Gardens in Jeonju Zoo

A Kangaroo, in Jeonju

I set out today to go to the Jeonju Sori Arts Centre and the Zoo as they were close to one another. I had met an artist who told me about an Art Exhibition at Sori Arts - arts and crafts by women artists, and I did promise her that I'd go.

I managed to get a taxi and with my bit of paper with Sori Arts Centre in English and Korean, I set off. These complexes are on the edge of the city surrounded by dense bushland. The Art Centre is huge - a place for concerts, Art Exhibitions, (though all the galleries were empty), a shop, and lots more. I found some people who tried to find the exhibition I was talking about, and one guy even took me on a tour of the place (he spoke no English) and as we passed the bookshop, he took three art books from the shelves and gave them too me. I think they are old catalogues/exhibition details but they have great photos and information about local artists.

I set off to find the zoo, and was surprised that it was much closer than I had imagined. I had trouble working the vending machine to get a ticket, but a young man helped me, and I paid the 1300 Won entry fee. (About $1.30 Au) and set off inside.

The zoo is a huge area, and much of it is garden and as it is spring there was quite a showing. The animals were not a happy lot. They are in cages, just like old zoo's, with bare sandy floors and nothing of interest. They all looked bored and unhappy. I found three kangaroos lying in the sun - with some rather fun pop art behind them. I took a few photos, and wandered around in the thousands of school children, some of whom came up and shook hands with me, "Nice to meet you" or "High five". I didn't stay long - it was hot and I found it quite depressing.

Another cab got me home again and I bought some lunch at Domino's Pizza. That was quite funny as Domino's used to be near my apartment and the other day I noticed that the spot they were until last week had been completely demolished. They had moved into a new place close by. Very expensive and huge pizza's - and not being a pizza lover and thinking it might take me a week to eat one, I chose the spaghetti bol., which I carried home in its neat little box with a red ribbon.

A wander in the village

In the Jeonju Hanok Village there are many photo opportunities especially in spring as the azaleas and other flowers are in bloom. There is so much to see - I've been there three times already and still there is more to see, so I plan to get back.

It was the old part of town, and is being revamped to make it a tourist haven. This little street has cafes and shops along its length and a great water feature. At one point there is a stone water fountain where the water trickles down into the "river" that winds its way along the footpath. The water is only a few inches deep but it is quite a feature.




At various points along the way is a point on the pavement that says something like "take photo from here" which gives any budding photographer an idea where to stand to get a good photograph of the feature - which may be the water wheel above, a statue, or other place of interest.

There is much construction work going on and still much to do - and of course people live here as well as work here. The shop keepers are great - and many try their English skills with me. I've been given tea in shops, and taken from one shop to another by one of the shop keepers and even when I don't spend any money. Their courtesy is impressive.

Another O's Place

We discovered that there are three places in the region called "O's Place" and now I have been to two of them. This one also had a view over a lake - not quite as picturesque, but then it is more natural - no huge bridge span to spoil the view.

It was a Tuesday when we went there, and the car park and roads were overflowing with traffic taking people to O's Place. And why not. Not only was there the gallery of Lee joowon's work, but a fabulous restaurant which was overflowing. I'd guess that the restaurant is far more financially lucrative than the gallery.

The gallery featured some amazing artwork - described as "acrylic on rice paper" and again the gallery was spectacular.

We spent quite a bit of time there - just wandering around admiring it all, before wandering back through the spectacular gardens to the car and the return journey to Jeonju.

More mountain photos

Bamboo Tea and Rice

Yesterday we had lunch at a delightful restaurant famous for Bamboo Tea and Bamboo rice. The rice is cooked in bamboo cups and takes quite a while to cook. It is brought to the table with the rice in the cup, and one needs to spoon it out, or deftly eat it with the metal chopsticks. At the same time the rice is served a pot of tea made with bamboo leaves is put on the table, so when the rice is eaten (or mostly eaten) the bamboo cup is filled with the tea. It is quite refreshing.

The cup is a gift - so we took them home.

The restaurant was quite impressive but we sat outside under a canopy of trees, at timber tables and seat sets, sitting on beds on small white stones.

During the meal a millipede fell from the trees and landed on the neck of one of our party - so there was great drama and later hilarity as she jumped from the table and tried to get it off her. It was huge - another diner managed to get it and kill it.

The restaurant is hidden behind the trees in the photo. I love the azaleas flowering everywhere.

Farming

A small farm just below the restaurant where we had lunch. In rows azalea cuttings are flourishing. The plastic domes are commonplace on the farms in South Korea. Many have vegetables growing in them.


The photo above was taken from a moving car (it is not always easy to get the driver to stop for a photo shoot!) Fields covered in this distinctive black shade cloth in a particular way is an indication that Ginseng is growing here. The root of this plant takes 3 years to mature and is used in a lot of ways from Ginseng candy, to Ginseng drinks, powder etc, and often small pieces are used in cooking. It is very healthy for us, I am told.




I don't know what is growing here, but in this farm the workers had just finished laying a "carpet" of what appeared to be rice stalks. I'm not sure if something is growing underneath, or the stalks are to keep the wind from blowing away the topsoil as it lies fallow for a year.

It is spring here at the moment (May 6th) so the trees are full of lush green foliage, the flowers are blooming everywhere, and the farms are full of activity.