Taekwondowon, Muju
If there’s ever a University for a sport, Taekwondowon is that University for Taekwondo. The whole place is certainly impressive as there are hostel accommodation, a museum, a Taekwondo experience centre and of course an arena for sparing. I would even say those who are practicing Taekwondo so do a stinct at this place.
There is also the Taekwondowon observatory at the peak of the mountain just behind the institute. As the monorail was not in operation, we did our own training of mind through physical activity by climbing the mountain. Poor me, I actually did it twice, trekking up the mountain in the early morning in search of sunrise despite the rain and again when the rest of the group later in the morning.
Gloomy, windy and cold morning to start my morning trek.
At least there is a nice path to the observatory.
The rest stops do offer a beautiful view of the area and seems rather new. Autumn would be beautiful here! Note the observatory right at the top.
The trek up to the observatory.
The weather cleared in time to show us the mountain range. We should be at Mount Mai actually but this would do.
After the climb we are treated to a Taekwondo demonstration by the masters (I think) of Taekwondowon. The Audience is just us so it must be a special performance. Then again, they still put in heart and soul into the demonstration and with the Samsung NX1’s capabilities, I was able to capture some of the most spectacular action sequence of this sport discipline. Many thanks for the effort!
Time to let off some steam
A bit of warm up
High precision chopping.
High precision kicking (poor tennis ball)
Release the inner rage (against a tennis ball)~!
I believe I can fly…
…I believe I can touch the sky…
…kicking the boards every now and then…
…spread my legs and fly away…
The have chopped and kicked so many wooden boards they can actually used them to make sculptures of Taekwondo stances!
Jeonju Bibimbap & Hanji
More immersing into the Korean culture and the best way is through the food and the paper it seems. Famous in the area is the Bibimbap and we get to DIY the whole experience. After lunch, we did some art and crafts including making a piece of Hanji. The thing we just do the ‘containing’ portion of a much labourious process which is to strain wood fibre through a screen and that allows the fibre to stick together and combine into a thin piece of Hanji paper. It is an experience which I wish could be done in a traditional setting rather than a factory floor sort of art studio but modern machinery such as a vacuum machine that sucks the water out of the paper and an electric dryer make it much quicker to finish the process.
DIY Bibimbap. Put in the rice, pile it up with the various ingredients to your liking and then add the spicy sauce.
Mouth watering actually!!
Making of Hanji
According to gwangjublog.com
“The manufacturing process of Korean paper is complicated, slow and laborious. The dry mulberry is cut after the frost has arrived and is peeled off after steaming. It is immersed in water for one day and, after being dried under the sunlight, the bark is peeled off, steamed again inside an iron pot and immersed in caustic soda. The steamed bark is smashed inside a stone mortar after the water has been squeezed out. Then it is rinsed in flowing water after being placed inside a wrapper. The washed mulberry is mixed with water and a natural adhesive. Next, the fibers are strained through a bamboo screen, which is shaken back and forth to create a crisscross pattern of fibers. The pulp is then dried by stacking it on a wooden panel and placed in the sun, completing the process.”
So we are basically started from the ‘bamboo screen’ step of straining.
Step 1: Wait behind the yellow line. You see?!!? Can’t even follow instructions.
Step 2) Take the bamboo strainer and weave it through the water and fibre mixture and then pull the strainer up and drain water.
Step 3) Let the water sucker do its job.
Step 4) Put the paper unto a metal heater the dry it.
Step 5) Collect paper from Lupy. Please get it from your own Lupy when you travel there.
Bonus Step) Use the paper you have done and write prayer and wishes unto it for the heavens to read!
Jeonju
We continued on this Korean Cultural immersion program by visiting the Jeonju Hanok Village. ‘Hanok’ literally means Korean traditional houses and having a ‘village’ means a lot of these houses together in one geographical location. The Hanok Village is like the Korean city dwellings and people of Jeonju actually stays in them too. What we have is an eclectic mix of old and new being together and create a rather unique atmosphere. In short Jeonju Hanok Village is street photography heaven with street food, small stalls and cute coffee outlets being housed in these old houses (or new houses made to look old). What’s more, the Koreans actually rent or brought their own Hanbok (Korean traditional costumes) and walked around in Jeonju for shoots. Basically it feels rather interesting that you can take couples and groups of girls in Hanbok as though you are walking through a movie set! This place is a must go!
Jisun and me at Jeonju Hanok Village.
An aerial overview of one-third of the village. The potential to get lost, explore and get good street shots is tremendous.
Old and new together.
Its alleyways and small paths are fodder for great portraiture. Thanks Carolynn!
Couples decked up for some great shots.
Just walking down the street with my sneakers and Hanbok.
Selfies heaven it seems.
Bliss in the City with a selfie stick.
This Catholic Church was built in the early 20th century on the site where Catholics were martyred during the Joseon Dynasty.
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