Beautiful Valleys in Korea

Korea is often referred as a country filled with mountains, rivers and valleys.
One of the most famous and beautiful mountains is "Ji Ri Mountain". My parents often go there where we have some relatives live in. Until recently, I didn't realize how beautiful Korea is, especially the country sides. Now, I appreciate the beauty of nature in Korea more than ever. (I think it's part of "aging" process"...you appreciate nature where you originally come from, as you get older).

[Valley in Ji Ri Mountain]

Bibimbop

Bibimbop is Korean dish that is beloved by Koreans and equally by foreigners. I had a chance to go to the city called "Jin Joo" where Bibimbop is famous and specialized local food.

The restaurant I and my parents went is "Chon Hwang Restaurant", who serves only 3 kinds of menus, Bibimbop, Bulgoki, and Yookhui(marinated raw beef). The restaurant first opened in 1927 when Korea was invaded by Japan, so the place is built in Korean style but there is a hint of Japanese colonial architecture.

[Chon Hwang Restaurant]

[Jinjoo Bibimbop]

Just Perfect Rice

Korean rice, I personally think, has the best texture and taste. :)
It contains just right amount of moisture, so it's not too flying like kinds of rice from Southeast Asia, nor too sticky, but perfectly chewy. And it has very very subtle sweetness in it -which is almost unrecognizable- and this makes Korean rice so delicious. Rice is a essential food in Korean cuisine. None of menu will be completed without a bowl of rice. Sometimes a well-cooked rice bowl and kimchi only can be more than enough as one meal.

Right now, Korea is looking forward to harvest season. Countrysides are filled with greener than ever rice plants. The fields will be beautiful brown soon, and we will have a great harvesting season this year.

Green Rice Field

Basically

I have very sensitive skin, especially sensitive to many of (not all of) chemical ingredients in skin care or body care products. So, I prefer to use organic or natural products when it comes to anything that will stay on my skin. When a products claims it's made of natural ingredients, it doesn't mean it contains zero percent chemical ingredient. On the contrary, it will contain many of chemicals in it. And many times, my skin will immediately respond to those chemicals in so-called "Natural Skin Care Products". So, it's almost a mission to find natural skin care products that will not make my skin breaking out.

I had several tried and proved products I used in US and also brought some. But I have to start to find new Korean products which will give peace on my skin. As a first trial one, I chose soaps from a store called "Basically". The store is on "Garosoo Gil (Tree Lined Road if I directly translate the name to English)" which is considered as one of the most trendy and fashionable streets in Korea filled with numerous little boutiques and cafés.

The owner developed a soap line while she herself was suffering for skin trouble and looking for the soaps that would not irritate her skin. The soaps are made with 100% natural oils and ingredients with absolutely no chemical. I wanted to buy the one with whitening effect to correct my skin that suffered so much this summer from the sun, but that particular one was completely sold out (Koreans are very into whitening). As a alternative, I picked up the one for deep pore cleansing. I haven't tried it yet, but I really hope this works.

I loved the package as well. The soap line is consists of 10 soaps, and each are graded from 1 to 10 depending on the skin type. For instance, for the very very dry skin, you can pick up a soap labeled number 1.

Basically also has made-in-house candles. I personally liked these bunny ones. The bulb ones are the store's most popular line.

The ice cream corn shape candles look so delicious.

KTX

I am still staying with my parents in Busan. But I have to go to Seoul pretty often to look for a place (I just got one! But still need lots of paper work) or to see my partners. From Busan to Seoul is about 328km, almost the same distance between Washington D.C. and New York City. It takes 45 minutes by flight. But these days KTX is more popular than the airplanes because the fare in about 50% cheaper and the train station is in the city with better accessibility. And I also no longer take airplane but take KTX now.

KTX (Korean Train eXpress) is high speed rail system in Korea, similar as TGV in France or Shinkansen in Japan. The top speed can be 305-350Km/H. Including about 2-3 stops in between Busan-which is almost far southern part of Korea- and Busan, it takes about 2 hours and 40 minutes. And in a very near future, the travel time will be reduced to 90 minutes with new faster trains. If I think about the time to travel to airport and to wait in airport, the total travel time between airplane and KTX are about the same. But since the KTX fare is only about $30 (with 15%-30% discount membership program called "Business Card" that is $75) one way compared to $80 for flight, these days I totally prefer to travel by KTX.

Another great thing to travel by KTX is, I can enjoy beautiful sceneries of Korea which I became to appreciate very much.

Inside of KTX train compartment

Another fun thing not to miss on KTX is a snack cart.

Scenery seen from the train window.