Nami Island and Dakgalbi 南怡岛和春川鸡排

April 18: We were tired of the big city and decided to take a day trip to visit Nami Island outside Seoul. We embarked on Gyeongchun Line to Gapyeong station and then took a taxi to the Nami Island ferry terminal. Nami Island is a picturesque island famous for its tree-lined paths, beautiful gardens, and scenic landscapes. It gained international fame after being featured in the popular Korean drama "Winter Sonata," as we were told. Although we did not know about the show before the trip, we went there anyway.

We rode a small ferry to Nami Island, also called the Naminara Republic of Korea, a self-proclaimed micronation within South Korea created by the founder of Nami Island. The unique and whimsical concept of a fantasy nation enhances the Island's appeal as a tourist destination. As we stepped onto the land of a republic, we were greeted with a giant statue of books, a post office, a general store, and a coffee shop.

After one hour of public transportation ride, we craved a cup of coffee and took a break, but the workers at the coffee shop were on lunch break. With no place to get coffee or any hot drinks, we moved on and walked on a trail along the island's edge, which circles the entire Island. There are many charming cabins along the path next to the river. An array of captivating art installations, gardens, and sculptures are scattered across the Island, blending human creativity seamlessly with the surrounding natural beauty. We took a few pictures of cute ostriches. Fortunately, the pink Cherry Blossoms were still in the last stage in the park. Despite the overcast weather, our time meandering through the Island was nothing short of pleasant and relaxing—a testament to the thoughtful curation of this enchanting place.

As we walked towards the end of the island, where a hotel and resort villas are nested, we didn't forget we still needed a cup of Latte. We stepped into a hotel and ordered a cup of Latte. The view was great, but the coffee was expensive, $7, the most expensive one in Korea. There were so many art installations within the park to explore. Then we arrived at the center of the Island, where many restaurants, gift shops, and museums are. A few peacocks were roaming freely in front of the stores. We even caught a picture of a fly peacock. We passed through the most pictured tree-lined path on the Island and returned to the ferry terminal to return to the mainland. We thought visiting Nami Island was undeniably worthwhile, and the experience provided a glimpse into South Korean culture and art creativity.

After enjoying the serene beauty of Nami Island, we were hungry but didn't want to eat too much in the sit-down restaurant since we had something else in mind. So we had our simple lunch at the 7-11 convenience store near the ferry terminal. Unlike 7-11 stores in the States, the store here has a good size sitting area with a microwave, hot plate, and hot water. For our modest meal, we opted for two triangle rice cakes and an instant noodle, finding the experience to be another delightful Korean tradition we could cherish.

Then we hopped on a taxi to the subway station and continued our journey to Chuncheon. Stepping out of the station, we didn't immediately go to the city center. Instead, we strolled over the Chuncheon Bridge on the scenic Gongjicheon Stream a few hundred meters from the station. The bridge leads only to the Island Legoland Resort is located. Since Legoland wasn't busy, hardly any cars were driving over the bridge. Our walk was pleasant, and the panoramic view of the city and the surrounding area was magnificent.

Our primary reason for visiting Chungcheon was to savor their renowned specialty, Chuncheon Dakgalbi. This flavorful chicken dish is prepared with vegetables and rice cakes, cooked in a spicy chili paste sauce. Along Chuncheon Dakgalbi Street, numerous restaurants offer this mouthwatering traditional delicacy at similar prices, making it a must-try experience. After strolling along the vibrant street, we finally settled in a restaurant that seemed to attract more customers than the others. Dakgalbi has two cooking options: grill or stir-fry. We opted for the latter. The preparation process was interactive and communal, as the dish was cooked at our table on a large, flat pan. The waitress poured the ingredients onto the sizzling hot pan, including chicken, cabbage, sweet potatoes, rice cakes, and others. From time to time, she came to the table to stir the chicken and vegetables, ensuring they absorbed the rich flavors of the sauce. After 10-15 mins, she told us the chicken was ready to eat, and then we were at our own pace to continue to cook and eat. The entire experience was enjoyable, leaving us with an authentic and unique culinary memory. So far, we have tried both Andong Jjimdak and Chuncheon Dakgalbi and were more inclined towards the latter.

