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Where To Buy A Baby Hanbok Online: Joteta
The first time most families look into buying a Hanbok is when their child is turning 100 days old or celebrating their first birthday. To celebrate the occasion and to hold a Dol Ceremony, the first purchase is a baby Hanbok. If you’re abroad, that can be a bit tricky as there are far less retailers than you can find if you’re in Korea. That said, online shopping is become the standard and it’s getting easier and easier whether you’re in Korea or abroad to get everything you need with just a click of a button. I’ve been asked again and again from readers abroad where to buy a baby…
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Farm Kamille: A Beautiful Garden To See In Taean-gun
Farm Kamille (팜카밀레) is a gorgeous garden in Chungcheongbuk-do that makes a great addition to any trip to Taean-gun. I’ve been to Taean-gun on the west coast of Korea a few times now and each time find something beautiful to see. It’s an area of Korea that is easy to get to from Seoul and makes a perfect weekend away without much hassle. You could easily spend a weekend seeing plenty from the beaches to the gardens and parks. Take a road trip and stop at Ami Museum on the way or in the spring don’t miss the flowers on the mountainside at Yoogibanggaoak and you’ll end up with a…
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Klairs Soft Airy UV Essence: My Review Of The Best Sunscreen Out There
The biggest take away I’ve had from the Kbeauty events I’ve been to and the Kbeauty influencers I’ve befriended is that the must use skincare product is sunscreen sunscreen sunscreen. Some suncreens are better than others and it took me a little bit to find my favorite sunscreen and the best sunscreen to wear with makeup but I do believe, this is the one. The Klairs Soft Airy UV Essence SPF 50 was actually one of the first sunscreens I started using consistently many years ago, tried some others, but ultimately, I’ve come back to it and will succinctly say, this is indeed the best sunscreen in my opinion. Whether…
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Yongmeori Coast: What You Need To See On Jeju Island
There are stunning natural wonders to see all over Jeju Island which is why it’s one of my favorite places in all of Korea to visit. On a recent trip, we made it down to Yongmeori Coast (용머리해안), or Dragon’s Head Cliff, and enjoyed quite the afternoon exploring the cliffs, mountains and views that can be had there. Yongmeori Coast is a tourist site on the southwest coast of Jeju Island which is important to note because Jeju Island is large so you’ll want to explore it in quadrants to make the best use of your time. Yongmeori Coast is definitely a must-see on Jeju Island and something you need…
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Chuidasun: The Hotel For Tea & Meditation Lovers On Jeju Island
Chuidasun Resort is one of the newest additions to the list of official Wellness Travel Destinations recommended by the Korea Tourism Organization and I got to visit for some tea ceremonies, meditation, and Jeju views recently. If you’re a tea-lover coming to Korea, or a tea-lover heading to Jeju I should say, check out this stay to check in. Jeju is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Korea and though I’ve visited the Hawai’i of Korea four times, I’m still seeing new and amazing places. This is definitely one of the best places to stay in Jeju if you want to visit the east side of the…
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The Gimpo Sculpture Park: A Fun Thing To Do Near Seoul
Always on the lookout for nature and artistic spots, seeing anything on that map that possibly melds the two becomes a must-see for me. After visiting the beautiful Anyang Art Park down south, I began searching for other art parks around Seoul and Korea to see what else there was to find and the nearby Gimpo Sculpture Park (김포조각공원) came onto my radar. I haven’t spent a lot of time in Gimpo and generally just pass through as I’m headed to the Gimpo Airport bound or other spots but there are some great things to do in Gimpo and it’s an easy area to get to if you’re still looking…
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Teamlab Is Finally Back In Seoul With teamlab:LIFE!
After quite the hiatus from Seoul, Korea, teamLab is finally back! If you missed it a few years ago, there was actually a long term exhibition in Jamsil’s Lotte World Tower called teamLab: World that was awesome. Unfortunately, after a couple years, it closed. Anyone in Korea hoping to visit teamLab were relegated to taking a trip to “nearby” Tokyo to see teamLab: Borderless or Shanghai’s teamLab: Borderless. If you like teamLab, you should still probably go, BUT before teamLab: World ends here in Seoul, go go go! This is NOT a long term exhibit like Borderless or World, this exhibition is only running until April so NOW is most…
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Ami Art Museum: Stop In Chungcheongnam-do Now
Whenever I plan road trips or a day trip in Korea, I get on my map and find all of the random bits and bobs that I’ve tagged and see if anything aligns. So often the coolest of places are found in the most random of places and then ideally, there’s a restaurant or cafe nearby with food so the trip has an experience, some refreshments, and something beautiful. One of my favorite finds that we’ve now visited a few times when moving back and forth across nearby Chungcheongnam-do is Ami Art Museum (아미미술관). It’s a place that combines art, nature, and there’s a nice cafe to get a coffee…
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Yeosu: What To See, Do, Eat & Where To Stay
Popular with Koreans and skipped over by foreigners, Yeosu sits in Jeollanam-do and is so far south that it took me 14 years to get there. Okay, sure, it wasn’t like I wasn’t traveling to other places or literally on a trek to get there for that long. But, it’s one of those cities that has been on my radar for some time. At least as far back as the World Expo which was based there in 2012. Should you go and see all of the cool things to do in Yeosu? Absolutely. Don’t wait as long as I did to take a trip to Jeollanam-do to see this part…
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Things To Do With Kids To Celebrate Chuseok: Arts, Crafts, & Cooking!
