Travel 101 Jeonju
How to spend S$101 (you big spender, you) in a day
by Serene Lim
Bibimbap lovers should consider making a pilgrimage to this Korean city, which invented the tasty dish and holds the Jeonju Bibimbap Festival every October.
The seven peaks of the Noryeong mountain range guard the ancient city's treasure trove of heritage sites - this is after all the city where the Joseon Dynasty was founded. So if you're a K-drama fan, don't forget to bring along your costumes to play out your Jewel In The Palace fantasies. SERENE LIM
Breakfast at O's Square: S$10
Jeonju is no historical relic. There's an amazing cafe culture with many chic little bistros, coffee-houses and bars near the university. One of the coolest is O's Square (Jeonbuk Dae). Spend a leisurely morning with bagels and juice to power your day ahead.
Shopping and lunch at Jeonju Hanok Village: S$50
Step back in time here. There are about 800 beautifully traditional "hanok" houses within the village, many of them turned into restaurants, hotels and craft stores. While entry is free, you'll probably find yourself browsing little knick-knacks and making Hanji paper that costs 1,000 won (S$1.15) per sheet from the stalls and buying souvenirs from the Traditional Craft Centre. Stop for lunch at Damun which has set meals going for 20,000 won.
Coffee break at The Diary Book Cafe: S$15
Duck into The Diary Book Cafe (Gosadong, across Megabox cinema) for a respite. Browse the large selection of books available over a cup of cappuccino, sandwiches and homemade yoghurt.
Dinner at Gogung: S$26
Traipse through Jeonju's downtown shopping district at Gaeksa to work up an appetite for one of Jeonju's most acclaimed bibimbap restaurants, Gogung (www.gogung.co.kr/eng). It goes without saying that you'd have to order the Jeonju traditional bibimbap, but add on other recommended favourites like mung-bean pancake and Yuk-Hoe (Jeonju-style raw beef) to max out your budget.
Total: S$101
This article was featured in Today July 14, 2011.
http://www.todayonline.com/Travel/EDC110714-0000010/Jeonju