Jeju Island: 'Seminar Workshop'

New7Wonders of Nature
June 24 - 26, 2012.

HOW DID IT COME ABOUT

Back around March, we started planning for their last 3months in Korea and this includes the question to the international office if there is a free trip to Jeju Island, one of the New7Wonders of Nature (the 2011 batch of scholars had a trip there for a seminar). Because if not, we will plan for our own trip there while we are still in Korea. After 2months, the IO announced that we will have a 'seminar workshop' in Jeju for 3days and 2nights. 'Seminar Workshop' because out of the 3days, only 3hours, yes, you read it right, 3hours for the workshop and the rest are all tours. LOL.

FROM DAEJEON

We left Daejeon university at 5:45am. During that night, we didn't sleepy anymore because we watched the Euro cup 2012 quarterfinal match between the eventual champion Spain and France. And by the way, our Russian friend brought authentic Vodka to drink. The game finished at 5:32am just in time for our departure to Cheongju airport. We boarded Eastar Jet flight -- that departed 7:55am.

Euro Cup 2012 Quarterfinals: Spain vs France

Russian Vodka

Gyeongju: Museum without Walls

"Beautiful Gyeongju"
May 28, 2012.


I had a chance to visit Gyeongju for a day and went around the tourist spots in the city. It is one of the most visited cities of Korea outside Seoul because it is known as the "Museum without Walls" where much of Korea's history can be found.  It is pretty much the same as Kyoto of Japan.


I arrived in Singyeongju station around 10am via KTX ride from Daejeon. Thanks to my KR Pass, an unlimited KTX ride for a certain number of days depending on your choice. By the way, it's only available for foreigners. It's a very good deal when you travel around different cities of Korea.

KTX at Singyeongju Station

 When I entered the station, I was welcomed by these KTX mascots.

KTX Mascots

Busan: Taejongdae's Lighthouse & Observatory

"Dynamic Busan"

May 27, 2012.

Taejongdae natural park is one of the places you shouldn't miss when you visit Busan. If you look at the map, it can be very far - around 45minutes via private car on normal days.  How much more if you are taking the public transportation going there.  But, I really suggest to come here and visit here (I don't have any connection with them).  I was just really fulfilled when we hit this place. You will miss the chance of you won't come here.

Breathtaking view from Taejongdae Lighthouse

As my friend told me when we went here, "This is, by far, the best place we visited in Busan." From her statement, it is even better than Haeundae or Gwangalli beach.  But I think because of the scenery and nature. But take note, you cannot swim in this place. It's more on sightseeing than interactive activities like swimming or beach sports type. 

TAEJONGDAE ENTRANCE

I said earlier that the travel time is around 45minutes by private car in ordinary days.  But when we went here, we travelled for 2hrs 30min because it was holiday in Korea and at the same time it was Buddha's Birthday and there are two temples inside the Taejongdae natural park.  But we didn't give up  because we want to see the magnificent cliffs facing the open sea. At first, we were wondering whether it was worth it or not because we didn't have prior information the place aside from the picture we found when we went to the Busan Tower.  In the end, it was all worth it.  From the original 1hr 30min allotted time end up 3hrs 30min going around and just resting in the cliffs with the beautiful ocean.  

The Entrance Stone

Busan: Downtown Beaches & APEC House

"Dynamic Busan"
May 25 - 26, 2012.

When you mention about Busan, the first thing people would think of are the beaches: Haeundae beach overseeing high-rise buildings & 5-star hotels, a very famous beach for foreigners and locals, Gwangalli beach in front of Gwangalli bridge, the longest bridge in Korea (6.5kilometer), Songjeong beach where you could catch the sun rising each day, and Songdo/Dadaepo beach where the sun sets every night. Yes, it's all about beaches! It would all depend on your interests.

For us, due to time constraints, we only walked through the entire shorelines of Haeundae beach and Gwangalli beach but we can safely say that we visited both beaches.

HAEUNDAE BEACH
Our first encounter with the beach was around midnight when we decided to see the beach at night.  Surprisingly, hundreds of people are still on the beach swimming, jamming with music, drinking with ice-cold beer on an 18ºc cool breeze, chatting with friends or simply sitting down looking at the calm ocean with lights coming only from the ships dock miles away. By the way, the other side of the beach, as I mentioned, are 24/7 office buildings, restaurants, establishments and hotels.  Travel Tip: There are a lot of hostels, guest houses, 5-star hotels and even jjimjilbang / sauna within the area so accommodation is not  a problem within the vicinity. Just google it and you will find numerous blogs talking about it.

Haeundae Beach at night

And that's the shoreline!

Korean's jamming by the beach

The 24/7 office buildings and establishments

Busan: Its Busy Streets & Landmarks

"Dynamic Busan"
May 25 - 27, 2012.


