Wando Island - the broading smile

This summer is almost end! brace up yourself for the beauty of fall season. To enclose this summer, i want to introduce you an island that has absolutely nature beauty at the southern part of Korea. Geoje island? Jeju Island? it's too main stream. let's go to the hidden jewel at the southern part of Jeolla province.

Wando Island Location

It's pretty suitable for student and worker to spend the quality weekend since getting to wando county is pretty easy. In the night, there is laser show at Wando Tower and illuminated bridge linking Wando and Sinjido. You must have heard about Haundae in Busan or maybe Gyeongpo beach in Gangneung. But have you heard about Myeongsasimni beach on Sinjido? it's just like a little Bali in Korea.

Little Paradise in the South

We also could see the rural scenery in Wando, in Village of Dangni to be particular. Steeped rice fields and farms will blow your mind away with your routines. Wando has also his brother island in its southern part, called Cheongsando which is well known by the citta slow movement. you could enjoy a nice sunset in Jiri beach, which will take you about 30 mins walk from the ferry terminal.

The Clarity of Sunset

How to get there: Go to the express Bus terminal (line 3,7,9) buy the bus ticket to Wando-gun. (33000 Won).

Isn't It Beautiful?

Makgeolli and Korean Pancake

묵전 - 서울 특별시 강남구 언주로 168길 22 - 신사동 645-11

The restaurant called MukJeon, located in Gangnam area, in Apgujeong rodeo to be exact. This restaurant is really well-known around the native, you will see people waiting to enter this restaurant around 7pm dinner time. They served their own made makgeolli. Makgeolli is traditional liquor to Korean which made by rice, nuruk and yeast.

Usually people love to eat this kind of food when it is raining to warm up your body and combine it with Korean Pancake, which we usually called Pajeon. beside of Makgeolli, we order 'muk', it is kind of appetizer or side dish, it has brown color and jelly texture mixed with some kind of vegetable. the other one is 'all kinds of pancake' they serve 8 kinds of pancake in a plate. it includes green onion, kimchi, meat, mushroom, eggplant and fish. if you compare this food to another Korean food like kimbab, bibimbap, this 'korean pancake' is not the famous. But, try it one time and you will know the richness of its taste.

Korean Traditional Market

I usually go to Daejeon Central Market is located near the Daejeon station and Jungang Subway station. particularly, this market open everyday from morning until evening but the location from my house to the market is quite far it takes about 50 minutes from the yuseong-gu to Daejeon market. Actually there is Yuseong Market near Chungnam National University, this market is so unique in terms of operation day of the market. it opens at the day which consisted either 4 or 9 (4, 9, 14, 19, 24, 29) at that month.

Yuseong market has the characteristic of Indonesia market, that we usually called 'pasar tumpah'. this phrase indicates that the market operates without the proper building, trade is going on the street. i think the irregular operation time is the reason why they don't have proper place to do the business. For the restaurant near the market, they sell lots of Korean snacks and foods.

Daejeon Central Market is the place that maybe you could buy anything you want which good deal of price. from the secondhand things, household stuff, fruits & vegetables, clothes, even side dishes and snacks, you could find it. The location of Daejeon market is really exactly at the downtown of Daejeon. after shopping you could relax and enjoy the entertainment just with walking across the bridge in front of the Daejeon Central Market sign.

Gyeonggi Province - Paju

Paju is a new city in Gyeonggi province which established in 1997, it is located the southern part of Panmunjeon near the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone). So, there are lots of US and Korean army based there. Despite of the those military things in Paju, What else does Paju has?

1.  Paju Premium Outlets

Contained of 220 tenant outlets ranging from designer fashion, sport wears, luxury leather bags, accessory jewelry, shoes and many more. The advantages shopping in Paju Premium Outlets, because some of the brands offer the lower price than quoted in the duty free shop.

2.  Heyri Art Village



Only driving an hour to northern part of Seoul you could go to Heyri Art Valley. Galleries, workshops, film studios, book shops and cafes. Heyri art gallery was built in 1997 the same year of the Paju became a city. The goal is cultivating the cultural industries in the area which is undeveloped and over militarized.

