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Where To Buy Korea’s Mother of Pearl Lacquerware or Najeonchilgi
I LOVE najeonchilgi (나전칠기) and think it’s an underrated gift from Korea that I wish more people knew about. Najeonchilgi, or mother-of-pearl lacquerware in English, is beautiful and has an amazing history behind it. This Korean handicraft used to be really popular in Korea but has gone out of fashion over the years which has decreased the number of craftsmen making it now. That, though, has also increased the value. Want to get your hands on some beautiful Korean souvenirs? You can buy them in Korea but also while you’re abroad and I’m going to tell you how to make sure you get an authentic piece of Korean mother of…
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Suspension Bridges in Korea: Where They Are & How To Find Them
For a few years, it seemed like there was a competition in Korea and every region in South Korea was trying to make their own suspension bridge. Now, suspension bridges dot the country and the cool thing is that some of them are easily accessible and some of them soar between mountains so they all have a bit different feel. The suspension bridges in Korea get pretty popular in the autumn, but you can get some great views throughout the year. Here are some of the coolest suspension bridges in Korea to find. Get ready to see some awesome suspension bridges in Korea: (This post contains affiliate links, which means…
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Everything You Should Know About Korean Chopsticks & How To Use Them
One of the first things travelers notice when they sit down to eat in Korea is that their chopsticks are metal not wooden like they’re used to back home when ordering Asian food. Using metal chopsticks is a whole new obstacle, but we’ll get to that. There are so many reasons to love Korean chopsticks. They’re eco-friendly, sustainable, and while it might be difficult to learn how to use them at first, they will make you more dexterous. Here’s how to use chopsticks and why to love them. Learn everything about the Korean metal chopsticks: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale…
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A Guide To The Seoul Museum of Craft Art: Fantastic and Free
Opened in 2021, the Seoul Museum of Craft Art (서울공예박물관) is in the popular and touristy area downtown near modern art spaces like the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art and the historical district of the Bukchon Hanok Village and the cultural district of Insadong. It’s a really great museum in Seoul to visit and would especially great when it’s raining or too hot in the summer in Seoul or if you just want to learn about the Korean history of crafting which is really interesting. Oh, and did I mention that this fantastic museum is free? Plan your trip to the Seoul Museum of Craft Art (서울공예박물관): (This post…
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16 Islands in Incheon You Can Get To From Seoul This Weekend
Did you know there are more than 70 islands in Incheon? Not all of them are inhabited, but they are out there. When people think of islands in Korea they often think of places to Jeju or Ulleungdo, but there are way more islands than those hot spots. While island hopping in Incheon is a well known getaway option for Koreans, most foreign travelers never even consider Incheon more than the place with Incheon International Airport. Suffice to say, island hopping is close enough to Seoulites that there is no excuse not to get away. Looking for some great daytrips from Seoul or weekend getaways that are closer than you…
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The Best Books To Study Korean
So you’re ready to jump in and start studying Korean. You’ve celebrated Hangul Day in Korea and think the language is for you. There are a lot of great online Korean courses to choose from, but just as important are books. Finding high-quality Korean learning resources can be daunting but there are more and more out there as Korean dramas and K-pop spread worldwide. Good textbooks for learning give you a good foundation for language so get ready to study Korean grammar, how to construct Korean sentences, and more with the best books to study Korean. Are you ready to start learning Korean? Here’s where to start: (This post contains…
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The Best Korean SIM Cards For Your Trip
I was recently tasked with helping 15 tourists get SIM cards for their trip to Korea and ended up in an email string back and forth with quite a few companies and down a rabbit hole of information. Did you know there are more than 500,000 public WiFi hotspots in Seoul? Wifi is readily available and easy to access in Korea, but you do need a Korean phone number for a variety of things so a SIM is a convenient travel requirement really. So, with that, here we are. Everything you need to know about SIM cards in Korea and which one will be best for your trip to Seoul.…
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Sanrio Is Trending In Seoul: The Sanrio Pop-ups To Visit Now!
