DMZ

I visited the DMZ on the weekends through a tour. I wanted to go by the DMZ train but it was all booked out so I recommend booking early.

DMZ train

The first stop was at Imjingak but we didn't do much and went into the civilian control zone where a soldier came onto the tour bus and checked each of our passports. There were civilians living in that zone though they had many restrictions such as curfews and I heard that the land is very fertile there.

We went to the 3rd Infiltration Tunnel where we got to know a bit about the Korean War and the relations between North and South Korea. We then got the opportunity to go inside one of those tunnels that the North dug. No photos were allowed so I can't show you what it's like inside but it was very interesting though it was a bit tiring walking back up.

Photo Source: Veltra

We also visited Dorasan Station, which is South Korea's last railway station and the first station going towards North Korea.

Our last stop inside the zone was the Dorasan Observatory, where we were able to see the DMZ and North Korea. With binoculars it was even possible to see North Korean soldiers at their posts.

The DMZ tour was very interesting as it can't be found anywhere else and left a lot of things to think about.

Coin Karaoke

I went to a coin karaoke for the first time and quite liked it. The rooms are smaller than traditional karaokes, offering privacy and it's very cheap, approximately 500 won (50 cents) for 2 songs. More and more of these places can be seen now as it is growing in popularity.

Photo Source: Korea Times

Donggyeong Dog Update

I posted about this dog breed before but here are some photos that I took of them. It's still a puppy and I found the poses funny.

Annual Ko-Yeon/Yon-Ko Games

September 23rd-24th was the annual Ko-Yon/Yon-Ko games, a sporting event between Korea University and Yonsei University (similar to Oxford-Cambridge). There are a total of 5 games: baseball, basketball, ice-hockey, rugby and soccer.

The games themselves are interesting but a highlight of these games can be the cheering. Students wear the colour of their school (Korea Univ. - red, Yonsei Univ. - blue) and sing along + dance to cheering songs. (Cheering is considered so important that they have 2 orientation sessions each semester- including a joing orientation sessions- to teach students the songs and the moves to them)

Unlike Oxford-Cambridge, Korea-Yonsei have fun with each other after the games. This year, the games were held by Korea University so on Saturday, after the games, students from both universities went to Korea University to drink. Alumni were also present during the games and the drinking and the alumni association paid some of the stores to give free drinks and free food to students.

Spring Festival at University

May is festival season for Korean universities. Booths are set up, there are performances and many singers are invited to perform. In the case of Korea University, their festival is called Ipselenti. There is showcasing of talent of individuals, groups and clubs, cheering and celebrity performances.

Native Dogs- National Treasure

There are four native Korean dogs designated as Korea's natural monument.

Korean Jindo Dog
- medium sized hunting dong known for bravery and loyalty
             - in 1991, Baekgu, a Jindo dog, returned to its original owner over seven months later after being sold and transported over 300km (this story was made into cartoons, documentaries and books)
- very well-known/popular in Korea
- marched out during the opening ceremony of the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul


Photo Source: BarkPost

Poong-san Dog
- large sized hunting dog that has thick fur (has wolves in its ancestry)
- strong, loyal, aggressive (once used to hunt large animals such as tigers)
- common breed in North Korea

Photo Source: PetPaw

Sapsal Dog
- medium sized
- loyal, energetic, intelligent, gentle
- nickname is 'ghost dog' because it was believed that these dogs drive away ghosts
- Nearly went extinct during Japanese colonial rule as they were killed for their fur which was used to make winter coats for soldiers in Manchuria

Photo Source: DogBreedsList

Donggyeong Dog
- probably the least known dog breed out of the four
- medium sized hunting dog that looks like the Jindo dog
- distinctive feature is that it has either a bobtail or no tail
- has the oldest history out of all the Korean native dogs
- massacred during Japanese colonial rule becaused it resembled Japan's guardian of shrines and temples and also because it was considered to bring "bad luck" as it had no tail

Photo Source: Heritage Channel TV

Public Transport- Bus

There are different types of buses all with different colours and differing fares.

The blue bus is the most common and connects suburban districts to the urban parts of Seoul. The blue represents Seoul's skyline and the Hangang and symbolizes security and freedom.

The green in the green bus represents the mountains surrounding Seoul and connects major subway stations or bus terminals in Seoul.

The yellow bus stops at major railway stations/bus stops, tourist areas, shopping areas and business areas. The yellow represents friendliness.

The red bus (a.k.a. express bus) connects neighboring cities to Seoul. The seats are more  comfortable as it runs longer distances but it is more expensive.

The maeul bus is smaller in size and runs shorter routes in residential areas.

(There are sometimes buses with faces on them called tayo buses. They are the same except they have faces drawn on them. There is also the airport limousine bus and Seoul City Tour Bus.)

Tips for riding buses:
You can pay your fare by paying in cash or through a transit card. However when paying in cash don't use bills larger than 5,000 won as it could be hard to get change. When using a transit card, you must scan it when you get off as well.
When getting off the bus, you need to press the stop buzzer when the bus is approaching your stop.