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)

[Lombok] - Mawun Beach

Mawun is another stunning beach just 20 minutes drive from Selong Belanak Beach. 

  I personally think these two beaches look quite similar with 

crescent shaped and laid-back landscape,...

Amazing view with white sandy beach. But, sand here not as fine as Selong Belanak.
Maybe like coarse sugar vs powdery flour?

Am I in my dream? Totally mesmerized by those white fluffy clouds
floating across the blue sky, and...

 

gorgeous crystal clear light cobalt  water.

 

Why not strolling at the shoreline and

  

let the playful waves hit your feet.

Nice place to spend an hour to unwind, but I still prefer Selong Belanak.

Slightly disturbed by the peddlers selling coconut, pineapple, t-shirt, 

sarong, bracelets,... from the moment I stepped out from the car.

 They were quite aggressive though I politely rejected them in Bahasa Indonesia.

Actually, I bought a bracelet from a young boy when I took photos of Kuta beach outside the restaurant. I pitied him as I think he's only 8-10 years old. Then, after finished our lunch, another girl also came to us and asking for money when I told her that I'd bought earlier.

Why local government not doing anything? It's better to set stalls for them. Tourists will definitely buy if they want or need. Pestering or force selling will only annoyed tourists, where they come to enjoy and relax. 

 

  

 Nice to sit down and enjoy the scenery and sea breeze, but

Sad to see those empty coconut shells, plastics and

rubbish were just laying on the beach.

Hope that these rubbish not washed away by the waves

when it's high tide and polluted the waters.

Frankly speaking, I don't really blame foreign tourists. Most of them from developed countries and  don't have habit for littering. Beach-lovers especially, they love nature and would love to see clean beach every time they visit.

 Please keep Mawun Beach clean...

Most of the beaches in Indonesia have the same fate because local government and residents just don't really care. They charged for entrance, parking, loungers, toilets, and everything.

I don't think it's hard to put at least rubbish or recycle bins if they don't want to collect those shells? They don't have long term thinking. They're the one who lose when tourists not visiting anymore when they found out that it's dirty. That's also means no income for them... Sigh!

 

We did take back our water bottles and trashes.

 

Will you help to do the same for the sake of our children and grand children?

 

Don't you agree that they love to see a piece of heaven on earth too?

    

 I know you will~! ^^

Horraay~! Thanks a lot!!!

Wish you're here @Lombok Mawun Beach (롬복 마운 비치)