Skiing at Yongpyong

The package to Yongpyong includes equipping, a short ski lesson and half a day skiing on the slopes. Following the descent from Dragon Peak, the whole group proceeded to collect our skiing equipment at the ski centre. Equipments provided include the boots, skis and the poles. The boots was really restricted and the movement after wearing one is robotic. Walking is rather difficult especially when you are indoors.

The ski instruction is about half an hour and we were taught the basics: how to slip on and off the skis, falling off "gracefully" so that you would not hurt yourself and the most important of all, how to stop.

[Above picture: Instructor is the one in Red ski suit]

For beginner, the only technique would to bring the tips of your together, like an inverted V. Even then, if you are coming off the a slight slope, stopping takes a lot of efforts.

Well, the fun part is to ski down the slope but the journey back up is tiring with the restrictive boots and lugging the skis and poles.

Dragon Peak - More Pixs

Dragon Peak

This is the first occasion that our family have encountered snow and I must say that we can now relate to the phrase "winter wonderland". Unfortunately, the weather was not too kind and we could not see the surrounding landscape.

And last but not least, you cannot miss the significant of the place with all the posters.

Skiing at Yongpyong - Cont'd

We checked out from Greenpia and proceeded for breakfast.

Before, we started skiing, we took the cable car to Dragon Peak. Han Wave aficionados would recall the wonderful sight in the serial Winter Sonata. The trip up to Dragon Peak was really pretty as it had snowed two days earlier. We were fortunate as it was the start of the winter season and it was not supposed to snow then. In fact, the ski slope are formed by artifical snow.

Skiing at Yongpyong

We were fortunate to go the Yongpyong Ski Resort during holiday to South Korea with Chan Brothers last year. The trip from Seoul to Yongpyong took us about three hours by coach as it was raining. As it was winter, at about 1730H, it was already dark. We stopped at the ourskirt of the resort to have our dinner - steam boat - it was perfect for such a cold weather. Thereafter, we proceeded to collect our ski clothing for use the next day. Although the clothing is included in the tour package, we have to pay for our ski googles. Even if you have forgotten to bring your own gloves, you can buy it at the ski equipment rental shop.

[Photo taken the next day when we returned the skiing equipment]

After collecting our ski equipment, we proceeded to Yongpyong for our overnight stay at Greenpia - one of the few accommodation available at the resort. The rooms were Korean-styled ondol, which has heated flooring.

One of the room allocated to us faces the ski slopes and it was a great sight.

The next morning, we changed into our ski clothing and before we checked out, we managed to take more pictures of the wonderful sights which lie just a doorstep away.

Tu Do Han Quoc

After landing at Incheon Airport, we had some time at the airport to change into our winter clothing as we were waiting for the local guide to arrive.

Out of curiosity, went out of the terminal building to check out the bus transportation into Seoul.

Before we made our way to the ski resort, we had a short tour of Seoul. Went to the lookout point located behind the Blue House (known as Cheong Wa Dae in Korean) - residence of President Lee Myung-Bak.

[Above: Security post manning the road leading to the Blue House]

Dulich o Han Quoc - Nam 2009

Went on a holiday to South Korea in end-2009 with Chan Brothers. Had a good trip especially with our first experience with snow at Yong Pyong skiing resort. Normally, we would not have the chance to see snow as the period we went was the start of winter. However, two days before we arrived at Yong Pyong, there was snowing at Dragon Peak. The pictures were taken by the South Korean photographer with our tour group.





The skiing part was fun but it was rather tiring humping the skis up the slope wearing the restrictive ski shoes. But no regrets and the weather was beautiful.






And as always, what is a group tour without the usual group photo but this is great!!! White Christmas