Category: travelogue

  • updated Things to Do In Yeongjongdo International City

    updated Things to Do In Yeongjongdo International City

    Updated list of things to do in Yeongjondo, the “Hamptons” of Seoul?

    Updated Things to Do on Yeongjongdo

    Top Things to Do on Yeongjongdo

    Yeongjongdo the Hamptons of Seoul
    what can we eat in Yeongjongdo

    favorite places in Yeongjongdo

    More resturants listing

    ://myincheon.com/en/Incheon_Restaurant.html

    best restaurants in Yeongjongdo restaurants near unseo station
    Yongongdo, the island where the Incheon Airport is located has lots of things going on besides the airport.  Here are some of my favorite spots.  We have been living here off and on since 2016 and over time it has gotten a lot nicer a place to live.  The traffic is not too bad, the air is the cleanest in the region and there are so many Restaurants from around the world walking distance from my house.

    And Seoul is about an hour away by subway or driving.

    Intro to the city  (internet article)

    Yeongjong International City Accelerating the Speed for Sustainable Growth

    Yeongjong International City,  (formerly called Airport New City) which is growing into a global tourism and leisure city with its amazing natural environment, is recently drawing attention with various pieces of good news. The development of international tourist attractions in relation to the Incheon International Airport has gone into full swing, starting with the existing large-scale resort complex projects. At the same time, the infrastructure for the convenience of the citizens and visitors is also being rapidly built.

    Han sang Dream Island

    – Location: Jungian-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon Metropolitan City

    – Site : 3.32 million ㎡

    – Investment Amount: KRW 2.0321 trillion from the private sector

    – Completion: 2022 (Scheduled)

    – Details: waterpark, aquarium, luxury hotel, shopping mall, education and research facilities, and theme park

    Groundbreaking Ceremony for Han sang Dream Island Held

    On June 24, the groundbreaking ceremony for Han sang Dream Island was held at Lotte Hotel Seoul. More than 200 participants attended the ceremony, including the IFEZ General Director Yoo Byeong-Yoon, Chairman Kim Hee-choul and Vice Chairman Jo Guang-hui of Industry and Economy Committee of Incheon Metropolitan Council, and businessmen and investors from home and abroad. The ceremony was followed by the groundbreaking celebrating luncheon at Gyeongwonjae Ambassador Incheon in Songdo International City, attended by Deputy Mayor for Economic Policy of Incheon Metropolitan City Heo Jong-sik, the World Federation of Korean Association of Commerce, and the project implementers.
    The Hansang Dream Island project involves a large-scale capital investment into the site and building construction. Therefore, the critical success factor is to secure the capital from the private sector for investment. Against this backdrop, the investment seminar for invited investors was also held on the groundbreaking ceremony day.
    The Hansang Dream Island is a project to develop international marine tourism spots in the large area formed by the reclamation of soil dredged from the sea to maintain the sea level of Incheon Port. In the 3.32 million ㎡ site, an area 1.1 times Yeouido, the capital from the private sector, KRW 2.0321 trillion will be invested by 2022 and a waterpark, aquarium, luxury hotel, shopping mall, education and research facilities, and a theme park will be established.
    The IFEZ expects that the establishment of the Hansang Dream Island will trigger production worth approximately KRW 15 trillion and creation of 18,000 jobs, contributing to the vitalization of local economy. At the same time, it is expected that the construction will contribute to the job creation of Incheon area, increase in tax revenue, attraction of foreign investment, and expansion of attracting tourists.

    Development Project
    for Yongyu·Muui,
    Yeongjong International City

    Yongyu Ocean View

    • Location: San 70-1 Eurwang-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon, Korea
    • Project Expenses: KRW 264.8 billion
    • Details: hotel, condominium, park, etc.
    • Completion: 2020 (scheduled)

    Muui Solaire Resort Complex

    • Location: Muuido and Silmido, Jung-gu, Incheon, Korea
    • Project Expenses: KRW 1.5 trillion
    • Details: hotel, waterpark, ocean theme park
    • Completion: 2022 (scheduled)

    Muui LK

    • Location: San 349, Muui-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon, Korea
    • Project Expenses: KRW 190 billion
    • Details: private villas, convention hall, condominium, etc.
    • Completion: 2020 (scheduled)

    Eurwangsan Mountain IFUS Hill

    • Location: 77-4, Eurwang-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon, Korea
    • Project Expenses: KRW 230 billion
    • Details: Korean-style Hollywood theme park
    • Completion: 2024 (scheduled)

    Paradise City

    Building Tourism Hub in Northeast Asia by Clustering Complex Resorts

    comment:  Prior to COVID this casino next to the airport seemed to be filled with Chinese tourists gambling away their down time in between flights. I triedto enter but was turned down because their rules required showing a passport and they refused to honor the ARC in lieu of a passport which I did not have on me.  Left a bad image in my mind. I had a similar experience earlier in Seoul where the casino at the COEX refused to accept military ID or ARC due to their stupid adherence to only acepting a passport.  Stupid policy in my mind. End Comment

    Construction has started for large-scale clustered resorts with a casino, shopping mall, and convention facilities in Yeongjong International City, according to schedule. The city is now ambitiously working to realize its vision to become an international tourist destination, as popular as Singapore, Macao, and Las Vegas.
    Paradise City, an integrated resort opened in 2017, will expand its accommodation facilities, exhibition halls and theaters by 2022, investing an additional KRW 500 billion. The resort currently has 711 guest rooms in luxurious condition, convention facilities, and a casino. Approximately 2.5 million visitors have come to Paradise City as of July 2019.

    Inspire Integrated Resort Project,

    comment:

    way behind schedule due to COVID and the collapse of the international travel market.  I wonder if they will be successful being a foreigner only casino.    Construction is coming along,  will probably open on time now scheduled for early 2022.  I think the next government will have to relax the rules and allow limited access to Korean gamblers – maybe once or twice a month to start? End comment.

    the largest project in Korea, is also attracting intensive attention. Inspire, the project owner, will invest approximately KRW 1.8 trillion for the 1st phase to establish three hotel buildings (1,256 rooms), Inspire Dome, an arena, and shopping malls to open. Then, KRW 6 trillion in total will be invested to develop a 6-star hotel, a theater, and a casino for foreigners in the site of 4.37 million ㎡.

    In Midan City, the 2nd phase development for Caesars Korea (high-rise residential and office-tel building) has passed the first stage of licensing, the landscape deliberation, with conditions, driving momentum for project implementation. With the implementation, a housing facility for 1,098 households and an arcade in the scale of 4 basement floors and 33 ground floors will be built in Midan City.
    When these integrated resorts of Caesars Korea and Inspire are respectively opened three integrated casino resorts, including Paradise City, will be established in Yeongjong International City, creating more than 20,000 new jobs. The city is expected to become the largest integrated resort city in Northeast Asia.

    Inspire Integrated Resort

    Caesars Korea Integrated Resort

    MOU Signed for On-demand Public Transportation in
    Yeongjong International City

    comment: yet to try it but they seem to becoming popular.

    Incheon Metropolitan City and Hyundai Motors consortium signed an MOU for on-demand public transportation in Yeongjong International City on June 21. Based on this, the Hyundai Motors will introduce the MoD service that operates vehicles according to the demand of passengers, based on the cutting-edge AI, in collaboration with Hyundai AutoEver to dramatically increase the efficiency in system operation.

    The MoD service is an innovative mobility service with an algorithm that calculates the optimal path and vehicle arrangement by the entering the points of departure and destination via a smartphone application, enabling a vehicle to be arranged to the nearest bus stop. This will dramatically decrease the waiting time of users.
    In addition, a hospital-level medical institute opened in Yeongjong International City to meet the increasing demand for medical services. On July 15, in Jungsan-dong of Yeongjong International City, Yeongjong International Hospital of Sungse Medical Foundation was opened. Yeongjong International Hospital has a 37-bed ward, internal medicine, orthopedics, neurosurgery, pediatrics, radiology, outpatients clinic, surgery room, rehabilitation center, and endoscopy center.

    At present, Yeongjong International City has clinics, dentist clinics, oriental medicine clinics (48 in total), and one nursing hospital. Yeongjong International Hospital is the first hospital-level medical institute with 30 to 100 beds, in Yeongjong International City. The IFEZ expects that the opening of Yeongjong International Hospital will be the beginning of quality medical service for the citizens of Yeongjong International City who had undergone inconveniences in medical service. In addition, the IFEZ plans to make diversified efforts to attract a general hospital in Yeongjong International City.

    Yeongjong International Hospital, the First Hospital-level Medical Institute in Yeongjong International City

    comment:  yet to visit, might in the future as it is easier to get to than going to Seoul National hospital or the 121 hospital down at Camp Humphreys.

    A hospital-level medical institute opened in Yeongjong International City. This will upgrade the quality of medical service in the region.

    Restaurants

    There are six restaurant districts on the island.   Most are located either in Yeongjongdo International City (formerly called Airport New City) where I live,  along a new Café Street in Yeongjongdo International city, in Sky City, near the beaches or near the airport.

    There are a number of resturants across the street from the Unseo railroad station, on both sides of the station, many are in the Howard Johnson building or near by.

    Here are some of my favorite spots to eat

    Restaurants near Unseo Station

    Howard Johnson  Cafeteria

    Best western style breakfast around

    In the hotel third floor

    Yong 9 Beer – Gonghang Sindosi

    #121 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    6 reviews

    114, Yeongjong-daero, Jung-gu

    Cuisines: Cafe

    Bbq Chicken

    #2,229 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    2 reviews

    3, Sindosinam-ro142beon-Gil

    Sanggu Pocha

    #2,353 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    1 review

    2, Sindosinam-ro141beon-Gil

    Pancake Juhyeon Daeok

    #1,917 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    1 review

    100, Yeongjong-Daero

    Sloth Brewing

    #6 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    22 reviews

    166, Yeongjong-daero, Jung-gu #214

    2,785 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    1 review

    5-12, Sindosinam-ro 141beon-gil, Jung-gu

    Bronx Brewery Howard Johnson complex 2nd Floor

    Good craft beer and pizza

    GoKiRo best kalbi, bulgogi in area

    2nd floor Howard Johnson

    nghae Cold Buckwheat Noodles

    #1,018 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    2 reviews

    7, Sindosinam-ro141beon-Gil

    Onsae Miro Pig’s Feet

    #725 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    3 reviews

    35, Huinbaui-Ro

    Isak Toast

    #520 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    3 reviews

    35, Huinbaui-Ro

    on street outside Howard Johnson.  Several other coffee shops provide good breakfasts and coffee.  there is also a waffle place and and baskin robbins ice cream on the same street, and an burger joint.   there is also a 24/7 vending self service cafe across the street. Joe ‘s sandwich is  down the street but I was underwherelmed.

    Yangpyeong Hangover Cure Soup

    #1,406 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    2 reviews

    26, Nundol-ro13beon-Gil

    해장하기 좋은 ” 03/30/2016

    The Jet Lagged Lizard

    #2 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    110 reviews

    60, Gonghang-ro 424beon-gil, Jung-gu IBC Dawoo Sky World #110

    one of the two expat bars in town.  the other, the Cinder bar, is also located near the airport as well as in Songdo which has a number of expat western hangouts.

    The Cinder Bar

    #3 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    28 reviews

    50, Gonghang-ro 424beon-gil, Jung-gu Space #138 World Gate building

    Cuisines: American, Pub, Bar

    Bukchangdong Sundubu – Incheon Airport New City

    best sundubu joint on the island

    100, Yeongjong-daero, Jung-gu

    Food On Air

    #11 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    76 reviews

    47, Gonghang-ro 424beon-gil, Jung-gu B1F, Incheon International Airport

    Cuisines: AsianKorean

    Terrasse

    #1,098 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    1 review

    136, Gonghangdong-ro, Jung-gu 2F, BMW Driving Center

    1.9 miles from Hotel Zeumes

    Cuisines: AsianKorean

    Grand Cafe

    #8 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    60 reviews

    208, Yeongjonghaeannam-ro 321beon-gil, Jung-gu West Tower Lobby, Grand Hyatt Incheon

    Cuisines: International

    Restaurant 8

    #12 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    79 reviews

    208, Yeongjonghaeannam-ro 321beon-gil, Unseo-dong, Jung-gu

    Haneul

    #21 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    48 reviews

    271, Gonghang-ro, Jung-gu 4F, Incheon International Airport

    3.8 miles from Hotel Zeumes

    Cuisines: AsianKorean

    Gongcha

    #17 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    31 reviews

    47, Gonghang-ro424beon-Gil

    TOULON

    31 reviews#22 of 2,724 Restaurants in Incheon$$ – $$$FrenchEuropeanVegetarian Friendly

    124, Harmony-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 21998 South Korea+82 32-831-2003

    Hunjang Gol

    5 reviews#545 of 2,724 Restaurants in Incheon

    28, Sindosinam-Ro, Incheon South Korea+82 32-746-6200

    Hwanghae Cold Buckwheat Noodles

    #1,018 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    2 reviews

    7, Sindosinam-ro141beon-Gil

     Hwanghae Kalguksu

    #13 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    66 reviews

    3, Yongyu-ro 21beon-gil, Jung-gu

    Cuisines: AsianKorean

    Caffe Pascucci

    #2,600 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    1 review

    272 Gonghang-ro, Jung-gu 3F of Concourse, near Gate 111

    Cuisines: Cafe

    Bulgogi Beura the Seu

    #1,395 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    3 reviews

    272, Gonghang-Ro

    Hometown House

    #450 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    5 reviews

    47, Gonghang-ro424beon-Gil

    Porridge Story

    #2,385 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    1 review

    272, Gonghang-Ro

    Cuisines: AmericanCafeFast FoodDeli

     Paeng

    #2,398 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    2 reviews

    272, Gonghang-Ro

    Snow Ice

    #978 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    2 reviews

    6-3, Haneuldalbit-ro64beon-Gil

    Uini Bini

    #2,375 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    1 review

    272, Gonghang-Ro

    Garden Cafe

    #368 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    6 reviews

    186, Yeongjonghaeannam-ro 321beon-gil, Jung-gu

    4.3 miles from Howard Johnson Incheon Airport

    Cuisines: Cafe

    Paris Baguette  -multiple locations

    7-4, Haneulbyeolbit-ro65beon-Gil

    King Stone Grill Saeng Pork Belly Grill

    #841 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    1 review

    59, Haneulbyeolbit-Ro

    Ho Geun I Ne Siktak

    #967 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    1 review

    7-3, Haneulbyeolbit-ro65beon-Gil

    Bulogi Beura the Seu

    #1,395 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    3 reviews

    272, Gonghang-Ro

    Bonjuk

    #1,915 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    1 review

    29, Haneuljungang-ro195beon-Gil

    Tous Les Jours – multiple locations

    #1,898 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    1 review

    29, Haneuljungang-ro195beon-Gil

    Oleobaut Tea

    #2,196 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    1 review

    47, Gonghang-ro424beon-Gil
    7-4, Haneulbyeolbit-ro65beon-Gil

    Pizza Al Bol Ro

    #1,913 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    1 review

    7-3, Haneulbyeolbit-ro65beon-Gil

    World Street Food

    #1,703 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    2 reviews

    50, Gonghang-ro424beon-Gil

    Julru Julru

    #1,914 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    1 review

    59, Haneulbyeolbit-Ro

    Sinseol Handmade Tofu House

    #1,931 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    66, Gonghang-ro424beon-Gil

    Honam Restaurant

    #1,926 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    1 review

    50, Gonghang-ro424beon-Gil

    Ddu Ddo Ok

    #2,705 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    2 reviews

    50, Gonghang-ro424beon-Gil

    Mommy Handmade Gimbap

    #2,543 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    1 review

    50, Gonghang-ro424beon-Gil

    Star Chicken Seu

    #2,642 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    1 review

    60, Gonghang-ro424beon-Gil

    4.2 miles from Howard Johnson Incheon Airport

    Great Dish Restaurant

    #2,572 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    2 reviews

    50, Gonghang-ro424beon-Gil

     

    Gonghwachun

    #42 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    35 reviews

    5-6, Bukseongdong3-ga, Jung-gu

    Cuisines: Chinese

    Sinseung Banjeom

    #48 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    21 reviews

    11-32, Bukseongdong2-ga, Jung-gu

    Cuisines: Chinese

    Banju

    #2,825 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    2 reviews

    272, Gonghang-Ro

    3.6 miles from Howard Johnson Incheon Airport

    Paris Croissant

    #2,823 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    33 reviews

    272, Gonghang-Ro

    3.8 miles from Howard Johnson Incheon Airport

    Cuisines: CafeFast Food

    Seonnyeopung

    #66 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    15 reviews

    678-76, Eurwang-dong, Jung-gu

    Cuisines: AsianKorean

    Hwanghae Seafood Noodles Soup

    #187 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    7 reviews

    37, Masiran-Ro

    Mandabok

    #100 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    17 reviews

    911, Bukseongdong2-ga, Jung-gu

    Cuisines: Chinese

    Famous Grilled Clams and Noodles Soup

    #2,342 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    1 review

    38-1, Eulwang-Ro

    Gungjung Samgyetang

    #516 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    4 reviews

    84, Cheongnyang-ro, Yeonsu-gu

    Cuisines: AsianKorean

    Cheongra Fresh Sashimi

    #780 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    2 reviews

    5, Pureun-ro8beonan-Gil

    Bonjuk & Bibimbap

    #788 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    2 reviews

    6, Pureun-ro8beonan-Gil

    Johnson Sausage Stew

    #1,839 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    1 review

    21-1, Sinpo-ro27beon-Gil

    7.5 miles from Howard Johnson Incheon Airport

    Bottom Line

    #2,146 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    2 reviews

    23, Sinpo-ro 23beon-gil, Jung-gu

    Chicken Floor

    #517 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    2 reviews

    163, Cheongna Canal-Ro

    cafe along another canal streambed park

     

    Hi story,

    #1,883 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    1 review

    13-1, Songhak-Ro

    7.6 miles from Howard Johnson Incheon Airport

    Pang Kone

    #954 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    1 review

    82, Solbit-Ro

    8 miles from Howard Johnson Incheon Airport

    Oteu

    #778 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    2 reviews

    14, Okbit-ro15beon-Gil

    Tudari – Cheongna Park

    #842 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    2 reviews

    12, Solbit-ro 28beon-gil, Seo-gu

    Cuisines: AsianKorean

    Happiness Chupungryeong Pork Back-Bone Stew

    #2,294 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    1 review

    43, Uhyeon-ro9beon-Gil

     

    Baek Ildo

    #2,282 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    1 review

    24, Solbit-Ro

    7.7 miles from Howard Johnson Incheon Airport

    Sweet Ting

    #1,628 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    1 review

    16-1, Pureun-ro8beon-Gil

    7.9 miles from Howard Johnson Incheon Airport

    The Cow Yu

    #1,631 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    1 review

    18, Pureun-ro8beon-Gil

     

    • Fisher Singwangho

    #2,795 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    3 reviews

    65, Seonnyeobaui-Ro

    Pizza Floor

    #1,638 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    1 review

    82, Solbit-Ro

    8 miles from Howard Johnson Incheon Airport

    Na Neunba Dada

    #1,848 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    1 review

    4, Pureun-ro16beon-Gil

    Ominbang Skewers Grill

    • ·         59, Haneulbyeolbit-Ro

    #265 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    15 reviews

    378, Cheongpa-ro, Yongsan-gu

    Seobeuwei

    #216 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    6 reviews

    272, Gonghang-Ro

    2.1 km from Incheon Intl Airport

    Bipseu

    #1,262 of 2,894 Restaurants in Incheon

    3 reviews

    272, Gonghang-Ro

    빕스익스프레스” 22/05/2018

    Megamax Buffet

     The megamax theater has a decent buffet restaurant.  There are a few other decent buffet resturants near by.

     

    Café street –  located on the left side of the road across the station have  number of new trendy resturants and cafes.

     

    Park Terrace

    Located in the newly developing café street is a decent western style restaurant.

     Mushroom stew restaurant

     

    There is a decent restaurant in Café street that specializes in Mushroom dishes.

    Sushi/sashimi joints

     

    The island is famous for seafood and there are sashimi and sushi restaurants near Unseo station, and near the beaches.

     Vietnamese restaurants

     There are number of Vietnamese restaurants near Unseo Station and in Sky city.

     

    Burger resturants

     

    There are number of burger joints near Unseo station, café street and Sky city.  There is a Burger King in Sky City, and a Mc Donald’s.

     

    Costco is located in Songdo International city, about ten miles from Howard Johnson.

     

    Lotte Supermarket and Power Mart are the biggest groceries both located near Unseo station and in Sky city.

     

    Paris Bagatelle has a number of restaurants on the island.

    Kalbi and Bulgogi restaurants are all over the island.  Gokiro in Howard Johnson is our favorite.

    Gimpop restaurants are everywhere as well.  Sooyori is the best one, not too far from the Howard Johnson.

     24/7 restaurants

    Pre-covid there were a lot of 24/7 restaurants.  There are a few still open and one presume they will gradually re-open as the pandemic eases.  right now everything has to close by 10 pm.

     Airport restaurants – there are a number pre-security as well as post security.  The usual mixture of western and Korean style places.

    Coffee shops are of course everywhere.  Starbucks has a number of outlets including one across from Unseo Station.

     Chicken restaurants are also everywhere.  Our favorite is Pradak chicken located near Starbucks.  They all deliver.

     The End 

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Beaches

     

    Explore the Hidden Spots in Yeongjongdo Island

    by Trazy.com

    Yeongjongdo Island is an island at the west coast of Incheon, and it is concentrated with airport logistics, travel, and tourism. Although it’s not a widely known tourist destination, there are many hidden spots where you can have a wonderful time with your family and friends!

    Now, let’s dive into the hidden must-visit spots of Yeongjongdo Island!

    1. Masian Beach

    Masian Beach is located near Incheon International Airport, and it is where you can fall in love with the beautiful West Sea! This beach is unique in that you can experience both wetland and sandy beach at the same time. From Masian Beach, you can see Silmido Island, which was the filming location of the famous fact-based Korean movie ‘Silmido (2003)’. Walking along Masian beach will make you feel relaxed and peaceful.

    1. Masian Bakery 
    • Address: 155 Masiran-ro, Jung-gu, Incheon
    • Opening Hours: Everyday 10:30am~21:00pm (Break Time 14:00pm~17:00pm)
    • Opening hours are subject to change.

    One of the must-dos at Masian Beach is to stop by Masian Bakery and enjoy the incredible ocean view at the cafe. Masian Bakery is popular for its delicious delicacies, and it has the wonderful spot where you can appreciate the best sunset view. There is also a photo zone where you can take a picture of the sign ‘I ♡ Masian’ just like ‘I ♡ New York’!

    1. Incheon Bridge Exhibition Center
    • Address: Incheon Bridge Expressway 3 (Unnam-dong), Jung-gu, Incheon
    • Opening Hours: Winter (Nov~Mar) 10:00am~17:00pm / Summer (Apr~Oct) 10:00am~18:00pm / Closed on Mondays (Dec~Mar)
    • Entrance Fee: No Charge

    Incheon Bridge is the longest bridge in Korea at 21.38km that connects Songdo International Business District and the Incheon International Airport. It’s a perfect place to fall in love with spectacular ocean scenery and you can see the beautiful dazzling lights at night. The light color changes every season and turns into a special color on special days, such as Valentine’s Day (Pink), Thanksgiving Day (Orange), and Christmas (Red, Pink, Green).

    If you want to get to know more about Incheon Bridge, stop by Incheon Bridge Exhibition Center that displays the consturction process of this beautiful bridge. On the 4th floor, there is Incheon Bridge Observatory, where you can appreciate the stunning view of the bridge.

    Simply book hassle-free 1 day tour from Seoul to fully enjoy Yeongjongdo Island in a day. Round-trip transportation, English-speaking staff, entrance to Incheon Bridge Exhibition Center, and 1 drink at Maisan Bakery are all included!

    [Photo Credits]
    – Incheon Tourism Organization Official Website
    – Masian Bakery Official Instagram

     

     

    There are three beaches on Yongchongdo.  Eurwangi, Maisan and Wangsan beaches. You can get to the beaches from the airport via the Maglev train getting off at Youngju station – the ARA train runs there on the weekends and holidays. These are the closest beaches to both Seoul and Incheon and are quite crowded during the summer season and weekends all year long.  There are lots of good seafood restaurants near the beaches and plenty of places to stay.

    Eurwangni Beach (을왕리해수욕장)

    15, Eurwang-ro 13beon-gil, Jung-gu, Incheon

    인천광역시 중구 을왕로13번길 15 (을왕동)

    From the airport, take bus 302 or 306 Gate 2A (1F) and get off at Eurwangi Beach, the bus goes to the rest of the beaches as well. There are also buses from Unseo station as well.

    Seonnyeo (Fairy) Rock Beach (선녀바위)

    Region: Jung-gu Incheon

    Theme: Rare Animals/ Plants/Spectacular Cliffs & Rock Formations

    The name “Fairy Rock Beach” comes from the fact that fresh water is gathered at the seashore beneath…

    Wangsan Beach (왕산해수욕장)

    Region: Jung-gu Incheon

    Theme: Seasides/ Beaches/ Islands

    Though Wangsang Beach is just 5 minutes away from Eurwang-ri, the beach has quite a different ambiance than the other more crowded beaches…

     

     

    Masian Beach

    118, Masiran-ro, Jung-gu, Incheon 22385 South Korea

    2.9 miles from Eurwangni Beach

     

     

    Muuido Island

    Muui-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon South Korea

    4.3 miles from Eurwangni Beach

     

    Silmido Island

    Muui-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon South Korea

    3.3 miles from Eurwangni Beach

     

    Muido, So Muido and Silmido are islands near to Yongchongdo.  You can get to the islands by taking a bus from the airport, or from the Yongju maglev stop.  The Airport railroad goes to Youngju on weekends and holidays.

     

    There are hotels and Korean style resorts near bridge and at the beach, there are huts for rent. There are restaurants near the ferry terminal and at the beach, but the selection is limited to Korean seafood.

    When you enter the island there is a trailhead that takes you to the top of island – and you can walk the entire island in about four hours.  The trail is very pretty and not too steep.

     

    Near the bridge to the island is a Korean tourism information stand. The people there are very helpful, speak good English and have lots of maps and guides in English and can also tell you about the ferries to the other islands.  Well worth a stop.  You should stock up on tourism information here if you are going to the outer islands as once you get there is very little English language signage or English speakers on the islands. They are open until 6 pm most days.

     

    Address

    310-11, Daemuui-ro, Jung-gu, Incheon

    인천광역시 중구 대무의로 310-11 (무의동)

    Type

    Seasides/ Beaches/ Islands

    Inquiries

    1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330

    (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)

    • For more info: +82-32-760-7114

    Information

    Introduction

     

    Muuido Island is located in Jung-gu, Incheon which is not far from the mainland but is only accessible by ferry. Nearby are two smaller islands, Silmido Island and Somuuido Island. In olden times, small boats were used to go from Muuido Island to Somuuido Island but the two islands are currently connected by a bridge so visitors can reach Somuuido after a 10-15 minute walk. Muuido Village Bus (maeul bus; 마을버스) takes people from Keunmuri Dock (큰무리선착장) to Gwangmyeonghang Port (광명항). To enjoy the beauty of Somuuido Island fully, Muuibadanuri-gil 8 Course is a must-visit path, taking around 1 hour and giving stunning views of the East Sea vista. Two beaches, Hanagae Beach and Silmi Beach are famous beaches in Muuido Island. One interesting thing in Silmi Beach is that people can walk to Silmido Island at low tide. Hiking up Horyonggoksan Mountain (호룡곡산) and Guksabong Peak is also available on Hanagae Island.

     

    The trail head to Horyonggoksan Mountain (호룡곡산) and Guksabong Peak can be found at bridge entrance to the island and also near So Muido and at Hangagae beach as well.  The round trip takes about three hours, and the trail is well marked but only in Korean.  Go up the stairs and at the top turn right to access the main trail head.

     

    So Muido is a nice spot for a walk as well. Take the bus to the end of the island and walk across.  There are places to stop and eat in So Muido. The walk to the top of the mountain is a nice walk takes about an half an hour to reach the top. There is a private beach on the way back to town.

     

    Silmido

     

    Silmido island is the site of a secret military base where they trained commandos going undercover into North Korea.  They closed the base in the 80’s and a Korean K drama was filmed at the island.  The island has a resort where one can stay but there are not much there not even restaurants.  Still the beach is nice but a bit deserted.  You can walk across to Silmido at low tide, at high tide it becomes a separate island.

     

    Shindo, Modo and Jangbo islands

     신도, 모토, 보도

    sindo, moto, jang bodo

     

    Shindo, Modo and Jangbo Islands located near Incheon International Airport are great places to get away from Seoul or Incheon for that matter. These three islands are near Yongchongdo.  You need to take a ferry to reach them. The ferry ride to Jangbo the biggest of the islands takes about an hour. The ferry runs every hour on the hour the last ferry back leaves about 6 pm.  You can catch the ferry at Sammok quay.

    삼목 부두

    sammog budu

     

    There are buses from the airport and from Unseo station to the ferry terminal.

     

    Sindo Island

    Ongjin-gun, Incheon South Korea

    7 miles from Eurwangni Beach

     

    Modo Island

     

    Modo island is connected to Shindo island.  You can easily walk around both Modo and Shindo in an hour or two.  There are places to eat and spend the night, but Jangbo island is the biggest of the three and has the best facilities, beaches, restaurants, and walking biking trails.

     

    Jangbo Island

     

    The island is located one hour and 40 minutes from Seoul. To get there take airport express train from Seoul Station and get off at Unseo station and then transfer to a bus going to Sammok wharf in Yeongjong Island, Incheon. The ferry from there takes 40 minutes.  The last ferry back leaves at 6 pm.  There are plenty of places to stay near the beaches which are a short walk from the ferry terminal.  This is also a popular place to camp as there are camping grounds near the ferry terminal. There is a mountain hiking trail that follows the ridge line all over the island and is a great hike.   If you go to Jangbong island, it is worth stopping off at Shindo and Modo islands first and take a walk.  A number of K dramas have been filmed on these islands.

    More info from Visit Incheon web page follows:

    Coastal Trail connecting Sindo Island, Sido Island and Modo Islands

    Come to the triplet islands and have a bike tour around them for a fantastic ride along the shoreline. The triplet islands are very well known as one of the best spots in Korea for a bike tour. Come down to the Sinsimodo Islands for a safe and pleasant bicycle touring. Take a boat at Sammok Quay in Yeongjongdo Island. You will get to Sindo Island Quay in about 10 minutes. The three islands of Sindo Island, Sido Island and Modo Island are all connected by bridges, so you can tour all of them in a day. You can rent a bike on the island. There are only a few cars on the road, thus the island is recognized as one of the best places for bike riders.

    Sindo Island Pureun Beonmal, a designated traditional agricultural village

    The name Sindo Island (literally “the island of trust”) has come from the fact that its residents are conscientious and innocent. It is in this context that the salt produced in the island is called jinyeom (literally “genuine salt”). As the island have mud flats, salt evaporation ponds, and rice paddies, visitors can enjoy everything they can expect from the country’s rural area in Sindo Island Pureun Beotmal designated by the government as a traditional agricultural village.

    Sinsido Island Yeondogyo Bridge

    Sindo Island is connected to Sido Island by a bridge. The name of Sido Island has come from the legend that troops of the Joseon Dynasty practiced archery in Manisan Mountain with targets set in Sido Island (“an arrow island”). The island is also called “Salseom (‘sal’ also means an arrow in Korean).” Given the actual distance between the two locations, the story is hardly credible, but the idea is intriguing enough. Sido Island has been filming locations for popular TV dramas such as “Full House” and “Sad Love Story” because of the harmony between its slow slope hills and the sea.

    Sugi Beach, the filming location of ‘Full House’

    Sugi Beach in Sido Island was the filming location for the popular TV series called ‘Full House.’ You can see a few islands in the distance. The beach is covered with quality and beautiful white sands. Main characters in the TV drama series often spent time together here. Who would not have fallen in love with each other in such a beautiful environment?

    Simodo Island Yeondogyo Bridge

    Sido Island and Modo Island are connected by a bridge. Believe it or not, you can get to a totally different island in just a few minutes. The name Modo Island comes from the word ttiyeom (‘tti’ refers to King cogongrass). The legend says that fishermen in the region once complained that his fish net only had grass instead of fish. ‘Mo’ in Modo Island means ‘grass’ in Chinese.

    Baemikkumi Sculpture Park

    Baemikkumi Sculpture Park is located on Baemikkumi Beach in Modo Island. The ‘Baemikkumi’ (the local dialect meaning a hole in the bottom of a ship) has come from the fact the beach is as flat as the bottom of a ship. The beach is also famous for a sculpture park featuring a number of surreal erotic sculptures. Blue water, white sand, and dreamlike sculptures blend well with one another. The sculpture park has become a reason to many for a visit to Modo Island.

    The Sinsimodo Islands, a paradise for bike enthusiasts

    Together, the Sinsimodo Islands are small but pretty places to visit. Most notably, as they are connected, the Sinsimodo Islands will sustain the fame of a paradise for bikers in the West Sea for a long time to come.

     

     

     

    Incheon Wolmido

    Address

    36, Wolmimunhwa-ro, Jung-gu, Incheon

    인천광역시 중구 월미문화로 36 (북성동1가)

    Type

    Seasides/ Beaches/ Islands

    Inquiries

    1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330

    (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)

    • For more info: +82-32-765-4169

    Homepage

    Incheon Jung-gu Culture & Tourism

    icjg.go.kr/tour
    (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)

    www.my-land.kr (Korean only)

    Information

    Introduction

    Wolmido Island (월미도), located roughly 1km off the coast of Incheon, has since become part of the mainland with the creation of a new highway. The name Wolmido Island comes from the shape of the island as it resembles the tail of a half moon. Thanks to its location near Seoul and the convenient transportation, many people visit here during weekends.

    The Culture Street starts with Doodle Pillar, and continues onward to Meeting Square, Arts Square, Performance Square, Good Harvest Square, and several other notable highlights. Throughout these areas, spontaneous performances are performed, and street artists can draw for you on the spot. Moreover, many cafes and seafood restaurants are lined along the coast so you can enjoy coffee or fresh seafood while viewing the sea.

    A must-see attraction on Wolmido Island is “Play Hill.” It’s not as large as other theme parks in Korea, but the Apollo Disco and the Viking rides are truly thrilling. If you’re not into rides, the Apollo Disco ride is still fun just watching. You can also get on a cruise to look around the island.

    Comment:  this is of course the location of the most famous battle during the Korean war.

    The island has a large park that had been a Korean military base and was only opened to the public since the turn of the century.  The Park is worth a long walk.  The views are spectacular from the top.

     

    The amusement park is a bit hooky in my opinion, but still worth a stop and a photo. The waterfront is nice to stroll along but the restaurants there are way overpriced.

     

    Jayu freedom park is near Wolmido and features a giant statue of General Mc Arthur and is also worth a visit.

     

    There is a club that has Halloween decoration all year long and that is worth a picture. There are also statues and public art everywhere.  And of course, coffee shops, beer pubs etc.

     

    About 100 US dollars per person for a sashimi dinner with drinks.  The best sea food restaurants are a few blocks away from the waterfront area, and dinner for two will set you back about 40 dollars including soju.

    The Korean government opened a maglev train around Wolmido for the Asian games. But after the games ended the maglev train was disconnected.  In my opinion they missed an opportunity and should have extended it to Songdo and the airport as getting to Songdo from the airport is a big of a long subway ride.

    Finally, Wolmido has a Korean tourism information stand. The people there are very helpful, speak good English and have lots of maps and guides in English and can also tell you about the ferries to the other islands.  Well worth a stop.  They are open until 6 pm most days.

     

    To reach Wolmido, get off at the Incheon station on the Seoul-Incheon subway line.  Take a bus to Wolmido or a taxi. It is not far from the station.  Another fun way to get there is to take the ferry from Yongchongdo (airport island).  The ferry runs every 30 minutes and is a five minute ferry ride.  The last ferry is at 6:00 pm.

     

    Gerang Mountain in Incheon (계양상)

     

    This mountain is the biggest mountain in Incheon but hiking up to the top is not too difficult. Takes about one to two hours to reach the top and back down.  There are lots of side trails as well.  The spring and fall colors are magnificent.  Lots of nice wildflowers as well.  The mountain links to several other mountains in central Incheon.  There is a nice old fortress at the top of the mountain.  There are plenty of Korean restaurants at the bottom of the mountain.

     

    The closest subway to Gyeansan (giei_iaŋ_saŋ) is Gyeyang subway on the Incheon subway line 1.  You can transfer from the Airport express railroad coming from the airport or from downtown Seoul.

    *

    Introduction of Mt. Gyeyang

    With its altitude of 395m, Mt. Gyeyang is the guardian and holy mountain that represents Incheon. From the beginning of B.C. to the end of the 19th century, the city of Gyeyang was moved from the south of Gohyeon-eup in the Three Kingdoms Period having Mt. Gyeyang at the center and then to the northern and eastern direction. Until its transfer to the southern direction in Bupyeong-dohobueup during the Joseon Period, the city was developed through the capital transfer that was conducted for 6 times. At the peak of the eastern ridge in Mt. Gyeyang, there is Gyeyang Mountain Fortress that was built during the Three Kingdoms Period. Also in the south, Jungsimseong Castle, which was constructed in the 20th year of King Gojong (1883) with the participation of the residents in Bupyeong Village in preparation for defending the coast, is stretched along the ridge of Jingmaei Hill. According to the change of the place name, Mt. Gyeyang was called as Sujuak in Suju of the Goryeo Period and Mt. Annam during Annam-Dohobu. Since the period when this mountain was called as Mt. Gyeyang in the period of Gyeyang-dohobu, it has been called by its present name. This mountain was once called as Mt. Anam and Mt. Gyeongmyeong.

    The name of Mt. Gyeyang was originated from the naturally grown Japanese Judas-tree and Korean box trees. Mt. Gyeyang was selected as the first urban natural park of Incheon city on Jan. 8, 1944 (Gyeyang Park) and since then, it became the No. 1 Municipal Park.

     

    88, Gyesansae-ro, Gyeyang-gu, Incheon, 21067, Rep. of KOREA  82-32-551-5701

    Copyright ⓒ 2015 Gyeyang Incheon. All Right Reserved.

     

    Office of Gyeyang-Gu Page – Includes information on hiking trails as well as travel advice in English

     

     

     

    Sorae Pogu

     

    111-200, Nonhyeon-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon, South Korea

    This is the second largest seafood market in Incheon and specializes in crab, lobster, octopus, and shellfish freshly harvested from the nearby harbor.  The boats come back laden with fresh seafood early in the morning.   The place is happening all day long.  You can buy your food at the market and then take it to nearby restaurants where they will prepare it for you and sell you soju and beer to wash it down.  A very Korean experience!

    More info on the port from Visit Incheon web site

    Incheon Port was opened to the international community in 1883 through which western civilization came. Sorae Port has served as an important fish market for the Incheon region for more than 60 years after a small-scale fish market was formed in the wake of the Korean War (1950-1953) as war refugees caught shrimps and sold salted shrimps in an open market. Now the fish market at the port is across a railway bridge which has been remodeled as a pedestrian-exclusive bridge.

    The market is particularly famous for shrimp, salted fish and blue crabs. In addition to such fresh seafood, you can enjoy fish stand owners’ generosity and seagulls flying overfishing boats and the fish market against a blue sky. The port plays host to festivals of fleshy prawn and blue crabs, whose freshness and taste are recognized nationally, attracting crowds of people from various areas of the country. Come to Sorae Port to smell the sea and feel the sky while touring a dynamic fish market and enjoying fresh seafood of your choice.

     

    Yeonan Pier Yeonan Pier is home to various important facilities such passenger terminals, Marine Square, the Fish Market Complex, the Raw Fish Restaurant Street, the Seawater Bath Street, Cruise Port, and Namhang Wharf. It is a popular weekend getaway place not only for residents of Incheon but also for tourists from other areas of Korea. For instance, the Fish Market Complex which more than 500 stores call home attracts a crowd of people wanting to buy a variety of fresh and salted fishery goods. The Raw Fish Restaurant Street is home to large-scale raw fish restaurant towns like the Raw Fish Department Store run by Incheon Fisheries Cooperative Association and the Yeonan Raw Fish Plaza. Visitors can enjoy diverse seafood dishes at affordable prices.

    Yeonan Pier is also known for blue crabs. Female crabs are popular in spring while male crabs are delicious in autumn. Most notably, blue crabs caught around Yeonpyeongdo Island are highly regarded for the eggs and meat filling the shells completely.

     

    This mountain is the biggest mountain in Incheon but hiking up to the top is not too difficult. Takes about one to two hours to reach the top and back down.  There are lots of side trails as well.  The spring and fall colors are magnificent.  Lots of nice wildflowers as well.  The mountain links to several other mountains in central Incheon.  There is a nice old fortress at the top of the mountain.  There are plenty of Korean restaurants at the bottom of the mountain.

     

    The closest subway to Gyeansan (giei_iaŋ_saŋ) is Gyeyang subway on the Incheon subway line 1.  You can transfer from the Airport express railroad coming from the airport or from downtown Seoul.

    *

    Introduction of Mt. Gyeyang

    With its altitude of 395m, Mt. Gyeyang is the guardian and holy mountain that represents Incheon. From the beginning of B.C. to the end of the 19th century, the city of Gyeyang was moved from the south of Gohyeon-eup in the Three Kingdoms Period having Mt. Gyeyang at the center and then to the northern and eastern direction. Until its transfer to the southern direction in Bupyeong-dohobueup during the Joseon Period, the city was developed through the capital transfer that was conducted for 6 times. At the peak of the eastern ridge in Mt. Gyeyang, there is Gyeyang Mountain Fortress that was built during the Three Kingdoms Period. Also in the south, Jungsimseong Castle, which was constructed in the 20th year of King Gojong (1883) with the participation of the residents in Bupyeong Village in preparation for defending the coast, is stretched along the ridge of Jingmaei Hill. According to the change of the place name, Mt. Gyeyang was called as Sujuak in Suju of the Goryeo Period and Mt. Annam during Annam-Dohobu. Since the period when this mountain was called as Mt. Gyeyang in the period of Gyeyang-dohobu, it has been called by its present name. This mountain was once called as Mt. Anam and Mt. Gyeongmyeong.

