Nami Island: A Comeback

What to do with these videos I am stacking up in YouTube if not to share them. The best thing of being able to just upload and share in this digital world is that...I simply do this stuff and then whopla...my friends and family back home could also see what we are experiencing right here in Korea. So, these are some of sooo many videos we took during our 2012's Winter Trip to Nami Island.  

The first video tells about the first step we got to go through on the way to Nami Maid--a ferry that would take us to Nami Island. The Second video tells about Eyra and Freya and of course...our friends alike on board the Nami Maid on our way to Nami Island.  

The third one recalls about one of the facades of the island. Ok, some may not say that the video does not flatter the island. well, it was Winter and taking a video during the Winter was not that easy.......^^But, I think this pretty much say what the island is all about.

Turkey, Ostriches @ Nami island

I heard and I did see an ad on the brochure that we could see the turkeys & ostriches(the birds) on the island. But, we could not find any.





Or ...yet...we did not go to the part of the island where they were:( ^^ I think that would be the most reasonable reason as to why I did NOT see them.  

 But, what we did SEE was the souvenirs resembling them.^^
They were so fluffy and furry creatures drenched in various colors.
So tempting to look at.
Well, they were actually just either pencil or just a paper holder or stuffs like that.
--
What I want to point out here was...that...once again...Nami island has nothing to offer....before. But, thanks to the innovative and creative ideas of its management, even the simplest turkeys, ducks, and  ostriches could become the marketable points at the island. They are roaming freely at the island....^^

But, hey..this is why Naminara Republic is famous...^^and does attract lots of people.^^

Family pictures at Nami island

A nice weather...well...almost!

"I love you, Mom"

"Love you, too, Freya"

~Freya & her Daddy~

(back)from left: Meity, Suray, Putri, Wenny, Jobirson
(front) from left: Freya, Eyra

At the riverside, waiting for the boat to dock...

Perfect spot for taking pictures.......splendid!
That's why we did some shots with the family there.
The lining up tall pine trees that dotted the island was a perfect place for this occasion.
What more could we want......but.....the warmth of being able to share the moments with the family and friends alike.
Eyra & Freya seemed to enjoy her time with us.
As for me, of course...I did, too.
so did my friends.......^^
An afternoon during Winter.....in Nami.

The Trees at Nami Island

Something that we could not find back home in Indonesia. Or maybe there is and there are...it's just that I've never been there. As for the pine trees lining up (wait...are they pine trees?) I don't think so either. Anyway..I do not know what those are....(chuckles)















I guess....this place is actually just like any other place that we can find in other places, other countries as well. But, what drove people get frenzy of having to be at least ...visiting this place once, then>?















hehehe...
it is--I think--- no other than....the so much-hyped and talked about Winter Sonata's everlasting prowess.
and...yup..that's why we went here...with the group. ^^








 since...lots of ppl....took at least one shot here.....I myself got into it. Well, what's the fuzz of not....getting myself at least framed into a picture of having been to Nami?
like this?

It was actually....lots of people walking by the area....but I just managed to take a pic. of this area...where most people did not go to....

 As for the Winter.:) .....yes..this is something that lured people from S.E. Asia..particularly...to come and feel the island.......cos...it was perpetual-ized in Winter Sonata. see?







Once again...talking about the trees?
well, it was somewhat like what could find back home. the pine trees and other kinds of trees dotted the island.
But, what made it different....was the mere and sheer difference of how this tiny island was beautified into a sell-able/marketable tourist melting pot for any visitors visiting Korea.







It would not have been complete without going here.
back to the trees...
the somewhat symmetrically lined-up trees of numerous kinds...indeed gave me a chill of excitement. It was cold during summer. Oh, the snow was drizzling.....(could I say it like that?)^^ drizzling?

















Anyway...It was a great spot to take pictures from any angle you wanted to be.
With lots of people coming back and forth...it need patience to take the best moment.
But, anyhow...we did manage to take some shots.

Eyra, Freya, and her Mom seemed to be intrigued by the place.

Nami Maid at Naminara Republic

Naminara Republic? 나미나라 공화국?
Yes....I think this is what Nami Island government(?) called herself.
Government? yes....because this is how they operate and market the island.
It is interesting, right?
I was flabbergasted at first.
 and....what??? Republic?
Immigration office? yes..you got it.
the ticket booths were referred to as immigration check point.




It was one of the best, if not innovative, marketing strategies of selling this used-to-be not-famous island.
They have to make lots of things to make sure that people are kept luring into this tiny island  in the center of a river^^
Well, it works.





People were flocking into this island since the Winter Sonata drama sparked frenzies over Asia for the past...let's see......8 years so far?
amazing, right?
So, I finally made it there, too.









Now...about this Nami Maid. Maid? hahahaha...
yes...this is what they call one ..the one and only available ferry that transport tourists back and forth into the island.

And a  funny way to make it memorable is..
I mean.....there is something that
 made me like it more....( I don't know whether this is officially acknowledged)....people could make graffiti inside the wall of the boat/ferry....with anything they want to write on it.
Splash!!!!! my friend, Jobirson, was so intrigued of writing one!
check it out...what he wrote on it.^^






Here is Jobirson with my daughter, Freya....taking a pose on the deck.











Arriving safely at the Nami Island's mini docking area...where people were in line waiting for the vessel to transport them....

This is what the Nami Maid looks like from afar.
The tube-like ferry or vessel...must've been so exhausted of having to do its chores:)

Chuncheon Myeongdong Dalgalbi

Dakgalbi? 닭갈비? i in Myeongdong? in Chuncheon?
yes..yes...yes...it is chicken roasted and fried in a big hot plate with rather sweet soysauce.
Well...I am not sure whether my explanation about this dakgalbi is true...since I did not know it for sure. It was just from what I saw and tasted:)

Depite the fact that I am 100% vegetarian, I was still able to enjoy the rice cooked or stirred fried rice within the delicious dalgalbi.
People going to Chuncheon must have a list of eating this famous dakgalbi in their itineraries.
Yes, it was a good choice for the operator of the tour to have us eat there.
My wife loved it.
My friends did, too.
So did my kids.
Well....I did not eat the chicken....only the veggies that were cooked with it.
Ok.....with full stomach ....we were heading towards the Naminara Repubic!!!!