Sweet, Juicy Get-Away with Strawberry
By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
YANGPYEONG, Gyeonggi Province ― The South Korean won continues to fall against the Japanese yen and the dollar.
The weak won tendency makes people here hesitate to pack up and hop on an airplane.
If you don't have enough money and time for refreshment through a trip abroad, how about tasting sweet, juicy strawberries in Gyeonggi Province, just an hour away from Seoul?
All you need is comfortable sneakers and sun cap or sunglasses to beat off the strong spring sunshine.
With March being the best season for strawberries, travel agencies offer various one-day tour programs which enable people to sightsee tourist attractions as well as pick the fruit.
This reporter joined a 29,900-won ($20) program last Saturday which took more than 80 people to hot spots and a strawberry farm in the Northeast of the province by bus.
The charge covers all admission fees, round-trip fare, travel insurance and a box of organic strawberries but not lunch.
Arboretum
The first destination is Gangwon Provincial Arboretum in Chuncheon.
The 120,476-square-meter facility has a botanical garden, forest museum and resorts surrounded by dense forest.
The garden has various plants, flowers, trees and even cactuses growing in a range of climates, which can be a good learning experience for children.
On the way to the forest museum from the botanical garden, there is a native tree standing alone called ``hyehwamok'' that has an interesting story about a flower that blooms on it.
In spring, it has hundreds of flowers blooming on its branches but only one of the flowers is believed to tremble and cry at night. If people eat the special flower, a legend from the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) has it that they can pass the state examination.
A docent offers a 30-minute explanation while accompanying tourists to the museum. An English language service is also provided if a phone call request is made in advance. Call (033) 248-6671 for the service.
If you want more than a one-day break, Jipdarigol Natural Forest with its trees and cozy cabins is a good choice.
For reservation and more information, visit www.jipdari.com.
Bon Appetite!
Since the tour program begins at 7:30 a.m., it can be a little bit physically challenging.
Besides, if you do not stuff your stomach with breakfast, you can hear it rumbling soon after looking around the arboretum.
Thus, the next spot is a ``dakgalbi'' restaurant. Chuncheon is famous for the dish ― stir-frying marinated diced chicken in a red pepper paste sauce with sliced cabbage, sweet potato, onion and long, thin rice cake on a hot plate.
The sizzling sound and spicy aroma stimulate the appetite.
If you are not satisfied even after eating the chicken, you can ask a bowl of rice to mix with the remaining red sauce.
Dakgalbi is priced at 8,500 won per person.
For people who do not like spicy tastes, ``makguksu,'' or buckwheat noodle in cold broth with sliced vegetable, is another option.
Petite France
Now, let's head for a rural village of southern France! Way too far and expensive to go there? Don't worry. Just about 20 minutes away, there is a cozy, orange-and-white-colored French village called ``Petite France.''
Opened last July, the village draws many tourists as the popular local drama the ``Beethoven Virus'' was shot in its exotic buildings.
It also has the gallery ``Le Coq'' displaying a range of sculptures, crafts, glasswork and paintings inspired by the French national bird, rooster.
Meanwhile, Le St. Ex Memorial Hall welcomes aficionados of the world classic fairytale ``Le Petit Prince'' by Saint Exupery.
It narrates the mystery life of the pilot-turned-writer through rectangular panels. An attic on top of the three-story hall projects animations from French cartoons to an adaptation of ``Le Petit Prince'' on the white screen.
The replica of the French village has 34 cottages ― every single one being different and unique ― which are able to accommodate up to 200 people.
Small concerts take place in the central square cul-de-sac three times every day except for Mondays. Visitors can also taste French cuisine.
An individual visit to Petite France costs 8,000 won for adults, 6,000 won for teenagers and 5,000 won for children.
For more information, call (031) 584-8200 or visit www.pfcamp.com.
Picking up Strawberries
The last destination is the highlight of this tour program, a strawberry farm in Yangpyeong.
The district is known for its clean water and fresh climate, so it is said to be a perfect place to grow the red fruit.
A strawberry-picking program varies depending on what tour program you choose.
Some allow you to eat as many strawberries as you can but return home with empty-handed, while some organic strawberry farms permit tourists to taste only three to four berries and instead, take a box of strawberries home.
Other programs give participants an opportunity to make strawberry jam and take one jar of it home.
The $20 program, which this reporter participated in, allows tasting a few strawberries, picking up red ones and making only one box.
A farm owner sternly says eating more than four strawberries is not allowed because the organic variety are quite pricey but soon gives out handfuls of strawberries to visitors.
He stresses it is okay to eat organic strawberries grown here without washing them as there are ``no artificial chemicals and fertilizers'' used in cultivation.
After filling up one's box and stomach, it is a great wrap up to take a walk around Yangsuri, a confluence of two rivers ― the Namhan River and Bukhan River.
This still, secluded place was previously a famous ferry point.
The whole course ends as the bus arrives in Jamsil, southern Seoul, at 6:30 p.m. and in City Hall, central Seoul, at 7:30 p.m.
Big travel agencies such as Hanatour (www.hanatour.com) and Modetour (www.modetour.com) offer various strawberry-picking programs.
Some one-day tour programs offer a chance to taste Korean beef with wonderful marbling, make cheese or appreciate spring buds.
Most of the programs cost less than 50,000 won, so why hesitate? Go out and enjoy a one-day vacation.