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Start
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Mt. Mireuk
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Miraesa Temple
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Haean-Nurigil
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Dala Observatory
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Chungmugimbap
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Hansando
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Myulchi Maeul Sikdang
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Dongpirang Village
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Jungang Market
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Finish
Dala park to watch sunset of the coaster waters of Tongyeong - Dala Observatory 달아전망대
The sun on very tiring day of this trip to Tongyeong is about to set now. Tongyeong is famous for its beautiful sunset view as well. Especially, Dala Park is one of the best places to watch the sun dropping between the islands. On the observatory, you can see Hansando Island ocean where was the ferocious battlefield during Great Victory at Hansandaecheop (Battle of Hansando), and on the right, there's a battle ground of Dangpo Haejeon (The Battle of Danpo) so-called Danpo ocean. This is one of 8 scenic views of Tongyeong.
There are two origins of the name 'Dala(達牙)', one is that the lay of the land looks like the shape of a molar of an elephant and the other one is that the battle ship (戰船; Jeonseon) arrived (到達; Dodal) here with ivory flag (牙旗; Agi) during Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592. Believe it or not, it's up to you...
Plus, 23km road of Mireukdo coastline, Sanyang costal landscape is as famous as the observatory. Dala Observatory is in the middle of the landscape.
From the parking lot where you can park your car for free, walk up 2 to 3 minutes then you won't miss the observatory.
The road is made of soft materials for the disabled or those who have difficulty in moving their bodies, and was equipped with facilities for wheelchairs.
The observatory is right there. I suspected that there would be nothing special to see because it was only a few steps away from the parking lot.
However, as I stepped on the hill, I could see the whole ocean spread out endlessly right before my eyes. As the sun goes down, the place started to get crowded with the sound of camera shutter click.
I could see at least 11 islands. The island on the left in the photo is called Damaemuldo Island where is famous for its photogenic view. I might have to take a two-day trip to Somaemuldo and Damaemuldo Islands next time. I heard that the scenery was amazing there...
The gradated view of the islands in front of Tongyeong and far away to Namhae looks so wonderful. I would've been able to take a better picture if the weather was a little brighter.
The big island in the middle is called Sarangdo Island. Looking at the sun going down behind Sarangdo Island makes me moved somehow. Now I understand why people say you've got to see the sunset here. It's just...stunning.
It looks like the mountains are running towards the ocean.
The sun is sinking slowly under the ocean! My face feels like burning from looking at the sun setting over archipelago.
Watching the sunset is of course impressive to guys but girls must've felt it more dramatically. There were a lot of couples in the park and all of the guys were thanked by their girlfriends and wives. If you are planning to take a trip to Tongyeong, don't forget to add this place to your plan. I'm 100% sure you will be appreciated. :)
Ah, the sun is dropping and the sky is changing its colors constantly. I guess being able to watch this great view at the end of the day is happiness that you can only feel when you travel.
The sun is going down behind the island and fish boats are coming home. I also have to head to the hotel and get some sleep. I was wondering about the sunset view from the hotel, so I stopped taking pictures and drove to the hotel which is 10km away from the park. :)
Address : 114, Yeonhwa-ri, Sanyang-eup, Tongyeong-si, Gyeongsangnam-do (경상남도 통영시 산양읍 연화리 114)
Telephone : 055-650-4681
Tongyeong Geobukseon Hotel where you could enjoy great view of Tongyeong Bridge 통영 거북선호텔
I'm going to introduce you the hotel I stayed for one night in Tongyeong. There are different kinds of hotels and resorts in Tongyeong but I chose Tongyeong Geobukseon Hotel because of good critics on cute interior design. Not only is it clean and neat since it was newly built but it is also a boutique hotel that has art pieces of Tongyeong artists displayed in the hotel rooms, lobby, halls, even in the parking lot.
It really looks like a Geobukson(the Turtle Ship) outside. The head of the turtle ship is looking at Tongyeong Bridge and the ocean.
