Galbi or Kalbi - "delicious"

On entering this restaurant I was immediately worried - what was next.

The table settings were immaculate and the slabs of meat were slabs - a pair of scissors were also available to cut them...  Here goes nothing - have a look...


"Gabi - delicious..."

I was surprised and then contented myself for the next 30 minute to eating the meat and barbecued garlic - there were more vegetables and herbs available to accompany the meat but it was not necessary.


I would have this one again.

A strawberry farm

I was not aware that Korea was famous for it's strawberries....


We drove up to what can only be described as an abandoned plot of land with long rows of small tunnels of tents on...

We were told that we could have 6 strawberries each - this was the maximum.  Jemma and Chuen began to collect and I watched - strawberries are not my favourite fruit. I also saw no double cream and sugar so the idea of strawberry picking was not a good one.

I watched Jemma happily play with the locals dog... and we got back on the coach. I do not understand this business and how payment is made to these strawberry growers or have all the best strawberries gone?

Putting on traditional Korean dress

The time that we had in this establishment - adjacent to the Kimichi making was minimal so it was all a little bit chaotic, but it was all just a bit of fun for us all.

Jemma was 'adopted' by two of the young girls from the coach who proceeded to dress her. This was lovely to see and take some photographs.

When Chuen was ready they had group photographs and then Jemma had a little tea party with another little girl on the coach - simple fun.

Learn how to make Kimchi

Well this was certainly different.  We were all ushered into a small room where we were given plastic gloves and an apron.  We stood around the room (well I took photographs) in front of a large plate with a blob of red mixture and some cabbage.

We were there to make kimchi – this is a Korean dish and the main ingredient is feremented Napa Cabbage.  We were then told that the red stuff was a mixture of different spices but I have to admit that I did not pay attention.

Jemma and Chuen mixed the substances together on the tray and emptied it into a plastic bag and hey presto – Kimchi…

No I did not eat it!

 

Yongpyong Ski Resort, Pyeongchang gun, Gangwon do

Yongpyong Ski Resort was very convenient if you wanted to go skiing - which we did. We were also on the ground floor which made moving our luggage around also very simple.


In the evening we wandered around just outside the Yongpyong and found that many of the restaurants had closed by 7:30 pm so we went back to eat in the hotel.


Delicious - I had my eyes on the fruit but after my sandwich, Jemma's spaghetti and Chuen's lasagne I was full.

The drink that we did try looked very strange - it was Korean beer? - a little sweet but I liked it.  It may have been stronger but I was unaware - Chuen said that it was strong.


The amenities were adequate and there was also free wi-fi in the room, so we now had the 'Fruit Ninja Puss in Boots' App for the iPad.


This is the website of Yongpyong Ski Resort. 

Skiing

Jemma told us that she wanted to go skiing – so we went skiing. I had never been skiing but what the heck, it can’t be that hard can it?

We collected our skiing bits (losing a pair of gloves in the process) and strode out onto to the slopes – well the little bit at the bottom.

Her two friends from the coach assisted Jemma and she had a wonderful time having a go.  Jemma was always caught at before she fell and loved every minute BUT gave up when it was too cold (about 30 minutes).

I tried and found it scary – if you had it all straight and were pointing in the right direction you went ‘zooooom’ BUT then you had to stop… This was not an easy thing to do – easier just to fall over – it was fun though.

Osam Bulgogi

We drove some way and turned down a road which looked like it was leading to a Residential Area - past a field of drying fish (more about that later).

The restaurant was very busy and looked more like a cabin - but we entered into a busy room where all of the diners were sitting cross legged on the floor - I liked the selection of shoes which were there.


We sat there and I watched what was prepared for us.

Osam Bulgogi!


Now I did have difficulty googling this dish - everything was written in Thai.  The dish which was prepared for us was on a Korean style cooking bowl and the ingredients of what was in the dish was virtually indistinguishable - initially I thought that it was seafood but as I looked closer I was unable to guarantee what it was.


After browsing the Internet I believe that I have found the ingredients

I ate the seaweed and rice with Jemma (again)...

Ocean Railbike

After a breakfast at the Sorak Park Hotel it was an early start to find the Ocean Railbike.

After a stop at a convenience store for a Starbucks Frappucino I was ready for the day.  We arrived at what looked like a metro station adjacent to the beach – it was cold and windy BUT the scenery was wonderful, apparently they can swim some parts of the year (NOT March).

