Chasabal Festival: Time to Spill The Tea

I attended the first day of the popular Mungyeong Chasabal Festival at Mungyeongsaejae Provincial Park. The annual festival will run until 6 May. Mungyeong is famous for producing elegant tea bowls (chasabal in Korean).

We arrived just before 1pm. The sun was out. The beautiful park was buzzing. Young and old had come to the festival. People were dressed to the nines, as Koreans always do. There were food stalls and musical performances.

My invite to the Chisa bal Festival.

The fandom culture is huge in Korea. There were groups, dressed up in colorful t-shirts with the faces of their favorite musicians, who were on the line-up. I got to experience Teuroteu music, which is quite popular especially among the older generation. Elderly ladies were screaming at the top of their lungs when the handsome Yong gi took to the stage. He had a strong stage presence in his red suit.

I also enjoyed Jo Myeong Seop’s powerful voice. He received a bouquet of flowers from an audience member. At only 25-years-old, he’s the youngest teuroteu singer. You could tell that he enjoyed performing.

We then moved to the Open Set where the ceramic artists had set up for the main event. It soon became clear why Mungyeong is famous for ceramics. There were beautiful tea bowls everywhere. Some were more pricier than others depending on the artist.

Some people are really good with their hands!

We got to sit down with one of the artists, Chen Gyeong-hee. She was kind enough to offer us tea. We watched her as she delicately made the Mungyeong green tea. She was so graceful as she prepared the green powder which she mixed with boiling water before whisking it for few minutes. It was my first time drinking powdered green tea and I enjoyed it.

The green tea was accompanied by the fruity snack.

She told me she’d been making ceramics for thirty years. It’s a skill she learned from her late father, the great Korean potter Cheon Han-bong. She was so humble. Her ceramics looked really beautiful

We soon moved on to other stalls. Everyone was welcoming and people were buying. Some of the pieces went up to KRW600,000 while the cheapest cost KRW10,000.

Another stall with more ceramics.

As the sun set we came across a plant vendor. I decided to buy myself one for KRW5,000. I hope I can keep it alive…

I also went home with my very own tea bowl thanks to the generosity of the organizers.

I love my tea bowl and the packaging is stunning!

If you ever find yourself in South Korea in April, the Chasabal Festival is a must see. Whether you’re a tea lover or not, it’s great fun for the whole family and the venue is just fabulous!

How cool are the graphics?

My weekend in Incheon

Last month, I got to spend three nights in Incheon, South Korea. I checked into the guest house on Friday evening.

It was a lovely house with two bedrooms. A Swiss tourist was in the second room. We arrived at the same time. The host showed us around. It’s a cosy, charming house.

The kitchen at King’s House.

Each room had a private bathroom. We only shared the kitchen and sitting area.

The sitting area.

I was tired so I just made a cup of tea. I still had a sandwich I’d traveled with from South Africa so I ate that, showered and then went to bed.

I woke up early on Saturday. It was cold but I went out for a walk as I wanted to check out the area.

It was supposed to be Spring, but the few people who were outside, had warm jackets and gloves on. I was a bit chilly, but I soldiered on. That’s the price you pay for an adventurous spirit!

The streets.

It was very peaceful. I liked the look of the place. After walking around for a bit, I went back for some breakfast. After breakfast, I put on warm clothes and went to explore my surroundings on foot.

Don’t spill…

There streets started to buzz a bit. I spotted foreigners which were far and few in between. I got stopped by the “cult recruiters”. I didn’t have the heart to ignore them like I’d seen other people do. I listened to their presentation about church. They then insisted on inviting me to the Sunday service. I gave them my SA number knowing very well that it wouldn’t go through. We then parted ways.

I saw people buying a snack from a food truck. I decided to join in as I am a fan of street food. I can’t remember how much it cost, but after one bite, I knew I didn’t like it because it was too sweet for me. It’s hot, fatty with the fruit jam filling. It tasted like igwinya with jam.

The sweet snack.

Before I knew it, I had been walking for hours. I liked the look of the place. It’s a bit tricky navigating it if you don’t speak Korean. A translation app is a must.

Anyway, I went out for solo dinner. I chose a Korean styled Chinese restaurant because it was closer to the guesthouse. I ordered noodles and the owner threw in a free snack!

My first soju ever.

I also had my first soju ever! I must say I don’t understand how people can drink it neat. It needs to be mixed with something and lots of ice! So, I did not enjoy it at all. I mixed it with water, but it was still too strong for me so I only drank half.

After dinner, I walked straight home as the cold was starting to bite again.

On Sunday morning, I went hiking. It was such a lovely hiking trail. I spent the first two hours by myself. It was safe. Later in the morning, I came across other hikers.

The sun was out.

It was my first time seeing a hammock at a hiking trail! It’s perfect if you are extremely exhausted – you can take a bit of time to recharge your battery! I rested on it as I soaked on some much needed vitamin D.

How cool!?

I really enjoyed the hike. There was also a coffee shop along the way as coffee culture is huge in Korea.

I really enjoyed my weekend in Incheon. It’s a beautiful place with lots of activities.

I got to catch the sunset which always brings me joy.

The sun setting over Incheon.

I went home tired and happy. I had managed to navigate my way around the city.

Next morning, the guesthouse owner arrived at 9:15am to drop me off at the airport. He’d brought me breakfast which was prepared by his wife. It was such a beautiful and kind gesture!

The exterior is seaweed stuffed with raw veggies.

That was my weekend in Incheon. I would like to go back and explore it some more.