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The New Zealand Wine Festival Is Back For 2022!
It’s about to be wine time! After a Covid-related hiatus, the New Zealand Wine Festival hosted by the Kiwi Chamber of Commerce is coming back to Seoul and Busan and you can feel the excitement in the air. Festivals and events around Seoul are kicking into high gear and people are buying the tickets at a fast pace. Don’t be left out of the fun.ย With a selection of high quality red and white wines from over 20 New Zealand wineries and vineyards, if you’re a true oenophile, or wine lover, you need to be there! Learn more about the New Zealand Wine Festival in Seoul and Busan 2022: When…
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Is the tap water safe to drink in Korea?
The simple answer is yes, the water is potable. Tap water in Korea is safe to drink. But, if you fill up a glass of water from the sink and start to sip it in front of most Koreans, you might get some weird looks. So, what gives? While the tap water in Seoul goes through more quality tests than most developed cities, citizens of Korea still opt for bottled or filtered water in their homes and outside. Let’s break down what is happening and then you can decide for yourself if you want to drink the tap water in Korea or not. The primary water source in Seoul is…
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Pil-dong: The Arts & Culture District Near Myeongdong
If you travel like I do, then you’re constantly staring out bus or car windows until something catches your eye and then you quickly tag it on the map to come back to later. That’s how I found the Pil-dong Arts and Culture Street. Located just outside of the Namsangol Hanok Village and the beautiful Korea House in Jung-gu up the road from the popular Myeongdong shopping district in Seoul, Pil-dong is a hidden gem of colorful facades and artistic installations in backstreets where you’d never expect to find them. I love that Seoul has so many of these arts and culture areas. Some of them are much more popular…
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Best Daytrips From Seoul: 25 Places To Go Near Seoul
Daytrips daytrips are so fun, daytrips daytrips, there’s something for everyone! Seoul is a fantastic city to visit or live in, but sometimes, it’s nice to get out too. There are a TON of places to go near Seoul and I have traveled extensively here, there, and everywhere so let me fill you in. You’d be surprised how far across the country you can get in just one day. Ready for a day trip from Seoul? This is the guide for you with some of the easiest places to get to with public transportation, and some spots nearby that you need a car for. Get ready to travel in Korea.…
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A Complete Guide For How To Visit The DMZ From Seoul
Not only was I featured on CNN for sharing some hidden gems in the DMZ, but I’ve been there multiple times over my more than 15 years living in Korea. If you want to visit the DMZ or take a DMZ tour, or maybe you’re wondering how to visit JSA, then you’ve come to the right spot for all of the information you’ll need to plan the trek. I say trek, but it’s actually easier than you might think. The DMZ in Korea can be closed for any number of political reasons so you’ll want to know everything you can about where you can and can’t go if the actual…
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Wonimisan is a Magical Mountain of Azaleas South of Seoul
Cherry blossoms aren’t the only early spring blooms to burst forth each year in Korea and some of the other blooms are really magical. Azaleas (์ง๋ฌ๋) are just beautiful and you can see them in numbers on the Wonmisan mountainside (์๋ฏธ์ฐ) just south of Seoul in Bucheon. Looking for a mountainside of flowers this spring in Korea? Here is where to go. Plan your trip to see azaleas this spring in Korea: (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: 21-1san, Chunui-dong, Bucheon, Gyeonggi-do…
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15 of the Most Picturesque Places To See Cherry Blossoms In Seoul
It’s spring in Korea! And I know you’re wondering where to see cherry blossoms in Seoul, right? There are some super popular cherry blossom spots, hidden gems, and everything in between. Literally, you can see cherry blossoms all over the city so don’t think you must head to the “must see” spots. Enjoy any cherry blossom scenery you find here, there, and everywhere. But, if you are looking for the most popular places to see cherry blossoms in Seoul, then I’ll give you a few spots to start and plenty of hidden gems too. FYI, after these iconic light pink cherry blossoms bloom, you should also look out for the…
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A Guide to KPop Lightsticks: What to Know and Where to Get Them
Having seen a number of KPop acts over the years while living in Korea, the idea of the lightsticks wasn’t new to me. However, I was recently working on a trends project for a company and realized just how vast the KPop lightstick phenom is. I went down the rabbit hole and have found the best websites to buy Kpop lightsticks online right now. These days, whether you’re at concerts in person or watching shows live online, Kpop lightsticks can even sync to the show so those at home can get in on the light fun too. It’s really quite amazing. My husband, who is an indie musician here in…