The Ocean Railbike is a covered bicycle for 4 persons and the bicycle is fixed to two tracks.   There is a little help from the electrics to take you up the hill.  We had a swift stop at the top and Chuen and Jemma had all I can think was a deep fried sausage? We had a lot of fun and laughter as we kept trying to keep going

We then peddled into a dark tunnel that had a light show in it which did not seem to make any sense but Jemma enjoyed it.

Back on the coach.

Sorak Park Hotel

This was very close to the Seraksan National Park which we had visited during the day - the park was beautiful but the hotel was disappointing.


One plug worked in the whole room and we had no idea how the hot water worked and when we figured it out the water was not at the best tepid.

I now have to add though that the underfloor heating worked however - which meant that our clothes for the next day were carefully placed the night before...

As indicated in the previous reviews the hotel does need an upgrade - I worried about the fire escape system, the chain on the door was broken, the button on the handle was missing.  The bath was tiny BUT we were only there one night...

Sunrise was beautiful over the mountains nearby.



  

Seafood Steampot

After the cold of the Sereksan National Park it was welcoming to enter into the restaurant to have dinner.


BUT what was I supposed to be eating?

The temperature difference was so large that the camera steamed up!  I rushed downstairs to buy some food which was edible - chocolate...

Seoraksan National Park and the Great Unification Buddah

We drove up the mountains and then arrived at Seoraksan National Park – and were greeted a bear and a lot of snow.  We followed our group to a lift that took us slowly up a mountain to a viewpoint that was WHITE – we could not see a thing!

I left the family and took a trip along the track and could not progress more than 100 metres – I could not see anything but white… We chose to return to the ground and progress further into the Park. We found a snowman and Jemma threw snowballs at two lovely girls who were part of our group.

We soon arrived at Sinheungsa – the Great Unification Buddha – 14.6 meters high and 108 tom gilt-bronze statue.

The Great Unification Buddha reflects the wish for the reunification of the divided country of Korea… rice and roofing tiles could be purchased and donated to the upkeep.

As we walked through the park we found ourselves almost alone – the park was silent but beautiful.  I was reminded of Korean movies where there was a martial arts training in the mountains and the buildings were ornate and very carefully constructed – beautiful.

The surroundings were covered in snow and the bridges made it very picturesque.

Dak galbi

I carefully entered into this restaurant for lunch – I believe that it is referred 

to as Dak galbi?

What is Dak galbi?

I can only tell you that it was a pile of white cabbage...

with something else in...

I did not know what it actually was until we returned back to Phuket - this is a description from www.ask.com

South Korean dish generally made by stir-fryingmarinated diced chicken in a gochujang (chili pepper paste) based sauce, and sliced cabbage, sweet potato, scallions, onions and tteok (rice cake) together on a hot plate. It is a local specialty food for the city ofChuncheon, Gangwon Province, where dak galbioriginates. Because of its origin, the dish is also calledChuncheon dak galbi.


This was not a dish that I found tasty but very bland and so did not each much - I looked at the bits to add to the pile of white cabbage - I think that there might have been onion BUT sweet potatoes and a rice cake?

I would never choose this dish again BUT Jemma did like the seaweed.

  

Nami Island

A late flight on the 9^th of March and we arrived early in the morning on Saturday the 10^th.  This meant that the first place that we visited was Nami Island.

Nami Island was named after General Nami – a notable figure in Korean history who died at the age of 26 but fought courageously, but I found very little information which was consistent about this figure...

Nami Island was an island that was reached by a ferry.  The island had a number of places to visit and was apparently a ‘Republic’.  We took a ride on a ‘Sky Bike’ – which meant that it was raised and you peddled yourself.  We crossed over the bridge that was used in a Korean film – ‘Winter Sonata’ for a kiss on a bridge.

There were 2 ostriches?  There was a lovely tree lane called Gingko Tree lane and it looks familiar – apparently there are woods called ‘Lover’s Woods’ as well!

Coffees were taken whilst Jemma looked at a squirrel running up the trees – and they had really bushy tails, not like Thai squirrels! Then we were approached by what I think was a representation of Pre-historic man, chasing Jemma.

We waited near a statue in the water / ice called a Namimaid – we got back on the ferry and returned to the coach.