Wednesday 27 November 2013

September in Mureung Valley & Samhwasa Temple [Day 5]

Mureung Valley and Samhwasa Temple - must visit Tourist Attractions in Samcheok | by Meheartseoul 4.  Mureung Valley (무릉계곡)

Trip to Mureung Valley and Samhwasa Temple blog | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
Mystical and Magnificent Mureung Valley

Trip to Mureung Valley and Samhwasa Temple blog | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
about 10 minutes walk from the parking lot / ticket office to Mureung Valley

Entrance to Mureung Valley
 Admission Fees: Adults 2,000 won, Children 700 won



Trip to Mureung Valley and Samhwasa Temple blog | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
and you'll pass by this giant rock with beautiful calligraphy carved on it
So sorry that I don't know how to read Chinese.
Please let me know if you can read this... Thank you ^^

Trip to Mureung Valley and Samhwasa Temple blog | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
and also this neatly carved Hanja...

Trip to Mureung Valley and Samhwasa Temple blog | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
Pavilion sitting beside Mureung Valley (무릉계곡).


Trip to Mureung Valley and Samhwasa Temple blog | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
Mureung Valley stretches 4 kilometers, unfolding a colorful spectrum
of river topography, from Hoam Pond to Yongchu Falls
against the backdrop of Dutasan Mountain and Cheongoksan Mountain.

Trip to Mureung Valley and Samhwasa Temple blog | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
It offers spectacular scenery consisting of unusual wide flat
rocks formations, green valleys, and clear water.

Trip to Mureung Valley and Samhwasa Temple blog | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
Kim Hyo-Won (김효원), Neo-Confucian scholar in Joseon Dynasty named it Mureung, 
because its scenery resembled Mureungdowon, a Chinese landscape
where you can see a waterfall flowing down a rock wall.

Trip to Mureung Valley and Samhwasa Temple blog | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
This valley creates mystical and serene atmosphere.
In fact, Mureung means “Paradise” in Korean.

Trip to Mureung Valley and Samhwasa Temple blog | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
Yang Sa Eon (양사언), one of the four greatest calligraphers from the early
Joseon Dynasty carved more than 10 names of governors or mayors of Samcheok
on this 5,000 square meter bedrock 'canvas'.

Trip to Mureung Valley and Samhwasa Temple blog | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
My son, Hao Zhi (昊志) found his name 志 is on the rock ^^
Absolutely awesome and insanely beautiful calligraphy that made me almost cried! How can the carved them so neat and artistic. It's like printed out calligraphy fonts from computer!  So embarrassing that I don't even know how to write that neat on the paper ㅠㅠ

Trip to Mureung Valley and Samhwasa Temple blog | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
 Countless of ancient poets, monks and travellers that visited this place
carved their names, family name and poetries in Hanja (한자), which many of them
are considered masterpieces of calligraphy.

Trip to Mureung Valley and Samhwasa Temple blog | meheartsoul.blogspot.com 
It is said “All poets and painters in the country have been there at least once,”
Edited one of the photos to water-painting pictorialisation on canvas,
as I don't know how to draw or paint!

Trip to Mureung Valley and Samhwasa Temple blog | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
Great escape place from bustling city!

I did scan around the area to see whether someone craving or painting. But not a lot of people visiting on that day. Only spotted few people walking on the rock, some sitting and enjoying the view or fresher themselves by tapping cold water on their faces.

The scenes of Cheon Gi painting Haram's portrait is set at this beautiful valley.
They enjoyed the time until Prince Yangmyeong arrived to arrest Haram...
(Lovers of the Red Sky #홍천기 ep. 10)


Trip to Mureung Valley and Samhwasa Temple blog | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
The Princess' Man Episode 7
"What is love, to the world I ask... And hers is my answer:
It means you and I becoming one, without hesitation, until death do us part"
That is what “Love” is.

It's one of the filming location for "Hwang Jin-Yi" and "Painter of the Wind". I'm wondering whether The Princess' Man was filming there as it's quite near to Seongyojang and the scenery and flat rock quite similar. But, I searched view blogs said it was filmed in Jeollanam-do, Wolchulsan mountain.  I'm adding Wolchulsan to places to visit for my next trip :P

You should go to Ssang (Twin Waterfalls) and Yongchu waterfalls if you have time about 3-4 hour roundtrip hike from Samhwasa temple. Again, we didn't have time as we need to be in Seongyojang before 6 pm...

