Suncheonman Bay National Garden (순천만국가정원)

Suncheon, the ecological capital of Korea offers many eco-tourism attractions where people can experience and learn about a natural ecosystem.

We didn't follow our initial plan to go to Naganeupseong Folk Village (낙안읍성민속마을) as it was too rushed. Instead, we took the Suncheon City Tour Downtown Circular Course.

After exploring the Suncheon Open Film Set, we took the bus to the must-visit Suncheonman Bay National Garden.

 

로컬 제육쌈밥 (Local Pork wraps) KRW 20,000 for 2 people.

We reached there at around 13:30 and found 여미락 restaurant near the entrance of the garden. We went in to have our lunch, just in case we aren't able to find other restaurants inside the garden.

 Suncheonman Bay National Garden (순천만국가정원)

Entrance Fee: KRW 8,000 / person 

OMG!!! So many many tulip flowers, so vibrant and pretty!!!

It was no wonder that there were so many people visiting this massive 1.1million ㎡ garden. 

There were a lot of locals joining the city tour to come and admire the beauty of Spring.

 Suncheonman Bay National Garden was built in the Suncheon Dosa-dong 

area solely to protect the Suncheonman Bay Wetland Reserve. 

 

79,000 trees of 505 different species and 150,000 flowers of 113 

different species are growing healthily and beautifully in this garden.

 The garden comprises of an arboretum, a wetland centre, a seeds bank, themed gardens...

 and a world garden zone that displays the gardening cultures of different 

countries including England, Italy, and the Netherlands.

 

 This Dutch garden had a windmill surrounded by variegated tulips which caught my eye.

 

 The second-place that drew my attention was this 30,000㎡ field of yellow canola flowers!

 Canola was originally a trademark name of the Rapeseed Association of Canada, 

"Canola" is a condensation of "Can" from Canada and "OLA" an abbreviation of "Oil, low acid"

I submitted these two photos for the 47th KTO Smartphone Photography Contest

winning 2nd place for this dreamy "사랑" (Love) Canola field photo.

There was a carnival with a small band going around too...

After strolling Lake Garden and World Garden we walked to 

the Bridge of Dreams to go to Suncheon Bay Wetland Reserve...

 Suncheonman Bay National Garden (순천만국가정원)

47, Gukgajeongwon1ho-gil, Suncheon-si, Jeollanam-do 

전라남도 순천시 국가정원1호길 47 (오천동)

[Geoje] - Oedo Botania (외도 보타니아)

Let's continue our trip with Geoje City Tour Bus...

After witnessing the magnificent Haegumgang of the Sea, the ferry sailed and brought 

us to another island with breathtaking landscape, Oedo-Botania (외도 보타니아).


It's a marine botanical garden located in Hallyeo Maritime National Park.

  

Mr Kim told us to follow him, or else we'll lost our ways. We need to
move faster because we still have other places to visit after this.

 

Wait... It's beautiful double rainbow~!^^

 

Our guide knows Mr Lee Chang-ho and his wife. Here are the photos of the loving couple!

 The white building is Mr Lee,the owner house with awesome landscaping!

Well, I knew Korean drama "Winter Sonata" and "Hospital Ship" were filming here, but I didn't know that this Island is owned and developed privately. In 1969, Lee Chang-ho first came to this island to escape from the wind and waves as he was fishing. 

At first, they tried to grow tangerines and then breed pigs on the island before decided to grow rare plants there in 1976. They slowly brought in and planted 3,000 different species of plants, some from Korea, and some from more subtropical climates and some of the are very rare species.  

 

In order to maintain this huge beautiful island, they open the door 

for visitors to visit with a small fee.

 

'Green' Stairway to Heaven~!

Replica of Winged Victory of Samothrace.

Venus is lovely Greek style garden with white pillars arch facing the sea.

It's modelled the rear court of Buckingham Palace adorned with artistic structure reminiscent af an open-air Greek theater.

There are 12 statues including copy of Venus de Milo 

standing around the long garden with tulips.

Such a breathtaking picturaque scenery that make your heart wanna sing!

The Hill of Love offers a complete view of all the gardens of Oedo Botania.

Our tour guide showed us the 300-yearold tree that believed to protect the island... I didn't have the photo, but I did hug the tree~!^^

 Can you spot rocky Haegumgang Island?

Panorama Observation Deck offers stunning view of the sea which connects the East Islet. The EastIslet is a natural garden sitting atop awe-inspiring rock formationsm home to a pristine forest of Camelia Trees.

 We literally just took ferry fom Haegeumgang to Oedo.

According to our guide, on a clear day, you can see Japan's Tsushima Island.

 Serene small chapel overlooking the sea which built to 

console the souls which commit suicide from the cliff.

Adam and Eve sculpture at Eve garden.

Every corner is just so pretty and I couldn't stop taking photos...

 

 Cafe Oh! Bautiful...

with weird statues playing outside the cafe!

This cafe appeared on Hospital Ship (병원선).

Here are some others scenes taken around Oedo Botania...

 

 17, Oedo-gil, Irun-myeon, Geoje-si, Gyeongsangnam-do

경상남도 거제시 일운면 외도길 17