Beauty and the beast
Slovak caves
Yes, this is monorail heading toward entrance of the most popular, the longgest and the largest limestone cave in all Asia at the same time..
in South Korea :-D
Unknown by many koreans themselves an yet annually visited by more than one million visitors.
환선굴/ Hwanseon Cave
Hwanseon cave is located in Dei-ri, Gwangwon-do. Dei-ri means big ears. There are six caves in this region. Only two are open to travelers. It takes long time to get to Hwanseon Cave. For this, they equipped mono rail for visitors, which used to take 30 to 40 minutes on foot. If You want to take a breath of mountain, walking is also recommended.
...and now back to Slovak reality.
Slovak version of ´´monorail transport towards cave´´
Previous days I have spent by exploring Slovak caves which I find so unique and beautiful. All over Slovakia we can find several types of caves from limestone, aragonite to flowstoned. 12 out of 6200 are available for tourists guided mainly in Slovak, Hungarian, German or Polish language. More English and French would be nice if we want to attract some foreigners I guess.
First of all, I recommend to follow signs along the road, which are not many and in fact to be foreigner looking for some cave in here? I would be lost...and NOT to use GPS because not even once I have been led to the entrance, but always somewhere into the forest probably on the top of the cave :D
Once You are lucky and You found not only the sign but the road as well and You somehow were able to get over this ´´little´´ bupm ride an old entrance, most likely built in ´´status ante regime´´ welcomes You.
They are partially refurbished on the outside, but once You step inside You may travel back in time. You look around looking for toilets which I am not going to describe at all, can´t say they re dirty but there is little place to move, everything is old if even functional.
In case You possess some physical handicap do not worry, there is no barrier free access so You will not have opportunity to see these toilets or anything else :)
To get some refreshments ?
Try vending machines to buy some coffee or water, but if italian coffee fan? than it is not recommended to drink this brown sweetened boiling water.
Anyway it s still something. Becasue there are cases when there is simply nothing but the cave :D
BUT
The caves itselves are real jewels,
to see its beauty check the link at the bottom.
Did You know what we have here?
I mean the real beauty is there still unexplored, still unavailable for tourists, but so beautiful..
one of my favorite Slovak caves waiting for their opening to public is ..
The Moon Shadow Cave
located in High Tatras, Spišmichal Valley
discovered in 2004
which is by now 2nd deepest cave in Slovakia.
Within few weeks I am about to travel to France so I ll have a close look on conditions over there. In France we can find around 11 show caves and 10 caves containing pictograms, so I cant wait for it :)
You probably know at least world wide known french cave called
-Lascaux-
so do not forget to follow me
to get the ´´´truth broadcast ´´ right from french caves in details with many photos ;-)
I cant not to mention The Mother of all caves,
The Heavenly Beauty on Earth.
ESA´ALA CAVE
I am not going to write about this one now, because it deserves one full article but
I highly recommend to watch the movie
to feel its atmosphere.
..and the movie.. - Sanctum -
There is even poem written in 1797 by Samuel Taylor Coleridge in honor of this cave :D
...
In Xanadu did Kubla Khan
A stately pleasure-dome decree:
Where Alph, the sacred river, ran
Through caverns measureless to man
Down to a sunless sea.
So twice five miles of fertile ground
With walls and towers were girdled round:
And there were gardens bright with sinuous rills,
Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree;
And here were forests ancient as the hills,
Enfolding sunny spots of greenery..
A stately pleasure-dome decree:
Where Alph, the sacred river, ran
Through caverns measureless to man
Down to a sunless sea.
So twice five miles of fertile ground
With walls and towers were girdled round:
And there were gardens bright with sinuous rills,
Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree;
And here were forests ancient as the hills,
Enfolding sunny spots of greenery..
...
For those who got interested in
환선굴Cave or any Slovak cave here come very usefull links and trailer introducing korean monorail :)
- http://www.ssj.sk/
- http://www.lifeinkorea.com/Travel2/350
-- BISOUS --
