Yeongwol: A Treasure Trove

It’s April.  That means I can go outside again without awakening the weather-induced rage I get in the winter.  A few weeks ago, I took my camera on a short excursion around Yeongwol.  Here are the results.

Call It As You See It

You know how the Applebee’s logo is a big red apple?  And the Red Lobster sign is a lobster?  That seems normal to me.  Korea does that, too, but manages to make it seem unusual.  The difference is that they advertise what they sell, not what they are called.  Logical, but still weird.  Here’s why:

I don’t want you to get the wrong idea.  The animal-as-cannibal trend is not limited to pigs.

We also have happy chickens:

And I would be remiss not to mention the dogs and goats.

All of these dishes are served by ajummas who look sort of like this:

Abstract Art

I was delighted to walk down a side street near the school and discover that it was crammed with things to look at.  Paintings, sculptures, statues – Yeongwol is like the next New York City.  Almost.

Split Ends

There are at least twenty hair salons in Yeongwol.  I have been cautioned by local women not to set foot into any of them.
“Please go to Wonju or Seoul,” my former co-teacher said.  “Even Jecheon.  But not Yeongwol for a haircut.”

I asked one of the younger girls in the office where she went to get their hair cut.  “I cut it myself,” she said.

Then I saw this, and I finally believed that getting my haircut in Yeongwol might not be the best idea.

This concludes today’s photo essay on Yeongwol.  I know that I have only scratched the surface, so I anticipate more photo exploration in the future.  It won’t be tomorrow, though, because I have been told to expect radioactive rain from Japan.

“Make sure to use an umbrella,” my co-teacher said.

Yes.  If anything can stop the radioactive rain, this 4,000 won Elmo umbrella will do the trick.