Check out Tiger World!

If you haven't been to Tiger World, check it out! It's a bit of a trek but worth it!

On one floor is an indoor snow skiing/sledding hill (my husband took our 9-yr old--perfect for a beginner) and on another floor is an indoor waterpark/spa. We have been to the waterpark/spa three or four times and plan to go back another couple of times before we leave.

When grandparents were here, our 9-yr old chose Tiger World over everywhere else to take them. The waterpark side is nice (little kids' area, wave pool, lazy river, slides, lap pool), but we spend the majority of our time on the spa side (through the food court).

The spa side has several pools with varying temps, saunas, a pool bar (no alcohol served, but that is where we eat our Dippin' Dots ice cream!), a large pool with a mushroom fountain and water jets along the edges, outdoor hot tubs, and the famous Dr. Fish pool (something like 3,000 Won for 20 minutes--worth the experience, even our 3-yr old tried it).

You get a bracelet when you check in which serves as your 'key' for your locker and also serves as your credit card. You place everything in your locker (wallet included, but keep out your towels and/or cooler) and you charge everything while you are there with a swipe of your bracelet. You pay on your way out.

We eat at the food court (the kids like the pork cutlet set), but we supplement with our own fruit and crackers (drinking water is free).

It's on the way to the airport and it's about 75-90 minutes away depending on traffic.

Here’s how to get there:

• Take Big 1 North to 50 West (opposite Everland on 50, might say towards Ansan)
• Take 15 North (under 5 minutes' time on 15N) to 100 West/North towards Incheon Airport. Tiger World is on your left--huge blue and gray odd-shaped building.
• Exit at the Jungdong Interchange and make a couple left turns and look for the signs.
• Parking garage is underneath Tiger World.

Bring and show your military ID for a discount!!

The website shows what it looks like www.tigerworld.co.kr/eng/ Click on the 'About Facilities' button at the top and then on 'waterpark/spa' for some great photos. Enjoy!!

Linda, Guest Blogger

Fishing for fun

Not far out the Morin Gate is a great place to take the kids fishing. You'll need your own poles; if you don't have any try MWR, the BX, E-Mart or the little shop that's located about halfway up the hill from the triangle of death, on the right side.

If you can read Korean, the sign might help you out, but it's generally open mornings until early afternoon and should be open all winter until the water warms up in the spring. Right now the pond has carp in it, but starting November 30th, you can fish for rainbow trout.

The fish are HUGE and the kids will have a great time. You pay 20,000 won per pole, and you can keep one fish for that. They do have a small tackle shop on the premises, and you can get drinks, but services are pretty limited, so bring your own snacks, drinks and other necessities. If you go on the weekend, go early! It gets crowded.

To get there:

-Go out the Morin Gate and turn left

-Turn right at the light and head over the bridge

-Go straight through the light at the Little 1 intersection (Kimchi pot store on the left)

-Stay on this road for several miles

-Turn left right before a S Oil gas station with a big green and yellow sign

-You will immediately go through a tunnel

-Veer right immediately out of the tunnel

-You'll parallel the highway for a little while

-Turn left at the T intersection (there will be a tunnel to the right)

-Turn left at a second T intersection

-You'll go straight through a little town with a light

-Just after a brown street sign that says something is 0.7 km, turn left at a big rock with Korean lettering on it (there will be a lumberyard on your left as you enter)

-Take the first right

-Wind up the hill on a narrow road until you see the ponds

-Drive past the pond into the parking lot

Happy fishing!

Directions: Korean Folk Village, Suwon

The Korean Folk Village is a beautiful and interesting place to walk around and see some of the original Korean culture. It is a park-like setting you can spend anywhere from a few hours to a whole day there depending on how much detail you want to fit in.

It is a great place to see the flora and fauna of Spring and also a good place to experience some of the traditions associated with Korean holidays, such as Chuseok in the early Fall, or the Lunar New Year during the winter.

To get there:

• Take the "Big 1" North to Suwon



• Exit and go East at Suwon



• You will see signs to the KFV follow them, by turning right at the lights when they tell you.



• Follow this road south for about 5-10 minutes. You'll continue to see KFV signs, but they are a bit unclear.



• Turn left when the signs tell you to (we usually follow the buses to find the turn more easily)



• Follow this small road in to the KFV parking lot. There is a fee to park and a fee to get in. The best time to go is when they open.

Directions: Everland

Everland is a huge amusement park that is open year round. It is north of Suwon. Try going on an American holiday to avoid the crowds. The place is packed with Korean families on nice weekends. Check out their Christmas festival in November or December!

