Awesome Yeosu

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June 6th 2011

Published: June 6th 2011

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Walk up to Hyangiram

I decided to visit Yeosu—host city of the 2012 World Expo—for the long weekend. The bus arrived into Yeosu at 9:40 am on Saturday. The less-than-two-hour ride from Gwangju costs 9,900 Won. After finding out which city bus (1,100 Won) could take me to Hyangiram Hermitage, I was at the temple in 50 minutes—a taxi will be faster and costs between 22,000 and 25,000 Won. Buses 111, 113, and 116 will take you there. Restaurants and shops surround the street and long-steep-inclined pathway toward the temple entrance on both sides. Two-thousand won will get you into the temple, and a long and steep walk along stoned stairs will get you up to Hyangiram. The grounds are nice—crews were doing construction/renovation during my visit—and the views are amazing. After strolling everywhere, I hiked up to the top of Geumobong. Exiting the temple you can find the entrance for the hike. A short hike to the peak also provides great views of the area.

I drank makgeolli with some older women while waiting for the bus back to Yeosu. After the bus crossed the Dolsan Bridge, I got off at the following stop and walked back toward the bridge and made

View from Geumobong

my way across it. The views that the bridge provides of the city are spectacular. From there, I walked to downtown Yeosu and made my way to Jinnamgwan, with stops along the way at Yeosu’s fish market and Yi Sun-Shin Plaza. The fish market is a lively atmosphere, with people selecting the best products and vendors killing and gutting different fish and mollusks. After walking around the plaza and the grounds at Jinnamgwan, I wandered over to Jasan Park. Atop a large hill, the park provides wonderful views of downtown Yeosu, the site for the 2012 World Expo, Odong Island, and the ocean.

After the park, I took a leisurely walk toward the marine terminal where some of my coworkers told me that most of the restaurants in the area served sodaewhae—a local favorite: raw sole in a very spicy sauce, served bibimbap style. I spent a very quiet evening. I headed to downtown Yeocheon walked around the area and then along the marina to Soho-dong. I went to bed early.

I woke up early the next morning (I stayed at the Daia Motel downtown) and walked along the harbor front toward Odong Island. It was

View fro Geumobong of the Marina

a quiet Sunday morning and only a handful of people were enjoying the early sun and breeze. The area leading up to Odong Island is currently under heavy construction, as it is the future site of the 2012 World Expo. Before the long pier to the island, there is a quick detour to a great scenic view along the hillside toward Jasan Park. Odong Island is beautiful: it has great walkways within its forested area and provides some chances to walk along the jagged rocks that line its shores.

After walking back and leaving the construction area, I jumped on a taxi toward Maseongri Black Sand Beach (4,400 Won). Though it was not quite black sand, it is a beautiful area, as it has scenic mountain backdrops and great views out toward the ocean. With a rural, ocean town feel, the walk along the main drag or sitting on the sand to have a cool beer is magnificent. I ate lunch at Galmaegiwhaetjib. The restaurant is owned by a married couple who attended me extremely well. I had a delicious meal consisting of octopus tentacles (still moving while I ate them), raw oysters and clams, a huge sashimi

Dolsan Bridge

platter, and a delicious fish broth with rice and the local gat kimchi.

Bus number 7 will take you back to downtown Yeosu. I got off near Jinnamgwan, as I wanted to walk of the massive lunch I had. I made my way across Dolsan Bridge once again to visit the Replica Turtle Ship and Museum (1,200 Won entrance fee). I spent the rest of the evening walking around Turtle Park in downtown Yeocheon. I capped off the night with a last crossing of Dolsan Bridge at night, which provides a beautiful nightscape of the city.

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