Irritating bug

Seriously, just 1 mosquito a night to visit you at 3-5am, for 5 nights out of 7 days, is simply no joke. Must be the recent rainy weather. NEA, can you do something about it!!!

Korean Day 8

Last day of our trip involves visiting tourist spots around Seoul. First stop is the Vietnam war military display, where the artillery, planes and even missiles are available for tourists to take pictures.

A bullet ridden battleship. Cool!

Next stop is a visit to one of the herbal shop, where the pills they are selling has the ability to cleanse one's liver. Imagine a demonstration: Get a bottle of coca-cola, put in the grounded pills powder, shake it for a few minutes and be amazed that all the coke coloured ingredients, including caffeine, all sink to the bottom of the bottle, leaving only clear water on top! Scary.....

Next stop is a visit to a jewel making shop, where their speciality is purple gem.

Last minute shopping before the return flight in the evening

Stopping by a Belgian waffle shop for some ice-cream waffles

Korean version of mixed rice for lunch

Our trip coincides with a 10,000 members strong tour from China. We are seeing and hearing Chinese everywhere we goes.. Sian...

A Korean ancient court procession at the airport

Korean Day 7

After waking up early for our breakfast at the Yong Pyong Resort, *mds* and I had to endure another 3 hours bus ride back to Seoul. On the way, we stopped by a Ginseng Chicken Restaurant for our lunch.

Not exactly appetizing by its looks, but surprisingly, it taste nice!

After lunch was some cosmetic lessons at one of the center followed by shopping for facial products, where essentially, everything is about 1/3 the price in Singapore.

After we are done with the shopping, next stop is the ice gallery, where we have some ice sculpturing lesson, followed by a visit to the basement ice house where ice sculptures are on display.

For our dinner, we have our meals in one of Chinese restaurant, but unfortunately, the food isn't very nice...

After dinner, we proceed to watch the JUMP show, which is quite funny

A quite innovative idea to water the trees, maybe Nparks can learn a thing or two from the Koreans

Korean Day 6 part 2

After Seoraksan National Park, it is time for some spa action next. First time into spa facility, I didn't really expect that the temperature of the water in the spa is actually around 42C. I really feel that I am cooked alive in the water.

Met up with *mds* and we proceed to check out other facilities in the center. We tried out some water slides, the experience were not that bad. One interesting slide, if I recalled correctly, is the tsunami. You plunged into a giant bowl and get roll up and down almost 300 degree so as to let you have a taste of what tsunami is like.

After spa, its lunch time! Our skin are really smooth after the spa.

Next destination is the Yong Pyong Gondola.

Riding it up 1400m to the top of Mount Balwang

Reaching the dragon peak!

Unfortunately, because out timing coincides with storm clouds rolling in, the temperature plunge to like 3 degree? Freezing cold!!!

Ski facilities used in winter

Garden at the peak

Because of the storm clouds, we cannot see the other mountain peaks. Sad...

A hut in the fog

Dinner time. Vegetarian meal again... ^.^!

Some pool action after dinner

And the night view of Yong Pyong Resort

Korean Day 6 part 1

*mds* and I woke up the next morning to a beautiful sunrise. For today, the itinerary will be some sort of "back to nature", visiting the Seoraksan National Park and riding a gondola up Mount Balwang.

No idea what has happened to my old spectacle. The low humidity seems to make the protective cover of the lens to crack. Weird....

A snapshot of the mountains of Seoraksan National Park

The bear of Seoraksan

Nice scenery of a bridge over a small stream

A temple in the national park

A interesting blend of new technology with old infrastructure

Another good scenic spot

The Buddha representing the unification of South Korea and North Korea

A last parting shot of the mountains of Seoraksan National Park