    The name of Mt. Gyeyang was originated from the naturally grown Japanese Judas-tree and Korean box trees. Mt. Gyeyang was selected as the first urban natural park of Incheon city on Jan. 8, 1944 (Gyeyang Park) and since then, it became the No. 1 Municipal Park.

     

    88, Gyesansae-ro, Gyeyang-gu, Incheon, 21067, Rep. of KOREA  82-32-551-5701

    Copyright ⓒ 2015 Gyeyang Incheon. All Right Reserved.

     

    Office of Gyeyang-Gu Page – Includes information on hiking trails as well as travel advice in English

    Sorae Pogu

    200, Nonhyeon-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon, South Korea

    This is the second largest seafood market in Incheon and specializes in crab, lobster, octopus, and shellfish freshly harvested from the nearby harbor.  The boats come back laden with fresh seafood early in the morning.   The place is happening all day long.  You can buy your food at the market and then take it to nearby restaurants where they will prepare it for you and sell you soju and beer to wash it down.  A very Korean experience!

    More info on the port from Visit Incheon web site

    Incheon Port was opened to the international community in 1883 through which western civilization came. Sorae Port has served as an important fish market for the Incheon region for more than 60 years after a small-scale fish market was formed in the wake of the Korean War (1950-1953) as war refugees caught shrimps and sold salted shrimps in an open market. Now the fish market at the port is across a railway bridge which has been remodeled as a pedestrian-exclusive bridge.

    The market is particularly famous for shrimps, salted fish and blue crabs. In addition to such fresh seafood, you can enjoy fish stand owners’ generosity and seagulls flying overfishing boats and the fish market against a blue sky. The port plays host to festivals of fleshy prawn and blue crabs, whose freshness and taste are recognized nationally, attracting crowds of people from various areas of the country. Come to Sorae Port to smell the sea and feel the sky while touring a dynamic fish market and enjoying fresh seafood of your choice.

     

    Yeonan Pier Yeonan Pier is home to various important facilities such passenger terminals, Marine Square, the Fish Market Complex, the Raw Fish Restaurant Street, the Seawater Bath Street, Cruise Port, and Namhang Wharf. It is a popular weekend getaway place not only for residents of Incheon but also for tourists from other areas of Korea. For instance, the Fish Market Complex which more than 500 stores call home attracts a crowd of people wanting to buy a variety of fresh and salted fishery goods. The Raw Fish Restaurant Street is home to large-scale raw fish restaurant towns like the Raw Fish Department Store run by Incheon Fisheries Cooperative Association and the Yeonan Raw Fish Plaza. Visitors can enjoy diverse seafood dishes at affordable prices.

    Yeonan Pier is also known for blue crabs. Female crabs are popular in spring while male crabs are delicious in autumn. Most notably, blue crabs caught around Yeonpyeongdo Island are highly regarded for the eggs and meat filling the shells completely.

     

     

    walking, having dinner outside

    the golden water walk has been dubbed Venice in Korea. Not quite but still a very pleasant walk. five miles long it ends in a nice restaurant district. there…

    Date of experience: May 2021

     

    Laveniche March Avenue

    22 reviews

    Gimpo, South Korea

     

     

    Cheonggyecheon Stream

    3,947 reviews

    Seoul, South Korea

     

    Old temple

    Yongungsa Temple old temple on Yeougjondo near the airport. Nice old gingko tree in front. interesting story about the legendary founding of the temple by a fisherman who aught…

    Date of experience: June 2021

     

    Yonggungsa Temple

    37 reviews

    Incheon, South Korea

    on top of Manisan mountain

    On top of manisan mountain. the altar is where Tangun the founder of Korea came to Korea starting the Korean race. About a two and half hour climb

    Date of experience: June 2021

     

    Chamseongdan Altar

    25 reviews

    Incheon, South Korea

    gyesangsan mountain

    a great mountain in Incheon city. Several different possible routes to the top. Great views from the top. Contains an old fort as well. 

    Date of experience: June 2021

     

    Gyeyangsan Mountain

    33 reviews

    Incheon, South Korea

    great beach

    great beach near the airport. About an hour and half from Seoul. buses to the beach from Unseo station or the airport. Good seafood restaurants nearby. 

    Date of experience: June 2021

    Masian Beach

    28 reviews

    Incheon, South Korea

    1. May 16, 2021 · 22 reviews #6 of 2,726 Restaurants in Incheon $$ – $$$ Bar Pizza Pub 166, Yeongjong-daero, Jung-gu #214, Incheon 22376 South Korea +82 70-4201-9970 Website Menu Closed now : See all hours

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      Best Cafés in Incheon, South Korea: Find Tripadvisor traveller reviews of Incheon Cafés and search by price, location, and more.

       

    the end

  • Venice in Korea More Updates

    Venice in Korea More Updates

    More Updates

    The ARA Golden Canal aka “Venice in Korea” continues to expand with new restaurants opening and closing all the time.  There is a decent LP theme restaurant and bar that has a friendly English-speaking bartender – a Korean who grew up in the Philippines and got stuck here to do his military service and is still here. They have a great cocktail list and great music and a friendly vibe.  There is also a great sushi place and a great Italian place -owned by the same owner.

    We discovered a clay walking path on the northern end of the canal.

    If you walk to the northern end of the canal and turn north one block and then west one block a bit you will come to a decent mountain, Unaksan.  About a mile walk from the end of the canal.  Near the mountain, there is a local food store and a local food restaurant that has a great vegetarian menu with locally sourced ingredients.

    At the restaurant, turn left and walk a bit to get to the trail heading to the mountain. At the top of the mountain, there is a decent restaurant and coffee shop with great views.  The trail goes a lot further into the mountain.  There are deer in the mountain but we did not see them, we did see some cute black squirrels.

    There is another canal located at the western end of the canal just behind the XII apartments.  It is lined with bike and walking paths but is not otherwise developed. I believe it does link up to the Han River park and I intend to check it out soon.

    There are about fifty new restaurant sites under construction so I assume by next spring there will be lots more options.  I will update it then.

    Some recent pictures

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Letter to  ARA Canal Director

    I recently moved to the Hyundai Hometown apartments in Janggi dong and have been enjoying daily walks along the ARA golden water canal.

    Overall I am very impressed.  It is a great recreational asset for Gimpo county.

    I do have a few suggestions for improvements

     

    Extend it

     

    1. Extend it on the southern (eastern) end to the Han River linking it to the Han river park system.  It is only half a mile away from the river.
    2. Extend it on the northern (western) end to Gimpo lake, also only half a mile away. This may be more feasible as the area is not as heavily built up as the southern/eastern end.

     

    Allow Fishing

    1. Stock it with fish and allow fishing at designated areas where you can also sell fishing supplies and have restaurants available to grill freshly caught fish.

    Have goats eat the weeds

     

    1. Have goats eat the weeds throughout

     

    Extend hours of boating, add in kayaks and canoes

     

    1. Extend the hours of the boat until midnight, and also add kayaks and canoes to the mix.

    Have a bike and scooter rentals available

     

    1. Have places to rent bikes and scooters.

     

    More shade trees

     

    1. Plant more shade trees, particularly in the section next to the pretty bare boat house.

    Extend the restaurant district

    1. Extend the restaurant district further north and West.

    Install vending machines

    1. Install vending machines for drinks throughout the park.

    Free umbrellas

    1. Have free umbrellas throughout the park.

     

    While the first two items might be too expensive, the other items should be inexpensive and will help in maintaining the park.  For fishing, you can charge 10,000 won to use the fishing facilities. That should defray the extra costs.

     

    Thanks

    Jake Cosmos Aller

    Retired U.S (Diplomat, State Department (Foreign Service Officer)

    Tel: 010-4435-1402

    Email:  jakecaller@gmail.com

    Web: https://theworldaccordingtocosmos.com

    This blog item:     https://wp.me/p7NAzO-1OZ

    Review Julia’s American-style Diner ARA canal, Gimpo near Jaangi station, gold line

    ******

    Julia’s American-style diner near the ARA canal and Gimpo near the Jaangi station on the gold line advertise themselves as an American-style family diner.  And that is just what it is.

    We had the full brunch – bacon, bangers, beans, eggs, hashbrowns, toast, and tomato slices, for 14,000 KW ($11.53 US) plus Americana coffee 2000 ($15.00) for a total of $15.00 per person or 28,000 KW ($30,00) total.

     

    The food was great, just perfect and the coffee was great too. The portions were generous and the price was quite reasonable. This was billed as an American brunch but it was more of a British brunch what with the beans and British-style bangers (sausage) included.

     

    We are going to come back.  Next time we will try the pancake and split the brunch.

     

    They also have steak, burgers, pasta, and French fries. and risotto and Korean-style fried rice omelet on the menu.

     

    The deco is also diner style as is the overall ambiance.

     

    It is conveniently located just steps from the canal coming from canal turn left at the Mega coffee shop on the left-hand side of the canal and walk up.  It is about a mile and a half from Jaangi station on the gold line or by bus in Jaangji station.  Get off and walk down the canal (turning right) cross over when you see Mega coffee and turn left up the steps.

     

    In short, I highly recommend this restaurant.  Some other American-style restaurants nearby include the following (Trip advisor list)  disclaimer:  I have not yet dined at any of these but hope to do so soon and will post reviews as I get to them.  Stay tuned for that.

    Other nearby restaurants:

    76 reviews

    American, Fast food$

    Bucheon

    “Burger Run”

    “Best cheeseburger in town!”

    1. T.G.I.F. Kimpo Airport Store

    8 reviews

    American$$ – $$$

    9.7 km

    Seoul

    “American food chain”

    “TGIF 런치로 즐기기”

    1. T.G.I.F. Lotte Illsan Store

    2 reviews

    American

    6.9 km

    Goyang

    “You go for the view and American-ish food”

    “맛은 쏘쏘…”

    1. The Hidden Kitchen Brunch

    3 reviews are open Now

    American

    12.8 km

    Incheon

    “The best!”

    “Their Hashbrown”

    1. Leaf Gu

    1 review

    American, Healthy$

    14.2 km

    Bucheon

    “가게가 좁긴 한데, 괜찮아요~”

    1. Yorokonde

    7 reviews

    Coffee Tea, American$

    11.7 km

    Seoul

    “Pretty cool, worth it”

    “앙버터 맛집 :)”

    1. Dirty Trunk

    13 reviews are open Now

    American, Bar$$ – $$$

    11.8 km

    Paju

    “Having brunch with a friend”

    “Unique cafe & restaurant”

    1. Tiny Restaurant

    1 reviewOpen Now

    Italian, French$$ – $$$Menu

    7.1 km

    Goyang

    Venice in Korea and other Korean Stream Bed Parks

    ARA Canal Incheon

    Updated information below on the Yeongjae Cheon stream based on a Kindle booklet about the stream.

    Over the last decade, Korea has built hundreds of stream bed parks throughout Seoul and Korea.  There are great places to take a walk, observe wildlife, to enjoy nature in the city.   There is some information in English on these parks but not enough.  For those readers in Korea, please feel free to send me info on other stream bed parks, so I can update this from time to time.

    The most famous one is the one that started it all. Chongjin in downtown Seoul.

    Cheonggyecheon Stream

    OverviewCheonggyecheon Stream (Seoul) – 2021 All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos) – Tripadvisor

     

    Formerly polluted and covered with an elevated road since 2005, this stream has been cleaned up and made into an Art and nature walkway through the heart of Seoul.

     

    Suggested Duration:1-2 hours

    It is the prototype perhaps of stream restoration.

    SEOUL, South Korea — For half a century, a dark tunnel of crumbling concrete encased more than three miles of a placid stream bisecting this bustling city.

    The waterway had been a centerpiece of Seoul since the king of the Choson Dynasty selected the new capital 600 years ago, enticed by the graceful meandering of the stream and its 23 tributaries. But in the industrial era after the Korean War, the stream, by then a rank open sewer, was entombed by pavement and forgotten beneath a lacework of elevated expressways as the city’s population swelled toward 10 million.

    Today, after a $384 million recovery project, the stream, called Cheonggyecheon, is liberated from its dank sheath and burbles between reedy banks. Picnickers cool their bare feet in its filtered water, and carp swim in its tranquil pools.

    The restoration of the Cheonggyecheon is part of an expanding environmental effort in cities around the world to “daylight” rivers and streams by peeling back pavement that was built to bolster commerce and serve automobile traffic decades ago.

    Environmentalists point out other benefits. Open watercourses handle flooding rains better than buried sewers do, a big consideration as global warming leads to heavier downpours. The streams also tend to cool areas overheated by sun-baked asphalt and to nourish greenery that lures wildlife as well as pedestrians.

    After its opening in 2005, hundreds of thousands of people visited the new stream with friends and family. Credit…Jean Chung for The New York Times

    Some political opponents have derided Seoul’s remade stream as a costly folly, given that nearly all of the water flowing between its banks on a typical day is pumped there artificially from the Han River through seven miles of pipe.

    Golden Waterway In Gimpo

    GW 1

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

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    My favorite though is the Golden Waterway in Gimpo north of Kimpo airport, close to Janngi station on the new Gold Line.  The Gyeonggi and Gimpo tourist promotors have dubbed this “the Venice of Korea”.  Not quite, but still quite nice.

    .

    it is a 5.9-long walkway along a stream that used to be an open sewage dump back not too long ago.  It is lined with trees, flowers, beaches, and quirky public art.  The northern end is pretty boring though.  The central and southern end is very nice.

    It is lined with restaurants and cafes and has a boat house where you can rent boats to go out on the water.  The cost is 20,000 per hour.   a popular boat choice is the moon boat, which is a boat shaped like a crescent moon that is ideal for a couple to take out on the water.  There are also family boats and paddle boats for individuals.  There are also bikes for rent.

     

     

     

    [4K] Beautiful evening walk along Laveniche March Avenue in Gimpo Korea Tour 김포 한강신도시 장기동 라베니체 저녁 걷기

    •  N

    안녕하세요 Seoul Walker 입니다.
    오늘은 경기도 김포한강신도시에 위치한 라베니체 마치 에비뉴의 저녁을 함께 걸어봅시다. 깨끗해진 공기 만큼이나 아름다운 노을을 계속 볼 수 있기를 희망합니다.아침 7시, 당신을 위한 새로운 영상이 공개 됩니다.
    당신의 새로운 아침, 그리고 오후 저녁 저의 영상을 보며 한결 여유로운 하루의 시작과 마무리가 되었으면 하는 바램입니다. 최대한 다채롭고 흥미로운 영상을 즐기실 수 있도록 노력하겠습니다.영상이 마음에 드셨다면 좋아요, 구독, 알림 설정 부탁드립니다.
    그럼 오늘도 행복한 하루 되세요!Hello all my friends, I’m Nathan from Seoul Walker.
    Today, let’s walk together at Laveniche March Avenue in Hangang River New City, Gimpo, Gyeonggi-do. Ravenice March Avenue is a themed canal street created by Venetian motifs on a total of 33,000 m² waterfront commercial areas in a total of 26 parcels around the golden waterway, which is an artificial waterway in the Han River New City of Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province. It is a commercial facility.

    Other Streams in Seoul

    Jungnangcheon (Stream)

    Jungnangcheon stream is the biggest contributor to the Hangang River. It starts at Yangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, joins with the Cheonggyecheon stream, and curves around Geumho-dong, Seongdong-gu until it finally flows under the Bridge of Gangyeonbuk-ro and into the Hangang river.

    Hongjecheon (Stream)

    Hongjecheon (Stream) begins at Bukhansan (Mountain) and runs for 11.1km through Jongno-gu and Mapo-gu. The stream is named after the Hongjewon, an office building where Chinese envoys were received. Once dried up and neglected, the stream was revived under Seoul’s ‘No Dry Streams’ project. Within two short years clean water was once again flowing through both Hongjecheon (Stream) and Cheonggyecheon (Stream).

    Hongjecheon

    GO ENG CHN JPN

     

    Yangjaecheon Stream and Tancheon Stream are two tributaries of the Hangang River.

    Yangjaecheon (Stream)

    Update:  there is a nice booklet available on Kindle called Gangnam Style by Kyungsuk Oh,  which is all about the Yongjaecheon stream.  They recommend starting at Hangyegul station on the Orange line. At the end of the stream, it flows into the Tancheon stream and then into the Han River. When you get to the Incheon stream, there is a nice cafe street called Cafe Street or Metasequia Street lined with eateries.  if you keep going along the Tangcheon stream, you enter into the Han river park system, or you could follow the Tancheon stream bed park back towards the mountains.

    Yangjaecheon (Stream) originates from Gwanaksan (Mountain) and Cheonggyesan (Mountain). The 15.6km stream flows across Gwacheon and into the Gangnam district in Seoul until it joins up with the Hangang (River). The stream flows across Dog ok-dong and Gaepo-dong in the district of Gangnam and is a popular spot with locals for its well-paved pedestrian and cycling paths. It is a pleasant patch of green in a concrete jungle. Many Seoulites visit the stream for relaxation and to spend a day closer to nature.

    Tancheon Stream is another one of the Hangang’s tributaries.

    The stream is 35.6km long and starts in the city of Yongin in Gyeonggi Province and ends at the Hangang River in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

    Phone

    +82-2-2155-7153

    Website

    View Website

    Website Language

    KOR

    See map

    Address

    135-090

    Transportation

    * Subway Line 3, Maebong Station, Exits 3 & 4 (5 mins on foot)
    * Subway Line 3 & Bundang Line, Dogok Station, Exits 3 & 4 (5 mins on foot)

    Hanyeoul Stream is a tributary of the Hangang River.

    The stream is 18.5km long and flows from Gwacheong in Gyeonggi Province to the southern part of Seoul. The stream’s name is derived from the area in Seoul it flows through, Yangjae-dong.

    Visit Songdo Central Park

    Find a pleasant oasis along the water in this large, bustling city. Canoe, ride a bike, relax on the lawn, or visit rabbits and deer.

    Stroll along the peaceful promenade of Songdo Central Park and view sculptures and animals. Here pretty grassy spaces border a manmade waterway while skyscrapers tower nearby. Completed in 2009, the stylish city park has become a landmark of the large city of Incheon in South Korea’s northwestern region.

    In 2001, Incheon began creating Songdo International Business District on mostly reclaimed land. The multi-functional space offers residents a pleasant and sustainable place for home, work, school, and leisure. The 101-acre (41-hectare) park is an integral part of the overall design. Join residents and other visitors using this vast green space and exploring the cultural institutions surrounding the park.

    One highlight of the park is the seawater canal symbolizing the rivers of Korea flowing to the West Sea. Cruise along the canal under your power in a canoe with sun umbrellas or on a comfortable water taxi or small cruise boat.

    Gaze at and visit some of the futuristic buildings surrounding the park. Tri-Bowl, with the appearance of a bowl resting on water, has cultural event spaces. The Songdo G-Tower’s diagonal lines and atriums provide a stunning setting for the offices of the IFEZ (Incheon Free Economic Zone) Authority. Visit the building’s 29th-floor Sky Garden for views across the city.

    Suwon – Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Suwon

    Suwon stream

     

     

     

    Suwon stream 2

     

     

     

    Most of the streams passing through Suwon originate on Guangyao or other nearby peaks. Since Suwon is bounded to the east by other hills, the streams, chiefly the Suncheon (and one notable tributary being the Jumbotron), flow southwards through the city, eventually emptying into the Yellow Sea at Asan Bay. The entirety of Suwon is  drained in this manner

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  • Moxibustion Updates

    Moxibustion Updates

    Moxibustion Treatment Korea: Updates

    In early November, my wife and I went to Daegu to check out a Moxibustion center.  The owner had invented a moxibustion clay pot system suitable for home use.  It is odorless and smokeless Up to now, to do moxibustion, you have to go to an authorized center (and some of them are unauthorized, there are a lot of fly-by-night providers in the whole alternative medicine space in Korea and the states. The adage, “ Caveat Emptor Buyer Beware”  applies here in spades.

    His system is designed to be used at home.  It is smokeless and odorless. Burning moxibustion smells like marijuana to me. They recommend a 100-day regime, followed by a weekly maintenance regime.

    We are at the end of the first three weeks and will try to finish the course.  I usually do it in the early evening and watch NetFlix, and read or check my emails while doing it.  It takes 90 minutes. She does it later about 11 pm as she is a night owl.

    We do it while using our ceregem massage bed.  I have provided information on that below as well. The ceregem beds are available in the U.S., and moxibustion in acupuncture clinics as they often do both treatments at the same time.

    I also provided some updated info on charcoal saunas which are also a great health treatment.  We plan to go next week if not sooner.

    The results are in

    ·        I have lost seven pounds, and most importantly, almost got rid of my spare tire around my belly.

    ·        I finally can sleep throughout the night.  I still have vivid dreams, but not as much.  I no longer have bouts with insomnia at 0 dark hundred (4 a.m. in nonmilitary/Intel speak).

    the results are in 

    • ·        I no longer have to go every couple of hours.
    • ·        I have a lot more energy
    • ·        I feel mentally sharper
    • ·        My fibro flare-ups are less
    • ·        My arthritic pain is less
    • ·        My migraines are fewer down to once a month as opposed to every other week and last one day as opposed to three days.
    • ·        I am less hungry and can last longer between meals.
    • My wife reports similar results.

    We plan on finishing the first 100-day regime and then doing the maintenance program. We are also going to Ganghwa island soon to source locally, mug wort as that is both the mug wort and ginseng capital of Korea producing 2/3 of both products.

    The product is available for sale in Korea and they ship it throughout the country, but to experience it you have to go to their clinic in Daegu.  If anyone is interested in getting more info let me know by email at jakecaller@gmail.com and I will forward you the information. And if anyone wants to comment on this blog piece, please do so at the same email and I will assume that you have no problem with me posting it, if you do, please let me know if you do not want me to post it, the default will be to post the comment.

    Our friend was able to bring it through customs with no problems. I thought that the drug-sniffing dogs would flag it as marijuana, but apparently, dogs can tell that this is not marijuana. The pot is small, so taking it back should not be difficult either.

    Original Posting

     

    One of the joys of living in Korea is the widespread availability of oriental medicine {한의학}– acupuncture, acupressure, herbal treatments, and moxibustion, ( 灸 뜸) and traditional Korean saunas including the famous charcoal saunas.  The sauna business was badly hit by the COVID shutdowns, but they have survived, and many have re-opened.  I went to a charcoal sauna the other day, for the first time in over a year.

    Oriental medicine treats the entire person, not just symptoms like Western medicine. If you have arthritis as I have in more than one place you will have to see multiple doctors for treatment – a foot doctor, a knee doctor, and a neck doctor, and none of the doctors will coordinate with the other doctors to make sure that the treatment is effective and efficient. And of course, multiple bills to multiple clinics, as well as having to obtain insurance permission for treatment. No wonder so many people are looking for alternatives. And the western medical establishment is constantly attacking alternative medicine as unfounded, dangerous, and unscientific.  None of which is true, as oriental medicine dates back thousands of years, and in a word, works wonders. I am a big fan.

    I have tried acupuncture, acupressure, and charcoal saunas over the years, even from US military doctors! It seems to work for me. I found it helps with my fibromyalgia and arthritis, and I like that it works for the entire body.

    Moxibustion involves burning herbal medicine on top of the body – the medicine gets absorbed into your bloodstream and restores your Chi – your energy levels and gets rid of inflammation among other things. They use a mixture of herbs, mostly mugwort, 쑥   Mugwort is also sold as tea but is pretty bitter. the smell of burning mugwort is similar to marijuana.  When I first smelled it, I thought someone was smoking a joint!

    Lately, I tried Moxibustion treatment for my lingering arthritis, and fibromyalgia and finally lose my belly fat! The doctor assured me that it would work for all of these problems. I started a twice-week regime for the next two months, then once a monthly maintenance routine. They will also do acupuncture. The cost is 40 dollars per treatment, well within my insurance limits of 75 dollars for 50 sessions a year.

     

     

    Moxibustion Treatment Korea

    One of the joys of living in Korea is the widespread availability of oriental medicine {한의학}– acupuncture, acupressure, herbal treatments, and moxibustion, ( 灸 뜸) and traditional Korean saunas including the famous charcoal saunas.  The sauna business was badly hit by the COVID shutdowns, but they have survived, and many have re-opened.  I went to a charcoal sauna the other day, for the first time in over a year.

    Oriental medicine treats the entire person, not just symptoms like Western medicine. If you have arthritis as I have in more than one place you will have to see multiple doctors for treatment – a foot doctor, a knee doctor, and a neck doctor, and none of the doctors will coordinate with the other doctors to make sure that the treatment is effective and efficient. And of course, multiple bills to multiple clinics, as well as having to obtain insurance permission for treatment.

    No wonder so many people are looking for alternatives. And the western medical establishment is constantly attacking alternative medicine as unfounded, dangerous, and unscientific.

    None of which is true, as oriental medicine dates back thousands of years, and in a word, works wonders. I am a big fan.

    I have tried acupuncture, acupressure, and charcoal saunas over the years, even from US military doctors! It seems to work for me. I found it helps with my fibromyalgia and arthritis, and I like that it works for the entire body.

    Moxibustion involves burning herbal medicine on top of the body – the medicine gets absorbed into your bloodstream and restores your Chi – your energy levels and gets rid of inflammation among other things. They use a mixture of herbs, mostly mug wort, 쑥   Mug wort is also sold as tea but is pretty bitter. the smell of burning mug wort is similar to marijuana.  When I first smelled it, I thought someone was smoking a joint!

    Lately, I tried Moxibustion treatment for my lingering arthritis, and fibromyalgia and finally lose my belly fat! The doctor assured me that it would work for all of these problems. I started a twice-week regime for the next two months, then once a monthly maintenance routine. They will also do acupuncture. The cost is 40 dollars per treatment, well within my insurance limits of 75 dollars for 50 sessions a year.

    (see update above)

    For more info, read the following articles

    https://www.webmd.com › balance › what-is-moxibustion

    Moxibustion: Definition, Technique, Benefits, and Risk Factors – WebMD
    Moxibustion is a form of therapy that entails the burning of mug wort leaves. This is a small, spongy herb that is believed to enhance healing with acupuncture. As such, the leaves are burnt close …

    https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Moxibustion

    Moxibustion – Wikipedia

    Moxibustion (Chinese: 灸; pinyin: jiǔ) is a traditional Chinese medicine therapy that consists of burning dried mug wort at particular points on the body. It plays an important role in the traditional medical systems of China, Japan, Korea, (India, sic) Vietnam, and Mongolia. Suppliers usually age the mug wort and grind it up to a fluff; practitioners burn the fluff or process it further into a cigar …
    https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu › explore-healing-practices › moxibustion

    Moxibustion | Taking Charge of Your Health & Wellbeing

    Moxibustion is used for Pain due to injury or arthritis, especially in “cold” patterns where the pain naturally feels better with the application of heat. Digestive problems and irregular elimination. Gynecological and obstetrical conditions, including breech presentation in late-term pregnancy. Protection against cold and

    Ceregem

    What is Ceragem therapy?

    Ceragem is a treatment method that combines infrared heat and massage techniques during the treatment of various conditions. The Ceragem automatic thermal massage bed scans your spine’s length to help a chiropractor conduct customized massage therapy.

    Note: it uses jade crystals that are heated and move up and down your back pausing at acupressure points.  It works. We have been using it for years and it helps reduces my fibromyalgia and arthritis pain and my wife’s chronic disk pains and her fibromyalgia pain as well.  We do it almost every day, combining it now with moxibustion treatment. End Note

    What is the benefit of Ceragem? | Balance in Motion Chiropractic

    세라젬

    https://www.ceragem.co.kr

    글로벌 홈 헬스케어 전문기업 – CERAGEM.

    제품안내 · ‎렌탈 및 구매 · ‎웰카페 · ‎이벤트 바로가기

    CERAGEM: Therapeutic Thermal Massager

    https://ceragemus.com

    Learn more about CERAGEM’s massage bed patented technology that analyzes & recognizes spinal differences to provide users with a custom massage.

    Ceragem V4 · ‎Ceragem v3 · ‎USA · ‎Ceragem m2

     

    Chacoal Suanas

    Korean Charcoal Saunas

    Travelogue: The charcoal kiln saunas of Gangwondo

    https://www.nayoungkang.com › 2015/05/04 › travelo…

    May 4, 2015 — Travelogue: The charcoal kiln saunas of Gangwondo … A typical bulgama (불가마, Korean hot sauna) operates at 90 to 95 degrees.

    Kiln Saunas Make a Comeback in South Korea

    https://www.nytimes.com › World › Asia Pacific

    Aug 26, 2010 — Roasting inside a charcoal kiln is an age-long tradition, and it has recently become something of a newfound craze among South Koreans.

    Steamy ways to ward off winter : Gangwon Charcoal Kiln …

    https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com › 2012/02/10 › etc

    Feb 10, 2012 — Making the charcoal for the saunas takes around a week. The charcoal is first put inside a kiln and heated. On the seventh day, the charcoal is …

    Effects of charcoal kiln saunas (Jjimjilbang) on psychological …

    https://www.sciencedirect.com › science › article › abs › pii

    by S Hayasaka2008Cited by 19 — In South Korea, the same process (hereinafter referred to as ‘charcoal kiln saunas‘) called jjimjilbang (zzimzilbang) have also traditionally been used for …

    Jjimjilbang Guide: 7 Best Places for Your Korean Sauna and …

    https://www.kkday.com › blog › jjimjilbang-guide-7-be…

    Jan 25, 2019 — LK SPA is equipped with three kinds of sauna rooms—Maifanshi, loess, and fire, with temperatures ranging from low (50°C) to high (100°C). The …

    An Old Tradition Makes a Comeback in South Korea: Kiln …

    https://asiasociety.org › blog › asia › old-tradition-make…

    Aug 27, 2010 — But to South Koreans, these clay kilns used to produce charcoal at night, are doubling as luxury spas by day. The tradition of sitting in …

    the End

     

     

  • Peace Corps Korea Reflections

    Peace Corps Korea Reflections

    Peace  Corps Korea Reflections

    This is a shout-out to all the Americans who answered the call to serve in the Peace Corps.  As some of you know I served in Gapyeong, Korea from 1979 to 1981, working as a tuberculous control worker in a rural health center.  Serving in the Peace Corps changed my life in so many ways.  It led to a life-long fascination with South Korea, including becoming reasonably fluent in the language, meeting and marrying my wife whom I met after my service ended, and a MA degree in Korean studies from the University of Washington in 1986.  It also led me to join the Foreign Service and serve in the Embassy from 1991 to 1993 and serving on the Korea desk from 1994 to 1996.

    Before joining the State Department, I taught ESL for the US Army, for the Korean Consolidated Administration school, and later at Kyunghee University for three years and Government and Asian Studies for the University of Maryland in Korea. I lived in Korea from 1979 to 1984, 1988 to 1991, and from 1991 to 1993, and have resided there as a retiree from 2016 to 2018, and from 2019 to now, residing in Yong Jong International City, near the Incheon Airport, and now in Gimpo City.

    Along the way, Korea changed so much and is not the country I first learned to love back in 1979.  Here are a few of my poetic reflections.

    Korean Poems

    Korea travels

    I first came to Korea in 1979 in the Peace Corps
    Stayed in the rural countryside
    Where I was one of four non-Koreans
    Had to speak Korean to survive

    Stayed on in a variety of jobs
    Including diplomatic service
    I last lived there in 1993.

    Non-Korean food was hard to get
    Outside of the GI ghettos
    English speakers were few
    And the country was not foreign-friendly

    There were few foreign residents
    Most American service members
    Some missionary types
    Diplomatic corps

    A few English teachers
    A few ex-pat business people

    Most women quit after marriage
    As it was a male-dominated society

    In the rural countryside
    No one knew a woman’s name

    They were referred
    to as so and so “mom”
    Or so and so wife,

    Or the generic aunt,
    or grandmother

    Public transit was just getting going
    But traffic was not too bad
    Few people could afford cars

    Back then the old Korea was still there
    And it was a very different place and time
    Going through the transition
    to the country, it has become

    Today’s Korea is a very different place
    The rural countryside is deserted
    Wilderness areas are coming back
    Even wildlife is coming back
    In the mountain outback regions

    50 percent of the public
    Live in the Seoul metro area
    Including Kyeongi province
    And Incheon city where I reside.

    Public transit is among the best
    In the world.

    Internet fast and cheap
    Everywhere connected
    Highways are decent but overcrowded

    The KTX train is fast and convenient
    The Incheon airport one of the best
    The choices for food are much better

    Used to be it was almost impossible
    To find non-Korean food
    Outside the GI ghetto towns.

    Now it is everywhere
    Even saw a Mexican restaurant
    In a suburban Busan neighborhood.

    In the end
    Koreans should be proud
    Of all that they have accomplished.

    I remain optimistic
    That someday the two Koreans
    Will become one again

    And that they will continue
    To advance and grow

    But the essence of Korea will remain

    Waiting for Korean Springtime

    poet in springtime
    poet in springtime

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    The world peace forest
    Stretches five miles
    Through a delightful forest
    Including a nice lotus pound

    A winter watering hole for birds
    And a small mountain

    I welcome the advent of spring
    The cherry trees snowing
    The Tulips and roses blooming

    After a cold sometimes hard winter
    Especially during the COVID pandemic
    Which kept so many people
    Trapped indoors

    As I walk the path
    With the love of my life
    By my side

    Enjoying another springtime
    Filled with love and affection
    That is why I love Korean springtime.

    Life in a Korean village

    I am living in a Korean village as an exchange student.  One day my host family asks me to go to the local health center to tell them to change the father’s medicine, and give me a note, the old medicine, and instructions.  I am a little apprehensive, but they told me that was fine since the dragon who controlled the village had approved the request already.  I smiled I had met the dragon who seemed to like me which made things in the village go much better.  The daughter is cute.

    First Trip to Korea

    When I first went to Korea
    Almost 45 years ago
    It was a very alien place.
    An overwhelming experience,

    I entered a hot, humid, sauna.
    The smells were intense
    The food was spicy
    filled with passionate heat.

    chaotic
    cacophonous
    discordant sounds
    filled the air.

    the language sounded
    like everyone was screaming.
    Taxis honking, cars barking.

    People screeching
    Loudspeakers blaring
    Sirens blasted the air.

    Millions of strange people
    Military police everywhere
    With guns watching everyone.

    I felt I was a stranger
    in a strange land
    Everyone speaking
    A weird language

    I did not understand anything.
    Over time I got used to it
    The smells became normal

    The food was now delicious.
    The sounds are less chaotic
    Less cacophonous
    Less discordant

    I even eventually learned
    How to speak the weird language.
    I fell in love with this strange place
    Which became my second home

    And now I live there half the time
    And half the time in the United States

    Neither here nor there
    Am I here
    But I remain a true stranger
    In a still strange land.

    Buddha Prayer Stones

    In Korea mountains
    There is a custom
    Of putting rocks
    On top of other rocks

    Building little towers
    Of rocks
    along the mountain path
    An ancient shaman tradition
    Taken over the Buddhist temples

    The rocks piles were dedicated
    To the Sanshin mountain spirits

    And would grant wishes
    To those who added
    Rock to the cosmic tribute

    Sanshin would honor
    Those prayers and wishes

    Winter roses

    Red, black and yellow
    In a field of late snow
    Early March

    End of winter
    Beneath the early blooming
    cherry trees
    their petals joining the snow
    along the world peace forest.

    Visiting Jade Garden

     

    Jade garden 7
    jade garden 7

     

     

     

     

     

     

    jake garden 8
    jade garden 8 jpg

     

     

     

     

     

     

    jade garden 6
    jade garden 6

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Near Chungcheong, South Korea

    On a beautiful spring day
    The cherry trees were in full flower

    Pink and white petals
    The scent
    of cherry trees in the air

    Other trees just starting to bloom
    Red, yellow and white tulips
    Beginning to bloom

    The sounds of spring all around
    Birds singing
    People walking about.

    Talking to one another
    As they wander the pathway
    Taking in the springtime splendor.

    The sun warming up
    The pathway winding
    Through the Forrest.

    Meeting the Girl of My Dreams in Korea

    April 3

    The Peace Corps changed my life
    Not in the obvious ways
    That it did

    I learned a new language
    A new culture
    Met many different people
    Did some constructive
    development work

    And contributed to friendship
    Between Koreans and the US

    All the usual things that Peace Corps
    Is supposed to accomplish

    But the Peace Corps changed me
    And I became the man I am now

    Because of those two years
    I spend in the countryside
    Of South Korea

    I went to graduate school
    I became a diplomat

    But most importantly
    If I had not gone
    to the Korean peace corps program
    I never would have
    met the girl of my dreams
    The women I was fated to meet

    I first met Angela in 1974
    When I was in high school

    And fell asleep in a class
    And had the dream that haunted me
    To this day

    In the dream
    I met a beautiful Asian women
    Who was speaking to me
    In a weird language

    And then she disappeared
    Like in Start treck

    And I fell on the floor

    “Screaming
    You are you?”

    I continued to have these visions
    Every month for seven years

    I eventually learned that she was in Korea
    And so, I joined the Peace Corps
    to go to Korea to find her

    After I finished Peace Corps
    I stuck around for another year

    Thinking I would find her
    But never did

    Just when I was due to return to the US
    To go to Graduate school
    I had the final dream

    In this dream
    She said in Korean
    Don’t worry you will meet me soon

    That night getting off the bus
    In front of me
    Was the girl in the dream

    I looked at her
    And I knew she was it

    And she looked at me
    And knew I was it

    We met up for coffee
    And we dated

    I proposed to her three days
    after I met her

    And then we married
    Two months later

    Despite her family’s attempts
    To keep us apart

    And we have been married 40 years
    And I fall in love with her
    Over and over again

    And I still have the dream
    When I am alone
    Or when I am stressed out

    I see her standing by the bed
    Smiling at me

    Saying
    Everything will be alright
    And it is

    and so thinking back on my life
    My life changed forever

    When I left the US
    To join the Peace Corps

    Long Live the Peace Corps

    this is a true story of the love of my life.  I met her in 1982 when I was teaching in Korea after having finished my Peace Corps service in 1981.  We got married two months after we met and have been married 33 years.  I still recall the dreams of how I would met her from time to time.

    I always thought this would make a great love story movie.

    © 7 years ago, john Cosmos Aller    love • spiritual • • wedding • reincarnation   

    Spring Time Sketch in Youngjongdo, Korea

     

     

     

     

     

     

    In the early morning dawn
    I like to go for a walk
    Down among the cherry trees
    And flowering plants

    Just to welcome
    Another fine spring day
    As the sun comes up
    Dispelling my dismal mood

    And filling me
    With love
    Hope and peace
    As I walk the in
    the world peace forest

    Through the forest
    and over the mountain
    breathing the springtime air
    alive filled with life

    and I think to myself
    this moment
    is the moment
    that I am meant to experience

    life itself
    and nothing more
    nothing less
    Just breath in life

    based on a photo of cherry trees along the world peace forest near my house in Youngjongdo, Korea, and based on the April 21 writers digest poetry prompt to write a poetic sketch

    Hiking In Korea

    Korea is a land
    filled with mountain paths
    everywhere you go

    there are paths
    leading deep
    into the mountains

    one of my favorite paths
    is the world peace forrest
    which meanders around
    my town

    linking a lake, a lotus pound
    and a nice mountain peak
    and on the top
    on a clear day

    you can see North Korean
    in the distance
    and the Incheon airport
    near by

    Korean Pottery of Love

    In Korea

    there are many pottery kilns
    ancient art form
    in the land of the morning calm

    I have a few pieces
    I bought years ago

    and enjoy looking
    at my vase

    filled with love
    for my wife

    Korean Springtime

    Korean Springtime
    I walk the path with my love
    Still Under her spell

    this is the 40th springtime I have enjoyed with the love of my life by my side © a year ago, john Cosmos Aller

    one of my favorite places to hike in Korea © 2 years ago, john Cosmos Aller      

    American Coffee Takes Over Korea

     

     

     

     

     

     

    About 30 years ago,
    American-style coffee chains
    Discovered Korea.
    After the 88 Olympics,
    Koreans discovered the joy
    Of real brewed coffee,
    Hot, Sweet, Neat
    The rest is history.

    I love coffee and was so glad that you could finally get a decent coffee in Korea, prior to the Olympics coffee shops were called tabangs which were where men mostly would hang out drinking instant coffee or Korean tea, and flirting with the cute waitresses.
    © a year ago, john Cosmos Aller

    hot humid weather in Korea,

    hot humid weather in Korea,
    outside like walking in a sauna.

    Most people don’t use air conditioning
    due to both expenses,
    fear of air conditioning disease
    (Which is a real thing).

    hanging out at a coffee shop or mall
    discouraged as COVID continues to spread.
    Only two people can dine out at night

    over 2, 00 cases a day now
    only 20 percent are fully vaccinated.

    temperatures will hit 40 degrees (100 + f)
    later this week
    as the monsoon season ends
    and the August heat begins.

    Koreans are learning
    new words to describe this

    heat dome
    tropical nights
    Polar vortex
    Monster typhoons
    Killing floods
    Killing heat waves
    are now common.

    used to be that July and August
    were hot and humid
    but rarely about 100 dF.
    Now that is becoming the norm,
    as global climate change
    begins hitting Korea hard.

    the winters are colder
    but much shorter.
    Late January to early February
    Polar Vortex swept through

    the summer is longer
    starting in May
    and lasting until mid-September.