If you’re a fan of the company Sanrio and their many cute characters, then you’re in for a treat in Seoul right now. From the Sanrio Lover’s Club Café to the Cinnamoroll Cafe, there are pop-ups and more just for the Sanrio lovers out there. Though Sanrio is all about the most kawaii (cute) characters of Japanese pop culture, this trend is not just for children. People in the 20s are jumping on it too. It seems that nostalgia is trending in Korea and anything that is a couple decades old or older is coming back in with a fun and cute vengeance. Are you ready for the revival? Or…
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These 4 Art Parks In Korea Will Make You Happy To Hike
I love getting outside and it’s even better when there are cool artworks or exhibitions to see. It certainly makes it more fun when our little kiddo is involved too. Whether you’re looking to find nature and art at the same time on your own, or with your kids in tow, there are some great art parks, or sculpture parks, in Korea that you should check out. The combination of art and nature is unbeatable in many ways and the art installations also make the outdoors fun even in the winter when the view is rather stark. PS, some or most of these parks don’t really require a lot of…
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The Best Overseas Money Transfer Service: SentBe
Whether you’re trying to send money abroad to pay off your student loans or sending gifts to family, the need for easy money transfer services has grown immensely. It’s amazing how much easier it is now. I remember in 2006 when I first arrived in Korea how much paperwork at the bank it required and how long I had to sit there to do it. Now, there are apps and online services connecting banks in amazing ways. I sent money home with SentBe for the first time a month ago and was SHOCKED at how fast and easy it was. I don’t think I’ll ever go back to bank transfers.…
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Why Everyone Is Talking About Kahi: Multibalm Sticks to Sunscreen
The Korean skincare company Kahi has been trending and has had some really good ad placement in Korean dramas which has brought it to the attention of a lot of high profile skincare influencers and beauty magazines lately. So, when I was invited to an event to learn more about their products, I was super excited. You may have seen their balms in the hands of Lil Nas X, Doja Cat, and Ava Max. They’re leading the trend when it comes to multi-stick balms but they’re more than just that. I recently attended an influencer event with Kahi and learned a lot about their brand and their goals for the…
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Papa Recipe: Four Great Serums For Sensitive Skin
Looking for gentle skincare products? Korean beauty products that are ideal for sensitive skin types? You definitely need to look into Papa Recipe. This Korean skincare company is devoted to creating skincare products that are ideal for people with skin concerns just like the founder’s daughter who kicked off his education in skincare regimes. Papa Recipe recently release four new serums focused on a variety of skin concerns from wrinkles to skin tone and more. Which one will you try? Find out more about Papa Recipe’s new serums: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking at no…
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Where To Stay In Busan: A Complete Guide To The Hot Spots
Busan is one of my favorite cities. Actually, if I could choose where to live in Korea, I’d probably choose Busan. Not only is my husband from Busan, but it’s got beaches to the south, mountains to the north, and plenty to do in between. Anyway, if you’re taking a trip to Busan, then you should really think about where to stay in Busan because unlike Seoul that has a central point and radiates out, Busan is sort of long and follows the coast instead. If you want to see things on the west end of Busan, you don’t want to be in the east because it can be a…
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Papa Recipe: Noble Rot Lifting Ampoule & Essence Review
Korean skincare is ever evolving and always using natural ingredients that it would never occur to me to put onto my skin. If Noble Rot is new to you, don’t worry, it was new to me as well and it’s not as bad as it might sound… really. Papa Recipe, born from a parent’s concern for their child’s skin, has created skincare that uses raw materials from nature and noble rot is one of them. If you’ve had skin issues, then this might just be the Korean skincare company to look to for understanding and grace. We’ll get into that and more below. Looking for a new Korean skincare company…
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Recommended Travel Adapters For Korea
I recently had a group of tourists here in Korea and one of them didn’t realize there were different power sockets in different countries. If you haven’t traveled abroad that often, or maybe stuck to one continent if you did, you may not have noticed that there are different kinds of power sockets all over the world. It’s important to know what the right power adapter for Korea is, if you’ll be coming here. Don’t get here and realize you can’t plug a darn thing in. Power up! When you start packing to travel to Korea, here is what you need to know about travel adapters to travel to Korea.…
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The 9 Best Areas To Stay In Seoul, Korea: From Gangnam To Hongdae
The capital city of Seoul in Korea is sprawling and you could easily spend one to two hours on the subway getting across the city. When it comes to deciding where to stay in Seoul, it’s important to focus on what it is you want to accomplish while you’re here. From the traditional sites in Bukchon Hanok Village to the artsy district of Hongdae, there is a lot to choose from and plenty to do. Here is a breakdown of the best places in Seoul to stay and what to do nearby. This guide to the best hotels in Seoul in each area of the city is sure to help…
