Visiting Korea

Visiting Korea, there is one place that you must visit as well, which is the Jeju Island. It is a volcanic island that was formed by five millions of years ago. During my visit in Jeju Island, there was one thing that drew my view.  There were many different kinds of statue over there, found on Jeju Island off the southern tip of Korea. One of them is the DOL HAREUBANG. According to my tour guide, Dol Hareubang is considered to be gods offering both protection and fertility and placed outside of gates for protection against demons travelling between realities. Another adorable statue that you will find in the Jeju Island is the Lovely Jeju Idol couple sculpture. It is the local guard of Jeju Island, which can bring luck to the people. You can see these statues in anywhere as long as you are in Jeju Island. 

Dol Hareubang

Lovely Idol Couple

Besides that, Jeju Seongup Folk Art Village is an interesting place to visit as well. I learnt some of the Korean culture and their lifestyle. It is cool to explore and understand peoples’ culture. I did not realize that Korea has a door regulation, which means if the front door has 3 sticks, that represents that the whole family is out and no one is at home. If there is one or two sticks in the front door, that means you can enter and have a seat inside the house.

The Door Regulations

I had also experienced some Korean traditional, which were the kimchi making and wearing the Korean traditional costume. The process of making kimchi was like easy because the host had already prepared the spice and everything for you. All you need is to stick in the ingredient, which is the prepared spice into the cabbage slice by slice and you are done with your kimchi. Furthermore, Korean has various kinds of traditional costume, and each of them represents different meaning. I had one in blue and red, and wearing a “CAP”. And I looked so feminine with it.

After visiting the Jeju Island, my family and I flied to the capital city of the Korea, which is the Seoul city. Talking about Seoul, one thing comes to your mind is SHOPPING! Girls love to shop just like my mum and I. We bought some souvenirs for relatives and friends such as the key chains in girls wearing different kinds of costumes.  Myongdong Fashion Street is a place where you cannot decline. This street is full of FASHION from head to toes.

Besides shopping, Seoul is famous for its Ginseng. Korean ginseng is one of the most widely used and acclaimed herbs in the world. We visited the Ginseng Monopoly Showroom and being explained. Ginseng is divided into two categories, which are the White Ginseng and Red Ginseng. White ginseng is simply the dried or powdered root of Korean ginseng, while red ginseng is the same root that is steamed and dried in heat or sunlight. Red ginseng is said to be slightly stronger and more stimulating in the body than white.  My mom bought a box of the Red Ginseng and it is chewable. Besides that, you can try the Ginseng candy too if you can accept the scent of the Ginseng.  

Have you ever heard that flowers can be eaten just like veggie? I doubt that you never hear before. And I was fortunate to have an opportunity to try it. It tasted tasty actually with the Korea’s famous dipping sauce. The manager of the company even welcomed us and explained to us. He even fed my brother one spoon of the flower rice because he said that my brother is handsome.

Overall, Korea is a amusing place to visit and explore.

Written by: Eva Toh