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The following morning, we again wake up at 6am, although James always set the time at 5:30 for better preparation.  Breakfast is at the ground floor.  Knowing we will be going to Everworld later, we try not to eat heavy.  Although this is still Daemyung Resort, the entrees are not as memorable as the one in Gyeongju.  We hear there is some discussion about taking a detour to a kimchi factory before going to the strawberry farm.  This is later confirmed when Irene officially gave the suggestion.  Since this is not part of the planned official itinerary, there is an entrance fee.  Ten thousand Won if I remember correctly.  Everybody agrees.  Two hours later, we are at the Duittle Kimchi Experience Center. 

There are two long tables with plates of ingredients that will make a kimchi.  An old woman who seems to be the one in charge of the factory gives the introduction.  Irene does the translating.  Imelda has our camera and shoots pics of us.

The old lady informs us how kimchi is made.  Lots of ingredients are involved.  The most popular and therefore familiar kimchi is the cabbage kimchi.  To give an idea in the production process, she instructs us how to do the final stage of the kimchi-making process.  We all wore gloves and aprons.  We smother the cabbage with gochujang mixed with lots of other ingredients.  There is also a technique in wrapping them.  The kimchi as is, is ready to eat.  Not one of us is eager to eat the kimchi without something to counter the pepper.

We proceed to another room and given samplings of Korean snacks.  We don’t what some of them are called in their Korean names, but I learned more about them from Arirang TV. 

In this picture, clockwise from right you can see of course, kimchi, kimchi pancake (kimchi jeon), ginseng juice, sweet potato, rice cake (tteok).  The tteok is chewy.  The kimchi is not so spicy when cooked as jeon.  We got to see what ginseng looks like.  They have big jars containing preserved ginseng.  The old lady gives an offer to everybody.  If you buy a box of kimchi, they will ship it at the duty free on the day of your departure.  At least one family avail of the offer.  We’d love to buy, but the power supply in Bicol is not so stable lately.

In a nearby structure, you can get dressed in hanbok (韓服) and pose.  Inside the dressing room, there is a rotating fan, actually it’s not a fan.  It’s a heater that half-rotates to warm occupants and tourists.  We all get dressed and posed.  James and I got dressed in the blue civilian official uniforms.  Everybody posed as individuals, small groups, and the whole everybody.  Soon, we took of our hanbok.  We ride and proceed to a strawberry farm.