Ajumma's Journal: winter activities

Showing posts with label winter activities. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

To Go OR Not To Go In Winter - Letter for Christina

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

Friday, January 29, 2010

How To Organise A Winter Festival, Korean-Style

Here's a brief and totally frivolous guide on how to hold a winter festival, inspiration courtesy of the Inje Icefish Festival, currently held in Gangwon Province.

1. First, you need a cute mascot
....to helm your festive activities. This blue fella here reminds me of Doraemon but I can't decide if he or she's an otter or seal or some other creature.

2. Give visitors something to look forward to...
...such as fish they can savour on the grill at the end of the day. Make sure visitors have high chances of success so as to encourage annual returns to the festival. The smelt, a small silvery fish (Osmeridae family), is easy to catch with basic fishing gear and is found in abundance during winter so it makes a great focal point for the Inje Festival. For more tips on how to catch your smelt, click here.

If Dads are too engrossed to teach the kiddies how to hook the bait, there are fishing classes for children.

3. Make sure your ice fest caters to all interest groups.
As the unofficial slogan for the Inje Ice Fest goes: "Ice fishing for dads, Smelts dishes for moms, Ice park for kids, Exotic dating courses for couples, and lots of recreations and winter sports to participate!"

3a. Haven't a clue what the exotic dating courses for couples means actually - I'm guessing either a bland ride around the lake in some snow sled or are there tiny igloos for couples to get really close and cosy?

3b. Give the foreigners something truly exotic to write home about or post on their blogs by having contests to see who can eat the most raw smelt.

Remember to hold cooking lessons featuring recipes using smelt for ajummas who may not fancy their fish raw.

3c. Arrange for sporty visitors to take part in matches on the ice or competitive games such as football or tug-of-war.

3e. Don't forget those attracted to intellectual games - they can even play Chinese chess with the ice as their enlarged chessboard.

For full schedule for the 2010 fest, click here.

3f. Be prepared to cater to the variety of interests - from kids who prefer to race each other to animal lovers who'd watch a real dog race to those who prefer more passive sports like playing PC games such as the one below.

sources:
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo_detail.htm?No=14315 ( pics from Yonhap News )
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_2_1.jsp?cid=292929
http://images.google.com.my/imglanding?q=inje%20ice%20festival&imgurl=http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/cms/resource/90/673990_image2_1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_2_2.jsp&usg=__ywJQHCIlBjHxFtPGrLHExMPZg7g=&h=333&w=500&sz=74&hl=en&um=1&tbnid=hJpm0jwgraZyzM:&tbnh=87&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dinje%2Bice%2Bfestival%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1&sa=N&um=1&start=3#tbnid=hJpm0jwgraZyzM&start=7
http://www.injefestival.co.kr/english/sub3/sub5.asp
http://adventureteachingkorea.wordpress.com/
http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2009/04/koreas_dogsledding_mmorpg_husk.php
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISKh68C-Hxk

Monday, January 4, 2010

Winter Wonderland or Winter of Our Discontent?

Those heading for Korea in the next few days, be forewarned. Public warnings about impending snowstorms have been issued to those living in Korea.

26,500 workers have been mobilized to sprinkle 800 tons of salt on the major roads in Seoul City. The snowplows have been working overtime as the season for shovelling snow has begun.

Unfortunately the snow has fallen too fast for the calcium chloride to do its job effectively of preventing the buildup of the ice. The snowfall apparently has hit record levels – Seoul has already experienced at least 25.7 cm of snow ( its heaviest in 41 years) and the temperature is expected to drop to minus 13 degrees Celcius by Wednesday, 6th January, 2010.

So drivers and pedestrians in Korea, do drive or tread carefully outdoors. Travellers, brace yourselves for long waits in airports or seaports as flights or ferry services are postponed or cancelled.

Hope you're wrapped up in cosy long-johns with the thickest of socks, sitting near a warm fire or lying on the ondol. All the best in weathering this ice-storm to all in Korea.

Sources:
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo_detail.htm?No=14174
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo_detail.htm?No=14162¤t_page=
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2914782
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2914631

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Top Ten Quintessential "Winter in Korea" Photos

Where else but in Korea can one witness such sights during winter? Here is my top ten list of quintessential "winter in Korea" photos.

1 Precious ingredients cooking outdoors in winter

Where else but in Korea can you see these plain earthernware pots containing kimchi, gochujang or other sauces which are fermenting nicely in frigid temperatures?

2 Winter Sonata
This Hallyu Wave TV hit drama has spawned countless tours to Nami Island and Yongpyeong Resort for local and foreign tourists seeking romance in the snow.

3. Snow-caped Temples and Pagodas

Ok - I know there are also temples and pagodas looking pretty in winter-time in China and Japan as well but I don't think they're featured as often and prominently by their tourist promotion boards. You can even download this winter wonderland scene for your desktop wallpaper by going to the KNTO website.

4. ROK soldiers fighting winter blues on duty

No holiday breaks for those on the front-line or the DMZ in the divided country which is still officially at war.

South Korean soldiers taking a snow bath to develop their toughness during winter mountain training exercises.

5 Pyongyang Naengmyeon
This cold noodle dish has become a popular summer dish but traditionally it was eaten in winter. According to Song Won-sup, "enthusiastic Pyongyang naengmyeon lovers point out that the middle of winter, not summer, is the right season to eat naengmyeon. The true taste, they say, can be appreciated when you finish a bowl of cold watery kimchi and meat stock and walk out on the street to have the cold wind blow in your face."

I just had a bowl of naengmyeon today and though there's no winter where I am, the air-con was on and I still don't get it. Wouldn't it be nicer to have a hot steaming bowl of samgyetang or kimchi tchigae in winter? I don't believe in fighting fire with fire or beating the cold with a cold broth.'

6 Winter Festivals and Hot Spring Tours
A Korean friend once told me what he liked most about his country was the smell of winter. No clue what he means but I guess you can have plenty of opportunity to smell the snowflakes outdoors with the many festivals held throughout the country in winter. Take your pick -from the Daewallyeong Snow Festival, Hwacheon Mountain Trout Festival, Inje Icefish Festival, Taebaeksan Snow Festival.

If you prefer to stay indoors, join the many Koreans who think this is the best season to enjoy the jjimjilbang ( bath and sauna houses). Check out a KBS video on the wide range of spas where you can soak your cares away this winter.

7. Fantastic Snow Flower Train

Enjoy the winter sights outdoors whilst travelling in cosy comfort aboard a train that passes through Taebaeksan or Deogyusan.

8. Pass-The-Briquettes - Community Service, Korean-style

Many Koreans sign up as volunteers to deliver coal briquettes to the homes of the less fortunate as early Christmas gifts. See earlier posting.

9. Exchanging Christmas gifts, Korean-style
According to a recent survey for an on-line job portal, the most desirable gift amongst Koreans, both men and women, is clothing.

Second most popular gift for Korean males would be small electronic devices while your Korean girlfriend, wife, sister or ajumma prefer bling-bling. Whatever you decide, DON'T give books or CDs. Apparently these are the least favoured gifts in the eyes of Koreans this winter.

Of course, if you want to be original, you could give your loved one a Hostas plant called Korean Snow ( described as having " uniquely MISTED and STREAKED shiny green leaves with excellent substance". Click here for your last-minute or belated Xmas on-line shopping.

10. Welcome The First Sunrise in the New Year
Had a rotten year? Pray for better times alongside other Koreans who will brave the morning winter chills to greet the first sunrise of 2010.