Good News For Gingko Tree Lovers

For the first time in twenty years, a private gingko forest has been opened for public viewing somewhere on the foothills of Odaesan. It may not seem very big, standing at  43,000 sq m. ( about the size of a baseball stadium) but many of the trees here are more than 30 years old.

Gamsa hamnida to the owner and patient planter of these trees, Yoo Ki-chun. Apparently he bought the abandoned land 20 years ago and planted gingko trees when he realised the soil wasn't suitable for fruit trees.

The reporter from Arirang News who covered this story didn't indicate if there was any admission charge nor were there any details about how to get to Mr Yoo's estate So watch this space as I try to get more information to update this page if picnicking under the golden shade of these most elegant and hardy trees in autumn is on your bucket list.

BTW, interesting that Odaesan seems to be enjoying a fair bit of limelight in the local press of late. First, it gets the title of No 1 Most Beautiful Forest in Korea for 2011 and now this. Just how close is it to Pyeongchang?

Meanwhile if you're not venturing beyond Seoul but want to feast your eyes on this goldern hoard, check out these gingko trees at the Olympic Park in the capital.

Gingko gold in Seoul's Olympic Park

sources:
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/10/31/2011103101346.html
http://eng.me.go.kr/content.do?method=moveContent&menuCode=res_tou_pak_kor_odaesan
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/10/31/2011103100367.html#

The Most Beautiful Forest in Korea for 2011

Beats me what kind of yardstick is used by the Korea Forest Service when it comes to ranking their forests and one wonders why it seems necessary in the first place to have such a list in the first place.

Anyway, they've just declared on 26th October that the "MOST BEAUTIFUL FOREST FOR 2011"...drumroll please... is...in Odaesan in Gangwon-do.

Odaesan in winter

In particular, the stretch of fir forest sandwiched between the Iljimun ( One Pillar Gate) at the entrance of  Woljeong Temple and the Kumgang Bridge is supposed to be particularly fetching. Tree huggers can take their pick from the 1,700 fir trees in this area. But do handle them with some respect. The  average age of these firs is about 83 years, but there are  some which are over 3 CENTURIES old. Now , that's impressive.

The  fir forest of Woljeong Temple on Mount Odae, Gangwon Province.

Must check out what was the Most Beautiful Forest for the past years.


sources:
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_entertainment/502726.html
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264215

M Pass (Metropolitan Pass ) Coming Soon

Good news for visitors to South Korea. From December onwards, you can buy new multiple-ride transit passes and enjoy greater savings as you plan day trips between Seoul and some other cities in the country.

Ask for the M-Pass but before that, plan carefully as you have to decide between purchasing the one-day pass ( which costs 10,000 won and lets you take up to 20 subway trips ) or opt for the 2-day, 3-day or 7-day pass instead.

According to the Korean Herald and Yonhap News, " The passes currently are only for travel on subway lines and a railway linking Incheon International Airport to Seoul, but will later be expanded to include all regular buses in the capital area. Discounts on admissions to royal palaces and other tourist destinations will also be given to foreigners with passes."

Never really bothered about checking out passes for transportation around Seoul before but now that I've done a bit of surfing, the options seem to be increasing and at the same time, a tad migraine-inducing if you're like me and hate making consumer comparisons.

Seoul City Plus Passes - Choices Within Choices

How, for instance, does the M-Pass differ from the Seoul City Pass OR  the T-Money card OR  the Seoul City Plus Pass?  Points of comparison include coverage ( can it be used on local buses and subways outside Seoul? ), mode of recharging and refunds and  additional discounts for tourist attractions.

I'll leave you to do the math.

 The assumption seems to be that most tourists prefer to make Seoul their base but what about those who are not particularly keen on spending so much time in the capital?

