Stropping Around Korea - Namwon

With the heat of the sun already proving itself a nuisance we headed off toward the center of love. Chungyang Theme Park is entirely based around the love story of the daughter of a local pub owner and the son of local gentry. The son was on the track for wealth and fame through hard study. He sat the exam for entrance into government life and took first place but returned in disguise to discover the newly placed magistrate had taken a shine to his misses who was in fact a Kaesong and because she had not returned his favour had landed in jail and was due to be killed. He of course saved the day and the girl and the day and they both lived happily ever after.

At first I didn’t think much of the theme park and was hoping for a refund on the 3,000 won I’d paid to get in but as we explored I found some places of interest despite not getting into the Folk Museum. The dioramas proved interesting.

From there we left our bags at the Information Center and headed off to Gwanghanloo and it’s ponds and gardens. It was in the midst of a schoolgirl infestation so the going was tough but walking the grounds was relaxing and the highlight was taking a brief respite within the central structure.

We slowly walked back to the Information Center and picked up our bags and walked the heavy steps back to the bus terminal. From there we headed to Jeongeup, a nice little town that we did little more than pass through. We noted the fire that had gutted a building on the entrance to the main traditional markets and I spied a lovely little path winding its way through the main shopping district on our way out of town. We caught the 171 bus to our current location, Naejangsan.

We had eats in a restaurant close to the motel of pajeon or spring onion pancake and served as one of the side dishes was pickled persimmon. The tastiest for me was the Pakimchi, or spring onion kimchi.

We’ve retired to our room to drink a few bottles of the local Dongdongju and eat a little more. We’ve made plans to head out at around 8am tomorrow morning for the long trek ahead of us up the nearby mountain range.