Patriot Express Flights

I received this information from one of my friends. I thought it would be great to pass it along. 

Patriot Express flights from Republic of Korea will be suspended until further notice as these flights are being dedicated to assist in the movement of military members from Japan.
Personnel who have been ticketed for official travel aboard flights to or from Korea after today, should contact their installation’s official travel office immediately to reschedule their travel aboard commercial carriers.

Boryeong Mud Festival 2010

The Boryeong Mud Festival is scheduled from July 17 through July 25th, 2010. It is located at Daecheon Beach. Homepage: http://www.mudfestival.or.kr/

This information, and photo is from the Official Site of Korean Tourism. For more information click on the links above.

"Of the numerous festivals in Korea, it is the Boryeong Mud Festival that probably attracts the largest number of international visitors.

During the festival period, tourists flock to the area to experience the beneficial properties of the Boryeong mud, and also to have lots of fun. Fully immersed in both the mud and the festival's great atmosphere, visitors enjoy mud wrestling, mud sliding and even swimming in the mud mega tub. Visitors feeling particularly energetic can try the marine mud-training course, whilst those looking for something more chilled can relax in the mud massage zone.

In the evening, music and fireworks continue the party on the beach. "

Yeoncheon Jeongok-ri Paleolithic Festival 2010

Event: Yeoncheon Jeongok-ri Paleolithic Festival 2010

Date: May 1st - 5th, 2010
Place: Jeongok in the Yeoncheon region
Web: http://www.goosukgi.org/ (Korean)

This information, and photo is from the Official Site of Korean Tourism.

"The festival takes place in Jeongok in the Yeoncheon region, where relics of the Paleolithic era still exits. This year the slogan for the festival is "The Breath that Lies Inside Jeongok-ri".

The festival is a great event for families, since children can learn about paleolithic cultures, farming village lifestyles, and take part in traditional cultural programs.

The Yeoncheon Jeongok-ri Paleolithic Festival is the first Paleolithic cultural event in Korea, and provides a great opportunity for foreigners to discover Korea's prehistoric cultures."

Directions:
From Dongducheon Station (on subway line 1), take the Gyeongwon line train (6:50am - 10:50pm, departs every hour). Or take the city bus from the bus stop in front of Dongducheon Station and get off at Jeongok Station. It takes approximately 15 minutes by foot from Jeongok Station to the festival grounds.

Taxi Ride

Today was my first Taxi ride from Yangju to Camp Casey. I called the AAFES CRC Taxi service to order a taxi but they didn't have any available. That was a little bit of a shock. I just assumed they would have a taxi waiting around wanting to pick someone up. We had an appointment to make after all. Not to be discouraged, my son and I walked out to one of the more busy streets by our apartments and he flagged down a taxi. I was really nervous, with my very limited Korean Language, about explaining where we wanted to go. However it wasn't too bad at all. He pulled up, cutting across crosswalks, and rolled down his window. I simply said "Camp Casey?" He said "Dongducheon Casey?" I said yes and we got in. I have driven to Casey before with my DH and it takes about 35 minutes from my house. We made it there in about 15! ROFL It only cost me W20,000 for the trip which wasn't too bad. I had planned on W40,000 to be on the safe side. The trip was fairly uneventful and the driver was very polite.

Well, at least it was uneventful if you consider safely arriving uneventful. Little things like traffic laws, lanes, going the wrong way on roads, red lights, merging buses, and such are really just minor inconveniences as long as your horn works! Seat belts are NOT required! At least, they weren't provided in this particular taxi, leaving one to employ alternative safety restraints such as fingernail penetration in the seat covers and vinyl covered roof of the cab. . . I couldn't even tell you if the taxi smelled nice or not because I am quite certain we both held our breath the whole way. It reminded me of one of those really steep old roller coasters. The ones where you find yourself holding your breathe because you know it is supposed to be "safe" but what if it isn't.

Seriously it was just fine taking the taxi.

Interactive Subway Route Tool

Here is a great link to an interactive tool that lets you input your beginning station and your ending station. Then it tells you how much the tickets cost and how long it will take to get to your destination!

Subway Route Link

Chinhae Cherry Blossom Festival 2010

What: Camp Humphreys Outdoor Recreation is having a tour to the Chinhae Cherry Blossom Festival.

When: March 27, 2010

Where: Chinhae

How Much $: Adults $50, Children $25 (price includes round trip transportation from Humphreys, and snacks. Bring won for food, snacks and activities.)

Phone: DSN 753-3255/3013

Space is limited to 40. Register NLT March 24, 2010.

Photo is from Virtual Tourist.

Jindo Sea-parting Festival 2010

What: Jindo Sea-parting Festival 2010

When: March 30th to April 1st, 2010 is the Jindo Sea-parting Festival.
Where: Jeollanam-do Jindo-gun Gogun-Myeon Hoedong-ri ~ Uisin-myeon Modo-ri Gagye Beach.

