Slowing Down in Hoi An Without Ever Missing a Beat My trip to Cambodia and Vietnam was planned down to the minute (as always), but derailed the moment I decided to forego Hanoi and head straight to Ho Chi Minh City. A couple of friends of mine were traveling through Vietnam, and after a few…
Category: Expat
Year 1 After Korea: Things That Make Me Feel Normal Again
I can’t believe it’s been nearly a year since I bid farewell to Seoul-si, spent 2 weeks in Bali, and flew back to Toronto. As anticipated, the year has certainly had its ups and downs. Finding employment wasn’t easy, but I was open to anything and everything. I even spent a day working in a…
The Perfect Stopover in Reykjavik, Iceland!
Next Stop: Reykjavik Can you believe I made it to Osaka, Shanghai, Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Taipei, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Kota Kinabalu, Bali, Orlando, and Korea (duh!) over the past 3 years? When I was in Korea, all I wanted was to escape the freezing temperatures and fly to warmer climates. Now that I’m in…
Slow Down in Sabah: Jari Jari Spa
Jari Jari Spa – the perfect place to slow down! My trip to Borneo was jam-packed! I stayed at 3 different styles of hostels and hotels and visited yet another resort all in 4 nights. I learned an incredible amount about nature in Kota Kinabalu and the wildlife within. By the start of my 4th…
The Secret: How to Make Money Blogging (Without EVER Writing)
How to Make Money Blogging Ever since I moved to Seoul, South Korea, I have had a number of people ask me how to make money blogging. Some of these people were talented writers without URL’s, some were experts in the field of Korean beauty. Most of these people had a variety of things in…
Expats in Korea – Seoulcialites: Matt Lee HOMEBOY Seoul
HOMEBOY Seoul (Part of Expats in Korea: Seoulcialites) Being an expat in Korea, we’re often pigeon-holed into 2 categories: Teacher or Military. There are so many people doing original and interesting things in Seoul! In this new series, I’d like to introduce you to some creative people I’ve been lucky to meet. They may have started their professional journeys as teachers…
Living Abroad & Coming Home: Coy Canada, Please Take Me Seriously
Living Abroad and Returning Home: Oh, Canada! I’m back in Canada. After a year in Busan, 2 in Seoul, a questionable first week in Bali, blissful 2nd week in Gili Trawangan, and a lengthy journey back home chock-full of nasi goreng, kimchi, and caesars, I’m back, Beaches. To be clear, I’m not quite back in…
Play and Stay in KK: Day in Paradise – Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort
My Day in Paradise at Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia is one of the most underrated tropical, romantic, and affordable beach vacation destinations in Asia. When visiting Sabah in February 2018, I was put in contact with the team at Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort. They wanted to partner with The Toronto Seoulcialite, but had been…
Korea International Expat Film Festival (KIXFF) Oscars Party 2018 in Seoul
You’re Invited! Join The Toronto Seoulcialite @ KIXFF’s Oscars Party WHAT IS KIXFF? KIXFF stands for the Korea International Expat Film Festival which was established in 2015 by director, Kevin Lambert. It’s mission is to bring films with an “expat-perspective” to Seoul. It’s the only festival in the world to do so. It became apparent…
Staying in Sabah – Deal: Dock In Hostel Kota Kinabalu
Where to Stay in Kota Kinabalu: Dock In Hostel near KK Airport When arriving in Kota Kinabalu on a red-eye fight from Seoul, the last thing I wanted to do was take an eternity finding my bearings. At 2 AM I got a GrabCar from the Kota Kinabalu Airport to Dock In Hostel in under…
Making Memories: Dreams of Malaysia
Meeting Malaysia A major bonus of my 3rd year teaching English in South Korea has been the opportunities for international travel. 2017 had some major ups and downs, but my passport has been getting a workout. This past year alone, I’ve managed to see Taipei, Tokyo, Jeju, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur! While each place was…
Zombie House: Seoul Trick Eye Museum’s Winter Exhibit
Seoul’s Trick Eye Museum Since moving to Seoul nearly 2 years ago I’ve had the pleasure of visiting the Trick Eye Museum in Hongdae 4 times! It’s amazing to see how this Seoul tourist attraction has changed even just over the past year. Dedicated to the user experience, the Trick Eye Museum has made several…