How to get to Paju:

Take Bus 2200 from Exit 2, Hapjeong Station, Line 2 and get off at Heyri Art Valley. The trip, which runs along Freedom Parkway (Jayu-ro) through Goyang, takes about 50 minutes.

WOW KOREA SUPPORTER 2015

Wow Korea Supporter adalah sebuah program yang dibentuk oleh kementrian pariwisata Korea yang diperuntukan bagi pelajar asing yang berasal dari 13 negara (Asia Tenggara dan Asia tengah) yang mengenyam pendidikan di Korea Selatan. Pada tahun ini adalah kali ke-3 program ini diadakan. Tujuan dari program ini adalah kami sebagai supporter dapat pergi, melihat, mendapatkan pengalaman langsung mengenai hal - hal yang berhubungan dengan pariwisata yang ada di Korea. Bukan hanya itu, setelah kami melakukan program tersebut kami juga harus melakukan promosi melalui media sosial kepada kerabat kami di tanah air masing - masing.

Bagi orang yang pernah mengunjungi Korea Selatan, kota - kota seperti Seoul, Busan dan Jeju sudah tidak asing lagi didengar. Namun, Wow Korea Supporter ini menguak lebih lagi tentang pariwisata Korea yang tidak kalah bagusnya dengan tempat wisata yang telah terkenal tersebut. Pada dasarnya, peran kami adalah duta pariwisata Korea Selatan bagi negara kami masing - masing.

Untuk job description, kami mempunyai field trip 1 bulan 1 kali dimana di tiap field trip kami mengunjungi provinsi yang berbeda. Selama dalam perjalan terdapat misi - misi yang harus dilakukan melalui media sosial. Misi tersebut dapat berupa cerita, foto, video dan lain - lain. Isi dari misi kita tersebut harus kreatif dan eye catching sehingga orang - orang menjadi suka dan bertanya - tanya tentang tempat yang dikunjungi ataupun makanan yang disantap. Setelah perjalan selesai kami membuat review perjalanan yang mana akan dipakai untuk website dari Wow Korea itu sendiri. Terdapat juga misi mingguan yang dimana isi dari posting yang kita lakukan berhubungan erat dengan budaya dan kehidupan orang Korea Selatan, seperti: Makanan musim panas di Korea, Makanan yang biasa dipesan setelah ujian oleh para mahasiswa, sampai dengan tempat - tempat yang ingin dikunjungi nantinya. Jika ada pertanyaan mengenai tempat main atau makanan di Korea selatan jangan sungkan untuk menghubungi saya!

Dengan Jaket Biru Wow Korea di Gunung Seorak, Gangwon-do

ahjussi 고기집

Living in Daejeon as a student maybe different with ones who study in Seoul where you could find some famous places to eat and hang out around. in Chungnam National University, we have Gungdong, which provide delicious meal to students. This place give you lots of variety foods that you could think of, from ordinary Korean Restaurant, Chinese restaurant, fried chicken store, burger house, until places with provide particular foods in Mexican, Indian, Turkish foods. I am quite lucky live near here actually. There is a restaurant that i recommend to you by this post. the name of restaurant is ahjussi! this place is usually Korean BBQ place but with the student condition is so worthy and delicious.

The entrance of this Restaurant

They provide lunch with economical price

Samgyeopsal

My favorite 석갈비

아저씨 참숯불구이

대전광역시 유성구 대학로 145 번길 22

042-825-3816

Gongju: Past Capital

Historical Records

Gongju is one of the places that contained the historical records of the Three Kingdoms Era. Gongju, capital of Baekje Kingdom AD 457 - 538, then the capital is moved to Buyeo County. In 2004, there is a plan to move the Capital's from Seoul to Gongju because of Seoul's crowd. Gongju is a major tourism drawcard of the South Chungcheong area, particularly amongst Japanese tourists of certain ethnic descent, curious about their ancient roots. Despite of the historical records, Gongju also have the attractions in tourism industry.

The flag of the fallen Kingdom

Which Places to visit?

