Damyang: A hidden gem amongst the bamboo

In Korea when people visit the south, Busan and Jeju island feature heavily on their itinerary. Recently I had the opportunity to visit Damyang in the South Jeolla province. Two days might not sound like enough to experience a place, but my short time there packed with bamboo, traditional houses and delicious organic food was enjoyable.

Accomodation

Nora Pensiontel is a luxury option if you have cash to burn. Our suite came with two beds, one queen sized, a massage chair, jacuzzi and karaoke room. Mr Park my "Korean Uncle and I sang our own generational classics till a bit past midnight. Though the room could only be used till 9pm, we were lucky because other guests had not checked in around us. The massage chair gives you a decent 15 minute full body massage and the jacuzzi bubble jets were powerful and temperature, muscle relaxingly hot.

Food

Surrounded by agricultural fields, Damyang natives have access to fresh produce as a result, the quality of food is very good. We had samgyeopsal for dinner and what I noticed was that the lettuce was crunchier, kimchi vegetables fermented longer and meat juicier.

I noticed how once I bit into an apple I bought from the local market, the brown marks of oxidization would appear immediately. If it spoils quickly it's organic and fresh.

Juknokwon (Bamboo Forest)

The main attraction here is...yes bamboo! Situated on top of a hilly area, path's weave you through Korean bamboo which is smaller than it's Chinese cousin but still impressive. Benches, garbage cans and most structures here are made of this evergreen grass and you can learn more about the regions history with this iconic plant in the gallery café's top floor photo exhibition and Juknokwon Art Center. We also had bamboo flavoured ice cream which suspiciously tasted like green tea flavoured ice cream, but I guess, those who have uneducated tongues won't tell the difference.

Noodle street.

Another self explanatory attraction. The restaurants here serve various types of noodle dishes. Outside seating is readily available right next to a canal which runs parallel to the street. We ate bamboo noodles which didn't have a particular taste and were very light. The anchovy soup dominated the flavor of the dish, but it was an excellent option for a light meal.

Gasa Literary House

A beautiful museum that houses numerous literary works and manuscripts from the past. The museum is named after a traditional form of lyric verse called gasa, a significant invention in Korea's literary history as scholars used it to describe their daily lives as opposed to the influential Chinese literature of the time. It takes about 30 minutes to see all the exhibits on the museums two floors, but if you are into architecture and landscaping, you can walk around the museum's beautiful garden and check out a traditional well next to the pond.

Soswaewon Garden

A beautiful garden that was once the home of a 16th century aristocrat who wanted to escape the shenanigans of the royal folk. At the time we visited, the only sounds we could hear was the gentle gargling of a cascading stream, the distant rumbling of an incoming storm and chatter of other visitors. There are three traditional houses, where you can sit down on the wooden floor and enjoy the peaceful scene or perhaps come up with literary works as residents of this property did, many years ago.

Damyang's only drawback is that you might need a car to get around as everything is spaced out and rural bus routes do not run as frequently as those in bigger cities. Still it remains a must-visit for history buffs, nature lovers and health food gourmands.