    Autumn is lasting
    from Mid-September
    to Mid-December.
    Spring just late April to early June

    So far no killer wildfires.
    As the monsoon season
    Came on time
    Monson flooding
    Just before the killer heatwaves

    the prompt was to write about the local weather Korea is experiencing a heat dome highs in the 90’s (40 C) real feel close to 100 F, with tropical nights in the 80s F.  No relief in sight until late august, the second hottest summer in Korea so far but it will probably break the record heat

    Walking Along the Winter Korean Beach

    Walking along the winter
    Korean beach,
    With the love of my life
    By my side,

    She looks at me
    With red hot love
    Flames shooting
    From her black eyes

    Seoul 1979 and 2015

    2013 Seoul 1979
    April 7

    When I arrived in Seoul
    Back in the day in 1979

    Seoul was a grim city
    Big, polluted, overwhelming
    Filled with Koreans
    And nothing much to do

    Other than eat Korean food
    And drink Korean booze

    Tourist sites were none existent
    And foreigners were few and far between

    The GI’s stayed in Itaewon
    And there were few other foreigners around

    And there were very few places in town
    To eat non-Korean food

    Just the fancy hotels
    The base and Itaewon

    But Seoul had it’s charms
    It grew on me over the years

    And gradually became less grim
    Less forbidding
    And less foreigner unfriendly

    When I left Seoul in 1984 it was changing
    Before my very eyes

    And when I came back in 1988

    it was different city
    And those were the days
    Of the Olympics and Seoul’s emergence
    As a modern city

     

    2014 Seoul 2015
    April 8

    Seoul is so different now days
    Very little of the old Seoul remains

    The Kangwha moon area downtown
    Still exists as warren of alley ways

    Between big buildings
    Filled with restaurants and shops

    But the old tabangs (tea shops)
    With the tabang girls
    Are long gone

    The karaoke bars and girl bars
    Are still there going strong

    But coffee shops and fancier restaurants
    Are everywhere

    And foreigners are everywhere
    Seoul is no longer a city just for Koreans
    It has truly become a world city
    Must to the dismay of the traditionalists

    Parts of the old Seoul remain
    and the mountains and parks
    have become very popular indeed

    there has been a resurgence in Korean Buddhism
    and in traditional arts and crafts
    and traditional foods as well

    no where more than in Insa dong
    the Mecca of traditional Korean culture
    these days

    and Itaweon has become
    the heart of the expatriate part of Seoul
    with people from around the world
    gathered together

    along with the young and hip
    Koreans

    And there is even a gay quarter now
    unimaginable in the old days

    Seoul has changed
    For the most part for the better

    But I still miss the Seoul of my past
    And will mourn its passing
    As I get older

    Along with the city
    That I have adopted
    As my second home town

    thoughts of life in Seoul in 1979 and 2015 © 7 years ago, john Cosmos Aller      

    Melting away my heart
    Driving out the cold
    of the winter beach.

    Korean beaches are romantic in the winter and I am living in a beach resort island near the Incheon airport, © 8 months ago, john Cosmos Aller

    Love in Korean

    Love in Korean Dew Drop Inn

    When sam Adams
    first met her
    The lady of his dreams

    There was as the Koreans
    Would say

    Spark from heart to heart
    이심촌심
    isimchonsim

    truly love at first sight
    첫눈에 반하다
    cheosnun-e banhada

    they both knew
    that it is just fate

    운명
    unyoung

    that they had met
    that date.

    Two months later
    They were married
    It all happened
    40 years ago

    48 years after
    She first came
    To him in his dreams.

    the prompt was to incorporate foreign words into a poem I chose Korean which is my best foreign language as I have been struggling to learn it for 43 years

    https://lovejakecallerworld.tumblr.com › post › 651516125065183232 › venice-in-korea

    Jake Cosmos Aller — Venice in Korea

     

     

     

     

     

     

    May 18, 2021Venice in Korea “Venice in Korea and other Korean Stream Bed Parks ARA Canal Incheon Over the last decade, Korea has build hundreds of stream bed parks throughout Seoul and Korea. There are great… Jake Cosmos Aller — Venice in Korea. 1.5M ratings 277k ratings See, that’s what the app is perfect for. Sounds perfect Wahhhh, I don’t …

    https://lovejakecallerworld.tumblr.com › post › 652960510670766080 › ara-canal-incheon-venice-in-korea-manisan

    Jake Cosmos Aller — ARA Canal Incheon Venice in Korea Manisan…

    manisan top

    Jun 3, 2021I have reached three milestones. the World According to Cosmos now has over 4,000 followers from around the world. Thanks to all of you for visiting my site and caring about my musings about Life, the Universe and everything. Second, I have not posted 264 posts over the last few years since I started this blog late in 2019.

    Korean Summer Haiku by jake cosmos aller – FanStory

    Jul 2, 2022Korean Summer Haiku by jake cosmos aller. General Poetry posted July 2, 2022. jake cosmos aller. Retired US Diplomat (State Department) living in South Korea. Served 27 years in 10 countries. Traveled to 55 countries, all 50 states. Grew up in Berkeley, California. Married, no children.

    https://fanstory.com › displaystory.jsp?id=1061790

    Korean travels by jake cosmos aller – fanstory.com

    May 20, 2022jake cosmos aller Retired US Diplomat (State Department) living in South Korea. Served 27 years in 10 countries. Traveled to 55 countries, all 50 states. Grew up in Berkeley, California. Married, no children. A published poet, and short story writer. Finished six nove – more…

    https://lovejakecallerworld.tumblr.com › post › 653430254473494528 › update-korean-riverstream-bed-parks-ara-canal

    The Life of a PCV by jake cosmos aller – FanStory

    Jul 20, 2022by jake cosmos aller. Corners of the world. In 1979-1981. Than my own. I learned to speak Korean. In a town that was in the countryside. Of Seoul or the nearby city of Chuncheon. And foreign agricultural workers as well. Than when I lived there over 43 years ago.

    https://www.poemhunter.com › jake-cosmos-aller › biography

    Jake Cosmos Aller — Yeongjongdo Redevelopment Proposals

    Yeongjongdo Redevelopment Proposals ” Yeongjongdo redevelopment proposals bike rail trail in Yeongjongdo The Korean government has ambitious plans for developing Youngjongdo where I live. Here are my… Jake Cosmos Aller — Yeongjongdo Redevelopment Proposals. 1.5M ratings 277k ratings See, that’s what the app is perfect for. …

    https://tiferetjournal.com › poems-jake-cosmos-aller-2018

    Food Imperalism by jake cosmos aller – fanstory.com

    Jul 17, 2022Food Imperalism by jake cosmos aller. Biographical Fiction posted July 17, 2022. Retired US Diplomat (State Department) living in South Korea. Served 27 years in 10 countries. Traveled to 55 countries, all 50 states. Grew up in Berkeley, California. Married, no children.

    https://spillwords.com › author › jakecosmosaller

    Venice in Korea by The World According to Cosmos

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    poetry and rants by the Cosmos. Listen on . Message

    https://www.facebook.com › theworldaccordingtocosmos › posts › 1480226155746852

    Jake Aller – Venice in Korea WHERE TO LISTEN to the World… | Facebook

    Venice in Korea WHERE TO LISTEN to the World According to Cosmos breaker audio Google podcasts radio public Spotify Korea Radio public c: on PocketCasts: Visit to Gangwha Ginseng Market We…

    https://www.poemhunter.com › jake-cosmos-aller › biography

    Jake Cosmos Aller — ARA Canal Incheon Venice in Korea Manisan…

    Jun 3, 2021I have reached three milestones. the World According to Cosmos now has over 4,000 followers from around the world. Thanks to all of you for visiting my site and caring about my musings about Life, the Universe and everything. Second, I have not posted 264 posts over the last few years since I started this blog late in 2019.

    https://lovejakecallerworld.tumblr.com › post › 653430254473494528 › update-korean-riverstream-bed-parks-ara-canal

    Jake Cosmos Aller — Update: Korean River/Stream Bed Parks ARA Canal…

    Jun 8, 2021Update: Korean River/Stream Bed Parks ARA Canal Incheon Updated letter to NPS and updated photos for Cheongjecheon streambed park. Letter to National Parks Director, Minister of Tourism, and KT One of the little-known gems of Korean tourism is all the great river parks and stream bed parks throughout Korea.

    https://spillwords.com › morning-light-by-jake-cosmos-aller

    Jake Aller – Venice in Korea WHERE TO LISTEN to the World… | Facebook

    Venice in Korea WHERE TO LISTEN to the World According to Cosmos breaker audio Google podcasts radio public Spotify Korea Radio public c: on PocketCasts: Visit to Gangwha Ginseng Market We…

    classic.fanstory.com › mypage.jsp?userid=859865

    Finally here are a few pictures of my Peace Corps days my friend Robert Voetsch who served in Yangpyeong, Korea just sent me.

    And a few other photos from here and there

    What a beautiful journey!: Celebrating the 50th … – Peace Corps

    The Korean government has acknowledged these strong ties by hosting several reunions over the years. Last month, about 80 returned Volunteers and family members traveled to Seoul, South Korea, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps arrival in the country. We were there to attend the opening of an exhibit on the Peace Corps at the …

    Images for peace corps Korea

    More Images

    https://duckduckgo.com/?q=peace+corps+Korea&atb=v314-1&iax=images&ia=images

    Peace Corps Announces Collaboration with the Republic of Korea on Volunteer …

    Peace Corps opened its program in Korea in 1966, and more than 2,000 Peace Corps volunteers served there before operations closed in 1981. Since 2008, the Republic of Korea has recognized the service of Peace Corps/Korea volunteers by hosting return trips for many former volunteers so they can again visit the country. Peace Corps and KOICA …

    https://www.peacecorps.gov › news › library › peace-corps-volunteers-honored-by-the-korea-society

    Peace Corps Volunteers Honored by The Korea Society

    Peace Corps/Korea brought over 2,000 Americans to serve in Korea’s classrooms, farms, and industry. From 1966-1981, the assistance provided by these Volunteers, at a critical period in Korean history, helped to cement U.S.Korea ties. Kevin O’Donnell, the first country director of Peace Corps/Korea, and fourth director of the Peace Corps will …

    https://www.peacecorps.gov › countries

    Countries – Peace Corps

    Peace Corps Volunteers serve in over 60 countries. Find your place in the world. … South Korea 1966-1981 2,060 Volunteers Served Caribbean. The Dominican Republic. 1962-present 13 Volunteers …

    https://www.peacecorps.gov › stories › korea-in-the-side-view-mirror-reflections-of-a-former-peace-corps-volunteer

    Korea in the side-view mirror: Reflections of a former Volunteer

    It was, as the Peace Corps ad says, “The toughest job you will ever love.” When I left Korea in the mid-70s I was certain I would never see it again. As the years passed, the recollections of my life in Korea crystallized into increasingly romanticized memories. They became nearer and dearer to me in my life’s side-view mirror.

    https://www.peacecorpsconnect.org › companies › friends-of-Korea

    National Peace Corps Association | Friends of Korea – NPCA

    About Friends of Korea. Friends of Korea was founded in 2002 by former Peace Corps volunteers who served in the Republic of Korea between 1966 and 1981. Since Peace Corps ended its program in Korea in 1981, the challenge for Friends of Korea has been to find a mission. Over the past several years we have been engaged in a series of …

    https://peacecorpsworldwide.org › memories-of-serving-as-last-peace-corps-Korea-director

    Memories of serving as the last Peace Corps/Korea Director

    Oct 21, 2020Oct 21 2020. 1. by James Mayer (Korea 1978-81) The Korea Times. Friends of Korea. Peace Corps volunteers and others hold a walk-a-thon to raise funds for heart surgery in 1981. / Courtesy of Nancy Kelly. No one likes to be last. But I had that distinction as the Peace Corps Korea country director, and I am forever grateful that it happened.

    https://www.peacecorps.gov

    Peace Corps – Connect With the Peace Corps

    Connect With the Peace Corps. The Peace Corps. We are inspired by hands-on, grassroots-driven, and lasting impact. Learn more about our mission. In a changing world, building a better future together. New Opportunities Now Available. Dozens of new Volunteering openings are live on our site.

    https://www.peacecorpsconnect.org › articles › peace-corps-volunteers-and-the-making-of-korean-studies-in-the-united-states

    Some 2,000 Peace Corps Volunteers Served in Korea. They Have Also …

    Peace Corps Volunteers and the Making of Korean Studies in the United States. Edited by Seung-Kyung Kim and Michael Robinson. Center for Korea Studies, University of Washington. Reviewed by Steven Boyd Saum . The Peace Corps sent more than 2,000 Volunteers to South Korea 1966-81, to teach English and advise on healthcare.

    https://www.peacecorpsconnect.org › events › peace-corps-korea-all-group-volunteers-staff-and-friends-reunion-2018

    National Peace Corps Association | Peace Corps Korea All-Group … – NPCA

    Mention you’re with the Korea Peace Corps Reunion. Dan Strickland (K-18; danstrickland2001@yahoo.com) is our reunion point person and is available to answer questions or make suggestions. Let us know you’re coming by sending Dan an email with your name(s), your Korean name, K-group #, and check-in/out dates.

    The End

  • Visit to Gangwha Ginseng Market

    Visit to Gangwha Ginseng Market

     

     

     

     

    Venice in Korea

    WHERE TO LISTEN to the World According to Cosmos

     breaker audio

     Google podcasts

     radio public

    Spotify

    Korea Radio public c: https://radiopublic.com/the-world-according-to-cosmos-6va7D1

    on PocketCasts: https://pca.st/rt1f4r4r

    Visit to Gangwha Ginseng Market

    We recently moved to Gimpo.  One of the joys of living here is that we are a close drive to Gangwha island, which has always been one of my favorite Korean destinations.  It is only twenty minutes away.

    Recently, we discovered the Gangwha Island Ginseng market.  There are several on the island, but the one we went to is the one locals go to.  The price is fixed, and the quality is quite good, guaranteed by the local government.  The two official centers, located on the entrance to Gangwha, cater to tourists and are a bit of a rip off in my opinion.

    if you do buy it there, you can have them wash it for free.  We use it in soups and our daily smoothies.  Probably means I will live until I am 100 years old.

    We also went to Manisan for a hike.  See below.

    and went twice to Pomunsa for a hike and spent the night nearby in the Dream Inn which was quite nice.  We had a great breakfast the next morning.

    and we had a great sushi feast the other day on Gangwha island. And we also ate fresh shrimp.

    lots of things to do.  Here’s a partial listing

    https://www.seoulkoreatour.net › places › ganghwa-gun › shopping › ganghwa-ginseng-center

    Ganghwa Ginseng Center (강화 인삼센터) – Seoul Korea Tour

    In 1920, Ganghwado Island has designated a special district for ginseng cultivation. At the onset of the Korean War (1950-1953), the people of Gaeseong City (the birthplace of ginseng cultivation) took refuge on Ganghwado Island and began to cultivate ginseng on a large scale, which was the beginning of the production of the famous 6-year-old …

    https://en.trippose.com › shopping › ganghwa-ginseng-center

    Ganghwa Ginseng Center | 강화 인삼센터 : TRIPPOSE

    The cultivation of Ganghwa ginseng began during the era of King Gojong (1232 A.D.) of the Goryeo Dynasty. In 1920, Ganghwado Island has designated a special district for ginseng cultivation. At the onset of the Korean War (1950-1953), the people of Gaeseong City (the birthplace of ginseng cultivation

    https://www.trazy.com › spot › 531 › ganghwa-ginseng-center-강화인삼센터-shopping

    Ganghwa Ginseng Center 강화인삼센터, Korea Shopping

    In 1920, Ganghwado Island has designated a special district for ginseng cultivation. Ganghwa Ginseng Center handles quality ginseng guaranteed in its cultivation, processing, and distribution, owing to the utmost care exerted to provide safe and reliable products. Ginseng is an herbal supplement that is becoming more and more popular today…

    https://english1.visitkorea.or.kr › menu › ATR › SI_ENG_2_12_10.jsp

    Official Site of Korea Tourism Org.: Ganghwa Folk Flea Market – VisitKorea

    May 4, 2022Ganghwa turnip is a local plant of Ganghwado Island. The roots have a purple top and boast a unique taste. Furthermore, Ganghwa ginseng was also available at the market. People brought Goryeo ginseng to Ganghwado Island and grew it on the island, which later became known as Ganghwa ginseng.

    https://www.tripadvisor.com › Attraction_Review-g297889-d21294725-Reviews-Ganghwa_Ginseng_Center-Incheon.html

    Ganghwa Ginseng Center – Tripadvisor

    Skip to main content. Review. Trips Alert Sign in

    Images for gangwha isalnd Gingsing market

    More Images

    https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Ganghwa_Island

    Ganghwa Island – Wikipedia

    Ganghwa Island (Hangul 강 화 도; Hanja 江 華 島), also known by its native name Ganghwado, is a South Korean island in the estuary of the Han River. It is in the Yellow Sea, off Korea’s west coast. The island is separated from Gimpo (on the South Korean mainland) by a narrow channel spanned by two bridges, and from Kaesong (Gaeseong) in North Korea by the main channel of the Han River.

    https://koreaemarket.com › product › chonilsam-king-island-ganghwa-red-ginseng-extract-80ml

    [Chonilsam] King Island Ganghwa red ginseng extract 80ml

    Welcome to Korea E Market; Homepage; Start shopping now; Customer Account; About Korea E Market; Contact With Us; Blog; Wishlist; Wishlist. Login / Register. 0 $ 0.00. HOME & KITCHEN. KITCHEN & DINING; … Home HEALTH & HOUSEHOLD Health Care [Chonilsam] King Island Ganghwa red ginseng extract 80ml

    https://www.amazon.com › Chonilsam-Island-Ganghwa-Ginseng-Extract › dp › B09G5RZX6R

    [Chonilsam] King Island Ganghwa red Ginseng Extract 80ml

    Buy [Chonilsam] King Island Ganghwa Red Ginseng Extract 80ml on Amazon.com FREE SHIPPING on qualified orders

    https://www.flickr.com › photos › begin › 2692944713

    South Korea_361 | Ginseng market, Gangwha Island | B Negin | Flickr

    Ginseng market, Gangwha Island

    https://www.koreatravelpost.com › ganghwa-island-Incheon-things-to-do

    A Guide to the Best Things to Do on Gangwha Island

    Mar 22, 2022Visit Ganghwa Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden. The Ganghwa Natural History Museum is a beautiful place to go if you want to learn about the island’s unique ecology and history, among other things. It’s a small museum, but it offers a lot. ganghwagun. 강화역사박물관.

    More Results

     

     

    https://www.koreatravelpost.com › ganghwa-island-Incheon-things-to-do

    A Guide to the Best Things to Do on Gangwha Island

    Mar 22, 2022Visit Ganghwa Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden. The Ganghwa Natural History Museum is a beautiful place to go if you want to learn about the island’s unique ecology and history, among other things. It’s a small museum, but it offers a lot. ganghwagun. 강화역사박물관.

    https://www.expedia.com › Things-To-Do-In-Ganghwa.d6333489.Travel-Guide-Activities

    10 Fun Things to Do in Ganghwa July 2022 | Expedia

    What to do in Ganghwa on a sunny day? If you’re in the mood for a little fun under the sun, you’ll be interested in these outdoor activities: Produce 101 Dormitory & Trainee Favorite Place in Seoul. A Day as Produce 101 Trainee & Dorm Visit Tour in Paju. One mount Snow Park + Paju Lotte Premium Outlet One Day Tour.

    https://afuncouple.com › ganghwado

    15 Awesome Things to See in Ganghwado Near Seoul

    Let’s start with the best things to see on the island: 1. Visit Jeondeungsa temple. One of the highlights of our visit to Ganghwado, was our visit to Jeondeungsa (전등사), an ancient temple located on Mt. Jeongjoksan. The temple is located in the middle of a beautiful forest.

    https://www.travelocity.com › Things-To-Do-In-Ganghwa.d6333489.Travel-Guide-Activities

    Things To Do In Ganghwa 2022 – Activities & Attractions | Travelocity

    Welcome, traveler, to Ganghwa. Your journey has landed you here, and new adventures are calling your name. Now that you’ve arrived, you can stay in the safety and comfort of your hotel and watch the world spin past…or you can embrace this new place you’ve come to.

    morningcalmtravel.com › ganghwa

    Ganghwa-Do Day Trip from Seoul — Morning Calm Korea Travel Korea

    Ganghwa Island is an easy day trip from Seoul, just west of Gimpo and north of Inchon. Escape the sidewalks, lights, and crowd for a bit of sea-air freshness and calming beauty. Island hop via ferry to walk on the paths of ancients, experience megalithic culture, and explore the scenes of long-ago battles against invading Mongols, French, and …

    https://www.tripadvisor.com › Attractions-g1072105-Activities-Gangwon_do.html

    THE 15 BEST Things to Do in Gangwon-do – Tripadvisor

    There are digitalized arts of Sin Saimdang in the houses, and a brief explanation of her life, honestly loved the place. 6. Gangchon Rail Park. 292. Amusement & Theme Parks. By Abbydelight. An enjoyable ride with a fascinating view of nature for Gangwon-do. 7. Odaesan National Park.

    https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Ganghwa_Island

    Ganghwa Island – Wikipedia

    Ganghwa Island (Hangul 강 화 도; Hanja 江 華 島), also known by its native name Ganghwado, is a South Korean island in the estuary of the Han River. It is in the Yellow Sea, off Korea’s west coast. The island is separated from Gimpo (on the South Korean mainland) by a narrow channel spanned by two bridges, and from Kaesong (Gaeseong) in North Korea by the main channel of the Han River.

    https://www.ivisitkorea.com › best-things-to-do-in-Changwon-do

    Best Things To Do & Attractions in Gangwon-do – IVisitKorea

    Woljeongsa Temple. This route will lead you to the Woljeongsa Temple Fir Forest trails. This route is a fir woodland trail with around 1km. Even while this fir forest route is known for its greenery, the panorama is as breathtaking in the winter, when many of the woodland’s gorgeous trees are blanketed in snow.

    https://www.kiawahisland.org › things-to-do

     

    Manisan Mountain, Gangwha Island

    Manisan is a mountain in IncheonSouth Korea. It is situated in Ganghwa County and is the highest peak on Ganghwa Island. Manisan has an elevation of 469.4 m (1,540 ft).[1] There is a popular hiking trail to the summit; at the summit is Chamseongsdan, an altar where Dungun (the founding father of Korea) performed ritual ceremonies.

    Manisan is the highest peak on Ganghwa island.  It is a legendary mountain where Dungun the founder of Korea came to the earth.   The park signs are all in Korea. as is the map.  There are four routes, blue, yellow, red, and purple.  The blue route is the shortest route to the top. The first part of the trail is along an asphalt road following Manisan creek through an old-growth forest.  The blue trail branches off to the left and from that point on is a dirt trail, a trail with steps, and some scrambling up rocks. There is a rail all the way so that helps.  The elevation gain is steep at times. At the top of the mountain, there is a nice sky bridge trail to viewpoints.  The view is spectacular.

    There is a campground on the other side of the mountain where the red and purple trails originate. The round trip is about two and one-half hours and is about a 4-mile round trip.  One could make it a loop by taking the yellow course back down the mountain.

    Chamseongsdan was closed for renovation.  However, there is a replica at the foot of the mountain where the occasional ritual is still held.

    Near By Restaurants

    There are several restaurants at the bottom of the mountain. One served a great belt fish menu.

    Other Reviews

    1. Manisan (Incheon) – Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Manisan_(Incheon)

    Manisan is a mountain in Incheon, South Korea. It is situated in Ganghwa County and is the highest peak on Ganghwa Island. Manisan has an elevation of 469.4 m (1,540 ft). There is a popular hiking trail to the summit; at the summit is Chamseongsdan, an altar where Dangun (the founding father of Korea) performed ritual ceremonies.

    1. Mani-san, Ganghwa-do Island – Sacred Sites

    sacredsites.com › Asia › Korea

    Chamseong-dan altar, Mt. Mani-san, Ganghwa-do Island The “Demon Expelling Mountain” is the most sacred site on Ganghwa Island of Incheon City, relatively quiet famous throughout the nation. There is an ancient stone shrine on its highest peak (469m, the Chamseong-dan [Truly Holy Altar], that commands a wide view of the Yellow Sea.

    1. Manisan Mountain (Ganghwa Island) – Incheon, South Korea …

    http://www.alltrails.com › trail › south-Korea

    Manisan Mountain (Ganghwa Island) is a 3.4-mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Seo-gu, Incheon, South Korea that features a great forest setting and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and nature trips and is accessible year-round. Length 3.4 elevation gain 1,459 ftRoute type Loop

    1. Manisan (마니산) – Peaks and Penguins

    http://www.peaksandpenguins.com › 120-summits › mansion

    One funny thing about this mountain is that it would be just about as easy to visit on a layover as it would be from anywhere else on the Korean peninsula. Manisan is by far the closest 100 summits mountain to Incheon International Airport! At least, it’s close as the crow flies. Manisan is not exactly on the way anywhere – it’s on Ganghwa island! If you do the aforementioned airport plan, one-way transit will take you nearly two hours (bus 9000 from the airport, connecting to bus 700-1 in Yangcheon – if you’re curious!). The trip is a little longer from Incheon. Take the orange, Incheon line 2 metro to Majeon station and then catch the 700-1 bus for just over two hours (starting from downtown Incheon). From Seoul, navigate your way to Yangcheon by bus or subway (different depending on your starting point – but aim for Gurye station on the brown line 9) – then catch bus 700-1. Seeing the theme? Bus 700-1 run to the Hwado bus terminal, just north of Manisan. A few other buses…

    1. Manisan Mountain (Ganghwa Island) – Hiking the World

    hiking the world.blog › 2012/10/20 › mansion-mountain

    Oct 20, 2012, · One of three sacred Korean mountains, Manisan is located on Ganghwa Island on the west coast. It’s less than an hour from Incheon airport and connected by two bridges to the mainland.

    1. Manisan Mountain – Welcome to Incheon, South Korea

    Incheon-southkorea.weebly.com › mansion-mountain

    The Manisan Mountain is a mountain located in the Ganghwa-do mountain range. The Ganghwa-do mountain range is located in Incheon, South Korea. This mountain is 496.4 meters over sea level. It is also the tallest mountain in this mountain range.

    More Reviews

    1. Hike Ganghwa Island’s Manisan while Teaching in Korea

    blog.aclipse.net › teach-in-Korea › bid

    Dec 03, 2014, · Manisan stands at 469 meters (or 1539 feet) above sea level, and it offers two hiking paths. We took the tougher route, the Stairway Path. As you can guess from the name, there were a lot of stairs, as is quite common with hiking in Korea, but this mountain is definitely worth the work.

    1. Manisan on Ganghwado | Rip City to Seoul

    ripcitytoseoul.wordpress.com › 2010/07/05 › manisan

    Jul 05, 2010, · Ganghwado (Ganghwa Island) is Korea’s fifth largest island. Its strategic west sea location, in the estuary of the Han River, has resulted in an immensely important role in Korean history. Wars, kingdoms, sacrifices, temples, UNESCO world heritage sites… a lot has happened here.

    1. Ganghwa Island – Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Ganghwa_Island

    With the primary fortifications protecting the Joseon capital of Seoul from foreign invasion, Ganghwa Island was the site of several 19th-century punitive expeditions. The mass execution of Catholic French missionaries and Korean converts under the ministry of the Heungseon Daewongun in the mid-1860s led to a French invasion in 1866 which held the island for several weeks, although the …

    Manisan Mountain (Ganghwa Island) is a 5.5-kilometer heavily trafficked loop trail located near Seo-gu, Incheon, South Korea that features a great forest setting and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and nature trips and is accessible year-round.

    Length5.5 kmElevation gain445 mRoute typeLoop

    Manisan Mountain (469m) is one of three sacred 3 mountains in Korea, with two hiking paths that lead to an altar and temple on the summit.

    You begin to ascend as soon as you leave the parking lot, then it’s pavement, stairs, and “carpet” as you make your way to the peak. There’s an ancient alter at the top.

    The End

  • Letter to GImpo  Golden Waterway Director

    Letter to GImpo Golden Waterway Director

    Letter to GImpo Golden Waterway Director

    I recently moved to the Hyundai Hometown apartments in Janggi dong and have been enjoying daily walks along the ARA golden water canal.

     

     

    Overall, I am very impressed.  It is a great recreational asset for Gimpo County.

    I do have a few suggestions for improvements.

    Extend it

    1. Extend it on the southern (eastern) end all the way to the Han River linking it to the Han River park system.  It is only half a mile away from the river.
    2. Extend it on the northern (western) end all the way to Gimpo Lake, also only a half a mile away. This may be more feasible, as the area is not as heavily built up as is the southern/eastern end.

    Allow Fishing

    1. Stock it with fish and allow fishing at designated areas where you can also sell fishing supplies and have restaurants available to grill freshly caught fish. Also stock with turtles and frogs. You can charge a small fee to cover the cost of maintaining game fish.

    Have goats eat the weeds

    1. Have goats eat the weeds throughout.

    Extend hours of boating, add in kayaks and canoes

    1. Extend the hours of the boat until midnight, also add in kayaks and canoes to the mix.

    Have bike and scooter rentals available

    1. Have places to rent bikes and scooters.

    More shade trees

    1. Plant more shade trees, particularly in the section next to the boat house which is pretty barren.

    Extend the Restaurant district

    1. Extend the restaurant district further north and east,

    Install Vending Machines

    1. Install vending machines for drinks throughout the park.

    Free Umbrellas

    1. Have free umbrellas throughout the park.

    Link to Other Trails in Gimpo, and along the Han River, to Create  a Cross Gimpo Trail System

    While the first two items might be too expensive, the other items should be inexpensive and will help in maintaining the park.  For the fishing, you can charge 10,000 won to use the fishing facilities. That should defray the extra costs.

    Thanks

    Jake Cosmos Aller

    Retired U.S (Diplomat, State Department (Foreign Service Officer)

    Tel: 010-4435-1402

    Email:  jakecaller@gmail.com

    Web: https://theworldaccordingtocosmos.com

    This blog item:     https://wp.me/p7NAzO-1OZ

    Update to ARA blog piece

    I have updated this blog item to include my letter to the ARA board, and a restaurant review of Julia’s American style dinner.

    Enjoy

    Venice in Korea and other Korean Stream Bed Parks

    ARA Canal Incheon

    Updated information below on Yeongjaecheon stream based on a Kindle booklet about the stream.

    Over the last decade, Korea has build hundreds of stream bed parks throughout Seoul and Korea.  There are great places to take a walk, to observe wild life, to enjoy nature in the city.   There is some information in English on these parks but not enough.  For those readers in Korea, please feel free to send me info on other stream bed parks, so I can update this from time to time.

    The most famous one is the one that started it all. Cheongjejon in down town Seoul.

    Cheonggyecheon Stream

    OverviewCheonggyecheon Stream (Seoul) – 2021 All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos) – Tripadvisor

    Formerly polluted and covered with an elevated road since 2005, this stream has been cleaned up and made into an Art and nature walkway through the heart of Seoul.

    Suggested Duration:1-2 hours

    It is the prototype perhaps of stream restoration.

    SEOUL, South Korea — For half a century, a dark tunnel of crumbling concrete encased more than three miles of a placid stream bisecting this bustling city.

    The waterway had been a centerpiece of Seoul since a king of the Choson Dynasty selected the new capital 600 years ago, enticed by the graceful meandering of the stream and its 23 tributaries. But in the industrial era after the Korean War, the stream, by then a rank open sewer, was entombed by pavement and forgotten beneath a lacework of elevated expressways as the city’s population swelled toward 10 million.

    Today, after a $384 million recovery project, the stream, called Cheonggyecheon, is liberated from its dank sheath and burbles between reedy banks. Picnickers cool their bare feet in its filtered water, and carp swim in its tranquil pools.

    The restoration of the Cheonggyecheon is part of an expanding environmental effort in cities around the world to “daylight” rivers and streams by peeling back pavement that was built to bolster commerce and serve automobile traffic decades ago.

    Environmentalists point out other benefits. Open watercourses handle flooding rains better than buried sewers do, a big consideration as global warming leads to heavier downpours. The streams also tend to cool areas overheated by sun-baked asphalt and to nourish greenery that lures wildlife as well as pedestrians.

    After its opening in 2005, hundreds of thousands of people have visited the new stream with friends and family.Credit…Jean Chung for The New York Times

    Some political opponents have derided Seoul’s remade stream as a costly folly, given that nearly all of the water flowing between its banks on a typical day is pumped there artificially from the Han River through seven miles of pipe.

    Golden Waterway In Gimpo

    My favorite though is the Golden Waterway in Gimpo north of Kimpo airport, close to Janngi station on the new Gold Line.  The Gyeonggi and Gimpo tourist promotors have dubbed this “the Venice of Korea”.  Not quite, but still quite nice.

    Iit is a 5.9 long walk way along a stream that used to be an open sewage dump back not too long ago.  It is lined with trees, flowers, beaches, and quirky public art.  The  northern end is pretty boring though.  The central and southern end is very nice.

    It is lined with restaurants and cafes, and has a boat house where you can rent boats to go out on the water.  The cost is 20,000 per hour.   a popular boat choice is the moon boat, which is a boat shaped like a crescent moon that is ideal for a couple to take out on the water.  There are also family boats and paddle boats for individuals.  There are also bikes for rent.

     

     

     

    [4K] Beautiful evening walk along Laveniche March Avenue in Gimpo Korea Tour 김포 한강신도시 장기동 라베니체 저녁 걷기

    •  N

    안녕하세요 Seoul Walker 입니다.
    오늘은 경기도 김포한강신도시에 위치한 라베니체 마치 에비뉴의 저녁을 함께 걸어봅시다. 깨끗해진 공기 만큼이나 아름다운 노을을 계속 볼 수 있기를 희망합니다.아침 7시, 당신을 위한 새로운 영상이 공개 됩니다.
    당신의 새로운 아침, 그리고 오후 저녁 저의 영상을 보며 한결 여유로운 하루의 시작과 마무리가 되었으면 하는 바램입니다. 최대한 다채롭고 흥미로운 영상을 즐기실 수 있도록 노력하겠습니다.영상이 마음에 드셨다면 좋아요, 구독, 알림 설정 부탁드립니다.
    그럼 오늘도 행복한 하루 되세요!

    Hello all my friends, I’m Nathan from Seoul Walker.
    Today, let’s walk together at Laveniche March Avenue in Hangang River New City, Gimpo, Gyeonggi-do.

    Ravenice March Avenue is a themed canal street created by Venetian motifs on a total of 33,000 m² waterfront commercial areas in total of 26 parcels around the golden waterway, which is an artificial waterway in the Han River New City of Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province. It is a commercial facility.

    Other Streams in Seoul

    Jungnangcheon (Stream)

    Jungnangcheon stream is the biggest contributor to the Hangang River. It starts at Yangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, joins with the Cheonggyecheon stream, and curves around Geumho-dong, Seongdong-gu until it finally flows under the Bridge of Gangyeonbuk-ro and into the Hangang river.

    Hongjecheon (Stream)

    Hongjecheon (Stream) begins at Bukhansan (Mountain) and runs for 11.1km through Jongno-gu and Mapo-gu. The stream is named after the Hongjewon, an official building where Chinese envoys were received. Once dried up and neglected, the stream was revived under Seoul’s ‘No Dry Streams’ project. Within two short years clean water was once again flowing through both Hongjecheon (Stream) and Cheonggyecheon (Stream).

    Hongjecheon

    GO ENG CHN JPN

     

    Yangjaecheon Stream and Tancheon Stream are two tributaries of the Hangang River.

    Yangjaecheon (Stream)

    Update:  there is a nice booklet available on Kindle called Gangnam Style by Kyungsuk Oh,  all about Yongjaecheon stream.  They recommend starting at Hangyegul station on the Orange line. At the end of the stream, it flows into the Tancheon stream and then into the Han River. When you get to the Tancheon stream, there is a nice cafe street called Cafe Street or Metasequia Street lined with eateries.  if you keep going along the Tangcheon stream, you enter into the Han river park system, or you could follow the Tancheon stream bed park back towards the mountains.

    Yangjaecheon (Stream) originates from Gwanaksan (Mountain) and Cheonggyesan (Mountain). The 15.6km stream flows across Gwacheon and into the Gangnam district in Seoul until it joins up with the Hangang (River). The stream flows across Dogok-dong and Gaepo-dong in the district of Gangnam, and is a popular spot with locals for its well-paved pedestrian and cycling paths. It is a pleasant patch of green in a concrete jungle. Many Seoulites visit the stream for relaxation and to spend a day being closer to nature.

    Tancheon Stream is another one of the Hangang’s tributaries.

    The stream is 35.6km long and starts in the city of Yongin in GyeongGi Province and ends at the Hangang River in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

    Phone

    +82-2-2155-7153

    Website

    View Website

    Website Language

    KOR

    See map

    Address

    135-090

    Transportation

    * Subway Line 3, Maebong Station, Exits 3 & 4 (5 mins on foot)
    * Subway Line 3 & Bundang Line, Dogok Station, Exits 3 & 4 (5 mins on foot)

    Hanyeoul Stream, is a tributary of the Hangang River.

    The stream is 18.5km long and flows from Gwacheong in GyeongGi Province to the southern part of Seoul. The stream’s name is derived from the area in Seoul it flows through, Yangjae-dong.

    Visit Songdo Central Park

    Find a pleasant oasis along the water in this large, bustling city. Canoe, ride a bike, relax on the lawn or visit rabbits and deer.

    Stroll along the peaceful promenade of Songdo Central Park and view sculptures and animals. Here pretty grassy spaces border a manmade waterway while skyscrapers tower nearby. Completed in 2009, the stylish city park has become a landmark of the large city of Incheon in South Korea’s northwestern region.

    In 2001, Incheon began creating Songdo International Business District on mostly reclaimed land. The multi-functional space offers residents a pleasant and sustainable place for home, work, school and leisure. The 101-acre (41-hectare) park is an integral part of the overall design. Join residents and other visitors using this vast green space and exploring the cultural institutions surrounding the park.

    One highlight of the park is the seawater canal symbolizing the rivers of Korea flowing to the West Sea. Cruise along the canal under your own power in a canoe with sun umbrellas or on a comfortable water-taxi or small cruise boat.

    Gaze at and visit some of the futuristic buildings surrounding the park. Tri-Bowl, with the appearance of a bowl resting on water, has cultural event spaces. The Songdo G-Tower’s diagonal lines and atriums provide a stunning setting for the offices of IFEZ (Incheon Free Economic Zone) Authority. Visit the building’s 29th-floor Sky Garden for views across the city.

    Suwon – Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Suwon

    Most of the streams passing through Suwon originate on Gwanggyosan or other nearby peaks. Since Suwon is bounded to the east by other hills, the streams, chiefly the Suwoncheon (and one notable tributary being the Jungbocheon), flow southwards through the city, eventually emptying into the Yellow Sea at Asan Bay. The entirety of Suwon is  drained in this manner

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  • Our Blues K Drama Review

    Our Blues K Drama Review

    Our Blues K Drama Review

    jeju pictures
    jeju pictures

    Cosmos’s Favorite K Drama

    Favorite K Dram

    aCosmos’s Fav k Drama

    Cosmos Movies Seen 2022

    Cosmos Movie List 2021 Final Updates

     

    Our blues just concluded on Netflix.  It is one of the most highly rated K dramas so far this year. After watching it, I can see why.

    This drama is a refreshing change from the typical story of corruption, and rich people behaving badly theme in so many K dramas.

    It is a warm heart look at the life of ordinary people living in Jeju and focuses on the life of several friends in their 30’s who all grew up in the same village and stayed in Jeju rather than migrating to the mainland like many of their classmates had.

    They all work together in a local fish market. A number of them are women divers.  The story plot follows the life of the various couples involved as they struggle to find love and happiness.

    There are several intriguing sub-plots including teenage pregnancy and frenemies who become friends as their children get married early, a love triangle, husband abuse, the life of the haenyeo,  the famous woman divers, growing up taking care of a downs syndrome child, and what for me was most poignant, a young man who was abused by his mother and his half-siblings, finally reconciling with his mother when he finds out she has only a few weeks to live.

    Another interesting factoid, I noticed a trend in K Dramas – They are increasingly been set outside of the Seoul metro area, and are featuring more average people rather than just the upper class.  And many of them now have at least one minority person in the drama, either a sexual minority, a disabled person, or a foreigner.

    All of which are welcomed trends in my opinion.

    For more information see the following articles on the series, and tourism sites in Jeju,  including information on the Jeju Olle Trail.  I am hoping to visit Jeju for the first time later this year and hope to visit many of these sites in person and will update this blog piece then.

    Our Blues  WIki

    From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

     

    Our Blues
    Promotional poster
    Hangul 우리들의 블루스
    Revised Romanization Urideurui Beulluseu
    Developed by Studio Dragon[1]
    Written by Noh Hee-Kyung
    Directed by Kim Kyu-tae
    Starring Lee Byung-hun

    Shin Min-a

    Cha Seung-won

    Lee Jung-eun

    Uhm Jung-hwa

    Han Ji-min

    Kim Woo-bin

    Music by Choi Seung-Kwon

    Kim Ji-soo

    Country of origin South Korea
    Original language Korean
    No. of episodes 20
    Production
    Executive producer Jang Jeong-do
    Producers Lee Dong-gyu

    Kim Seong-min

    Kim Nuri

    Running time 60 minutes[2]
    Production company GTist[3]
    Distributor tvN

    Netflix

    Release
    Original network tvN
    Original release April 9 –
    June 12, 2022

    Our Blues (Korean: 우리들의 블루스; RR: Urideurui Beulluseu) is a 2022 South Korean television series starring Lee Byung-hunShin Min-aCha Seung-wonLee Jung-eunUhm Jung-HwaHan Ji-min, and Kim Woo-bin. The series revolves around the sweet and bitter life of people standing at the end, climax, or beginning of life, and depicts their stories in an omnibus format against the backdrop of Jeju Island. It premiered on tvN on April 9, 2022, and aired every Saturday and Sunday at 21:10 (KST) with 20 episodes.[4][5] It is available for streaming on Netflix in selected regions.[6] It is also the eleventh highest-rated Korean drama on cable television.[7]

    Other reviews

    https://asianwiki.com › Our_Blues

    Our Blues – AsianWiki

    Oct 7, 2021″Our Blues ” follows a group of people on Jeju island. Lee Dong-Seok (Lee Byung-Hun) was born in a small village on Jeju Island. He now sells stuff from his truck on the island. He is not a sophisticated man. Lee Dong-Seok then gets involved with Min Seon-A, who has just moved to Jeju. She has her own story which nobody knows.

    https://decider.com › 2022 › 04 › 18 › our-blues-Netflix-review

    ‘Our Blues’ Netflix Review: Stream It Or Skip It? – Decider

    Apr 18, 2022Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Our Blues’ On Netflix, A K-Drama That Follows a Series of Romances in a Bustling Island Town. By Jade Budowski @ jadebudowski Apr 18, 2022 at 1:30pm. In Our Blues, now …

    https://mydramalist.com › 697585-our-blues

    Our Blues (2022) – MyDramaList

    Apr 9, 2022″Our Blues”, the drama and its stories illustrate as well exhibit the blues of a varied spectrum of lives and the arrays to which life can haul us. Produced by ‘GTist’ and developed by ‘Studio Dragon’, “OUR BLUES (우리들의 블루스)” is an omnibus-themed Kdrama created and nourished by none-other-than one of the best Korean writers…

    https://screenrant.com › our-blues-cast-guide-characters-actors

    Our Blues Cast & Character Guide | Screen Rant

    Apr 9, 2022Netflix’s new Korean anthology series Our Blues is filled with both veteran actors and up-and-coming names in the world of K-drama. As the latest Korean drama to hit Netflix, The Most Beautiful Goodbye writer Noh Hee-Kyung uses Our Blues to break the typical male-female lead format, instead choosing to tell the stories of seven main characters. . Here is a guide to the cast and characters of Our Bl

    https://www.teenvogue.com › story › k-drama-our-blues-review

    “Our Blues” Is One of the Best K-Dramas in Recent Years

    4 days ago our Blues does that. While it starts slowly, the pacing is part of the point: resolutions don’t occur immediately, but there is a sense of cathartic release when they do.

    https://mydramalist.com › 697585-our-blues › cast

    Our Blues (2022) – Full Cast & Crew – MyDramaList

    “Our Blues” takes on an omnibus-style drama, which tells the story of diverse characters that are somewhat interconnected, in one way or the other. Lee…

    https://dmtalkies.com › our-blues-season-1-ending-explained-2022-netflix-kdrama-series

    ‘Our Blues’ Ending, Explained – Do Jeong Joon And Young Ok Get Over …

    3 days ago”Our Blues” should have stuck to just ten episodes. The show would have been a lot more entertaining with that. K-dramas lately seem to be struggling with this one problem: they have the perfect characters, perfect storylines, and perfect sets, but it all goes away because they just cannot decide on the appropriate length of the show. …

    Places Seen in the Drama

    For more info read the following

     Biyangdo Island

    Biyangdo Island | 비양도 : TRIPPOSE

    Biyangdo Island can be seen directly from Hyeopjae Beach, which is located northwest of Hanrim Port. The word Biyang means to fly over, and indeed, legend has it that Biyangdo Island flew over from China more than 1000 years ago. The tiny island, accompanied by Hallim Park, Hyeopjae Beach, and Hallim Port, creates a truly picturesque …

    Cheonjeyeon Falls

    https://www.tripadvisor.com › Attraction_Review-g297892-d18970102-Reviews-Cheonjeyeon_Falls-Seogwipo_Jeju_Island.html

    Cheonjeyeon Falls (Seogwipo) – All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

    Cheonjeyeon waterfall is located at the southern tip of Jeju island near Seogwipo-do. It is about 1.5 hours bus ride from the airport. It is called the 3-tier waterfall as it falls over 3 cliffs before ultimately ending up in the ocean.

