South Korean Travel? Gunsan City is a Treasure Trove of Photos and Sightseeing

Most people don't think of Gunsan City in South Korea as a destination for sightseeing and picture taking. Tourists flock to Seoul and the surrounding area, fascinated by the Demilitarized Zone and Korean War monuments. But a trip to the southern part of the Korean peninsula reveals a slice of life you just can't find in Seoul. It is an area loaded with possibilities, three hours from Seoul and full of great shopping and dining. Photographers will have the best luck with a great variety of subjects for their photo albums. Take a bus, train or rental car to Gunsan and you will soon see for yourself.

The downtown walking mall in Gunsan is a colorful place to start. Street vendors hawk their wares, complete with outdoor displays of the latest fashions and plenty of people milling about. A few blocks away is a large Christian church with an impressive set of stone steps leading high up to the church doors. From there, shutterbugs can take good shots of the skyline and the unique blue metal roofs that are popular in the area.

From the elevated view on the church steps, you can spot a Buddhist temple, located right next to Wolmeyeong Park, a nature preserve and exercise area. The temple is about eight blocks away, so it's best to hail a cab (easy to do in Korea, just stick your hand in the air like in the states). The temple itself offers many excellent photo opportunities including stone pagodas and the traditional 'temple dogs' that guard the entrance to the main building. Up another set of steps is the entrance to Wolmyeong Park, which is a hiking and picture taking experience all by itself.

There are impressive Korean War monuments further in the park, and don't miss a small observation deck located just to the right at the top of the stairs. There is a postcard-perfect ocean view here, but beware the large flocks of pigeons-many tourists have been chased down by the hungry birds looking for a handout!

After an afternoon of exploring and picture taking, most are ready for a good meal, and the area surrounding the park and temple are full of restaurants-Korean, Chinese and even Japanese cuisine can be found. Be sure to look for a white sign on some establishments, which says "Good Restaurant", where you can usually find quality food at reasonable prices. Try the Dak Galbi, traditional Korean barbecued chicken, or the oxtail soup. Adventurous types will give kimchee a taste, but beware, it can be hot and spicy! Other tasty dishes include skewered chicken, pork and vegetarian soups. Ramyeon is basically ramen soup, but far more elaborate than the american prepackaged noodles college students survive on.

Gunsan City is located on the southern part of the peninsula, an area most don't give much thought to at first. Those who do venture south are pleasantly surprised; especially those who like to take pictures. It's one of the better-kept secrets of South Korea, an area that has features of the traditional Korean lifestyle, with the conveniences of the most modern cities on the peninsula. Shutterbugs, take note, this is a fabulous area to explore!