TRAVEL RUNNING, GAME STRONG!
Apart from the thrill of Chuncheon Marathon, Gangwon Province is jam packed with tourist destinations. First on the list is Chuncheon Myeongdong—it is a popular street nestled in the heart of Chuncheon. Myeong-dong was listed as the ninth most expensive shopping street in the world and it is dubbed as the “street of the young people” since it is influenced by pop culture and trendy clothes. Stores are located on both sides of the lane, from fast-food restaurants, food stalls selling local dishes, movie theatres, and shopping centre down to nightclubs are crammed within this hip area. Jungang market and Chuncheon’s underground shopping complex are two of the most sought-after destinations here.
Koreans are known to excel in various kinds of arts. One interesting sight about this street is the way Koreans appreciate art. Paintings are placed on sidewalks, street’s corner, in front of a store, as long as the public can see. You will notice snacks such as chocolates and crackers being placed around the paintings. This is the way the public show their appreciation to the artists’ work. The more snacks the painting receives, means the artsy it is to many.
A visit to Chuncheong Myeongdong will not be complete without trying their signature dish called “Dakgalbi”. It’s a stir-fry boneless chicken thighs with a special spicy sauce, cabbage, sweet potato and rice cake. Inside Chuncheon Myeongdong lies Dakgalbi Street, from the word itself you already got the idea what this place is about–it screams Dakgalbi! Many Dakgalbi restaurants here are somewhat traditional and require guests to sit on the wooden floor. Once seated and order has been placed, they would start cooking almost immediately, right on the dining table. The cooking takes about 10 to 15 minutes. Dakgalbi can be enjoyed on its own or wrapped in lettuce leaves for a fresh, crunchy taste.
From the small street known for splendid shopping, we’ll cross the water to reach Nami Island. It is a tiny half-moon shaped island on the outskirts of Chuncheon, where General Nami–to whom the island name was originated–led a great victory against the rebels in the 13th year of the 7th King of the Joseon Dynasty, remains was buried. A special feature of Namiseom Island is that there are no telephone poles. All electric wires were laid underground to keep the natural feeling of the landscape. Nami Island is a serene place for nature walks, biking tour, and simply for relaxation. There are Metasequoia Lane, Ginkgo Tree Lane, Pine Lane, Tulip Tree lane as well as Cherry blossoms Lane which make the stay on the island scenic at every single season. Around the isle, there’s a long walkway covered with fence where in you can write your heartfelt wishes and hang it there.
After all the exploring, cap off your day with a scrumptious meal and you won’t go that far and have it within the island. For Muslims, Dong Moon restaurant is there for you. Dong Moon is Korea’s 4th certified halal restaurant by Korea Muslim Federation (KMF). The halal restaurant provides a wide range of food selection from Korean popular menu, it’s most famous dish Buldak (hot and spicy chicken) to Asian fusion menu like Nasi Goreng, Rice Noodles, Fried Rice and Curry. Moreover, Dong Moon also has a prayer room (Surau) situated on the 2nd floor of the restaurant too.
Picturesque view, delectable foods and the coverage of an amazing, historic marathon. These pretty much sums up the Chuncheon marathon experience and proves one thing. Legends don’t fall, they run!
