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leaf
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
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 Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 7:10 am Post subject: Pohang for a weekend....What shall we do??!! |
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Heading to Pohang for the weekend....Never been before 
Where's good to go? Eat? Drink? See?!
Best place/area to stay?
Cheers |
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kittykoo
Joined: 02 Sep 2004
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 9:06 am Post subject: |
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| I lived in Pohang for three years a while back, and if I were there for a weekend, weather permitting, I would go to the Port and take a ferry to a peninsula that is the easternmost point in Korea. The park (can't remember the name--might be Sunrise Park) has a giant sculpture of a hand positioned to grasp the rising sun. There is a beautiful park, a lighthouse with a museum inside and lots of good places to eat. The ferry is cheap, and the attractions are free. |
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afsjesse
Joined: 23 Sep 2007
Location: Kickin' it in 'Kato town.
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| Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 11:27 am Post subject: |
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I believe what he's refering to is Homigot, which is a giant han on the most eastern point of the peninsula. There are bus services that go there, however I lack details.
Enjoy! |
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zstar5000
Joined: 23 Feb 2009
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| Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 2:41 pm Post subject: |
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You can reach Homigot by taking the #200 bus. It stops all along the main road through downtown, as well as at the intercity bus terminal.
Jukdo market is pretty cool if you haven't been to a seaside market before. |
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xingyiman
Joined: 12 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 4:38 pm Post subject: |
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Yep Homigot is about it. If you are lucky enough you'l find a Korean who is willing to help you climb up into the big hand. That will surely be the highlight of your trip rest assured. There are no remarkable restaurants and the locals generally don't like foreigners. You can drop by Mindy's bar and meet some of the standoffish local expats(and who can really blame them), or spend the entire evening entertaining a Korean who's ever so eager for free English lessons. If you are a bit more adventurous, you can go to Cheers bar and get in a fight with a US Marine because he thought you were spending just a little too much time near his bartender lady.
If I were you I'd just skip out of Pohang as soon as I could and make my way down to Pusan. If you like Koreans with wide eyes and mouths agape because you crossed their line of sight you'll fell right at home in Pohang. The place is the textbook definition of armpit. |
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waynehead
Joined: 18 Apr 2006
Location: Jongno
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| Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 5:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Why in the heck are you going to Pohang for a weekend? Have you been to every other city in Korea and it's last on your list, coz that's the only reason I'd go... |
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chris_J2
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
Location: From Brisbane, Au.
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Goku
Joined: 10 Dec 2008
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| Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 6:33 pm Post subject: |
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There are some seaside resturants that are so homey and casual (and shaggy and rugged if you prefer)
They catch the fish right there and bring it to you cut up as sashimi.
Not only is it delicious but it feels like you are really in Korea, a different country and the experience makes you really taste Korean culture (or pohang more accurately) much more.
I really remember eating the fish there and watching the ocean. I felt as my cares melted and nothing mattered except that moment. I went with a Korean family, and even though we didn't talk much we felt as one.
It was a pretty crappy shack we ate in, and it was cold as F*** with the breeze and water leaking in (it was raining) but I can't tell you how much that adds to the experience. |
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bluelake
Joined: 01 Dec 2005
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| Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 6:35 pm Post subject: |
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Everybody has their opinions, and I actually like Pohang. I lived there for four years and really liked the area. It's true that it isn't a large and lively place, but, if you want that, you can go to Busan or Daegu.
Go out into the surrounding countryside area (especially around Heunghae) and the air is pretty clean and it's really nice for hiking and general sightseeing. The beaches aren't too bad (they cleaned up Chilpo quite a bit). |
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chris_J2
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
Location: From Brisbane, Au.
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| Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 6:54 pm Post subject: Pohang |
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| Thanks. I've never been to Pohang, & was just in Bangeojin, (Ulsan) on 4th October. Like the OP, I'm planning a visit to Pohang. Didn't have time over Chuseok. |
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zstar5000
Joined: 23 Feb 2009
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| Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 7:14 pm Post subject: |
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| xingyiman wrote: |
Yep Homigot is about it. If you are lucky enough you'l find a Korean who is willing to help you climb up into the big hand. That will surely be the highlight of your trip rest assured. There are no remarkable restaurants and the locals generally don't like foreigners. You can drop by Mindy's bar and meet some of the standoffish local expats(and who can really blame them), or spend the entire evening entertaining a Korean who's ever so eager for free English lessons. If you are a bit more adventurous, you can go to Cheers bar and get in a fight with a US Marine because he thought you were spending just a little too much time near his bartender lady.
If I were you I'd just skip out of Pohang as soon as I could and make my way down to Pusan. If you like Koreans with wide eyes and mouths agape because you crossed their line of sight you'll fell right at home in Pohang. The place is the textbook definition of armpit. |
But would you go back again?? 
Look, I live here, I don't care for it that much, but I've never experienced any of the negatives mentioned above. The locals here have been really accommodating and as friendly as you would expect from any city back home which is a little rough around the edges. There's simply not much going on here, which is why we don't like it. Although we really going to the Steelers matches, but they're away this weekend.