Tomb of King Muryeong

It was found when drainage work was conducted to prevent water penetration into the Songsanri old tombs No. 5 and 6 in 1971 and excavated for the first time about 1,500 years after it was made. In particular, people were so excited because the tomb clearly recorded that the tomb was for King Muryeong and his wife. According to excavation, the tomb of King Muryong looked like a small hill . Its diameter was about 20m and its height was 7.7m from the bottom. However, as times went by, it was seriously damaged. (Courtesy to: http://www.gongju.go.kr/english/sub02_02_02.do)

In this area also, it was founded lots of National Treasure, Including Gold decoration of the king's/queen's crown, Gold Earring, Gold Hair pin, Silver bracelet, bronze mirror , animal -shaped stone, king's tombstone, etc. 

The National Treasure in Tomb of King Muryeong

Gongsanseong Fortress

Gongsanseong Fortress(公山城), the Historic Site No. 12, consists of a mud castle of 400m long and a stone castle of 2260m stretching from Geumseong-dong, Sanseong-dong to Yokryong-dong, Gongju. The circumference and dimension of this fortress are 2, 660m long and 210,000㎡ wide. It is located on basin-type hill of 110m MSL with the road linked to the downtown to the south and Geumgang river to the north. It looks like a closed curve, which is 800m from east to west and about 400m from north to south. (courtesy to: http://www.gongju.go.kr/english/sub02_02_01.do)

This fortress is originally a mud castle, it was renovated and became a stone castle in Joseon dynasty. this fortress it the capital of Baekje Kingdom. 

Gongsanseong Fortress

(courtesy to: http://www.gongju.go.kr/english/sub02_02_01.do)

Where to stay?

Gongju Hanok Village

12, Gwangwangdanji-gil, Gongju-si, Chungcheongnam-do 
충청남도 공주시 관광단지길 12 (웅진동)

+82-41-840-8900~6

35.000 KRW

https://visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=1967291

How to get here?

To Hanok Village

Seoul Express Bus Terminal, Seoul Nambu Terminal, Dong Seoul Bus Terminal to Gongju Bus Terminal
- Take Bus 101 and get off at King Muryeong Tomb Bus Stop. (9 bus stops away)
- Take a right at the first three-way intersection and walk straight until the village.

- Or, take a taxi to the venue.
(about 11 mins / 3.3 km away)

Gurye Natural Deam Park - iCOOP Korea

What is iCOOP Korea?

iCOOP KOREA's business and activity is an industrial complex combining production, processing factories, logistics and the green tourism. Containing total of 200,000 members and 3,000 producers. This 149,336m2. Currently, 19 production lines are operated by 15 corporations and 340 items are produced including rice, bakery, dough, dumplings, Korean traditional cookies, kimchi, rice wine, processed duck meat, among others. In addition, a logistics center where raw ingredients are stored, APC center, food inspection centers and support facilities are located in the Park. Also, Beer Rock House, a community hall serving craft beer, cinemas, café and guest houses provide cultural services to the community.

Our WOW Korea Industry Tour in iCOOP:

We went to see the manufacturing process of Mandu from iCOOP. Comparing with Indonesian food industry plant, iCOOP has high-end technology and all is operated automatically. At the same building also but different floors we could see the bakery which provides throughout the nationwide. The thing is, time for visiting this nice place and give lots of information for us is so little. we only could witness this plant which use wheat flour as the primary ingredients.

 

The manufacturing process chain of Mandu in iCOOP

 The baking place in bread section

 The outer side this minimalist plan

Gwangju: City of Light

Gwangju, the capital of South Jeolla province, this year Gwangju got honor to host the Universiade Gwangju 2015. It is a Olympic that designated  for university student around the world. It took place in Gwangju World Cup Stadium. as a Wow Korea Supporters i got a chance to witness the opening ceremony of the Olympic. it's huge! the atmosphere is developed, with cheers in every corner of the stadium made the opening ceremony succeeds!

 

Got the ticket that have a seat in East side of the stadium

 

The mascot of the Gwangju Universiade 2015

 

The sunset within the opening ceremony of Gwangju Universiade!

