Tongyeong’s 2nd most famous representative : Geobukseon@Turtle ship (거북선), after Admiral Yi Sun Shin (이순신)
So this island / city / town has been on my bucket list for South Korea travel since last year and it was just great that there’s a historical festival right at the time of my travel!
Plan A was to get there (₩10,900), go around town and then head to festival area.
Plan B is in case bus directly to Tongyeong (통영) sold out, I’d head to Geoje Island (거제도) which is also on my bucket list (next to Tongyeong) then head to Tongyeong later in the late afternoon as there are more frequent buses between them.
Seats aplenty so Plan A it is!
Earlier arrival than expected at 1.5 hours instead of 2. YAY!
There’s a tourist information center right in front of the terminal and there’s only 1 English language map/leaflet (which I accidentally tore into half due to passionate use).
All the places I want to go and eat so far is near festival ground (10-20 mins walk) so I’m off to a good start.
After alighting from the bus and on our way to the market, found this cute and heartwarming board!
Greetings encouragement board! It says Boiso! Bangabseumnidei! (It’s like good to see you / nice to meet you in local dialect)
1st stop – Seoho Market (서호시장) for Sirakguk (시락국) breakfast.
Seoho Market (서호시장)
I first saw this episode in Battle Trip covering Tongyeong before my trip (yay!).
Since I don’t know the exact direction, asking the ever helpful and friendly Imo (이모) would do it. There’s a cute Imo who even walk us up right to the alley we’re supposed to go to. ❤ Tongyeong Imo!
It doesn’t hurt to speak some Korean too, LOL!
Meet Sirakguk (시락국) and the banchans (반찬) of your choice!
Unlimited! More than 10 types of banchan (반찬)!
At 1st was wondering if I was at the wrong place as instead of a Korean Imo, I was greeted with more familiar faces in Wonjo Sirakguk (원조 시락국).
A quick chat revealed both mom & daughter are from Vietnam, which I 1st thought were Thais.
Daughter speaks Korean really well & translated what we spoke about to the mom in Vietnamese. It’s so cute!
After bidding goodbye to Eva & Yu Hsuan (wasn’t interested in both Seopirang & Dongpirang’s mural villages; but do give it a go if that’s your thing), I skipped to the nearby Tongyeong City Museum.
It’s perfect as my next destination after breakfast due to the beautiful exhibits plus it’s raining.
Tongyeong Najeonchilgi Exhibition (통영 나전칠기 전시회)
You tell them sistah!
My eyes and mind were treated to a royal banquet that day with all these beautiful mother of pearl and other amazing crafts!
Praise the artisans who discovered these beauties!
1 of many beautiful crafts!
Wise words! Don’t have to be Christians to put into action ^^
There were even videos of how these babies were produced!
Can’t take my eyes of you~
Korean traditional hat for men, Gat (갓) not to be confused with the Gat from Yemen.
Metal ornaments / locks / joint for furnitures
Those familiar with Chinese or Baba Nyonya@Peranakan culture will know about mother of pearl used in the many furnitures of the past.
This is also another piece I enjoyed, made to look like the mother of pearls on the furnitures.
After more than 1 hour or 2, I was out looking for Yun I Sang’s Memorial and came across a musical street which I didn’t fully explore.
Yun I Sang’s story : Docheon Music Village (윤이상 이야기, 도천 음악마을)
On my way to the memorial I was lured by a pavilion and had to resist the temptation to sit / lie down in with all my might.
Bye ㅠ.ㅠ
Also passed by this cute house with design unusual to the common Korean houses.
Daeryuk Gallery (대륙 입시미술 전문학원)
Met the owner of house & he bought it just to run an art gallery.
Love the house and it’s charming interior, the paintings are very enjoyable as well!
I just love the colours on the roof!
See that cute sea horse metal structure? I only took this picture because I love contrast of the roof colour.
I love doors like this too!
Had to give this temple a miss ㅠ.ㅠ”‘
So glad I detour from the main street to the music street/village and discovered these gems!