Plus I'm not sure when the above poster was here last, but we've been since March and the Cheers bar has been closed since at least then. |
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zstar5000
Joined: 23 Feb 2009
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| Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 7:15 pm Post subject: |
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| bluelake wrote: |
| Go out into the surrounding countryside area (especially around Heunghae) and the air is pretty clean and it's really nice for hiking and general sightseeing. The beaches aren't too bad (they cleaned up Chilpo quite a bit). |
There are some good hikes north of Pohang if you have a car. PM if you're interested and I can send you directions. |
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xingyiman
Joined: 12 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 8:19 pm Post subject: |
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| zstar5000 wrote: |
| xingyiman wrote: |
Yep Homigot is about it. If you are lucky enough you'l find a Korean who is willing to help you climb up into the big hand. That will surely be the highlight of your trip rest assured. There are no remarkable restaurants and the locals generally don't like foreigners. You can drop by Mindy's bar and meet some of the standoffish local expats(and who can really blame them), or spend the entire evening entertaining a Korean who's ever so eager for free English lessons. If you are a bit more adventurous, you can go to Cheers bar and get in a fight with a US Marine because he thought you were spending just a little too much time near his bartender lady.
If I were you I'd just skip out of Pohang as soon as I could and make my way down to Pusan. If you like Koreans with wide eyes and mouths agape because you crossed their line of sight you'll fell right at home in Pohang. The place is the textbook definition of armpit. |
But would you go back again??
Look, I live here, I don't care for it that much, but I've never experienced any of the negatives mentioned above. The locals here have been really accommodating and as friendly as you would expect from any city back home which is a little rough around the edges. There's simply not much going on here, which is why we don't like it. Although we really going to the Steelers matches, but they're away this weekend.
Plus I'm not sure when the above poster was here last, but we've been since March and the Cheers bar has been closed since at least then. |
Well, I went back a little over a year ago and wondered how I ever survived there for two years. I wouldn't go back again because I have no reason to and there are many more places that are less xenophbic and racist. Blue Lake seems to have had no problems there, and you seem to have none but also it can depend where you live. If you live in Yi - dong you've got the Giant Step, Wa Bar and probably a couple other places for disaffected foreigners. Even the Korean friends in my circle admitted to me that Pohang was backward and racist with regard to foreigners. So Cheers bar has closed? Big deal. Just insert whatever other lewd watering hole the GI's hang out at these days. (Before Cheers it was "The New Hess Bar" and before that it was "The Old Hess Bar"). I actually saw a GI taking a picture of the Hess Bar when it had closed and was being remodeled and there was a tear running down his cheek (no kidding).
I will say that Pohang is home to the prettiest Korean women I thingk exist on the pinnensula, but you're not going to touch them with a ten foot pole. A couple of my Korean woman friends told me that men will spit at and curse women if they are seen walking with a western man (and it happened to them when they were with me and other western friends, they had thick skin and would never say anything about it because they didn't want to get us riled). If they are caught alone somewhere if someone recognizes them they sometimes can be assaulted. Now of course this happens in other places as well but from what I was told by the locals the frequency is much greater in SE Korea and particularly Pohang. There were many ladies who had worked and studied in Seoul who had Western boyfriends but that all stopped when they came back for whatever reasons for the afforementioned reasons.
I was refused service at some restaurants because I was a westerner but to be fair most places readily accomodated me. I have not been refused service anywhere else in Korea.
Also, if you can understand lots of what is being said around you I'll bet that your view of the place would change drastically. As another poster said in a previous thread - that he had never experienced any racism or discrimination for three years of being in Korea and then wham! - Three instances in one week. It may take a while but eventually something will sting yo uin Pohang and when it happens it's gonna be bitter. |
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GoodMike
Joined: 18 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 1:16 am Post subject: |
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Some people have obviously had a bad experience or two, and have let that cloud their overall image of Pohang. Pohang is actually a pretty nice area IMO. Go to the downtown area, plenty of great bars and restraunts to eat at.
Naeyeongsan is great, just hiked up there last weekend, if you hike to the top its a 7km hike up and 7 back down. Leave plenty early to do the hike, I ran out of time with my friends 5km up, it started to get dark, and the path is hard to see even when it is light out. Go see it though, the temple there, Bogyeonsa, is modest, but very peaceful.
The beaches are good, not great, but good. Of the 3 mentioned, i would say that Chilpo is the best. Bukbu is nice, but not as clean IMO. Check them out for sure.
Homigot is nice to go see, but there really isnt a whole lot out there to do. Go for the sunrise or set and you will see a pretty scene.
Pohang and the surrounding area is a nice place to explore, better if you have a car though. You will find the most random little house/restaurant that serves great food or tea, temples where the Monks welcome you with open arms and a cup of coffee. I have never been greeted with xenophobia, anger, or anything of that sort in this area. It is easy to let yourself get blinded by a bad experience, but don't listen to anyone else and just come check the area out! Then you will beable to make up your own mind |
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leaf
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 10:04 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for all the comments
Wow - not many people seem to like Pohang!
We havn't visited the place before and just fancied a change of scene and a bit of sea gazing.
We don't have a car so would just be staying around the sea area I presume.
Will post back after I visit!
Cheers again folks! |
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