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DanseurVertical
Joined: 24 Nov 2010
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 Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2011 9:42 pm Post subject: do you think you know Korea? |
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If you would just like a change or have become nauseated of 8-lane streets and seeing in every neighborhood Paris Baguette, PC, every man dressed in a suit all the time, 아파트, red neon crosses, LIVE, soju, HOF, 피자, 치킨, then get out of the city!
Find lakes, rivers, mountains. If you haven't visited the countryside or walked into mountain areas where people go, then do it :)
Depending on where you go, it can radically change your conception of what Korea is. There is so much, much more to modern life in Korea than work, walk, eat, computer, drink, sleep.
Examples of what I've seen:
-people playing in rivers and building balanced stone structures in the riverbed
-so many little plots of land being farmed by hand
-metalwork studio
-art gallery
-restaurants and homes whose design is simple yet beautiful
-temples
-people camping along a river
-people singing / chanting
-live music
There is an entirely different culture here from what we encounter everyday in the cities. |
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Zyzyfer
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Location: who, what, where, when, why, how?
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| Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2011 10:40 pm Post subject: |
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D;
(Actually I concur. I just don't get to use that emoticon enough.)
I do think it's a bit easier when you have your own wheels. Buses get around to most places but some of the coolest little areas I've found are essentially car access only. |
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DanseurVertical
Joined: 24 Nov 2010
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| Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2011 11:12 pm Post subject: |
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| Zyzyfer wrote: |
| Buses get around to most places but some of the coolest little areas I've found are essentially car access only. |
I know what you mean, but a lot of these areas you discover by just walking into the country. If you're not fit and walking long distance is too difficult, then maybe not. But if you are, walking can be ideal.
On Sunday I met a Korean family who had walked from the center of my city 15km into the country, reached their destination at nightfall, and then walked back. Not many people do anything like that these days. I was impressed. |
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PRagic
Joined: 24 Feb 2006
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| Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 12:02 am Post subject: |
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| Take a bike along the Han River from HapJeong Station, keep going, and you'll ride straight back into the 1970s. No reason to move out of the city, but all the more reason to move out of the friggin pad! |
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marsavalanche
Joined: 27 Aug 2010
Location: where pretty lies perish
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| Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 12:05 am Post subject: |
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So take a stroll out to the countryside where the people are even more racist, get stared at more, and absolutely nothing to do for fun?
No thanks. Hell it's the same reason why I accepted going to college in America's greatest city as opposed to going to school in the middle of nowhere hanging out with cowtippers and meth addicts.
Some people enjoy city living, believe it or not. |
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Zyzyfer
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Location: who, what, where, when, why, how?
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| Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 12:50 am Post subject: |
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| DanseurVertical wrote: |
| Zyzyfer wrote: |
| Buses get around to most places but some of the coolest little areas I've found are essentially car access only. |
I know what you mean, but a lot of these areas you discover by just walking into the country. If you're not fit and walking long distance is too difficult, then maybe not. But if you are, walking can be ideal.
On Sunday I met a Korean family who had walked from the center of my city 15km into the country, reached their destination at nightfall, and then walked back. Not many people do anything like that these days. I was impressed. |
I like to walk. But I wouldn't call most roads in Korea, even the ones out in smaller cities, particularly safe for walking long distances. The lack of sidewalks is a major issue.
Now, if you're talking trails instead, yeah that's different. I don't see many of those, though.
But by wheels I don't necessarily mean a car. A scooter/motorcycle can do in a pinch and then you can walk in actual nice areas condusive to walking. Or yeah, even a bicycle is good enough. Because you can definitely find some very mellow little spots.
The reason I'm so hard on buses now is a recent experience. I went out to Damyang and there was a river with people doing picnics and things right on the water as the road went up to a hiking area. We checked the bus schedule and explored for a while, coming back at the assumed correct time, and spent about two hours tired as hell from hiking a lot, waiting for a bus. |
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schwa
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Yap
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| Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 2:20 am Post subject: |
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Your own wheels, true. They really open up the countryside & many pleasant surprises.
Pockets of unspoilt nature, rare temples, authentic traditional villages, quaint obscure festivals, charming little getaways designed & hosted by artists who've escaped Seoul. Gangwondo can claim some intriguing adventure up just about any backroad.
