Many guide books mentioned that Sunrise at Jeongdongjin is not to be missed when travelling to Korea. Jeongdongjin is located in the East Coast of Korea and a 6hrs train ride from Seoul by Mugunghwa train. Coach is also available too and takes a shorter time but I find it more dangerous to take night coach than train.
Took the 11pm train from Cheongnyangni Station and reached Jeongdongjin @ 4.28am. It's super cold when we stepped off the heated train carriage. Didn't take much photos since was still sleepy at this hour.
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| JeongDongJin @0428 am |
My guide book had mentioned that it is possible to get to the beach after alight from train. But this seems to change as the area were all fenced up. We exit the station and turn left on to the main street following most of the crowd.
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| Still dark |
The beach were super empty except for a handful of passengers who had just reached here like us. Its was pitch dark and we found a closed food store with a some lights and sat there awhile till we couldn't stand the cold air. It's really no joke I think the temperature is easily at 0 degrees and we weren't really wore enough clothes to prepare for the cold.
The pitch darkness is also freaking me out since there was no one here anymore but us. And I wonder where had everyone gone too since the train was reasonably crowded just now. Could we be at the wrong location? But Mr Love confirmed we are at the best position to wait for the sunrise.
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| With the moon @Jeongdongjin |
Getting hungry and we decided to turn back to the station to search for breakie. I read that there is a cafe here featured in "We got Married" where Yonghwa & Seohyun came but couldn't locate it in the darkness. Later in the day then I realised it is further down the right from right side of the station.
Anyways, we went into the cafe right beside the station and ordered ramen for breakie. The train master was having his breakie here too. Its' also a small convenience that sells snacks and some beach going necessities.
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| Menu |
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| Ramen with coffee |
I cannot say the ramen here is yummy since it taste just like our instant noodles but we both welcome piping hot food and drink at this hour in this quiet little town. It was 5.30am when we finished our breakie and decided to go back to the beach since we stupidly thought that sun rise will be at 5++ not taking into account it is still winter in Korea. City kids problem. Hurhur
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| Time check 6.05am |
We waited a while and then start walking around the beach since sitting down would make us cold. The beach is still empty except for the both of us and we really wonder where the others had gone. Couldn't see anyone along the long stretch of the beach.
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| 6.15am |
We decided to walk back to the station again to see whether there is another place for viewing the sunrise that we did not know off. Then realised the gates into the tracks are closed. Damn. We at least walked up and down the path 5times in a bid to keep ourselves warm.
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| Piggy came with us too |
Found a swing here and we sat here chatting. Romantic huh? But it was no where near it since we are both freezing. Mr Love even did jumping jacks to keep himself warm. Muhaha Torturing.
Just as we were about to lost hope of seeing the sun rise, people start filling the beach at 6.30am. Yay, we were at the right place. But I wonder where these people when just town since the town seems dead except for the both of us when we walked up and down the beach and station.
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| People start coming to the beach at 6.30am |
Mr Love also commented that these people are smart to know the timing of sunrise. Unlike the 2 of us who waited for such a long time on the beach out in the cold.
But we are still worried. The seems to be a bit hazy and we might not get to see the sun rise after all. It would be such a bumper since we travelled so far to see it and I am kinda excited since it would our first time seeing sun rise by the beach and who knows when would be the next chance in our travel to take such a long ride just to view the sun rise?
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| Getting brighter |
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| And the yolk is here |
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| Still cold despite all wrapped up |
People start getting restless from the waiting and there are some who even start to leave the beach. Told Mr Love to give me till 7am. I would not give up so easily since we travelled so far and waited for such a long time.
Lucky for us, we saw the sun rise at 6.45am. Due to the little haziness, we didn't see it rise from the horizon, but 1/4 above it and slowly into the sky. It was a magical moment with this being our first time.
Made a wish as taught by people and hope it will come true:)
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| Total brightness now |
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| Love the natural colour of the sky behind us. No filters needed! |
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| The sun is getting higher |
It was all over in 15min and the whole beach is now bright. Time check is around 7am now and we were both too cold to think properly. Decided to go back to the station to warm ourselves up since they would on the heater during winter.
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| Timetable of trains |
Jeongdongjin is actually a pretty quiet place and transport here is not very convenient with buses running at an hour interval. Taxi is expensive here too though there are alot waiting outside the station.
We end up taking a taxi and paid around SGD 100 for 3hours ride to 2 places of interest. Expensive but without the taxi uncle we would not have been able to see these places. I still find it worth it though a bit heartache.
We changed our tickets to a 3pm train back to Seoul since we finished the tour here at 2pm. Initally brought the 5pm tickets. Luckily am able to cancel the original tickets and exchange for another timing.
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| Jeongdongjin station |
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| Tracks |
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| Seoul bound, waiting for our train to pull into the station |
We had a fun day here though it was tiring and I develop a fever (again) while on our way back to Seoul. Took some medication on the train and sleep all the way back and am lively again when we got back to Seoul.
It's really an eye opener and good experience since we might not have the luxury to travel so freely in future if we have kids. I am so glad Mr Love is sporting enough to take this trip with me here since he is usually not in favour of overnight travelling and also it will take a toll on his state of mind when he dun get enough rest. Hehe.
Till then Jeongdongjin, I hope I will have another chance to see your sunrise again(maybe when we are both old and our kids are grown up) Hehe
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