5. Samhwasa Temple (삼화사)

Samhwasa is also called Mureung Dowon (Arcadia in Peach Tree Garden). This one-thousand year old, small but historical temple falls under the supervision of Woljeongsa Temple

Trip to Mureung Valley and Samhwasa Temple blog | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
头陀山三和, entrance to Samhwasa Temple

Trip to Mureung Valley and Samhwasa Temple blog | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
about 10 minutes from Mureung Valley, the temple is just over this bridge...

Trip to Mureung Valley and Samhwasa Temple blog | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
Beautiful and tranquil temple near Mureung Valley.

Trip to Mureung Valley and Samhwasa Temple blog | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
This temple is home to...

Trip to Mureung Valley and Samhwasa Temple blog | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
Three story stone Pagoda (National treasures No. 1277)

Trip to Mureung Valley and Samhwasa Temple blog | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
and Steel sitting Buddha statue (National treasures No. 1292)
  
Trip to Mureung Valley and Samhwasa Temple blog | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
 Bell Pavilion storing Dharma Percusions (Drum, Bell, Gong, Wooden Fish).

Samhwasa also houses the main shrine called Yaksajeon, Jeokkwangjeon, Beomjonggak pavilion, Geukrakjeon shrine, Birojeon shrine, Chilseongdan shrine, and Muhyanggak pavilion.
  

Trip to Mureung Valley and Samhwasa Temple blog | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
Renovation in progress...
therefore, we couldn't go to the main hall and Buddha statue

Trip to Mureung Valley and Samhwasa Temple blog | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
Donated money for renovation and wrote our names on this roof tile

Trip to Mureung Valley and Samhwasa Temple blog | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
Surrounding walls of Samhwasa Temple



Trip to Mureung Valley and Samhwasa Temple blog | meheartsoul.blogspot.com  
Turtle Pedestal outside the temple (click the link for the photos)
and somehow when I edited my photos I saw these "Turtle" Pedestals in:
1. Ojukheon - 율곡선생 유적정화기념비
2. Samhwasa Temple - 비직사사화삼
3. Bonguensa Temple.

I'm really curious on these, please enlighten me if you know:
1. What is the name of this pedestal / sculpture (in Hangul too if possible)?
2. Is it just to support memorial tablet? or any other functions?
3. Does it have special / mystical "power" (something like Haechi / Dolharubang / Jangseung)?
4. Is it only for people with special rank or contribution can use it?
    I saw a lot of normal (without turtle) memorial tablets outside Bonguensa Temple.
4. Other interesting information about this "Turtle"

Thank you ^^
  
Trip to Mureung Valley and Samhwasa Temple blog | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
🙏 Peace from Mureung Valley and Samhwasa Temple 🙏


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Friday 22 November 2013

September in Samcheok Beach and Jukseoru Pavilion [Day 5]

Beautiful spots in Samcheok: Samcheok & Jukseoru Pavilion | by Meheartseoul 2. Samcheok Beach (삼척해변)

Trip to Samcheok & Jukseoru Pavilion | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
~Samcheok Beach~

It took about 15 minutes drive from Chuam to Samcheok.

Samcheok Beach has a vast clean white-sand beach that is 1.2 kilometres long and 100 meters wide with shallow water and surrounded by pine trees.

Its beautiful natural environment has also made it a favourite filming location such as April Snow, One Fine Spring Day, and South of the Sun.

To be frank, I was quite disappointed and sad as Mr Nam didn't even stop at the places that I listed down for him. We supposed to stop at Jumunjin Lighthouse and Yeongok Beach the day before, and again we didn't stop at Mangsang BeachMangyeongdae and Samcheok Beach for this tour.

I did some research and create K-spots for the places that I wanted to visit, and arrange which spot to visit first using K-tour and I have the addresses for all the places, so we shouldn't have missed them. But, sigh... we didn't even stop for a minute.

Please enjoy the view of Samcheok Beach from my video recording, as I don't have any photo to show (the above photo is still cut from this video)





Samcheok Romantic Road

Trip to Samcheok & Jukseoru Pavilion | meheartsoul.blogspot.com

Trip to Samcheok & Jukseoru Pavilion | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
View of Samcheok Romantic Road 

Trip to Samcheok & Jukseoru Pavilion | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
various sculptures using stone and metal statues.