    Gapado Island

    https://www.tripadvisor.com › Attraction_Review-g297892-d7788254-Reviews-Gapado_Island-Seogwipo_Jeju_Island.html

    Gapado Island (Seogwipo) – All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

    The island is mostly covered by wheat fields with two small villages at two ends of the main road that bisects the island. Several houses on the main road are decorated with informative murals that describe the culture and history of Gapado making it an interesting walk. The center of the island has a viewpoint about 20 meters above ground that …

    Geumneung

    https://www.tripadvisor.com › Attraction_Review-g297885-d8667339-Reviews-Geumneung_Eutteumwon_Beach-Jeju_Jeju_Island.html

    Geumneung Eutteumwon Beach (Jeju) – All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

    Jun 2020. Geumneung Beach and Hyeopjae Beach are the two beaches of Hallim located about a kilometer apart from one another. While swimming is not allowed for some stretches, both areas are stunning during sunset. The stretches of the camping area looked like a great place to spend the daylight hours and at low tide, there was plenty …

    Mokpo

    Mokpo – Wikipedia

    Mokpo (Korean pronunciation: Mokpo-si) is a city in South Jeolla Province, South Korea, located at the southwestern tip of the Korean Peninsula, close to Yudal mountain. Mokpo has frequent high-speed train services to Seoul and is the terminus for several ferry routes serving islands in the adjacent Yellow Sea and Dadohae National Maritime Park.

    https://www.tripadvisor.com › Attractions-g1074117-Activities-Mokpo_Jeollanam_do.html

    THE 10 BEST Things to Do in Mokpo – 2022 (with Photos) – Tripadvisor

    Mokpo is a port city located on the southwestern tip of the Korean Peninsula. Easily accessible by KTX or SRT, Mokpo still has important traces of the Japanese colonization of Korea. The Mokpo Marine Cable Car takes you to the beautiful views of Yudalsan and small islands scattered on the West Sea. The cable car stops at two points: Yudal …

    https://www.lonelyplanet.com › South-Korea › jeollanam-do › mokpo

    Mokpo travel – Lonely Planet | South Korea, Asia

    Mokpo. The sprawling port city of Mokpo (목포), set on a small peninsula jutting out into the West Sea, is the end of the line for trains and expressway traffic, and a starting point for sea voyages to Jeju-do and the western islands of Dadohae Haesang National Park. Korea’s National Maritime Museum is appropriately located here, and the …

    https://www.tripadvisor.com › Tourism-g1074117-Mokpo_Jeollanam_do-Vacations.html

    Mokpo, South Korea 2022: Best Places to Visit – Tripadvisor

    Mokpo Tourism: Tripadvisor has 1,098 reviews of Mokpo Hotels, Attractions, and Restaurants making it your best Mokpo resource.

    https://mokpo.go.kr › eng

    Mokpo

    Mokpo

    https://www.britannica.com › place › Mokpo

    Mokp’o | South Korea | Britannica

    Mokp’o, also spelled Mokpo, port city, South Chŏlla (Jeolla) do (province), southwestern South Korea. Situated on the tip of the Muan Peninsula, at the southwestern end of the Korean peninsula, it is the door to the Honam Plain, the largest granary in the country. During the Chosŏn (Yi) dynasty (1392-1910), it was a naval base, and it was opened to foreign trade in 1879.

    https://afuncouple.com › more

    Visiting Mokpo in South Korea – Full Guide

    The cable car opened in 2019. Mokpo Marine Cable Car is the longest (3.23 kilometers) and highest (155 meters from the ground) cable car in Korea. It crosses Yudalsan Mountain and the sea to reach Gohado Island. Mokpo Marine Cable Car offers an amazing view of the city of Mokpo, and the surrounding natural beauties.

    https://www.mokpo.gr

    https://colonialkorea.com › 2016 › 05 › 24 › mokpo

    Mokpo – Colonial Korea

    Downtown Mokpo: The Ogeori The Ogeori was an area centered on an intersection of five roads feeding in from Mokpo Station, the harbor, the northern (Korean) neighborhood, and the southern (Japanese) neighborhood. Consisting of restaurants, markets, shops, businesses, bars, inns, financial institutions, and theaters, this would have been …

    https://us.soccerway.com › teams › Korea-republic › mokpo-city-fc › 14863

    eng.mokpo.go.kr/home/eng

    Mokpo is a city in South Jeolla Province, South Korea, located at the southwestern tip of the Korean Peninsula, close to Yudal mountain. Mokpo has frequent high-speed train services to Seoul and is the terminus for several ferry routes serving islands in the adjacent Yellow Sea and Dadohae National Maritime Park. Wikipedia

    Mt. Halla (Hallasan)

    Hallasan – Wikipedia

    Hallasan is the highest mountain in South Korea and is worshipped by people as they believe that gods and spirits live on the mountain. Alternate English names for the mountain include Hanla Mountain or Mount Halla and older English sources refer to the peak as Mount Auckland. Hallasan is written in Hangul as if it were Hanrasan ( 한라산 …

    https://forkandfoot.com › hiking-mt-hallasan-Jeju-island-south-korea

    Hiking Mt Hallasan – Jeju Island, South Korea – Fork, and Foot

    4 Hallasan Trails – Which one is best and how to get there? There are four Hallasan trails on and around the mountain, but only two of these trails will take you up to the volcano’s crater lip – the Gwaneumsa trail, and the Seongpanak trail: Gwaneumsa Trail – 8.7km (one-way) and 8-10 hours return hike <- the BEST views!; Seongpanak Trail – 9.6km (one-way) and 7-9 hours …

    Hallasan Mountain – VISITJEJU

    As one of Korea’s 3 spirit mountains, Hallasan Mountain is located in the southernmost part of the Korean Peninsula and lays claim to the title of South Korea’s tallest mountain with a height of 1,950m above sea level. Home to all sorts of vegetation, the mountain possesses immense scientific value and is a veritable treasure trove of animals and plants, leading to the designation of …

    https://www.expatolife.com › mount-hallasan-Jeju-island-south-korea

    A Detailed Guide To Hiking Mount Hallasan Jeju | Expatolife

    Jeju Sanbangsan Carbonate Hot Spring

    https://www.tripadvisor.com › Attraction_Review-g297892-d11824422-Reviews-Sanbangsan_Carbonate_Hot_Springs-Seogwipo_Jeju_Island.html

    Sanbangsan Carbonate Hot Springs (Seogwipo) – Tripadvisor

    The hot springs have a good reputation and are very popular amongst Koreans. There is a large indoor area, separated of course for males and females, and then an outdoor area with 4 small pools the size of a hot tub and one larger lap pool that has cold spring water. Out of the 4 smaller pools 3 have hot water, and 1 has cold water.

    https://www.trazy.com › experience › detail › Jeju-island-sanbangsan-mountain-carbonate-hot-springs

    Sanbangsan Mountain Carbonate Hot Springs on Jeju Island

    Sanbangsan Mountain Carbonate Hot Spring is a unique hot spring where you dip yourself in a tub of naturally carbonated water. Release your stress and relax your tense muscles from exploring Jeju Island in the fizzy tubs. Carbonated water is known to relax your body in various ways. With both indoor and outdoor areas, come and experience a …

    https://blog.mykoreatrip.com › review-jeju-sanbangsan-hot-spring-must-visit-destination-jeju

    Jeju Sanbangsan Mountain Hot Spring – INDIWAY!

    Jul 28, 2021Sanbangsan Mountain Hot Spring. Location -192, Sagyebuk-ro 41beon-gil, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do. Telephone – (+82) 64-792-8300. Tags: Jeju sauna Carbon hot spring Jeju Hot Spring sangbansan Hot Spring.

    Jusangjeollidae

    Jusangjeollidae – Jungmun Daepo Columnar Joints – Jeju, South Korea …

    Jusangjeollidae (주상절리대) is known to be a national monument in Jeju. This cliff face was formed by volcanic rock pillars. You’ll be able to see hexagon-shaped rocks and expansive views of the sea and landscapes. Jungmun Daepo Columnar Joints (중문대포 주상절리) are more rugged cliffs created by volcanic pillars. This is another popular attraction for scenic views and great …

    Pacific Rim Peace Park

    https://pacificrimpark.org › park-sites › Jeju-island

    JEJU ISLAND: Pacific Rim Park

    Stepping Stones of the Pacific • 2010. Jeju Island is called the “Island of Peace.” “Stepping Stones of the Pacific” on Jeju Island was built in the heat of the summer just before the rainy season in July 2010. The park was constructed by 27 students from Yantai, Jeju Island, Seogwipo, Vladivostok, Puerto Princesa, and San Diego in …

    https://pacificrimpark.org

    Pacific Rim Park

    JEJU ISLAND; KAOHSIUNG; YANTAI II; Park Site Map; People; News; Donate. A PEARL IS THE CENTER of each park, and all parks are on the Pacific Visit Park Sites … Sign up to receive updates on the Pacific Rim Park. SUBSCRIBE. Pacific Rim Park P.O. Box 1221, Julian, CA 92036 760-765-3427 [email address protected]

    Sinchang Windmill Coastal Road

    Sinchang Windmill Coastal Road (Jeju) – Tripadvisor

    Mar 2019. Beautiful sunset from the roadside. A huge Windmill by the beach. Been here in early March so the weather was around 10°c and windy. Such a lovely evening I’ve had in Jeju. Sinchang Windmill Coastal Road is situated on the northwest side of Jeju. One of the most beautiful places to view the sunset so be sure to bring your camera!

    https://www.visitjeju.net › en › detail › view?contentsid=CNTS_200000000007676

    Sinchang Windmill Coastal Road

    Sinchang Windmill Coastal Road Sinchang Windmill Coastal Road is on the northwest side of Jeju Island and has a distinctive offshore wind farm as a prominent landmark. The white windmills and emerald waters along the winding shoreline are a refreshing example of the autumn landscape and an environmentally friendly way to generate electricity.

    https://www.expedia.com › Sinchang-Windmill-Coastal-Road-Jeju-City.d553248635976174268.Vacation-Attraction

    Visit Sinchang Windmill Coastal Road in Jeju City | Expedia

    496-1, Hangyeonghaean-ro,, Hangyeong-myeon, Jeju-si, Jeju City, Jeju, 63002. $141. per night. Jun 16 – Jun 17. Stay at this property in Jeju City. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a terrace. Popular attractions Hyeopjae Beach and Sinchang Windmill Coastal Road are located …

    https://www.trazy.com › spot › 2717 › sinchang-windmill-coastal-road-신창-풍차해안

    Sinchang Windmill Coastal Road 신창 풍차해안 – Trazy, Korea’s #1 Travel Shop

    Sinchang windmill farm is a wind turbine farm located on Sinchang coastal road. Even though it’s not as popular as other areas, this place is recommended as Jeju’s driving course because it combined beautiful natural scenery and technology. There is also a long bridge above the ocean. A fish sculpture called Dageumbari near the bridge …

    https://en.tripadvisor.com.hk › Attraction_Review-g297885-d16850805-Reviews-Sinchang_Windmill_Coastal_Road-Jeju_Jeju_Island.html

    Sinchang Windmill Coastal Road (Jeju) – All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

    A huge Windmill by the beach. Been here in early March so the weather was around 10°c and windy. Such a lovely evening I’ve had in Jeju. Sinchang Windmill Coastal Road is situated on the northwest side of Jeju. One of the most beautiful places to view the sunset so be sure to bring your camera!

    https://www.trip.com › travel-guide › attraction › Jeju › sinchang-windmill-coastal-road-62011668

    Sinchang Windmill Coastal Road – trip.com

    Sinchang Windmill Coastal Road: 2020 Top Things to Do in Jeju. Sinchang Windmill Coastal Road travelers’ reviews, business hours, introduction, open hours. Check out the updated best hotels & restaurants near Sinchang Windmill Coastal Road.

    https://www.tripadvisor.in › Attraction_Review-g297885-d16850805-Reviews-Sinchang_Windmill_Coastal_Road-Jeju_Jeju_Island.html

    Sinchang Windmill Coastal Road (Jeju) – 2022 What to Know Before You Go …

    Sinchang Windmill Coastal Road, Jeju: See 4 reviews, articles, and 8 photos of Sinchang Windmill Coastal Road, ranked No.76 on Tripadvisor among 167 attractions in Jeju.

    https://www.hotels.com › de12483292 › hotels-near-sinchang-windmill-coastal-road-Jeju-city-south-korea

    https://www.youtube.com › watch?v=ynAZRwimIgM

    Sinchang Windmill Coastal Road 2 – YouTube

    Jeju Day 26 Part 2: Sinchang Windmill Coastal Road 200:00 Intro00:36 Sinchang Windmill Coastal Road06:27 Sinchang Port08:49 Sinchang Port – Sinchang Wind P…

    blog.lookandwalk.com › en › blog › mazinguide › 1447

    Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak

    https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Seongsan_Ilchulbong

    Seongsan Ilchulbong – Wikipedia

    Seongsan Ilchulbong also called ‘Sunrise Peak’, is an archetypal tuff cone formed by hydrovolcanic eruptions upon a shallow seabed about 5 thousand years ago. Situated on the eastern seaboard of Jeju Island and said to resemble a gigantic ancient castle, this tuff cone is 182 meters high, has a preserved bowl-like crater, and also displays diverse inner structures resulting from the sea cliff.

    https://www.tripadvisor.com › Attraction_Review-g297892-d1582693-Reviews-Seongsan_Ilchulbong-Seogwipo_Jeju_Island.html

    Seongsan Ilchulbong (Seogwipo) – All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

    Seongsan Ilchulbong is one of Jeju’s Crown & Jewel destinations. This beautiful natural wonder provides awesome 360 degrees views, fresh air, and an escape from all the current issues impacting the World. … So we had to carry our things up to see the Seongsan Ilchulbong. We did not attempt to climb up to the peak due to our heavy bags. Instead …

    https://theculturetrip.com › Asia › south-korea › articles › a-guide-to-exploring-seongsan-ilchulbong-peak

    A Guide to Exploring Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak – Culture Trip

    The peak’s Korean name, Seongsan Ilchulbong, encompasses its two most salient features; a seongsan is a hill in the shape of a castle, and an ilchulbong is a high point with a view of beautiful sunrises. Seongsan Ilchulbong is situated on Jeju’s eastern side and is said to have the best view of sunrise on the island. It opens an hour before sunrise all year round and sees dawn break …

    https://www.expatolife.com › seongsan-ilchulbong-sunrise-peak-jeju-island-south-korea

    Seongsan Ilchulbong: Explore Sunrise Peak Jeju | Expatolife

    Dec 30, 2021Seongsan Ilchulbong, also known as Sunrise Peak, was formed more than 5000 years ago by volcanic eruptions. It used to be a separate island, but it’s now connected to Jeju’s main island. You have to climb to the top to see the true form of Seongsan Ilchulbong Mountain in Jeju. This majestic 182m high tuff volcano shapes like a large pie.

    https://koreabyme.com › destinations › Jeju-island › attractions-jeju-island › seongsan-ilchulbong-peak

    Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak – KoreabyMe

    The name Seongsan (“fortress mountain”) comes from how the crater resembles a fortress, and Ilchulbong (“sun rising peak”) refers to the wonderful view of the sunrise. True to its name, it also offers a wonderful view of Hallasan Mountain and other forums (parasitic cones) around the area

    Udo Island,

    Udo (island) – Wikipedia

    Udo, (also called U-island, since do means island) is located northeast of Seongsan-RI, 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles) off the coast of Jeju, South Korea. This is the largest of the islands included in Jeju City. Udo, literally “Cow Island” in Hanja, has this name because it looks like a cow lying down.

    Visit Jeju

    https://www.visitjeju.net › en

    VisitJeju – Jeju Tourism Organization Official website

    Jeju Welcome Center, 23 Seondeok-ro, Jeju City, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province 63122, Republic of Korea Tourist inquiries: Jeju Tourism Organization Tel: 064-740-6000~1 FAX: 064-740-6090 Business registration number: 616-82-21432

    VisitJeju – Your Source For up-to-Date Travel Information For Jeju

    Jeju Wellness Destinationsfor 2021. Chuidasun Resort The Chuidasun Resort Tea & Meditation is a well-known healing spot for the tea ceremony, meditation, and yoga in Ojo-ri Village, on the east of Jeju Island. Southernmost Theme Park Greetings. Our farm is Jeju Rural Life Experiencing Farm.

    https://www.visitjeju.net

    비짓제주 Visitjeju – 제주도 공식 관광정보 포털

    제주관광공사 운영 제주도 공식 관광정보 포털로 제주공식 관광지도, 관광지, 음식점(맛집), 숙박, 쇼핑, 교통, 테마여행, 제주알아가기 등의 제주여행정보 제공

    https://www.tripadvisor.com › Attractions-g297885-Activities-Jeju_Jeju_Island.html

    THE 10 BEST Things to Do in Jeju – 2022 (with Photos) – Tripadvisor

    The oldest tree is about eight hundred and fifty years old. 8. Hallasan Seongpanak. 142. Hiking Trails. By 2039BobL. The way to the peak is hundreds and hundreds of stairs often with many oddly-shaped rocks to navigate around whilst…. 9. Jeju Stone Park.

    https://www.cnn.com › travel › article › things-do-Jeju-island › index.html

    10 things to do on Jeju Island | CNN Travel

    Jul 12, 20179. Seaweed and sea urchin soup. Delicious soup of the sea. Beyond raw seafood, the array of local specialties includes pheasant, whole grilled mackerel in sea salt, and barbecued pork from Jeju’s …

    https://www.touropia.com › tourist-attractions-in-Jeju-island

    12 Top Tourist Attractions in Jeju Island (with Photos) – Touropia

    Dec 30, 2021The main reason that people visit, however, is to unwind and enjoy its marvelous outdoors. With its gorgeous countryside and a jagged coastline dotted with stunning beaches, Jeju Island has a plethora of lovely scenery and fantastic recreational activities for visitors to enjoy. 12. Jeju Stone Park

    https://m.visitjeju.net › en › the tour › view?contentsid=CNTS_200000000010913

    4 Hot New Things to Do on Your Jeju Trip – VISITJEJU

    Some of 2020’s hottest draws include Jeju Greem Café, a coffee shop that is decorated so it appears to be a 2D comic book, and Arte Museum Jeju, an immersive multimedia art experience. These are the perfect places to visit if you’re making a second trip to the island, or if you just want to participate in the most up-to-date activities …

    https://theboutiqueadventurer.com › Jeju-itinerary

    3-Day Jeju Itinerary: What You Can’t Miss and Must Do

    The best time to visit Jeju is during the more moderate weather months. The warm and pleasant days often occur from March to May and September to November. Springtime (March to May) is considered one of the best times to visit Jeju island, as temperatures are balmy. The highlight of this season is the cherry blossoms bloom, and the island turns …

    https://www.koreaonlinevisa.com › visa-to-Jeju-island

    Visa for Jeju Island: Get your visa to travel to Jeju (South Korea)

    Under normal circumstances, Jeju Island can be visited for up to 30 days without a visa, as long as the traveler does not go to any other part of South Korea. In addition, nationals of over 100 countries can visit all of South Korea, including Jeju Island, visa-free for up to 30, 60, 90, or 180 days, depending on their nationality. From September 2021, they will need to register with the K …

    https://www.natashathenomad.com › Jeju-island-things-you-need-to-know

    Jeju Island: 10 Crucial Things You Need to Know Before You Go

    Since it didn’t make sense to wait 30 minutes just to travel 15 minutes to our destination, we gave up on the public transportation system on Jeju Island. I read that the busses are not that great at coming on time. It’s possible to get around Jeju Island via the bus system, just count on at least doubling your travel time anywhere.

    https://www.journeywonders.com › things-to-do-and-see-in-Jeju-island

    13 Wonderful Things to Do and See on Jeju Island

    Apr 16, 2022When is the Best Time to Visit Jeju Island, South Korea. Jeju Island, like the rest of South Korea, has 4 very distinct seasons: fresh Spring, hot Summer, cool Autumn, and cold Winter. Summer is the busiest time to visit Jeju thanks to Summer vacations while Winter is the least popular time to visit thanks to the harsh temperatures.

    Woljeongri Beach

    Woljeongri Beach (Jeju) – All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

    However, unlike in the past, the whole atmosphere of the sea seemed to disappear as many buildings were built. There was a wish for a return to the old sea. Nevertheless, if I visited Jeju Island again, I wanted to go to Woljeongri Beach again. Viewers of this review also recommend going to Woljeongri beach where I went.

    Bonus -Jeju Olle trail Information

    https://www.jejuolle.org › trail › eng

    Jeju Olle

     

    Mar 30, 2022Why we walk Jeju Olle Trail. Be blessed on this road. Organization : Jeju Olle Foundationㅣ Chairperson : Ahn Eun Joo ㅣ 22 Jungjeong-ro (seogwi-dong 316-1) 2F Seogwipo-si Jeju-do 63592 .

    https://www.jejuolle.org/trail/eng/

    Jeju Olle Trail

    Jeju Olle Foundation

    the end

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    Visit to Incheon’s Chinatown

    Visit to Incheon’s Chinatown

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    Incheon Beaches Await

    Songdo Central Park, Incheon
    Incheon Beaches Await

    red crab season in Incheon

    As some of you know, I have been living in Yeongjongdo, Incheon since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016.  Incheon reminds me of Oakland and the East Bay.  It is next to a more famous city but has its own quirky charms and is more of a blue collar working class city than its more famous neighbor,  Seoul.

    Incheon does indeed have its charms.  One of the more colorful neighborhoods is Chinatown conveniently located across the street from the terminus of the Seoul-Incheon subway line number one. (i.e. about an hour from downtown Seoul).

    Incheon has had a large Chinese presence since 1880, when it was the first open port city in Korea’s history. Incheon’s Chinatown at one time was a run-down section of the city, but in recent decades has been reborn as a colorful vibrant ethnic neighborhood filled with great, inexpensive Chinese restaurants and cultural attractions.

    We recently had an opportunity to re-visit it and came across impressed with the progress made in restoring the area, which is now a wonderful place to visit.

    Walmido

    A visit to Incheon would not be complete without a visit to Walmido which is located near to Chinatown.  One tip though is eat at the restaurants that are a few blocks from Walmido itself – the food is much better and much cheaper than Walmido which is a bit on the expensive side.

    Jjajangmeyon Museum

    Among the highlights of our visit was our visit to the Jjajangmyeon museum.

    Jjajangmeyon is one of the staples of Korean cuisine.   Chinese immigrants in Incheon invented it in the 1880’s  and it soon spread out across Korea and Northeastern China, and now the world. Jjajangmeyeon consists of noodles in black bean sauce and is delicious and still quite a bargain.   When I first came to Korea in 1979, it was 500 won per serving, now it is about 8,000 to 9,000 won per serving (about 8 US$).  Apparently, there are five to six different Jjajangmyeon dishes available in Korea.

    We had some of the best Jjajangmyeon down the street from the museum, which sadly, does not sell it at the museum.  The museum was quirky and quite informative but lacked much English language signage.

    chinatown 1

    chinatown 1

    Jajangmyeon Museum

    43 China town-ro, Bukseong-dong 3(sam)-ga, Jung-gu, Incheon, South Korea

    +82 32-765-0571

    Jayu Park

    We then walked through Chinatown and up the hill to Jayu (Freedom) park where we saw the famous statue of McArthur at the top of the hill which has killer views of Incheon Harbor.  We also saw the US Korean monument erected in 1982 to celebrate 100 years of official US Korea relations.

    Mc Arthur statue

    Jayu Park Incheon | 자유공원: TRIPPOSE

    Jayu Park, or park of Freedom, has held its name ever since October 3, 1957, when a statue of General McArthur, who led the Incheon Amphibious Landing Operation during the Korean War, was erected at the summit of Mt. Eungbongsan. The park offers spectacular views of downtown Incheon and its surrounding mountains, the port, and the sea.

    https://www.seoulkoreatour.net › places › Korea-1 › nature › freedom-parkjayu-park

    Jayu Park (Incheon) ( 자유 공원 ) – Seoul Korea Tour

    Jayu Park, or park of Freedom, has held its name ever since October 3, 1957, when a statue of General McArthur, who led the Incheon Amphibious Landing Operation during the Korean War, was erected at the summit of Mt. Eungbongsan. The park offers spectacular views of downtown Incheon and its surrounding mountains, the port, and the sea.

    https://www.thousandwonders.net › Jayu+Park

    Jayu Park – Urban Park in Incheon – Thousand Wonders

    Incheon Chinatown, Incheon – Jayu Park. Photo by Eduardo M. C. Freedom Park is easy to get to from both Seoul and Incheon. The park can be accessed through Incheon Station on the No. 1 Line (dark blue line) through Exit No. 1. Outside the station, and immediately visible is a large stone gate with a decidedly Chinese design.

    incheon.roadplanner.ru › eng › free › frekod.html

    Incheon Jayu Park Freedom Park

    From this park, you can view some parts of downtown, harbor facilities, freight boats of various sizes entering and leaving Incheon Port, and the whole ocean. Jayu Park’s hilltop location gives it a vantage point for enjoying Incheon’s surrounding ocean scenery, Wolmido is also visible from the highest spot. It is the home of the Seokjeong Pavilion …

    https://www.expedia.com › Jayu-Park-Incheon.d553248621555467485.Vacation-Attraction

    Visit Jayu Park in Incheon | Expedia

    Jayu Park Hotels Flights to Incheon Things to do in Incheon Car Rentals in Jayu Park Incheon Vacation Packages. Jayu Park. Packages; Stays; Flights; Jayu Park. Choose one or more items to build your trip: Choose one or more items to build your trip: Stay added. Flight added. Add a car. 1 room, 2 travelers. Travelers.

    https://www.afar.com › places › freedom-park-Jayu-park-incheon

    Freedom Park (Jayu Park) | Incheon | South Korea | AFAR

    Incheon’s Freedom Park (also called Jayu Park) celebrates the end of the war. In a prominent place, you’ll find a statue of General Douglas MacArthur, who remains a hero in South Korea for leading the amphibious attack that liberated Incheon. This area has always been a park—during the Japanese occupation, it also held a shrine—so there …

    https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Jayu_Park

    Jayu Park – Wikipedia

    Jayu Park is an urban park located in Incheon, South Korea. It is seen as the city’s marquee public park. Known as Freedom Park in English, it is located on a bluff overlooking the city’s harbor. Prominently placed is a statue of the Korean War officer Douglas MacArthur, whose amphibious assault liberated the city. The park also houses several other statues, a small zoo, and a memorial to …

    https://derekversuslonelyplanet.com › 2014 › 07 › 04 › jayu-park-in-incheon-general-macarthur-watching-over-the-good-people-of-korea

    Jayu Park in Incheon – Derek Versus Lonely Planet

    Jayu Park was interesting to me. I found it to be a celebration of American-Korean relations. There is the centennial monument of Korea-US relations, as well as a statue commemorating the successful landing of the UN Forces at Incheon during the Korean War led by famed five-star U.S General Douglas MacArthur.

    https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Incheon

    Incheon – Wikipedia

    Jayu (Freedom) Park is a park near the city’s port. The statue of General Douglas MacArthur, as well as a memorial to the centennial anniversary of U.S. and Korean relations, is located there. Chinatown is Korea’s only official Chinatown, located across from Incheon Station near Jayu Park.

    Fairy Tale Village

    We walked back down through Fairyland village where all the houses are painted as if in various fairylands like wonderland and Oz.  A very colorful street indeed.

    fairy land

    fairy tale 1jpg
    fairy tale 1jpghttps://koreabyme.com › incheon-//

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    yeon. That should give you an idea of what you’ll find there. Though authentic Korean-Chinese food is available, authentic Chinese food is more difficult to come by.

    Incheon’s Chinatown: A Brief History

    When Chinese immigrants crossed the ocean for work, this district was founded in 1883, around the same time as the Incheon Port opened. Incheon was designated as a Ching Dynasty extraterritoriality, and the ‘Incheon Chinese Society’ was established soon after. There were over 1000 Chinese residents in the area by 1900.

    More than 50,000 overseas Chinese and second and third generations of early Chinese settlers now live in the region. The city, however, fell into disrepair for a time and had a high level of poverty before the government saw an opportunity to develop the country’s only official “Chinatown,” which is now a bustling area and one of Incheon’s most popular tourist destinations. Incheon’s Chinatown is on everyone’s top ten list of things to do in Incheon, and for a good reason: it’s a lot of fun.

    What to See and Enjoy in Incheon’s Chinatown

    When approaching Chinatown from the subway station, the first thing you’ll notice is the lovely gold and red Pai fang, or traditional Chinese gateway. Junghwamun, Seolinmun, Inhwamun, and Hanjungmun are the names of four Paifangs in Chinatown. When you walk the streets and circle in and out, you’ll be able to see them all.

    The Massive Entry Gate to Peru

     

    chinatown 2 jpg
    chinatown 2 jpg
     Incheon-chinatown-1.j

    Incheon-chinatown-1.j

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Chinatown can be located directly across the subway station and welcomes all tourists. Chinese people used to stand at the gate and give prayers in the late 1800s, and locals claimed the gate kept ghosts at bay.

    https://www.koreatravelpost.com/guide-to-incheon-chinatown/

    You should visit Wiseondang

    Wiseondang is the only Chinese-style temple/shrine left in Korea. It was built in 1893 and featured a vibrant mural on its yellow exterior walls. Within the temple, remember to be respectful of the inner shrine area and refrain from photographing it.

    Samgukji Mural Street

    This 150-meter-long street is lined with murals depicting the Three Kingdoms tale. It’s a look at the Chinese fables you’ve probably heard about, depicting the heroes of the time. Murals and street art can be found all over the city, but this is one of the most common.

    Samgukji-Mural-Street
    Samgukji-Mural-Street

    https://duckduckgo.com/?q=incheon%27s+chinatown&atb=v314-1&ia=web

     

     

     

    A couple of blocks later when the street dips, go left up the hill towards Chemulpo Club, a handsome house built in 1901 where Incheon’s first foreigners plotted their exploits.

     

  • Incheon Beaches Await

    Re-discovering the Beaches of Yeongjong International City, Incheon Beaches Await!

    euwangni beach
    euwangni beach

    welcome to Yeongjong International City

    Updated Things to Do on Yeongjongdo

    favorite places in Yeongjongdo

    Yeongjongdo the Hamptons of Seoul

    Yeongjongdo Redevelopment Proposals

    Ode to Incheon Beaches

    I recently rediscovered Korean beaches
    I have been living near several beaches

    Seldom going to the beach
    Just too busy
    With retired life

    Even though
    We are just a few miles away

    When we went there
    It was better than I had imagined
    Finally solved the chronic parking problems

    Not too crowded, mid-week
    even during the middle
    of Korean beach season
    because of COVID
    and the bad economy

    The weather was hot
    But not overwhelming

    We stopped for tea
    At a rustic hut
    On some rocks

    Overlooking the beach
    Been there for 30 years
    Hardly changing

    The beach town itself
    Is “Old school”, old fashioned
    No high rises, no fancy hotels
    No fancy restaurants
    a bit expensive by local standards

    during low tide
    people go clamming
    lots of fresh clams
    and seafood

    Pretty basic
    But we liked that
    the water was cleaner
    Better than we had remembered

    Not too many foreigners
    Yet near the airport
    The nearest beach to Seoul

    We are planning to go
    Weekly throughout the year
    As long as we live
    Near the beach
    Why not I say?

     Eurwangni Beach 을왕리 해수욕장 -eul-wangli haesuyogjang

    eurwangni beach 2

    I have been living off and on in Yeongjong International City, near the Incheon airport since I retired a few years ago.  We live near three beaches, and four other islands.  Yet for some reason, I have not spent a lot of time exploring the Beaches of my new home island.

     

     

     

    I recently went to Eurwangni beach the other day and was pleasantly surprised at how nice it was.  I am now going to go regularly.

    Korean beaches are still somewhat seasonal, but going to the beaches off-season has become much more popular than when I first came to Korea decades ago when there was a beach season and the beaches the rest of the year were deserted.

    Eurwangni beach is the most famous of the Yeongjongdo beaches.  It is the most developed.  It is on the west side of the island and features low tide extensive mudflats.  Many people go clamming there at low tide.

    The main part of the beach is lined with the usual assortment of seafood restaurants and hotels but nothing that high-end.  It is a very old-school vibe.  It is about 700 meters long from the south end to the north end. At the north end of the beach, there is a fishing pier and a few small restaurants.

    Transit options

    From downtown, Seoul take the AREX train to the airport and get off at T1. From Incheon airport, T1 3rd Floor take bus 111 or 306 and get off at Seunchang Wangsan Beach stop (near the end of the line).  The bus takes T-money.

    Alternative plan – you can take a bus or taxi from Unseo station area.  Unseo station area is lined with restaurants and budget friendlier places to stay.

    AREX has a station at Yongju but it does not appear to be operational.  The Airport MAGLEV goes there. From there the beaches are about a 15-minute walk or a short bus or taxi ride.

    Yongju station is also the closest train stop to the entrance to Muido beaches.  You can take a bus from there to Muido, and there are lots of restaurant options across the street.  There is a nice walkway lined with restaurants as well.

    Driving 

    If you drive, type in Eurwangni beach parking which will direct you to the parking lots at the south end of the beach.  It is a five-minute walk to the main part of the beach and about a half-hour or more to the other beaches.

    Address: 16-15, Yongsueo-ro, 302 beon-gil, Jung-ju, Incheon.

    Seonnyeo (Fairy) Rock Beach (선녀바위)

    Theme: Rare Animals/ Plants/Spectacular Cliffs & Rock Formations

    The name “Fairy Rock Beach” comes from the fact that fresh water is gathered at the seashore beneath…

    Seongyeol rock is a series of rocks leading to a pine forest on the south end of Eurwangni beach.  The rocks are closed during high tide and at night.  If you go to Euwangni beach, tide permitting, it is a great 2-kilometer walk.  At the end of the pathway, there is an old shack restaurant that has been there for almost 40 years.  The owner of the shack is a nice young woman who inherited the property from her parents.  I got the impression that she gets few visitors as it is at the end of a long pathway from the main beach. You can get your usual drinks, and fresh seafood there, but it closes at sunset.  The trail at the shack turns inward entering the old pine forest but we ran out of time to explore that.  We will be back no doubt.

    Wangsang Beach

    왕상해수욕장 -wangsanghaesuyogjang

    Wangan beach is much less developed or crowded than its bigger neighbor, Euwangni beach, which is a 15-minute walk away.  The beach has a nice camping ground next to the beach which has the usual camping essentials for sale or rent.

    The sunset is very nice.

    for more info

    For more information you can call 82-32-777-1330 or wangsan-beach.co.kr.  the web page says that they have English, Chinese, Japanese and Korean operators, but I have not verified that.  The web page opens in English and provides information on a wide variety of nearby attractions and is well done.  I was pleasantly surprised.

    Transportation options

    Public transportation

    From Incheon airport, T1 3rd Floor take bus 111 or 306 and get off at Seunchang Wangsan Beach stop (near the end of the line).  The bus takes T-money.

    Driving

    Same as Eurwangni beach with the following additions:

    GSP enter Wangsang beach address is 810-204, Eurwang-dong, Jung ju, Incheon (Wangsang Beach).

    Masian Beach

    118, Masiran-ro, Jung-gu, Incheon 22385 South Korea

    (2.9 miles from Eurwangni Beach)

    transportation:

    public tranist – take the AREX train to the airport. Buses are available at the airport terminal 1, 3rd floor.  The beach buses stop at all three breaches, Maisin beach is the first beach, Eurwangni the second and Wangsang is the final stop.

    Driving

    type Maisin beach into your GSP

    118, Masiran-ro, Jung-gu, Incheon 22385 South Korea

    depending upon traffic the beaches are about an hour from downtown Seoul or Incheon city.

    무이도 Muui-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon South Korea

    (3.3 miles from Eurwangni Beach)

    Muido, So Muido and Silmido are islands near to Yongchongdo.  You can get to the islands by taking a bus from the airport, or from the Yongju maglev stop.  there is a new bridge and the roads have been improved, but Muido is super crowded on weekends so best to go mid-week if you can.

    There are hotels and Korean style resorts near bridge and at the beach, there are huts for rent. There are restaurants near the ferry terminal and at the beach, but the selection is limited to Korean seafood.

    When you enter the island there is a trailhead that takes you to the top of island – and you can walk the entire island in about four hours.  The trail is very pretty and not too steep.

    Update:  Not sure if the tourism info stand is still there.  last time I visited was just after the bridge opened.   When I visited, the people were very helpful, spoke good English and had lots of maps and guides in English and can also tell you about the ferries to the other islands.  Well worth a stop.  You should stock up on tourism information here if you are going to the outer islands as once you get there is very little English language signage or English speakers on the islands. They are open until 6 pm most days.

    Address

    310-11, Daemuui-ro, Jung-gu, Incheon
    인천광역시 중구 대무의로 310-11 (무의동)
    1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330
    (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)

    • For more info: +82-32-760-7114

    Muuido Island is located in Jung-gu, Incheon which is not far from the mainland but is only accessible by ferry. Nearby are two smaller islands, Silmido Island and Somuuido Island. In olden times, small boats were used to go from Muuido Island to Somuuido Island but the two islands are currently connected by a bridge so visitors can reach Somuuido after a 10-15 minute walk. Muuido Village Bus (maeul bus; 마을버스) takes people from Keunmuri Dock (큰무리선착장) to Gwangmyeonghang Port (광명항). To enjoy the beauty of Somuuido Island fully, Muuibadanuri-gil 8 Course is a must-visit path, taking around 1 hour and giving stunning views of the East Sea vista. Two beaches, Hanagae Beach and Silmi Beach are famous beaches in Muuido Island. One interesting thing in Silmi Beach is that people can walk to Silmido Island at low tide. Hiking up Horyonggoksan Mountain (호룡곡산) and Guksabong Peak is also available on Hanagae Island.

    The trail head to Horyonggoksan Mountain (호룡곡산) and Guksabong Peak can be found at bridge entrance to the island and also near So Muido and at Hangagae beach as well.  The round trip takes about three hours, and the trail is well marked but only in Korean.  Go up the stairs and at the top turn right to access the main trail head.

    Hanagae Beach

    Hanagae beach is the main beach on Muido.  It is near the end of the island. the turnoff is easy to miss though.  on weekends it can get crowded.  there are beach huts to rent and camping is also allowed.  There is a zip line on the beach and the usual assortment of seafood resturants.  Like all Incheon area beaches at low tide you can walk quite some distance and you can see people clamming.

    From my trip advisor collumn –must visit island

    Feb 2019
    now a short drive from the airport. I’d take the bus from the airport or Unseo station so you can enjoy a drink. there is a great round the island hike takes five hours;. I will do that next week and write a fresh review. the beach is very nice includes a zipline and bungalows = 20,000 won per night! with the new bridge it is easy to get to. if you have five hour overlay you can defintiely make it to Muido and back.
    Written January 27, 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    So Muido 소무이도

    So Muido is a nice spot for a walk as well. Take the bus to the end of the island and walk across.  There are places to stop and eat in So Muido. The walk to the top of the mountain is a nice walk takes about an half an hour to reach the top. There is a private beach on the way back to town.  On the weekend traffic and parking is impossible unless you get there really early.  there are camp grounds near by and a number of hotels, but nothing too high-end.

    Silmido

    Silmido island is the site of a secret military base where they trained commandos going undercover into North Korea.  They closed the base in the 80’s and a Korean K drama was filmed at the island.  The island has a resort where one can stay but there are not much there,  not even restaurants.  Still the beach is nice but a bit deserted.  You can walk across to Silmido at low tide, at high tide it becomes a separate island.

    Shindo, Modo and Jangbo islands

     신도모토 보도

    Shindo, Modo and Jangbo Islands located near Incheon International Airport are great places to get away from Seoul or Incheon for that matter. These three islands are near Yongchongdo.  You need to take a ferry to reach them. The ferry ride to Jangbo the biggest of the islands takes about an hour. The ferry runs every hour on the hour the last ferry back leaves about 6 pm.  You can catch the ferry at Sammok quay.

    삼목 부두  sammog budu

    There are buses from the airport and from Unseo station to the ferry terminal.

    Sindo Island

    Ongjin-gun, Incheon South Korea

    7 miles from Eurwangni Beach.

