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Korean Eating: Cheongsong’s Iron Fix
We were touring around Cheongsong, Korea with the Korea Tourism Organization to view the autumn foliage in Juwangsan National Park, pick apples at the Cheongsong Apple Festival and even paint our very own unique white Korean porcelain bowls and now we were off to eat and sustain ourselves with some healthy eats famous in the region. Usually when one travels, whether or not the water is drinkable is a question that is high on the list of queries to be answered before departing. Heading down to Cheongsong, Korea, this was not a question that had topped the list, nor should it have but apparently the water is something to be…
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An Apple Picking Story in Cheongsong, Korea
While in Cheongsong for the Apple Festival of course apples needed to be picked. Just like the Nonsan Strawberry Festival, where you can head into nearby fields and pick until your heart’s content, the Cheongsong Apple Festival has a similar activity. The tour provided by the Korean Tourism Organization allowed us to head to an orchard that had been picked clean of apples save two rows just for us and we couldn’t have been happier to see those plump red beauties dangling from the limbs of the trees. Want to pick apples in Korea? Cheongsong is a fabulous place to do it. (This post contains affiliate links, which means I…
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The Cheongsong Apple Festival
Looking for a fun fall festival in Korea? Check out the awesome Cheongsong Apple Festival. Cheongsong is off the beaten path for most travelers but well known for producing some of the most delicious apples in Korea. Find fun performances, lots of delicious apple related delicacies, and you can even pick apples too. Take a trip this fall in Korea to Cheongsong and plan it in time for this festival. (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking at no cost to you. Thank you for your support.) Basic Info When: Usually in October or early November after…
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Cheongsong’s Unique White Porcelain Experience
Ask any Korean why you should head to Cheongsong, Korea and they’ll probably tell you about Mt. Juwang National Park, delicious apples which you can find at their yearly Cheongsong Apple Festival, or a prison. While there are a few things that Cheongsong is famous for, one lesser known one is the white porcelain, or Cheongsong baekja, that was developed there in the mid 16th century. Want to have a unique trip in Korea and try your hand at making your own baekja, you definitely need to visit the Cheongsong Baekja Center (청송백자전수장). Plan your trip to the Cheongsong Baekja Center: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive…
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On The Phone With My Korean Mother-in-Law
After the apple incident, in which my mother-in-law called one day and asked if I liked apples years ago and I answered yes only to have her hang up to then purchase and send me a box of some 50 big delicious apples which was much to much for us to handle before they were to go rotten, I’ve tried to figure out what she means when she asks me these innocent questions. Do you have a Korean mother-in-law? There are a sure a lot of stories about how bad they can be, but I’ve got some reasons Korean mother-in-laws can be pretty good. And these phone calls and the…
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Have you tried Yuk-hoe? Yuk-What?
The first time I saw yuk-hoe (육회), or Korean steak tartare, on the table I thought they were going to stir fry it on the grill. Of course, I’d be forgiven as you often have yukhoe in bbq restaurants where there is a big grill right in the middle of the table. Alas, for this dish, it’s best enjoyed straight up raw. Was I intent on eating a raw egg and raw beef the first time I saw it? I was not, but I’m glad I did because yukhoe is not one of my favorite Korean delicacies. It’s delicious, full of umami, and a must eat if you’re visiting Korea.…
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Hongdae & The Street Art To Find There
Blank walls and boring shutters are just asking to be painted when they’re near a university known for art students. Ask anyone about Hongik University in Seoul and they’ll be sure to mention art. The surrounding area, Hongdae, is generally known as the go to place for a good time in the evening and an ideal place to find live music, but another highlight of the neighborhood is that there is street art and graffiti all over the walls and it is constantly being redone so it never really has time to get old. While it’s not as popular as the Ihwa Mural Village but a bit more known than…
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Hongdae… After The Party Is Over
Have you ever wondered what Hongdae looks like after the party is over and everyone has gone? The smell of food trash and alcohol mingles with the smell of early morning dew drops on trees and benches. Sounds of birds chirping and brooms being swept on sidewalks clash with the drunken laughter and yelling from basement hofs and songs being sung out of tune spill out of noraebongs. There are a ton of things to do in Hongdae and plenty of really nice places to stay in Hongdae too which makes it popular with both tourists and locals. Even though it’s well known for nightlife, there are people awake in…
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Bruise Cure = Egg?
