Christmas away from home... and a whole new adventure in Jeonju

23-25 December 2010

Christmas away from home... and a whole new adventure in Jeonju

For the first time in my whole life, I am away from home in the well celebrated (in the Philippines) Christmas Season. Back home, we do not really do anything extra special as a family since everyone is pretty much occupied with our own jobs. But then, the overall ambiance of the Christmas in Philippines is way different from what I have been seeing here in Korea. No offense to Korea, but it is a lot more livelier and merrier back in the Philippines in Christmas. Plus, the fact that we are asked to move out of our dormitory right when it is Christmas Day! Can anyone imagine how a Catholic University, aiming to globalize, would ask the students to be out of their only shelter in a foreign land during Christmas day? Sounds awful, isn't it? Aside from this, the weather made is even a more worthwhile experience, -12 Celsius in Seoul and -8 Celsius in Jeonju.

Anyhow, with this in mind, it is rather but a cause of pain to think about the illogicalness of the things happening and the rules to be followed; thus, I decided to go for a trip outside Seoul with of course, fellow Filipino scholars. We went to Jeonju (전주), the capital of the traditional Bibimbap (비빔밥)!

Stairs Entrance of a Coffee Shop

Coffee Shop inside the Hanuk Village

Sizzling Bowl Bibimbap / 돌섯 비빔밥

Our first meal in Jeonju! =) However, this is not the traditional one. This costs KW5,000.00 and the restaurant is open 24hours. While looking for our first meal, we went to the Postal Office to send something over to the Philippines. While some good Samaritans, probably owners or rather officials and their relatives offered assistance in looking for a good place to eat. I just realized that Jeonju may not only be producing Bibimbap but also 콩나물 밥. It is bean sprouts soup with rice. It is just basically bean sprouts, with water/soup then rice placed into it.

Products of Hanji / 한지 / 韩纸 

The cat of the Hanji makers.

Jeonju also produces some Hanji / 한지 / 韩纸 and we really made it to our way to find a "traditional" place where we can see the locals making Hanji. It is a simple yet delicate process. Only 3 people can finish one whole process of making Hanji! =)

We also went to Gyeonggijeon 경기전, where the portraits of King Taejo / 태조 / 太祖 is enshrined. The king that founded the Joseon Dynasty.

Jeondong Cathedral Church

Amazingly, I appreciated Jeondong Cathedral Church more than the Myeong Dong Cathedral Church in Seoul....

 

Jeondong Cathedral Church was said to have been established to uphold the precious will of the first Korean martyr. It was built using Byzantine style and Romanesque style and yes, indeed, it is the most beautiful church in Korea! =)

 

 

As we walked around the Hanuk Village, we saw some policemen riding horses. It is so funny because they are having their rounds but there are also escorts in front and at the back. So is it only for the sake of maintaining the "old practices" and boost their tourism to the foreigners or is their something else behind it?

 

 

In our search of another tourist spot, we found this! =)

 

Gangam Calligraphy Museum

We were walking and looking around the museum when we figured out a room where 2 teachers are preparing some materials. We went in and asked if we could try and write some. It has been a while since I last wrote Calligraphy, probably 8 years ago.

So I just suddenly wanted to write! =)

 

Jeonju Hyanggyo

Jeonju Hyanggyo / 향교 / 乡校 is said to be a Jeonju Confucianism Temple, built in the Goryo Dynasty where 51 individuals were enshrined: 7 Chinese Confucian Scholars including Confucian's disciples, 18 Korean wise men. Thus, this place is a very educated place!

This place is now being used for traditional wedding to be held. Inside this Jeonju Hyanggyo, we also found numerous Ginko Trees (은행나무) which is ranging from 250-450 years old already. They are now Korea's National Treasures.

Ginko Tree (은행나무)

 

450 years old Ginko

Some van along the road.

Entrance to a coffee shop again along the Young Street!

Beef Rice!

This was supposed to be a Paris Baguette contest entry but unfortunately I was not able to make it to the deadline!! :(

Jeonju Gaeksa / 전주 객사 - National Treasure 583

Jeonju Gaeksa is a guest house which remains to be a symbol of the authority and prestige of the old days of Jeolla provincial government. Some parts of the building were already destroyed. The Chinese words written in the black piece of board in the entrance is 丰沛之馆, which means Building of Abundance and Success!

Night view in downtown Jeonju

Young Street

In front of this is the Chinatown where we only saw the arch and nothing else. Inside China Town, we also saw the Wedding Street, where there are a lot of shops renting or selling wedding gowns.

In our search of the Traditional Jeonju Bibimbap!

Song-mi-dang Jeonju Bibimbap / 성미당 전주 비빔밥

 

And yes, it was a lot more delicious than the first ordinary one that we tasted. The price is also the double of the first one. It costs KW10,000.00 and is placed in a "bronze" bowl.

Chinese Herbal Medicine House

Jeonju Wine / 전주 술

Hanuk Village / 한옥마을

 

Omokdae / 오목대

Omokdae was where King Taejo had banquet, with his relatives visiting where their ancestors lived, on his way back after defeating the Japanese  pirates at Hwangsan of Namsan in 1380.

We had to climb up the mountain in order to reach Omokdae. All throughout our trip in Jeonju, we walked at -8 degree Celsius. brrrrrrr...

It was a nice and fun trip. Jeonju, even a province, has a little taste of colorful Seoul life. That is how we spent our days before Christmas. We rushed back home to have our Noche Buena, left our Jeonju Traditional Mother's Wine in the bus. Argh!

The next day, Christmas Day, I just stayed home, did not really get to sleep since December 24 was the last night of Coeli before having her vacation back in the Philippines. Had some rushed adventure with her last minute departure from CUK... :) If you are Coeli and are reading this, you know what I meant. :)

We had our dinner with Nico and Corien, English Professors from South Africa! a lovely couple! =) Thank you for the meal and kindness! =) Merry Christmas!

The family that has been supporting us here in CUK.

Most of all, thank you for our mother and our family here in CUK that has been supporting me and everyone else in all our needs especially the non monetary support we get from you, Ma'am Emely Dicolen-Abagat! =) Her daughter, Renz Frances and her son, Rocev Miguel. :) Big Hugs to all of you! :)

1:28am Korean Time
29 December 2010
Karina Chua