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caFACE: A Selfie Obsession Of The Latte Variety
In a selfie obsessed world, why not dive in and start sticking that face on every other thing under the sun including the latte that you savor in the cafe up the road? I’m not anti selfie, do NOT get me wrong. I’ve been known to take a few. Hey, I took a selfie of myself holding a latte with a selfied photo of me in this here post. How often can one even do that? I dare say the chances are slim that most will ever be able to do this but if you’re in Seoul, then you’ve got better chances than most. A Seoul cafe with the sole…
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Compromise, Acceptance & Happiness In A Multicultural Marriage
Five years! We are celebrating our five year anniversary this year.. well actually at the beginning of next year. Okay, that’s confusing. Five years ago in October of 2011, we wed in traditional Korean fashion down in Busan, Korea. While the ceremony was colorful, interesting and fun, we also wed stateside in Ohio in January of 2012. We actually celebrate our wedding anniversary in January using our American ceremony date, BUT that doesn’t stop me from reminiscing over our Korean ceremony each year come the autumn foliage and cool breezes in October. Just look at us all done up in those gorgeous Korean traditional duds! Getting into them required a…
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The Best Places To Go Shopping In Seoul
Shopping in Seoul can be fun, frenzied, and in the hustling bustling shopping neighborhoods, Seoul seems anything but calm. If you’re in the market for K-beauty products, Korean fashion, or just some fun Korean souvenirs, there are plenty of areas you can go. Shopping is a pastime for many a local and some tourists come to Seoul with the sole purpose of filling up their luggage with Korean goods. From the best shopping malls in Seoul to the most popular places to buy Korean fashion, there’s a lot to know and more places to go than you might realize. Here are the best areas to go shopping in Seoul and…
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Fall In Seoul: The Foliage, Festivals & Fun Guide
From fall foliage to roadside eats that send cinnamon and nutty aromas into the air, there is so much to enjoy for the short time that autumn hits the Korean peninsula. Fall is the best time to visit Korea and here is why. Watch as the perfectly shaped maple leaves fall to the ground and look forward to the magnificently yellow Ginkgo leaves lining the streets. Enjoy the air that isn’t humid anymore and the views that are just crisper somehow. Here is a guide to fall in Seoul. Want to skip around this post? Here are the sections to look out for: (This page contains affiliate links. That means…
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A Guide To Yeonnam-dong: The Hot Spot Near Hongdae in Seoul
Yeonnam-dong, a neighborhood near Hongdae, a hotspot for live music, bars, and a local busking scene, has seen a lot of popularity in recent years. The first six years I lived in the area, it was under construction and no one wanted to cross the street to walk the area but as soon as Gyeongui Line Forest Park, also called Yeontral Park as an ode to New York’s Central Park, opened, the neighborhood saw a popularity it hadn’t seen in ages. There are now tons of cafes, restaurants, and a gorgeous, albeit very thing, park where locals and visitors rest, picnic, and walk. If you want to check out one…
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The Complete Guide: The 8 Gates of The Seoul Fortress Wall
The Seoul Fortress Wall runs 18.6 kilometers around the center of the city of Seoul and sits up high on the mountains of Bugaksan, Naksan, Namsan and Inwangsan and sits down low running through Dongdaemun too. Initially built in 1396, it took 98 days and just over 197,000 people helped in the construction. The Seoul Fortress Wall is one of those sites that most tourists don’t directly seek out but will run into at some point while they’re visiting Seoul, Korea. On the other hand, people who become residents of Seoul for a period of time might make it a mission to walk the entire fortress wall during their time…
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Mt. Munboksan & Epic Camping In Korea
Camping in Korea has gotten more and more popular over the past few years though it could seem like it’s more popular than it really is with the number of tents that can be seen in every park on every weekend. Don’t be confused. If you want to go camping in Korea, look into some of the great mountainous camp sites like the ones on Munboksan Mountain. We stayed at Munboksan Camping Grounds (문복산캠핑장) and it was great, family-friendly, and near some beautiful views. (This page contains affiliate links. That means if you click on them and purchase something, I will get a percentage of the transaction at no cost…
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A Day At The Horse Races in Seoul
Looking to head to the horse races in Korea? Well, you can. One of only two parks in Korea for thoroughbred flat races, the Seoul Lets Run Park (렛츠런파크서울) in Gwacheon is huge and really takes the cake for a place offering a different kind of fun day out. Head just south of Seoul to Gwacheon, Korea and you can enjoy the Seoul horse races at this family-friendly venue. Experience the horse races in Korea: (This page contains affiliate links. That means if you click on them and purchase something, I will get a percentage of the transaction at no cost to you to keep up this blog. Thanks for…
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12 Fun Fall Festivals in Korea
Fall is one of those seasons that is just dazzling in South Korea, if you’re not staying indoors depressed that summer is saying goodbye for another nine months. From cultural and traditional events to foodie fun and performances, too, there is much to enjoy all around the country. Here are 11 Fun Fall Festivals in Korea to check out. While festivals might be the best way to enjoy the season, there are plenty of other things to do like find the fall foliage and eat the cinnamon hoddeoks from the street food carts. Of course, do NOT forget that there are some gorgeous flowers that bloom in the autumn and…
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Korean Hangover Cures: The Drinks, Soups, and More!