“Put an egg on your bruise. You know an egg can suck out the bruise.” I eyed him skeptically and then cracked up. (How fitting is that idiom right now?) Do eggs cure bruises? I had never heard of this bruise remedy before and didn’t know if it was a my husband thing, a Korean thing, a his mother thing, or just a thing I’d never heard before. He wondered why I was laughing so much and I said I’d only ever heard of putting raw meat on bruises to cure them… though I’ve also never tried that “cure”. I’ve learned a lot about holistic medicine while living in Korea,…
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Korean Eating: A Fishy Feast Called Haemultang
As I’ve mentioned before, living on a peninsula has given me the opportunity to try shellfish everything, fish there aren’t English names for aside from the biological terms, and everything in between. Haemultang (해물탕), or a Korean fish stew is a dish that puts all of them together into one deliciously spicy fishy stew. Haemultang is a fish stew you’ll often find on the coasts of Korea. If you’re headed down to Busan, Jeju Island, or some other coastal region and need a spicy warm-up, definitely seek out some seafood soup like haemultang. (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you…
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Korean Cooking: A Korean Potato Side Dish
Growing up in the American Midwest with a family of English and German descent means my starch of choice is almost always potatoes. With that in mind when we head to the market I stock up on potatoes like my mother did. She always had one of those big mesh bags in the cupboard with about fifty potatoes on hand at all times. I don’t really buy that many at a time, due to the fact that we have to carry everything home without a car, but there’s sure to be a good amount of potatoes in my house so I’ve learned a few Korean recipes for them. I tasted…
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Oedo Island: How To Get There From Geoje & What To See
There are some pretty amazing islands to visit around Korea like Nami Island and Ulleung-do Island and Oedo Botanica is another one of them. Oedo Island is the first island in Korea to be owned and developed privately and is a marine botanical garden that is a part of the Hallyeo Maritime National Park. The island is only accessible from nearby Geoje Island which sits off the coast of Busan. If you want to take an adventure in Korea, this is a good place to shoot for. The entire island is a stunning example of labor and creativity with manicured gardens, flowers everywhere and some gaudy sculptures too. Plan your…
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My First Press Tour
I’m pretty jazzed about my first press tour experience: two days all expenses paid down to two places in Korea I hadn’t been to yet with reporters from Russia, China and Korea traveling with diplomats from Venezuela, the Czech Republic, Russia and the head of the Korean Tourism Organization, Charm Lee. The other reporters weren’t the competitive paparazzi type, but low key, eager to share their stories and contact information type and the diplomats were important political types but with down to earth smiles and were clearly used to and even gracious with so many people taking their pictures at every stop we went to. I hadn’t realized we’d be…
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The Sancheong World Traditional Medicine Fair & Festival
Dongui Bogam Village in Sancheong-gun is surrounded by Mt. Jirisan, Mt. Jarakwangsan, and Mt. Palbongsan, a spot widely known to be highly spiritual and full of energy in Korea. Because of this, it was chosen as the perfect location for the World Traditional Medicine Fair and Festival. If you’re interested in Korean holistic medicine and herbal remedies, like learning about traditional Korean culture, or just want a new place to visit with a festival at the same time, definitely check out this healing expo and the experiences you can have there. If you’re interested in holistic and herbal medicine in Korea, don’t miss the Sancheong World Traditional Medicine Expo: (This…
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The POW Camp on Geoje Island
Goeje Island, off the southern coast of Korea, is a popular destination for visitors from Busan and all over Korea, really. There’s a lot to see on Geoje Island. Though Geoje Island offers spectacular views of the ocean, rocks jutting up in the sky and beaches, there is also another darker side to the island. That is the POW Camp from the Korean War era (거제도 포로수용소 유적공원). If you’re interested in some of the more historical parts of Korea and learning about how the Korean War affected the peninsula, this is a spot to check out. Here’s what to know: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive…
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The Sea Diamond: Haegeumgang Off The Coast Of Geoje Island in Korea
Headed to Geoje Island in Korea and wondering what there is to do? You NEED to take the ferry off the coast to see Haegeumgang and that’s all I’ll say. Nah, that’s obviously not all I’ll say… Haegeumgang (해금강) is aptly named the Sea Diamond and it’s gorgeous. Visiting islands in Korea is definitely a must if you’re staying here for any amount of time and visiting Haegeumgang is a fun ferry ride out that includes a stop at another island called Oedo Botania. What to know about Haegeumgang to plan a trip: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you…
