임진각에 풍경이 너무 아름다워요!
거기는 사진을 많이 찍었어요.
Will talk about 작살 치킨 in the next entry.
Anyway, last thursday(6/9/2012), I went to the 임진강 (Imjinggang) in the daytime.
Its a place I had been wanting to go since the beginning when I am planning my trip.
Actually, the place that I wanted to visit at 임진각 is the 평화누리 공원 (Pyeonghwa Nuri Park).
I got to know of this place when I was watching 우리 결혼했어요(We got married), this Korea variety show.
The Woojung couple went there on one of the episodes and I was mesmerized by the 바람 개비(pinwheels) on this huge patch of field.
So, on last thursday, I decided to go ahead with what I had planned and went to the outskirts of Seoul.
It was actually quite far for me to travel there as I have to change like 2 lines on the subway and change to a train at the 문산 지하철(Munsan subway).
At the 문산역(Munsan station)
The train station.
The 기차(train) that I took.
The 기차 and me!
Me on the 기차.
A small station before 임진강.
At the station.
When I reached the station, I was shocked to see people giving their ticket to the staff at the door as I doesn't have a ticket.
And the reason why I don't have a ticket because I didn't know I had to get one.
Sounds stupid, right?
But that is because the train "station" is right next to the subway, meaning all you need to do is to cross the linkbridge!
I thought it is going to be charged to the T-money which I was using.
Anyway, I went to staff and told him that I doesn't have a ticket and I didn't know that I need to get a ticket.
He then started talking a whole long string of Korean which I couldn't catch at all.
I then decided to say, "죄송합니다, 저는 한국 사람이아니에요 (Sorry, I am not a Korean)".
The staff then realized that, told me that I thought I am a Korean and went on to ask whether I am from China.
I had to explain that I am from Singapore and that I didn't know I had to get a ticket.
He then told me that I can just give him 1,000won on the spot and then showed me the train schedule for the next few returning trips.
Strangely enough, he still insists to speak to me in Korean despite knowing that I am a Singaporean.
I think its partly my fault because I replied him in Korean =P
Hee hee.
So, those who are planning to visit this place, no worries when you forgot to get your ticket for the train!
The distance between 임진강 and 평양(PyeongYang) of North Korea and 서울(Seoul).
Apparently, 임진강 is located in 파주(Paju) which is at the border between the North and South Korea.
It is also where the DMZ(demilitarized zone) is at.
I initially wanted to visit the DMZ with the guided tour.
However, many people were worried about my safety at the borders which I cannot understand why and the guided tour starting too early, hence, I gave the DMZ a miss.
I think the next time I visit the South Korea again, I will definitely go for the DMZ guided tour.
The 파주 map.
The direction to the 평화누리 공원 that I wanted to visit.
I had asked the staff at the train station on how can I get to 평화누리 공원 and his reply was to follow the crowd!
And that is true.
Because even though I visited that place on a weekday afternoon, there is still people going there, but mainly old people.
So, follow the crowd and you can get there!
There are a few attractions and monuments to see there but I will just post the photos on 평화누리 공원.
The 평화누리 공원.
Me and 평화누리 공원.
Asked some passerby for help.
Lol.
A whole hill filled with 바람 개비!
Close up of the 바람 개비.
Me and the 바람 개비!
I am so glad that I brought along the small tripod I specially borrowed from my brother for this trip.
It allows me to take photo at angles decided by myself without troubling others.
I had tried asking people to take photos for me, however, I can't be asking them to take from certain angles that I want.
Therefore, if you planning to travel alone, bring along a tripod!
The beautiful 바람 개비 there.
More photos of me and the 바람 개비!
The statues that is used to symbolize peace/unification or hope for peace/unification if I am not wrong.
The statues and me, once again taken by the mighty tripod!
Went to rest at the 카페 안녕(cafe annyeong) after walking around the park.
It is actually situated next to the평화누리 공원.
The 카페 안녕...
My view from the seat at the 카페 안녕.
*Side story*
After resting at the 카페 안녕(cafe annyeong).
Then I returned to the train station too early as I wasn't sure of the timing of the returning train.
I rather be early than late and missed the last train as I seriously wouldn't want to be left there and not sure how to return.
And so, I was like 2hours plus early for the next train.
Wanted to wait at the shelter of the train station until this old man that was also there who went to ask the staff of the train station what time was the returning train.
He got his answer and the staff then told him that he can take a bus back to the 문산역.
The old man being very kind, came forward and tell me the information that he got and we went to the bus stop together.
Point to note, the old man told me that in Korean.
While waiting at the bus stop, the old man was chatting to me in Korean.
But my Korean is so basic that I can barely understand what he was talking to me.
Hence, my "죄송합니다, 저는 한국 사람이 아이에요" came out again.
The old man then told me that he thought I was a Korean!
He said I look like one.
Lol.
We managed to chat for awhile in Korean as we wait for the bus to arrive.
So nice and cute of the old man.
My little adventure on the local bus that took me to the countryside.
Its a little gamble that I took as I had no idea where to drop off from the bus to get back to 문산역.
Anyway, people there are nice as they simply directly me and got me off when I just asked about 지하철.
To view nicer photos of the 평화누리 공원, please go to this site below:
http://blog.naver.com/tcacyc/140167600074
Managed to chance upon this blog and realized the photos are so freaking gorgeous!
I really hope to share all the lovely photos that I had took during this trip.
Next post will be on Jaksal Chicken!!!
Ps:/ Noted lots of pageviews on this blog from various countries, will very much appreciate those who had read my blog to leave some comments. Thanks!
No comments:
Post a Comment