Wansan Park, Jeonju

If you look for the King Cherry Blossom and colorful Royal Azaleas, Wansan Park in Jeonju is the best place to visit. Since it’s located just next to Jeonju Hanok Village, you can reach this place after you spend some hours in the famous Hanok Village, only 30 mins by walking.

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King Cherry Blossom is another type of Cherry Blossom flower, but the flower is more pink, bigger and has more petals.

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Royal Azalea in Wansan Park has some two colors, the red and pink one.

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Something you can’t forgot is taking good photos.

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[TIPS]

    • You can get to Jeonju by taking public bus from Express Bus Terminal to Jeonju city which is available every 10 mins
    • If bus terminal is too far from your area, the easier way to travel is joining oneday shuttle bus to Jeonju organized by Trazy where they have pick up points on popular area such as myeongdong, hongdae and dongdaemun. Click here Travel with Trazy
    • Once you arrive to Jeonju City (by your own) or to Jeonju Hanok Village with Trazy, read my instruction bellow.

[HOWTOGETTHERE]

  • Walk from Bus Terimal to Geumam Gwanjang Intersection (금암관장사거리) for about 5-10mins, and take right and you will find bus stop. Take bus 165.
  • Get off at Nambu Market Bus Stop (남부시장). As soon as you get off, go to your left and keep going straight until you see a river and bridge.
  • (If you wanna visit after spending time in Jeonju Village, you can go to a big road next to Jeoju Cathedral, and turn left, towards a river and bridge)

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  • As you find the bridge, you will see small hill on your right.

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  • Find the entrance to the hill (steep stairs) and Wansan Park is just behind that hill.

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  • Take the stairs and as soon as you reach the top, take left, go straight untill you find way down exit, and take left again and you will see the entrance of the Wansan Park on your right.

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Visited on April 25th, 2017

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Seoul Sky

Seoul Sky is the newest tourist attraction in Seoul. Just opened 3 weeks ago on April 4th, Seoul Sky is the observation deck in Lotte World Tower, the tallest building in Korea, 5th tallest in the world now. Seoul Sky offers you such amazing view of Seoul city from “sky”, from 117th-121th floor around 500 m above grounds. The observation deck itself is the third highest in the world.

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*credit to the owner

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Seoul city looks like toys when you see them from 500 m above the ground.F86A1718F86A1727F86A1732F86A1742

I also captured Lotte World outdoor which is located just bellow the tower.

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Seoul Sky got 3 records from Guiness World Records, with the tallest double elevator, the fastest double deck elevator, and the highest glass-floor observation deck in the world.

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They also have their own mascots.

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The journey to the sky starts from the entrance which is located in the B2 floor of Lotte World Mall (exit 1 Jamsil Station). The ticket price is 27.000 won per person.

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Before taking the elevator to the sky, they offer you short history and information about Seoul Sky with high sophisticated and artistic media.

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As you arrive at floor 117th (the first floor of observation deck), you will see such minimalist modern interior which is amazing.

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If you go up to the 118th floor, you will find the glass-floor observation deck where you can see the ground clearly under your feet.F86A1745F86A1766F86A1768

If you have more budget, you can also try to have meal in the sky of Seoul, the highest restaurant in Korea, which is on 123rd floor.

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I also spotted a super romantic moment when the saxophonist took one of my friend to the centre and played an instrument for her. She said that she hopes that her future husband to propose her like that.

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[HOWTOGETTHERE]

  • Take subway Line 2 and get off at Jamsil Station
  • Follow the direction to exit 1 (Lotte World Mall), as you enter the main gate of B2 floor of Lotte World Mall, you can see Seoul Sky entrance on your right side.

*more info 

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VISITED ON APRIL 20TH, 2017

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Seoul’s Hidden Canola Fields

Good news for everyone who is looking for the yellow canola flowers in Seoul area. You do not need to go to Busan or Jeju Island for canola flowers since you can see them in Seoul. It’s not as big as the field in other place, but it’s worthy to visit and take pictures, since its 30 mins away from downtown.