This hotel is famous for its beautiful night view and the roof of the turtle ship looks quite unique even from a far distance.
This is not a gallery, it's just a parking lot located next to the lobby on the ground. The ground is not built with concrete but finished with something that looks vintage style like a gallery. Plus, there are pictures hanging on the wall, sculptures of famous artists, and videos are also played through a beam projector. There are comments on every piece so I took some time to take a look around with my travel bag before I went to my room.
As small as the hotel was, the lobby was small and looked like a cafe. The brick table on the right photo is hotel front so you could check in there.
Just like in the parking lot, there were pictures on the walls in the lobby. They were quite unique.
The most impressive one was this one displayed in the lobby. It's a big lacquer painting by Ha Jeong-seon which seems normal during the day but when it is under the light at night it twinkles like there are small bulbs hidden under the painting.
Probably because of the reflected light from mother-of-pearl which was used in lacquering process. It was expressing the night view of Tongyeong with beautiful colors so that sitting on a classical sofa in the lobby made me feel like I'm in a cafe.
Looking around the photos hung up here and there made it take a lot of time for me to get to the room and I had to drag my baggage all along.
This is a small hand-made lift lock made by a craftsman from Tongyeong. It's small but the glittering and delicate mother-of-pearl looks like scales of fish.
After a while, we finally went up to the room. It's a deluxe room where we had a clear view of Tongyeong Bridge from a far distance. This hotel has Standard, Deluxe, Deluxe Family(two-storied), Suite and Geobukseon Suite(two-storied) rooms, and this view is from Deluxe room.
I don't know if the furnitures were designed with motive of Yunseul (sun rays or moonlights shining through water ripples) of beautiful Tongyeong ocean, but they seem special to me. TV is big and I found three books regarding Tongyeong trip. There's also a dressing table and a sofa as well as a table on the opposite side where I could use a notebook comfortably. It's a big and comfortable room for 2 adults.
The best thing was properly hard, comfy and big bed. Plus, we could enjoy our stay more because of separate dressing table and closet which my wife liked very much.
There is an extra room on the right side of the entrance which has a bathroom and a small kitchen inside. Simple meals are allowed like heating up the food because there's a microwave/oven on the small sink. If you stay a few days, it would be nice to take some food there.
The washstand and shower booth were separated so you won't feel uncomfortable with staying with the people whom you stay with. There are enough towels, a hair dryer, and toiletries made of camellia, which is a special product of Tongyeong.
On the table in the middle of the hotel room, there were two cups and tea bags for 2 adults, but unfortunately, they didn't have coffee.
You could use 2 bottles of water for free in the refrigerator.
Toothpaste (toothbrush), razor, toner/lotion, sewing box, cotton buds, comb, and amenity in each package are all set properly so we didn't use any of our stuff.
Wifi is accessible in every room and it's fast! It was convenient to use notebook and smartphones.
The Standard room which you could use at a reasonable price is good enough but the reason we upgraded it to Deluxe room was because of the balcony and beautiful view of the sea and I could see the Tongyeong ocean any time on the wide balcony.
This is the view of Tongyeong ocean from the balcony in our hotel room. As the hotel is located right in front of the coast, the view spreads out before my eyes.
White waves from the small boat passing by from time to time is beautiful.
After the sunset, the lights on Tongyeong Bridge turn on and it presents us beautiful night view. There are a few big resorts in Tongyeong but the facilities are old and located away from the downtown so you'd have to get to the downtown to have proper meals. Plus, there are a few hotels in downtown but they are more like motels. Tongyeong Geobukseon Hotel has its merits that it is close to the downtown, clean unlike most of the motels, fancy as a boutique hotel and decorated charming. Plus the big sized room with beautiful scenery of Tongyeong coast is available at a reasonable price so I recommend you to use this hotel.
Address : 957-3, Misu-dong, Tongyeong-si, Gyeongsangnam-do (경상남도 통영시 미수동 957-3)
Telephone : 055-646-0710
Website : www.geobukseonhotel.com
