Postcards from abroad
Time now for some history. Aside from raw fish and eel shabu-shabu, Yeosu is best known for its most famous inhabitant, Admiral Yi Sun-shin (1545-1598). He is a Korean national hero: He was posted as Naval Commander in 1591, at the start of a six-year wave of Japanese invasions (the intruders were trying to conquer… Continue reading Exploring Yeosu
We headed for the city of Yeosu on the south coast of Korea, knowing that we would have to take a ferry over to the island where we are staying: We hadn’t fully thought through the implications of having to leave the island each time we wanted to go shopping or to seek out a… Continue reading Eating eel on an island
We travelled further west today to Joensu, famous for bibimbap - a Korean-wide rice dish, usually with an egg, and super-delicious when one has eaten too much Korean barbecue: We’d come seeking another traditional Hanok village but Joensu turned out to be a bit of a let-down, with a lot of tourist tat and dressing… Continue reading Our lovely apartment plus small tourist attractions
The Silla dynasty in Gyeongju was established in 69 BCE when a strange light shown down onto a horse of pure white which was sheltering an egg. A boy hatched from the egg and established the Silla dynasty which spawned more than 56 monarchs before collapsing in 935 AC. There are loads of regal burial… Continue reading Gyeongju: former Silla capital
Korea has made many efforts to keep alive its pastoral traditions, according to the Rough Guide, including preserved folk villages. We visited one such community where residents suvive on a mix of home-grown vegetables, goverment subsidy and tourist-generated income. This one has World Heritage protection. There’s a shuttle bus from the car park so all… Continue reading Hahoe Folk Village