On Saturday I participated in a press tour organized by the municipality of Seoul in collaboration with the Korean Food Foundation. Seoul Bloggers and Photographers went for a meet, greet, walking tour of the old city, and lunch. I’m so incredibly honoured to have been invited. We had a wonderful day with a great tour guide and I managed to cross off even more places I had been hoping to visit. Having lived in Korea for a year, I’d like to present Round II of my Bucket List, this edition being all Seoul. As I’ve already managed to visit many of the places on my initial list, I’ll give a little information and/or an opinion on each, and then list the remainder at the end. One thing’s for sure – it’s never a dull time living in Seoul!
Category: South Korea
Jogyesa Temple – Lotus Lantern Weekend Part ii
Korean couples love to get dressed up and wander around the old, traditional towns, as well as the Palaces and the Temples. All this was amplified by the hoopla of Buddha’s Birthday Weekend which has been celebrated as a festival since the Unified Silla era over 1,300 years ago. Yep – he gets the whole weekend, the festival, the parade, and all the beautiful lantern displays at nearly every temple the month leading up to his birthday and for for many, the weeks beyond (at Jogyesa they’ll be around until May 22nd). I guess it’s like leaving your Christmas lights up on your front porch all year long, just a lot less honky-tonk and a lot more beautiful!
Lotus Lantern Weekend – Part I
After a very relaxing day meandering around Sincheon, we ventured up to the subway and along the green line to Dongdaemun History & Culture Park. This area is one of my favourites already, even though I’ve only explored it for the Indian food (well, Nepalese), and for Seoul Fashion Week. The area is particularly modern because of the architecture surrounding the big Dongdaemun Design Plaza by Dame Zaha Hadid.
I dream in Skyscanner part I
I want to see everything and go everywhere. I’ve traveled pretty extensively throughout Europe, I’ve been fortunate enough to perform in China, England, The United States, and South Africa, and I still feel like I haven’t even started to see the world! Being in Korea just makes me want to jet set each and every week do a…
How to meet people in Korea (or at least Busan!)
You’re going to have to kiss a lot of frogs before finding your Prince (or Princess!). Thankfully there is a mixed bag of great people in Korea. Photo by Joel Gale Photography I was very hesitant to write another list post but after the quick success of the last one (and e-mails from followers – thank…
Moving to Korea? 12 tidbits to consider…
Over two years ago I considered teaching abroad in either Korea or China, but I chickened out. After moving from Vancouver to Toronto the thought of packing my life into two suitcases and selling the rest just seemed too far-fetched, and having gone through the process of getting transcripts and copies of a degree notarized…
La Bella Citta Busan
Have you ever had a meal so fantastic from start to finish that you felt like a changed person? After the most wonderful weekend checking out new corners of Busan, we were exhausted and disappointed upon discovery that the “Spanish Bistro” about which we had been wondering didn’t actually serve food (El Secreto – but…
Saturday in Seomyeon
This weekend was gray and rainy. I had planned on heading to the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival on Sunday, but the weather and my persistent cough didn’t really make me want to do anything. I managed to get a sweet pair of prescription glasses (frames, check up, and lenses for KRW 10,000 at Davich!) on…
Haeundae Beach Holi Hai 2015
Last weekend we celebrated Sunday Funday at a Festival called “Holi” down at the famous Haeundae Beach in Busan, South Korea! “Holi (pronunciation: /ˈhoʊliː/; Sanskrit: होली Holī) is a spring festival, also known as the festival of colours or the festival of love.[3][4] It is an ancient Hindu religious festival which has become popular with non-Hindus in many parts of South Asia, as…
Taking Chances
Google Image Search has made it easy to travel the world in the comfort of your own home safely behind a keyboard. It’s also increased my list of desired travel destinations drastically. Having traveled to Sasang (an area of Busan where the intercity bus terminal is located) a few times I decided to check out…
Makgeolli, Monster Craft, and many good times!
Sunday night is Curry night in Hwamyeong-Dong! Monster Craft Brewing makes a cheep, cheerful, and incredibly delicious Japanese-style curry with your choice of mushrooms, chicken, or pork cutlet with the option to add more meat for KRW 2,500. I had the mushroom curry and added chicken (their chicken is fantastic on its own or…
Nampo-dong and Jagalchi Market
Last Sunday’s start was a bit confusing! Like the picture above (taken outside exit 4 of Nampo Station), there were many directions we could have taken to meet our friends in the “shopping district” of Busan, Nampo-dong. I snapped that photo just as we had exited to street level and was excited to see…