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Canola flowers in Seoul usually bloom on April 10th until first week of May (depend on the weather, rain and wind). In 2017, in my prediction, the best time to visit is April 18th – April 23th.

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The canola flowers grow bellow the Gwangmyeong Bridge (광명대교), just next to the Anyang stream nearby Guil Station. Gwangmyeong Bridge is seen in the picture below.

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[HOWTOGETTHERE]

The location is quite hard to find as it is quite far from the nearest subway station, which is Guil Station (Line 1), about 1,3km away (20mins walking). Here’s the detail direction.

As you arrive at Guil Station, take exit 1 (the exit gate is shown below)

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As soon as you go out, turn right and you will see the entrance of a bridge which will accros the stream.

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At the end of the bridge, turn left (under the flyover road), go straight.

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When you the find a pathway going down, go down to the jogging and bicycle track beside the Anyang stream (stream should be on your left side)

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This is the jogging and bicycle track beside the stream. Keep walking straight.

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First, you will see tulip fields, and the canola fields is just behind it.

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Keep going straight until you find the yellow canola fields.

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Here’s the direction in map

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VISITED ON APRIL 20TH, 2017

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Wonmisan Mountain Azalea Festival

Azalea flower is purple flower which usually bloom on early April in Korea.

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Wonmisan Mountain Azalea Festival is held on April 7-9 this year. Beside Wonmisan, there are other Azalea Festival such as Yeongchwisan Azalea Festival (Yeosu, early April) and Goryeosan Mountain Azalea Festival (Incheon, late April).

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Not only purple Azalea, yellow Forthysia also blooms around the mountain make it more colorful.

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If you walk around, they have a pretty bridge, a good spot for you to take good picture. Meanwhile if you reach the peak, you can see Bucheon Stadium from above.

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[HowToGetThere]

  • Take subway to Bucheon Stadium Station (Line 7), take exit 2
  • Walk straight for around 500 m, just afer you pass the stadium you will see sign “The Azale Garden” (photo below), that’s the entrance of the festival

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*more info

If you miss Wonmisan Mountain Azalea Festival, you still have a chance to visit Goryeosan Mountain Azalea Festival by joining daily tour Trazy!

Click here  Travel with Trazy

visited on April 7th, 2017

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Jinhae (2017 updated)

Everyone knows that Jinhae city is the most beautiful place in Korea for seeing cherry blossom. It’s super recommended for travellers who come to Korea during late March until April 1st week to visit this city. Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival itself held between April 1 – 10 everyear. Why it’s so pretty? The whole entire is city is PINK as cherry blossom grows everywhere.

Gyeonghwa Station

Gyonghwa Station is used to be train station where cherry blossoms trees grow along the rail way. They also put the real train during Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival to make it more beautiful.

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If you are a photographer and like to take perfect picture, you can come to this place at the dawn and use long exposure when it’s still dark. I arrived at 5.15am in the morning and took some best shots.

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Yeojwacheon Stream

The 2nd must visited place after Gyeonghwa Station when you are in Jinhae is Yeojwacheon Stream where you can see the cherry blossom tree along the stream for about 1 km long.

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Jinhae Inland Water Ecopark

At the end of Yeojwacheon Stream, they have a park with small lake called Jinhae Inland Water Ecopark.

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Jinhae Naval Base Command

You ca also take a stroll to the left side of Yeojwacheon stream (5 mins walking) to visit the Jinhae Naval Base Command area where you can also see chery blossoms

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Jinhae District Office

Jinhae is a perfect place to explore cherry blossom spot as the whole city has it. I went to the Jinhae District Office area, 30 mins away from Yeojwacheon or 20 mins away from Gyeonghwa Station by bus 307. They have cherry blossom trees around the area.

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Just next to the district office, there is a way uphill where you will find baseball court,

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If you keep walking uphill you will see a pink hill, full of cherry blossom

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Wood Culture Experience Centre (목재문화체험장)

Keep walking from Jinhae district office and take the left way in the intersection to visit the Wood Culture Experience Centre.

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Jinhae Dream Park

My cherry blossom adventure is not finished yet as I explore the Jinhae Dream Park and the surrounding, next to the culture centre to take some best photos.

