Review: Gangwondo Inje Baekdam Village (여행 후 이야기: 강원도 인제 백담마을)

Last September 24, we, the Korea Rural Tourism Supporters, held our last Rural Tourism tour. Our second stop was at Gangwon-do Inje Baekdam Village (강원도 인제 백담마을).

Photo courtesy of Korea Rural Tourism

How to get there by public transportation:

* From Dong Seoul Bus Terminal (동서울종합버스터미널) take a bus bound for Yongdaeri Bus Station (용대리정류소)

-- travel time: approximately 2 hours depending on traffic situation
-- fare cost: 15,900 Korean Won
* From the Yongdaeri Bus Station, walk for about 1 minute (53 meters) towards the Baekdam Village

Address: 강원도 인제군 북면 만해로 410-17
Website: http://baekdam.invil.org (Only in Korean)
Contact numbers: 033-462-4608

In Baekdam Village also known as " The Clean Village" we learned how to play Samulnori (사물놀이). The word samul (사물) means "four objects" and nori (놀이) means "play". Samulnori is performed with four traditional Korean musical instruments known as pungmul (풍물) namely the: Kkwaenggwari (꽹과리: a small gong), Jing (징: a larger gong), Janggu (장구: an hourglass-shaped drum), and Buk (북: a barrel drum similar to the bass drum). Out of the four instruments we played Jing, Janggu, and Buk. I was assigned to play the janggu. 

Learning samulnori beat is relatively easy but it needs passion (and energy if I may add). The beat was supposed to be so fast but since most of us were first-timers the speed that we had were relatively slower than the beat supposed to be. My hands were quite painful after a 5-minute long crazy fast samulnori performance :-)

Photo courtesy of Korea Rural Tourism

Photo courtesy of Korea Rural Tourism

Photo courtesy of Korea Rural Tourism

After our samulnori class, we then proceeded in making our own fried pollock (황태 강정). Fried pollock is a a kind of fish coated with sweet and sour red sauce, it is considered as one of the specialty of Baekdam Village alongside  rowans or mountain-ashes berries (마가목), and Shiitake Mushrooms (표고버섯).

Preparing and cooking fried pollock is quite simple. All you need to do is to follow these simple instructions.

Ingredients needed for making fried pollock: 
* small pieces [cube size] chopped pollock (황태)
* frying powder (튀김가루)

* starch powder (전분가루)
* starch syrup (물엿)

* refined rice wine (청주)

* cooking oil (식용류)

How to make fried pollock (황태강정)

1. Put cooking oil into a medium size frying fan and wait until oil reach boiling point.

2. Put the chopped pollock coated with frying powder and starch powder into the frying fan, cook until golden brown.

3. Drain the excess oil by getting the fried pollock using a chopsticks.

4. Set aside in a clean plate.

Ingredients needed to make the sweet and sour marinated sauce (양념장): 

* red pepper paste (고추장)

* grain syrup (조청)

* soy sauce (간장)

* water (물)

* minced onion (다진양파)

* refined rice wine (청주)

How to make Gangjeong Sauce (강정소스)

1. Put frying fan containing all the ingredients under fire and mix sauce until it boils.

2. Put the fried pollock into the frying fan containing the sauce, and mix thoroughly.

3. Simmer for couple of minutes until the fish is thoroughly covered with the sauce.

4. Serve hot and enjoy with your favorite drink.   

Tip: Fried Pollock taste better when you fried it just right meaning soft inside yet still crispy outside.

Photo courtesy of Kiyo Rea

Photo courtesy of Kiyo Rea

After having an appetizing afternoon meal we were given time to appreciate the beautiful surrounding of the Rural village. 

 

Photo courtesy of Korea Rural Tourism

Photo courtesy of Julian Mok

Photo courtesy of Julian Mok

Thank you very much to the Korea Rural Tourism Supporters program for this very memorable and mesmerizing tour.

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Korea Rural Tourism Shuttle Bus

If you are looking for something fun, exciting, and unconventional type of trip in South Korea then you should definitely try Korea Rural Tourism Tour. 

However, visiting Korea Rural Villages is not that convenient and easy for foreigners who cannot speak Korean. But worry no more because you can achieve that memorable Korea Rural Tourism trip you are looking forward to with the very affordable and convenient Korea Rural Shuttle Bus Service. Actually the shuttle bus service is free of charge if you pay at least one experience program fee and your own lunch.

As of now the shuttle bus service offers 9 Provinces travel courses namely: North Jeolla Province (전라북도), South Jeolla Province (전라남도), North Gyeongsang Province (경상북도), South Gyeongsang Province (경상남도), North Chungcheong Province (충청북도), South Chungcheong Province (충청남도), Gyeonggi Province (경기도), Gangwon Province (강원도),  and Jeju Island (제주도).

How to make reservation:

1. Visit www.exploreruralkorea.com

2. Choose the village you wish to visit and the date you wish to go, then click "apply" button to proceed with your reservation.

