Eulalia(silver grasses) festival of Mindung mountain(민둥산 억새축제) in Jeongseon/Gwangwon province

It’s getting cold, fall has deepen.
Today is the day that I am planing to go the MinDung mountain for silver grasses festival. Festival is held at 19 Sep-26 Oct in this year, in general they hold it in mid October every year.

I was told that the peak time is in mid of October. I woke up so early because it would be take 3 hrs 30 minutes to MinDung mt. area from Seoul by transportation. The tracking course would be taken 4 hrs at least as I heard. At this time I used the tour bus because I didn't want to drive the long distance on a same day for return. The bus arrived at around 10 AM, thanks to such a early starting from Seoul, the bus run at high speed without any traffic jam. Looked back the conditions, early arrival was the best choice to went up and down this mountain. 

Look at the so many early birds at the beginning point

Choose the straight soft course(2.8 kilo meters), please, for your better time

Even in soft course

There were gentle slope(완경사) and steep one(급경사). I chose gentle slope.But I recognized so quickly that it was not so gentle at all.    A slope of over 15 degrees almost went on the last peak point made me hard, so I was exhausted completely. However it was also true that the mountain gave me the plenty of picturesque scenery. Yes, it was really absolutely worth it. The trees were burning with crazy red, brilliant yellow, brown and other colors.   

Ah!!!!  Silver grasses !!!  Finally, I did it.

This is very famous place of Silver Grass Habitat in Korea. That region is very deep and remote country village. Despite of  not  easy approach, people do not hesitate to hike this peak in each fall. Vast amount of Silver grasses was spread over widely from top to the seventh of a ridge. This particular zone of the top was made by that people who lived at near village and burned this area to get wild edible greens so many years ago.

I was so hard to get the summit. But as times go by,many views were deeply printed in my mind already.
How to get there;
1.    Take train from Cheongnyangni station(Seoul) to Mindungsan station
          (Mugunghwa Line starting)-several times a day
2.    Take train from Seoul station to Mindungsan station
         (Saemaul Line)-once a day
3. Take an intercity bus heading to Jeongseon bus stop from
     DongSeoul bus terminal(East Seoul bus terminal) and
     Take a taxi to Mindungsan
     ---not recommendable, rare bus schedules to Mindungsan point
     ---in case of using taxi,it takes 35 minutes at least(25 KMs),expensive cost
You can make a reservation for train at their official web site. www.letskorail.com
Need to prepare some foods for lunch and drinking water.
  This post contains affiliate links, which means we offer all travelers to sales benefits if you purchase after clicking.  Thank you for your support.

Stay in control of your travel money with no minimum daily spend when you're traveling. With Prepaid Korea Travel SIM you receive an Korean number and SIM for your existing mobile or tablet. Simply activate and insert your Prepaid Korea Travel SIM to stay connected while you're in Korea. We have Korea SIM Cards that all you need, make NeoKOSIM your first destination before travelling.

To see more Korea SIM Card's details >>> click here ! neokosim.com

The Great Gyeonggi Airshow by the Korean Air Force 2014

The World Best level of Airshow !!
Gyeonggi province & the Korean Air Force have co-hosted the Airshow since 2009 annually, in spring or autumn according to their condition. Over half million peoples visited and they are getting more and more as goes by the year as I heard. I could not wait their great performance because I had never experienced like this sort of show. So I’ve been waiting to see this Airshow with my heart flutter. And what’s more,I could get 30% discount through internet. The visit of air force base was another fresh experience to me also.

On the way to airbase

At the first time I was in a daze by the loud crash of thunder, but soon accustomed myself to sound. The around thirty minutes passed so quickly.The fantastic airshow did not disappoint at all. It was really great.  They are Fantastic show of light aircraft from US and Hungary by Zoltan Veres(Hungarian, High president of acrobat flight of world best class) and by Hubie Tolson(American, A member of US national acrobat flight team). The highlight of this show was the amazing performance by the Black Eagle(Korean air force team).

The fantastic air show of light aircraft

Below were  Black-Eagles full time airshow. They have the record of 1st ranking at English Waddington Int'l airshow and Grand prize at light Int'l airshow. 

 

They prepared several experimental centers and many sorts of aircraft such as warplane, airplane drawing experience corner for children, air force helicopter rescue demo, diverse performances etc.,Many other performances made me exciting also. Be proud of being a Korean ! 

 

 

 

 

Taekwondo performance 

  

Soft persimmon(Ripe persimmon)

The season of harvest, Fall has come. In Korea, we say that sky gets the more higher and horses get to be fat more. Today I was tempted by the sweet soft persimmon laid on the first line of fruit shop. This seasonal fruit for only in fall and early winter, what's more the low price made me happy.

The soft persimmon bundle with the price of KRW 3000 

Please don't hesitate to taste this sweeties.

Tip ; This is good for digestion and hangover.

Do not each very much. It can cause constipation due to tannin component.

Wishing your happy and delicious time.

  

Namhansanseong fortress

 Brisk fall days don’t allow to let me stay inside home with its’ bracing air touching me. There are many charms easily reachable in an hour by public transportation or car from Seoul, fortunately. Namhansanseong fortress(남한산성. Lit. fortress located in the south area over Hangang river) is the one of them. Here has been loved calm rest region as well as soft trekking course being contained historical traces and beautiful nature all the year before it was designated as UNESCO World Heritage site in 2014.

This is the very kind of fortress blessed with natural barriers for defense as topographical advantage. This is in a mountainous site above the sea level of 400m to 480m, flat lands to easily observe around and water-rich region. Here is guessed that was built in 7^th (1400 years ago) first but wall condition being as it is was large-scale equipped in 17^th (400 years ago) by Buddhist monk during the Joseon Dynasty and it was rebuilt in the part of the material elements of the property several times. We did feel the height and a little thrill by taking the bus went on narrow winding road lasting to 20 minutes up to entrance of fortress from the subway station. Also stone wall shown different types and colors seemed to say the history of its’ own.

There are five courses to walk along the fortress. We chose the course 1 because it is relatively easy, contains many historical meaning spots and beautiful views in many angles. It started from the Rotary, last bus stop, passed by traditional Korean food restaurants and cafes and finally reached the information board next to North gate.

The starting point of course 1 , North Gate

 Please go to the right stairs along the wall when you meet this point that's why you won't miss the Secret door 5th leading you into gorgeous Yeonjubong Ongseong(연주봉옹성).

The Secret door 5th

The Yeonjubong Ongseong(연주봉 옹성)

The West-gate(서문) where King INJO and crown prince passed The throuh this gate when they were forced to give in to the invader Hong Taiji, who went on to become the first emperor of Qing Dynasty (China), in AC1637, 380 years ago.
King Injo of Chosun dynasty  widely had  renovated   including command posts, office buildings,ware houses,and a temporary palace inside during two years.When the Qing  empire  Hong Taiji of Manchu invaded Korea (Chosun dynasty)  in December 1636( almost 400 years ago).  King Injo took a refuge to this fortress in a hurry. After 47 days, He came out through this gate and forced to surrender finally despite of his great preparation uselessly.  Do these wild flowers know the old sad histories?

The view of Seoul from this fortress

The Sueojangdae수어장대 which was the command post

The Secret Door, one of the 16 doors in this fortress, was used for entrance to carry foods and weapons and to came into inside for reinforcement and scouts. The buttressed wall made from soil inside this door was pull down and closed at emergency time.

The Zelkova 350years old outside of South gate

How to get there?
Take Bus No 52  or Bus No 9( to the final destination bus-stop)