Thursday 22 November 2018

Daehan Dawon, the largest tea plantation in South Korea

The Boseong Green Tea Plantations in the South Jeolla Province are one Korea's landmarks. The most famous field is the Daehan Dawon Tea Plantation, which is naturally the most tourists. Most people travel here either in spring.
Daehan Dawon, the largest tea plantation in South Korea
There is something mesmerising about watching Korean ladies carefully picking green tea leaves. For those who love taking pictures, there is a specially designed photo area, a well-groomed patch of field, while the rest of the plantation often happens to be slightly overgrown. Even if you come in late autumn or winter, you will see quite a picture, as the hillsides are always beautiful.

The origin of Deahan Dawon

Daehan Dawon, the largest tea plantation in South Korea
Daehan Dawon, the largest and oldest tea garden in the southern county of Boseong, dates back to 1937, when the first green tea trees were planted by Japanese colonialists. The area’s rich soil, humidity and day-to-night temperature differences made it a perfect location for tea cultivation.

The best time to visit

Daehan Dawon, the largest tea plantation in South Korea
The best time to visit Boseong and the Daehan Dawon Plantation is in May as the yearly Dahyangje Tea Festival is celebrated at this time. Aside from driving your own vehicle, the most common way to reach Boseong is to take the bus from Seoul, although the route is not direct. From the capital, you will need to take a bus to the city of Gwangju. You will then change at the intercity bus terminal, and take another bus directly to the city of Boseong.

Going Green

Daehan Dawon, the largest tea plantation in South Korea
Out of the three main plantations in the Boseong area, Daehan Dawon is the most famous one. It routinely attracts domestic and international visitors but it also functions as a fully-operational plantation that produces 40% of the nation’s green tea products. Daehan Dawon is incredibly scenic, and all around you will see neatly trimmed tea hedges that adorned multitudes of hills. Daehan covers more than 560 hectares of hillside and fields. This is the largest and oldest tea garden in Boseong.
The most popular tourist activity in Daehan is the stroll up to a road that leads to the main plantation area. This iconic path is referred to as the Boseong Cedar Road, as it is lined up by tall cedar trees that can reach to up to 20 meters in height.

Enjoy Daehan Dawon’s cuisine

Daehan Dawon, the largest tea plantation in South Korea
Go past the market and go around a small pong to get to the administrative office building. This section is also populated by various restaurants and coffee shops. Make sure to bring a camera during this hike as there are plenty of amazing photo opportunities. After the hike, get yourself some favorite green tea ice cream, a perfect way to cap off the experience.

Here, visitors can learn more about the life cycle of the tea leaf, its harvesting and drinking culture. In addition, the museum offers a number of programs such as tea-making and tea ceremony workshops that provide a unique, hands-on experience.

Read more: Explore the hidden beauty of Seoul
Source Internet

Wednesday 21 November 2018

7 challenging mountains in Asia not for amateur climbers

7 challenging mountains in Asia not for amateur climbers
Being on top of well-known mountains is always the goal of every climber out there. If you are a professional climber, perhaps one of the mounts mentioned here will somehow be your next target.

7. Mount Huashan, China

Mount Huashan, China
Starting with something low but not quite the easiest, Mt. Huashan is located in the Shanxi province of China and has a reputation for having the world’s most dangerous hiking trail. The most famous part of this mountain isn’t the very top but a path of narrow, wooden planks haphazardly bolted onto the mountainside. Other than getting that hair raising selfie on the edge of this mountain, it also boasts breathtaking scenery through the trail. 

6. Mount Apo, Philippines

Mount Apo, Philippines
Located between Davao city and Cotabato province, Mount Apo is the highest mountain in the Philippines & a potentially active volcano. Attracting trekkers from all over the world, expect an array of landscapes — from an endless rock face to lush green forests, mossy swamps to volcanic structures. The first campsite is also where the Mainit hot springs can be found where trekkers are welcome to take a dip.

5. Mount Rinjani, Indonesia

Mount Rinjani, Indonesia
If you’re looking for a little more thrill, how about having a go at climbing an active volcano? In fact, Mount Rinjani last eruption happened very recently in August 2016 causing flight disruption around the area. However, once the ash settles, it very quickly continues to be a popular hiking route in the area. Visitors often take on a 3-day trekking route to the crater rim, down to the famous crater lake where you’ll find turquoise blue waters. If you’re feeling adventurous, continue all the way to the summit of the volcano for a panoramic view over the crescent shaped crater lake, Segara Anak.

4. Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia

Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia
Despite being closed for 3 months after it was hit by a 6.0 magnitude earth quake back in June 2015, Mount Kinabalu remains on many bucket lists as it’s the tallest mountain in South East Asia. Although the more scenic Mesilau route is now deemed inaccessible, the shorter Timpohon route still stands strong. Trekkers usually split the climb into 2 days — arriving at the base camp then starting again at 2am to catch the sunrise at the peak.

3. Mount Khuiten, Mongolia

Mount Khuiten, Mongolia
Mount Khuiten is the tallest peak in Mongolia and considered as one of the most remote and untouched regions in the world. So remote that it takes a couple of flights, a 400km drive from the nearest airport and a 17km trek to reach the base camp of Mount Khuiten — only then does the climb really begin. A challenging climb up on varied terrain — endless green lands to thick snow and barren rock faces. It takes about 9 days to acclimatise and reach the peak, requiring 15 days for a round trip.


2. Annapurna, Nepal

Annapurna, Nepal
At over 8,000m above sea level, the Annapurna is the 10th highest mountain in the world but ranked as one of the most dangerous to climb, even beating Mount Everest! It has a shocking fatality rate of 40% but those fit for the challenge can take part in an exciting trail run.
The Annapurna Marathon, Annapurna 100 and Annapurna Ultra Mountain run are popular choices amongst adrenaline seekers. Participants of the marathon get to experience beautiful landscapes and views of the surrounding mountains.

1. Mount Everest, Nepal

Mount Everest, Nepal
But of course, a worthy mention would be none other than the highest mountain on Earth. The one height every mountaineer aspires to check off their bucket list — who wouldn’t want to be at the highest place on earth at some point in their lives right? Located on the border between Nepal and Tibet, there are 2 ways to tackle this mountain — one from the southeast of Nepal and the other from the north in Tibet. Surprisingly, the dangers this mountain presents aren’t in its technical climb but the extreme weather and life threatening altitude sickness. 

Source: redbull

How to celebrate Christmas in Saigon

Saigon lights up at Christmas time with thousands of string lights and Christmas decorations, and the city fills with hundreds of people who are coming to celebrate this holiday. And how it is different from the Western countries?
How to celebrate Christmas in Saigon

Escape from the hustle and bustle city

How to celebrate Christmas in Saigon
Is Saigon too busy for you at Christmas time? Do you crave the beach, the sea, and nice cool glass of something that screams ‘I-am-classy-and-very-relaxed!’? Why not get away to beautiful Nha Trang for a long weekend on the soft sand of Nha Trang Beach or the poetic beaches in Vung Tau.

Some hotels in Nha Trang hold a range of special offers this December from their delicious Christmas buffet and drinks to a range of discount packages.

Embrace your inner touris

How to celebrate Christmas in Saigon
Saigon is beautiful at this time of year, bedecked with strings of lights and dazzling banners, and dotted with the occasional gaudy santa or glaring Christmas tree. It can be hard to tell which decorations are for Christmas and which are for Tet, but at the end of the day it doesn’t really matter!

Christmas Day, like Halloween and all other Western celebrations, tends to bring masses of congestion to the already-bustling Saigon, so walking is the best option. Get outside with your camera, or just your eyes, and join the city in being happy.

Sit in the sky bar and view whole city

How to celebrate Christmas in Saigon
Another way to get into Saigon’s Christmas festivities without getting lost under the feet of revellers is to sit at one of the city’s many rooftop bars and watch the ants. From the famous Chill Skybar and its incredible panoramic views to the homely rooftop at The View on Bui Vien, rooftop bars in general provide a great angle for watching people with a cool drink in hand. Check out for our piece on Saigon’s 11 best rooftop bars for a great selection this December.

Enjoy the glorious cake

How to celebrate Christmas in Saigon
As a previous French colony, Vietnam is known for its delicious French-influenced baked goods, of which the Buche de Noël is a Christmas favourite. Why not buy yourself something sweet to enjoy with family and friends while you marvel at how two such different cultures could have been brought so very close?

Get local

How to celebrate Christmas in Saigon
Finally, why not make some friends this Christmas? Park 23/9 in District 1 is known for its gaggles of students looking to practise their english with native speakers. They roam the park, pouncing on unsuspecting foreigners, and often end up making friends with their victims and taking them for a beer. If you are a native speaker, go to the park this Christmas and wait for a group of students to befriend, before wandering off to the backpacker strip for a ridiculous amount of laughter, beers and dried squid.

See more: Fun things to do in Singapore at Christmas

Source Vietnam Insider