Keep Calm and Blogging! (｡’▽’｡)♡: KTO Miss Flower Spring Review

MY BLOG REVIEW ABOUT “MISS FLOWER (SPRING)”

Miss Flower (Spring) is a promotional video and produced by the KTO to showcase Korea’s brilliant floral scenery. A touching score by Juan Han (the soundtrack composer for Christmas in August and One Fine Spring Day) accompanies the story of spring blooms and young love. Miss Flower (Spring) was produced to encourage travel to Korea in the spring and pairs its lush, cinematic content with a lesson in Korean flora. Subtitles identify the filming locations, the flowers pictured, and the months they are in bloom.

I found this video one day as an advertisement in Youtube to promote South Korea tourism. I usually skip almost all advertisements, but this one is kind of advertisement that I don’t. Yes indeed it’s a long one, but it’s really worth the watching! (●♡∀♡)

Apparently, it’s not the only video. There are 4 videos all, each one represents each season in Korea. And also I found out that they have a contest at buzz KOREA website and also at Korea Tourism Organization Manila Office facebook page. But I join only at KTO Manila fb page, because this contest is "MISS FLOWER (SPRING) BLOG REVIEW CONTEST" and besides I’m from the Philippines. I really love doing blogs about Korea. I’m just hoping that I will win this blog contest because It poured all my time to do this. It took 2 days to do this blog with non-stop thinking, typing, editing photos, arranging and etc. And I'm so tired of this.（−＿−；）I really want to visit South Korea, that's why I did my best to do this all. And hopefully soon my dream will come true! (ﾉ´ヮ´)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

Well, This video was really indeed beautiful. Enjoy! (≧▽≦)

You can also access this link and watch the video about Miss Flower (Spring) at buzz KOREA website. http://www.ibuzzkorea.com/eng/theme/cafe_youtube_view.html?sn_cafe=120&sn=14183&page=1sn_cafe%3D120&&q&flag&cat1=120&cat2=131&s

And kindly "LIKE" the facebook page of (KTO Manila) Korea Tourism Organization Manila Office.

http://www.facebook.com/ktomanila

BRIEF SUMMARY/SYNOPSIS (The Major Points Of My Review):

The girl, a college student who likes to travel, and the guy, her classmate who is studying photography, have feelings for each other but are yet awkward around each other. They start travelling around Korea to take pictures of the beautiful spring flowers. As the girl acts a bit distant and cold to the guy, the harder he tries to please her. The love story of this sweet, young couple is told through the language of flowers: Azalea (Passion and Fragility), Persimmon Tree (Beautiful Resting Place), Cherry Blossom (Pure Beauty), Green Tea (Memories),

Cole Flower (Cheerfulness), Tulip (Declaration of Love), and Green Barley (Flourish). Through small episodes that correspond with the language of each flower, the girl and the guy become certain of each one’s feelings. At the end of the film when the ending credits go up, the film shows the girl on campus before their trip,

taking pictures of the guy from afar. Viewers can assume from this scene that it was actually the girl who had a crush on the guy first.

SCENES (My Review/Observation About The Places):

Azalea (Mid-May ~ Early June)

Hwangmaesan Royal Azalea Festival

Hapcheon-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do

Hwangmaesan Royal Azalea Festival

Hwangmaesan Mountain was once called Hanmoesan, meaning “a wide mountain,” and is the last peak of the Taebaeksan Range. Muhakdaesa, a great monk who died protecting the Goryeo Dynasty, practiced asceticism here. Mysterious-looking cliffs stretching in an east-west direction are centered round Hwangmaebong Peak. Hwangmae Mountain is so beautiful that it is generally referred to as “Small Geumgangsan.”

“Hwang” means prosperity and “Mae” means preciousness or dignity, so put together “Hwangmae” means abundance. In the past, if anyone prayed here with ultimate sincerity and devotion, people believed that their wishes would come true. Many people have come to this mountain since ancient times to pray.

