Bear Town Resort, a fun getway for family and friends! | 2015 Wow Korea Supporter

Bears Town Resort is a large-scale leisure town in suburban Seoul.

 

It is a city suburban style ski resort equipped with International Ski Federation approved slopes, including the 88 Challenge Line.

Also, there are lessons and slopes for beginners too!!!!

The resort has a total of 11 ski slopes and 9 lifts with a capacity to accept 15,200 skiers per hour.

Slope and Lift / Gondola > 11 Slopes (Beginner 2, Intermediate 5, Advanced 4), 8 Lifts > Lift Usage

(won)

Type	Full Day	Half Day	Night
Fees	46,000	35,000	38,000
Operating Hours	09:30-16:45	09:00-12:30 / 13:00-16:45	18:20-22:30

Skiing/Snowboarding Lessons

(won)

Type	Hours	Ski[1:15]	Ski[1:1]	Snowboard [1:5]	Snowboard [1:1]
Full Day	10:00-12:00, 14:00-16:00	60,000	260,000	60,000	260,000
Half Day	10:00-12:00 / 14:00-16:00	42,000	180,000	42,000	180,000
Night	19:00-21:00	42,000	180,000	-	-

* English lessons are available.

There are also several facilities available for visitor such as the sledding hill, indoor swimming pool, golf range, tennis court, sauna, survival game room, seminar facilities, Korean/Western restaurants, snack bar, cafe, singing room, game room, supermarket, ski shop, medical room, tourist’s lift and camp site.

And if you ever have extra time, you can go to the National Arboretum and Forest Museum and the Pocheon Ildong Hot Springs, which are only 30 minutes away!

The best part is, it is sooo easy to get there!

Directions

From Gangbyeon Station (Seoul Subway Line 2, Exit 4) - From exit 4, cross the street and walk to the right. Cross the street again to find the bus stop. - Take Bus 11 (강변역A) and get off at Bears Town (베어스타운) Bus Stop (approx. 1hr 38min). - First bus 6:05 / Last bus: 00:20 / Interval: 15-20min

For more information are reservations, go to www.bearstown.com (Korean, English).

Sunflowers in Gwanggyo Lake Park! | 2015 Wow Korea Supporters

For those who love sunflowers as much as I do, I've found the perfect place for you too see sunflowers!!!

Gwanggyo Lake Park is located in Suwon which is less than 1 hour away from Seoul. It is a great place for families, friends and even couples to spend time together.

And if you happened to be in Korea during late summer, then these sunflowers are in full bloom and you can capture awesome pictures in the park.

How to get there
From Cheong-myeong Station 청명역 [exit 3],
take the 34-1 Bus and get off at Gwang-gyo-han-yang-su-ja-in 광교한양수자인

Things to do in Gyeonggi-do | 2015 Wow Korea Supporters | Day 2

On the second day, we went to the Labor Party Office in Cheolwon. This place was used as The House of Labor Party until the break of the Korean War on June 25, it is now one of the tourist attractions that keep the vestiges of the Korean War.

 Directions

* Take an intercity bus from Dong Seoul Bus Terminal (Seoul subway line 2, Gangbyeon station) to Dongsong-eup or Sincheorwon. (Bus schedule: 06:30-21:00, 20-30min intervals / Estimated travel time: 2hrs 20min)
1. Across from Dongsong Intercity Bus Terminal, take Sintan-ri bound city bus (1 hour interval / 20 min ride).
2. From Sincheorwon Intercity Bus Terminal, walk 3 min toward Cheorwon County Office and there is a post office. Take Dongsong bound city bus there and get off at Dongsong Intercity Bus Terminal (20-30 min ride). Then, move as above. Totally takes 50-60 min.
3. Taxi takes 15-20 min from Dongsong Intercity Bus Terminal, and 30 min from Sincheorwon Intercity Bus Terminal.

Official Website: http://www.cha.go.kr                                                            

   

We were only allowed to take pictures of the ruins and pictures of the gate to DMZ were prohibited. I learnt it the hard way because a soldier caught me taking pictures and chased me and then ordered me to delete the pictures due to security reasons. To my defense, I wasn’t aware about it after all, even tourists go in and out the DMZ all the time.

 

After that, we went to Jaein Falls where it has a beautiful waterfall scenery where Koreans would go there just to take pictures.

 

The name Jaein (clown) was attached to it due to a local folklore about a tightrope walker with a beautiful wife. One of the local administrators was secretly attracted to his wife. One day, the tightrope walker was engaging in an act on the rope tied to the ravine and the administrator had one of his men cut the rope. 

Yes. Sad story.

 

Next, we went to Cheongsan Makguksu where we had cho-gye-tang(초계탕), it is basically shredded chicken with vegetables and sour broth. It basically tasted like a chicken salad with vinegar dressing and I loved it!! This meal is usually shard by more than 2 people. 

 

Then we went to Hyeri Art Village where we visited the Game Museum. 

The game museum showcases many arcade and console games including the ones from the 90s. Visitors can even stay there for hours and just play video/arcade games.