I dont drive but have had the good fortune to befriend Koreans who enjoy going exploring. |
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drunkenfud
Joined: 08 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 3:42 am Post subject: Re: do you think you know Korea? |
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| DanseurVertical wrote: |
If you would just like a change or have become nauseated of 8-lane streets and seeing in every neighborhood Paris Baguette, PC, every man dressed in a suit all the time, 아파트, red neon crosses, LIVE, soju, HOF, 피자, 치킨, then get out of the city!
Find lakes, rivers, mountains. If you haven't visited the countryside or walked into mountain areas where people go, then do it 
Depending on where you go, it can radically change your conception of what Korea is. There is so much, much more to modern life in Korea than work, walk, eat, computer, drink, sleep.
Examples of what I've seen:
-people playing in rivers and building balanced stone structures in the riverbed
-so many little plots of land being farmed by hand
-metalwork studio
-art gallery
-restaurants and homes whose design is simple yet beautiful
-temples
-people camping along a river
-people singing / chanting
-live music
There is an entirely different culture here from what we encounter everyday in the cities. |
You are describing where I live, less than 1 hour from Seoul by train. The big cities are nice to visit, but I couldn't imagine living there. I actually live in a small town but teach in a tiny village, and I don't get stares... Everyone knows who I am, why I am there, and I'm as everyday a sight as the postman.
Last edited by drunkenfud on Mon Jul 18, 2011 4:47 am; edited 1 time in total |
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GB
Joined: 14 Jan 2008
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| Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 4:23 am Post subject: |
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| Buying a car and travelling most weekends has drastically changed my view of this country. There are some seriously beautiful areas once you get into the country. |
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cmr
Joined: 22 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 6:56 am Post subject: |
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| Care to say where? |
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PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
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| Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 7:01 am Post subject: |
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| GB wrote: |
| Buying a car and travelling most weekends has drastically changed my view of this country. There are some seriously beautiful areas once you get into the country. |
So true!
So many places you discover almost at random while driving around or hiking.
Korea friends can also put you on to some amazing spots to visit and stay at.
Some of the national parks are amazing for example. |
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GB
Joined: 14 Jan 2008
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| Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 7:10 am Post subject: |
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| cmr: Here's one for you. Route 77 way down in the south western corner of Korea. Driving along that road and some of the smaller single lane roads off that, I really saw a way of life that hasn't changed for hundreds of years. I saw a few old boys ploughing their fields with oxen and wooden ploughs. That is one beautiful part of the country. |
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flakfizer
Joined: 12 Nov 2004
Location: scaling the Cliffs of Insanity with a frayed rope.
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| Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 5:14 pm Post subject: Re: do you think you know Korea? |
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| DanseurVertical wrote: |
Examples of what I've seen:
-people playing in rivers and building balanced stone structures in the riverbed
-so many little plots of land being farmed by hand
-metalwork studio
-art gallery
-restaurants and homes whose design is simple yet beautiful
-temples
-people camping along a river
-people singing / chanting
-live music
There is an entirely different culture here from what we encounter everyday in the cities. |
Is that supposed to be a list of things one can't observe in Seoul? |
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flakfizer
Joined: 12 Nov 2004
Location: scaling the Cliffs of Insanity with a frayed rope.
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| Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 5:15 pm Post subject: |
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| GB wrote: |
| cmr: Here's one for you. Route 77 way down in the south western corner of Korea. Driving along that road and some of the smaller single lane roads off that, I really saw a way of life that hasn't changed for hundreds of years. I saw a few old boys ploughing their fields with oxen and wooden ploughs. That is one beautiful part of the country. |
Now that is something I haven't seen in Seoul. And it sounds idyllic. |
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GB
Joined: 14 Jan 2008
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| Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 8:51 pm Post subject: |
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| It was great. Driving along in the sunshine, surrounded by small fields. Was a great experience. I travel most weekends. Try and go somewhere different every week. Once you get off the highways, you really never know what you will see. I went from hating Korea to loving it. I think the problem was I hated big city living. Now I can escape the concrete jungle at the weekends, I'm happy. My car has improved my quality of life here no end. |
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