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jlb
Joined: 18 Sep 2003
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Louis VI
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
Location: In my Kingdom
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 Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 3:49 am Post subject: |
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Andong is not in the southeast corner  unless you are very Seoul-centric. And it certainly has an awesome festival, but otherwise, not so much. Good for picking up natural, traditional soju though as gifts.
The Tongyeong Islands are better than the Incheon Islands. Deokjeok Island may be a waygook party spot two weekends a year, but it isn't as great as some beach camping places elsewhere. Bijindo, for example, off Tongyeong, is better and there ought to be more party trips there:
http://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/static.panoramio.com/photos/original/15352902.jpg
Jiri National Park is better than Seoraksan: better trails, more majestic vistas, waterfalls, temples, less rocky, more spectacular in the fall time. I've been to both several times and think them both worthy, so not a bad pick with Seoraksan, just not top ten imo.
Seoul IS a top ten place to visit in Korea if one already lives in the country. I don't think it a great place to live, but to visit for a weekend, indeed!
The DMZ is overrated and really worth a pass, watch a documentary instead, unless you want a photo of I-wuz-there to send home to overblown oohs and ahhhs. Rent a car and travel the Gangwondo coast, or Namhae Island or the underappreciated beauty of the Sinan peninsula north of Mokpo in summertime.
Busan and Jeju are solid picks one would be remiss to leave out. |
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Sector7G
Joined: 24 May 2008
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| Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 6:54 am Post subject: |
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| Louis VI wrote: |
| Busan and Jeju are solid picks one would be remiss to leave out. |
Seconded. I was in Korea for 3 years but did not visit Jeju until my very last week. Glad I did. Actually, I think would enjoy living and working there, even with the isolation. |
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Louis VI
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
Location: In my Kingdom
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| Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 7:00 am Post subject: |
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| Sector7G wrote: |
| I was in Korea for 3 years but did not visit Jeju until my very last week. Glad I did. Actually, I think would enjoy living and working there, even with the isolation. |
What isolation? There are two cities and hundreds of fellow waygook teachers, active in all sorts of groups and events. I'm entering my 2nd year on the country's biggest island after seven on the mainland and I've never felt so connected to fellow expats.
Isolated from traffic jams, subways and pollution.  Not isolated from Seoul, as it's just an hour away by 45,000 won flights leaving hourly, so one can go to special concerts or museum exhibits and get some big city shopping done every few months.
Isolated, harumph. |
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Sector7G
Joined: 24 May 2008
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| Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 7:58 am Post subject: |
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| Louis VI wrote: |
| Sector7G wrote: |
| I was in Korea for 3 years but did not visit Jeju until my very last week. Glad I did. Actually, I think would enjoy living and working there, even with the isolation. |
What isolation? There are two cities and hundreds of fellow waygook teachers, active in all sorts of groups and events. I'm entering my 2nd year on the country's biggest island after seven on the mainland and I've never felt so connected to fellow expats.
Isolated from traffic jams, subways and pollution. Not isolated from Seoul, as it's just an hour away by 45,000 won flights leaving hourly, so one can go to special concerts or museum exhibits and get some big city shopping done every few months.
Isolated, harumph. |
Whoa there, Louis VI! You are preaching to the choir!
I guess I should have said "isolation" was my perception before I visited. That perception was also due in part from many comments I read on this board when I was just starting out. My very first offer was from Jeju and I turned it down. Now I would love to work there.
But still, aren't you glad you started off on the mainland in your rookie years, to learn the lay of the land at least? |
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jlb
Joined: 18 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 3:06 pm Post subject: |
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| I would love to work on Jeju, if the uni jobs offered decent pay and not this 1.8 mill. craziness that I see on the job ads. |
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Louis VI
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
Location: In my Kingdom
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| Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 4:59 pm Post subject: |
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| Sector7G wrote: |
| But still, aren't you glad you started off on the mainland in your rookie years, to learn the lay of the land at least? |
Yeah, having travelled almost everywhere on the mainland, from Chuncheon to Namhae, Ulleungdo via Pohang to Hongdo via Mokpo, I've a clear sense of the country. And I appreciate Jeju more because of it!
It was 17 C Friday, 13 C today, in December with lush, vibrant greenery and the orange tangerines are ripe on the trees. The Christmas season is very different looking here. No dreary grey brown landscape, six months of summer and lots to do with it, fresh ocean winds, realy it does't feel much like Korea except for the Koreans, but even they are different: don't stare at foreigners, never point, and antiforeigner feelng is nonexistent based on everything I've seen and heard, as this island depends on internationals (I'm also surprised that antiJapanese sentiment is minimal, that most of my students don't have it - unlike my jobs on the mainland). Really, in many ways, Jeju is like another country. |
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Kurtz
Joined: 05 Jan 2007
Location: ples bilong me
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| Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 6:24 pm Post subject: |
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Seoul-->needs no intro.
