By: FUNDAY FRIENDS
Author: Ainura Baidolla
 

What association comes to you when you mention Pyeongchang? It’s winter. Or the Winter Olympics? 

Either one is correct, PyeongChang is the city with the most snowfall in Korea and is known for its wonderful winter activities. 

We had the honour to open the December holiday season in such a wonderful place. 

Our journey began with the KTX Seoul-PyeongChang train, where we got to know each other better and enjoyed the comfortable morning train ride. The train always gives the feeling of travelling to a new place, and the snowy landscapes of Gangwon-do only enhance the effect. 

The first stop on our journey was the Odaesan Woljeongsa Buddhist Temple, where we walked in the peaceful forest and saw one of the national treasures- the Buddhist tower. For those who have not yet visited Buddhist temples in the provinces, this can be a great experience and an opportunity to enjoy the nature and customs of Buddhism, for example in the local Temple Stay. This kind of trip is full of healing effects on the mind, body and soul. 

But back to our trip, after the temple we went to the traditional cuisine centre of JeonGangWon, where we were shown the process of preparing bibimbap. If you want to feel like you are in a cooking drama or show, then this can be a great experience for you. 

Because Bibimbap was not only delicious but also spectacular. 

The snow that started falling when we arrived there added even more to the beautiful view and winter atmosphere. 

With such a good mood, we went to the traditional market with a coupon of 10,000 won. The peculiarity of traditional markets in Korea is that they can work seasonally, so if you find yourself there, you are very lucky, they may sell products that are only available in this season or that are grown only in the area. The coupon can also be used in cafeterias, which was used by the guys who enjoyed local street food and coffee and also bought traditional sweets. 

After walking around the market and trying different snacks, we went to our last destination the famous lamb farm- Daegwallyeong Sheep Ranch.

 A ranch where you will feel like you are somewhere in America or New Zealand because this picturesque landscape is more reminiscent of a foreign country than Korea. A great opportunity at any time of the year to escape from the bustle of the metropolis, feed cute lambs and run around the hill as if you were in some shampoo commercial. The refreshing wind on the hill will only help you get great photoshoots.

 But in winter, I still advise you to dress very warmly and not go against the wind because it can be very cold. The frosty winter wind still did not spoil our impression of this place and only increased the desire to return here both in winter and in the warm season. Pyeongchang and Gangwon-do serve as winter attractions and entertainment destinations for good reason. The venues of the Winter Olympic Games are direct evidence of this; we were sorry that we could not visit other places here, but I am sure a similar opportunity will arise in the future. So don't miss your opportunity to go to the PyeongChang this December and enjoy your winter holiday. 

Merry Christmas!