Friday, November 2, 2012
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
South Korean Experience
Period: February 5, 2010
Travel Route: Seoul Ichon – West DMZ and the Wetland
Areas visited: Sungdong wetland, Jangdan peninsula, Tongil maeul, Imjingak wetland
Korea was an independent kingdom under Chinese suzerainty for most of the past millennium. Following its victory in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905, Japan occupied Korea; five years later it formally annexed the entire peninsula. After World War II, a republic was set up in the southern half of the Korean Peninsula while a Communist-style government was installed in the north. During the Korean War (1950-53), USA and other UN forces intervened to defend South Korea from North Korean attacks supported by the Chinese. An armistice was signed in 1953, splitting the peninsula along a demilitarized zone at about the 38th parallel. Thereafter, South Korea achieved rapid economic growth with per capita income rising to roughly 14 times the level of North Korea. In 1987, South Korean voters elected ROH Tae-woo to the presidency, ending 26 years of military dictatorships. South Korea today is a fully functioning modern democracy. In June 2000, a historic first North-South summit took place between the South's President KIM Tae-chung and the North's leader KIM Jong.
South Korea has grown and developed into such a prosperous country while North Korea is a communist run country that is very private to the outside. South Korea is very proud and had built up their country so much since the war ended back in the 1950s. It was in ruins after the war and so much has been built up. Samsung, Hyundia, Kia are just a few of the major brands that we all have heard of. There were NO AMERICAN cars on the roads in Korea that we saw for 7 days, they are very Korean proud of their brands. Samsung even builds cars there called Genesis and they are pretty high end cars. All the foreign teachers we asked about American cars said they had never seen one in Korea.
The DMZ and Wetland Tour
Wetlands and Birds Korea was founded in 2000, with the mission to conserve internationally important Korean wetlands and water birds, to propose alternatives leading to wise use of wetlands and to promote the public awareness of the necessity of their conservation.
I had a chance to win a one day trip for free to DMZ area, an eco tour. This was a very enjoyable and relaxing trip tour as the itinerary was no pressure of time to complete our birding activities. I do think that everybody has to make his own experience and some useful information is provided anyway (Lonely Planet,..
http://www.birdskorea.org/Birds/Birding_in_Korea/BK-BK-Practical-Tips.shtml,tripreports).
So I'm not even trying to pretend to be an expert on the south-Korean way of life. I definitely enjoyed being in South Korea. Different people, different life style, different foods are always a great experience. On the other hand, devastating to see how environment has to pay the price for humans acting irresponsible again. The hunger for land is very obvious and construction works can be seen everywhere you go.
I was lucky in having mostly sunny skies while bird watching although it was quite chilly and frozen.
It is about an hour drive up to the DMZ area. The DMZ was created after cease fire agreement between North and South Korea as a buffer zone, about 2 kilometers wide border of no man's land. I started to realize we were near when huge strips of barbwire come up. The guide, who was very good, then pointed across the Imjin River and said, "There is North Korea." Only 15 kilometers of water separated us, very chilling. We then stopped at Freedom Bridge where a prisoner exchange was made after the war. You can buy a piece of the DMZ barbwire mounted on a plaque if you so desire. Or take a ride on a swinging amusement park ride. After that, we passed the first military checkpoint with fully armed guards and blockade equipment. No photos are allowed after this point. The first stop inside the DMZ is the Anti-Communism Hall where we were given a tour by a ROK soldier.
Travel Route: Seoul Ichon – West DMZ and the Wetland
Areas visited: Sungdong wetland, Jangdan peninsula, Tongil maeul, Imjingak wetland
Korea was an independent kingdom under Chinese suzerainty for most of the past millennium. Following its victory in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905, Japan occupied Korea; five years later it formally annexed the entire peninsula. After World War II, a republic was set up in the southern half of the Korean Peninsula while a Communist-style government was installed in the north. During the Korean War (1950-53), USA and other UN forces intervened to defend South Korea from North Korean attacks supported by the Chinese. An armistice was signed in 1953, splitting the peninsula along a demilitarized zone at about the 38th parallel. Thereafter, South Korea achieved rapid economic growth with per capita income rising to roughly 14 times the level of North Korea. In 1987, South Korean voters elected ROH Tae-woo to the presidency, ending 26 years of military dictatorships. South Korea today is a fully functioning modern democracy. In June 2000, a historic first North-South summit took place between the South's President KIM Tae-chung and the North's leader KIM Jong.
South Korea has grown and developed into such a prosperous country while North Korea is a communist run country that is very private to the outside. South Korea is very proud and had built up their country so much since the war ended back in the 1950s. It was in ruins after the war and so much has been built up. Samsung, Hyundia, Kia are just a few of the major brands that we all have heard of. There were NO AMERICAN cars on the roads in Korea that we saw for 7 days, they are very Korean proud of their brands. Samsung even builds cars there called Genesis and they are pretty high end cars. All the foreign teachers we asked about American cars said they had never seen one in Korea.
The DMZ and Wetland Tour
Wetlands and Birds Korea was founded in 2000, with the mission to conserve internationally important Korean wetlands and water birds, to propose alternatives leading to wise use of wetlands and to promote the public awareness of the necessity of their conservation.
I had a chance to win a one day trip for free to DMZ area, an eco tour. This was a very enjoyable and relaxing trip tour as the itinerary was no pressure of time to complete our birding activities. I do think that everybody has to make his own experience and some useful information is provided anyway (Lonely Planet,..
http://www.birdskorea.org/Birds/Birding_in_Korea/BK-BK-Practical-Tips.shtml,tripreports).
So I'm not even trying to pretend to be an expert on the south-Korean way of life. I definitely enjoyed being in South Korea. Different people, different life style, different foods are always a great experience. On the other hand, devastating to see how environment has to pay the price for humans acting irresponsible again. The hunger for land is very obvious and construction works can be seen everywhere you go.
I was lucky in having mostly sunny skies while bird watching although it was quite chilly and frozen.
It is about an hour drive up to the DMZ area. The DMZ was created after cease fire agreement between North and South Korea as a buffer zone, about 2 kilometers wide border of no man's land. I started to realize we were near when huge strips of barbwire come up. The guide, who was very good, then pointed across the Imjin River and said, "There is North Korea." Only 15 kilometers of water separated us, very chilling. We then stopped at Freedom Bridge where a prisoner exchange was made after the war. You can buy a piece of the DMZ barbwire mounted on a plaque if you so desire. Or take a ride on a swinging amusement park ride. After that, we passed the first military checkpoint with fully armed guards and blockade equipment. No photos are allowed after this point. The first stop inside the DMZ is the Anti-Communism Hall where we were given a tour by a ROK soldier.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
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