Website: http://eng.2013expo.or.kr/
Period: 04.20.2013 ~ 10.20.2013
Address: Suncheon-si, Jeollanam-do 전라남도 순천시 풍덕동 347-16
Address: Suncheon-si, Jeollanam-do 전라남도 순천시 풍덕동 347-16
Entrance fee: 16,000krw for a day pass
How to get there: From Seoul, take the express bus from Central Terminal (every 30-40minutes), from 19,300krw (general), 28,600krw (excellence) to 31,400krw (night bus). The journey takes about 4 hours. Alternatively you can take the train to Suncheon station!
The expo is divided into several areas and themes. You can refer to the expo guide for suggested itineraries. The main areas I wanted to go to were the international gardens, dream bridge as well as Suncheon Bay. We started at about 2pm, and finished at Suncheon Bay at 8pm. By then we had missed the last shuttle bus back to Suncheon expo for the night exhibition areas.
A full-day at the expo is definitely recommended!
French garden
By the time we made it back down from the observatory, it was about 8pm, and the only choice we had was to take the local bus to Suncheon Station, where our accommodation of the night was located. Not wanting to risk having no dinner for the night, we stopped by at a restaurant selling seafood noodles (해물칼국수) near the bus stop for dinner.
Bus timings from Suncheon bus terminal back to Seoul (Gangnam). The timings marked in red (일반) are the cheaper general buses. During the expo period, the tickets may get sold out early, so do buy your tickets in advance!
My grand plan to reach the expo as early as possible failed as we reached Central terminal at 7plus in the morning and only managed to get onto the 9am bus. Apparently the bus tickets for the earlier timings were all sold out!
Our first stop upon reaching Suncheon was at a random restaurant opposite the bus terminal for lunch! I ordered beanpaste stew (6,000krw) while my friend ordered kimchi stew. I find the stews and dish sides quite different from Seoul's, because of the use of seafood as one of its ingredients! There's this seasoned fish side dish (bottom right) that I tried for the first time! Fresh, but not to my liking.
Restaurant (달성식당) we had lunch at, from the side of the bus terminal. Walk towards the left to the bus stop. The restaurant name is on the blue dotted line below.
From the express bus terminal, walk to the bus stop (about 150m) where you can take local bus 200. T-money can be used and the bus journey takes about 20-30 minutes.
A full-day at the expo is definitely recommended!
French garden
Pavilion at the French garden
For the hot summer, there were cool mists found around the expo.
Dutch Garden - By the time we went in July, the tulips were gone! Still one of the prettier ones nevertheless.
Chinese Garden with the Butterfly Lovers
Indoor gardens
More from the Outdoor Gardens
The skies were really pretty that day, but it also meant that it was scorching hot!
Outdoors structure sponsored by Hyundai
Environmental projects!
More recycling art
Wall of wishes
The Dream Bridge (꿈의다리) is an interesting and colourful bridge with random Korean characters and pictures drawn by children from around the world! Definitely one of the photo-worthy places.
Pictures drawn by childeren
The whole expo is a huge area, unlike what the guide told us! If you're tired or are with kids or the elderly, travel around by tram!
Listen to the sound of nature~
We also found this area with cactus displays of Korean words and pictures. They even teach you the angle you should be standing from to view the words / pictures.
Suncheon Bay (순천만)
After exploring the expo till about 5pm, we took the shuttle bus near the Dream Bridge to Suncheon Bay, hoping to catch the sunset. However the skies turned cloudy and we were not able to capture the reflections from the meanders!
Buses from the expo - available from 9am - 5.30pm during April, May, Sep and Oct, 9am - 6.30pm during June, July and August
Buses from Suncheon Bay - available from 9.30am - 6.40pm during April, May, Sep and Oct, 9.30am - 7.40pm during June, July and August
Expo mascots
If you are on a full day itinerary, you may want to visit the museum near the entrance to Suncheon Bay. Ticket holders of the expo have free entrance to the Bay.
Reed fields at the Bay
There are many tiny crabs found in the swamps! I saw a few locals trying to catch them, but the depth from the boardwalk to the mud is rather deep!
Halfway up to the observatory
Sides
We ordered seafood noodles (해물칼국수) to share (14,000krw for 2 pax) and I loved it! We thought it was a huge portion but we managed to finish most of it including the soup that was so sweet! I guess we were really hungry from the walks and climbs we did within a few hours.
Other menu items available include bibimbap 꼬막비빔밥, soybean noodles 콩국수, red bean noodles 팥갈국수, cold noodles 냉면 and dumplings 만두
Geo Spa 지오스파
After dinner, we took local bus 67 to Suncheon Station, where the jjimjilbang (Geo Spa 지오스파) was located.
Address: 전라남도 순천시 덕암동 188-89
Tel: 061-741-5765
From Suncheon Station on the left, walk in the direction of the arrow sign for about 150m and you will see the Geo Spa sign on your left.
The spa has the basic facilities expected of a jjimjilbang (hot, cold rooms, massage chairs, tv / games rooms, restaurant) although it does not seem newly renovated. However, for 8,000krw a night, it's definitely worth the stay! There's no restriction on the number of mats or pillows you can take, so take 2 if you dislike the hard floors.
The thought of staying overnight in a jjimjilbang 찜질방 or sauna (목욕탕, 사우나) may be frightening for many, but it's definitely a must-do if you want a Korean experience! People do not get in your way or disturb you while you sleep, but do take care of your belongings like your handphone and cash! It's recommended that you keep your handphones in the locker, but if you have to charge your phone, find a corner with a power socket and keep your phone in a pouch while you sleep, like what I did!
You may want to keep some cash with you for the hunger pangs, and bring along ear plugs and eye masks if you are a light sleeper!
Must-do in Korea - Stay in a Jjimjilbang overnight - Checked!
Total cost for the trip:
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For first-time foreign visitors:
ReplyDeleteIt is easy to confuse Suncheon Bay and the National Gardens. The National Gardens is just on the opposite bank of the Suncheon River (from the main town side).
Suncheon Bay is further out of town.
My wife and I took a bus to Suncheon Bay when we intended to go to the Gardens. Ended up taking a cab back to the Gardens and were incredulous that it was walking distance from where we stayed.
We did not specify accurately to the tourist counter staff!
nice pictures! i would like to also share some of photos taken in Suncheon National Garden.
ReplyDeletewow nice photos!
Delete