3. Pay the experience program fee (you need to choose the method of payment when making reservation). (NOTE: Lunch and experience activity fees are not included so you must choose at least one activity and pay for it).

4. After finishing the payment, you will receive your e-ticket through the email you provided. 

For inquiries call 1670-1417 (Monday-Friday) (working hours: 9am-6pm)

For more information check the photos below

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Parks in Incheon: Songdo Central Park (송도 센트럴파크)

Fall 🍁🍁🍁 season is the perfect time to go to parks and enjoy the beautiful nature as it changes colors gradually. Did you know that in South Korea people usually go to parks either to hang out with friends or family or just to enjoy a meal. If you happen to visit Incheon make sure to drop by Songdo Central Park and experience yourself the mesmerizing scenery of the park. 

How to get there by Public Transportation
* Take Metro subway train bound for Incheon Line 1 (인천1)
* Get off at Central Park station (센트럴파크 포스코건설역) 

(alternative route: get off at Incheon University Entrance Station (인천대입구역), go to exit 4 and walk for about 12 minutes (approximately 790meters towards Songdo Central Park).
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** Photos courtesy of Mauricio Chalita **
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Review: Gangwondo Yangyang Haedam Village (여행 후 이야기: 강원도 양양 해담마을)

Last September 24, we, the Korea Rural Tourism Supporters, held our last Rural Tourism tour. Our first stop was at Gangwon-do Yangyang Haedam Village (강원도 양양 해담마을). Out of the two field trips I managed to participate, this last trip was the most memorable and fun trip I guess.

As a supporter of Korea Rural Tourism I was lucky enough to be able to learn and of course needless to say experience the fun of Korean archery (활쏘기) and Korean traditional raft (뗏목). Everything was first time to me so I was so excited to learn and do the experience programs, and personally speaking the experience programs met my expectations. 

Fun Facts about Haedam Village
Haedam Village which literally means "the village of sunshine in between mountains" is located at Seorim-ri Seo-myeon Yangyang-gun in Gangwon-do. It is a rural farm village surrounded by a deep valley and a green forest. It is considered as the producer of the best quality Injin mugwort.

Haedam Village offers a number of exciting and fun experience programs such as Amphibious Vehicle ride, Paintball Survival experience program, paintball shooting experience program, archery experience program, kayaking, wooden raft ride, trout catching, BBQ cooking, Tteok (Korean rice cake) making, soybean pancake making, hamburger making, Pyogo (shiitake) Mushroom cultivation, Marinated Beef patties making, bungalow stay, camping and pension stay. (For photos visit this link http://simplyexplorer.blogspot.kr/2016/09/korea-rural-tourism-supporters-goes-to.html)

How to get there by public transportation:
* From Dong Seoul Bus Terminal (동서울종합버스터미널) take a bus bound for Yangyang Intercity Central Terminal (양양시외종합터미널)
-- travel time: approximately 2 hours and 50 minutes depending on traffic situation
-- fare cost: 18,700 Korean Won
* From YangYang Intercity Central Terminal (양양시외종합터미널) take a bus bound for Seorimri (서림리)
-- travel time: approximately 49 minutes depending on traffic situation
-- get off at the 18th bus stop
* From the bus stop, walk for about 6 minutes (405 meters) towards the Haedam Village

Address: 강원도 양양군 서면 구룡령로 2110-17
Contact Number: 033-673-2233 | 010-4396-3969 | 010-9079-0848
Email Address: hd.invil.org

To know more about Haedam Village check this link https://www.facebook.com/ruralkorea.en/videos/1724813164431736/?pnref=story

Photo courtesy of Korea Rural Tourism

Photo courtesy of Kiyo Rea

Photo courtesy of Kiyo Rea

Photo courtesy of Kiyo Rea

 

Not bad for a first-timer :-)

Moreover, we visited in a very fine sunny day so we were also able to witness the pristine and tranquil beauty of Haedam Village's surroundings. It makes us enjoy the fresh and cool breeze of the fall season while at the same time appreciate the natural colors of the nearby mountains.

Other experience programs that can be done at Haedam Village are: Paintball shooting (페인트볼사격), Amphibious vehicle Ride (수륙양용차 타기) and Kayaking (카약)

Colorful Kayak boats

Kayak boats with the breathtaking mountain as a backdrop

Photo courtesy of Korea Rural Tourism

Photo courtesy of Korea Rural Tourism

Overall, learning and experiencing Korean archery and traditional (wooden) rafting was so fun. I actually wished we were given more time since the experience activities were so wonderful. 

After the experience programs, we headed directly to the restaurant of Haedam Village to indulge a mouthwatering rural luncheon. Since it is a rural luncheon as expected the food was so delicious and healthy.

Thank you very much to the Korea Rural Tourism Supporters program for this very memorable and mesmerizing tour.

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