Honestly I have no idea who the late Yun I Sang is prior to this visit but I’m happy I decided to walk over from the museum
Isang Yun Memorial Park (Docheon Theme Park) (윤이상 기념공원 [도천테마파크])
Please Malaysia, don’t do this to your citizens too (LGBTIQPAs are human and your children too!). Don’t imprison or chase them away for them to have to seek refuge in foreign lands.
Independence day is coming and so is Malaysia day too but we are still not free.
Berlin House (베를린하우스) modeled after his house in Germany.
The furnitures in the house was transported back here too and his dad was also an artisan! You’ll see his craft for his son there.
I’d love to visit his cemetery too as he had been returned this year to his homeland Tongyeong but unfortunately I had to make my way to the festival area.
Next stop : lunch!
I’m not kidding, Korean sesame oil is to die for!
Delish Chungmu Gimbap (충무 김밥) with sides of Eomuk (어묵), Mu Kimchi (무 김치), Marinated Octopus/Cuttlefish & Doenjangguk (된장국). It’s even better dipped in Korean sesame oil.
With my tummy filled, I made my way to the festival area and passes the market, the port then the ferry terminal.
Just had to take a shot of this!
Turtle Ship@Geobukseon of Tongjeyeong (통제영 거북선)
I was lucky enough to get a shot of this right before they decided to stop. Could you see Bandabi (반다비)?
Replica of Turtle Ship
Since it’s the festival, I was able to view the inside of both title ships and it’s exhibit. Yay for freebies!
View from inside of Turtle ship
Archery old school style… anyone?
The concert starts at 1730 and few performances mostly western classical music, a husband wife acoustic band, percussion bands, fusion performative by Korean traditional musician and b-boys etc.
There’s a break in between so off to the market I go.
Tongyeong Jungang Traditional Market (통영 중앙 전통시장
Instead of dinner, I found snacks I’ve been dying to try.
Squid/octopus tentacles & Chwipo (취포)
Some fish/seafood dried snacks, mini Chwipo (취포) & grilled octopus tentacles
I’ve been had by the 1st seller peddling 3 items above, paying ₩10,000 per pack. Whereas the lady seller a few doors down were selling them at ₩5,000 per pack.
Always forgot the wisdom of don’t buy from 1st seller LOL!
Sweets for my sweet friends : Honey bread (꿀빵)
Bought the 꿀빵 and sweet Imo gave me and additional 1 as service ^^
Time for dinner and so happened it’s Gimbap again!
Assorted Gimbap Set (모듬 김밥 세트) ₩5,000. Kimchi, anchovies, tuna, fish roe, spicy small chilli and I can’t remember the rest
Halfway through dinner I saw a parade passing by.
It’s nice to see matching band, traditional costumes, traditional musicians, institutions, parents and school children taking parts in the parade. So wonderful & colourful!
This reminds me when parades are aplenty in KL and 1 of the many highlights during my childhood.
No pictures cos I was eating my dinner, LOL!
I stayed on through various other performances : elementary school children in a play about Admiral Yi Sun Shin, modern classical performances and fusion Korean traditional performance (국악).
1 thing that didn’t sit well with me was that the officials didn’t officiate the festival beforehand around / before 1700 but only arrived past 2000 and taking their sweet time greeting the “vips” while us commoners have to watch those boring exchanges.
When I was in Gochang, the officials officiate the event before any performances etc. Not the other way around.
A man was so visibly and audibly upset; lashing out that the seats were reserved for those “vips” who strolled in late while us common folk including elderly had to stand for hours.
He further added for the vips’ listening pleasure, “Aren’t the common people citizens too? You are supposed to work for the people, not the other way around. This is not right”.
The most amusing part during this exchange was a man in front of me trying to get a recording of what happened but his phone was unwilling to cooperate, LOL!
Stayed until 2130 before heading off to the terminal so I won’t miss the last bus home to Busan at 2205 / 2240 (₩12,000).
Surprisingly, the bus ride home was just under 1 hour and I arrived at the Sasang Terminal at 2300! YAY!
Tongyeong is more charming than what I’ve imagined and I want to experience even more next time.
I’ll be back again and looking forward to do Geoje Island as well!
Women's tête-à-tête 