Jeju---> scenic, laid-back with a big volcano in the middle
Jirisan-->vast array of hiking opportunities with many temples tucked away in the mountains
Gyeongju-->Ancient capital
Dadohae Haesang National Park--> experience remote islands and traditional Korea
Haeinsa Temple--->A very nice temple in a beautiful location.
Namhae Island---> Spectacular scenery, very relaxed atmosphere and the view from Boriam temple is awesome.
Jeonju--->Walk through traditional Korea and nearby Maisan Provincial Park
Wochulsan National Park---->Remote part of Korea, spectacular scenery along with quaint tea houses.
Busan---> Experience the beach nightlife and Busanites screaming at each other in normal converation. |
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superNET
Joined: 08 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 3:34 am Post subject: |
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#1 DMZ--one of the best places to go
And in response to Louis VI, Andong has the traditional village and the mask museum along with a very nice folk museum over by its dam. I love going to Andong as it is a very quaint city to visit.
Seoul is not a must see at any time. Aside from 3 museums and 3 palaces there is nothing in the city that you cannot get anywhere else--except for Itaewon which I avoid like the plague.
Oh, I forgot, it has Kyobo bookstores.
You should combine Sokcho with Seoraksan and the drive up to the DMZ which makes that area a must see.
Then if you want the best hamburger in Korea go to Inje, the white water and bunggi jump capital of Korea, on Hwy. 44, at the bus terminal there is a place called Delish Burger. Almost all the hambrgers are under 5,000 won, cooked fresh, and taste better than anything you can get in Seoul. |
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Mosley
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 2:51 pm Post subject: |
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Absolutely agree w/superNET and disagree w/Louis VI(how's that for a pretentious moniker?).
Sure, it ain't cheap to go on the DMZ tour but I daresay it's perhaps the most worthwhile visit you'll make in Korea. |
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jlb
Joined: 18 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 2:54 pm Post subject: |
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| The actual sites of the DMZ are not so amazing (except for the wickedly cool tunnels), but the hostile, serious atmosphere is what makes it so interesting. |
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superNET
Joined: 08 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2010 7:16 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| The actual sites of the DMZ are not so amazing (except for the wickedly cool tunnels), but the hostile, serious atmosphere is what makes it so interesting |
I haven't just gone to the tunnels and observatories but north of Yeoncheon there are a couple observation posts you can visit, talk to the Korean soldiers and see the actual situation. Those visits were great but you need your own car to do them. |
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nstick13
Joined: 02 Aug 2009
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| Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 10:35 pm Post subject: |
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| jlb wrote: |
| The actual sites of the DMZ are not so amazing (except for the wickedly cool tunnels), but the hostile, serious atmosphere is what makes it so interesting. |
Travel in Egypt sometime. My g/f and I were made to get off a bus, and had our passports inspected for a good 15 minutes. Some Czechs, too (they were treated much harsher). When we went to Israel, some Egyptians were escorted off the bus after about 7:45 of the 8 hour ride, just before the border, and held until they could get a bus back. |
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BoholDiver
Joined: 03 Oct 2009
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 9:26 pm Post subject: |
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Israelis are hardly known for their good manners, ideas of equality, or modesty.
| nstick13 wrote: |
| jlb wrote: |
| The actual sites of the DMZ are not so amazing (except for the wickedly cool tunnels), but the hostile, serious atmosphere is what makes it so interesting. |
Travel in Egypt sometime. My g/f and I were made to get off a bus, and had our passports inspected for a good 15 minutes. Some Czechs, too (they were treated much harsher). When we went to Israel, some Egyptians were escorted off the bus after about 7:45 of the 8 hour ride, just before the border, and held until they could get a bus back. |
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BoholDiver
Joined: 03 Oct 2009
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 4:42 pm Post subject: |
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Is it just me or is Jeju Island totally overrated?
Now let me defend myself first. I have been there twice for a total of 6 days. Both times we drove most of the island and saw many sights, both touristy and natural. I don' know it haf as well as someone like Louis, but I have seen a fair bit.
The nature is quite nice and it'd be a place I'd consider living if I were single. But as a tourist spot, I'll take a pass.
It is setup for Korean tastes. Not thatI blame them, as that's a majority of their tourists. But I hate traveling like Koreans.
There is a real lack of public transportation to get around the island. You have to drive. To me, that's a fail.
Just like all god beaches in Korea, they're hrribly overcrowded in the short swimming season they allow.
The food was lackluster, so were most of the sights. Sure the teddy bear museum is eat and kinda cute but not something I seek out when traveling. |
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