Wednesday, 11 July 2018

South Korea Trip Day 10 & 11 - Hwacheon Ice Festival & Bye Bye South Korea

Initially, we wanted to spend more time shopping, but since most shops are selling winter related items that are irrelevant for us, we decided to scout for some thing else to do. We shortlisted cafĂ© hopping, a visit to Running Man Thematic Experience Center and a day tour to Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival before finally deciding on the latter. 

The day tour package that we took up was from Trazy.com, and consists of the round-trip transportation, an English speaking guide, entrance to ice-fishing zone (inclusive of a fishing rod), 1 freshly caught baked fish to eat and a 10,000 won voucher to be use in the village. After a quick kimpab (Korean sushi roll) breakfast at the nearby 7-11 convenient store, we met up with our tour guide and fellow tour mates before heading to Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival venue, which is about a 2 hours bus ride.

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival
Entrance ticket

We've seen ice fishing on shows, but was not sure what to expect when it is our turn to do so. The tour guide gave us some brief instructions - each person is only allowed to catch 3 fishes at the area dedicated for foreigners, and all fishes caught had to be returned to the booth. We were also told to meet up in about an hour's time to get a cooked trout (type of the fish which we will be fishing).

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival
Fishing rod - no baits required

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival
Fishing holes - there were numerous of them, and our hint to you is to find a hole which is nearer to the center of zone. We were told that the fishing area for foreigners contain more fishes so that we do not go home feeling empty.

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival
1 of the ladies in the group concentrating in her fishing

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival
Caught!

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival
Our harvest

In the end, hubby did not have much luck in catching any trout, and I single-handedly caught all 6 fishes (smirk). Next, its time to taste the trout which were caught in the morning.

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival
Area to return the caught trout

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival
Baking the trout

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival
Cooked trout

The tour guide then issued the voucher which can be used anywhere in the village, gave us some ideas of the available activities before leaving us to enjoy the afternoon.

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival
10,000 won voucher

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival
Ice skating

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival
Sledging on flat ice

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival
Sledging down the slopes

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival
Overall view of the area

There were also activities like bare hand fishing in the cold waters, but we choose to skip this activity, and head to the Ice Illumination Plaza to see ice sculptures.

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival
Ice Sculptures

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival
Around the festival village

We browse through different shops down the road in the village, and decided to spend our voucher at Issac Toast, since we cannot seem to get enough of it.

Issac Toast
Issac Toast

After a day of fun, its time to head back to Seoul, and we decided to have our last dinner of this trip at Yoogane in Myeongdong for more galbi.

Yoogane
Address: 3-1 Myeongdong 2-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul

Yoogane

Yoogane

Yoogane
Galbi fried rice

Yoogane

We packed our bags, and head to Incheon airport by the airport bus at the bus stop near Hotel New Oriental Myeongdong (the hotel which we are staying at) the next morning for our flight home. It was a great trip, and we look forward to a new adventure at another wonderland soon.

airport bus seoul

Previously: South Korea Trip Day 8 & 9 - Haircut, Shopping and Everland

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