[ASIAN ON AIR PROGRAM] Things I Want To See in Korea

South Korea for me is such a beautiful country which has a strong spiritual feeling of history that is united with nature. This can’t even be separated though the country has been more populated and evolved within modernity. Seoul as a capital city of South Korea for example is surrounded by mountains and hills. It shows that how a philosophy of nature is very important to make a city stronger as it has been covered and protected by the natural fortresses. Beside, the city’s heritage also has an important role as a cultural richness. South Korea’s uniqueness have generated a harmony where the citizens of the country live, grow, and socializing. Of course, some of its beautiful places which have been shown trough the dramas has attracted me to come and discover the city’s beauty for an unforgettable experience.  

South Korea lately has been known worldwide through its ecological innovation and development towards becoming an eco city. Cheonggyecheon Stream and Haneul Park are two of any places I really want to visit because I’ve been so much curious with the beauty of these environmentally friendly and lovely places with many attractive things to see in the middle of the city. Cheonggyecheon Stream for example, I want to see various plants planted around the stream, the fountains, romantic spots, artificial lamps, the lanterns, and arts. There should be a magnificent scenery whenever see the stream at two different time, daytime and night. Another thing that would always remain me about this place is about its existence as a symbol of Seoul’s past, present, and tomorrow. I've once wrote my opinion about this river on my own blog. You can see it [here] and found its big transformation! But sorry for only using in Indonesian language :l. Beside, Haneul Park is also my favorite destination to visit. The park’s establishment as one of city’s environmental revitalization has caught my attention to directly see this pretty spectacular place. If trying to remain back, it was still becoming the nation’s largest uncontrolled landfill with garbage in Nanjido. The government has been truly succeeded to build and have this worth and nice place. What I do really want to see here are the wind-powered generators which produce electricity for lamps, the beautiful greeneries covered the land, the long paths, kites which are flown, creative site furniture design decorated the park, and the animals like rabbits and birds. Visiting the Haneul Park in autumn could be very lovely, and another thing that can’t be left to see is a sunset by enjoying its view from the peak.   

Cheonggyecheon Stream 

source pic: anomali-dunia.blogspot.com

Haneul Park

source pic: korinavi.com

After discovering the beauty of natural urban landscape with an environmentally friendly concept built in a city, I choose to find another place like the heritages. For me, visiting and seeing South Korea’s great heritage like ancient buildings and take some documentary from this is something like a must to do. The first place is Dongdaemun Gate as Seoul’s first welcoming landmark. Its historical story from the Joseon Dinasty has made me want to see directly this great gate. Beside, the Gyeongbokgung Palace is also my favorite one to see. Like the Dongdaemun Gate, this palace is also one of the Joseon Dinasty’s. Things I really want to see in this famous and most beautiful Palace in Seoul are the ancient buildings of course, the beautiful pond, the autumn trees, a cultural performance, and the mountains in the foreground and rear of the palace, like Mount Namsan and Mount Bugaksan. I’m sure that within the unity of this scenery, a magnificent historical landscape with a natural background will be so much attractive and peaceful. Still with the buildings, after discovering the Seoul city, I’m also interested to visit and see Hanok Village in Jeonju. I want to see how people who live in this traditional housing do their daily activities. Some of this best preserved living traditional village is also existed in a higher land, so that the scenery would be very great to see from the housing, like everywhere here can’t be separated by the unity of nature and historical value. An existence of the Hanok village surrounded with a modern city also looks so much impressive.  

Dongdaemun Gate

source pic: ja.wikipedia.org

Gyeongbokgung Palace

source pic: www.flickriver.com via temp13rec.

Hanok Village

source pic: www.dholidays.net

            

Museum is also an important place to visit, because I want see and know more about South Korea’s history, cultural things, and art works. My first favorite place is Teddy Bear Museum. Cute things like crafts and dolls are some of my favorites. There are many teddy bears with kinds of different outfits, and they must be very adorable. Not only the outfits, but also for the diorama settings and many of any well-known people which are imitated by the teddy bears. Beside the Teddy Bear Museum, I also want to visit Kimchi Museum. Here I really want to see various kinds of kimchi, the historical recipe, the traditional cookware like jar, the diorama, and historical story from any paintings and posters. After that, Sejong Art Center would be the next destination after the two museums. Here I want to see the arts exhibition like paintings or installations. I also wish for a chance to see some cultural performance like traditional dances and music. Move from the museums, I’m also interested to see Gwanghwamun Square where a statue of the great King Sejong and the great Naval Commander Lee Sun Sin exist. Not only the statue, but also there is a group of rhythmical fountains decorated the whole square. A historical, cultural and enjoyable moment will be such a theatrical scene to see.