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Photoshoot in Jinhae

Jinhae is also perfect place to take photoshoot, beauty shoot, couple shoot, even prewedding photos

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Are you ready to explore Jinhae city?

I already wrote the detailed direction, tips and itenerary of Jinhae trip in my previous post. You can click here

visited on April 4th, 2017

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Gurye Sansuyu Village

Sansuyu flower is the second to bloom when spring comes to Korea. Sansuyu has yellow color with unique form.

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The Sansuyu Village is located in the entrance of Jirisan Mountain, one of the most famous mountain in southern part of Korea.

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The flower usually starts to bloom on 2nd week of March and get its peak on 3rd week of March every year as they also held annual festival. In 2017, the festival is held from March 18-26. The best time to visit is March 20-25 before rain and wind blow the flower petals.

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They also build brown woody pathway along the village to accommodate guests walking and enjoying the sansuyu flowers which bloom along the way

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In this village, they have a small river where all the sansuyu flowers bloom along the stream.

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The most highlight thing from my trip was photo session with our lovely Monica wearing white dress and flower crown.

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It’s quite complicated to reach this place as I recommend you to take daily tour from some agency departing from Seoul such as trazy, wemakeprice, etc. But if you wish to travel alone, here’s the information.

[HowToGetThere]

  • Take direct bus from Seoul Nambu Bus Terminal to Gurye Bus Terminal for about 4 hours.
  • Take local bus heading to Jungdong from Gurye Bus Terminal and get off at Jirisan Hot Spring bus stop.

[Tips]

  • Check the official website or recent photos on instagram before you visit, every year the condition is different. The best time to visit os March 20-25
  • Visit on weekday and early in the morning to avoid crowd.
  • If you wish to travel with daily tour from Seoul, reserve some weeks in advance because it’s gonna be sold out so fast.
  • Wear clothes whose color is contrast to yellow so you look better in photos.

*more info 

visited on March 22th, 2017

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Gwangyang Maehwa Village

Maehwa is the flower which bloom when the Plum tree bear its fruits. Maehwa is also called Plum Blossom because its form and color which is really similar with Cherry Blossom. Maehwa or Plum Blossom usually bloom 2-3  weeks earlier than Cherry Blossom in Korea, between  March 10-25 every year.

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The common color of Maehwa is white, but you can also see some pink Maehwa.

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In South Korea, Maehwa only blooms in certain area as the biggest one is in Gwangyang, called Cwangyang Maehwa Village, 4 hour away from Seoul.

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The annual festival held during the peak of Maehwa each year. in 2017, the festival is between March 11-19.

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One of the highlight when you visit the festival is you gotta try the famous Plum Ice Cream for only 3000 won.

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The magical white Maehwa is so beautiful and being a perfect place to have photoshoot. Luckily I went there with Hendry Yadhisna, a profesional photographer who also works for Sweet Escape Travelling Photography by Axioo.

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Photoshoot is not complete if you donot have model. This time the model is our lovely friend Monica.

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The festival ends on Sunday, March 19th, but you’re still be able to see the Maehwa until March 25 the least (my prediction, since we still have no rain for the whole next week).

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It’s quite complicated to reach this place as I recommend you to take daily tour from some agency departing from Seoul such as trazy, wemakeprice, etc. But if you wish to travel alone, here’s the information.

[HowToGetThere]

  • Take direct bus from Seoul Nambu Bus Terminal to Hadong Bus Terminal (Bus runs 9 times a day, start from 06:30 until 22:00)
  • From Hadong Bus Terminal, you can either take a local bus bound for Daap-myeon (다압면) for 1-1,5 hours or take taxi for 10-15 mins and get off at Maehwa Village (매화마을).

[Tips]

  • Check the official website or recent photos on instagram before you visit, every year the condition is different. This year the Maehwa flowers fall down earlier as they have strong wind recently.
  • Visit on weekday and early in the morning to avoid crowd.
  • If you wish to travel with daily tour from Seoul, reserve some weeks in advance because it’s gonna be sold out so fast.
  • Wear bright color of clothes to look better in photos.

*more info 

visited on March 17th, 2017

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