-
Where To Stay In Busan: A Complete Guide To The Hot Spots
Busan is one of my favorite cities. Actually, if I could choose where to live in Korea, I’d probably choose Busan. Not only is my husband from Busan, but it’s got beaches to the south, mountains to the north, and plenty to do in between. Anyway, if you’re taking a trip to Busan, then you should really think about where to stay in Busan because unlike Seoul that has a central point and radiates out, Busan is sort of long and follows the coast instead. If you want to see things on the west end of Busan, you don’t want to be in the east because it can be a…
-
Jongmyo Shrine: A Beautiful Historical Site in Downtown Seoul
Built in the 14th Century, Jongmyo Shrine (종묘) is the oldest Confucian royal shrine in Korea. Located right in downtown Seoul, you may have walked by this important site and not realized what is behind the walls that protect the grounds. If you’re visiting Seoul or traveling to Korea, this is a beautiful area to take a walk in downtown Seoul where the streets can be bustling. Learn about Korean history and culture and maybe get to see a royal rite. List of Contents: Plan a trip to Jongmyo Shrine! (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking…
-
4 Great Game Shops In Seoul To Play or Shop
If you’re new to Korea, it can be tough to find a place to go and hang out with other people or to just find like minded people. If you’re interested in playing games in Korea, though, I’ve got some cool places you can go in Seoul. Some are better if you have people to bring, while others will allow you to meet someone or multiple people right then and there to hang out and play games. If you are a fan of board games, card games—especially Magic: The Gathering, or just analog games in general, these are the places you are going to want to visit during your time…
-
Papa Recipe: Noble Rot Lifting Ampoule & Essence Review
Korean skincare is ever evolving and always using natural ingredients that it would never occur to me to put onto my skin. If Noble Rot is new to you, don’t worry, it was new to me as well and it’s not as bad as it might sound… really. Papa Recipe, born from a parent’s concern for their child’s skin, has created skincare that uses raw materials from nature and noble rot is one of them. If you’ve had skin issues, then this might just be the Korean skincare company to look to for understanding and grace. We’ll get into that and more below. Looking for a new Korean skincare company…
-
Infinity Flying: An Exciting Non-Verbal Korean Musical
Telling stories through song and dance has been a vital part of every culture around the world since the beginning of time, and Korea is no different. Musicals are a great way to spend an evening while you’re in Korea. If you’re looking to see a musical, Infinity Flying is a great choice. Though it is less of a musical and more of an acrobatics show, it’s still a lot of fun. This performance is also good if you’re looking for family-friendly and tourist-friendly shows to see, since it’s non-verbal. Since this comedic show relies mostly on actions to tell the story, it’s easy for kids to follow along with,…
-
Recommended Travel Adapters For Korea
I recently had a group of tourists here in Korea and one of them didn’t realize there were different power sockets in different countries. If you haven’t traveled abroad that often, or maybe stuck to one continent if you did, you may not have noticed that there are different kinds of power sockets all over the world. It’s important to know what the right power adapter for Korea is, if you’ll be coming here. Don’t get here and realize you can’t plug a darn thing in. Power up! When you start packing to travel to Korea, here is what you need to know about travel adapters to travel to Korea.…
-
The 9 Best Areas To Stay In Seoul, Korea: From Gangnam To Hongdae
The capital city of Seoul in Korea is sprawling and you could easily spend one to two hours on the subway getting across the city. When it comes to deciding where to stay in Seoul, it’s important to focus on what it is you want to accomplish while you’re here. From the traditional sites in Bukchon Hanok Village to the artsy district of Hongdae, there is a lot to choose from and plenty to do. Here is a breakdown of the best places in Seoul to stay and what to do nearby. This guide to the best hotels in Seoul in each area of the city is sure to help…
-
6 Folk Villages In Korea You Can Visit
There are some really popular folk villages in Korea, but there are also some that are retaining the traditions but have lesser crowds. Whether you’re looking for a touristy experiential filled folk village or a living museum folk village, there are different ones to find all around Korea. Folk villages tend to be quieter and less populated areas to tour in my experience and they’re also beautiful year-round. Whether you’re a tourist in Korea or a resident, you need to visit one, or maybe six, folk villages while you’re here. They’re a completely different vibe and really show more of Korean history than you might realize. Take A Trip To…
-
Flower of the Sun: An Historical Korean Musical
Have you seen a musical in Korea? There are plenty to choose from. It’s a popular pastime in Korea to attend a musical and though they may not be in English, many of them involve dance, movements, and songs that will tell the story even if you don’t speak Korean. From musicals about history to acrobatics, there is something fun to see on stages across the country. If you’re interested in tales of Korean history, then one Korean musical you shouldn’t miss is Flower of the Sun (태양의꽃). This gorgeous Korean musical takes place during the Silla dynasty and is playing at the Gyeongju Expo Park in Gyeongju, Korea until…
-
A Guide To the Gyeongju Expo Park
Are you looking for things to do in Gyeongju? Gyeongju is a really beautiful place to discover more about the history of Korea. It was the capital of the ancient Silla dynasty, so there are a lot of historical sites to see. If you’re planning a trip to Gyeongju, check out this guide to Gyeongju for a full picture of all there is to do. In this post, we’ll be focusing on the Gyeongju Expo Park (경주엑스포공원) where there are musicals about Korean history and there are exhibits in the park tower. There’s also a night walk with a story about Silla. You could spend the whole day here. Keep…
-
3 Great Dessert Spots In Seoul To Try Now
It’s heating up outside. Seoul in the summer is hot, sticky, and humid. There are plenty of ways to cool off though whether you’re eating the delicious cold Korean soups, dipping into the pools and streams, or enjoying the air conditioners of the museums. If those don’t quite hit the spot though, maybe some cold ice cream or gelato will. I took an adventure out to try some of the delicious cold treats around town this week and here are three ice cream/gelato joints that offer unique flavors and a great time if you’re looking to cool off this summer in Korea. Frozen treats are the way to go if…
-
Haenggung-dong Mural Village: What To See In Suwon
There are probably more mural villages around Korea than you might realize. They are just everywhere and it is so fun to find them. Mural villages in Korea often provide an artistic and creative hunt with a good walk outside simultaneously. Some you find by chance and others you’ll probably seek out. A few weeks ago we happened upon Haenggung-dong Mural Village (행궁동벽화마을) in Suwon by chance after visiting the Suwon Museum of Art. Just across the street from the art museum and the Haenggung Palace and Hwaseong Fortress Wall, it’s a great area to see something and then get a snack or food by stopping into one of the…
-
Autonomous Cars In Seoul: How To Take A Ride
So you’ve heard there are autonomous cars in Seoul. Yes, there are autonomous vehicles that you can take a ride in. See what the future has in store. Literally. Seoul Mayor Oh Se Hoon said “Seoul will become one of the top five cities leading the self driving technology by 2026.” They are well on their way. There are autonomous taxis in Sangam-dong Seoul right now and they’ll be in Gangnam, around the Cheonggyecheon, and other places before you know it. Read on to figure out how to have a ride in an autonomous car in Korea. Ready to take an autonomous car ride in Seoul? Here’s how: What To…
-
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. 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…
-
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…
-
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…
