2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics

290 days to Winter Olympics, the most anticipated International event by winter sports athletes and spectators all over the world.!

The venue for this spectacular competition will be held in  Pyeongchang and Gangneung in South Korea from 9 February to 25 February 2018.

 PyeongChang Mountain Cluster will host the snow sports events, 

 and Gangneung Coastal Cluster to serve as ice sports events.

Wish I could be in Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium to witness the glorious opening ceremonies and watch

Located in Gangwon area, 84% of Pyeongchang territory comprising of mountains with average elevations of 750 m above the sea level. It received the most annual snowfall, therefore most of the ski resorts scattered here and it's the hub for winter sports.

To facilitate the event, KTX is constructing 120 km rail line connecting Seoul and Pyeongchang. It should be completed in 2017, this high-speed train would cut the travelling time between these two cities in just one hour.

Introducing official mascots: 

Soohorang for Winter Olympics and Bandabi for Paralympics 2018.

Received these official souvenirs from KTO Singapore for being part of 

2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics Supporters Team.

Soohorang (수호랑), the white tiger has been long considered Korea’s guardian animal. “Sooho (수호)” meaning protection in Korean and “Rang (랑)” comes from the middle letter of “Ho-rang-i (호랑이)” for “Tiger.” It's also the last letter of “Jeong-seon A-ri-rang (정선 아리랑)” a cherished traditional folk song of Gangwon Province, where the Games will be held. 

Soohorang not only has a challenging spirit and passion but also is a trustworthy friend who protects the athletes, spectators and all participants in the Olympic Games.

 Soohorang Doll - ₩20,000 Bandabi Doll - ₩20,000.

Bandabi (반다비), the Asiatic black bear with a half-moon mark on the chest symbolises strong willpower and courage in the Korean folklore. “Banda (반다) is derived from “ban-dal” which means half-moon. “Bi (비)” stands for the celebration of the Games.

Bandabi has strong willpower and courage. It is a warm-hearted friend who takes the lead for equality and harmony and encourages athletes to push themselves beyond their limits. We will look forward to Bandabi's amazing activities.

These good quality soft toys, hip-sack (₩39,000) and ear muff (₩21,000)

are manufactured by The North Face - the official partner of 

Pyeongchang 2018 Olympics Winter Games.

 Skiing lesson in Muju Deogyusan Resort.

Living in Singapore, we don't have any chance to experience any winter sports in this tropical country.

Therefore, during XXII Olympic Sochi 2014, I visited Korea in February and 'die die' want to learn skiing compared to ice skating or figure skating. My thought was I just need to slide down and I have 2 sticks to support me...

 

 Oh dear~ my feet not under my brain's control and jellified

when I stood at ski slope for the beginner. 

You can read our experience here.

I would have won a Gold medal for falling every one metre?!!

Gosh~! Tha's so embarrassing... even Daehan Minguk Manse (Song Triplet) have mastered the skiing skill and slide down like pro skiers in this video!

Actually, we planned to bring kids go to Phoenix Snow Park 

for skiing on our last trip in Dec 2015, but we're not feeling well 

so stayed in the Resort have fun snow tubing and...

feeding animals like goats, lamb, dogs, rabbits, chicken and pigs there.

I'll quickly post the long overdue trip in Korea after this and my home renovation review... so please stay tuned~!^^

Updated: 101 News about Pyeongchang Winter Olympics 2018

Meanwhile, you might want to check out my previous articles on some attractions nearby Pyeongchang: 

Ojukheon House and Municipal Museum.

(filming location of 'Saimdang, Light's Diary' 

casting of hallyu stars Song Seung-heon and Lee Young Ae).

 Seongyojang Hanok House

(K-drama Hwang Jin-Yi (황진이), Princess Hours Gung (궁) and 

Princess’ Man (공주의남자) were filmed here).
Some of the Pyeongchang Promotional Video was shoot at this charming 
 Hwallaejeong Pavilion surrounded by beautiful Lotus Pond and vast garden. 

 Check out this video : Lee Young Ae outside the pavilion. 

 You can experience Dado (다도체험) Korean Tea Ceremony and 
learn the etiquette while enjoying the outdoor view from the pavilion.

It's nice to see our Dado teachers again even it's just few seconds in this video.
선생님, 항상 건강하고 행복하게 지내세요~.

 How about having healthy and lavish Hanjeongsik. 
We felt like royalties during Joseon Dynasty.
They also served authentic Chodang Sundubu - a must try~! 

Jumunjin Lighthouse and Seawall

(Filming location of Korean Drama 'Goblin' 

Gong Yoo, Kim Go Eun, Lee Dong Wook and Yoo In Na).

For more information about Pyeongchang Winter Olympic, please refer to this link.

