I had not seen the ocean in a week and that was simply not acceptable — so we got on a bus heading south and did not look back.
After being home in Florida for a week and not once making it to the Ocean, I decided we should take a weekend trip to the Korean Coast. So, Adam did some research and found the perfect spot for us to venture too.
Saturday morning we took a bus to Wando. It is about a 2 hour bus ride south from us. I couldn’t sleep at all on the way there, the scenery was so beautiful. I wish I had words to describe it, the pictures don’t do it any justice. Once in Wando we grabbed lunch at a local joint and caught another bus to Sinji-do. It is an island east of Wando. (there is a bridge connecting them) We ended up taking the bus to the end of the line, to a beach called Donggo. There we collected sea shells and enjoyed the view for awhile. The nice locals explained in broken language and dramatized gestures there was no where to sleep in the area except in a tent. So, they put us on a bus and spoke with the driver instructing him to drop us off at a different part of the island which was more populated (we were able to find a Bimbah, hotel, there). The huge tourist beach where we ended up was Myeongsasimni Beach. It is still not beach season in Korea, so the beach was pretty empty except for the locals. It was a little overcast, but not very humid or hot. We found a great Motel for 20,000 a night. We didn’t realize it until much later that we paid for two nights, we thought she meant two people. But, for 40,000 won it still wasn’t bad. We took a walk on the beach and ate a great local meal consisting of a billion side dishes, a fantastic mussel soup and rice. We then fell asleep for the night.
Sunday morning we woke up fairly early, grabbed some snacks at the 7-11 and took a walk up the mountain. We then changed and found lounge chairs and relaxed on the beach for a few hours. The view was exactly what I would expect an Asian beach to look like. In the distance you can see the fisheries (I imagine that is what it is called) All of the fishing nets were marked along the coast with buoys. The mountains were in plain site and the water sounded like heaven.
Enjoy the pictures
http://www.youtube.com/get_player
Q: How do you get from Gwangju to Wando in South Korea? A: A direct bus from Gwangju to Wando takes about two hours and the scenery along the way is genuinely breathtaking — we could not sleep for staring out the window the entire journey. From Wando you can catch another local bus to Sinji Island which is connected to the mainland by a bridge making the whole trip surprisingly straightforward even without speaking Korean.
Q: What is Sinji Island in South Korea like? A: Sinji Island is a quiet and largely undiscovered coastal gem in South Korea’s South Jeolla province. The beaches are peaceful, the fishing culture is visible everywhere along the coast with nets and buoys marking the water as far as you can see and the mountains rise dramatically behind the shoreline creating exactly the kind of view you imagine when you picture an Asian beach. Outside of peak summer season you will have it almost entirely to yourself.
Q: What is Myeongsasimni Beach on Sinji Island like? A: Myeongsasimni is the main tourist beach on Sinji Island and is beautiful even out of season. We visited before beach season officially opened and found it quiet, clean and completely unhurried. The combination of mountain backdrop, fishing boats on the horizon and the sound of the ocean made it one of the most peaceful places we visited in all of Korea.
Q: How affordable is travel around South Korea for expats? A: Remarkably affordable. Bus travel between cities and islands is cheap and reliable. We found a clean motel on Sinji Island for 20,000 won a night — roughly $18 US dollars. Food at local restaurants was delicious and inexpensive. A full weekend trip to the Korean coast including transport, accommodation and meals cost very little compared to what a similar trip would cost almost anywhere in the Western world.
Q: Can you camp freely in South Korea? A: Yes — camping is widely accepted across South Korea and many Koreans are enthusiastic outdoor campers. Bringing a lightweight tent opens up enormous freedom to explore the country’s coastlines, mountains and islands without needing to find accommodation. It is something we plan to do more of and would strongly recommend to any expat or traveler exploring beyond the main cities.
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