Korean Job Discussion Forums

[pkang0202]

I've never been to the Jeollanam-do part of Korea, so I wanted to go there next week for vacation. I'll probably do Busan - Damyang - Boseong - Yeosu -Busan.

Busan I pretty much have covered as for things I'm going to see.

Damyang, I want to check out the bamboo forests.

Boseong, I want to see the tea fields and relac all day at a green tea spa.

Yeosu, I want to take a ferry to the outlying islands and hang out around there.

I was thinking Busan Day 1, Gwangju Day 2, Damyang-Boseong Day 3, Yeosu Day 4, and Busan Day 5. What should I do about accommodations? I'll be traveling on weekdays, so do I have to worry about reserving places to stay?

Also, about travel. Is it pretty easy to find a bus/train to go from each area?

Finally, anyone have any recommendations on things I should see/do in those areas? I don't know a thing about SouthWest Korea, and it would be good if someone could give me some pointers like, "When in ____ you should stay at ______ place, and visit _____ restaurant because it is famous for its local cuisine.

[stevieg4ever]

Sounds like a good plan but why not include Wolchulsan in Mokpo. I hear it is supposed to be one of the most underated hikes in Korea, Ill be there later this month.

And whilst you are in Gwangju I hear Unjusa is an excellent temple, one of the less visited ones.

Regarding you end part, a lot of the 'where to sleep' and transport details can be got from the Lonely Planet Korea guide. I would be lost without it (even though it really needs updating in some respects).

[moosehead]

go to Democracy Park in Gwangju - it's totally worth it - very large and peaceful, the wall reliefs tell the story and then there's a museum with photos and film; a memorial site for the martyrs and mostly a large green space memorializing K's fight for democracy - all too little appreciated IMO

there's a tourist info booth right at the bus terminal and they'll give you directions - the bus takes a while and it can be very hot - I took a bus out there and a taxi back; take plenty of water w/you ! it's out in the middle of nowhere

[bossface]

also in Gwangju, i recommend the Dia (다이아) motel. awesome love hotel, with a computer and internet in the room for 30k a night, and it's right downtown. it's not in lonely planet, but if you have that and find the Soul Train bar, you would take a right out of the bar, walk to the main street and turn right, walk for a block or so, then turn right and left down the next alley. sounds harder than it is, it's a 3 minute walk from Soul Train.

i second Wolchulsan. it's easy to get to from Gwangju, about an hour bus ride away (or 2 with bad traffic) and buses are frequent and cheap. Democracy (5/1 Park is worth it as well, as the previous poster said.

[DCJames]

[Faunaki]

Just went on the same trip basically. It's easy to find places to stay, Gwangju was 30,000 and a place on the beach in Jindo was 40,000. We were quoted as 50,000 but got it down.

We were going to do a 6 day trip but got bored and cut it down to a 4 day one instead. Nothing's really interesting down there.

We liked Boseong the best, but you can only do it for a few hours and the bamboo forest is cool but is only interesting for about an hour or so.

Traffic was a killer on the way back to Seoul but we came in on Saturday. Avoid it at all costs:)

[stevieg4ever]

bloody weather is ruining my finals days here....

[pkang0202]

I'm writing from Busan. Spent a couple days here. Went up to Gyeongju and saw Bulguksa temple and hung around the resort lake there. Anapji pond and the burial mounds nearby is pretty cool at night.

Gyeongju would be a good place to take your fiance/wife for a quiet getaway.

This is my 3rd time to Busan, and everytime I come here, I always think that it would be nice to live/teach here. Its got almost everything that you can find in Seoul, plus beaches. The people seemed more laid back, and I swear the women here are hotter. Maybe its because they are not afraid of the sunlight.

I might skip the Gwangju/Yeosu trip for Chuseok. Might head back to Seoul early.

[Cheonmunka]

Spent a few days on SoWanDo basically the bottom most island save Cheju. The air was soooo clean compared to Incheon. Swimming in the sea was clean enough. Beaches were a bit piled with fishing net trash that is offputting. Was nice holiday though to get away from it all.