September in Chuam - Chotdaebawi Rock [Day 5]

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)

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).

 breathtaking view of Chotdaebawi Rock

 From Chuam Train Station, you need to walk passing Chuam Tourist Information 

and this small canal with lots of ducks.

... 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

 

 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

 

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)

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).

  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.

Haeamjeong Pavilion (북평 해암정)

 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) ^^

Related Posts:

~ Hanok Stay at 300 years Seongyojang Hanok House.

~ Traditional Cultural Experience at Seongyojang.

~ Ojukheon House and Museum

~ [Gangneung] Jumunjin & Gyeongpodae Pavilion