To get there:

• Take the Big 1 North to Rt. 50



• Take Rt. 50 East



• Exit at Everland

Directions: E-Mart

Try some local shopping this holiday season! E-Mart is the closest equivalent to Target in Korea. In fact, E-Mart stores used to be Wal-Mart stores, but Wal-Mart failed in Korea. You'll see why when you go to E-Mart. It has a whole different feel.

When you get to E-Mart, you can "rent" a shopping cart for 100 Won. Put the coin in the coin holder on the handle of the cart and separate it from the line of carts. When you return the cart, plug it back in to the line of carts to get your coin back.

Also, Korean stores do not provide shopping bags unless you ask. They also do not back your merchandise. Take shopping bags with you or expect to pay a small fee per bag. If you take bags, you get a small credit back on your purchase per bag.

Finally, E-Mart does have a frequent shopper card, but to get it you may have to take someone with you who speaks Korean. They do take your American credit card.

There are two E-Marts in the vicinity of Osan AB. Here are directions to each.

To E-Mart in Osan:

• From the main gate, turn left out of the gate.


• Follow the road until you see a building that seems to sell toilets on the first floor and a sign reading "Hospitality House" on the second floor.


• Turn right at Hospitality House (this takes you to the Beta/Morin Gate on the left)


• Go past the gate and keep going until you get to the stop sign. (Note: This intersection is a notorious accident spot, so look out! Especially for traffic that doesn't expect you to stop at the sign.)


• Turn right at the stop sign


• Drive over the over pass and to the "Little 1"


• Turn left on the "Little 1"


• Follow the little one north (as though you are heading towards the "Big 1" for about 15 minutes.")


• Look for E-Mart (yellow and black sign) on the left.


• To park-drive to the light past E-Mart and turn left. Take the first left you can take down a small road. Then take the next left to get around the block back to the road next to E-Mart. There is an underground parking deck with a parking attendant waving you in on the right.

To E-Mart in Pyeongtaek: (This is the easiest way for most people, but there are many possible routes.)

• From the main gate, turn left out of the gate.


• Follow the road until you see a building that seems to sell toilets on the first floor and a sign reading "Hospitality House" on the second floor.


• Turn right at Hospitality House (this takes you to the Beta/Morin Gate on the left)


• Go past the gate and keep going until you get to the stop sign. (Note: This intersection is a notorious accident spot, so look out! Especially for traffic that doesn't expect you to stop at the sign.)


• Turn right at the stop sign


• Drive over the over pass and to the "Little 1"


• Turn right on the "Little 1"


• Follow the "Little 1" south for about 15 minutes.


• When you pass under Route 40 (major interstate/highway overpass), you will see E-Mart on the left.


• Do a U-turn at the lights


• Turn right down the small road on your right


• Turn left when the small road intersects/ends at another road. This takes you in to the E-Mart parking lot.

Directions and coordinates: DMV

GPS Coordinates for the Songtan Branch DMV: Lon 127:06:05, Lat 37:02:11

Directions to the Songtan Branch DMV:

First, go out the Main Gate and turn right

Turn left at the triangle

Go 2.3 miles- Pass the Songtan Bus Terminal
Cross "Little 1" (blue oval road number)--McDonald's on the corner

Pass the Switzen Apt complex

Turn right on 317 (yellow square road number)

It's the first MAJOR intersection, bear to the right more than turn (otherwise road curves a little left)

Go 2.6 miles

Pass the tree in the middle of the road

Cross Road 302 (yellow square road number)--golf driving range across street--blue scaffolding

Turn left at the first light after 302 (about a block)

You'll see the little brown building on your left

Turn left at the first opportunity

Turn left into the parking lot

You're there!!!

If you go on a Wednesday, you may choose to stop by Happy Quilt on your way home:

Turn right out of the parking lot

Turn right at the corner

Turn right at the light

Turn left onto 302 (right hand left turn lane)

Get in the right lane quickly

Go through one light

Turn right into the parking lot at the dark brown building just past the gas station

Destination Camp Humphreys

If you're looking for a fun nearby destination for the morning, or for the day, check out Camp Humphreys! It's about a half-hour drive, and the have a great water park that will be open starting Memorial Day weekend. You can find out about the park here.

And, try the Alaska Mining Co. for lunch. It's different enough from what we have here for restaurants to be a nice treat. The hours can be found here along with some other information about what's going on around Humphreys.

