Road Trip, April 16-18,2010

Al took Friday off and we went on a week-end trip with our Korean friends.  What an adventure!  We travelled by taxi, bus, subway, train and ferry.    This is our friend Sunjoo, one of our travel companions.  As you can see she is ready to go.

Unlike Al who was not quite awake yet.

The trains were old and quaint.  They do not make very loud announcements at the stations and the train only stops for one or two minutes.  We missed our stop and had to backtrack to our destination by taxi.

Considering we were a group of three adults and one four year old all carrying knapsacks, we had a very cosy ride, especially through the twisting mountain roads at top speeds.

We travelled about 70 km to the region of Cheongpyeong.  Our first destination was a little French theme village called Petite France.  The Koreans love museums and theme parks featuring different

cultures.

We then took a bus to our pension.  Al could not get over the decor of the bus.Our first pension was called Echo Valley and the second was Opera House. They were similar with a dining room table and chairs, but the living room had no chairs or couches in the Echo Valley.  We sat on floor chairs (I can't think of a better name).  The Opera House had a couch for which I was very grateful.  

Both pensions had two bedrooms, one completely empty and one with a bed.  Our friends got quilted mats which were rolled on the floor,with pillows and comforters. Our bed was covered with the same mat, comforter and pillows. There were no sheets. 

 The bathrooms did not have a separate shower stall or tub.  There was a shower head attached to the sink fawcett, and  a drain in the floor so the room also served as a shower. It was weird getting the entire bathroom soaked.  However, they have heated floors throughout which was wonderful and the bathroom dried quickly.

We were in a rural setting near Cheongpyeong Lake which is a very popular resort area for Koreans.  This is not a place where foreigners frequent as evidenced by no English signage, and no English speaking staff including the bus and taxi drivers. Breakfasts consisted of a noodle soup with kimchee the first morning, and fish (dried pollock) soup, rice and a korean pancake made with mugwort we had picked from the side of the road.  We tried new dishes like pickled garlic, lotus root, quail eggs and HOT pickled peppers.  We drank an alcoholic beverage made with rice.  I can't call it wine and I can't call it beer.  It looks and tastes like yeast fermenting in water and tastes absolutely dreadful!  But, after the first glass it didn't seem to matter and the whole bottle was polished off.  

Our second destination was Garden of Morning Calm.  This is an absolute must for anyone who likes flowers and gardening!  Only pictures can do justice to this heavenly place.

On Saturday, we took the ferry to Nami Island which is situated on the middle of the Han River.  In the past this place was transformed into an island during the rainy seasons.  It became and island with the construction of Cheongpyeong dam.   Ferries come and go constantly from morning til night and during the summer months the crowds are not to be believed.  

The gardens are incredible.  

 We took a bicycle buggy ride, Al's driving is NOT to be believed. 

 The paddle boat ride was much calmer and enjoyable.  Al wanted to go bungee jumping, but luckily the age limit was 13-50 years.

Despite Al's disappointment with the bungee jumping we had a wonderful week-end.