You can see the harmonious beautiful Samcheok blue-beach, green-mountain, white-sand, brown-rock, clear sky and artistic touch to create romantic atmosphere of this road.

Trip to Samcheok & Jukseoru Pavilion | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
Lady with Violin and Snailfish-water fountain.
  
About 5 minutes drive from Romantic Road, there're few seafood restaurants. Actually I wanted to eat Chodang Sundubu, but this restaurant not serving it.


Trip to Samcheok & Jukseoru Pavilion | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
Snailfish Soup (Gomchi Guk = 곰치국)

Trip to Samcheok & Jukseoru Pavilion | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
13 types of Banchan ^^
  
We ordered local speciality of Samcheok, Gomchi Guk (Snailfish Soup). It has unique and refreshing taste. It’s also good to relieve from hangovers.

Previously, Gomchi Guk was enjoyed only by people living in Gangwon area during winter, but now is considered as a nationwide delicacy throughout four seasons.

Maybe this snailfish is more expensive than those fish for sashimi and soup in Jumunjin. This big bowl of soup only has one fish inside, therefore it's quite tasteless. We still prefer the meal we had in Jumunjin with Sashimi and sweet and tasty soup.

Total we paid 72,000 won (60,000 won for Gomchi Soup and 12,000 won Bibimbap for Mr. Nam).

Trip to Samcheok & Jukseoru Pavilion | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
Fresher with Cass Fresh Beer? ;P

3. Jukseoru Pavilion (죽서루)

Jukseoru (죽서루 = 竹西樓) means "Bamboo West Pavilion"

Trip to Samcheok & Jukseoru Pavilion | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
It's not known when Jukseoru Pavilion was constructed,
but estimated it was existed around 1266, as there was a poem of Jukseoru
written by Geukgi Kim, scholar from the time of King Myeongjong of Goryeo Dynasty.

Trip to Samcheok & Jukseoru Pavilion | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
It is one of the eight major attractions of Gwandong District in middle eastern Korea
collectively known as Gwandong Palgyeong (eight famous sites).

Trip to Samcheok & Jukseoru Pavilion | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
Sitting on the edge of a cliff overlooking Osipcheon Stream with nice view of Samcheok city.

Trip to Samcheok & Jukseoru Pavilion | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
9 of the 17 pillars have foundations of natural rocks on the cliff as cornerstones,
 and others stand on bases of stones

Trip to Samcheok & Jukseoru Pavilion | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
five-girder paljak (ancient-style roof) is a hipped and gabled roof
in style and has double eaves.

Trip to Samcheok & Jukseoru Pavilion | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
signboards inside Jukseoru Pavilion.

Upper story of  Jukseoru has 7 'kan' (measurement referring to the space between two columns). There are 26 signboards inscriptions written by famous ancient scholars hanging here, such as:
- 'Jeilgyeongjeong' ('The best riverside pavilion'; 1662) by Heo Mok,
- 'Jukseoru' and 'Gwandong Jeilru' ('The best pavilion in Gwandong'; 1711) by Yi Seong-jo, 
- 'Haeseon Yuhui Jiso' ('The place that marine gods enjoy'; 1837) by Yi Gyu-heon 
Others who have left their marks include King Sukjong (1674-1720), King Jeongjo (1776-1800) and Yulgok YiYi (1536-1584).

Trip to Samcheok & Jukseoru Pavilion | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
The Pillar is not original.
 The floor is 'Umulmaru' (checker-shaped floor) in style.
It's one of the best examples of traditional naturalistic architecture,and the finest tower structure in Gwandong district of Gangwon-do.
Evidently, Jukseoru Pavilion has served as an inspiration, and continues to inspire visitors today through the stunning view of its surrounding nature.


 Trip to Samcheok & Jukseoru Pavilion | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
now, please close your eyes and imagine yourself walking through this
nice greenish bamboo path to Jukseoru Pavilion~~~

From entrance, turn to your left... else, you'll need to climb the rock (check the video below) to get to the pavilion.




