MANNAM 10Km Event in 2012

Hello, there!!

How are you doing these days??

Spring is getting closer. Do you feel it?

Today, I saw some forsythias were blooming. What a nice scene!! That's the reason why I love spring so much.

Also, I could see lots of families go on a picnic these days.

It reminded me of the 10K event that was held last spring. It was the first event for me to join MANNAM.

The participants walked the riverside 10 kilometers long, thinking about the people in disaster victims.

The aim of this event was to encourage Korea to wake up and reach out, across borders and cultural constraints, to aid our brothers and sisters in need.

 

I thought it was very meaningful. Most of people don't care about others' sorrow but MANNAM cared about it. During walking, I tried to imagine I was one of the victims' family.

'How could I go through with that situation?', I thought.

Even if I could never understand their feeling fully, I could assume that how awful and sad it could be.

Furthermore, I felt it was important to take care of  neighbors because it was a way to communicate one another. When we communicate with others, we would understand them and this would lead the world peaceful.

Nice weather and nice people. This is all I want to get.

I'm looking forward to join this year as well.

Enjoy Hanok Village in Jeonju~

                                                    (picture source: tour Jeonju)

My hometown Jeonju has Hanok mauel which is a famous Korean traditional style house village. There are numerous of traditional houses huddled together. When I was young, the village was just an old place and no one had visited there. But now, after repair work, it became a tourist spot where so many people visit from all over the country.

This village was started to build around 1930. There is a gate called Pungnam Mun near the village. It was the entrance into the castle but it was pulled down because of Japanese merchanters. They had broken into the castle and constructed their houses their way. So, the ancestors started to build the houses in traditional way to resist them and maintain our own culture. The village has the spirit of people who had lived that in that time.

How to go?

When you arrive Jeonju Express bus terminal, there are taxis waiting for you. It takes just 10 min by car and you may pay about 5000 won if there is no traffic jam. You ask the driver to take you 'Hanok maeul' or 'Ohmok dae' where you can see the whole village in one place.

If you don't want to take a taxi, the closest bus stop is near the Jeonju river. You go left side from the terminal toward the river, and then cross the street. There are a bus stop on the left side. You can take the bus 5-1 and get off on Jeondong Seongdang, Hanuk maul(전동성당, 한옥마을).

In case of the Jeonju Intercity bus terminal, when you arrive there, just cross the street and you can see a bus stop. You take the bus 5-1 and get off the same way.

If you don't know, just ask

"Hanok Maeul uhdiro gayo?"

It means "Where is the hanok village?"

Perhaps, people will help you kindly.

When you go into the village, there are fascinating narrow streets between the houses. Beside the streets, there are some ditches with running water. And fancy cafes are lined up where you may take a rest a while. It's a great dating course for couples.

Among the cafe, there are a well known one named "외할머니 솜씨(Grandma's Cooking Skill)". You can enjoy different kinds of Korean style desserts in there. The most famous dessert is Patbingsu(red bean sherbet) with special toppings. Because the cafe is so popular, you might be wait long time to order the food.

When you walk along the street, you can meet some houses where you can experience traditional games or events at day time. However, I like there at night time though. Because I love to see a lot of colorful lights all around the village. Those beautiful lights you can enjoy just at night. 

Last year, MANNAM Jeonju branch has been visited this fascinating village with international members. We shared our thoughts about cultures through that tour. We all were happy to visit there and experience other traditional culture.

I want to share my culture to you.

And I'd like to know about your culture as well.

It is important to understand each other.

And it can make us friends.

Love will start from there. : )