September in Gangneung - Ojukheon House [Day 4]

Ojukheon House and Museum (오죽헌·시립박물관)

About 5 minutes drive from Seongyojang, you can find another old but beautiful Hanok house. It was built during the time of the King Jungjong (1506~1544), which shows the lifestyle of the Joseon Dynasty. It has been well maintained by the descendants throughout the generations.

  

  It's designated as Treasure No. 165 in 1963. 

  

The Ojukheon House (오죽헌) gets its name from the many

black bamboo trees (烏竹軒) that surround it. 

Ojukheon House on the reverse side of 5,000 Won issued in 1983 and 2002 

stand on this photospot to get panoramic picture of Ojukheon House (as above photo).

Ojukheon was the house of VIP (Very Important People), not only one person but two people! It was where Sin Saimdang lived and the birthplace of the great Neo-Confucian scholar Yulgok Yi-I. 

  

Yulgok Yi-I (율곡이이)

you can see Yi-I is featured on the 5,000 Won note...

Yi-I learned to read and write Chinese characters when he was just 3 years old. Yi I was a prodigy who passed the high civil service examination with highest mark at the age of 13. He passed nine civil service examinations, each time with the highest grade. He's also known as Confucius of Korea.

He passed special exams with top honors with a winning thesis titled Cheondochaek (천도책, 天道策, "Book on the Way of Heaven"), which was widely regarded as a literary masterpiece, displaying his knowledge of history and the Confucian philosophy of politics, and also reflecting his profound knowledge of Taoism. (cr. Wikipedia)

At the age of 29, he became an official. Through his years in government, he was appointed as the inspector-general, minister of taxation, minister of personnel, minister of punishments and minister of war and other high positions. While he was working as the minister of war, he presented a document to the king, which stated six principles to be pursued to protect the nation.

He predicted that Japan would attack in the near future and in 1583, proposed to the king an additional military build-up, which was rejected. In 1592, eight years after his death, the Japanese invaded Korea (Imjin war), and over the next seven years, the country was devastated. (cr. VANK)

Munseongsa (문성사) is where a portrait of Yulgok Yi-I is enshrined.

The hanging board of Munseongsa was handwritten by President Park Jeong Hee.

Munseong is a posthumous name of Yi-I which was conferred on him by King Injo in Joseon Dynasty in 1624. It has a mening of building basis of political affairs for the security of public with wide academic knowledge and morality.

  

Yulgok's Memorial Tablet on Turtle Pedestal

율곡선생 유적정화기념비

Sin Saimdang (신사임당) 

Lady Sin Saimdang, the first woman to be featured on the Korean banknote (50,000 Won)

Her amazing personality as devoted daughter, good wife and wise mother of seven children (어진 어머니= "Wise Mother") has been praised and set as a role model for Korean women.

Speaking as a mother myself, I salute her for her accomplishments in juggling with so many roles, especially the extraordinary effort to educate her children, and still succeeding herself as an artist. Aisshh... I'm sure fail if set her as the benchmark!

  

She was a great artist in early Joseon Dynasty. Her painting is known for their delicate beauty; landscape, birds, animals, grass and insects were favourite themes.

Lady Sin's famous artworks "Chochungdo" (Grass and Insects).

Her paintings were very colourful and realistic.

She was also a good calligrapher and writer.

her handwriting in cursive characters and seal characters.

Saimdang's Lagerstroemia Indica tree (사임당 배롱나무).

   

 

Ojukheon Municipal Museum (오죽헌·시립박물관).

In Yulgok Memorial Hall, you can see the artworks of the talented Yulgok's family... 

 Jeongdongjin Sunrise Park

Let's back to present time through this giant Hourglass along Jeongdongjin Beach, which is a popular place to watch sun rise. Although we wish to stop just for a breeze walking, but... like Cinderalla, we need to rush back to White Castle Resort before the clock strikes 6:00 pm, as we agreed on 5 hours taxi tour.

Sun Cruise Resort & Yacht

We supposed to stay in Sun Cruise Resort, but the hotel room we want were fully booked by tour group, and only left with condominium room, which this room didn't attract my 2 kids...

Unification Park - Warship

White Castle Resort

Gobbled down bread and sweet and small Mandarin Oranges before proper dinner. Blamed me for misunderstood that the owner of the resort will bring us the menu from the restaurant. So, we waited for about 1 hour plus. And, when I went down to check, he's actually waited for me to drive me to the nearby restaurant. Aigoo... Vera! Would you please go and learn your Korean language?!!!

Yummy Bibimbap & Special non-spicy Bulgogi.

I was left in the restaurant, and the restaurant's owner drove me back to the resort with this takeaway food and various banchan... Wow! cool, right?!

Related Posts:

~ Hanok Stay at 300 years Seongyojang Hanok House.

~ Traditional Cultural Experience at Seongyojang.

~ Chuam - Chotdaebawi Rock  

~ [Gangneung] Jumunjin & Gyeongpodae Pavilion