A reader from Malaysia who's never experienced winter wants to know if it's a good time to visit Korea. Here's my extended reply:
source: Yonhap News - http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo_detail.htm?No=14528
Dear Christina,
Here's my two cents on whether or not to visit Korea in winter. First, let me play devil's advocate and list some reasons why it may not be the best time to go.
1. It's too freaking cold to go out especially if you're from a sunny clime unless of course you're a tougher cookie than I am
2. Your travel plans may be hampered by snowstorms which have delayed flights, cancelled ferries and slowed down trains and buses.
3. You won't have so many hours of daylight to travel around to enjoy the sights
4. You'll blow your travel budget on cups of hot coffee or soups to keep yourself warm
5. Your complexion will suffer because of the extreme dry air but you can't pack a full bottle of face cream in a post 9-11 world with tighter airport security
Now, here are some reasons why winter's a good time to travel to Korea:
1. It's a great place to learn skiing. I read somewhere that even Russians, who obviously have more snow, prefer to ski in Korea because of the wonderful facilities.
2. You can take part in many winter festivals which seem to be a great deal of fun for both the participants and observers.
3. I like to ask Koreans that I met about their favourite season and quite a number cite winter as their preferred time of year.Why? Answers range from the chance to get decked out in winter woolies, to the outdoor sports to one person's reply which is the most intriguing, " I love the smell of winter". Go to check out for yourself why so many would fall in love with this season.
So, Christina, if you've got your heart set on experiencing winter, here are a few humble suggestions from a not-so-seasoned traveller ( when it comes to winter, that is!):
a. travel in a tour group instead of braving it as a solo traveller. That way, the burden of ensuring you're warm and safe falls on the shoulders of the experienced Korean tour guide who should know how to deal with delays
b. Layer, layer, layer - instead of packing four winter jackets into your luggage, just wear layers. The same goes for your feet and legs. Ask around before investing in a suitable pair of shoes.
c. head straight for the supermarket as soon as you touch down in Korea to look for handy hand-warmers and naeboks. For an article on naeboks, click
here.
d. carry a thermos flask so you can have your own coffee/ tea/ hot beverage wherever you go.
e. learn the basic Korean words such as snow storm, blizzard, minus 40 temperatures, etc. to listen out for weather forecasts on the local telly or radio
Cheers and happy travelling!
ajumma