To get there:

• Exit Main Gate and turn right. At first corner turn left.
• Go 1/2 mile over bridge and to bus terminal. Turn right at light just after terminal.
• Follow signs through Songtan to Route 1/Chonan.
• Go straight at "T" intersection by driving range. (Do not bear left to stay on Route 1.)
• Continue another 300 yards to gas station, turn left at signs for Route 38/45.
• After 1 mile, bear left again at sign for Route 38/45. This will put you on Route 38 east.
• Once on 38, follow signs for Route 45/Paengsong and Camp Humphreys (1st exit).
• If you miss the signs, look for big red and white water towers and/or helicopters and make your way towards them. You can't miss it!
  

Directions: Flower Market

If you've never been to a Flower Market, this is well worth the trip. It is unlike anything I've ever seen before. Cut and potted flowers and plants. Baskets and vases of all kinds. Very, very inexpensive. For a total of 5,000Won (about $5), I bought two huge bunches of cut flowers.


To get to the Flower Market:

• Take the "Big 1" north towards Seoul
• Take the exit for "Seoul Grand Park" and get over immediately into the far left lane
• Turn left at the first light
• The Flower Market is immediately on your left
• Take the first left to get in. You have to pay for parking. (About 2,000Won-about $2-for 1.5 hours)

Here's a link to some more detailed information: http://english.kbs.co.kr/life/path/1395704_14466.html

Directions: Koo Mart

Koo Mart is a fun trip if you are interested in seeing how things are "done" in Korea. Koo Mart is the local dollar store and it is so different from what just popped in your mind what I said "dollar store". You wouldn't believe what you can get at Koo Mart for 1,000Won. It is large and filled with stuff. Kids can go (there is a small "toy" section"), but there is a lot to see.

To get to Koo Mart:

• Head North on the Big 1 for about 10 minutes (tops!)
• As you get to the "Welcome to Osan-Si" sign you will see a big "warehouse-type building" with a KooMart sign off the road on the right. It has a red sign with white letters. Looks a bit like a supermarket or Wal-Mart. It is set back from the road so you will have to look beyond the buildings immediately on the road.
• Turn right at the light immediately after you see it on the right.
• Turn right in to the parking lot.

Directions: Toys R Us

There are two new Toys R Us stores that are attached to Lotte Marts in Seoul and one south of Osan nearer Busan. You can look them up online at www.toysrus.co.kr, but the site is in Hangul so it's a bit tricky. If you know someone who speaks Korean, they can help you translate. The store is really nice and worth the trip. There are Korean and American toys. The toys are more expensive than an American Toys R Us, but they are a bit cheaper than other places like E-Mart and the selection is the best I've seen yet in Korea.

To get there, you can take the train to the Guro station in Seoul. When you come out of the station, look around for Lotte Mart and you've found it. Very easy.

You can drive, but it's a bit more complicated and you're best off confirming the directions with a Korean local before going.

To get there:

• Take the Big 1 North and following the directions to Incheon (Rt. 50 West)


• Take the West Suwon exit


• Go North on the "Little 1" for about 20 minutes.


• Cross over the Han River


• Exit immediately and turn right on the other side of the river so that you are driving along the river road for about 5 minutes.


• Turn right to go back over the river at Guro Station (see signs)


• You'll see Lotte Mart and a Toys R Us sign in front of you.


• Turn left in front of Lotte Mart and turn right to get to the parking lot


• Toys R Us is in the basement. There is an elevator and escalators.

Directions: Dream Depot

Dream Depot is an office/party supply store in Songtan. It would be good for office supplies, wrapping materials, and party favors with some other things thrown in, such as paper art supplies, some scrapbook things, and other random stuff. The top floor is office supplies and the other stuff is in the basement.


To get there:

• Turn R. out of the main gate


• Turn L. at the Triangle of Death


• Go over the bridge


• Turn R. immediately at the end of the bridge


• Turn L. at the 2nd set of flashing traffic lightsDream Depot is on the right on a corner a block or two down. Dream Depot is written very small, but you'll see the word "Stationary" in English.

Directions: Star Wallet (Photographer)

Question: For all you mom's that have taken or are planning on taking Christmas photos, can anyone recommend a studio either downtown or kind of close?

Answer: I haven't taken Christmas photos down there, but we ALWAYS go to Star Wallet. We love them! A little tip: If you go there, order a smaller picture of all the ones you like so they touch them up, then order the cd and you can control all the printing from there.

To get there:

• Go down the main strip downton and turn right at the second alley. At least I'm pretty sure it is the second.
• It is on the far end on the left side.

Or, it's probably easier to spot this way:

• Another way to go is to turn left at the triangle of death and then take the alley to the left right before you go up the bridge.
• It will be the second or third store on the right. There is a drug store on that corner too to help you identify it.

Tori, Guest Blogger