Korea travel
Traveling in Asia is always sure to take the breath away from anyone. Making a tour of Asia is like visiting a mini world in itself. With a variety of cultures, races, customs and history, Asia is one of the best and most beautiful experiences for any traveler. Korea, with its rich history and colorful culture can be regarded as one of the foremost places to visit in Asia.Korea is divided into North and South Korea since independence from the Japanese colonialists in 1945. Though North Korea is an attractive place well worth a visit, especially since the end of communism, this article focuses on the marvels of South Korea. Korea or rather, South Korea, is made up of many provinces. Some of the attractions of some of these provinces are listed below:
The province that attracts the most tourists is Jeju- Special Self-Governing Province, previously known as Jeju Island. A small island, this province entices tourists with its beautiful beaches, waterfalls, caves and cliffs. Mt. Hallasan boasts of many different varieties of flora and fauna and is one of the major attractions of the island. This island has a mild climate and is a paradise for nature lovers. Another province that nature lovers must not miss is Gangwon-do. Situated in mid-eastern Korea with the sea and mountains, there are plenty of places to visit and to relax in this province. Mt. Seoraksan and Mt. Chiaksan are among the mountains from which one can obtain a splendid view. Apart from this there are also beaches and skiing in winter.
The province of Gyeonggi-do includes the capital city of Seoul and is well worth a visit. Located on the Hangang River, this province has interesting places such as the Suwon Hwaseong Fortress, the Korean Folk Village and the Everland amusement park. Chungcheonbuk has the distinction of being the only inland province in the country. There are no seas or beaches here but this province has a rich culture, beautiful mountains such as Mt. Songnisan and Mt. Soaeksan and scenic lakes including Chungjuho Lake and Daecheongho Lake. For those interested in history, the province of Gyeongsanguk-do is the place to go. Traces of the Buddhist culture of the Silla Kingdom and the Confucian culture of the Joseon Dynasty still exist in this province. Historical destinations such as Gyeongju, the capital of the Silla Kingdom and Andong Hahoe Village are definitely worth a visit for history enthusiasts. Other places to visit include Mt. Juwansan National Park, beaches and natural springs. The province of Jeollauk-do is another province where history of the country is still preserved. Apart from the Namwom, where the pansori or Korean opera originated, there are plenty of other historical and cultural sites to visit in this province.
Korea is not only a beautiful country but also has a rich history since it’s founding in prehistoric times in 2333 B.C. There are indications that the settlements in the area date back to 700,000 years ago. According to a legend, the first Korean Kingdom of Gojseon was founded by Dan-gun. Though not much is known about this, this dynasty lasted from 2333 B.C. to 108 B.C. The three-kingdom period, which lasted from 57 B.C. to 676 A.D., was marked by the struggle between three kingdoms to gain control of Korean territory. The three kingdoms in question were Goguryeo, Silla and Baekje. Goguryeo was the largest of the three kingdoms in size and was founded in 37 B.C. Founded by King Onjo, the Baekje Kingdom had a strong cultural influence on its people and the Japanese culture. The Silla Kingdom was founded in 57 B.C. and lasted for almost a thousand years, conquering the other two rival kingdoms. In fact, this kingdom was the first step towards forming a united Korea.
The unified Silla kingdom with its Buddhist culture lasted until 935 A.D. The Balhae Kingdom, which coexisted with Silla, lasted from 698 to 926 A.D. There were many innovations and cultural progress during Goryeo Dynasty established in 918 A.D. this dynasty lasted until 1392 and gave way to the Joseon Dynasty after this. Buddhism declined and Confucianism gained hold during this period. The Korean alphabet, Hangeul, was also invented during this period.
The Japanese colonized Korea and Japanese rule in Korea continued until the end of the 2nd world war. Korea was divided into North Korea and South Korea and remains parted to this day.
With such a long and varied history, it is not surprising that Korea has a rich culture. Culture includes all facets of the lives of a people including language, arts and crafts, traditions and customs, dress, cuisine, and so on. Temple stays, Hanji paper, ceramic pottery and seasonal festivals as well as Taekwando and the Korean cuisine are an integral part of Korean culture and are definitely interesting to experience.
Korean cuisine is distinct and has a flavor all its own. Rice plays an important part since it is the staple dish in Korea. Meat, fish, vegetables and green leaves are also included to a large extent in the cooking. All the dishes are served at the same time and the number of side dishes usually varies from 3 to 10. Preserved food such as kimchi, jeotgal and doenjang are important to Korean cuisine. Some of the traditional dishes include Bap and Juk, rice with beans, chestnuts, red beans, cereals and soup made of rice, beans, pumpkin, ginseng, vegetables, mushroom and other ingredients. Guk and jiggae are light and thick soups and are essential side dishes. Jiggae is spicy and is made from soybean paste. Jjim and Jorim are boiled meat and fish, soaked in soybean paste. Jeotgal is a traditional dish of seafood fermented in salt and is very popular. Vegetables are boiled or fried with various seasoning. This is called Namul. There are also other delectable cuisines to tempt your palate including Gui, Jeone and Mandu.
With so much to offer, Korea is the best place to travel for people searching for a different and unique experience.
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