 

Directions
[Subway + Bus]
Hapjeong Station (Seoul Subway Line 2), Exit 2.
- Take Bus 2200
 (07:00-23:20, every 15 minutes; It takes 40-50 minutes)
- Get off at the Heyri stop.

Official website: www.heyri.net

Our final stop was the Paju Premium Outlet where various of International Brands of clothing items and accessories such are Nike and Adidas are sold for a cheap price. I managed to get a Levi’s bag there for only 30,000Won! 

 

Directions
From Hapjeong Station (Subway Line 2 or 6), Exit 2.
Go straight for 200m and take Bus 2200.
Get off at the back gate of Paju Premium Outlets.
The outlet is located 600m from the bus stop.
(Bus schedule: 05:30-22:10, 10min intervals/ Travel time: 1hr)

From Hapjeong Station (Exit 2) or Baekseok Station (Subway Line 3, Exit 4).
Take Bus 200 and get off at Paju Premium Outlets.

From Geumchon Station (Gyeongui Line), Exit 1.
Take Bus 033, 035, 036 or 900.
Get off at the back gate of Paju Premium Outlets. (Travel time: 20min)

 Official Website: www.premiumoutlets.co.kr 

This trip was really exciting since its has my two favourite things – water sports and shopping!

Stay tune for more travel blogs!!

Things to do in Gyeonggi-do | 2015 Wow Korea Supporters | Day 1

So the 4^th trip, we explored Gyeonggi-do. 

We first went to Sansawon where we learned how to make home-brewed liquor. It was a really easy process where we only use rice, water and yeast. 

 

After that, we even get to taste different types of Korean Liquor and side dishes that Koreans eat with these drinks.

 

To learn more about Sansawon, check out my post dedicated to this awesome gallery HERE!

For lunch, we went to Cheongsan Byeolmi, a Korean restaurant that serves the local delicacy – Korean Beef and Mushroom Shabushabu. For people who loves mushroom, you get to taste different types of mushroom that was grown by the restaurant owners. The hotpot taste absolutely amazing and the soup had a strong mushroom taste.

 

Next, we went to Herb Island. Herb Island is a place where families and visitors can learn about the usage of herbs, make their own household items with herbs and experience the little Greek Village, Italian Village, German Village and French Village.

 

 

There, I made some hand cream with lavender essential oil and almond oil that made my hands feel soft. And apparently, visitors can make their very own cosmetic/skin care products there. 

 

Directions
Take an express bus to Pocheon Intercity Bus Terminal.
Take Bus 57 bound for Sinbuk Oncheon (Hot spring, 신북온천)at the local bus stop outisde the Bus Terminal.
Get off at Samjeong-ri (삼정리), and go straight on Samcheongol-gil Street to arrive at Herb Island.

OR

Soyosan Station (Seoul Subway Line 1).
Take Bus 57, and get off at Samjeong-ri.
Go straight on Samcheongol-gil Street to arrive at Herb Island.

Official Website: http://herbisland.co.kr/herbisland/index_en.php

 

After that, we went to Cheolwon for rafting in Hantan River. The experience was certainly amazing and I had a great time rafting. The instructor was also a real hottie, so I wouldn’t mind doing it all over again.

 

It was an amazing time, and I had a lot of fun whilst gaining new experiences. I do hope that through my posts, you would be able to gain a wider perspective about what Korea is all about. 

Stay tuned for Day 2!!!

Sansawon Gallery brewing Korean Traditional Liquor till today | 2015 Wow Korea Supporters

Alcohol. A part of Korean culture that is shown in dramas, music videos and etc. Yes, Koreans love to drink and the art of making alcohol is definitely something that everyone (who is a legal adult) has to experience.

 

Sansawon, located in Pocheon, Gyeonggi-do, is a traditional Korean liquor gallery that is dedicated to brewing Korean liquor in order to preserve the local traditional liquor culture.

 

In this three story gallery, visitors are able to learn the history of Korean Traditional liquor, see an exhibition on antique books on Traditional Korean Liquor, sample liquor and even brew liquor themselves.

Visitor Info

Fee: 2,000 won admission fee

* minors not allowed / Groups of over 20 people: 1,000 won / experience program excluded

Reservation: IIndividuals can visit without reservation. Groups are required to make Internet reservations, and must call to confirm reservation.

* groups: 15 persons or more

Business hours: 08:30-17:30

* Closed on Chuseok and Seollal holidays

Support: Wine cups presented as souvenirs

Language: Interpreter required

Experience programs:
- 120 minutes / 30,000 won
- Home brewing class: 120 minutes / 45,000 won
- Brewing Sesiju (plum wine): 120 minutes / 30,000 won
- Brewing healthy wine: 120 minutes / 35,000 won
- Seasonal brews: 60 minutes / 15,000 won
- Home brew sampling class: 19:00-20:20 / 20:30-22:00 / 160,000 won (4 classes)

Directions

[Bus]
From Dong Seoul Bus Terminal, Sangbong Bus Terminal, or Uijeongbu Intercity Bus Terminal, take the bus to Ildong Bus Terminal. From Ildong Bus Terminal, take Bus #66, #5, or #7 and get off at Hwahyeon3-ri. (5 min walk)

For more info, check out their official website: http://www.sansawon.co.kr/eng/gallery.html