After that i stay in a guest house which is really good. I recommend you if you go to Gwangju you need to say in I am Guesthouse. it's a brand new guest house and cozy either for family or solo backpacking! the host is really nice even cook for us tteokppoki in the night and Korean breakfast in the morning! the next day we went to dance! girls for Shake it by Sistar and the boy bang bang bang by Big Bang. and the first i didn't even know the bang bang bang song. but once i heard it and try to match up with the rhythm and you are ready to dance. Yeap! we try to take class in Joyful plugin dance academy. few kpop stars train in that place also, like Seungri from Bigbang!

Next, it is Kimchi Town. it is a one complex which is operated to give knowledge about kimchi in overall. we tried to make kimchi with the base ingredients of cucumber and we try to make kebab with kimchi.

 

Kimchi-jon the Champion

The reason why is promoting kimchi is not only traditional korean side dish but it could be the ingredients that could be fuse into another ingredients to produce delicious food in easy way! in this place, they also provide the museum that contain sorts of kimchi. we also tried the cookies which are made from kimchi. and my favorite kimchi-jon! it just perfect melted in my mouth.

 

Say Kimchi~

Our lunch is Bori Bibimbab, this kind of food is like 'nasi padang' in Indonesia. in Bori bibimbab, they divide the vegetable that we will mix with the rice with, 

Gunsan: Hidden story in the west

Our 2nd field trip is located in Jeolla Province. This is my first time going around the Jeolla province except for Jeonju. Jeonju is the tourism city that really near with Daejeon. So, every time there was a cultural class, i usually go there.

Gunsan/Taktyu/Muddy stream

Why we have to visit Gunsan?

On our way to Gunsan, there are endless of rice farm. When the Japanese Colonization, Gunsan and its surrounding is  the area that designated to plant the rice, for exporting the rice in order to cover the shortage problem in Japan. That's why this city got much influence by the Japanese, you still find the type of Japanese house that still resided by Korean until now. Then, Saemangeum Project is to construct total 33km of embankment in Gunsan, Gimjae, Buan area of Jeollabuk-do to develop 40,100ha of land.

What to eat in Gunsan?

There is a restaurant that we went to, Hanilok. it's so easy to find this place, i think every people in Gunsan know this restaurant well. The all time favorite is radish soup. The restaurant was designed with Korean traditional house and Japanese house styles combined, which was very impressive for me.

Where to go in Gunsan?

You could hang around the down town areas of Gunsan and the Gyeongnam-dong railroad village. Disused railroad trail, now becoming the tourist attraction,

alongside the railroad you still could see some container houses which selling some snacks and souvenirs.

This is Chowon Photo Studio which used to be a filming site for the movie (Christmas in August) that starred Han Seok-gyu and Sim Eun-a.

You could visit the Japanese house, former Hirotsu house. not only this house but you could find this type of Japanese House near the Sinheung-dong area. The type of sharp roof indicates that Japan is a island country which usually has lots of raining season, so they built the roof sharply.

Modern History Museum

Here you could try the printing technology from old times. You rub ink, put a paper on it, tap it with a handful of cotton ball like this and remove the paper. you could find the information more in http://museum.gunsan.go.kr

Ariul Story performance 

Flyer of Ariul Story Performance

It is actually a musical performance which has richness of the Korean culture by its story and clothes that they wear. But one thing that stood up is the 'play' of the lighting. it just worth it!

How to get here?

 

Express Bus: Seoul Central City Bus Terminal – Gunsan Bus Terminal (first bus 06:00 / last bus 23:05) Train: Yongsan Station – Gunsan Station (first train 05:35 / last train 20:35) 

 

Damyang: Kingdom of Bamboo

Damyang-gun, Jeollanam-do, South Korea is the place which famous with its Bamboo throughout Korean Peninsula. There are Bamboo Theme Park, Garden, Spa and Hotel.  

Despite of Bamboo. you could find Metasequoia which was planted in 70's for 2 km alongside the road, in October and November the leaf would turn to bright colors and it has been nominated as one of the most beautiful road in Korea. So, today i want to recommend you to come and experience amazing things that Damyang could provide:

1.  Soswaewon

Bamboo garden which was built in 1500s by a man named Yang San-bo, he moved to Damyang because of hard time that he got and he built this garden to find peace and tranquility. It has been operated by generations to generations. it said that the construction of the garden took a long time because the inception of designing this garden to utilize the nature to the garden.