How to get there: Click on the link above and there are directions from Seoul by train and bus.

Web: Jindo

I found this information, and photo on the Official Site of Korean Tourism.

"Once a year in Jindo in Jeollanam-do Province, the seas mysteriously part and visitors can walk through the sea from the mainland to the nearby island. This phenomenon is caused due to the difference in high tides and low tides, which creates a 2.8-kilometer-long road measuring 40 to 60 meters in width. The Jindo Sea-parting Festival takes place at the same time as this phenomenon. visitors can enjoy walking along the sea road, gathering abalone and various other fun activities that make up the festival program. The spectacular sight of the waves parting is widely known and many people travel to Korea from all over the world just to witness this amazing event."

Cherry Blossoms

The expected dates of the cherry blossoms have now been released. Click HERE to follow the link and get a map of all the locations. According to the Official Site of Korean Tourism "This year's cherry blossoms are expected to bloom about 3 days later than the previous year and about 6 days earlier than on average. Starting from the most southern region of Korea (in Seogwipo on Jeju-do) the cherry blossoms are expected to begin blooming around March 21. The warm weather will make its way to the Southern Provinces a few days later, where we can expect to see the cherry blossoms in bloom between the 23rd and the 31st. Central Korea will be able to enjoy the cherry blossoms from April 1-10. However, Seoulites in the central mountainous areas will be the lst to see the cherry blossoms in bloom, starting from April 10."

"Those wanting to go to a place famous for Cherry Blossoms should head to Jinhae or Seoul's Yeoui-do Yunjungno. Jinhae, Korea's major cherry blossom district which holds an annual Cherry Blossom Festival, can expect to see cherry blossoms around March 26th. blossoms are expected to make their appearance in Seoul's Yeoui-do area in Yunjungno the following day. Make sure to take your camera if you plan to visit either of these areas while the trees are in bloom."

I can hardly wait to see all of the pretty blooms!

Inchon Express Shuttle Bus

Here is the schedule for the Inchon Express Shuttle Bus. This is a free shuttle to the airport. To find the schedule, simply scroll down to the second page of this 2ID Bus Schedule link. The Shuttle service is available seven days a week, twice a day. For more information call: 730-2211 or 730-2212.

DEPART CAMP CASEY BUS TML
0600 1600
ARRIVE CAMP RED CLOUD BUS TML
0650 1700
DEPART CAMP RED CLOUD BUS TML
0705 1730
ARRIVE INCHEON AIRPORT
0830 1900


DEPART INCHEON AIRPORT
Pick-up location on the lower level at
USO (#14)
1000 2300
ARRIVE CAMP RED CLOUD BUS TML
1130 2400
DEPART CAMP RED CLOUD BUS TML
1135 0005
ARRIVE CAMP CASEY BUS TML
1230 0030

* Note: Departure and arrival time may vary due to traffic conditions.

Travel Between Posts

Each post has a bus terminal where you can catch a bus to another post. Tickets can be purchased at the terminal. There are also schedules available at each terminal. Here are the prices at this time.

Casey to CRC: Adult $2.75 Child $1.30
CRC to Yongsan: Adult $4.75 Child $2.40
Casey to Yongsan: Adult $6.10 Child $3.00
Casey/CRC to Osan: Adult $11.50 Child $5.75

Click here for the Area 1 Bus Schedule.

Arriving at Inchon International Airport

When you arrive at the airport don't worry about getting lost. There are a lot of airport employees asking "PCSing?" and pointing you to the right area. They have a separate area for military to go through customs. Make sure you don't have any agricultural products on you, including seeds.

When you first get off the plane, follow the crowd down the escelators and to a shuttle train that will take you to the main terminal (bottom photo). Then you will process immigrations, either with your military ID and orders, or on a government passport/Visa for dependents (middle photo). After immigrations, you will proceed to the baggage area and pick up your luggage. There are free baggage carts for your use. Then, the Korean employees will direct you to the proper customs area.

After you get through customs you report to the 1st Replacement Center (1RC) desk located in the arrival terminal at the end of the west wing through exit 14 (top picture). This is where the Army Representative will assist you and sign your leave form (AD Army). While you wait for the bus, which runs every hour or so, there are plenty of convenience stores and restaurants in the main terminal for you to use. There is also a phone card vendor right next to the 1RC reception desk, if you wish to purchase an international phone card. There are plenty of pay phones for you to use, and the vendor will give you instructions, in English, on how to make your call.

1RC provides a bus that comes on the hour to take you to USAG-Yongson and the Dragon Hill Lodge. This is where you spend your first night in South Korea. This bus ride will take about an hour.

The following morning you report to 1RC for mandatory briefings. 2nd Infantry Division Soldiers will then be identified, separated, and depending on your category, transported to the Warrior Readiness Center (WRC).

This information was gathered from several different places along with actual experience doing it.