Road Trip, Winter 2011

Playing a little catch-up here with some shots from over the past month.  While spring is setting in, we're having flashbacks here because today it is snowing.  Another spring snow!  Well, before the start of the spring semester, we loaded the kids and Tashi in the car and headed to the eastern seaboard.  Our first stop, above, was the National Center Observatory in Yanggu, Gangwon-do. Located in the geographic center of Korea, the Observatory is so, so cool. At night, the people who manage the observatory give you a tour of the night sky through a couple of great telescopes (one massive), complete with views of other planets in the solar system and far off galaxies. Best time to visit: January and February since the skies are so clear. Then we headed to a condo in Sokcho and woke up early the next day to catch the sun rising over the sea.

February 24--Sunrise over Naksan Beach, Sokcho, Gangwon-do

Naksan Beach, Sokcho

Oliver on Sokcho Beach (the best and cleanest beach in Sokcho). The weather was spring-like, but still some snow on the ground

Sokcho Lighthouse Observatory--Really, really well done exhibit inside with details of Korea's lighhouses, the history of Sokcho, and info on how the lighthouse works. Plus, very clean (always important). The views were breathtaking.

View of Sokcho with the East Sea to the right and the Seorak Mountains in the distance

Another view of Sokcho--the pavillion, arched bridge, fish markets, and part of the Seorak Mountains

Dahin and I took home a souvenir--food poisoning exacerbated by some sort of virus.  Needless to say, the toilet was our best friend for the next 24 hours or so.  We were absolutely miserable.  I missed winter break camp at school and Dahin missed a performance.  No more fried shrimp (yuck) for me.