Personally, I'd prefer to have a travel pass that gets me on any provincial, local and inter-city bus so that I can travel out  from Incheon International Airport, avoid the traffic snarls of Seoul and head directly for the hills. It's early days yet so it would be interesting to see which cities or towns outside Seoul will be involved in this scheme.

sources:
http://www.koreaherald.com/national/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20111020000820
http://visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=261307
http://asiaenglish.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/TR/TR_EN_5_4.jsp

To Olle OR Dulle?

This is a promise to myself. As soon as I can, I’ll head for the hills. In South Korea, that is. First, a quick own-up: I like walking but I’m not a great nor good walker. Still, I love the low humidity, the autumn colours and very accessible walking paths in the ROK. Question is: given the usual shortage of time and won, a hard choice is imminent. Do I do the Dulle or the Olle?

The Dulle Trail in Jirisan ( source: JoongAng Ilbo)

Been following Steve Oberhauser’s account of his marathon exploration of all the hiking trails in Jeju known as the Olle Trails ( link) in The Jeju Weekly. I’d like to follow some of his footsteps ( but definitely not his Spartan diet ) but for the moment, I’m still waiting for him to complete and evaluate all twenty-one trails on the island before deciding which one is safer, easier and still rewarding scenic-wise for this ajumma.

There’s another Dulle Trail on the mainland in Jirisan National Park that looks immediately promising –that’s the trail between Jucheon in Jeollabukdo and Sancheong in Jeollanamdo. While I’m not likely to complete the full 70-km course, it’s supposed to be “perfect for those who are looking for a relaxing walk rather than a steep mountain climb”

OR if I’m really strapped for time….

Bukhansan Dulle Trails

I could attempt a teeny section of the 44 km- Dulle Trail around Bukhansan near Seoul. Apparently it’s a wooden walkway that’s easy on the legs, knees and heart. But if I still feel as if the stretch is taking its toll on my never-been-in-decent-condition body, I can look forward to the 35 benches along this novice-friendly trail.

Smartphone owners are even more spoilt as apps on the Andriod platform are available for five trails out of the 13 Bukhansan Dullegil trails. You can get easy access to maps, side trails information and interesting explanations about highlights along the courses. The information is available in English, Korean and Japanese. Check out the official website of Korea National Park Organization (www.knps.or.kr) and Bukhansan Dullegil (http://ecotour.knps.or.kr/dulegil/index.asp).


But if you think all this is too lame for you, then check out the Haeparang Road, once it’s completed in 2014. This 688-km trail will stretch from Busan all the way up to Goseong’s Unification Observatory near the DMZ. A perhaps over-enthusiastic spokesperson for the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism even indicated to the press that the trail could even reach Russia’s Vladivostock in the future.


Sources:
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2926536
http://www.koreaherald.com/lifestyle/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20100915000631
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/51299295  joey janzen olle_jeju1
http://android-apps.com/applications/travel-local/bukhansan-dulle-gil/
http://www.jejuweekly.com/news/articleList.html?sc_sub_section_code=S2N63
http://ecotour.knps.or.kr/dulegil/index_e.asp
http://eckorea.ecplaza.net/news/13/48405/seoul_to_create_a_200kilometer.html

In Pursuit of Autumn Colours In Korea 2011

 Capture the silvery, delicate beauty of  eulalia or pampas grass ( Haneul Park in Seoul. /Newsis)  

Stunning maple reds are expected to be in full display between 18th and  20th October in Seoraksan. Brace yourselves for crowded trails and be prepared to share the beautiful scenery with hordes of visitors and wait in line to snap photos of your loved ones posing beside a particularly pretty tree.

The trees in Yeouido in Seoul are already changing colour also.

Fall foliage is expected to peak around 22nd of October.

Check out the photos of Korea's autumn colours on this blog for some inspiration.

Some hints from an amateur for great shots:

1. Go early to avoid heads intruding into your photos.

2. Head for the temples in the national and provincial parks.

3. Balance close-ups and wide-angle shots.

sources:

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/10/11/2011101100390.html

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/10/03/2011100300354.html
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/10/115_96329.html
http://www.pbase.com/dbh/autumn