    Modo Island

    Modo island is connected to Shindo island.  You can easily walk around both Modo and Shindo in an hour or two.  There are places to eat and spend the night, but Jangbo island is the biggest of the three and has the best facilities, beaches, restaurants, and walking biking trails.

    Jangbo Island

    The island is located one hour and 40 minutes from Seoul. To get there take airport express train from Seoul Station and get off at Unseo station and then transfer to a bus going to Sammok wharf in Yeongjong Island, Incheon. The ferry from there takes 40 minutes.  The last ferry back leaves at 6 pm.  There are plenty of places to stay near the beaches which are a short walk from the ferry terminal.  This is also a popular place to camp as there are camping grounds near the ferry terminal. There is a mountain hiking trail that follows the ridge line all over the island and is a great hike.   If you go to Jangbong island, it is worth stopping off at Shindo and Modo islands first and take a walk.  A number of K dramas have been filmed on these islands.

    More info from Visit Incheon web page follows:

    Coastal Trail connecting Sindo Island, Sido Island and Modo Islands

    Come to the triplet islands and have a bike tour around them for a fantastic ride along the shoreline. The triplet islands are very well known as one of the best spots in Korea for a bike tour. Come down to the Sinsimodo Islands for a safe and pleasant bicycle touring. Take a boat at Sammok Quay in Yeongjongdo Island. You will get to Sindo Island Quay in about 10 minutes. The three islands of Sindo Island, Sido Island and Modo Island are all connected by bridges, so you can tour all of them in a day. You can rent a bike on the island. There are only a few cars on the road, thus the island is recognized as one of the best places for bike riders.

    Sindo Island Pureun Beonmal, a designated traditional agricultural village

    The name Sindo Island (literally “the island of trust”) has come from the fact that its residents are conscientious and innocent. It is in this context that the salt produced in the island is called jinyeom (literally “genuine salt”). As the island have mud flats, salt evaporation ponds, and rice paddies, visitors can enjoy everything they can expect from the country’s rural area in Sindo Island Pureun Beotmal designated by the government as a traditional agricultural village.

    Sinsido Island Yeondogyo Bridge

    Sindo Island is connected to Sido Island by a bridge. The name of Sido Island has come from the legend that troops of the Joseon Dynasty practiced archery in Manisan Mountain with targets set in Sido Island (“an arrow island”). The island is also called “Salseom (‘sal’ also means an arrow in Korean).” Given the actual distance between the two locations, the story is hardly credible, but the idea is intriguing enough. Sido Island has been filming locations for popular TV dramas such as “Full House” and “Sad Love Story” because of the harmony between its slow slope hills and the sea.

    Sugi Beach, the filming location of ‘Full House’

    Sugi Beach in Sido Island was the filming location for the popular TV series called ‘Full House.’ You can see a few islands in the distance. The beach is covered with quality and beautiful white sands. Main characters in the TV drama series often spent time together here. Who would not have fallen in love with each other in such a beautiful environment?

    Simodo Island Yeondogyo Bridge

    Sido Island and Modo Island are connected by a bridge. Believe it or not, you can get to a totally different island in just a few minutes. The name Modo Island comes from the word ttiyeom (‘tti’ refers to King cogongrass). The legend says that fishermen in the region once complained that his fish net only had grass instead of fish. ‘Mo’ in Modo Island means ‘grass’ in Chinese.

    Baemikkumi Sculpture Park

    Baemikkumi Sculpture Park is located on Baemikkumi Beach in Modo Island. The ‘Baemikkumi’ (the local dialect meaning a hole in the bottom of a ship) has come from the fact the beach is as flat as the bottom of a ship. The beach is also famous for a sculpture park featuring a number of surreal erotic sculptures. Blue water, white sand, and dreamlike sculptures blend well with one another. The sculpture park has become a reason to many for a visit to Modo Island.

    The Sinsimodo Islands, a paradise for bike enthusiasts

    Together, the Sinsimodo Islands are small but pretty places to visit. Most notably, as they are connected, the Sinsimodo Islands will sustain the fame of a paradise for bikers in the West Sea for a long time to come.

    Yeongjong Seaside Park 영종해변공원 -yeongjonghaebyeongong-won

    Yeongjong seaside park is on the other side of the island.  From the airport, you can get off at Unseo station and take a bus or taxi to the Yeongjong Seaside park. The park features a 5.6-kilometer rail bike that runs along the coast with great views. At the entrance to the park, there is a small beach.  If you walk along the beach you will come to the Fishmarket complex which is a newly developing area lined with restaurants, hotels and is a colorful area to walk about.

    other things to do

    Yeongjongdo History Museum

    The museum traces the history of Yeongjong Island.  It is located on a hill next to the rail park.

    The Incheon free economic zone (IFEZ) IFEZ has a nice FB and web page filled with information on things to do in Songdo, Cheongha, and Yeongjong International cities.   Worth a visit.

    Here is some information on local attractions I just discovered.

    Yeongjong Dulle-gil 영종 둘레길 (yeongjong dullegil)

    From the IFEZ web page

    Incheon free economic zone

    Let us introduce Yeongjong Dulle-gil where you can enjoy the nature of Yeongjongdo while looking around the sea of Incheon.  How about taking a walk along Yeongjong Dulle-gil where you can get refreshed while following the quarantine rules?

    #IFEZ #IncheonFreeEconomicZone #Cheongna #Songdo #Yeongjong

    #YeongjongDullegil #YeongjongSpot #SeasidePark

    Comment:  every place has a ‘Dulle-gil” (walking trail) nowadays.  Korea has lots of things to offer foreign visitors, but unfortunately, there still is not a lot of information on Korean tourism written in English.  For example, the Yeoungjong International city Dulle-Gil (map above) is a nice trail, but because there is almost no information on the trail other than a few references here and there in Korean, most foreign visitors and Korean visitors as well simply don’t know that it even exists.  This is sad because Korea has so much to offer foreign visitors.  This is a small problem that can be easily fixed if the Korean tourism authorities took a more proactive approach to promote Korean tourism.   The above map is only in Korean, is incomplete, and there are few if any references to the Dulle-Gil anywhere online or in the community making it challenging to follow the trail.   At the minimum, there should be a clearly labeled map in English/Korean and maybe by attractions at every subway station.  Some stations do a great job, others not so much.

    World Peace Forest Yeongjong 세계평화의  (segyepyeonghwaui sup)

    This is one of the hidden gems of living in Yeong Jong island.  It is a five-mile-long trail that goes through pine forests, cherry trees, and along a lake.  There is a lotus pond at one end of the trail.  The trail leads to Paekrungsan mountain which is a nice hike.   There is almost no information in English on this park and even locals don’t seem to know much about it.  If you google it you will find my earlier blog posting on it.

    We hike it daily.  There are deer, foxes, wild cats, birds, snakes on the trail.

    The trail was built in 2003 or so when they build the airport. The airport authorities had to promise to preserve most of the island in a natural state.  As part of that commitment, they build the world peace forest with the two national airline carriers donating land, volunteers, and materials to build the park.

    The park has become mature now and is much better than when I first encountered it in 2003 or so.  Still not much information on the park though.

    It would be a great thing to advertise as it is so close to the airport (less than five miles away).

    Transportation options

    By driving drive to Unseo station area and park nearby.

    By public transit

    Take the AREX train and get off at Unseo station (two stops from Terminal 2). Take the A exit and turn either left or right.  If you turn left taking exit A from the AREX station and cross the street you will see the trailhead heading up Pakeyungsan mountain.  If you turn right and go past the Lotte Mart you will see the trailhead across the street.  It is a five-mile round trip walk, mostly flat except for the mountain trails along Pakeyungsan.

     

  • welcome to Yeongjong International City

    welcome to Yeongjong International City

    Welcome to Yeongjon international City.

    Updated Things to Do on Yeongjongdo

    Yeongjongdo the Hamptons of Seoul

    Yeongjongdo the Hamptons of Seoul

    Yeongjongdo Redevelopment Proposals

    more development plans

    Yeongjong development plans

    Wikopedia LInk Yeongjong International City

     

    I am Jake Cosmos Aller, the host of the world according to Cosmos blog and podcasts, aviable on spotify and elsewhere.

    I retired a few years ago from the State Department as a foreign service officer,(diplomat)  and my wife from the Army as a major. We live in Yeongjong Island near the airport in the airport new city.  Recently the whole island has been renamed Yeongjong International city and there is an expectation that there will be a lot of investment and more foreign residents.  Much of that has been postponed due to COVID but will no doubt pick back up next year. There are a lot of foreigners walking around, but few are residents yet.

    Yeongjong has a lot to offer visitors, and residents, and is a great place to stay. In fact it is one of the better communities in Korea.

    The air is fresh, cooler than Seoul in the summer, warmer in the winter, with not too many storms and little snow. Lots of mountains, beaches, and rural areas to explore as the development so far has been focused on the key urban areas – the airport business district, airport new town (where I live) Sky city, Midan city (where the resorts are going up) the wharf and oceanside park, and the beaches.  Most of the island is still forests, mountains, and rural areas.  I hope that they don’t over-develop the island and keep much of the natural beauty intact.  it is only an hour to downtown Seoul either by driving or the AREX train.  And express buses from the airport take you into various parts of Seoul as well, often faster than the subway.

    Traffic on the island and getting to the island is not too bad but the transit on the island is inadequate given the rapid urbanization of the island.  Both the tolls on the bridges and the train fares are way too high.  The authorities also have promised an LRT line, Maglev line, and express buses, expansion of the subway line nine, and a bridge to Gangwha island and Shindo, and Jangban islands.  I hope they deploy them all within the next five years so I can enjoy using them before I turn 70!. These transportation improvements are way overdue. I will write about them in a separate blog posting soon.

    The authorities promise to preserve at least 40 or 50 percent of the island, and I hope that they do as well.  I am afraid they will over-develop the island, killing much of the semi-rural flavor of the island.  The new Dream Land resort taking shape is destroying some vital mudflat wetlands.  When they build the airport, they destoryed a few mountains, turning them into qauries.  A few are still operational. They also shut down the old salt mines.  But they kept their promise to not destory the remaining mountains.

    I wish they would develop hiking trails on Kum mountain (Gold mountain) which is now blocked off due to Korean military bases.  We are so close to North Korea (visable in the distance on a clear day from almost everywhere on the island) I doubt that they will reduce the Korean military bases anytime soon.

    Mini-Macau or Las Vegas?

    In the next few years, the integrated resorts will open up transforming Midan City into a mini-Las Vegas.  The authorities have a grandiose plan to turn this island into another Singapore or Macau.  But limiting the casinos to Foreigners only may not do the trick.  In my opinion, they will need to allow Koreans some access to the casinos to make them economically viable.  Perhaps limiting access to once or twice a month or a set loss fee would work.

    The Hamptons of Seoul?

    The way I look at it, they should be thinking of the Hamptons in long island, not Singnapore or Macaus, as the model for development, turning the city into a upscale weekend home district for rich Koreans and expatriats.

    In a series of blog postings which I hope to turn into some articles, which I will share with the Mayor of Incheon, I will explore living in Yeongjong International city from my perspective.

    The articles will include

    Yeongjon International City, Beaches
    Yeongjong Internation City Development Hype vs reality
    Yeongjong International City  – the Hamptons of Seoul?
    Yeongjong Things to Do
    Yeongjong International City Restaurant guide
    Yeongjong International City Hiking guide
    Yeongjong International City Wildlife guide
    Yeongjong International City -Suggestions for transportation and other development plans.

    Thanks

    Hope you enjoy these articles.  I also hope to get them published in the local Korean English press.

    Jake Cosmos Aller Aka “Cosmos”

  • SpillWords Interview

    SpillWords Interview

    Spill words Publishes Rambling Man“Eve in the Garden Ate the Apple”Just Enough For Coffee

    Spill words Publishes Interview

    SPOTLIGHT ON WRITERS – JAKE COSMOS ALLER

    JAKE COSMOS ALLER·JUNE 26, 2021

    AUTHORSENGLISHPOETRYQ&A

    SPOTLIGHT ON WRITERS

    JAKE COSMOS ALLER

    @Jakecaller

    Spill words interview
    Spill words interview

    free roaming berkeley

    1. free roaming berkeley

      Where, do you hail from?

    I grew up in Berkeley, California, and Washington DC, and went to College in Stockton, California. After college, lived five years in Korea as a Peace Corps volunteer and teaching ESL. I returned to the US to Seattle for graduate school. Afterward, I joined the Foreign Service where I lived and worked in over ten countries. I retired and lived in Korea and the west coast.

    1. What is the greatest thing about the place you call home?

    I live in Youngjando island, South Korea near the Incheon Airport. I live in a garden city. There is a magnificent park – the world peace forest behind my house and a nice mountain to hike in. Over 300 restaurants are within walking distance of my house. There are five beaches ten minutes’ drive away, Incheon is nearby as is Seoul.

    1. What turns you on creatively?

    Almost all my work starts with a dream. I don’t dream dreams; I dream movies, filled with action, sound, music, smells many times in a completely different world. I have been writing a dream journal for many years. I write five to ten dreams per day, saving them as stand-alone flash fiction, and also write one to ten poems per day.

    1. What is your favorite word, and can you use it in a poetic sentence?

    One of my favorite words is my own portmanteau scumbaggery which I define as the actions of a ”Scumbag”.

    The scumbaggery
    Of Texas Senator Ted Cruz
    Utterly confounds

    1. What is your pet peeve?

    Racism, sexism, homophobia, bigotry, right-wing nutcases, left-wing zealots, Christian holy rollers, gun violence, police misconduct, anti-Asian hate crimes, hate crimes, America Firsters, QAnon conspiracy theorists, neo-Nazis, White Supremacists, Proud Boys, Boogaloo Bois, and the Oath Keeper militia, etc. I don’t like ”gangsta rap”, “heavy metal”, or “country music”. I am a pragmatist and don’t care about ideological correctness.

    1. What defines Jake Cosmos Aller?

    I grew up in Berkeley and DC. I lived all over the world, visiting 45 countries and all 50 states. I served my country as a foreign service officer, and Peace Corps volunteer and taught ESL and government overseas. But what is more important than anything is that I married the girl of my dreams who became my wife 40 years ago.

    Jake Cosmos Aller

    John (“Jake”) Cosmos Aller is a novelist, poet, and former Foreign Service officer having served 27 years with the U.S. State Department serving in over ten countries including Korea, Thailand, India, Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Spain. He has traveled to over 50 countries, and 49 out of 50 states. He speaks Korean, Thai, Spanish and studied Chinese, Hindi and Arabic.

    Series Navigation<< Spotlight On Writers – Tim Law

    This publication is part 253 of 252 in the series Spotlight On Writers

    ANSWERSAUTHORINTERVIEWQUESTIONSSPOTLIGHTWRITER

    Please sign in and vote for my poems

    Cthulu’s Revenge and Other Stories

    Two Drops of Ink Publishes Recent Poems

    Synchronized Chaos Publishes New Poems

    Ink Pantry Publishes Recent Poems

    Scarlet Leaf to Publish Recent Poems

    More Down in the Dirt News

     

    Rambling Man, Where is your Home?

    car
    car

    Where is my home? Where do I belong?
    I really don’t know, always moving on to another place
    Moved every other year it seems the last 45 years
    Traveled to 49 states, 45 countries, drove across the U.S. six times
    Lived in Berkeley, Yakima, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, DC, Oregon, Korea, Thailand, India, The Eastern Caribbean, and Spain

    Where do I belong? Where is my home?
    Neither here nor there, nowhere and everywhere
    And so is that my rambling man’s fate
    Never to really belong anywhere at all

    Dark Dangerous Thoughts

    dark dangerous thoughts

    dark dangerous thoughts

     

     

    An old man wakes up
    Confronting the dark dangerous thoughts
    The demons of the night
    That haunt his dreams
    And his life

    He looks out at the dawning sun
    And his sleeping wife
    And realizes that it will be all right

    And dismisses the demons of the night
    Back to their caves in his mind
    And he gets up
    To take the dawning day

    In Search of America

    Hitchhiking Tales

    hitch hikers
    hitch hikers

     

     

    When I was young and foolish
    Broke and stubborn
    I hitchhiked across the USA

    Started in Salt Lake City
    Where my greyhound bus pass
    Was stolen

    The station manager
    Could have helped me
    But refused to do so

    Threaten to call the cops
    When I grabbed my bags
    Without the stolen tags

    I said
    Go ahead
    But I am so out of here

    Wondered about Salt Lake City
    Went to a bar
    Found I had to buy my booze
    Next door
    And they would mix it for me

    Had to order food too
    After a bloody Mary
    And a burger

    I walked about town
    Saw the Mormon Temple

    Finally about 3 pm
    It was time to hit the road
    Did not look back

    Ended up in Cody Wyoming
    Got a room shower
    Steak beer
    Using my rapidly depleted cash

    Spent 25 dollars
    Money really went far
    Back in those days

    A band of professional
    Communist agitators
    Gave me a ride
    To Des Moines

    Lots of weed, booze
    And politics later
    Got off the road
    Slept outside

    Next day
    A beautiful woman
    Drove me to near Chicago
    In a red mustang

    Might have been
    The girl in the song
    Took it easy
    Digging her vibe

    She invited home
    But was not sure
    If her estranged husband
    Would welcome me

    So I being foolish
    And inexperienced with women
    Did not go to her place

    And always regretted
    That I had lost
    My chance that day

    Then on to Chicago
    Several rides later
    Visited friends

    Hit the road again
    A series of uneventful rides
    With truckers
    And others

    And a week later
    I ended in New York City

    Slept along the way
    In cars
    In truck stops
    In highway rest stops

    Always moving
    Always going
    None stop talking
    And lots of free weed
    And beer
    And conversation

    One more memorable ride
    Occurred outside Albany
    On my return to Chicago

    A middle age creepy looking man
    Picked me up
    In a brand new Cadillac

    He was he said a dynamite deliverer
    For the Mafia
    Went to various places
    To blow up shit

    He hated a lot of people
    Particularly hippies from California
    And Jewish people

    Looking at me to confirm
    That I was both

    I told him that I lived in New York
    And had never been to California
    And although I might look Jewish
    As I what was called back in the day
    A “Jewfro”

    I was not Jewish
    Many years later I discovered
    That I am indeed part Jewish
    But then I did not know
    And I felt a bit of strategic information
    Might keep me alive

    Then I realized that he was just jiving with me
    And we relaxed
    And he pulled out some weed
    And beer
    And we mellowed out

    But I believe that he really was with the mob
    Perhaps not a dynamite dealer
    A real made Italian made mafia member

    By Chicago
    I had enough
    I called my Dad
    Told him what had happened

    Wanted a ticket home
    And he sent me a ticket
    And 500 dollars
    And I went home

    I told him I would tell him
    My tales someday
    But never did

    I learned so much
    About my fellow Americans
    And the strange vibe
    That was 1975

    And now it is too late
    But I wanted to finally
    Tell the world

    Of my hitchhiking tales
    In search of America 1975

    Bus Rides In America’s Underbelly

    bus riding
    bus riding

     

     

     

     

    Photo by Oleksandr Pidvalnyi on Pexels.com

     

     

     

     

     

     

    I am a bus rider
    That makes me unusual
    For a white male
    From an upper middle class family

    Our people are not bus riders
    Though some are subway riders

    Bus riders are other people
    The poor, minorities, immigrants
    People who don’t drive
    Because they are blind
    Or have a DUI

    And in my case
    I don’t drive
    Because I have bad vision
    And bad coordination
    Just never got the hang
    Of the whole driving thing

    Fortunately for me
    My wife does the driving
    But I still take the bus
    From time to time

    I rode the AC buses in Berkeley
    As a child
    Line 67, line 51, line 43 F bus
    Rode them long before BART came along
    And afterwards as well

    As an adult seldom rode the bus
    But when I did so
    I was always impressed
    By the sheer diversity
    Of the bus riding property

    Hundreds of languages
    All sorts of sexual orientation
    Some were white
    Most were not

    Most of my fellow passengers
    Were nice enough
    Some were friendly
    And some were lost
    In their own thoughts

    And a few
    Were scary looking dudes
    With the look
    Of someone who had done time
    And were capable of more violence

    I also rode the bus
    In Seattle as a graduate student
    A lot of fellow UW students
    And the usual immigrants
    Minorities etc

    And some white people
    Commuting

    And in DC
    Over the years
    I rode a lot of buses

    Mostly to and from the metro
    But I got to know
    And love the DC buses as well

    I also took the greyhound bus
    Across the country
    Several times over the years
    All over the U.S.

    From Bay Area to Stockton
    From Bay Area to Clear Lake
    From Bay area to NYC
    NYC to DC
    All over the USA

    Taking the Greyhound
    Was always an adventure
    Met a lot of interesting people
    As people on long distant bus rides
    Tend to open up and talk
    To pass the time away

    Overseas I took the bus
    All over
    In India, in Barbados
    In Spain and in Korea

    The Korean buses
    For many years
    Were difficult for foreign visitors
    As the signs were all in Korean

    Most have signs
    Now in English, Chinese and Korean
    And are much more foreigner friendly

    Riding the bus
    In America
    Allows one access
    To the underbelly of American society
    The poor, the marginalized
    The immigrant communities

    That many middle-class white people
    Just never see

    And for that reason
    I am glad
    That I am a bus rider.

    The End

  • Songdo Central Park, Incheon

    Songdo Central Park, Incheon

    travel log Korea and the World

    Updated Things to Do on Yeongjongdo

    A Visit to Songdo Central Park

    (updated with fresh observations and new photos).

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    I finally had a chance to visit Songdo’s Central Park in Incheon, Korea.  It is loosely modeled after NYC’s Central Park. It features a lake and even has a herd of deer.  We had lunch at Gyeongbokgun a fake palace.  We were apprehensive that it would be a tourist trap, but the food was quite good, as was the service and the view of the lake,We had the bulgogi special only 50 dollars for the two of us.  Then we went for a walk in the park.  Next time we visit we will walk down to see the deer and maybe go for a boat ride. The nice thing about it is is located across the street from Costco so it easy to combine with a shopping epedition to Costco.  it is only a15 drive from my house so we will defintiely visit more often.

    Update:

    On my latest visit, we walked about 4 miles and saw most of the park.It is bigger than originally meets the eye.  Lots of variety.  the Deer exhibit and some of the flower gardens are closed due to COVID restrictions. There is also a dog park where the dogs can run free and we watched some younger dogs racing each other.  That was fun free entertainment.

    there are art exhibits as well as the Incheon urban history museum to explore. Someone said that was worth visiting.  there is also a Jjagyemeun musem and a Korean immigration museum to explore in the rennovated China Town district.

    Chongha international city has a central park along a lake that I want to explore soon.

    defitinely worth another visit.

    Updated with fresh pictures.

     

    Songdo Central Park

    From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

     

    Songdo Central Park
    센트럴파크
    Songdo Central Park in Songdo IBD
    General information
    Songdo IBD,
    Songdo International City, Incheon Free Economic ZoneIncheon
    South Korea
    Opening August 2009
    Technical details
    Floor area 101 acres (41 ha) [1]
    Design and construction
    Architect KPF, Yooshin, Associate Architect; Arup, Canal Engineering; DaeIl, Park Engineering; Ung-Do, Hedrick, III, Horticultural Consultant.[2]
    Developer Gale InternationalPOSCO E&C

    Songdo Central Park is a public park in the Songdo district of IncheonSouth Korea. The park is the centerpiece of Songdo IBD‘s green space plan, inspired by New York City‘s Central Park.[3] Central Park is a public zone in the center of Korea’s first international city, covering 101 acres (41 hectares); the park covers almost 10% of Songdo IBD’s total area.[4] It serves to connect to various civic and cultural destinations by providing a seawater canal that refreshes itself every 24 hours.[5] The park also displays sculpture and artwork such as the swooping neofuturistic metallic architecture of the Tri-Bowl.[6]

    Amenities[edit]

    The park has become popular with families in Songdo and Incheon, and draws day-visitors from the Seoul area. The forested area in the park also fills with daytime tents and campers on weekends. A patio on the east side of the park has cafes and small restaurants, and canoes are available for rental. A water-taxi service crosses the lake for transportation and tourism.[7]

    there is a herd of deer in a forrest part of the park. there is also a controversal public art display showing three young boys urinating in the lake.

    Gyebogun is a restored fake palace with three resturants  – Korean, Chinese and Japanese and a coffee shop that overlooks the lake.  there is also an Hanock hotel – the Ambassador hotel but we did not check it out.

    Central Park is accessible from the nearby Canal Walk shopping court or by Central Park Station of Incheon Metro Line 1.

    In popular culture[edit]

    Several scenes of the 2012 Gangnam Style music video by Psy were filmed in Songdo Central Park. First, there was a scene in the underground parking lot. This was where Psy had a dance battle with Yoo Jae-suk, who was wearing a yellow suit. In addition, there was another shot taken in the elevator of the same building. There Noh Hong-chul thrust his pelvis while Psy was rapping below him as the elevator door closes.[8]

    the end

  • Updated Korean  River/Streambed Parks

    Updated Korean River/Streambed Parks

    Update: Korean River/Stream Bed Parks

    8/15/2021 updates

    Ansa city has two stream bed parks. the ansa canal and the Ansa lake.  Both are worth a future visit. Ansa city is the most multi-cultural city in Kroea and there is now a multi-cultural resturant district which has Indian, Nepalese, Vientamese, Russian, Uzbek, Mongolia, Thai and other resturants available.  Worth a trip some day.

    Gimpo has a number of streams and rivers running through the city that are unnamed and undeveloped but have walking paths.  Worth a future trip some day.

    8/4/2021 Updates

    I found a few more stream bed parks hope to explore some day.

    Cheongha International City

    Cheongha International City has a nice lake park similar to Songdo Central Park.

    There is a stream bed that flows through most of the city, lined with biking paths but not otherwise really developed.

    Yongin City

    Yongin City has a nice river side park that flows through the city. Part of the stream flows through the Yongin Recreational forest which is pretty large area. It also has Tanjeon stream that flows ultimately into the River in Seoul passing through much of Gangnam district.

     7/25/2021 Updates:

    Dongkook University Stream Bed 

    I discovered another stream bed park in Seoul.  It runs from Namsan Mountain through the Dongkook (Buddhist University) campus and is about a 3 kilometer mini-stream bed park lined with benches.  Very pleasant looking.  Easily assesible via subway, located on the road to the Namsan tunnel.

    Pusan

    Nakong River and DaeDaepo beach

    DaeDaepo beach is located at the estuary of the Nakong river, just 8 k from downtown Busan.  There is a nice walking trail along the river as well. You can get to it by subway get off at sinpyeong station or take bus number 2 or 98 from Busan station.

    Ilgwan Beach near the Icheon River in Gyesang County

    another beach near a river head is Ilgwan beach in Gyesang county.  It is located where the river flows into the Icheon port.  the nearest subway is Donghae line exit 1 then a five minute walk. or take local bus number 180, 182, or 188 and get off at ilgwang beach stop.

    Suyeong River trail and Gwangalli Beach, Busan 

    at the end of the Suyeong River trail you will find a nice beach, Gwangalli beach. to get there take subway line 2 to Gwanggan or Geumyeonsan Station and walk about five minutes.

    Songpa Trail opens  21 k long course along three streams 

    Korea Times: July 8, 2021

     

     

     

     

     

    When thinking of Songpa District in Seoul, images of large apartment complexes and skyscrapers may come to mind. But the district’s network of walking trails, named Songpa Trail or Songpa Dullegil in Korean, is a hidden treasure of the area, created along four streams flowing through its landscape.

    Songpa has had three walking courses along Seongnae and Jangji streams as well as the Han River, and the district office opened another one recently along Tan Stream, which had been off-limits for the last 51 years.

    Now with the trail along the Tan Stream added, a 21.2-kilometer-long circuit has been created.

    “We wanted to create walking paths or parks that residents can access in five minutes from their home and relax at any time,” said Park Sung-soo, head of Songpa District Office.

    Each course of Songpa Trail has different things to see and enjoy, including a rice farming experience center, bird observatories, cherry blossom roads, a forest playground for children and Jamsil Hangang Park.

    The circular course take walkers to attractions in the district such as Mongchon Earthen Fortress, Seokchon-dong Ancient Tombs, Bangi Wetland and Lotte World Tower.

     

    Residents take a walk along a Songpa Trail course in Songpa District, southeastern Seoul. Courtesy of Yim Hong-soon
    A bird is spotted on Seongnae Stream, one of three streams surrounding Songpa District, Seoul. Courtesy of Yim Hong-soon

    “Walking along rivers, lakes, and wetlands, you can also find ecological resources that are usually found in the countryside, such as kestrels, white-necked plovers and otters,” Park said.

    Not everything has gone well for creating the trail since the basic plan to refurbish the Tan Stream section was prepared in October 2018.

    Public access to the Tan Stream section had been restricted due to embankments and roadways. In addition, the area was designated as an ecological conservation area in 2002 for rare birds and endangered species.

    Since announcing the plan, the district office underwent briefing sessions for residents twice, and consulted experts in environmental science, birds and landscaping. Through this process, it sought ways for residents to use the trails while preserving nature.

    Residents take a walk along a Songpa Trail course in Songpa District, southeastern Seoul. Courtesy of Yim Hong-soon
    An entry into the Tan Stream Course of Songpa Trail in Songpa District, Seoul. Courtesy of Songpa District Office

    “We sought to create a nature-friendly walking path without damaging the conservation area,” Park said.

    So in the Tan Stream section, bicycles are prohibited, nighttime access is restricted and streetlamps give off weaker light, in order to protect the birds and amphibians in the area.

    Residents’ voluntary participation in the creation of the trail is also notable, with those in 15 neighborhoods of the district organizing groups named Guardians to protect the environment of the streams.

    The district office said it is preparing various events for residents, including a walking marathon and autumn foliage festival. Ecological exploration programs will also be prepared especially in the newly opened Tan Stream course.

    Park said he plans to continue linking the Songpa Trail with other tourist attractions, traditional markets and shops to revitalize the local economy.

    “We will make Songpa Trail as a place where visitors can have unique memories, and residents can enjoy a quality daily life,” he said.

    • Seongnae Stream Songpa

    • Tan Stream Songpa

    • Jangi Stream Songpa

    Songpa-gu is a district of SeoulSouth Korea. Songpa is located at the southeastern part of Seoul, the capital of South Korea. Songpa is also the largest population district with 647,000 residents, in Seoul. This had been called Wirye, when it was the first capital of Baekje. Songpa is generally referred to as a part of Greater Gangnam Area along with Gangnam District and Seocho District.

    Songpa plans to extend Tan stream bank alongside Songpadaero as traffic volume on the street is expected to increase. Songpa will also ease traffic by constructing a road linking Wiryeseong gil to Seongnae stream, and by connecting the unconnected section under Olympic Bridge.

    • Songpa District will link four nearby streams (Han River, Seongnae stream, Jangji stream and Tan stream) to one another through the dubbed Waterway Project. Songpa will be a unique island-like district when Waterway Project is completed by 2012, which is aimed at building Songpa an eco-friendly district where water, nature and human being are …
    • District of Water[edit]

      “Songpa District is a pleasant and beautiful area with nearby lake and streams.” Songpa District will link four nearby streams (Han River, Seongnae stream, Jangji stream and Tan stream) to one another through the dubbed Waterway Project. Songpa will be a unique island-like district when Waterway Project is completed by 2012, which is aimed at building Songpa an eco-friendly district where water, nature and human being are harmonized with one another. Nature Eco Network is a 27 km long forest with a willow volley and a reserve of wild lives. In Walk Network, people can sense Songpa’s history and culture while taking a walk, and feel the fresh air when riding a bicycle on Bicycle Network. The Seokchon lake, which was generated from the Han River as the result of the multiple purpose development of Jamsil in the 1970s, had been averted by the residents because of a nasty smell, in spite of the fact that it’s the only lake in the downtown of Seoul. The smell came from water pollution from concrete materials. But, in the 2000s, it was reborn as the real rest area where attract the visitors of 20,000~30,000 on weekdays, over 50,000 on weekends and are the nests for animals and plants including aquatic plants. And, this is the result of the development project for the natural ecology park. On June, 2005, Sungnae-chun was also resuscitated as a beautiful river through the development project for the ecology river. It was a dried river due to the low volume of water flow during the 1970s~the 1980s. But in 2009 it was selected as ‘the most beautiful 100 rivers in Korea’ by Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs. If the four rivers in ‘waterway’ are the main artery, a streamlet is a vessel. Songpa District developed a streamlet alongside South Beltway (1.5 km from Ogeum intersection ~ Olympic Park intersection ~ Seongnae Stream), easing hot island phenomena and reclaiming water at the same time.

      Free bicycle rental SPB system[edit]

      “Rent a bicycle and return it at any among 300 rental sites.” Songpa has a free bicycle rent system called “Songpa Public Use Bike” or SPB, the nation’s first of its kind, in which members of the system rent a bicycle free of charge 24 hours from 300 self-rental sites located every 300 meters away from one another. With a SPB membership card, one can rent a bicycle and return it at any site among 300 in Songpa. SPB system upgraded Korea’s bicycle culture for sure.

      Expansion of bicycle infrastructure[edit]

      “There are free bicycle rental houses on the 101.81km long bicycle road.” Songpa made a huge success in initiating a handful of systems relating bicycle that other municipal governments rush to benchmark. There are four free bicycle rental houses on the 101.8 km long bicycle road. Anyone with an identification card can rent a bicycle free of charge. The system plays a role in saving transportation costs and promoting bicycle riding at the same time. There is a “Home-visiting bicycle repair” in Songpa, a system designed to relieve repair expense. Under the system, mechanics visit Songpa-gu offices, schools and apartments so that residents do not have to go too far to repair their bicycles.

      Park[edit]

      World Peace Gate at Olympic Park

      “Songpa District has as many as 140 parks, the largest number among municipal districts in Seoul and has the highest green zone rate in Seoul.”

      A third of the total Songpa area is green zone: 10.98k㎡ or 32.4% of Songpa area is green zone, the highest rate among municipal districts in Seoul. Songpa District has as many as 140 parks, also the largest number in Seoul. Each park has its own theme like a flower or a plant reflected by residents’ opinion. The theme of Geon-neomal Park in Garak-dong is a rose, while Baekto Park is a wild flower park. The theme of Macheon Park is a royal azalea and Jamsil Park’s main theme is aquatic plant. In these parks, diverse flower festivals and events including Royal Azalea Festival, Rose Festival, Garden Balsam Dyeing Festival, Eco Culture Class, Wild Plants Operation and Aquatic Plant Exhibition are held every year.

      There are cherry blossom roads alongside of Seongnae stream and Jangjicheon stream. As the trees were donated by Songpa residents and are planted by them, each tree has a name tag of the donator and is taken a good care by them. Songpa led its people to voluntarily take part in preserving the environment in the district.

    • Letter to NPS

    • Updated letter to NPS and updated photos for Cheongjecheon streambed park and updated to provide information on additional streambed parks incuding streams at Camp Humphreys and Yongsan military bases.

    Letter to National Parks Director, Minister of Tourism, and KT

    One of the little-known gems of Korean tourism is all the great river parks and stream bed parks throughout Korea. Getting information on these parks in English is frustrating, only a few of them have any information in English.  There are no English language maps available online and very little information. The stream bed parks and river parks are managed by local and provincial governments.  Some have extensive facilities; many have no facilities other than a walking/bike trail.

    I believe it is time for the Korean National parks service to take over managing these stream bed and river parks for the benefit of all Koreans, hence they would be a welcomed addition to the national park service. Promoting them to the national park service would also promote them in both the local and international media.

    Once the park service takes it over, they should standardize services across the river/streambed parks.

    There should be a web page on these river and stream bed parks in a standard format, including history, trail map, nearby attractions (with links), and transportation/directions (in Korean and target language). The rest of the national parks should also be listed in the same manner. The web page and the KNP web page should be in multiple languages but at the very least in Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Vietnamese, Thai, Hindi, and Spanish.  The transportation section should always be in Korean and the target language. The web page should also link to the national forest park, provincial and city parks, and hiking trails throughout the country. The goal should be one web page with information on all the outdoor recreational activities available in Korea.  And they should all follow the same format.

    Each river/streambed park should be stocked with fish, turtles, and frogs.  Fishing should be encouraged. The fish stocked should consist of Korean trout, water ell, and other indigenous fish. Harvesting of frogs should be legal, but not turtles.

    Each river/streambed park should be lined with restaurants, cafes, coffee shops, fishing supply shops, bike, and boat rental places with views of the river and stream.  The restaurants would grill fish and frogs caught in the river and stream.

    Each park would have signs and maps in four languages (Korean, English/Chinese/Japanese) throughout the park. The langague could be taken off the web page to be consistent throughout the system.

    The parks would be free and open 24/7.  there would be sufficient lighting and ccv cameras everywhere to deter criminal conduct.

    boats, bikes and fishing equipment would be available for rent at an affordable price.

    boating should be allowed on the deeper streams.  and water taxi/ferries could be run along the deepest streams and tributaries of the river and up and down the Han river.  Revenus from opperations of the water taxi and ferry service would be split between the companies and the park service.

    The model should be the Golden waterway in Gimpo.

    Rental income should be devoted to the maintenance of the park. Any extra income would be sent to the NPS general maintenance fund.

    Each river/stream bed park should have a citizen advisory committee consisting of representatives of the businesses in the park, and nearby citizens. The committee should advise the park service of issues related to that park and should sponsor clean the park drives once a quarter and offer volunteer conservation activities.  local schools should adopt a river or streambed park and carry out conservation activities and nature study programs in the river/streambed.  Nearby busineses should also be encoruaged to adopt a river/streambed park and encourage volunater consdervation projects in the parks.  representative of the school and firms adopting a park would of course serve on the advisory committee  This model could be extended to every park in the country.

    For those streambed parks in Seoul and elsewhere they should be extended to run into the Han River.  Those in Incheon should either run into the Han River or the west sea. All other streambed parks should be extended so they flow into the nearest big river.

    The Han River Park system should be extended to the headwaters of the Han River. a similar walking/bike trail system should be extended to all the major rivers in Korea. All the river trails should be linked to each other and to the nearby streambed parks as part of the national river walk trail system.

    The should be annual marathon races along with the bigger stream and river parks.

    Even if the NPS does not upgrade these river/streambed parks into the newest national park, the NPS should at least upgrade their web page as discussed above.

    Finally, these parks could be admistered as “wild Rivers” following the sucess of the National Wild Rivers Act in the U.S. which created a framework for preserving wild rivers as special parks under the purview of the National Park Service. A similar act protects natural beaches across the country.

    end letter

    will post an update if i get any response.

    Updated information below on Yeongjaecheon stream based on a Kindle booklet about the stream.

    Over the last decade, Korea has build hundreds of stream bed parks throughout Seoul and Korea.  There are great places to take a walk, to observe wild life, to enjoy nature in the city.   There is some information in English on these parks but not enough.  For those readers in Korea, please feel free to send me info on other stream bed parks, so I can update this from time to time.

    The most famous one is the one that started it all. Cheongjejon in down town Seoul.

    Formerly polluted and covered with an elevated road since 2005, this stream has been cleaned up and made into an Art and nature walkway through the heart of Seoul.
    Suggested Duration:1-2 hours

    It is the prototype perhaps of stream restoration.

    SEOUL, South Korea — For half a century, a dark tunnel of crumbling concrete encased more than three miles of a placid stream bisecting this bustling city.

    The waterway had been a centerpiece of Seoul since a king of the Choson Dynasty selected the new capital 600 years ago, enticed by the graceful meandering of the stream and its 23 tributaries. But in the industrial era after the Korean War, the stream, by then a rank open sewer, was entombed by pavement and forgotten beneath a lacework of elevated expressways as the city’s population swelled toward 10 million.

    Today, after a $384 million recovery project, the stream, called Cheonggyecheon, is liberated from its dank sheath and burbles between reedy banks. Picnickers cool their bare feet in its filtered water, and carp swim in its tranquil pools.

    The restoration of the Cheonggyecheon is part of an expanding environmental effort in cities around the world to “daylight” rivers and streams by peeling back pavement that was built to bolster commerce and serve automobile traffic decades ago.

    Environmentalists point out other benefits. Open watercourses handle flooding rains better than buried sewers do, a big consideration as global warming leads to heavier downpours. The streams also tend to cool areas overheated by sun-baked asphalt and to nourish greenery that lures wildlife as well as pedestrians.
    Credit…Jean Chung for The New York Times

    Some political opponents have derided Seoul’s remade stream as a costly folly, given that nearly all of the water flowing between its banks on a typical day is pumped there artificially from the Han River through seven miles of pipe.

    gw3jpg
    gw3jpg
    gw5]
    gw5]
    My favorite though is the Golden Waterway in Gimpo north of Kimpo airport, close to Janngi station on the new Gold Line.  The Gyeongi and Gimpo tourist promotors have dubbed this “the Venice of Korea”.  Not quite, but still quite nice.
    .
    it is a 5.9 long walk way along a stream that used to be an open sewage dump back not too long ago.  It is lined with trees, flowers, beaches, and quirky public art.  The  northern end is pretty boring though.  The central and southern end is very nice.

    It is lined with restaurants and cafes, and has a boat house where you can rent boats to go out on the water.  The cost is 20,000 per hour.   a popular boat choice is the moon boat, which is a boat shaped like a crescent moon that is ideal for a couple to take out on the water.  There are also family boats and paddle boats for individuals.  There are also bikes for rent.

     

     

     

    [4K] Beautiful evening walk along Laveniche March Avenue in Gimpo Korea Tour 김포 한강신도시 장기동 라베니체 저녁 걷기

    •  N
    안녕하세요 Seoul Walker 입니다.
    오늘은 경기도 김포한강신도시에 위치한 라베니체 마치 에비뉴의 저녁을 함께 걸어봅시다. 깨끗해진 공기 만큼이나 아름다운 노을을 계속 볼 수 있기를 희망합니다.아침 7시, 당신을 위한 새로운 영상이 공개 됩니다.
    당신의 새로운 아침, 그리고 오후 저녁 저의 영상을 보며 한결 여유로운 하루의 시작과 마무리가 되었으면 하는 바램입니다. 최대한 다채롭고 흥미로운 영상을 즐기실 수 있도록 노력하겠습니다.영상이 마음에 드셨다면 좋아요, 구독, 알림 설정 부탁드립니다.
    그럼 오늘도 행복한 하루 되세요!Hello all my friends, I’m Nathan from Seoul Walker.
    Today, let’s walk together at Laveniche March Avenue in Hangang River New City, Gimpo, Gyeonggi-do.Ravenice March Avenue is a themed canal street created by Venetian motifs on a total of 33,000 m² waterfront commercial areas in total of 26 parcels around the golden waterway, which is an artificial waterway in the Han River New City of Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province. It is a commercial facility.

