ladies kitted out in mountain climbing gear briskly stroll previous us as we guiltily wait to get on a cable automotive to take us up the Samaksan mountain, a mountain climbing hotspot. At 3.61 kilometre, this mountain cable automotive is the longest in South Korea, and our glass cable automotive provides us gorgeous views of Uiamho lake. The observatory deck from the highest of the mountain in the meantime, has a panoramic view of the lake and Chuncheon metropolis. The better part? Enjoying the views whereas comfortably seated at an Ediya espresso outlet there, and sipping on a candy potato latte, a drink I uncover in Korea and already can not appear to get sufficient of.
A spicy regional favorite
In Chuncheon, dakgalbi or spicy stir-fried hen ribs are a regional favorite
| Photo Credit:
S Poorvaja
We stroll by a slim alley stuffed choc-a-block with dakgalbi eating places in Chuncheon, one other regional specialty which is so beloved that the town hosts a competition devoted to this spicy stir-fried hen dish yearly. At the restaurant we stroll into, tables are set with massive, steaming scorching plates of dakgalbi on charcoal stoves, containing a saucy gochujang combination of diced hen, potatoes, and items of noodles. We put on aprons all prepared for the hearty meal, and it’s not lengthy earlier than we get the cling of neatly wrapping up items of dakgalbi in perilla leaves, and washing it down with chilled bowls of maekgoli or rice wine. As the Koreans dive into meal, they are saying: Masuke Juseyo!(eat properly!)
A deep dive into Korean historical past
The Goseong unification observatory, the Northernmost observatory in South Korea
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
Around 4 hours away from Chuncheon, we drive by scenic Goseong, with its rolling hills and occasional sightings of the ocean to attain the Goseong Unification Observatory. We are within the northernmost a part of South Korea now, and a brief however steep stroll up leads us to the observatory, an enormous curved construction from the place we are able to see the DMZ, the Hwajinpo seashore within the East Sea, and a tiny glimpse of North Korea. There can also be a DMZ museum there, for tales of the nation’s previous.
Mountains for the images
A cable automotive journey up the Seoraksan mountains
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
We at the moment are on our method to the gorgeous coastal metropolis of Sokcho, and make a pitstop to take within the sprawling Seoraksan mountains. There are locals right here in massive numbers, and lots of them are senior residents who’ve come to hike up the mountains. We as soon as once more take a cable automotive up, this time a brief 10 minute journey to the Gwongeumseong Fortress, which has gorgeous views of the mountains throughout. This is the place for all these contemplative Instagram poses, I realise. There are scores of vacationers making an attempt to strike a pose, some simply taking within the views, and many others digging into spicy down under, having chosen not to do the ultimate climb to the point of view.
To market, to market
A stall promoting kimchi varieties on the Sokcho Tourist and Fishery market
| Photo Credit:
S Poorvaja
In Sokcho, the fisheries market is nothing like a loud classroom. Long brightly lit corridors have outlets promoting each possible regional snack, stacks of artfully organized kimbap prepared for dinner service, an array of banchan which incorporates kimchi varieties, stir-fried greens, seasoned anchovies and more, and quick meals stalls promoting every thing from ice lotions to crepes for the vacationers — the place looks like an orderly, sensory explosion of the perfect type. Even after we are led to a delegated space the place the recent catch is bought, it’s all spanking clear minus the unmistakable stench of drying seafood. We dig into some sticky candy fried hen from one of many meals stalls, and purchase puffed rice muffins by the dozen, keen to eat it when on the street within the coming days.
A vieew of the market in Sokcho
| Photo Credit:
S Poorvaja
At our last pitstop for the night time in Sokcho, we’re handled to unmatched views of the ocean throughout. There is an odd calmness that falls over the town as soon as the solar units, and the roaring of the ocean is all what you possibly can hear. Some recent fish, an array of banchan, and stir-fried deodeok, a root vegetable tossed in gochujang, sesame and scallions with a aspect of soju now await us. I may get used to this Korean life. Where are my charming, slice-of-life seaside Okay-Drama lovers at?
The author was in South Korea on invitation from Korea Tourism Organization.