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Koo House: A Gapyeong Museum of Art & Design
There are some pretty cool things to do in Gapyeong just east of Seoul, but some get a bit more attention than others. The next time you take a trip to Gapyeong, bypass some of the more popular touristy destinations and find the hidden gems the locals check out. Koo House Art Museum is one of those gems that is a fun stop for everyone and something a bit artsy to see. It’s fun. It’s colorful. It’s a great daytrip option. Plan a trip to Gapyeong that includes Koo House Art Museum: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase…
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8 Things To Know Before You Eat In Korea
The food is served and you are ready to dig in… but wait, do you know good table manners in Korea? I’ve made plenty of mistakes around the dinner table in Korea, chief among them tapping my father-in-law’s soju glass when he poured his own drink. I’ll get to that story later. There is a lot to know about eating in Korea and I should add that a lot depends on who you’re eating with. I’ll get to that later too. Anyway, you’re ready to eat in Korea. Before you do, let’s learn the Korean eating etiquette so you can dig right in. What to know about Korean table manners: (This…
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AXIS-Y: 6 Korean Skincare Products You Need In Your Life
We are going to unpack a TON of info on the Korean skincare brand named AXIS-Y in this post. If you haven’t heard of them yet, AXIS-Y is all about hydration and revitalization and I’m going to review 6 of AXIS-Y’s top products right in this post! There are some awesome Korean skincare brands out there and this has fast become one of my favorites. My skin is supple and glowing and in the winter, I’m surprised when that happens. Are you interested in AXIS-Y skincare? Here’s what you need to know: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase…
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Haslla Art World: A Must See In Gangneung
When thinking of the coastal city of Gangneung, many people conjure images of the white sand beach and summer sun. But, there’s way more than that and while Gangneung is an ideal summer destination in South Korea, it’s also great every other season because there is still plenty to do. Thus, here’s what you need to know about Haslla Art World (ํ์ฌ๋ผ์ํธ์๋), and how to plan a trip to this awesome art experience on the east coast of Korea. Looking for things to do in Gangneung? This should definitely be on the list. Plan a trip to Haslla Art World in Gangneung: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I…
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12 Things To Do For Valentine’s Day In Seoul
Valentine’s Day is just one of numerous romantic holidays in Korea. It’s a big one though. If you’re revving up to celebrate your love and you need some romantic things to do in Seoul or the best date ideas in Seoul, you’ve come to the right place. Couple culture in Korea is out of this world with couples often wearing matching clothing and even buying matching underwear. Thus, you can imagine that a romantic holiday such as Valentine’s Day is up there in popularity for couples in Korea. Here’s what you need to know to celebrate Valentine’s Day in Seoul: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a…
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The Coolest Culture Space In Korea Is In A Cave In Gwangmyeong
In the summer we were studying rocks and lava and decided to take a field trip south to Gwangmyeong Cave, or Gwangmyeongdonggul, (๊ด๋ช ๋๊ตด). When Seoul starts to get too hot and humid to bear, take a trip here. The interior of the cave has a dramatic temperature difference from the outside and you can fill it literally as soon as you take one step in the entrance. Visiting is a really cool thing to do near Seoul… literally. Once a mine, today, it is the largest themed cave park in Korea. Plan your visit to Gwangmyeong Cave: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of…
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Udo Island: A Guide To The Island Off The Coast Of Jeju Island
Jeju Island is much larger than you might expect which means you really need to know what you want to see before you go and stay near those things. If you’re staying on the west side of Jeju Island, for example, then you would really never have time to get to Udo Island which is off the eastern coast of the island. Stay near the beautiful Seopjikoji though, and you will definitely and should definitelyย make time for a daytrip to Udo Island. If you’re staying in the right place, or going to take the time to stay ON Udo Island, then here is the guide for you. Check out…
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Everything You Need To Know To Buy A Modern Hanbok Online
Are you ready to buy a modern Hanbok? Have you seen some of your favorite K-pop artists wearing Hanboks? Or maybe you’re just getting ready for an upcoming Chuseok, Korean Thanksgiving, or Seollal, Lunar New Year, holiday. Whatever the reason, here is everything you need to know to buy a modern Hanbok online. I have four Hanboks myself, a traditional Hanbok and three modern Hanboks, and I’m ready to get you ready to buy a Hanbok yourself. Traditional has become trendy. Get your modern Hanbok now: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking at no cost to…