The appearance of Hwangmaesan changes each season. Azaleas and royal azaleas paint the mountain pink in spring, while the water flowing in the valleys creates an abundant scenic view in summer. Silver grass produces white blossoms in autumn, creating a dazzling scenic view as if lit by a multitude of candles; and beautiful snowy scenery is typical in winter. The Hwangmaesan Azalea Festival is held every May to wish for prosperity and abundance for the town’s inhabitants and to promote the excellence of azaleas nationwide. Various events are staged including a hiking contest, a singing contest, and a nature-cleaning movement.

In front of the azalea colony in Hwangmaesan is a movie theme park where the movie The Legend of Gingko was filmed. Many tourists visit the mountain to enjoy hiking and the many other things to see and do there. During the festival, visitors can enjoy delicious local foods such as steamed pork, soup, and banjeonju (rice wine), as well as local specialty crops.

Azalea: Passion and Fragility

Azalea meanings: Abundance, take care, temperance, fragile, passion, Chinese symbols of womanhood

Azaleas are flowering shrubs comprising two of the eight subgenera of the genus Rhododendron, Pentanthera (deciduous) and Tsutsuji (evergreen). Azaleas bloom in spring, their flowers often lasting several weeks. Shade tolerant, they prefer living near or under trees.

Persimmon Tree (Mid-May ~ Early June)

Naganeupseong Folk Village

Suncheon-si, Jeollanam-do

Naganeupseong Folk Village

Naganeupseong Folk Village is located in Jeollanam-do Province, and contains a town castle that is over 18,000 Pyeong (1 pyeong = 3.3 sq m) in size. Within the east, south and west of the castle, about 100 families still reside, and the castle area has been very well preserved. You can observe the daily dwellings indigenous to the south provincial area such as the kitchen area, the clay rooms, and Korean-style verandas. There are also 9 houses designated as important cultural resources, and numerous straw-roof houses as well. The folk village’s other source of pride is the monument of General Im Kyeong-Eop (1594~1646). At every first full moon of the new year, they hold a ritual ceremony and celebration at the general’s monument, with games such as seesaw jumping, swings, and other folk activities.

When you enter the front gate of Naganeupseong Folk Village, on the east side of the castle (called “Nakpung-ru”), you see a straight road leading to town. Follow along this road and you will come across the General Im Kyeong-Eop Monument, resource center, and other interesting sites. You may also walk to the end of this road, climb up to the castle itself, and walk along the castle wall to the south. The entire castle is exceptionally well-preserved, and you can view the whole town from the top level.

Persimmon Tree: Beautiful Resting Place

The persimmon tree produces a flower blossom during the spring months and then a cluster of small fruits after pollination. They will produce fruit until the first frost. And also the different shades of green was truly relaxing.

Cherry Blossom (Mid-April ~ Early May)

Gaesimsa Temple

Seosan-si, Chungcheongnam-do

Gaesimsa Temple

Gaesimsa Temple is located deep in the dense forest of Mt. Sang- wangsan (307 m) and 6 km from Haemi-up. This is one of the four greatest temples in Chungchongnamdo and is noted for the cherry blossoms in the spring. Gaesimsa Temple's Taeungjon Hall (main building) has a uniquely combined style of Tap'ojip (construction method) and Chushimp'ojip with 3 Kan* in front and 3 Kans on its sides.

The construction of this temple, designated as Treasure No. 143, was completed in 1484. * A Kan is a traditional unit of measuring the space between two columns.

Cherry Blossom: Pure Beauty

Cherry Blossoms are some of the most beautiful flowers, coming in bright colors. The Cherry Blossom tree in full bloom, during the arrival of spring, is one of the most beautiful sights to behold.

Green Tea

Boseong Green Tea Festival

Boseong-gun, Jeollanam-do

Boseong Green Tea Festival

Historically, Boseong is best known for its high quality of tea product. Boseong has mild temperatures and low humidity. So, the green tea plantation is really the best here.

