ESL TEACHERS: Mine eyes have seen the Yeonggwang: Gwangju Landmarks

ESL Teachers: Yeonggwang doesn't have much to offer westerners, so most of us make regular visits to Gwangju. Most of the western comforts are in the downtown area know as Geumnamno. Geumnamno is a little over two miles from the bus terminal. If you want to walk it you can follow along the jogging path next to the river. The river is about 5 city blocks from the bus terminal.

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Or, you can take a Gwangju city bus. City bus #9 goes down to Geumnamno. My entry on JUne 7, 2010 entitled 'HomePlus in Gwangju' has a few pointers about taking the bus. Also, the last three pictures on that entry show the intersection you're looking for when you get off the bus.

You'll want to get off at Geumnamno 4. The bus announcement system reads off the stops in Korean. If you listen carefully you will hear the word Geumnamno. There are two Geumnamno stops, Geumnamno 4 and Geumnamno 5. You want the second one and it is five stops from the bus terminal. When you exits the bus walk a few blocks along the bus's path and make a right. At that point you're rather close to the Underground Market.

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Looking up from the riverside jogging path.

Downtown Geumnamno is just past this bridge with the big white circle.

Here is the ramp you take. Notice that above the two young women and below the street lamp you can see the Statue of Liberty on top of a dome on a motel (called New York???).

At the top of the ramp you cross the street that runs parallel to the river. When you look up you can see the Windmill which is a popular motel. You then cross the street perpendicular to the river so that you're on the same block as the Windmill.

As you walk away from the river you'll see 'Tous Les Jours' and 'A Twosome Place'. If you turn right in the alley between them you'll head toward the WaBar. If you keep walking you'll head towards the Underground Market.

Between this OZ cell phone store and the police station is an pedestrian alley. You turn right here if you're going to the Underground Market.

This is view just after you turn right into the alley.

This teddy bear is outside of a clothing store. Zara is directly across from the Underground Market.

The Underground Market is down the pedestrian alley between Lloyd and Evisu.

This is a look down the alley. Notice the London Underground logo on the sign for the market. The store is on the left.

Coming out of the alley from the Underground Market if you look to your right you'll see the ABC Mart and the SK Telecom store. The alley in between them will lead you to the Lemon Table restaurant.

The ABC Mart is one of many shoe stores. I'm not sure if they carry western sizes but they do have Crocs here. I found a men's 10 which would work for me. So, if you get to Korea and you realize you need hallway slippers for your school you can get some here. They cost 39,900 Won but it beats walking in your socks.

Here is the Lemon Table. It's on the right hand side. I'm told you can get a good burger there.

If you walk past the Lemon Table you'll hit a major street. If you turn right and keep walking you'll see the YMCA on your right (just after the stairs to the subway). This is a good landmark if you're taking a cab from the bus terminal. Just write "Geumnamno YMCA" on a piece of paper.

If you facing this entrance to the YMCA turn to your right and look for the first pedestrian alley about 80 feet away. Walk that way and make a left. This alley is the main street of Geumnamno. About 100 feet down you'll see this Starbucks on the right.

The Outback Steakhouse is directly across the alley from the Starbucks.

Continuing down 'main street' you'll see the Seven Monkeys Coffee on the left. This is directly across the pedestrian alley from the Speakeasy and The German Bar.

If you're standing with your back to the Seven Monkeys Coffee, look down the side alley slightly to your right. The pink Vista sign is directly above the door. The Speakeasy sign is above the Vista sign. The Speakeasy is on the second floor. I think they open at 7 PM.

If you're standing with your back to the Seven Monkeys Coffee, look down the side alley slightly to your left. This is the German Bar.

Continuing down 'main street' you'll see SweetSOUP. If you continue straight the First Nepal curry restaurant is on your left. If you turn right the WaBar is about 3 blocks down on your right.