南怡岛和春川鸡排

4月18日：我们决定去首尔周边的南怡岛看看。南怡岛以其林荫小径、美丽花园和景色优美而闻名，是一个风景如画的小岛，据说它因韩剧《冬季恋歌》的拍摄而走红国际舞台。尽管我们对这部影剧并不了解，但我们对那里还是充满了好奇。南怡岛创始人称小岛为韩国南麻立共和国。 这种奇特岛名也为这个旅游胜地增添了些吸引力。

我们搭乘京春线前往加平车站，然后坐出租车前往南怡岛渡轮码头，再乘坐小渡轮抵达南怡岛。一踏上小岛迎面而来的是巨大的书籍雕像、邮局、杂货店和咖啡店，欢迎来自远道而来的游客。

经过一个多小时的火车、出租车和渡轮旅程，上岛后我们第一件事就是渴望有一杯热咖啡，但不巧咖啡店的工作人员正在午休。于是我们决定先沿着环岛的小径走。沿途有许多专为出租的漂亮小木屋，就建在河边。一路还有各种艺术装置、花园和雕塑，与周围的自然美景融为一体。可爱的鸵鸟们给了我们惊喜，更幸运的是公园里的粉红樱花还在盛开，为小岛增色不少。尽管天空多云，但我们的游兴丝毫未减。

终于走到岛尖的酒店和度假别墅区，我们还是念念不忘那没喝到的咖啡。于是直奔酒店的咖啡厅点了拿铁。咖啡厅环境虽美，但这杯咖啡实在贵，7美元一杯，是我们在韩国喝到的最贵的一杯。接着我们来到岛的中心区，那里有许多餐厅、礼品店和博物馆。在商店前，几只孔雀悠闲地走着，我们甚至拍到了孔雀飞翔的照片。度假村附近以及中心区都有许多艺术装置可供欣赏，让我们感受到了岛上的独特艺术氛围。穿过岛上最有名的水杉木林大道，我们最终返回渡轮码头。南怡岛的确是一个值得一游的地方，在这里可以体验一下韩国的文化和艺术创意。

享受了南怡岛宁静美景后，我们想找个地方充饥，但又不想花太多时间在餐厅里。在渡轮码头附近有个7-11便利店， 于是我们决定在那里简单用餐。与美国的7-11店不同，这家店有一个相当大的休息区，配备了微波炉、热板和热水设施，为顾客提供便利的用餐环境。我们选择了两个三角饭团，这是一种将米饭与各种馅料包裹在三角形状的海苔片中的传统小吃。每口咬下去，都能感受到饭团内馅料的美味。自从来到韩国之后，我们喜欢上了这种三角饭团。另外我们还点了一碗泡面，韩国泡面以其独特的辣味和丰富的配料而闻名。那热腾腾浓郁的汤汁和劲道的面条，再咬上一口饭团， 虽简单却相当满足。

午餐后我们乘坐出租车回到地铁站，然后坐地铁前往春川。到达春川地铁站后，我们没有立即前往市中心，而是来到风景如画的宫脊河大桥。这座美丽的桥距离地铁站只有几百米远，它通向乐高乐园度假村。由于乐高乐园游客不多，几乎没有车辆驶过桥。漫步在大桥上可以欣赏到城市和周围地区的美丽全景。

我们来春川此行的主要目的是品尝他们著名的特色菜 - 春川明洞鸡排。这是一道用蔬菜和年糕炒制的美味鸡肉菜肴，调以辣椒酱。在春川明洞鸡排街上，许多餐厅以类似的价格供应这种美味的传统美食。先沿街走一下，最终我们选择了一家比其它餐厅有着更多顾客的餐厅。鸡排有两种烹饪方式：烤或炒。我们选择了后者。在我们的桌子上放了一个大平底锅，女服务员将包括鸡肉、白菜、红薯、年糕等各种配料倒入炙热的平底锅中，她时不时地回来搅拌鸡肉和蔬菜，确保它们充分吸收酱汁的浓郁味道。大约10-15分钟左右，服务员告诉我们鸡肉已经熟了，我们可以按自己的节奏继续烹饪和享用。整个过程非常愉快，给我们留下了独特的美食记忆。这次来韩国，我们已尝试过安东炖鸡和春川明洞鸡排，我们更偏爱春川明洞鸡排，它也绝对成为了我们韩国行的一大亮点。