My days in Korea are already counted.  I barely have 5weeks left in this technology-driven, industrialized nation that was once the poorest country in the world by the end of the Korean War in 1953.  Because of this, I started planning for another great adventure.  Next Stop: Busan.  I've been to Seoul and its tourist spots for the nth time already and I don't want to spend my 5-day long weekend to that place again.  However, I have one very important transaction in Seoul hence I need to pass by the capital before my great adventure starts.


And so I decided to avail the KR Pass - a KTX train pass for frequent inter-province train users.  I weight on the pros and cons about this decision because the ticket can be expensive if not used properly (I hope to post about KR Pass soon).

KR Pass: 7KTX rides in 5days

Seoul Station: 2nd KTX Train from Seoul-Busan (2hrs 36min)

My KTX Train seat.

World EXPO 2012: Yeosu, South Korea

"The Living Ocean and Coast"

June 6, 2012.

As the days are counting before we leave the country, the ASEAN and Zimbabwean students in Daejeon University had a field trip in World EXPO 2012 in Yeosu, South Korea. We went there to witness the ASEAN Culture & Tourism Fair 2012 sponsored by the ASEAN-Korea Centre at the same time see with our very own eyes the 2012 Yeosu Expo.

To start off our trip, we need to travel around 3hrs by to reach to the Expo and so we left Daejeon University 7:00am sharp. This is one of the field trips that no one was late even just for a minute! It seems that everyone is very excited! Who's not? It's one of the biggest festivals in Korea these days. Everyone charged and prepared themselves for this very long day. It's just a day trip so we are scheduled to arrive home around 10:00pm.

By the time we reached Yeosu, we all have full of energy and immediately posed for a group photo even just after we alight the bus. Like this:

Just after we get down from the bus

Another one!

Japanese Life: Notable Experience

While looking at my old photos in Japan, I found several unique, distinct and noteworthy experiences that are definitely worth sharing. It can be the things that caught my attention while traveling around the beautiful city of Nagano. Or the activities I did with my foster family. It might also be Japanese actions or cultures that, in one way or another, contributed to their country's success. It might be nothing for us but its really something for them.


SELF SERVICE GAS STATION:
Have you ever imagined a well-respected corporate employee wearing coat&tie gassing-up and washing their own cars in the gas station? Well, you will find a lot in Japan. Self-service gas station are a little cheaper than gas stations with gasoline boys. However, looking it long-term, if you finish one full tank in a week, one can really save hundreds of money in a do-it-your-own station.  Just lower your pride a little. I also had my share of becoming a gas-boy fueling our car while preparing for the following day's big activity: Tokyo Disneyland trip.

Filipino Gasoline Boy

Waiting for full tank

Fashionable Japanese cleaning their cars

HeadStart 2012: Kinga Shinnen!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
It was January 1, 2012.

I woke up with renewed self for the coming year but I still could not understand my feelings. It was New Year. It was already 2012. But I'm not with my biological family. I'm with my foster family. I was not in my dormitory. I was not in South Korea, where I study for a year. I was not either in the Philippines. I was in a different place. I was in a house. I was in Inasatomachi. I was in Nagano City. I was in the Land of the Rising Sun when the sun first rose on 2012 or Hatsuhinode (the first sunrise of the year).. Yes, I was in Japan! I was wondering whether it was a dream or reality? Then.. It was definitely a reality!

Yes, it's really Japan

Japanese Custom: New Year's Day Postcards
I went down from "my room" (I call it my room because it's a spare room I used during my visit so I own it. hahaha) to the living room to greet everyone 'A Happy New Year!' And in return, they gave me New Year post card. My foster mom prepared it around 3am, when we arrived from our long-tiring transit (I will post about this soon).

My New Year Gift

My Happy New Year 2012 Postcard

They received hundreds of postcards and even the children received their own postcards from their classmates, friends, relatives or their own acquaintances. The Japanese have a very special custom of sending New Year's Day postcards to their friends and relatives (Nengajo / 年賀状).

Some of my foster family's New Year postcards

Ski Experience: 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics

Iizuna Ski Kogen Resort
"Ski the Heart of Japan"
January 6, 2012.

It was my 2nd to the last day in Japan but there were still a lot excitement and memories to paint. I was slated to a whole new experience: SKIING!

We went skiing at Iizuna Ski Kogen Resort, one of the Ski resorts used during the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. By the way, Nagano was the south most city that hosted Winter Olympics.

Iizuna Ski Kogen Resort: Used during the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics

Tokyo Disneyland: Electrical Parade

January 2, 2012.

A nighttime parade full of lights! The Disney stars covered in colorful sparkling lights! This gorgeous parade turns the Tokyo Disneyland night into a radiant world of sparkling lights and Disney music. It is a dream world of a million of lights sparkle in this grand nighttime parade. Starting next to the Haunted Mansion, the parade flows past Cinderella Castle and exits beyond Toontown.

Have a Magical Day!