    Other Streams in Seoul

    Jungnangcheon (Stream)

    Jungnangcheon

    Jungnangcheon stream is the biggest contributor to the Hangang River. It starts at Yangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, joins with the Cheonggyecheon stream, and curves around Geumho-dong, Seongdong-gu until it finally flows under the Bridge of Gangyeonbuk-ro and into the Hangang river.


    Hongjecheon (Stream)

    Hongjecheon

    Hongjecheon (Stream) begins at Bukhansan (Mountain) and runs for 11.1km through Jongno-gu and Mapo-gu. The stream is named after the Hongjewon, an official building where Chinese envoys were received. Once dried up and neglected, the stream was revived under Seoul’s ‘No Dry Streams’ project. Within two short years clean water was once again flowing through both Hongjecheon (Stream) and Cheonggyecheon (Stream).

    GO ENG CHN JPN

    Yangjaecheon Stream and Tancheon Stream are two tributaries of the Hangang River.

    Yangjaecheon (Stream) and Tancheon (Stream)

    Yangjaecheon (Stream) originates from Gwanaksan (Mountain) and Cheonggyesan (Mountain). The 15.6km stream flows across Gwacheon and into the Gangnam district in Seoul until it joins up with the Hangang (River). The stream flows across Dogok-dong and Gaepo-dong in the district of Gangnam, and is a popular spot with locals for its well-paved pedestrian and cycling paths. It is a pleasant patch of green in a concrete jungle. Many Seoulites visit the stream for relaxation and to spend a day being closer to nature.

    Hanyeoul Stream, is a tributary of the Hangang River.

    The stream is 18.5km long and flows from Gwacheong in GyeongGi Province to the southern part of Seoul. The stream’s name is derived from the area in Seoul it flows through, Yangjae-dong.

    Stroll along the peaceful promenade of Songdo Central Park and view sculptures and animals. Here pretty grassy spaces border a manmade waterway while skyscrapers tower nearby. Completed in 2009, the stylish city park has become a landmark of the large city of Incheon in South Korea’s northwestern region.

    In 2001, Incheon began creating Songdo International Business District on mostly reclaimed land. The multi-functional space offers residents a pleasant and sustainable place for home, work, school and leisure. The 101-acre (41-hectare) park is an integral part of the overall design. Join residents and other visitors using this vast green space and exploring the cultural institutions surrounding the park.

    One highlight of the park is the seawater canal symbolizing the rivers of Korea flowing to the West Sea. Cruise along the canal under your own power in a canoe with sun umbrellas or on a comfortable water-taxi or small cruise boat.

    Gaze at and visit some of the futuristic buildings surrounding the park. Tri-Bowl, with the appearance of a bowl resting on water, has cultural event spaces. The Songdo G-Tower’s diagonal lines and atriums provide a stunning setting for the offices of IFEZ (Incheon Free Economic Zone) Authority. Visit the building’s 29th-floor Sky Garden for views across the city.

    Suwon – Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Suwon
    suwon stream
    suwon stream

     

     

     

    suwon stream 2
    suwon stream 2

     

     

     

    Most of the streams passing through Suwon originate on Gwanggyosan or other nearby peaks. Since Suwon is bounded to the east by other hills, the streams, chiefly the Suwoncheon (and one notable tributary being the Jungbocheon), flow southwards through the city, eventually emptying into the Yellow Sea at Asan Bay. The entirety of Suwon is  drained in this manner

    Manisan Stream

    Manisan in Gangwha Island has a delightful stream running through the mountain. the trail follows the stream for the first mile or so.

    manisan

    Updated List of Korean Stream Bed Parks

     

    I found a few more Korean Streambed parks to explore someday.

    Otkachon in Seoul near Hweyasan Temple

    Anyang Stream near Anyang

    Gitawana Stream in Seoul

    Tanchan in Seoul

    Hongjechon in Seoul

    Pyengwha park stream in Mapo

    Incheon

    Gulpu

    Seungri

    Jangsu

    Other Streambed Parks

    Goumchon in Paju north of Seoul

    Gongneung North of Seoul

    Pungmu in Gimpo near gold line Pungmu station

    Pungmoo Stream Loop – Gyeonggi-do, South Korea _ AllTrails

    Sincheon in Daegu

    Yeojawachon near Changwon

    Bukhan near Yangpeyong

    Neul Park part of Han River parks

    Camp Humphreys

    there is a long canal stream bed park in Camp Humphreys called Canal walk. it is a jogging and bike path that runs throughout the base. Right now it is pretty baren with not much shade as it is brand new but over time the trees will grow and it will become a nice place to take a walk when you on base.

    Yongsang Stream

    There is an old stream bed that runs through Yongsan base lined with tall trees.  Hopefully the authorities will keep it as they turn the base into a grand park.

    Kwangwhamoon stream

    there is a small stream underneath Kwangwhamoon and I understand though I might be wrong, that they are going to restore it as part of the transfromation of Kwangwhamoon into a grand plaza.  Hope they do and link it to Chongjecheon or Hongcheon both of which are nearby.  That would be nice.

    the end

  • Korean Stream Bed Parks

    Venice in Korea and other Korean Stream Bed Parks

    ARA Canal Incheon

    Updated information below on Yeongjaecheon stream based on a Kindle booklet about the stream.

    Over the last decade, Korea has build hundreds of stream bed parks throughout Seoul and Korea.  There are great places to take a walk, to observe wild life, to enjoy nature in the city.   There is some information in English on these parks but not enough.  For those readers in Korea, please feel free to send me info on other stream bed parks, so I can update this from time to time.

    The most famous one is the one that started it all. Cheongjejon in down town Seoul.

    Formerly polluted and covered with an elevated road since 2005, this stream has been cleaned up and made into an Art and nature walkway through the heart of Seoul.
    Suggested Duration:1-2 hours

    It is the prototype perhaps of stream restoration.

    SEOUL, South Korea — For half a century, a dark tunnel of crumbling concrete encased more than three miles of a placid stream bisecting this bustling city.

    The waterway had been a centerpiece of Seoul since a king of the Choson Dynasty selected the new capital 600 years ago, enticed by the graceful meandering of the stream and its 23 tributaries. But in the industrial era after the Korean War, the stream, by then a rank open sewer, was entombed by pavement and forgotten beneath a lacework of elevated expressways as the city’s population swelled toward 10 million.

    Today, after a $384 million recovery project, the stream, called Cheonggyecheon, is liberated from its dank sheath and burbles between reedy banks. Picnickers cool their bare feet in its filtered water, and carp swim in its tranquil pools.

    The restoration of the Cheonggyecheon is part of an expanding environmental effort in cities around the world to “daylight” rivers and streams by peeling back pavement that was built to bolster commerce and serve automobile traffic decades ago.

    Environmentalists point out other benefits. Open watercourses handle flooding rains better than buried sewers do, a big consideration as global warming leads to heavier downpours. The streams also tend to cool areas overheated by sun-baked asphalt and to nourish greenery that lures wildlife as well as pedestrians.
    Credit…Jean Chung for The New York Times

    Some political opponents have derided Seoul’s remade stream as a costly folly, given that nearly all of the water flowing between its banks on a typical day is pumped there artificially from the Han River through seven miles of pipe.

    Golden Waterway In Gimpo

    GW 1
    GW 1
    gw3jpg
    gw3jpg
    gw5]
    gw5]
    My favorite though is the Golden Waterway in Gimpo north of Kimpo airport, close to Janngi station on the new Gold Line.  The Gyeongi and Gimpo tourist promotors have dubbed this “the Venice of Korea”.  Not quite, but still quite nice.
    .
    it is a 5.9 long walk way along a stream that used to be an open sewage dump back not too long ago.  It is lined with trees, flowers, beaches, and quirky public art.  The  northern end is pretty boring though.  The central and southern end is very nice.

    It is lined with restaurants and cafes, and has a boat house where you can rent boats to go out on the water.  The cost is 20,000 per hour.   a popular boat choice is the moon boat, which is a boat shaped like a crescent moon that is ideal for a couple to take out on the water.  There are also family boats and paddle boats for individuals.  There are also bikes for rent.

     

     

     

    [4K] Beautiful evening walk along Laveniche March Avenue in Gimpo Korea Tour 김포 한강신도시 장기동 라베니체 저녁 걷기

    •  N
    안녕하세요 Seoul Walker 입니다.
    오늘은 경기도 김포한강신도시에 위치한 라베니체 마치 에비뉴의 저녁을 함께 걸어봅시다. 깨끗해진 공기 만큼이나 아름다운 노을을 계속 볼 수 있기를 희망합니다.아침 7시, 당신을 위한 새로운 영상이 공개 됩니다.
    당신의 새로운 아침, 그리고 오후 저녁 저의 영상을 보며 한결 여유로운 하루의 시작과 마무리가 되었으면 하는 바램입니다. 최대한 다채롭고 흥미로운 영상을 즐기실 수 있도록 노력하겠습니다.영상이 마음에 드셨다면 좋아요, 구독, 알림 설정 부탁드립니다.
    그럼 오늘도 행복한 하루 되세요! 

    Hello all my friends, I’m Nathan from Seoul Walker.
    Today, let’s walk together at Laveniche March Avenue in Hangang River New City, Gimpo, Gyeonggi-do.

    Ravenice March Avenue is a themed canal street created by Venetian motifs on a total of 33,000 m² waterfront commercial areas in total of 26 parcels around the golden waterway, which is an artificial waterway in the Han River New City of Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province. It is a commercial facility.

    Other Streams in Seoul

    Jungnangcheon (Stream)

    Jungnangcheon

    Jungnangcheon stream is the biggest contributor to the Hangang River. It starts at Yangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, joins with the Cheonggyecheon stream, and curves around Geumho-dong, Seongdong-gu until it finally flows under the Bridge of Gangyeonbuk-ro and into the Hangang river.


    Hongjecheon (Stream)

    Hongjecheon

    Hongjecheon (Stream) begins at Bukhansan (Mountain) and runs for 11.1km through Jongno-gu and Mapo-gu. The stream is named after the Hongjewon, an official building where Chinese envoys were received. Once dried up and neglected, the stream was revived under Seoul’s ‘No Dry Streams’ project. Within two short years clean water was once again flowing through both Hongjecheon (Stream) and Cheonggyecheon (Stream).

    GO ENG CHN JPN

    Yangjaecheon Stream and Tancheon Stream are two tributaries of the Hangang River.

    Yangjaecheon (Stream) and Tancheon (Stream)

    Yangjaecheon (Stream) originates from Gwanaksan (Mountain) and Cheonggyesan (Mountain). The 15.6km stream flows across Gwacheon and into the Gangnam district in Seoul until it joins up with the Hangang (River). The stream flows across Dogok-dong and Gaepo-dong in the district of Gangnam, and is a popular spot with locals for its well-paved pedestrian and cycling paths. It is a pleasant patch of green in a concrete jungle. Many Seoulites visit the stream for relaxation and to spend a day being closer to nature.

    Hanyeoul Stream, is a tributary of the Hangang River.

    The stream is 18.5km long and flows from Gwacheong in GyeongGi Province to the southern part of Seoul. The stream’s name is derived from the area in Seoul it flows through, Yangjae-dong.

    Stroll along the peaceful promenade of Songdo Central Park and view sculptures and animals. Here pretty grassy spaces border a manmade waterway while skyscrapers tower nearby. Completed in 2009, the stylish city park has become a landmark of the large city of Incheon in South Korea’s northwestern region.

    In 2001, Incheon began creating Songdo International Business District on mostly reclaimed land. The multi-functional space offers residents a pleasant and sustainable place for home, work, school and leisure. The 101-acre (41-hectare) park is an integral part of the overall design. Join residents and other visitors using this vast green space and exploring the cultural institutions surrounding the park.

    One highlight of the park is the seawater canal symbolizing the rivers of Korea flowing to the West Sea. Cruise along the canal under your own power in a canoe with sun umbrellas or on a comfortable water-taxi or small cruise boat.

    Gaze at and visit some of the futuristic buildings surrounding the park. Tri-Bowl, with the appearance of a bowl resting on water, has cultural event spaces. The Songdo G-Tower’s diagonal lines and atriums provide a stunning setting for the offices of IFEZ (Incheon Free Economic Zone) Authority. Visit the building’s 29th-floor Sky Garden for views across the city.

    Suwon – Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Suwon
    suwon stream
    suwon stream

     

     

     

    suwon stream 2
    suwon stream 2

     

     

     

    Most of the streams passing through Suwon originate on Gwanggyosan or other nearby peaks. Since Suwon is bounded to the east by other hills, the streams, chiefly the Suwoncheon (and one notable tributary being the Jungbocheon), flow southwards through the city, eventually emptying into the Yellow Sea at Asan Bay. The entirety of Suwon is  drained in this manner

    Manisan Stream

    Manisan in Gangwha Island has a delightful stream running through the mountain. the trail follows the stream for the first mile or so.

    manisan

    .the end

     

  • Manisan

    Manisan

    manisan top

     

    ARA Canal Incheon

    Venice in Korea

    Manisan Mountain, Gangwha Island

    Manisan is a mountain in IncheonSouth Korea. It is situated in Ganghwa County and is the highest peak on Ganghwa Island. Manisan has an elevation of 469.4 m (1,540 ft).[1] There is a popular hiking trail to the summit; at the summit is Chamseongsdan, an altar where Dungun (the founding father of Korea) performed ritual ceremonies.

    Manisan is the highest peak in Ganghwa island.  It is a legendary mountain where Dungun the founder of Korea came to the earth.   The park signs are all in Korea.as is the map.  There are four routes, blue, yellow, red, and purple.  The blue route is the shortest route to the top. The first part of the trail is along an asphalt road following Manisan creek through an old-growth forest.  The blue trail branches off to the left and from that point on is a dirt trail, a trail with steps, and some scrambling up rocks. There is a rail all the way so that helps.  The elevation gain is steep at times. At the top of the mountain there is a nice sky bridge trail to view points.  The view is spectacular.

    There is a camp ground on the other side of the mountain where the red and purple trails originate. The round trip  is about two and one half hours and is about a 4-mile round trip.  One could make it a loop by taking the yellow course back down the mountain.

    Chamseongsdan was closed for renovation.  However, there is a replica at the foot of the mountain where the occasional ritual are still held.

    Near By Resturants

    There are several restaurants at the bottom of the mountain. One served a great belt fish menu.

    Other Reviews

    1. Manisan (Incheon) – Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Manisan_(Incheon)

    Manisan is a mountain in Incheon, South Korea. It is situated in Ganghwa County and is the highest peak on Ganghwa Island. Manisan has an elevation of 469.4 m (1,540 ft). There is a popular hiking trail to the summit; at the summit is Chamseongsdan, an altar where Dangun (the founding father of Korea) performed ritual ceremonies.

    1. Mani-san, Ganghwa-do Island – Sacred Sites

    sacredsites.com › asia › korea

    Chamseong-dan altar, Mt. Mani-san, Ganghwa-do Island The “Demon Expelling Mountain” is the most sacred site on Ganghwa Island of Incheon City, relatively quite famous throughout the nation. There is an ancient stone shrine on its highest peak (469m, the Chamseong-dan [Truly Holy Altar], that commands a wide view of the Yellow Sea.

    1. Manisan Mountain (Ganghwa Island) – Incheon, South Korea …

    http://www.alltrails.com › trail › south-korea

    Manisan Mountain (Ganghwa Island) is a 3.4 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Seo-gu, Incheon, South Korea that features a great forest setting and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and nature trips and is accessible year-round. Length 3.4 miElevation gain 1,459 ftRoute type Loop

    1. Manisan (마니산) – Peaks and Penguins

    http://www.peaksandpenguins.com › 120-summits › manisan

    One funny thing about this mountain is that it would be just about as easy to visit on a layover as it would be from anywhere else on the Korean peninsula. Manisan is by far the closest 100 summits mountain to Incheon International Airport! At least, it’s close as the crow flies. Manisan is not exactly on the way anywhere – it’s on Ganghwa island! If you actually do the aforementioned airport plan, one-way transit will take you nearly two hours (bus 9000 from the airport, connecting to bus 700-1 in Yangcheon – if you’re curious!). The trip is a little longer from Incheon. Take the orange, Incheon line 2 metro to Majeon station and then catch the 700-1 bus for just over two hours (starting from downtown Incheon). From Seoul, navigate your way to Yangcheon by bus or subway (different depending on your starting point – but aim for Gurye station on the brown line 9) – then catch bus 700-1. Seeing the theme? Bus 700-1 runs to the Hwado bus terminal, just north of Manisan. A few other bus…

    1. Manisan Mountain (Ganghwa Island) – Hiking the World

    hikingtheworld.blog › 2012/10/20 › manisan-mountain

    Oct 20, 2012 · One of three sacred Korean mountains, Manisan is located on Ganghwa Island on the west coast. It’s less than an hour from Incheon airport, and connected by two bridges to the mainland.

    1. Manisan Mountain – Welcome to Incheon, South Korea

    incheon-southkorea.weebly.com › manisan-mountain

    The Manisan Mountain is a mountain located on the Ganghwa-do mountain range. The Ganghwa-do mountain range is located in Incheon, South Korea. This mountain is 496.4 meters over sea level. It is also the tallest mountain in this mountain range.

    More Reviews

    1. ike Ganghwa Island’s Manisan while Teaching in Korea

    blog.aclipse.net › teach-in-Korea › bid

    Dec 03, 2014 · Manisan stands at 469 meters (or 1539 feet) above sea level, and it offers two hiking paths. We took the tougher route, the Stairway Path. As you can guess from the name, there were a lot of stairs, as is quite common with hiking in Korea, but this mountain is definitely worth the work.

    1. Manisan on Ganghwado | Rip City to Seoul

    ripcitytoseoul.wordpress.com › 2010/07/05 › manisan

    Jul 05, 2010 · Ganghwado (Ganghwa Island) is Korea’s fifth largest island. Its strategic west sea location, in the estuary of the Han River, has resulted in an immensely important role in Korean history. Wars, kingdoms, sacrifices, temples, UNESCO world heritage sites… a lot has happened here.

    1. Ganghwa Island – Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Ganghwa_Island

    With the primary fortifications protecting the Joseon capital of Seoul from foreign invasion, Ganghwa Island was the site of several 19th-century punitive expeditions.The mass execution of Catholic French missionaries and Korean converts under the ministry of the Heungseon Daewongun in the mid-1860s led to a French invasion in 1866 which held the island for several weeks, although the …

    Manisan Mountain (Ganghwa Island) is a 5.5 kilometer heavily trafficked loop trail located near Seo-gu, Incheon, South Korea that features a great forest setting and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and nature trips and is accessible year-round.

    Length5.5 kmElevation gain445 mRoute typeLoop

    Manisan Mountain (469m) is one of three sacred 3 mountains in Korea, with two hiking paths that lead to an altar and temple on the summit.

    You begin to ascend as soon as you leave the parking lot, then it’s pavement, stairs, and “carpet” as you make your way to the peak. There’s an ancient alter at the top.

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    chongsandae

    thank you

     

     

     

     

     

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    the End

  • Venice in Korea updates

    Venice in Korea updates

    update:

    Letter to ARA Director

    Cc Gimpo County

     

    I recently moved to the Hyundai Hometown apartments in Janggi dong and have been enjoying daily walks along the ARA golden water canal.

    Overall I am very impressed.  It is a great recreational asset for Gimpo county.

    I do have a few suggestions for improvements

     

    Extend it

     

    1. Extend it on the southern (eastern) end all the way to the Han River linking it to the Han river park system.  It is only an half a mile away from the river.
    2. Extend it on the northern (western) end all the way to Gimpo lake, also only an half a mile away. This may be more feasible as the area is not as heavily buldt up as is the southern/eastern end.

     

    Allow Fishing

    1. Stock it with fish and allow fishing at designated areas where you can also sell fishing supplies and have resturants available to grill freshly caught fish.

    Have goats eat the weeds

     

    1. Have goats eat the weeds throughout

     

    Extend hours of boating, add in kayaks and canoes

     

    1. Extend the hours of the boat until midnight, also add in kayaks and canoes ot the mix.

    Have bike and scooter rentals available

     

    1. Have places to rent bikes and scooters.

     

    More shade trees

     

    1. Plant more shade trees particularly in the section next to the boat house which is pretty baren.

    Extend the restaurant district

    1. Extend the restaurant district further north and West.

    Install vending machines

    1. Install vending machines for drinks throughout the park.

    Free umbrellas

    1. Have free umbrellas throughout the park.

     

    While the first two items might be too expensive, the other items should be inexpensive and will help in maintaining the park.  For the fishing, you can charge 10,000 won to use the fishing facilities. That should defray the extra costs.

     

    Thanks

    Jake Cosmos Aller

    Retired U.S (Diplomat, State Department (Foreign Service Officer)

    Tel: 010-4435-1402

    Email:  jakecaller@gmail.com

    Web: https://theworldaccordingtocosmos.com

    This blog item:     https://wp.me/p7NAzO-1OZ

    Review Julia’s American style Diner ARA canal, Gimpo near Jaangi station, gold line

    ******

    Julia’s American style diner near the ARA canal, Gimpo near the Jaangi stion on the gold line advertises itself as an American style family diner.  And that is just what it is.

    We had the full brunch – bacon, bangers, beans, eggs, hashbrowns, toast, tomato slices, for 14,000 KW ($11.53 US) plus Americana coffee 2000 ($15.00) for a total of $15.00 per person or 28,000 KW ($30,00) total.

     

    The food was great, just perfect and the coffee was great too. The portions were generous and the price was quite reasonable. This was billed as an American brunch but it was more of a British brunch what with the beans and British style bangers (sausage) included.

     

    We are definitely going to come back.  Next time we will try the pancake and split the brunch.

     

    They also have steak, burgers, pasta, French fries. and risotto and Korean style fried rice omelet on the menu.

     

    The deco is also diner style as is the overall ambience.

     

    It is conveniently located just steps from the canal coming from the canal turn left at the Mega coffee shop on the left hand side of the canal and walk up.  It is about a mile and half from Jaangi station on the gold line or by bus in Jaangji station.  Get off and walk down the canal (turning right) cross over when you see Mega coffee and turn left up the steps.

     

    In short, I highly recommend this restaurant.  Some other American style resturants near by include the following (Trip advisor list)  disclaimer:  I have not yet dined at any of these but hope to do so soon and will post reviews as I get to them.  Stay tuned for that.

    Other near by restaurants:

    76 reviews

    American, Fast food$

    Bucheon

    “Burger Run”

    “Best cheese burger in town!”

    1. T.G.I.F. Kimpo Airport Store

    8 reviews

    American$$ – $$$

    9.7 km

    Seoul

    “American food chain”

    “TGIF 런치로 즐기기”

    1. T.G.I.F. Lotte Illsan Store

    2 reviews

    American

    6.9 km

    Goyang

    “You go for the view and American-ish food”

    “맛은 쏘쏘…”

    1. The Hidden Kitchen Brunch

    3 reviewsOpen Now

    American

    12.8 km

    Incheon

    “The best!”

    “Their Hashbrown”

    1. Leaf Gu

    1 review

    American, Healthy$

    14.2 km

    Bucheon

    “가게가 좁긴 한데, 괜찮아요~”

    1. Yorokonde

    7 reviews

    Coffee Tea, American$

    11.7 km

    Seoul

    “Pretty cool, worth it”

    “앙버터 맛집 :)”

    1. Dirty Trunk

    13 reviewsOpen Now

    American, Bar$$ – $$$

    11.8 km

    Paju

    “Having brunch with friend”

    “Unique cafe & restaurant”

    1. Tipany Restaurant

    1 reviewOpen Now

    Italian, French$$ – $$$Menu

    7.1 km

    Goyang

    Venice in Korea and other Korean Stream Bed Parks

    ARA Canal Incheon

    Updated information below on Yeongjaecheon stream based on a Kindle booklet about the stream.

    Over the last decade, Korea has build hundreds of stream bed parks throughout Seoul and Korea.  There are great places to take a walk, to observe wild life, to enjoy nature in the city.   There is some information in English on these parks but not enough.  For those readers in Korea, please feel free to send me info on other stream bed parks, so I can update this from time to time.

    The most famous one is the one that started it all. Cheongjejon in down town Seoul.

    Formerly polluted and covered with an elevated road since 2005, this stream has been cleaned up and made into an Art and nature walkway through the heart of Seoul.
    Suggested Duration:1-2 hours

    It is the prototype perhaps of stream restoration.

    SEOUL, South Korea — For half a century, a dark tunnel of crumbling concrete encased more than three miles of a placid stream bisecting this bustling city.

    The waterway had been a centerpiece of Seoul since a king of the Choson Dynasty selected the new capital 600 years ago, enticed by the graceful meandering of the stream and its 23 tributaries. But in the industrial era after the Korean War, the stream, by then a rank open sewer, was entombed by pavement and forgotten beneath a lacework of elevated expressways as the city’s population swelled toward 10 million.

    Today, after a $384 million recovery project, the stream, called Cheonggyecheon, is liberated from its dank sheath and burbles between reedy banks. Picnickers cool their bare feet in its filtered water, and carp swim in its tranquil pools.

    The restoration of the Cheonggyecheon is part of an expanding environmental effort in cities around the world to “daylight” rivers and streams by peeling back pavement that was built to bolster commerce and serve automobile traffic decades ago.

    Environmentalists point out other benefits. Open watercourses handle flooding rains better than buried sewers do, a big consideration as global warming leads to heavier downpours. The streams also tend to cool areas overheated by sun-baked asphalt and to nourish greenery that lures wildlife as well as pedestrians.
    Credit…Jean Chung for The New York Times

    Some political opponents have derided Seoul’s remade stream as a costly folly, given that nearly all of the water flowing between its banks on a typical day is pumped there artificially from the Han River through seven miles of pipe.

    Golden Waterway In Gimpo

    GW 1
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    My favorite though is the Golden Waterway in Gimpo north of Kimpo airport, close to Janngi station on the new Gold Line.  The Gyeongi and Gimpo tourist promotors have dubbed this “the Venice of Korea”.  Not quite, but still quite nice.
    .
    it is a 5.9 long walk way along a stream that used to be an open sewage dump back not too long ago.  It is lined with trees, flowers, beaches, and quirky public art.  The  northern end is pretty boring though.  The central and southern end is very nice.

    It is lined with restaurants and cafes, and has a boat house where you can rent boats to go out on the water.  The cost is 20,000 per hour.   a popular boat choice is the moon boat, which is a boat shaped like a crescent moon that is ideal for a couple to take out on the water.  There are also family boats and paddle boats for individuals.  There are also bikes for rent.

     

     

     

    [4K] Beautiful evening walk along Laveniche March Avenue in Gimpo Korea Tour 김포 한강신도시 장기동 라베니체 저녁 걷기

    •  N
    안녕하세요 Seoul Walker 입니다.
    오늘은 경기도 김포한강신도시에 위치한 라베니체 마치 에비뉴의 저녁을 함께 걸어봅시다. 깨끗해진 공기 만큼이나 아름다운 노을을 계속 볼 수 있기를 희망합니다.아침 7시, 당신을 위한 새로운 영상이 공개 됩니다.
    당신의 새로운 아침, 그리고 오후 저녁 저의 영상을 보며 한결 여유로운 하루의 시작과 마무리가 되었으면 하는 바램입니다. 최대한 다채롭고 흥미로운 영상을 즐기실 수 있도록 노력하겠습니다.영상이 마음에 드셨다면 좋아요, 구독, 알림 설정 부탁드립니다.
    그럼 오늘도 행복한 하루 되세요!Hello all my friends, I’m Nathan from Seoul Walker.
    Today, let’s walk together at Laveniche March Avenue in Hangang River New City, Gimpo, Gyeonggi-do.Ravenice March Avenue is a themed canal street created by Venetian motifs on a total of 33,000 m² waterfront commercial areas in total of 26 parcels around the golden waterway, which is an artificial waterway in the Han River New City of Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province. It is a commercial facility.

    Other Streams in Seoul

    Jungnangcheon (Stream)

    Jungnangcheon

    Jungnangcheon stream is the biggest contributor to the Hangang River. It starts at Yangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, joins with the Cheonggyecheon stream, and curves around Geumho-dong, Seongdong-gu until it finally flows under the Bridge of Gangyeonbuk-ro and into the Hangang river.


    Hongjecheon (Stream)

    Hongjecheon

    Hongjecheon (Stream) begins at Bukhansan (Mountain) and runs for 11.1km through Jongno-gu and Mapo-gu. The stream is named after the Hongjewon, an official building where Chinese envoys were received. Once dried up and neglected, the stream was revived under Seoul’s ‘No Dry Streams’ project. Within two short years clean water was once again flowing through both Hongjecheon (Stream) and Cheonggyecheon (Stream).

    GO ENG CHN JPN

    Yangjaecheon Stream and Tancheon Stream are two tributaries of the Hangang River.

    Yangjaecheon (Stream) and Tancheon (Stream)

    Yangjaecheon (Stream) originates from Gwanaksan (Mountain) and Cheonggyesan (Mountain). The 15.6km stream flows across Gwacheon and into the Gangnam district in Seoul until it joins up with the Hangang (River). The stream flows across Dogok-dong and Gaepo-dong in the district of Gangnam, and is a popular spot with locals for its well-paved pedestrian and cycling paths. It is a pleasant patch of green in a concrete jungle. Many Seoulites visit the stream for relaxation and to spend a day being closer to nature.

    Hanyeoul Stream, is a tributary of the Hangang River.

    The stream is 18.5km long and flows from Gwacheong in GyeongGi Province to the southern part of Seoul. The stream’s name is derived from the area in Seoul it flows through, Yangjae-dong.

    Stroll along the peaceful promenade of Songdo Central Park and view sculptures and animals. Here pretty grassy spaces border a manmade waterway while skyscrapers tower nearby. Completed in 2009, the stylish city park has become a landmark of the large city of Incheon in South Korea’s northwestern region.

    In 2001, Incheon began creating Songdo International Business District on mostly reclaimed land. The multi-functional space offers residents a pleasant and sustainable place for home, work, school and leisure. The 101-acre (41-hectare) park is an integral part of the overall design. Join residents and other visitors using this vast green space and exploring the cultural institutions surrounding the park.

    One highlight of the park is the seawater canal symbolizing the rivers of Korea flowing to the West Sea. Cruise along the canal under your own power in a canoe with sun umbrellas or on a comfortable water-taxi or small cruise boat.

    Gaze at and visit some of the futuristic buildings surrounding the park. Tri-Bowl, with the appearance of a bowl resting on water, has cultural event spaces. The Songdo G-Tower’s diagonal lines and atriums provide a stunning setting for the offices of IFEZ (Incheon Free Economic Zone) Authority. Visit the building’s 29th-floor Sky Garden for views across the city.

    Suwon – Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Suwon
    suwon stream
    suwon stream

     

     

     

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    suwon stream 2

     

     

     

    Most of the streams passing through Suwon originate on Gwanggyosan or other nearby peaks. Since Suwon is bounded to the east by other hills, the streams, chiefly the Suwoncheon (and one notable tributary being the Jungbocheon), flow southwards through the city, eventually emptying into the Yellow Sea at Asan Bay. The entirety of Suwon is  drained in this manner

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  • Former People Update

    Former People Update

    Former People Update

    I have a small request to make.  I want to expand my followers on all my platforms. So if you have not signed up yet for this blog, or followed me on intraframe, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr, or Bloglovin or listened to my podcast on Spotify please do so now.

    thank you

    WHERE TO LISTEN to the World According to Cosmos

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    Thank you.

    Just posted on line https://formerpeople.wordpress.com/2021/04/21/lone-foreigner-hiking-the-seoul-city-walls/

     

    New Years Visit to Oregon Coast

    Fomer people

    Former People Will Publish “Lone Foreigner Hiking the Seoul City Walls”

    “Hi Jake, I would like to publish “Lone Foreigner Hiking the Seoul City
    Walls”?  Is it still available? And do you have an author photo to go
    with your work?”

    Lone Foreigner Hiking the Seoul City Walls

    Hiker
    Hiker

    A Lone foreign male hiker
    In the hills above the city
    Hiking along the ancient Seoul City walls

     

     

     

     

    500 years after the founding
    Of the city in 1492
    Balancing his walk
    Amid the boulders

    The winter is coming
    Soon he thinks
    And finishes his hike

    Heading to a bar
    To sake his thirst
    Some soju, and bulgogi
    Will do the trick
    He thinks to himself

    Just another day
    In the life
    Of an unknown nameless
    Foreigner in the city
    Of Seoul

    Part of the ten million
    Naked stories
    In the big city

    Former People published three of my poems, “New Years Visit to the Oregon Coast”, ‘Indian Casino Thoughts” and “Casino Thoughts”

    oregon coast
    Oregon coast

     

    New Years Visit to the Oregon Coast

    The end of the year
    We drove to Bookings on the Oregon Coast

    We had a pleasant drive through the mystic fog shrouded Redwoods.
    The gathering gloom of the dark woods foretold my dismal mood

    Slept soundly to the sound of the ocean.
    The super moon light filled

    the beach outside our window
    with an eerie light all night long.

    As we slept people walked the beach
    Enjoying the full moon

    And the unusually warm weather
    Setting off fireworks at midnight

    In the morning I went for a nice walk along the beach
    and thought about the year that was.

    As the waves pounded the shore
    I was filled with calmness

    Enjoying the morning calm
    And the unusual warm weather

    Thinking that the storm is coming
    That perhaps we are in the end of our days

    With the political storms threatening us all
    Yet the ocean reminded me

    This too will pass
    And we will endure

    Until the end of our time
    On earth

    The ocean waves soothed my soul
    And I prepared to drive back through the mystic redwoods

    Back to my home
    And the peaceful ocean waves

    Reminded me
    the end of my life
    Comes closer to my door

    Indian Casino Thoughts

    Indian casino Fun
    Indian casino Fun

    Indian casinos seem to be everywhere
    I have stopped off here and there
    In rural enclaves across the land
    The Indian casinos run by the mob

    For the benefit of the tribes
    The Indian’s revenge on the White man
    For stealing their land
    Is to steal their money

    One gamble at a time
    And make them pay
    For the crimes they committed

    Almost always have a welcome mat
    To teach the ignorant visitor
    Something about their lost culture
    With words in the native languages

    Words that would be illegal to have spoken
    Not so long ago

    As the genocide against the tribes
    Was in full force

    Nowhere worse than in Oregon
    And northern California

    Along the foggy coastal lands
    Where the final solution

    Almost worked
    The survivors
    Such as they are

    Operate dismal dark depressing casinos
    Here and there in the rural countryside

    Along the coast
    And in the hinterlands here and there

    Most barely making any money
    There are so many gambling joints
    Across the land

    And the Indians are being screwed
    Out of their gambling riches

    By the big gaming consortiums
    That run the casinos

    In the reservations
    And across the land

    And I wonder
    Just how much money

    Have these Indian casinos
    Stolen from the elderly pensioners

    And other fools that flock to their premises
    Their neighbors in these small towns

    Where the Indian casino
    is the only joint open
    For business

    indian gaming wikipedia

    Casino Thoughts

    las vegas
    las vegas

    Sitting in a casino of the damned
    Somewhere on the Las Vegas Strip

    Playing the slots
    Watching the crowd go wild

    Watching the machines watching me
    Drinking the free drinks of the damned

    20 drinks too sober
    And the gamblers on the gaming tables

    Gambling away their fortune
    Throwing money away

    In hopes of the payoff
    That somehow never comes

    The pure decadent spectacle
    The fake this and fake that

    Phony this phony that
    False New York
    Paris in Vegas

    Venetian canals, Roman forum
    MGM Grand Lions

    All fake, all phony
    All deliciously decadent
    The noise

    The scantily clad waitresses
    The men ogling the women

    The women ogling back at them
    The scent of wild decadence
    Bad craziness in the air

    The music – the lounge music from hell
    The constant sound

    Of money exchanging hands
    It all overwhelms me

    And I must sit down
    And drink my reality drink

    Drink it down and dirty
    As I continue

    To feed the hungry, greedy machines
    Made in a workshop in hell

    No doubt with child or slave labor
    Imported from the third world

    All my money
    Is sucked into it

    These machines from hell
    The beast from revelation appears

    Stands revealed in his hideous glorious beauty
    Conducting this mad scene

    And I am consumed by the greed
    And the frenzy takes over me

    All I want
    All I need

    All I desire
    Is one more chance

    One more shot
    I scream

    At the utterly unfeeling monsters
    That ate my money

    And chewed up my soul
    And I know

    The worst drug of all
    Is the gambling fever

    The gold bugs
    I would sell my soul

    If I had one left
    For a chance

    At the jack pot of life
    Instead I am reduced

    To a pathetic broken down looser
    Watching the world and Elvis
    Pass him by

    Viva Las Vegas
    Imperial God of the American Dream
    Bitch Goddess of the American Nightmare

     

    The End

  • Another Poet Update

    Another Poet Update

    the poet logo

    faith faith

    Another The Poet Update

    The Poet Update

    Where to listen to Podcast, please follow me on social media platforms

    I have a small request to make.  I want to expand my followers on all my platforms. So if you have not signed up yet for this blog, or followed me on intraframe, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr, or Bloglovin or listened to my podcast on Spotify please do so now.

    thank you

    WHERE TO LISTEN to the World According to Cosmos

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    Thank you.

    Update

    FAITH – OUT NOW!

    Dear poets worldwide

    A quick email to let you know that FAITH has just been released. With 234 contributions from 151 poets in 36 countries, and 30 states in the US; published in two volumes, FAITH is probably one of the largest and most significant international collections of poetry on the theme of faith ever published. From the simple and uncomplicated, to the complex and thought-provoking, this is an amazing anthology featuring some amazing poetry.

    For further details click on the link below.

    https://www.thepoetmagazine.org/spring-2021—faith

    Please support us by buying a copy; they are not expensive and every copy we sell goes towards keeping THE POET going. Also, if you are a member of any faith, spiritual or religious group, please tell them about this title too, and if you are a writer or editor for any faith publications, please try to feature this title in your publication. Uniting writers and poets worldwide on such an important topic is essential during these difficult and challenging times. Thank you!

    CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

    The subject of our next SUMMER 2021 anthology is FRIENDS & FRIENDSHIP.

    You can write about anything to do with friends and friendship; school friends, work friends, best friends, brief friendships, life-long friends, the friendship of someone special or significant, soulmates, things you have done for your friends in the name of friendship, or what they have done for you, the meaning and value of your friends and their friendship, the support of your friends is challenging and difficult situations or circumstances … the sky is the limit with this topic.

    DEADLINE midnight (GMT) 30th June 2021. Publication July 2021.

    Please click on the below link for submission guidelines:

    https://www.thepoetmagazine.org/contribute

    Note:  Look for my contribution.  The Poet as some of you may recall, published my Hitchiking tales in their epic masterpiece “On the Road”.  in 2020. So they are two for two and I hope three for three.  I have a number of poems about friendship to fine-tune and submit.  End Note

    LASTLY – because of the time it took compiling FAITH, we are a bit behind with getting new interviews and articles online (of which we now have quite a few!). Thank you for your patience, but now FAITH is completed, we will set upon the task of catching up with everything as quickly as we can!

    Keep writing everyone, and stay SAFE!

    Robin – Editor and publisher.

    THE POET – Devoted to showcasing and publishing amazing poetry from around the world. No matter what your background and experience; whether a poet laureate with many titles to your credit or a first-time poet exploring the creative use of words, structure, ideas, and expression, we at THE POET embrace and welcome all poets, everywhere.

    Original Posting

    The Poet will publish ‘Buddha Cat, and Meeting God in a Lake” in their Faith Anthology

    Hope you’re well and staying safe. Sorry for the delay; have only just started to look at FAITH!

    I enjoyed reading all your submissions but I can’t add them all into the anthology, even though they follow each other, so I’ll add: MEETING GOD IN A LAKE and BUDDHA CAT OF EDSALL ROAD.

    Back in touch shortly.

    Robin

    Robin Barratt

    Writer, Author, Publisher.
    THE POET magazine
    T: + 44 (0) 7508 833 433
    W: www.RobinBarratt.co.uk
    W: www.ThePoetMagazine.org
    Facebook: @Robin.Barratt1 (personal)
    Instagram: @RobinBarratt1 (personal)
    LinkedIn: @robinbarrattwriter

    From: jake aller <authorjakecosmosaller@gmail.com>
    Sent: 31 March 2021 07:57
    To: Robin Barratt <RobinBarratt@hotmail.com>; Robin <Robin@thepoetmagazine.org>; ccRobinBarratt@hotmail.com <ccRobinBarratt@hotmail.com>
    Subject: poems for Faith Anthology

    Robin

    Here are six poems for your consideration for your on faith anthology.

    Meeting God in a Lake
    Cosmic Cat from Berkeley
    Meeting God in Bombay
    Cosmic Dog From Goa
    Buddha Cat from Edsel Road

    These have been published, most recently in Hypertext in 2020.

    The Poet Magazine previously published some of my “on the road” poems in their “On the Road Anthology in Summer 2020.  They published “Hitchiking Tales”, ” Back of the Bus,” and ‘Cross Country Travels, Part One”.

    Meeting God in a Lake

    god
    god

     

     

     

     

    In my 64 years around the sun
    I encountered God four times
    At least I thought it was God
    But could never be sure

    The first time I met God
    I had taken magic mushrooms
    And had gone to a lake

    And soon was tripping inside my head
    Lost in inner space

    Zoning out tuning in
    Dropping down the proverbial rabbit hole

    And then in the middle of my madness
    I felt oneness with the universe
    My body melted away

    And I joined the universe
    All boundaries dropped away

    And I knew that the universe was alive
    and I was part of the Cosmos
    And the Cosmos was part of me

    And I wondered at that moment
    If I was face to face with God

    I asked God to reveal himself to me
    And nothing happened

    Just laughter as the whole universe
    Burst into laughter

    And the madness began to fade
    And I slowly came down from the high

    And became aware of myself
    And I was no longer one
    With the universe

    I felt profoundly moved by the experience
    Felt that I had achieved perhaps nirvana
    Or felt the presence of God

    The feeling faded over time
    And my quest to find God resumed

    But I knew that I would never again
    Come so close to the divine essence
    Of the very Universe

    Buddha Cat of Edsall Road

    evil cat
    evil cat

     

     

     

     

     

    I had another encounter
    With the divine recently
    Another Cosmic cat perhaps

    Perhaps not
    Who knows what cats are

    Are they aliens
    From another dimension
    Or was he channeling God ?

