Everland Amusement Park/Tulip Festival

Everland Amusement Park is South Korea's Disney wannabe.  I was impressed with the size of the park and the various amusements offered, from movies to roller coasters, beer garden to rose garden.  Everland also has some animal exhibitions, and up to this point, I had been less than impressed and even disgusted at how I have seen some animals kept.  Everland has a true conservation mentality with their animal displays, and although I would have liked to have seen the habitats larger, I did not see anything that made me turn and walk away.

The entrance to the park is like most amusement parks with people and shops.

This theater offered a 'holographic' movie experience with either a K-Pop group or Psy of 'Gangnam style' fame.  K-Pop for those who don't know is Korea's version of hip-hop boy or girl bands. 

 This is why we came, for the tulip festival.  One of my friends here said she was surprised to see it really WAS a tulip festival!  Often times Korean groups will use the word festival, but there isn't much of whatever it is they are celebrating present.

These dark purple, almost black, tulips were intriguing.  In a different section of the park, the names of the varieties were posted.

 I always have my picture taken once so I can prove I didn't just copy the photos from some place else.

You might get tired of seeing tulip pictures. 

 We decided to take one of the lifts (there were three) across the park.  This one was called Human Sky which I found interesting.

The other interesting thing was this sign, the first line of which reads, 'Guest with fear of height or the elderly must be accompanied by a guardian'.  I told Bill I would be his guardian!  We did see an older couple with a younger couple, and the younger fellow went with the elder lady while the younger lady went with the elder fellow.  Korean culture does emphasize respect of ancestors.

 I wish I could figure out how to put two pictures on one line.

For lunch we had sandwiches.  Mine was a bulgogi panini.  For those who don't know what bulgogi is, it is a Korean dish of meat marinated in spices and soy sauce and sesame oil.  It is very good. 

 I have not had any Korean food I didn't like.  Some of it can be very spicy.

 Meals are served with lots of little side dishes, including kimchi and these lovely pickled radishes.

 The Africa exhibit was viewed from an amphibious bus.  The space was limited.

 The orangutan had a large area.  Maybe not large enough, but...the other primates were housed in smaller enclosures, but all were enriched with toys and climbing gyms. 

 There were great signs up in Korean and English, talking about the animals' losing habitat in the world, etc.  It did seem that conservation was on their agenda.

I am not a big fan of zoos, but I will concede they serve a purpose of education, and I cannot deny I enjoy seeing the animals in a comfortable setting.  After having to leave another Korean park because of how they housed their animals, I was pleasantly surprised to see how well Everland was doing.

They also had an Ancient History section with columns and statues.  This water fountain was very popular even on this cool day.

 I did not ride the carousel, but I did ride the TwistnShout.

 The TwistnShout's warning sign said people with neck problems should not ride.  I made sure I kept my head braced against the padded head rest and moved it with the ride.  It did not jerk hardly at all.  Bill stayed on the ground and took this picture.  I am up there somewhere.

I was pleased with the tulip festival.  I hope we get back to Everland Park when the roses are in bloom.  The rose gardens were extensive, too.  And we will have to sample some beer at the beer garden!