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Garak Market: The Costco Of Seoul
Garak Market (가락시장) was opened in 1985 and was the first public bulk market of it’s kind. It was the Costco of Korea, before Costco came to Korea. It’s huge and there are warehouses divided into different sections including fruits, vegetables, fish, dried foods, meat and more. Located in Songpa-gu, this market is where restaurants get their produce and fresh ingredients, but you can go too and eat it up! (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.) How To Get There Address: 600 Garak-dong Songpa-gu, Seoul (서울특별시…
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Seoul’s MMCA: Beautiful Design and Art Art Art!
It’s not as easy to say as MOMA and sounds more like you’re thinking and then making a sudden burst of sound, but it’s here: The Seoul Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, or MMCA (국립현대미술관 서울관)! The building, or buildings that make up the complex, sits on the eastern side of Gyeongbukgung Palace near the popular Bukchon Hanok Village and Insadong district. The entrance looks more like an old school with brick walls and old windows with iron separating the panes of glass but leads to various buildings that span Korea’s history from the traditional red and green Hanok in the exterior to the more modern building in the center.…
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11 Things You Can Only Do In The Winter in Korea
There are a lot of lists of things to do in the winter in Korea that are just the same lists as normal things to do in Korea but they have pictures of Korea with snow. This list is NOT that. This list is an actual list of things to do in the winter in Korea that you CANNOT do the rest of the year, in any other season of the year. There are a lot of things to do in the winter in Korea. From indoors fun if your prone to chills, to ski slopes, and ice skating and even strawberry picking! When it’s cold in Korea, find something…
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An Artistic Accomplishment
This past weekend, I was an “artist” in a Crazy Multiply Art Collective showcase that was centered around inventions. I’ll be writing about the collective soon and their goals and endeavors in the future. A couple months back I decided showing off some of my other talents, though I wouldn’t call myself an artist, just a simple crafter who can’t stand not doing something with her fingers while she watches an episode of Project Runway or the like, would be a nice change of pace and a situation where I could push myself a little bit. I think it’s important to always find ways to push myself and further the…
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Apple Infused Makgeolli, Oh My!
Almost every place in Korea has some special food they’re famous for, or at least the locals proclaim the fame, even if they’re the only ones to believe it. In Cheongsong, apples are the claim to fame, or one of many things that they proclaim, and boy are they truly delicious. Another one from this Slow City in Korea is a high-in-iron chicken dish that turns blue once it’s cooked! On the way to the Juwangsan National Park, some makgeolli infused with the delicious apples, as well jujube and Korean bellflower root was spotted and I LOVE a good bowl of Korean rice wine, don’t you? (This post contains affiliate…
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A Hidden Lake That’s Not So Hidden Anymore: Jusanji Lake, Cheongsong
Popular scenes from the movie “Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring” were shot at the Jusanji Lake (주산지) located in Juwangsan National Park and up until then, this lake was pretty much a secret to everyone except the locals in the Cheongsong area. It’s not a secret anymore though. A common stop on tours out to Cheongsong, Jusanji Lake is… not much to write home about but holds a special place in Korea’s heart. You’ll see why. (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking. These funds go to maintain the site. Thank you for your support.) How…
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Juwangsan National Park: The Smallest National Park In Korea
Juwangsan National Park (주왕산국립공원) in Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea was designated as such in 1976 and holds the title of the smallest national park in South Korea. But, don’t let that sway you from heading there as it’s got everything you’d want in a national park from mountains, rivers and waterfalls to tales of assassinations. There are some really cool things to see in Korea and when looking for a spot that is a bit more off the beaten path, this would make a great one. It’s also a great place to head if you’ve got kids and want a family-friendly national park to visit. Here’s what to know about Juwangsan National…
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An Old Traditional Nobleman’s Home in Cheongsong, Korea
You can find traditional Korean buildings all over Korea still and if you know what you’re looking for, you can find some really interesting stories and history in them too. Take Songso Gotaek ( 송소고택), or Songso’s Old House, built around 1880 by the nobelman Sim Ho-taek, the 7th generation descendant of Sim Cheo-dae a very wealthy man during the time of King Yeongjo in the Joseon Dynasty, for example. If you’re looking for something to see in Gyeongsangbuk-do and you’re in Cheongsong, don’t miss this historical house. Korean history is so interesting and cultural traditions too. Here’s what to know about Songso Gotaek: (This post contains affiliate links, which…
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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…