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Wednesday 20 November 2013

September in Chuam - Chotdaebawi Rock [Day 5]

Not to miss attraction spot in Chuam: Chotdaebawi Rock | by Meheartseoul
안녕하세요~
Today, I'm back sitting on my throne to write this blog. Actually, my eyes still swollen, sore, tired and a bit blur vision after cried for 4 consecutive days watching "The Princess' Man" (공주의 남자).    
I love to watch historical (sageuk) dramas. Will let you know another reason why I watched this bloody sad and tear-jerking The Princess' Man later.   Ok, let's start here, so I can watch Empress Ki (기황후), and The Heirs tomorrow... Uh! can't wait for the next episodes!!!

~♥~*~♥~*~♥~

It's another taxi tour around Chuam and Samcheok area with Mr Nam...


We asked Mr Nam to stop at convenience store to buy breads, milk and kimbap for breakfast (breads that we bought for breakfast had been digested in our tummy yesterday night while waiting for our dinner).

There's ATM Machine inside the convenience store, so, we withdraw some money. It might be quite difficult to find Money Changer in Gangneung, and not all the restaurants or shops accepting payment using credit card. We spent quite a lot just for transportation for these few days.

Then, went to pharmacy to get cough medicine for Xuan and my husband. And, again thanks to Tourist Information 24-hour Call Centre. The pharmacist needed to know the symptoms of the cough, age, and whether any drug allergy, etc... to prescribe medicines to tackle different types of cough.

1. Chotdaebawi Rock (촛대바위)

Korea Chuam Chotdaebawi Rock trip blog | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
We went to Chuam Tourist Information to get some information of the places, and somehow we found that there's some miscommunication on our agreement for taxi fare. Mr. Nam asked us to top up 20,000 won to add 1 hour. Anyway, to cut the story short, at the end we paid 150,000 for this round taxi tour instead of 100,000 won (additional 50,000 won).



Korea Chuam Chotdaebawi Rock trip blog | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
 breathtaking view of Chotdaebawi Rock

Korea Chuam Chotdaebawi Rock trip blog | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
 From Chuam Train Station, you need to walk passing Chuam Tourist Information 
and this small canal with lots of ducks.

Korea Chuam Chotdaebawi Rock trip blog | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
... and lots of stairs to viewing spots of Chotdaebawi Rock.
 we're too lazy to go up to the tower because of endless stairs :P

Korea Chuam Chotdaebawi Rock trip blog | meheartsoul.blogspot.com 
 This beautifully formed rock towers high into the sky and resembles a candlestick,
from which it gets its name.
"Chotdae” (촛대) means Candle, while “bawi” (바위) means Rock

Korea Chuam Chotdaebawi Rock trip blog | meheartsoul.blogspot.com 
The Legend of Chotdaebawi Rock

Once upon a time, there was a man who lived in Chuam who had a concubine. His wife was jealous of the second wife and the conflict between the two women continually escalated. One day, god became enraged over their continual quarrelling and threw lighting down from heaven, striking both women dead.

The newly-made widower missed his wives so much that he remained frozen in his loneliness and eventually turned into a rock, which is now Chotdaebawi Rock that we see today. (cr. KTO)

Korea Chuam Chotdaebawi Rock trip blog | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
The beauty of the rock at sunrise is so picturesque and KBS (Korean Broadcasting System)
used it as a background for the "Aegukga" (the Korean national anthem).

Korea Chuam Chotdaebawi Rock trip blog | meheartsoul.blogspot.com  Chotdaebawi Rock is most famous tourist attraction in Donghae to enjoy the
magnificent beauty of the sun slowly peeking its way over the edge of the rock face.




We walked down from another path, and saw this small and beautiful summerhouse behind Chotdaebawi Rock.

Korea Chuam Chotdaebawi Rock trip blog | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
Haeamjeong Pavilion (북평 해암정)

Korea Chuam Chotdaebawi Rock trip blog | meheartsoul.blogspot.com
 The founder of Samcheok Sim Family built this pavilion in 1361
(10th year of King Gongmin of Goryeo)

After he left his public office, he spent the rest of his life teaching junior scholars and enjoying the beauty of nature of this place.

It's just few minutes walk to Chuam Beach and Chotdaebawi Rock. What an ideal place to greet the sunrise over the East Sea!

It's about lunch time when we left this place and headed to Samcheok Beach... (to be continued) ^^

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