Have you enjoyed a night out in Seoul before? If you have, then you know that nightlife in Korea is insane. There are Korean drinking games and will go until sunrise. Before the Hangover Popsicle was introduced, Koreans already had some hangover cures up their sleeves that, I can say from experience, work pretty well. With numerous alcoholic beverages available at varying price points from as cheap as W1,000 and sold at convenience stores in Korea, it’s no wonder that people are out having a party constantly. You can even have that party on chairs and tables right outside of the convenience store itself. Oh the convenience and trouble that…
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See The Beauty of Seoknamsa Temple in Ulsan
Seoknamsa Temple (석남사-울산) sits on the southern side of the Gaji mountain range in Ulsan, Korea and is one of the four major Buddhist temples of the Gajisan Provincial Park. Taking a break from our mountainside camping site on Munboksan Mountain recently, we went to this beautiful Korean temple in Ulsan to see something nearby. It was easily accessible and just gorgeous. Take a trip outside of Ulsan, Korea and see what you can see! (This page contains affiliate links. That means if you click on them and purchase something, I will get a percentage of the transaction at no cost to you. Thanks for the support!) Basic Info Address:…
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Animal Fun For Everyone at Zoolung Zoolung
Looking for things to do in Seoul with kids? We are always on the hunt for great places to take kids that are clean, kid-friendly, and allow her to experience and learn something. Zoolung Zoolung (주렁주렁) is one of those places just made for the child in all of us and definitely geared toward the children we have tag along with us. Looking for a petting zoo in Korea? A place for your kids to learn about animals and maybe feed a few? This is where to go. What To Know Before You Go: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if…
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Gyeongbokgung Palace: A Step By Step Guide To Missing The Crowds + A Map
These days, crowds and crowds of tourists coming off of those large tourist buses are filling up Gyeongbokgung Palace (경복궁) and they’re not the only ones with this must-see sight on their Seoul itinerary. Gyeongbokgung Palace is one of the top tourist sites in Seoul, Korea and is a definitely must-see for anyone living here or coming for a visit. Just north of Gwanghwamun Square and south of the former President’s Blue House, the palace is right in the heart of Seoul and easy to get to from anywhere. In 2022, 3.38 million people visited the main palace of Seoul. Be one of them next year! Learn how to visit…
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Cheap Infinity Pool In Seoul: Take Your Kids This Summer
Are you ready to get outside and go swimming this summer in Seoul? The Nanji Water Playground (난지한강물놀이장) is probably the cheapest infinity pool in Seoul, Korea or anywhere else for that matter. And on top of that, it’s family friendly! If you want a great Han Riverside pool for kids, this is great. Let’s get swimming this summer in Seoul. There are quite a few awesome pools that sit along the Han River, but this is the only one, that I’m aware of, that is set up to emulate a beach slope heading out and then stops just short of the Han River. It’s picturesque, it’s fun, and it…
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What To Do In Bukchon: Gold Leaf Printing Experience
If you’re visiting the traditional Bukchon Hanok Village in Seoul, Korea and looking for something to do in Bukchon, try visiting Kumbakyeon (금박연) a Hanok house with a unique experience. Decorate a something simple like a bookmark or something more intricate and learn about the history of gilding, or gold leafing in Korea. There are beautiful Hanboks in history with these intricate details. Make your own! Have a great experience in Bukchon Hanok Village: (This page contains affiliate links. That means if you click on them and purchase something, I will get a percentage of the transaction at no cost to you. Thanks for the support!) How To Get There…
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Time Flies & A Passport Says Goodbye
Time flies. That’s it. Time just flies. Ten years ago, about this time I was sitting in front of a camera in a photo shop to get some passport photos so that I could then head to the post office and mail in my documents to receive a passport. I’d had one previously which I’d used to travel to Europe a couple of times with my family and with my senior class, but I needed a new one to start my adventures in Asia. I had gotten a job in Seoul, Korea and I was getting all the odds and ends wrapped up and making appointments to get the things…