Chuseok, or the Korean Thanksgiving, is a national holiday that is celebrated in Korea. Families everywhere migrate across the country to head to their parents’ or grandparents’ home to partake in a feast to thank ancestors and remember those that came before. It’s a special time and for traditional families like mine, we hold Jesa, an ancestral rite, eat, and then play traditional games together. Some years we just stay in Seoul though too and there’s a lot to do for Chuseok even when we stay in Seoul. Wherever you’re celebrating, here are some things you can do with kids for Chuseok. If you’re staying home for Chuseok, or abroad…
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Guide To Gongju: Where To Go, What To See, & What To Do
Gongju city in Chungcheongnam-do, Korea is a hidden gem of a city that has so many historic, cultural, and artistic spots to see that you will want to spend at least a weekend there to see as much as you can. We took a spur of the moment road trip from Seoul a few weeks back to see some of the artistic areas and were surprised to find so many lovely historic and culture places to visit. If you’re looking to head out of Seoul but want a less touristy area, look into Gongju for Korean Hanoks, fortresses, street art, outdoor artworks, and more. Gongju is an awesome spot for…
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Hyesun House: How To Make Makgeolli At Home
In my trajectory of living in Korea and learning to cook and make various Korean side dishes, meals, and so on, I never once considered making my own makgeolli (막걸리), or rice wine… until recently. While I think the rice wine moniker really isn’t the best fit for what is really a farmer’s unfiltered grain alcohol, I do love the drink itself. This year, I started teaming up with Julia Mellor of The Sool Company to create collaborative tours that, I must say, are really unique and offer a special way to learn more about Korean culture but also see some beautiful places and spaces like Sansawon and the Bae…
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Pet Friendly Hotels In Seoul: The Best Places To Stay With Your Dog In Seoul
Seems like everyone has a pet these days which seems like a bit of a new phenom in Korea. I still remember when we got out cats more than a decade ago and older Koreans would tell me cats were NOT good house pets and shouldn’t be kept inside. Whether it’s cats, dogs, or a hedgehog, more and more people are jumping into pet owning and loving. While it may seem like a trend of sorts though, I would be remiss if I didn’t remind any would-be pet owners that owning a pet is not something you should do on a whim and it does cost money. They will become…
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Aqulabo: The Face Mist & Kombucha Toner You Can’t Miss!
When looking for new Korean skincare or beauty brands to try, what is it you look for? If you’re like me, you mostly work off of recommendations because I know there are people around me that just have that insider pass to what’s new and what’s going on in Korean beauty. Aqulabo is a brand that first came onto my radar when I attended an event by the KBeauty Collective here in Seoul. I’ve now used their products for more than a year so I feel like I can really say that their Mask Boosting Jelly Mist and Kombucha Toner are definitely two of my favorite products to use in…
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Raddish Kids Cooking Subscription Review: Recipes For Kids
My daughter is a picky eater. I’ll just put that out there straight away. She likes her foods situated so they’re not touching each other and likes raw vegetables and basic fruits above anything else. In order to help her branch out a bit with food, I wanted to get her more involved in the kitchen and as luck would have it, my mother gifted my daughter a year’s subscription to Raddish Kids. Go grandma! If you’re looking for a cooking subscription box for kids, this might just be the best one for you! Read on to find out. Getting a kids cooking subscription is a great opportunity to get…
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Gunsan’s Seonyudo Island Is The Escape To Take In Jeollabuk-do
Originally called Gunsan-do, Seonyudo Island (선유도) is one of a few islands that are just off the coast of Gunsan in Jeollabuk-do. There are some really stunning places to go on the west coast of Korea and this area is definitely one of them. Take a boat ride that goes in and around the islands and watch as the sun sets on the horizon. It’s beautiful and fun, and an escape from the city and busier areas that makes a vacation spot a perfect getaway. Take a road trip south of Seoul and head here if you can. You need to experience the island life in Korea. Skip around to…