2.  Bamboo rice (Daetongbab)

Bamboo Stalk filled with rice, dates and other ingredients and then steamed for 4 hours, it is needed long steam hours to permeate the flavor of bamboo to the rice. another signature dishes, tteok galbi which is so tender and tasty which made by the combination of primary and secondary cut minced meat. This tasty and juicy marinated beef and pork mix, usually directly grilled at the table

3.  How to get there

KTX to Gwangju, and then take intercity bus to Damyang (no. 225), it may take 40 minutes to arrive in Damyang from Gwangju

Cemilan Malam di Korea

Sepertinya aturan 3 kali sehari makan itu kurang cocok dengan orang - orang yang suka ngemil malam - malam. Makanan yang paling saya suka untuk dicemil malam hari yaitu martabak. Baik martabak manis atau martabak telor semua dihajar. Saking terkenalnya martabak oleh seluruh golongan umur dan ekonomi masyarakat, sampai - sampai topping martabak pun menjadi beragam.

 Martabak Manis dan Martabak Telor

 

Martabak pun bisa dijumpai dari harga kisaran 12.000 (dekat kosan dulu di Bandung) sampai 100.000 ke atas (kalau pakai nutella, ovomaltine). Dan sekarang saya kuliah di Korea. Martabak ngga ada tuh malam - malam. Terus di Korea cemilam malam nya apa dong?

1.  Ayam goreng bumbu (양념 치킨)

Disini franchise ayam goreng seperti McD atau KFC tidak terlalu laku, terlebih mereka lebih fokus untuk mejual burger daripada jual ayam goreng. Hal ini dikarenakan ayam goreng asli Korea ini JAUH lebih enak daripada ayam goreng franchise-an. Kalau malam - malam lapar dan mau makan ayam, biasanya saya tinggal telepon ke restoran ayam dan order 15 menit pasti sampai. Itu ajaibnya tentang Korea, masalah order - order makanan atau barang sangat cepet sampai nya. kadang - kadang ada julukan 'negara delivery'. Balik lagi ke ayam goreng, kalau di KFC ada rasa original sama spicy aja kan? Disini ada salah satu restoran yang paling sering saya telponin menyediakan 16 rasa. (Bawang putih, Buah, Carbonara, mayonaise, dan lain - lain). Restoran ayam ini sangat mudah dicari, hampir di seluruh pelosok Korea pasti menjual ayam goreng seperti ini, menurut saya malah sudah menjadi budaya mereka.

 Ayam Goreng Korea

Harga:
1 ekor 14000KRW
2 ekor 19000KRW
3 ekor 26000 KRW

2.  Babi Asam Manis (탕수육)

Makanan non halal ini ada di posisi kedua yang paling sering saya makan tengah malam. Menu ini terdiri dari rasa Sichuan (사촌 탕수육), Spicy (붕타는 탕수육), Sirloin (등심 탕수육). Saya sering memesan menu ini dengan nasi putih. Harganya pun mirip - mirip dengan ayam goreng


Harga:
Small 16000KRW
Medium 19000KRW
Large 25000KRW

탕수육 juga biasanya dimakan berserta 재반 짜장 dan 야끼 짬뽕. Kedua makanan tersebut sangat cocok dimakan dengan  탕수육 sebagai pengganti nasi. kedua tipe makanan ini dapat ditemukan di restoran - restoran Chinese di Korea. Banyak makanan Korea yang terbawa arus dari negara China. Jjajangmyeon, mie hitam yang terkenal itu merupakan salah satu contoh menu dari Restoran Chinese tersebut. 재반 짜장 awalnya juga dari Jjajangmyeon namun digoreng atau diongseng sebentar.

 재반 짜장 dan 야끼 짬뽕

Harga kedua makanan ini cukup murah, masing - masing hanya 6000KRW! Semoga menjadi referensi ketika backpack atau jalan di Korea dan malam - malam lapar.