The Boseong Green Tea Festival is one of the most festival event in South Korea. The festival include the activity of picking tea leaves, making tea, and try some snacks made from green tea. Tourists may experience tea exhibition and tea sale. Also some celebratory performances are going to perform during the festival.

♥ Eunjoo and Donghyun ♥

Green Tea: Memories

The landscape is amazing. You may feel relax and comfortable when you enjoy the beautiful cedar trees at the entrance of the plantation. The shape of the tea bushes that rising in regular curves are great.

Cole Flower (Mid-April ~ Mid-May)

Gochang Hakwon Tourism Farm

Gochang-gun, Jeollabuk-do

Cole Flower: Cheerfulness

According the video, you can see what’s happening on the girl (Eunjoo) and also the guy (Donghyun). Eunjoo is really pretty and cute! ^^ For me, this scene is truly touching and cute! ^_^

Tulip (Early April ~ Early May)

Taean Flower Festival

Taean-gun, Chungcheongnam-do

Taean Flower Festival

Around Nature World in Taean County, South Chungcheong, the 2012 Taean Flower Festival is in full swing with more than a million colorful tulips in bloom.

Tulip: Declaration of Love

Tulips can mean a variety of things. They normally mean a "declaration of love", not love itself, though. Red tulips mean love and fame. Multi-colored tulips are supposed to represent people with beautiful eyes, and therefore beautiful souls. (The eyes are the window to the soul.) yellow tulips symbolize happiness in one's life. Overall, tulips mean "perfect lover".

Green Barley (Mid-April ~ Mid-May)

Gochang Hakwon Tourism Farm

Gochang-gun, Jeollabuk-do

Gochang Hakwon Tourism Farm

Gochang Green Barley Field Festival - This festival is held every year in April amongst the beautiful green barley fields of the Gochang-gun region. The Gochang Green Barley Field Festival is the region’s most popular festival and was visited by over 550,000 tourists in 2008. The festival celebrates the region’s plentiful 'barley', and visitors can take part in activities such as making flutes out of barley and searching for hidden treasures in the barley fields. A visit to the festival is also a good opportunity to see Seonunsan Provincial Park and Gochangeupseong Fortress, as well as sampling the pungcheon jangeo (eel), which is a regional delicacy.

Green Barley: Flourish

RECAP (My Over All Review with my creative photos):

Azalea

Hwangmaesan Royal Azalea Festival

Hapcheon-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do

http://hc.go.kr

Persimmon Tree

Naganeupseong Folk Village

Suncheon-si, Jeollanam-do

http://www.nagan.or.kr/

Cherry Blossom

Gaesimsa Temple

Seosan-si, Chungcheongnam-do

http://www.seosan.go.kr/

Green Tea

Boseong Green Tea Festival

Boseong-gun, Jeollanam-do

http://english.boseong.go.kr/

Tulip

Taean Flower Festival

Taean-gun, Chungcheongnam-do

http://www.ffestival.co.kr/

Cole Flower/Green Barley

Gochang Hakwon Tourism Farm

Gochang-gun, Jeollabuk-do

http://culture.gochang.go.kr/site_english/

Thank you very much for reading my blog! Hope you like it! And I hope you had fun reading my blog! ヾ(＠^∇^＠)ノ

And also, I would like to thank "Korea Tourism Organization Manila" and "Korea Tourism Organization" for this great opportunity! More Power and May God Bless you always! ♥（ﾉ´∀`）

If you want to know more about Korea, You may contact these websites and facebook pages:

Korea Tourism Organization Manila Office (facebook page)

http://www.facebook.com/ktomanila

Korea Tourism Organization (facebook page)

http://www.facebook.com/koreatourism

buzz KOREA (website & facebook page)

http://www.ibuzzkorea.com/eng/

http://www.facebook.com/buzzkorea