Teddy Bear Museum

source pic: tentpost.com

Kimchi Museum

source pic: journey2kor.blogspot.com

Sejong Art Center

source pic: themissionmusical.blogspot.com

            

Gwanghwamun Square

source pic: flickriver.com via Koreabrand-03

The last thing I want to see is the Nami Island. Nami Island is very famous because of Winter Sonata drama. Of course, many romantic spots, views, and activities are existed there. First is the high trees lined on the road. Yes, I think this must be one of the most attractive thing here because it was a place where the main actor and actress rode a bicycle together as the most romantic scene. High trees mean covering and protecting, a straight road means a way towards a better life. With a couple who crosses alongside, an unforgettable moment discovering the Nami Island will always be remembered. I think landscape with greeneries in South Korea is very popular for the tourist attractive place to visit. This place has become one of my favorite to feel the nature and see whole of the beautiful and romantic scenery.  

Nami Island

source pic: lifeinkorea.com

            

Natural and historical points are the most important things for me to take a look, discover, and feel the spiritual feeling whenever come to a new place like South Korea. Because for me, these two has become South Korea’s attractiveness and identity with all its treasure owned for the country’s uniqueness. So I think that’s all from me and I hope for a chance to once come to this beautiful country and see the magnificent scenery and unique things I have never seen before. 

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Having a trip to South Korea has become my dream and passion. Though I've never been there, here I'll show several photos of my friends's trip to this country. I hope someday I will be the next person after them to go to South Korea ;) 

The first is Amzyella Bethlin Simamora. Here are some of her photo captured from South Korea. She got a chance to go there from a campus field trip with her friends when she was an exchange student in Malaysia. My favorite here is the Nami Island.

source pic: Amzyella's self documentary

source pic: Amzyella's self documentary

source pic: Amzyella's self documentary

Second is Nurul Najmi who also had a chance to go there for a student conference. Here are her photos when she was in Seoul city. Discovering the Gwanghwamun Square, Cheonggyecheon Stream, and the Gyeongbokgung Palace. She also visit the Banpo Bridge.

source pic: Nurul Najmi's self documentary

source pic: Nurul Najmi's self documentary

source pic: Nurul Najmi's self documentary

And there is also Annisa Hasanah who had traveled to several countries for student competition and research in environmental study. Different from the others, she got a chance to visit Goseokjong, the riverside pavilion. There is also Hantan River.She visited Paju as Korea's demilitarized zone (a boundary zone between South Korea and North Korea) and found an open field with dead animals for the vulture's feed. Here are some of her photos in Korea. She has so many experiences, so you can directly check her site [here].

source pic: annisahasanah.com

source pic: annisahasanah.com

source pic: annisahasanah.com

So many friends had participating. Thank you for my friends who had traveled to Korea and want to share their experience through photos here :D So many inspirations to see many beautiful places in Korea!

Oke, beside the three above, there is also Yoni Elviandri Ar-Rajid with his experience who had a chance to come and see South Korea for Congress of Global Partnership for Young Women 2012. In these photos, it is shown that he had visited Sabaidee as a boundary zone between South Korea and North Korea with his friend and also the Duksung Women's University. The campus scenery must be very beautiful because of the mountainous background seen from its stadium.

 source pic: Yoni Elviandri's self documentary

source pic: Yoni Elviandri's self documentary

 source pic: Yoni Elviandri's self documentary

Yoni was not alone, he also went with his friend named Agnissaa Dwi. Here I'll show you some of her photos when she was in South Korea. She got a chance to visit a traditional craft's shop, street foods, and see SHINee's performance together with her friends included Yoni! How lucky she was! :D

 source pic: Agnissaa Dwi's self documentary

  source pic: Agnissaa Dwi's self documentary

 source pic: Yoni Elviandri's self documentary

Beside, there is Desty Dwi Sulistyowati who was also a part of Yoni and Agnissaa's group for the congress. I really like her photo surrounded by the ornamental plants in a nursery. This kind of place like the nurseries gonna be my next choice for the visit. Yeah, I also like ornamental plants and now I've become more curious to see various kinds of them which are grown in Korea. They must be beautiful! I think this nursery is also design in a lovely and romantic concept :3

  source pic: Desty Dwi Sulistyowati's self documentary

source pic: Desty Dwi Sulistyowati's self documentary

Different with the others, there is Lastin Darmokusumo who was truly a student of Korean Language in Gadjah Mada University. Yes, she has just graduated. She went to South Korea for Youth Camp for Asia's Future in 2009. She visited so many places and got so many experiences there. So check out her photos :)

 source pic: Lastin Darmokusumo's self documentary

 source pic: Lastin Darmokusumo's self documentary

 source pic: Lastin Darmokusumo's self documentary

 source pic: Lastin Darmokusumo's self documentary

source pic: Lastin Darmokusumo's self documentary

Wanna share your thought about Korea and want to get a chance to win a trip to Korea? Go follow @KoreanAir_SEA and @koreatourism, or you can also like the fan page for Korean Air for Southeast Asia and Korea Tourism Organization ! ;) 
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