    I called him the Buddha cat
    For the cat loved
    Sitting in a meditative pose

    Not moving
    Just starting at me
    With his soulful deep eyes
    Boring into my soul
    Exploring all my secret thoughts

    The Buddha cat does not move
    Does not react, as he is so deep
    Into his interior mediation
    Truly in tune with the cat universe
    And the cosmos as well

    The Buddha cat
    Seems to be one with God
    One with Buddha, Allah, Ganesh
    And the billion names of God
    Known and unknown

    The Buddha cat can teach us all
    About the art of meditation

    As he zones inward
    And loses his soul
    Joining the cosmos
    And becoming the Buddha cat

    The Buddha cat
    Lives in a modest Town house
    In a modest suburb

    The Buddha cat reminds us all
    To look for God in the everyday
    All around us
    If we but have eyes
    To see God everywhere

    The End

     

  • Yeongjongdo the Hamptons of Seoul

    Yeongjongdo the Hamptons of Seoul

    peace forest
    peace forest

    Yeongjongdo the new Hamptons of Seoul

    favorite places in Yeongjongdo

    Yeongjongdo Redevelopment Proposals

    I retired from the US State Department in 2016 and chose to retire in Korea where my wife has family members. She also retired from service in the U.S. military.  We bought an apartment in Yeongjongdo, the island that houses the Incheon International airport.  

    I am happy living in Yeongjongdo, it is truly one of the nicest communities in Korea. Peaceful, not too much traffic, cheaper than living in Seoul, great restaurants, shopping,  including being close to COSTCO in Songdo, access to the beaches and mountains and close to the airport and easy to get into town by subway or driving.  And it is becoming more cosmopolitan every day.

    The Korean government has grandiose plans for the Yeongjongdo island – the home of the Incheon international airport.

    They want to turn it into another Singapore.  A more realistic option would be to turn it into the equivalent of the Hamptons, the fabled weekend getaway in NYC for the elite of the establishment.

    Yeoungjongdo is well positioned to play such a role already.  It is easy to get away from Seoul about a hour train ride from most parts of the city and with the expansion of the train service and lowering the excessive bridge toils due to come into effect this year it will be much easier to get away to the islands for the weekend and for several weeks during the summer months.

    With the building of bridges to Muido (completed) Jangbo, Shindo, and Ganghwa islands in the works, the whole island could become a great get away for the elite and middle class of Seoul alike.

    There are lots of restaurants, good  shopping and hotels, great beaches, nice mountains, fresh air, good schools and affordable nice housing everywhere and it now has  an international vibe – already becoming another Itaewon, the fabled international enclave in Seoul.

    With the expansion of the MAGLEV train around the island transpiration will become even easier.

    With the opening of the Casino resorts it will become a very popular  weekend designation particularly if the Korean government figures out a way to let Koreans gamble – my suggestion let Koreans gamble once a week (for a 24 hour pass)with a lost limit of 500$ per visit.  That will draw enough local residents to make the casino’s profitable but minimize the harmful effects of expanded gambling.

    Finally the Korean government should market Yeoungjondo as the Hamptons of the East – enough people would get the reference to make that a popular add.  And rename Unseo neighborhood as the New Itaewon and promote it as such. And another slogan could be come to Yeongjondo the best kept secret of Korea.  These adds should run in all the major media outlets in the US especially in the  NYT and Washington Post, CNN, WSJ etc and other international markets as well. and of course a sign at the airport “Welcome to Yeongjongdo Your Gateway to Korea”

    If the Korean government does this it will have tremendous economic and social benefits for the residents of Yeongjongdo islands, as well as increase tourism to Korea. 

     

  • ON THE ROAD PUBLISHED

    ON THE ROAD PUBLISHED

    Three of My poems, “Hitchiing Tales, Back of the Bus and Cross Country Travels ” are included in this excellent collection.

    IN SEARCH OF AMERICA 1975 – HITCHHIKING TALES

    CROSS COUNTRY ROAD TRIPS  PART ONE
    BACK OF THE BUS
    IN SEARCH OF AMERICA 1975 – HITCHHIKING TALES

    In Search of America 1975 – Hitchhiking Tales by Jake Cosmos Aller

    pastedGraphic.png

     

    April 30

    In Search of America 1975 – Hitch hiking Tales

    When I was young and foolish
    Broke and stubborn
    I hitchhiked across the USA

    Started in Salt Lake City
    Where my greyhound bus pass
    Was stolen

    The station manager
    Could have helped me
    But refused to do so

    Threaten to call the cops
    When I grabbed my bags
    Without the stolen tags

    I said
    Go ahead
    But I am
    so out of here

    Wondered about Salt Lake City
    Went to a bar
    Found I had to buy my booze
    Next door

    And they would
    mix it for me

    Had to order food too
    After a bloody Mary
    And a burger

    I walked about town
    Saw the Mormon Temple

    Finally about 3 pm
    It was time
    to hit the road

    Did not look back
    Ended up in Cody Wyoming
    Got a room shower
    Steak beer
    Using my rapidly
    depleted cash

    Spent 25 dollars
    Money really went far
    Back in those days

    A band of professional
    Communist agitators
    Gave me a ride

    To Des Moines
    Lots of weed, booze
    And politics later
    Got off the road

    Slept outside

    Next day
    A beautiful woman

    Drove me to near Chicago
    In a red mustang

    Might have been
    The girl in the song

    Took it easy
    Digging her vibe

    She invited home
    But was not sure

    If her estranged husband
    Would welcome me

    So I being foolish
    And inexperienced with women
    Did not go to her place

    And always regretted
    That I had lost
    My chance that day

    Then on to Chicago
    Several rides later
    Visited friends

    Hit the road again
    A series of uneventful rides
    With truckers
    And others

    And a week later
    I ended in New York City

    Slept along the way
    In cars
    In truck stops
    In high way rest stops

    Always moving
    Always going

    None stop talking
    And lots of free weed

    And beer
    And conversation

    One more memorable ride
    Occurred outside Albany
    On my return to Chicago

    A middle age
    creepy looking man
    Picked me up

    In a brand new Cadillac

    He was
    he said
    a dynamite deliverer

    For the Mafia
    Went to various places
    To blow up shit

    He hated a lot of people
    Particularly hippies
    from California
    And Jewish people

    Looking at me to confirm
    That I was both

    I told him
    that I lived in New York

    And had never been
    to California

    And although
    I might looked Jewish

    As I had
    what was called
    back in the day

    A “Jewfro”

    I was not Jewish

    Many years later I discovered
    That I am indeed part Jewish

    But then I did not know
    And I felt a bit of
    strategic misinformation
    Might keep me alive

    Then I realized
    that he was just
    jiving with me

    And we relaxed
    And he pulled
    out some weed

    And beer
    And we mellowed out

    But I believe
    that he really
    was with the mob

    Perhaps not a dynamite dealer
    A real made Italian
    made mafia member

    By Chicago
    I had enough
    I called my Dad

    Told him what had happened

    Wanted a ticket home
    And he sent me a ticket

    And 500 dollars
    And I went home

    I told him I would tell him
    My tales some day

    But never did

    I learned so much
    About my fellow Americans
    And the strange vibe
    That was 1975

    And now it is too late
    But I wanted to finally

    Tell the world

    Of my hitchhiking tales
    In search of America 1975

     

     

    pastedGraphic_1.png

    In the summer of 2016   

    We drove across the country   

    Just the wife and me   

       

    10,000 miles   

    31 states   

    Three months on the road   

       

    I now know 

    why people don’t live    

    In South Dakota   

       

    Hot, dry dusty   

    Windy as hell   

    Black Hills are nice   

    But after seeing Mt. Rushmore   

    There is not much left to do   

       

    Rapid City did not impress me   

    Nor did Sioux Falls   

    Lost money in Deadwood

       

    And wall drugs   

    Well the free water was nice   

    But it is a nothing town   

    In a nothing state   

    On the edge of the badlands   

    And the Sioux reservation   

    There is a reason the Indians live there   

    No one else wanted the land   

    And they are warehoused there   

       

    So I drove through Rapid City   

    And thought that it is the heart of Trump Land   

    The land of the forgotten   

       

    The left behind   

    Just another nothing burger of a State   

    In the middle of nowhere   

    Truly flyover country     

    Wagontire, Oregon    

       

    1973   

       

       

    April 6 Wagontire

    In 1973, I went on a road trip
    With my father
    We left Berkeley to go to Yakima
    Where my father had a summer cabin
    He was a college professor
    And had July and August off

    And we spent the summers
    Every summer from 1968 to 1978
    Our whole dysfunctional family
    Our annual road trip to hell and back
    As we did not get along at all

    We decided to drive through Eastern Oregon
    Just my father and me
    Just for the hell of it
    The rest of the family was already there
    My father and I shared a travel lust
    One of the few things we shared

    This was one of our best trips
    We got along
    Which was unusual

    Normally our relationship
    Was fraught
    As we were so different
    We left Klamath Falls
    A real nothing burg in those days

    And headed east along highway 395
    As we entered the desert of eastern Oregon
    We entered a different world
    High mountain dessert
    Almost no one on the road

    Then we saw the sign   

       

    Wagontire Oregon    

    100 miles ahead   

    99 miles ahead   

    98 miles ahead   

    97   

    96   

    95    

    We counted down the signs    

    94   

    93   92   

    91   

    90   

    88   

    87   

    86   85   

    84   

    83   

    82   

    81   80   

    79   

    78   

    77   

    76   

    75   74   

    73   

    72   

    71   

    70   

       

    Miles after miles   

       

    69   68   67   

    66   65   

    64   

    63   

    62   

    61   

    60   59   

    58   

    57   

    55   

    54   

    53   52   

    51   

    50   

    49   

    48   

    47   46   

    45   

    44   

    43   

    42   41   

    40   

    39   

    38   

    37   

    36   35   

    34   

    33   

    32   

    31   

       

    As we drove into the gathering dusk   

    We speculated that Wagontire   

    Must be a giant truck stop   

    In the middle of no where   

       

    30   

    29   

    28   

    27   

    26   

    25   

    24   

    23   

    22   

    21   20   

    19   

    18   

    17   

    16   15   

    14   

    13   

    12   

    11   

    10   

    8   

    7   

    Gas up ahead   

    Next gas 150 miles ahead   

       

    Dad made an executive decision   

    We are spending the night   

    It was about 8 pm   

    We had been on the road    

    Since 9 am that morning   

    6   

    5   

    3   

    2   

    1   

       

    Welcome to Wagontire   

    Population 2 ½ humans   

    dogs   

    20 thousand sheep   

       

    We pulled into the town  Nothing there but a gas station   

    Motel and cafe   

       

    In the morning   

    We chatted with the owner   

    Joe Wilson who was my father’s age   

       

    My father had the natural ability   

    Of a politician to talk to almost anyone He was the sheriff, the fire chief   

    The owner of the motel, gas station The only business in town and the owner of a ranch as well Which was his real business he said   

       

    In  any event it was only place open  for over 100 miles   I asked the Sherriff Say who is the ½ human?   

    My idiot son!   

       

     and we left.   

       

    200 miles later    

    We finally left Eastern Oregon   

       

    2016   

       

    In 2016 my wife and I drove through Eastern Oregon   

    As part of our epic cross country trip   

    10,000 miles   

    31 states in three months   

    On the way from Medford to Yellowstone   

    We drove along highway 395    

       

    The signs 

    for Wagon Tire was gone   

    And we drove through the town   

       

    The motel was abandoned   

    Nothing there at all   

    And that sign was gone too    

       

    The town had turned 

     into one of Oregon’s ghost towns 

    and Oregon has more ghost towns

     than any other state in the country   

    mostly in Eastern Oregon desert 

    which has one of the lowest 

    population densities 

     in the entire world  

    1 person per square mile   

    I said I suppose the idiot son   

    Never took over the business   

       

    And we speculated about Wagon Tire   

    And all other nothing burgs    

    We drove through that summer   

       

    Heart of Trump’s America    

    True fly over country   

    Back of the Bus

    Many years ago

    When I was a foolish young man

    I took a greyhound bus trip

    Just to see the country

    I was trapped 

    In the back of the bus

    Where the young 

    And restless souls

    Gathered together

    And drank illegally

    And smoked weed 

    Also illegally

    We stayed there 

    Until Winnemucca

    Where I got off 

    And found my bus pass

    Had found another owner

    And I went to Salt Lake City

    Still trapped in the back of the bus

    the Bus – Travels Through America’s Underbelly 

    I am a bus rider

    That makes me unusual

    For a white male

    From an upper middle class family

    Our people are not bus riders

    Though some are subway riders

    Bus riders are other people

    The poor, minorities, immigrants

    People who don’t drive

    Because they are blind

    Or have a DUI

    And in my case

    I don’t drive

    Because I have bad vision

    And bad coordination

    Just never got the hang

    Of the whole driving thing

    Fortunately for me

    My wife does the driving

    But I still take the bus

    From time to time

    I rode the AC buses in Berkeley

    As a child

    Line 67, line 51, line 43 F bus

    Rode them long before BART came along

    And afterwards as well

    As an adult seldom rode the bus

    But when I did so

    I was always impressed

    By the sheer diversity

    Of the bus riding property

    Hundreds of languages

    All sorts of sexual orientation

    Some were white

    Most were not 

    Most of my fellow passengers

    Were nice enough

    Some were friendly

    And some were lost

    In their own thoughts

    And a few

    Were scary looking dudes

    With the look

    Of someone who had done time

    And were capable of more violence

    I also rode the bus

    In Seattle as a graduate student

    A lot of fellow UW students

    And the usual immigrants

    Minorities etc

    And some white people commuting

    And in DC

    Over the years

    I rode a lot of buses

    Mostly to and from the metro

    But I got to know

    And love the DC buses as well

    I also took the greyhound bus 

    Across the country
    Several times over the years 

    All over the U.S. 

    From Bay Area to Stockton

    From Bay Area to Clear Lake

    From Bay area to NYC

    NYC to DC

    All over the USA

    Taking the Greyhound

    Was always an a adventure

    Met a lot of interesting people

    As people on long distant bus rides

    Tend to open up and talk

    To pass the time away

    Overseas I took the bus

    All over

    In India, in Barbados

    In Spain and in Korea

    The Korean buses

    For many years

    Were difficult for foreign visitors

    As the signs were all in Korean

    Most have signs

    Now in English, Chinese and Korean

    And are much more foreigner friendly

    Riding the bus

    In America

    Allows one access

    To the underbelly of American society

    The poor, the marginalized

    The immigrant communities

    That many middle-class 

    white people

     Just never see 

    And for that reason

    I am glad

    That I am a bus rider

    Cross Country Road Trips  Part One 

    I have driven across the country

    Five times in my life

    Most recently in the summer of 2016

    My wife and I drove an epic 10,000 mile road trip

    31 states in three months

    To celebrate my retirement from the State Department 

    We started in DC Drove to Florida, 

    stopped in Virginia, and Georgia 

    Staying at military bases Along the way

    Finding food always a problem

    As outside of the metro areas

    Few people really knew 

    How to serve gluten free food

    And most of the food we ate

    Was pretty ghastly indeed

    Was pretty ghastly indeed 

    Finally hitting Tampa 

    Where we became a resident

    And stayed a week

    Checking it out

    As a potential retirement destination

    Finally it was time to move on

    We drove through Florida

    Seeing some real poor rural towns

    In the outback of Florida

    We saw a lot of rural poverty

    Throughout our trip

    As much of the country

    We found resembled 

    We found resembled 

    A third world backwater

    Shocking to see 

    How far the country

    Has declined 

    Outside the big metro areas

    We stayed in Tallahassee one night

    Not that impressed

    Then Birmingham, Alabama

    Also not that impressed

    Ended up in Hot Springs Arkansas 

    Two nights 

    Lost money gambling of course

    Lost money gambling of course 

    Then on to Little Rock 

    And saw the Clinton Museum

    Little Rock was a nice town 

    But not a place for us 

    And on we went

    Arkansas, Mississippi

    Missouri flew by

    What we could see

    From the freeway

    Was nothing but rural poverty

    Oklahoma welcomed us

    With hundreds of Indian casinos

    With Hundreds of Indian casinos 

    But we drove on 

    And stayed outside of Oklahoma city

    Had some decent BBQ

    Next day

    Drove all day

    Through Texas

    Thinking of the country classic

    Dear god drove 800 miles

    Still stuck in Texas

    And ended up 

    In Armadillo Texas

    Had great texmex there

    Drove by the grand canyon

    Of Texas but did not stop

    But did not stop

    And on to New Mexico

    Where we enjoyed two nights

    Checking out the sights

    Made famous in Breaking Bad

    Gambling of course

    And eating at the oldest 

    Restaurant in America

    Tried New Mexican wine

    Not for the faint of heart

    Then on to Arizona

    Stopped of in Winslow 

    To take a picture

    Of the guitar player

    Of the guitar player 

    And the red mustang 

    Where the song take it easy

    Plays all day long

    24/7 tribute

    Finally we went to Las Vegas

    Stayed a few days

    Visiting friends

    Gambling a lot

    Deciding that Las Vegas 

    Also would not be

    Our retirement destination

    We then drove 

    To Reno 

    Spend the night

    Lost more money

    Not too impressed

    Drove Through the Nevada desert

    Drove through the Nevada desert

    Right by area 51

    Stopped by the area 51 alien brothel

    Looked at all tourist alien things

    Did not buy anything though

    Saw by the edge of the road

    Area 51 fencing and armed patrols 

    Everywhere 

    Hiding whatever they are hiding 

    Spend the night in Tonopah

    Lost money

    Snowing in the morning

    The next day

    The next day

    We decided to drive

    All the way to Medford Oregon

    350 miles

    Through some beautiful mountains

    Worth a future trip to Lassen volcano

    Then past Mt. Shasta

    And on to Medford along I-5

    We felt we were going home

    And perhaps Medford 

    Would be our final home

    But we had to go back in two months

    But that is another epic poem

    Yet to be written

    On the Road

    Volumes 1& 2

    With over 250 contributions, from 121 poets in 28 countries, and over two volumes, ON THE ROAD is probably one of the largest international anthologies of travel poetry every published! For further details go to OUR COLLECTIONS in the website’s menu, and click on the links. If you have contributed to this collection, you can download a free pdf copy by going to AUTHOR’S COPIES in the menu, using the password AuthorCopies

    Our NEXT theme is: A NEW WORLD: Rethinking our lives post pandemic. You can write about anything and everything to do with living and life after the pandemic, real or imagined! Go to CONTRIBUTE at the website for full details, submission guidelines, deadline etc. Please also share this with your fellow poets, and give them an opportunity to have their words published too.

    Further themes for 2020/21 will be announced shortly, but will include: Space, Bereavement & Loss and Addiction.

    We would now like to add more interviews to the website. Recent interviews include…

    • An interview with Bahrain-based Bengali writer, journalist and poet Vaijayantee Bhattacharya.
    • Tales of the Exiles in One’s Own Nation: An Interview with Kashmir born novelist, storyteller, poet and filmmaker Siddhartha Gigoo.
    • A comprehensive interview with American poet Linda Imbler.
    • An interview with S’busiso Manqa, a South African born poet, author and film-maker.

    If you are a poet, either unpublished and just setting out on your journey with words, or already established and published, and fancy answering some email questions about your life as a poet, and what motivates and inspires you to write, please email us.

    ONLINE BOOKSHOP…
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    Lastly, we will shortly be setting up an online bookshop where poets featured on our website and in our quarterly collections can promote and market their titles. Full details will follow separately.

    Summer 2020 theme: ON THE ROAD

    Volumes 1 & 2

    With over 250 contributions, from 121 poets in 28 countries (Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Canada, England, France, Germany, Greece, India, Israel, Kurdistan, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, New Zealand, Nigeria, Poland, Republic Of Ireland, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, USA, Vietnam and Wales), and over two volumes, ON THE ROAD is probably one of the largest international anthologies of travel poetry every published.

    Volume 1

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    SUMMER 2020 – Poetry on the theme of ON THE ROAD from poets around the world.

    54 poets

    135 poems

    240 pages

    Featuring Mark Tulin – USA, Xe M. Sánchez – SPAIN, Linda McCauley Freeman – USA, Cathy Cade – ENGLAND, Neil Leadbeater – SCOTLAND, Eduard Schmidt-Zorner – REPUBLIC OF IRELAND / GERMANY, Chelsea Murphy – USA, Bruce Louis Dodson – SWEDEN, David Dephy – USA, Ed Ruzicka – USA, Anindita Ghosh – SINGAPORE, Mark Cunningham – USA, Shelly Narang – INDIA, Linda M. Crate – USA, Neal Whitman – USA, Eliza Segiet – POLAND, Lee Evans – USA, Joan Mcnerney – USA, R. Bremner – USA, Pamela Scott – SCOTLAND, Chrys Salt MBE – ENGLAND / SCOTLAND, Dr. Eftichia Kapardeli – GREECE, John Nixon – SWEDEN, Geoffrey Heptonstall – ENGLAND, Michael Estabrook – USA, Linda Imbler – USA, Lynn White – WALES, James Dean Rivera – USA, Monica Mastrantonio – BRAZIL, Mark Fleisher – USA, Kathleen Boyle – VIETNAM / ENGLAND, Jake Cosmos Aller – USA / SOUTH KOREA, Martin Chrispine Juwa – MALAWI, Yash Seyedbagheri – USA, J.J. Steinfeld – CANADA, Ed Ahern – USA, Moinak Dutta – INDIA, Gerard Sarnat – USA, Justin Fox – SOUTH AFRICA, Robert Beveridge – USA, Tonmoi Das Kashyap – INDIA, Ann Cefola – USA, Louis Faber – USA, Diane Kendig – USA, Ermira Mitre Kokomani – USA / ALBANIA, Matthew J. Andrews – USA, Christina Lloyd – USA, P.J. Reed – ENGLAND, Diana Smith – USA, Bryan Andrews – SOUTH AFRICA, Antoni Ooto – USA, J. Bi Li Chan – AUSTRALIA, Christopher D. Sims – USA, Tali Cohen Shabtai – ISRAEL  and John Tunaley – ENGLAND.

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    Volume 2

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    SUMMER 2020 – Poetry on the theme of ON THE ROAD from poets around the world.

    66 poets

    117 poems

    245 pages

    Featuring; Mary McCormack – USA, Yi Jung Chen – TAIWAN, Eugene Stevenson – USA, Judy DeCroce – USA, Karen Douglass – USA, William Khalipwina Mpina – MALAWI, LindaAnn LoSchiavo – USA, Wynn Wheldon – ENGLAND, Megha Sood – USA, Alex Carroll – ENGLAND, Cheryl Caesar – USA, Kathleen Bleakley – AUSTRALIA, Jim Landwehr – USA, Strider Marcus Jones – ENGLAND, Theresa C. Gaynord – USA, Sara Kerr – ENGLAND, Kimberly Falsafi – USA, David A Banks – ENGLAND, Jacinta Diaz – USA, Leanne Bradbury – FRANCE / UK, Jayne Marek – USA, Barbra Dean – SPAIN / ENGLAND, Gila Mon – USA, Dany Gagnon – CANADA, Stella Peg Carruthers – NEW ZEALAND, Janet McCann – USA, Máire Malone – ENGLAND, Judith Sanders – USA, Bill Cushing – USA, Marianne Mersereau – USA, Maliha Hassan – PAKISTAN, Saharsh Satheesh – USA, Bernadette Perez – USA, Sean J Mahoney – USA, Aaron Sandberg – USA, Veda Varma – BAHRAIN, Sandra Storey – USA, Bill Cox – SCOTLAND, Mariana Mcdonald – USA, Hussein Habasch – KURDISTAN / GERMANY, Diana Raab – USA, Ankita Patel – INDIA, Charles Leggett – USA, Sarah Jane Justice – AUSTRALIA, Jack D. Harvey – USA, Adrienne Stevenson – CANADA, Barbara Hawthorn – NEW ZEALAND, Jessica Niles DeHoff – MALAYSIA, Mary Anne Zammit – MALTA, William Rudolph – USA, Emmanuel Chitsanzo Mtema – MALAWI, Tamam Kahn – USA, Angela B. Haag – USA, Alicja Maria Kuberska – POLAND, Mtende Wezi Nthara – MALAWI, Fred Kracke – USA, Mantz Yorke – ENGLAND, Donna Zephrine – USA, Brian Langley – AUSTRALIA, Mary Messick – USA, Marc Darnell – USA, John Laue – USA, Isioma Jemimah Okonicha – NIGERIA, Bruce Pemberton – USA, Brigette Furlonger – CANADA, and Lucy Tyrrell – USA.

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  • Visiting Korean Royal Tombs

    Visiting Korean Royal Tombs

    korean tomb picture
    korean tomb picture

     

     

     

     

     

    favorite places in Youngchando Island Korea

    in 2009 UNESCO added the Korean Jeonson Royal tombs to their world heritage list.

    recently, an old Korean friend, who I met back in 1980 during my Peace Corps day, suggested that we plan to visit all 40 of the Jeonson royal tombs as part of our Korean travel bucket list.

    he is taking a Korean history course and they just finished studying the royal tombs.

    Visit to Jeongneung Tomb

    we picked for our first tomb, Jeongneung Royal tomb.  Jeongneung  Royal Tomb was built for Queen Sindeok Second Queen for King Taejo First King of Josean dynasty, died 1396 of illness

    Heungcheonsa temple build to honor her spirit is next door and is well worth a visit as well

    There are 122 tombs in all, most in Seoul or Gyeongi province, a few are in North Korean territory.

    the King and Queen tombs are called  neung, the 14 Myo and 66 myo tombs for lesser royal family member.  this tomb was located elsewhere and relocated in 1409. It burned down but was restored in 1669.  Most of the tombs have sustained some damage over the years, all are either rebuilt or being fixed up.

    all follow roughly the same pattern.  Most are locate near a mountain so there is ample hiking opportunities near the tombs.  Many are also located next to temples as well.  Most have either a steam or a lake/pound on the site,  Jeongneung tomb has a stream running through it.   all were located according to Fungshi principles.  The landscaping is in harmony with the natural surroundings. All have ample English signage, many have English language pamphlets as well and there is a lot of background reading on the internet.   Most have ancestral rites performed annually, the memorial rites of Jeongneung are held on September 23 every year.

    the remaining tombs are 


    Tombs

    2.1Donggureung Tomb Cluster (동구릉)

    2.2Gwangneung (광릉)

    2.3Heolleung and Illeung (헌릉&인릉)

    2.4Hongneung and Yureung (홍릉&유릉)

    2.5Jangneung (Gimpo) (김포 장릉)

    2.6Jangneung (Paju) (파주 장릉)

    2.7Jangneung (Yeongwol) (영월 장릉)

    2.8Jeongneung (정릉)

    2.9Olleung (온릉)

    2.10Paju Samneung Cluster (파주 삼릉)

    2.11Sareung (사릉)

    2.12Seolleung and Jeongneung (선릉&정릉)

    2.13Seo-oreung Cluster (서오릉)

    2.14Seosamneung Cluster (서삼릉)

    2.15Taereung and Gangneung (태릉&강릉)

    2.16Uireung (의릉)

    2.17Yeongneung and Yeongneung (영릉&영릉)

    2.18Yungneung and Geolleung (융릉&건릉)

    Transportation to Tomb

    The nearest stations Sungshin Woman’s University Station on the number 4 blue line or Gireum station, also on the the number 4 blue line.   From Sungshin Woman’s University take exit 6, from Gireum station take exit 3.  You can easily walk to the tomb and temple  -less then ten minutes about 1/4 tp 1/2 mile if that, but you can also take the local bus or basic taxi fare.  Buses 1014, 162 (blue) 1213, 1164, 153, 171, 8153 all serve the tomb.

    driving – from Mia Junction right turn on giregumgyo bridge turn right, ariang gogae  pass turn left ariang market turn right.  as usual parking can be a problem so best to travel by public transit.

    address for Navi 74 neung-gil, Seongbuk ku,  Seoul 136-102 

    Tel: 82 291-4453-133

    the trip from the station, and a walk through the grounds and hills nearby and back to the station takes about 2 hours and is a nice 2 mile round trip loop trail.

    Admission Fees

     the basic fee for adults age 16 to 64 is 1,000 won, children and elderly (over 65) are free.  there is a pass that allows free access to all 122 tombs but we did not buy that today, will buy it next time I think.

    Update  Visit to Taereung and Gangreun Tombs

    Taereung

    Taerueng and Gangrueng Tombs

    Taereung and Gangneug are located near each other in Northeast Seoul at the base of Baramsan mountain. the tomb is surrounded by dense pine trees and has larger stone statues than in most tombs.  The two tombs were built about the same time and are in the classic style.

    Queen Munjoeng,  3rd consort to King Jungjon the 11th King of the Chosen dynasty, and mother to King Myeongjong is buried at Taereung tomb.  She died at age 65.

    the memorial rites are held every May 16.

    Getting there

    the nearest subway stations are Seokgye (line 1/6 exit 1 to 6) bus 1155, 1156, 73 or 74),  Taereung station (Line 1/7 exit 7 bus 1155, 1156, 73,74 or 82 A or 82 B) and Hwrangdae station (line 6) take bus 202, 1155, 1156, 73,74 or 82A or 82B) about four stops on the bus. 

    the Taereung Military Academy is near by as is Seoul Woman’s University and the National Olympic Training Center and the National Rifle shooting range.   There are lots of places to eat near Seokgye station.

    Admission Fee

    1,000 won per adult covers both tombs plus the museum

    Gangneug

    King Myeongjong, 13th King of the Chosen dynasty ruled from 1553 to 1567 and presided over a tumultuous period of bitter clan rivalry in the middle of the Chosen dynasty.  His wife, Queen Insun is buried here as well.

    the entry way is covered with thick moss and has an archaic feel to it.

    Gangreun is about a 15 minute walk from Taereung.  Both are about a 30 minute walk from the nearest subway station so taking the bus is the best option.

    The memorial rites are held on the 4th Sunday of every April.

    Royal Tomb Museum

    the Royal Tomb Museum is also located at Taereung.  The museum is small, but informative.  Unfortunately not enough English signage.

      Ghosts Sijo

    Visiting
    the Korean tombs
    of the ancient 
    Kings of the Past 

    Surrounded 
    by the ghosts
    of the ancients
    all around me

    the old ghosts 
    whispering to me 
    the sounds of the ghosts
    in the wind 

    for more info see the wiki article below and the Korean Government Tourism link below

    Heungcheonsa Temple

    Heungcheonsa (Korean: 흥천사; RR: Heungcheonsa) is a Buddhist temple of the Jogye Order in Seoul, South Korea. It is located at 592 Donam-dong, in the Seongbuk-gu area of the city.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donam-dong

    three down, 119 more to go!  I will update this as I hit the various tombs, mountains, and temples on the list.

  • Okinawa Travel Reflections

    Okinawa Travel Reflections

    Okinawa Reflections

    Vietnam Poems

    these poetic reflections of Okinawa were written during my first trip Okinawa in December 2019.  I don’t know why it took me 64 years to get there but we had a great time.

    we stayed in Naha City in two different AIRBNB’s near the international street.  We paid less than I had imagined we would have and we found that the prices in Okinawa were a bit higher than in Korea but not as outrageously high as I had imagined or fear it would be.

    Okinawa is proud of its unique history as an independent kingdom prior to being taken over by the Japanese in 1878.  that history remains both hidden and overt as the people in Okinawa celebrate their unique culture. 

    Okinawa was also of course the last battle fields of world war 11 and there are memorials all over the island to that war.  and then Okinawa was a US territory until 1972 and Okinawa remains the most “Americanized Japanese prefecture”.

    We found that the level of English was quite high higher than we had encountered in other trips to Japan. We also found that Korean is widely spoken because up until last year Koreans were the number one foreign tour group in Okinawa.  there were still a lot of Korean tourists about and local Koreans living in Okinawa.  Every street sign is in Chinese/Japanese/English and Korean so it was pretty easy to get around.

    the tourism office was conveniently located in the Naha Bus terminal and the people were very friendly, spoke English and were very helpful. the maps and brochures were useful as well.  However, there are very few English language materials available except for some things on line.  We could not find the Lonely Planet guide for sale anywhere.

    On the third day we were there, the Okinawa travel office staff went out of their way to help us when my wife, Angela, left her phone on the bus coming back from the beach resort.  They called the airport bus company and tracked down our phone.  we went to the airport on the new monorail which is pretty convenient – only four stops to get to the airport from the central bus terminal.

    monorail tourism sites

    the food was great.  Most mornings we ate fruit and left over sashimi from the market purchased the night before and coffee.  Okinawans seem to like their coffee as much as they like tea.  And I was surprised to find out how difficult it was to buy loose tea leaves.  

    My favorite coffee was the oddly named “Boss” coffee which seems to be everywhere.  the can has a picture of a Okinawan“boss” smoking a pipe.  It is the most popular coffee in Japan I believe. Part of the Suntory food and beverage empire.  Suntory also of course makes Japanese Whiskey which we did not sample on this trip.

    we did drink Okinawan beer and sake almost every night in a Yakitori restaurant.  If you have not been to Japan yet, you must try going to a Yakitori when you get to Japan.  Yakitori’s are the working man’s beer and sake neighborhood bar, and they are everywhere.  They have red paper lanterns outside their door denoting the establishment as a Yakitori. 

    yakitori chicken
    yakitori chicken

    On a prior trip to Japan,  I had learned that the Yakitori’s date back to the Meiji period and were founded as pubs for the working class. and they remain the cheapest place to eat and drink in Japan.  They serve fried chicken, sushi and other pub food.  we had fun drinking in them and meeting locals.

     

     

     

     

     

    japanese food guide yakitori

    the best meal we had was at the Emerald Bay Resort on the west coast.  The west coast remained me of Hawaii or Barbados – the road winds along the sea coast and is lined with resorts and restaurants as befit being located in Japan’s Hawaii.

    they had a great Okinawa style buffet lunch for 60$ per person, all you can eat.  mostly Okinawa style food but they had great dim sum as well. and great ice cream to finish the meal off.

     

     

     

     

    the Emerald Bay Resort is next door to the Okinawa Aquarium which is one of the best aquariums in the world in my opinion.  Reminded me of the Monterey Bay aquarium.   We saw a good dolphin show, lots of sea turtles, manatees, and of course the aquarium which features a re-created coral reef.  and lots of sharks swimming around.

    okinawa aquarium 

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    we also had a great steak lunch one lunch time featuring local Okinawa beef. 

    we saw the Shurti castle which was badly damaged in a huge fire a year ago.   But the grounds were open and impressive.  this was the castle of the Okinawa Ryukyu kingdom for almost five hundred years.

    during world war 11 the Okinawa military command hid out underneath the castle so the US bombed the castle.

      The castle was rebuilt and restored and re-opened in 2000 or so.  Very impressive still.

    the US military bases are all located some distance from Naha city where there is an American village “theme park”  next to the bases.  The military people mostly stay near their bases – we did not see many Americans wandering about Naha city. 

    shurti castle

    all in all one of my more memorable trips and I want to go back because there was so much left unseen.

    Here are my poetic reflections

    Okinawa War thoughts

    these dark moods

    follow me 

    as I tour Okinawa

    where the last battles 

    of world war 11 were fought

    thousands died

    in the first 

    and last outpost

    of the American East Asian Empire

    Okinawa Beckons me

    Okinawa Japan

    kept calling to me

    in a dream

    notifying me 

    always in the background

    where my memories

    always waiting for me 

    Beckons me

    everywhere I go

    cosmic reflections

    of past lives

    never seen before

    seems lost in time 

    maybe just the spirits of the dead 

    everywhere I see ghosts 

    Okinawa Street Scene

    Walking the streets

    of Fabled Naha Okinawa

    a life time dream

    someday I would visit

    I am surrounded 

    by ghosts of the past

     

    and Japanese beauties

    all around me

    tempting me

    with their sweet smiles

     

    as they smile at me

    and I smile at them

    No wonder 

    so many Soldiers

    brought back 

    Japanese wives

    Japanese Coffee Barista

    watching the Japanese

     coffee barista

    preparing my snarling cup 

    of hot boss coffee 

    how I wanted to express

    what was on my mind

    right then

    to the Japanese 

    coffee barista

    Ghosts of Okinawa 

    Touring the battlefields 

    of Okinawa

    where so many young men

    gave up their life

    so many years ago

    I see the ghosts 

    all around me

    feel their spirits

    floating through the air

    Kilroy was here

    there and everywhere

    whoever that was 

    and John Dean wannabes

    and Elvis wannabes

    and so many other wannabes

    and I see the ghosts of the fallen heroes

    all around me

    Signs

    everywhere in Asia

    you see strange variations

    of English

    Japlish, Konglish, Singlish

    the street signs in Okinawa

    are all in Chinese, Japanese, English and Koreans

    the bus and train announcements as well

    Hard to get lost 

    even when you want to

     

    but the random encounters

    with English words

    puts a smile on my face

    as I drink my “boss coffee”

    wondering who is the “boss” 

    and why is smoking a pipe?

     

    and many years ago

    I saw on a menu

    at the old Kimpo Airport

    Baked Rick

     

    and in Korean grocery stores

    one can find 

    corn flights

     

    I look forward 

    to many more years

    of linguistic confusion

    as I travel about Asia

    Visit to Okinawa Aquarium

    Whenever I visit an aquarium, 

    zoo or wild life park

    I am reminded of a prison

     

    the prison is filled with animals

    who amuse us for their food

     

    I am sure that the animals

    hate us humans

    who are watching them

    do their animal thing

     

    but looking into their eyes

    the eyes of the sea turtles

    swimming back and forth

    in their prison cell 

    in the Okinawa aquarium

     

    filled with hatred 

    for the humans

    who had imprison them

    and hunt their kind 

     

    and don’t get me started

    on the dolphins and killer whales

    who preform acrobatic feats

    for their daily meals

     

    and the sharks

    the king of the ocean killers

    they too

    if they could

    they surely would 

     

    escape

    their prison cell

    screaming 

    Death to all humans 

     

    as they flee

    back into the ocean’s depths

     

    Okinawa West Coast Road

    Riding down the west coast road

    of Okinawa

    echoes of other beach roads

     

    fill my head with memories

    I am reminded of Hawaii

    and driving along the Oregon coast

    east coast beach towns as well

     

    and Barbados

    and the Caribbean islands

     

    all the roads 

    are lined with tourist resorts

    beach views and restaurants

     

    all very similar

    yet different

     

    and as the beach towns

    fade away

    behind us on the bus

     

    my memories

    of all the other beach towns

    I have visited

     

    fade away

    into my memory hole

     

    Okinawa Haiku

    in Okinawa

    the warm trade winds blow away

    the coming winter 

  • A Tale of Two Metros

    A Tale of Two Metros

    A Tale of Two Metros

    Go Bold or Go Home!
    Cosmos’s 2025 Predictions

    seoul metro expansion plans

    worst transit system in the world?

    seoul metro

    dc metro

    dc metro wiki

    Seoul and DC opened their subways in 1974. I rode both for the first time in 1979.  Both had about the same number of stations five or six stations on one line.  What a  difference 45 years has made. Seoul has build a world class subway system with over 600 stations stretching over 200 miles, while DC has build five lines and many people consider it to be among the worst subway systems in the world.  I rode both for the first time in 1979 and I have been riding both ever since.  I love the Seoul Metro and am glad that it has become one of the best subways in the world and I am very disappointed at the deterioration of the DC subway system and concur in the opinion that is now one of the worst mass transit systems in the world.


    Seoul World Class System in 45 Years

    45 years later since opening in 1974, the Seoul city subway has grown to be one of the biggest subway system in the world with 19 lines over 600 station stretching over 200 miles connecting many outlining cities too so as part of one integrated mass transit system. it is fast efficient cheap safe and most people in the soul metro area live within a half a mile of  a station.  there are five more lines being planned and build. By 2025 there will be over 700 stations. The signs are bilingual and all announcements are in four languages and are very clear. Each subway station has a has a TV screen for stop announcements in four languages – Korean, Japanese, Chinese and English  The fair machines operate in four languages as well.  The subway attendance all speak some English and are very helpful and friendly. Every subway stop has clean restrooms. Every station has services and restaurants   a number of stations featuring long underground shopping malls. The metro system makes so much money in renting shops and services  and advertising that the fares are heavily subsided. You can pay by phone, credit card or T transit card. The trains are very clean and people can eat on the train without fear of being arrested. Close to 70% use the train frequently . The trains are safe, violent crime is unheard of, and there has never been a derailment or serious accident. and the trains are repaired quickly, maintenance is never neglected.  Foreign visitors love the system and use it frequently as it is quite foreigner friendly. Ridership at night is quite strong due to newly imposed strict drunk driving laws.

    DC Metro a Broken System

    Contrast that with the DC Metro.  The DC Metro has five lines about 125 stations and will finally connect to the Dulles Airport next year, 50 years after first planning to extend to the airport. the system was planned before the dramatic development of suburban Virginia and Maryland and the system does not serve the suburban areas very well as the majority of the train stations are in DC, or Arlington county.   Because there is only one tunnel under the river trains to Virginia are forced to use one tunnel making it difficult to schedule trains.  The train are expensive, overcrowded, dangerous and only about 25% of the region are within a one mile walk to the a train stations. there have been a number of derailments, fires, and violent attacks on the subway.  It takes months to repair the escalators which are frequently broken. The stations do not have restrooms or any service and is against the law to eat or drink on the train.  The Subway has just added Wifi,  You can not pay by phone, or credit card.  The loudspeaker system is very poor and most of the time you cannot hear the announcement; announcements are only in English, and occasionally Spanish. The subway fare machines are also only in English.  The cost to use the metro is about 10 times the cost of using the Seoul Metro, in recent years, a number of stations have been taken off-line for repairs.  The attendants are not friendly or helpful. Only ten percent of the public use the metro but half of tourists use the metro. and the metro is confusing and foreigner unfriendly.

    What Accounts for the Difference in Outcomes?

    What accounts for these different outcomes for systems that were build in the same year?

    Political Will to Construct a World Class System in Seoul

    First and foremost the Korean government put money, effort and political will into building  a modern world class transportation and infrastructure most of the cost of the metro comes through rental revenues and advertisement income.  Less than 10 % comes from fares because the government subsidizes fares to keep  the cost of using the system very reasonable to ensure larger ridership.

    Second in Korea public domain laws are very strong and it is almost impossible to block extensions of either subways or freeway system and there would be no support for blocking construction. In fact there is strong support for continuing expanding the system and five more lines are under planning or construction when the system is completed in a few years it will be perhaps this second largest system in the world.

    Third there is no requirements for environmental impact assessments or other regulatory burdens that make it difficult to build public infrastructure in the United States

    Forth there is broad public support for Government investment in infrastructure.

    Fifth the subway system is managed very efficiently. There are actually four Corporation involved but coordination it’s very well-done and the user does not even know that there are four corporations involved, for the user there is only one system.  Transfers between different lines is easy as there are always underground passageways connecting the different lines.

    Finally and most importantly, everyone uses the metro, even the wealthy use the system from time to time,  It is truly a mass transit system for the benefit of the public.

    Contrast this with the DC Metro Experience – lack of political will to construct and maintain a world class system

    The DC Metro generates about half of revenues through fares,  There is no rental income, but some advertisement income and parking fee income as well. . Keeping fares low was never a priority for the system. There is no dedicated funding.  The system is run jointly by DC ,Virginia, Maryland and the federal government and they don’t often agree on fundamental issues, and no one is really in charge. Lack of funding especially no rental income and marginal ad revenue and parking revenues, has always meant that the system neglected maintenance to the point that they have to rebuild the system station by station  at a very high cost.  The constant construction has resulted in many riders fleeing the system, leading to decreased revenues and the need to increase fares due to the shortage of fare income.  In many respects the DC metro system is a perfect case study of how not to manage a large transit system whereas the Seoul system is a poster child for proper transit system management.

    Second although there is support for the Metro among residents of DC there is not that much support in the outer suburbs and congressman from rural areas are hostile to spending tax dollars to support public transit improvements as it does not benefit their constituents.  Due to Gerrymandering and the requirement that each state has two Senators, rural interests are vastly over represented in congress.  Related to this is the widespread feeling that all government spending is somehow bad, and that the private sector will and should solve all problems. The Republican party is also committed to keeping taxes as low as possible especially for the rich donor class, and starving the federal government of needed funds for such things as infrastructure improvements. and will not consider raising taxes today for infrastructure especially mass transit.  There is a wide spread feeling that transit systems should be funded entirely through fares, while freeways should be kept free to users. 

    Only Losers Use Public Transit

    Since so few people actually use the system, and there is a widespread feeling that only lower class people use the system, there is little political support for the system which is used by other people.  Or as Homer Simpson said once, “only losers ride the bus.” Unfortunately the view is widespread in the U.S.  As a result, US infrastructure has been consistently rated a D- grade by the American Association for Civil Engineering. a

     Government Quit Investing in Infrastructure Starting in the late 70’s 

    Related to this the government starting in the 1980s quit making investments in public infrastructure and the cost to rebuild  American infrastructure will exceed $3 trillion. There is no political well to cut bloated defense and national security spending to devote to rebuilding infrastructure nor is there any willingness to raise taxes to pay for infrastructure investments.

    Third environmental regulations, legal restrictions and the NIMBY ( Not in my backyard) feeling makes planning and funding infrastructure very difficult.

    Fourth the system was not planned out very well there’s no equivalent to the number two line circular line and transferring between stations is difficult . There is one station where two lines come together about a half a mile apart but there is no underground passageway connecting the two lines. When the system was planned in the late 60’s, most people commuted to jobs in the district or in Arlington county.  No one anticipated the rapid development of Fairfax, London and Prince William counties in Virgina and suburban Maryland as well. Thus the stations no longer go where people need to go.

    Kissinger Moved the Metro from the State Department Fearing  Some One Would Bomb the State Department

    An interesting anecdote is that the original plan  was for a Metro stop under the State Department with an underground passageway to the Kennedy Center .Kissinger felt that someone might blow up the State Department ordered the line to be relocated 3/4 mile away, and  an underground passage way to the Kennedy center was never built. 

    The plan station in Georgetown  was block by opposition from mostly white locals who were afraid too many black undesirables would be able to easily get to Georgetown.

    Finally because the metro is divided between three states  and the federal government and no one is really charge it is very difficult to manage the system.  This is compounded by the lack of dedicated funding and no rental income. All of which makes it difficult to keep up on maintenance or to expand the system which needs to be done.  The DC metro area has grown to over 7 million people and is close to NYC in population density without the transit and other infrastructure  to support such a large population.

    Recommendations for DC Metro

    My recommendations to the DC metro system is to ask for dedicated funding, to open retail services in all stations in order to the increase revenues and ridership.  Add restrooms to each station.  Lift the ban on eating and drinking on the trains.  Fix the announcement system and make all announcements in English, Spanish and perhaps Chinese?  make the fare boxes trilingual as well.

    Reorganize the system to become the Metropolitan Metro authority with authority over the trains, the bus systems and the commuter railroads. An advisory committee consisting of representatives of DC, Maryland, Virginia, the Federal Government, riders and employees would advise the board.

    Expand or Die

    The DC metro needs to dramatically expand the number of stations, doubling the number of stations within ten years and expanding the system all the way to Quantico in Virginia and all the way to Baltimore where it would connect to the Baltimore transit system. They also need to construct another tunnel under the river.

    the Metro system needs to develop an ambitious plan to double the number of station within ten years including building a new tunnel underground river under the Potomac River and building  two Circular lines, an inner line and an outer line,  perhaps on top of 495, 395 and 295,  (Note: Seoul needs to build an outer circular line as well end note)

    . One line would go down to Quantico, going through Ford Belvoir, another line should connect Springfield to Tysons and  a final line should be constructed along Columbia Pike and Little River Turnpike. in Maryland I would build a line along Rockville Pike, and build a line connecting Colombia to Baltimore connecting with the Baltimore metro system.

    Visit Seoul for Inspiration and to Learn How to Do it Right

    I would recommend sending a team to the  Seoul City metro system to study how they created such a world class metro system and learn from their success. There is no reason to reinvent the wheel and I’m sure the Seoul Metro staff would love to give you the benefit of their success.

    the writer, a retired US diplomat living in  Yeongjongdo first rode both systems in 1979 and has used both systems over the years.  He is very pleased at the development of the Seoul system into one of the best in the world, and very disappointed in the deterioration of the DC Metro over the same time period.

    additional comments November 22, 2019

    Dream 10,236 Metro pet Peeves

    My top pet peeves for the DC metro are

    1. not enough stations should be at least double 
    2. no restrooms 
    3. no services.  In Korea, Japan, China the metro pay for themselves out of rental income as every station is  mini-shopping mall, or has offices and housing built on land owned by the metro  A major source of revenue. In DC metro only a few stations are build that way. 

    4.   No food or drink on the station

    5.   discriminatory enforcement of this rule seems only black and brown teenagers are arrested, white people and foreign visitors are warned

    6.   lack of signage advising people to stand on the right, walk on the left

    7.   people who don’t stand on the right, walk on the left

    8.  lack of connections between nearby stations.  why Farragut West and Farragut North don’t have an underground connection is beyond me.

    9. serious lack of signage throughout the system

    10. loudspeakers that no one can hear

    11. inaccurate signage re next train coming

    12.  total lack of communication where they is a problem

    13.  constant repair work

    14.  why does it take months to repair the escalators?

    15.  Why don’t they get rid of the escalator except in a few stations?

    16.  total lack of planning for planned disruptions.  Last summer it took four hours to get home from a base ball game because Metro had not provided enough shuttle buses at the Pentagon station.  

    17.  total lack of planning for unplanned disruptions.  when that occurs, lots of luck getting on the proverbial shuttle bus that never come

    18 god help us if there is a terrorist incident

    19. violent disruptive passenger everywhere

    20.  muggings at night 

    21. coyote attacks 

    22.  lack of coordination between different transit providers – it should be one system

    23. too damn expensive 

    24. too slow

    25.  Does not go everywhere

    Dream  10, 237 Seoul Metro Pet Peeve

    top pet peeves for Seoul metro?

    why does the ARA stop at Geoman station only why not go to the airport every time? Makes no sense. 

    same thing for the other lines. why not just run them to the end stations? would be a lot easier to do

    deceptive signs for bathrooms – indicating that they are on the other door of the elevator only to find that there are no restrooms there

    restrooms only available inside the paid area

    Dream DC 10,238 Metro Expansion Plans

    the DC metro system needs to be expanded perhaps doubled in size.  Here are some of the proposed extensions all of which have considerable merit and should be expedited

    One thing that metro should consider and I am amazed that they are not is building on every site commercial establishments making each station a mini-shopping destination.  this would provide Metro with tremendous rental income allowing Metro to pay for most of its expansion without incurring additional costs or tax subsidies and would allow Metro to keep fares low.

    such mini-station developments are a key feature of the success of the Korean, Japanese and Chinese metro systems.

    Future expansion[edit]

    WMATA expects an average of one million riders daily by 2030. The need to increase capacity has renewed plans to add 220 cars to the system and reroute trains to alleviate congestion at the busiest stations.[189] Population growth in the region has also revived efforts to extend service, build new stations, and construct additional lines.

    Silver Line[edit]

    Main article: Silver Line (Washington Metro)

    pastedGraphic.png

    The new Tysons Corner station under construction next to Virginia State Route 123 in July 2012

    The most prominent expansion is the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project, dubbed the Silver Line, a 23-mile (37 km) extension from the Orange Line into Loudoun County, Virginia, by way of Tysons Corner and Washington Dulles International Airport. Rail to Dulles has been discussed since the system opened in 1976. The current Silver Line project was formally proposed in 2002 and initially approved by the Federal Transit Administration in 2004.[190] After several delays, federal funding for Phase 1 was secured in December 2008[191] and construction began in March 2009.[192] The line is being constructed in two phases; the first phase to Wiehle–Reston East in Reston, Virginia opened July 26, 2014,[193] and the second phase to Ashburn, beyond Dulles Airport, is projected for completion in 2020.[194]

    Potomac Yard station[edit]

    See also: Potomac Yard station

    In 2008 officials began to explore the possibility of adding an infill station called Potomac Yard in the Potomac Yard area of Alexandria, on the Blue and Yellow Lines between the National Airport and Braddock Road stations. In 2010 the Alexandria City Council approved a portion of the proposed $240 million construction of the station. Construction would start in 2019 and the station is expected to open in 2021.[195]

    Unbuilt projects[edit]

    Line extensions[edit]

    The original plan called for ten “future extensions” on top of the core system. The Red Line would have been extended from the Rockville station northwest to Germantown, Maryland. The Green Line would have been lengthened northward from the Greenbelt station to Laurel, Maryland, and southward from the Branch Avenue station to Brandywine, Maryland. The Blue Line initially consisted of a southwestern branch to Backlick Road and Burke, Virginia, which was never built. The Orange Line would have extended westward through Northern Virginia past the Vienna station, and northeastward past New Carrollton to Bowie, Maryland. Alternatively, the Blue Line would have been extended east past Largo Town Center to Bowie. The future Silver Line was also included in this proposal.[16]

    In 2001, officials considered realigning the Blue Line between Rosslyn and Stadium–Armory stations by building a bridge or tunnel from Virginia to a new station in Georgetown. Blue Line trains share a single tunnel with Orange Line and Silver Line trains to cross the Potomac River. The current tunnel limits service in each direction, creating a choke point.[196] The proposal was later rejected due to cost,[197] but Metro again started considering a similar scenario in 2011.[198]

    In 2005 the Department of Defense announced that it would be shifting 18,000 jobs to Fort Belvoir in Virginia and at least 5,000 jobs to Fort Meade in Maryland by 2012, as part of that year’s Base Realignment and Closure plan. In anticipation of such a move, local officials and the military proposed extending the Blue and Green Lines to service each base. The proposed extension of the Green Line could cost $100 million per mile ($60 million per kilometer), and a light rail extension to Fort Belvoir was estimated to cost up to $800 million. Neither proposal has established timelines for planning or construction.[199][200]

    The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) announced on January 18, 2008, that it and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) had begun work on a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the I-66 corridor in Fairfax and Prince William counties. According to VDOT the EIS, officially named the I-66 Multimodal Transportation and Environment Study, would focus on improving mobility along I-66 from the Capital Beltway (I-495) interchange in Fairfax County to the interchange with U.S. Route 15 in Prince William County. The EIS also allegedly includes a four-station extension of the Orange Line past Vienna. The extension would continue to run in the I-66 median and would have stations at Chain Bridge Road, Fair Oaks, Stringfellow Road and Centreville near Virginia Route 28 and U.S. Route 29.[201] In its final report published June 8, 2012, the study and analysis revealed that an “extension would have a minimal impact on Metrorail ridership and volumes on study area roadways inside the Beltway and would therefore not relieve congestion in the study corridor.”[202]

    In 2011 Metro began studying the needs of the system through 2040. WMATA subsequently published a study on the alternatives, none of which were funded for planning or construction.[198][203] New Metro rail lines and extensions under consideration as part of this long term plan included:

    • a new line which parallels the Capital Beltway[203]:7
    • a new Brown Line from the Friendship Heights station to White Oak, Maryland, which would pass through the District and Silver Spring[203]:6
    • rerouting the Yellow Line to either a new alignment, or a new tunnel parallel to the Green Line, in the District north of the Potomac River[203]:4
    • a 5-station spur of the Green Line to National Harbor in Maryland[203]:9
    • re-routing the Blue or Silver Lines in the District and/or building a separate express route for the Silver Line in Virginia[203]:5
    • extensions to existing lines, including:[203]:8–9
      • Red Line northwest to Metropolitan Grove (2 stations)
      • Orange Line east to Bowie (3 stations) or west to Centreville or Gainesville (3 or 5 stations, respectively)
      • Yellow Line south to Lorton (8 stations)
      • Green Line northeast to BWI Airport (6 stations) or southeast to White Plains (6 stations)
      • Blue Line east to Bowie (5 stations) or southwest to Potomac Mills (4 stations)
      • Silver Line northeast to Leesburg (3 stations)
    • four inter-line connections to allow greater service flexibility[203]:10
    • several infill stations on existing lines[203]:11

    Individual and infill stations[edit]

    Before construction on Metro began, a proposed station was put forward for the Kennedy Center. Congress had already approved the construction of a station on the Orange/Blue/Silver Lines at 23rd and H Streets, near George Washington University, at the site of what is now Foggy Bottom station. According to a Washington Post article from February 1966, rerouting the line to accommodate a station under the Center would cost an estimated $12.3 million.[204] The National Capital Transportation Agency‘s administrator, Walter J. McCarter, suggested that the Center “may wish to enhance the relationship to the station by constructing a pleasant, above-ground walkway from the station to the Center,” referring to the soon-to-be-built Foggy Bottom station. Rep. William B. Widnall, Republican of New Jersey, used it as an opportunity to push for moving the Center to a central, downtown location.[205]

    The 2011 Metro transit-needs study identified five additional sites where infill stations could be built. These included Kansas Avenue and Montgomery College on the Red Line, respectively in Northwest D.C. and Rockville, Maryland; Oklahoma Avenue on the Blue, Orange, and Silver Lines near the D.C. Armory in Northeast D.C.; Eisenhower Valley on the Blue Line in Alexandria, Virginia; and the St. Elizabeths Hospital campus on the Green Line in Southwest D.C.[203]:11

    Related non-WMATA projects[edit]

    pastedGraphic_1.png

    Proposed route of the Purple Line

    A number of light rail and urban streetcar projects have been proposed to extend or supplement service provided by Metro. Like the Silver Line in Virginia, the proposed Purple Line has been in planning since the 1980s.[206] The project was originally envisioned as a circular heavy rail line connecting the outer stations on each branch of the Metrorail system, in a pattern roughly mirroring the Capital Beltway.[207] The current proposal would create a light rail system in Maryland between the Bethesda and New Carrollton stations by way of Silver Spring and College Park. Such a plan would connect both branches of the Red Line to the Green and Orange Lines, and would decrease the travel time between suburban Metro stations.[206][208]

    The Corridor Cities Transitway (CCT) is a proposed 15-mile (24 km) bus rapid transit line that would link Clarksburg, Maryland, in northern Montgomery County with the Shady Grove station on the Red Line.[209] Assuming that the anticipated federal, state, and local government funds are provided, construction of the first 9 miles (14 km) of the system would begin in 2018.[210]

    In 2005, a Maryland lawmaker proposed a light rail system to connect areas of Southern Maryland, especially the rapidly growing area around the town of Waldorf, to the Branch Avenue station on the Green Line.[211]

    The District of Columbia Department of Transportation is building the new D.C. Streetcar system to improve transit connectivity within the District. A tram line to connect Bolling Air Force Base to the Anacostia station and was originally expected to open in 2010. Streetcar routes have been proposed in the Atlas District, Capitol Hill, and the K Street corridor.[212] After seven years of construction, the Atlas District route, known as the H/Benning Street route, opened on February 27, 2016.[213]

    In 2013, the Georgetown Business Improvement District proposed a gondola lift between Georgetown and Rosslyn as an alternative to placing a Metro stop at Georgetown in its 2013–2028 economic plans.[214] Washington, D.C and Arlington County have been conducting feasibility studies for it since 2016.[214]

    Dream 10,239 Seoul Metro Expansion Plans

    Some possible metro extensions I’d love to see

    extending the gold line to Ganghwa island

    extending a line down Ganghwa and over to the airport

    extending the Maglev across Yeongjongdo and linking Changha international city and Songdo 

    the  uijeongbu LRT Should be extended to Nowon

     

     A line should be built between Songdo and the International Airport, and Kimpo airport as well

    the maglev around the island project needs to be accelerated

    the maglev in Incheon city should be operated as a rapid transit line not just as a novelty for tourists.

    the ARA should be extended to Muido with the terminus the beaches at the end of the island with two other stops on the island and one stop before Youngju station. The maglev should be extended to the beaches

    the maglev should be extended to Songdo. In the meantime a RTB  line should be set up

    the planned bridge to Change should be accelerated and include a subway line or Maglev line

    the planned bride to Ganghwa should be expanded to include maglev or subway lines

    the gold line should be extended to Ganghwa 

    Line 3,4,5,6.7, 8 and 9 lines should be extended on both ends

    Other possible extensions include extending a line south to Sejong City and Taejon.

    Finally an outer loop ring line should be consorted as well linking the end lines of many of the lines

     

     

     

     

  • Yeongjongdo Redevelopment Proposals

    Yeongjongdo redevelopment  proposals

    bike rail trail in Yeongjongdo

    The Korean government has ambitious plans for developing Youngjongdo where I live.   Here are my proposals for how I would develop the island.  I hope someone from the Incheon government is reading this and will take these proposals seriously,

    yeongjongdo

    Expand the Maglev all around the Island and link it to Incheon, Gangwhado, Muido, Jangbongdo islands

    airport maglev

    wiki on yeongjongdo

    casinos

    expand the Maglev

    First dust off the plan for extending the maglev train  around the island  ensuring that the maglev train connects sky city, Midan, Youngjong Unseo stations Cheonga international city, Geoman, and new KTX station being built in Gyeyang station, and ensure that the maglev links the new city casinos the waterfront development, the pier to WolmiDo, the Pier to Change island, and the beaches and to Muido. extend the Maglev to Songdo, and link it to the abandoned Asian games Maglev and extend it to Incheon station which would be the terminus.

    Build a cross island Maglev train connecting Jangbongdo, World Peace Forrest, Unseo station, Youngjong station, Midan, Casino complex, Sky City, a water park, and Wolmido where it would connect with the other Maglev line.

    Build Bridges with Maglev trains on them to Jangbongdo, and Ganghwa Islands

    Build bridges to Jangbongdo island, Wolmido, and Ganghwa Island, and have the maglev train and subway trains run on the bridge.  The terminus for the Maglev would be Incheon Station, Jangbongdo station, Ganghwa city station, and Gyeyang stations.

    Finish building a bridge/maglev train to Jangbongdo Island and to Ganghwa island with the terminus of the maglev being Ganghwa city.  the Maglev would connect to the gold line extension to Ganghwa island.  stop the policy of stopping some ARX trains at Geoman station, all trains should go to the terminus which will be Muido.

    Install mandatory solar power, solar water heaters, rooftop gardens, mini-wind turbines and water Harvesting systems on all buildings five story tall or taller

    Second provide a tax incentive to property owners to install solar water heating Solar power panels, rooftop gardens and trees and water harvesting systems for all buildings over five stories.  Installation of such systems would be mandatory for buildings taller than five stories, strongly encourages for all other buildings. I would feed all excess into the power grid and most buildings should be self-sufficient water. The garden products would be given to residents as a perk of living in the building.  I would also add mini-wind turbines on the top of call buildings. The incentive would be offered to all property owners but only mandatory four buildings over five stories. This would be a pilot project, if successful, they would roll it out nationwide starting in Incheon, and Seoul. Putting solar panels, solar water heaters, rooftop gardens and trees, mini wind turbines and water harvesting systems on top of all top buildings is something that is long overdue. 

    world peace forest

     

     

     

    Redevelop World Peace Forrest, turn old salt mines and Quarries  into parks

     


    Redevelop the world peace Park and promote it, running free shuttles from the Airport and  local subway stops and Maglev stops with a Maglev stop near the lake.  This would involve constructing a stream connecting the lake and the Lotus pond stocking the lake and the stream with fish, building a fishing pier in the lake for fishing and a restaurant/Snack bar big shop at the lake which would cook up any fish people caught.  Allow swimming at the lake.  Run free shuttle buses from subway stations and the airport and put a maglev train stop near one entrance to the park near the lake. Promote spending time at the World Peace Forrest parks for international visitors who have long overlays. Build a stream park from the World Peace Forest Park to the airport as an extension of the world peace forest. Stock the stream with fish. and extend it to the beaches.

    Turn the old abandoned salt mines and quarries into a park, and stock the lake with fish, and build a restaurant/snack bar and bait shop at the lake.  allow swimming at the lake.

    Connect the scream park by the cultural center to the steam park to the airport and to the world peace force, extend the stream park all the way to the Wolmido pier through Sky City., Extend the stream park past the airport to the beaches.  creating a walking trail between the beaches and the world peace forest and Paekdusan mountain, and to the Wolmido pier via Sky City stream  Extend the free shuttle from the airport and subway stops to the new Parks which should also have maglev Subway stop on them. Build walking trails in Kumsan mountains and link the other mountains together in an integrated walking trail.

    build island wide walking trails

    Build a walking bike trail all around the coast of the island as well with links to the World Peace Parks, the Quarry park, the salt lake park, and the mountain parks.  Build a walking trail linking the mountains on Muido to the other trail.  add a link to the Jangbongdo island trails once the bridge is connected.. Build a network of trails on Ganghwado including a coastal trail and like them to the Yeongjongdo trail network.  Build restaurants and bike rental shops along the walking trails,

    build regional fish market at wolmido Pier

    Rebuild the fish market at the Wolmido pier into a regional fish market destination and include a farmers’ market with locally grown produce.  add restaurants and a night market.

    More badminton and Tennis courts

    Build a badminton court and tennis courts at the park by the library I’m in the new Parks including at the piece of world peace parts

    turn Jangbongdo into Korean equivalent of the Hamptons

    Turn  Jangbongdo island into the Korean equivalent of the Hampton Islands as a weekend and summer vacation Second home for the upper middle class and business expat communities and offer land for diplomatic retreat housing as well.

    Allow Koreans to Gamble at least once a week

    Allow Koreans to gamble at the Paradise and the new casinos, perhaps limiting entry to one 24 period per week to minimize damage

    casino planss. 

    These casinos will not make it if they are foreigner only.

    Enactment of these proposals would go a long way to making  Yeongjongdo into one of the nicest places in Korea to live and work.

  • Vietnam Poems

    Vietnam Poems

    this is a companion piece to my earlier Cosmos Excellent Vietnam Adventures. Here are my Vietnam theme poems for your enjoyment.

    plus two poems on Cambodia based on a FB posting by my friend Bill DeFleuri

    Cosmos’s Excellent Vietnam Journeys

    updated to reflect publication in Kelp Journal October 1, 2019

    two vietnam ghost poems

    Seeing Ghosts

    I walk around the streets
    Of old Saigon
    Seeing sensing the undead

    The ghosts of the war
    That haunted life
    So many years ago

    So many people died
    For a war
    That never should have been fought
    For reasons that are still not clear

    A great tragedy unfolded
    In a land half away
    Around the world

    The ghosts smile at me
    And then they disappear

    Leaving me in the present
    Life goes on

    Old Ghosts

    Old ghosts wandering the streets of old Saigon
    Lost spirits of the dead
    Died during the endless wars
    Ghostly apparitions around every corner

    Here was Kilroy
    and his gang of soldiers
    Over there were the Viet Cong
    Waiting to kill them

    Saigon is filled with memories like that
    Terrible times were had here in Old Saigon
    Silently the ghosts parade the city streets
    As the tourists drink in the bars

    Mastering the Saigon Shuffle

    When I first visited Saigon
    Learning the Saigon Shuffle
    Was difficult

    And now 24 years later
    It all seems to be coming back

    There is an art to crossing the street
    Dodging the motor cyclists, the taxis, the private cars
    The bikes and other pedestrians and the buses

    The art consists of letting the big guys go first
    Then walk between the motorcycles and cyclists
    Trusting that they will get out of your way

    And they being masters of the Saigon shuffle
    Always find a way

    In my two visits I was struck
    By how it all flows together

    Without a central authority
    And with almost no planning
    Lights or cops

    Somehow it just is
    And somehow it works

    And it is still a mystery to me
    24 years after first
    Encountering the Saigon shuffle

    Coffee Lady

    Every morning
    I have gone out for Vietnamese coffee
    At a sidewalk café
    Down the ally from our AIRBNB

    The owner is a pleasant middle age woman
    Who for some reason likes us
    She smiles at us
    Greets us in Vietnamese
    She does not understand English
    Or Korean

    And I wonder why
    Why was there this connection
    Between us

    It dawned on me
    Perhaps in a prior life
    She knew an American or two
    And I remind her of someone

    Or perhaps she is found
    Of Korean K drama
    And Angela reminds her
    Of her favorite K Drama star

    Or perhaps it is both
    Or another reason entirely

    But I moved today
    And will miss her

    Might go back for a final cup
    Of coffee

    To say good bye
    To my Vietnamese coffee lady

    Old Lady in the Alley

    There is an old Vietnamese lady
    In the neighborhood
    Obviously senile

    But everyone knows her
    And watches over her

    To make sure
    She stays out of traffic
    And out of trouble

    She talks to everyone
    But no one seems to understand
    What she is babbling on about
    They smile at her
    And she smiles back

    Reminds me of the phrase
    From the hitchiker’s guide to the galaxy
    Mostly harmless

    And she for some reason
    She likes us
    And like my Vietnamese Coffee lady

    I wonder why
    Why was there this connection
    Between us

    It dawned on me
    Perhaps in a prior life
    She knew an American or two
    And I remind her of someone

    Or perhaps she is found
    Of Korean K drama
    And Angela reminds her
    Of her favorite K Drama star

    Or perhaps it is both
    Or another reason entirely

    But in any event
    I look forward
    To seeing her smiling face

    Every time I walk
    Down my ally way

    Avoiding the War Due to Two Birthdays

    I avoided being drafted
    Due to a fluke in my birth certificate
    In 1974 the last draft was held
    And some people were drafted

    But no one went to Vietnam
    The war was ending by then
    I avoided the draft though
    To no effort on my own

    My number came up on the draft list
    My real birthday was in the zone
    But then my mother pointed out
    That my legal birthday was different

    When I was born at 4 am
    The night clerk typed up
    My birth certificate
    With the wrong date

    My father pointed that out
    She said
    Once I typed it
    That is it

    His birthday will be
    What I typed
    Get use to it
    My father gave up

    And so, 18 years later
    That saved me
    From the last draft
    Never made it to Vietnam

    Many years latter
    I visited Vietnam
    Right after we opened relations

    Glad I finally got to see
    The country
    That so many Americans visited
    so many decades ago

    Buddha In Vietnam

    In Saigon I saw the buddha
    Buddha images are everywhere
    Temples are scattered about
    Here and there and everywhere

    Buddha lives on
    In the hearts and minds
    Of the Vietnamese soul

    The communists tried
    To get rid of Buddhism
    And other religious traditions

    But they failed
    And Buddhism has come back
    Still speaks to the Vietnamese people

    A different style
    A different vibe
    Than Korean Buddhism

    But still Buddhist thought
    Prevails in the tropical lands
    Of the South

    Mekong Dreams

    Traveling along the Mekong
    Back in time

    Seeing the river
    The people
    Imagining life on the river
    Imagining the war
    The past in the Mekong delta

    And the present tourist boom
    Yet life goes on
    With its own laid back rhythm

    As we traversed the river
    We were transported back
    To an earlier time

    Following the ancient rhythms
    Of the Mekong Delta

    Down and Out in Saigon

    Southeast Asia, and Mexico
    has always attracted
    A certain type of westerner
    The down and out
    On a down word spiral

    Why?
    Relatively cheap to live
    Lots of part time gigs
    Teaching English
    Or other things

    Booze, drugs, sex
    Readily available
    And cheap

    Places to stay
    Dirt cheap
    And no one needs
    To sleep out doors

    Easy to disappear
    Into the foreigners backpackers ghettos
    And escape
    From whatever you are running from

    The locals are somewhat tolerant
    The police usually look the other way
    And there are lots of people
    In your shoes

    I was surprised to find
    That Saigon has become
    The latest place
    For the down and outer crowd
    To gather together

    In Bangkok one sees them a lot
    In Cambodia as well
    In the Philippines
    In Nepal

    And south of the border
    In Mexico as well

    In India not so much
    In Japan and Korea
    Just too damn expensive
    And too cold to be outdoors

    Back in the day
    I used to work
    The citizen services gig
    And saw lots of the down and outer set

    The old song comes to mind
    No one remembers you
    When you are down and out

    And in the States
    Being down and out
    Means living on the mean streets

    As it is very difficult
    To live with almost no money

    And the various side hustles
    Don’t give you much money
    Unless you are dealing drugs

    And teaching ESL
    Is not an option

    Food is expensive
    Transportation is expensive
    Booze and drugs expensive
    Rent is prohibitive
    Commercial sex is expensive

    And no one loves you
    If you are down and out
    No one knows your name
    You are just another homeless bum

    Invisible to all
    As you try to make do

    Much better to be down and out
    In Southeast Asia
    Than on the mean streets
    Of the USA

    Ghosts of Chu Chi Tunnel

     

     

    Crawling down the tunnels
    Of Chu Chi
    I could almost imagine
    The Viet Kong guerillas

    Hiding deep under the tunnels
    As the land above is turned
    Into a temporary dessert

    With the vegetation burned off
    By napalm and agent orange

    The Viet Kong creep out at night
    Stealing onto the bases
    Stealing weapons, food, supplies
    And occasionally killing soldiers

    In their sleep
    The US soldiers
    Stay on base at night

    Terrified of the mosquitos
    And of the Viet Kong

    the ghosts
    Surround me
    Telling me their stories
    And at last I fled

    Through the emergency escape tunnel
    Declaring victory
    Profoundly shaken up
    By the ghosts of the Chu Chi tunnels

    Saigon 2019

    Motorbike riders waiting at intersection. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Vibrant, vivid, exciting
    A city on the move
    Becoming a world class city
    Yet still with a Saigon swagger

    Wandering the streets
    Dodging the traffic
    Admiring the women
    Enjoying the food

    Saigon enters my heart
    And I know that I will be back
    This city is growing on me
    Reminds me of Korea back in the 1990’s

    One hopes that as it develops
    It will not become a carbon copy
    Of other big Asian cities
    Obliterating its past

    In search of a false modern image
    I hope it can retain
    What makes Saigon Saigon
    And not become another Gangnam

    Hope it does it with Saigon style
    And the people will evolve
    The country will emerge
    And become what it should be

    The Paris of the East
    This is my vision
    Saigon 2019

    Saigon 1995

    In 1995
    I was one of the first tourists
    Allowed in to Vietnam
    To freely wander about

    Tourism was at its infancy
    And Saigon was chaotic
    Wild and crazy
    Traffic was insane

    There were few tourism sites
    Few hotels
    Few guest houses
    And not too many restaurants

    The food was good
    We saw the war memorial
    The re-unification palace
    And the big market

    But we felt we were being monitored
    Beggars were everywhere
    There were scams everywhere
    And it was not that pleasant an experience

    But Saigon grew up
    Became a much more tourist friendly place
    And these problems we encountered
    A thing of the place

    Saigon is so much better
    So much more developed
    That it has captured our soul
    And we will be back

    Ode to Vietnamese Coffee

    Vietnam has the best coffee
    In the damn world
    Just perfect

    Hot as hell
    Sweet as heaven

    With a kick my ass attitude
    To boot

    Can’t resist it
    Even thought it means
    I can’t sleep

    Must
    Have
    My
    Damn
    Vietnam
    Coffee
    Right
    Now

    VC2

    In Saigon
    One meets
    All sorts of strange characters
    VCQ

    VCQ he called himself
    He was filled with stories
    From the war
    And the revolution afterwards

    VC2
    Was a young man
    In Danang
    During the war

    15 years old
    Recruited into the VC
    Infiltrated into the base
    Just another street urchin

    Stole away at night
    Hiding on the big air base
    Stealing things
    To sell at the black market

    Just one of the army
    Of street urchins
    That became friendly
    With the enemy

    They called him
    VCQ
    And the nickname stuck
    That is what he called himself

    Said that he had become
    A VC Seal known as the VCQ
    Learned his English
    From his black marketing days

    He perfect the art
    Of wheeling and dealing
    As a street urchin
    In the mean streets of Danang

    After the war
    he rose through the ranks
    Retired as a general
    Became a college professor

    Later opened his own business
    An interior design business
    When Saigon became Saigon
    Once again

    Wheeling and dealing
    Around the world
    Always one step ahead
    Of the semi-communist authorities

    One day he came back with 25 bottles
    Of wine
    The customs guy said
    That is too much

    He said but I can’t drink them all
    And gave him 5 bottles
    Problem solved
    And VCQ laughed and laughed

    As the wine washed over us
    And we became drunk
    With his endless stories
    From the mouth of VCQ

    Just another night
    In Saigon
    Drinking the Night away
    With the VCQ

    Future VC

    Saigon is filled with interesting characters
    Filled with fascinating back stories
    One could write hundreds of stories
    About the people one encounters

    In a nail shop
    That caters to mostly Korean visitors
    We met a boy of 8 years old
    Who was a natural born hustler

    He had wonderful English
    Wonderful French
    And even some Korean
    And he wanted to show us around

    He spoke English
    Without an accent
    In an upper class British style
    As if he were born to the manor

    How and why he learned
    English so well
    Would be an interesting story

    His Mother was also
    An interesting character
    Been running the store
    For five years

    Amused it had become the Korean
    To Go place
    In Saigon
    Just one of those mysterious things

    They had another shop nearby
    A smoothie place
    And he offered to guide us there
    But were in a hurry

    As we left
    I thought to myself
    Here is a future VCQ
    The fascinating character

    That had wined and dined us
    Late into the night
    Beguiling us with his tales
    From his time in the VC

    Wonder what this future VCQ
    Will tell his future friends
    About his past life
    Living in a beauty saloon?

    1. just Another Morning In Phnom Penh

    When I was in Phnom Penh 
    I stayed 
    at the Riverside Hotel
     on 136th Street.

     Across the street 
    was Neil’s convenience store .
    .oddly named 
    since I had yet 
    space”>
    named Neil..

    There was also a slew 
    of sleazy as hell Thai style 
    girlie bars 
    outside of which 

    sat  naked pretty young things 
    Khmer girls dressed to the proverbial nines

    looking for a willing victim
    among the male flotsam 
    flowing along the naked streets
    Just another night in the big city

    these  women 
    I avoided 
    since they represented 
    the surest and quickest way
    to loose one’s honey
    and one’s money
    and one’s soul
    and dignity

    becoming just another
    ugly aging foreign male sex tourist
    way past his prime
    way past his due date

    Instead, 
    upon exiting the hotel 

    I turned right in the mornings.
     At the riverfront 

    I made a right 
    and walked 
    to a different convenience store

     where I purchased 
    two containers of strawberry yogurt 
    and a bottle of chocolate flavored soymilk.

     After completing the transaction 
    I went to an outdoor cafe 
    that charged $1.90 
    for a large ice coffee 
    with sweetened milk.

    just like I like it
    Vietnamese Style
    HCM Style

    like Even in the late morning
     there were already 

    quite a few foreign male tourists 
    drinking cold beer 
    in the hot sun .

    Some sat..
    like schoolboys 
    on first dates with young Khmer women 

    that they had undoubtedly 
    purchased the night before.
    ..seeking as far as I could tell.
    .. to impress the women
     with their bold and masculine characters 

    …many of these men 
    were older
     and grotesquely misshapen..
    .that is..not fit. 

    a true nightmarish
    vision 
    from the depths of hell

    playing out 
    every morning
    and every evening

    ..After eating the yogurt 
    and drinking the ice coffee 
    and looking again

    at the half naked women
    sitting all around me

    I paid my bill
     and hailed

     an open tuk tuk.
     The going rate for locals 

    for short rides 
    was one dollar or 4000 rial. 

    The going rate for foreigners 
    was double that..

    ..I always paid the local rate
     of one dollar 
    and said thank you in Khmer…

    .Akon.

    ..I quickly left
     giving the driver
     no opportunity 
    to haggle over the fare..

    ..my destination 
    each and every day 

    was the same…
    The Hotel Cambodiana…

    a plush expensive hotel 
    about two miles 
    down the proverbial road..

    .there I used the fitness club 
    which included a normally
     empty 15 meter pool ,

     a fitness center 
    with free weights
     and weight machines .
    .treadmills and a sauna.

    I began the workout
     each day with a swim of 90.lengths..
    that is 1.35.km
     or slightly more 
    than three quarters of a mile.

    ..the pool was embellished 
    with six golden statues 
    of Ganesh elephant Gods
    spouting 
    streams of cool water 
    from their inanimate trunks.

     I enjoyed swimming 
    under those Ganesh

     blessed streams.
    enjoying the good luck vibes

     There was a fully stocked bar

     in the pool area. 

    After the swim 

    I usually took a short break 
    in the hotel cafe 
    adjacent to the lobby.

     There I ate a delicious 
    blueberry muffin

     each day 
    at the cost of one dollar.

     One day .

    ..while enjoying just such a muffin
     I had the good fortune 

    to meet a fellow American
     from Iowa City Iowa. 

    He was an agricultural scientist
    He was of medium height .
    .had white hair 
    and blue eyes 

    ..and…..possessed an intelligence 
    that impressed me greatly .

    ..an intellect that
     was so obviously superior 
    that it rushed out at you 

    from his blue eyes .
    ..an amicable likeable intellect…
    a man you could not help but like..

    .we discussed the challenges 
    of supplying 
    food for a world population 
    that would soon exceed nine billion..

    .the serious threat 
    posed by human induced climate change …

    the resultant acidification of ocean waters 
    as more greenhouse gases 

    were being absorbed by them..
    .but he was optimistic 

    that solutions 
    to these problems could be had..

    ..this was indeed an impressive 
    and unexpected encounter 

    Just another morning 

    In Cambodia 

    Stung Treng Beckons

    After lunch I went to the bus station
    the town of Stung Treng 

    was calling me 
    for some reason

    always want to go there
    wherever that was 
    that is

    the Cambodian open road
    beconing me

    The bus fromStung Treng 
    to Phnom Penh 
    was actually

     a 9.passenger van..
    .neither new nor especially old..

    .Stung Treng 

    is a small dusty town 
    near the Laotian border 
    in northeast Cambodia. 

    The rural areas of Cambodia 
    are relatively depopulated 

    and automotive malfunctions 
    can be a tricky thing to deal 
    with when there are no mechanics
     let alone people in a given area..

    .I had gone to Stung Treng 
    to investigate a possible 
    opportunity teaching 
    at a small high school 

    run by a Presbyterian 
    pastor from Korea.

     An old friend of mine 

    from my Korea days
    decades in the past

    My friend was employed there 
    and lived on the premises 

    with his Korean born wife
    In a small apartment 

    provided by the school. 

    When I arrived in Stung Treng 
    there were no taxis 

    tuk tuks .
    or any form of transport available..

    it was a town 
    in which you 
    were simply deposited.

    with no idea 
    of where to go 
    or how to get there.

    ..at any rate .
    ..the job was not available

     until January..
    a fact I learned upon arrival.
    .

    due to shrinking enrollments 
    and a lack of funds 
    in general..

    .I stayed at
    the Mekong Hotel..

    .which 
    consisted of a series 
    of small air conditioned bungalows.

    ..behind the office 

    was a very large 
    and well-maintained pool..

    .which I used 

    twice during my brief visit

    not the same 
    as the Cambodian gym
    back in the city

    but I made do
    and did my morning swims
    and exercises 

    my friend told me stories
    out of school
     about the Korean pastor

     that made Captain Queeg 
    seem perfectly normal..

    .that he physically
     punished students .

    ..that he harshly criticized 
    Cambodia 
    while singing 
    the praises of Korea 

    and that he had 
    used child labor 
    to build his school..

    ..to be fair

     I did meet 
    a remarkable individual 
    at the Sekong fitness center..

    .an astonishing place 
    located 

    near the middle
     of nowhere 

    that contained 
    only new exercise equipment…

    it was there 
    that I met 

    Scott Sward 
    from Long Beach , California..

    a lost missionary 
    who had been in Stung Treng 

    with his American wife 
    for ten years..

    ..a kind and helpful man .
    filled with the grace of God

    ..it was my impression 
    that he brought much good 

    to the people of Stung Treng 

    although it is doubtful
     that many people 

    voluntarily abandoned 
    their practice of Buddhism 
    to adopt a new set of beliefs..

    . Scott gave me a ride 
    to the bus station 
    at which I purchased 

    the ticket for the nine passenger bus 
    that would painfully

     make its way back 
    to Phnom Penh 

    because 
    no one had bothered 
    to check the level of engine coolant.

    ..there was none..

    .and the engine repeatedly
     overheated 

    forcing the driver 
    to stop and pour water

     either into the coolant
     receptacle
     or over the engine itself..

    ..luckily

     I had struck 

    up a conversation 

    with a cute sweat Khmer female passenger
     that somehow rendered 

    the mechanical problems 
    less disturbing..

    .this conversation 
    could have led to other things 

    I am sure ..

    ..but when we arrived .

    .I simply went 
    my own way 
    and she hers…

    and I did not 
    become another 

    Pathetic looser American 
    Dude parading the streets
    with his recently purchased
    lady of the night

    such is life
    in Cambodia

    these days

     

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