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Heyri Art Village In Paju: A Guide To The Sights, Sounds & Eats
Intriguing places, pretty cafes and art too is what you’ll find if you head north into Paju to the delightful artsy spot known as Heyri Art Village (헤이리 예술마을). This is just one thing to do in Paju, but there is really a ton! The Heyri Art Village is less than an hour northwest and was the vision of a book publisher many years back. Home to photographers, painters, artists of all kinds, musicians, architects and writers means it is quirky, artsy and very fun as well as home to galleries, museums and more. To give you an idea about where to start in this eye catching village check out…
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The Prettiest Autumn Spot In Korea: Yangju’s Nari Park
Having lived in Korea for more than a decade, I have seen A LOT of this country and I can honestly say Yangju’s Nari Park (양주나리공원) is one of the prettiest places I’ve seen in the whole country of South Korea. There are numerous parks around the country and each is a bit different in what they offer. Nari Park in Yangju just north of Seoul is purely for the flower lover within you. Expansive plot after plot of curated flowers await in colors like purples, pinks, oranges and bright reds. As the autumn sun heats up the days with cool breezes blowing in, this is where to go to appreciate…
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The Oil Tank Culture Park: A Cool Regeneration Project In Seoul
A plot of land sitting across from World Cup Stadium and the World Cup Parks system in Seoul, Korea is home to a surprisingly cool urban reformation project. Now named the Oil Tank Culture Park (문화비축기지), this park is an eye-appealing, if you like that industrial look, and eco-friendly site that uses six old oil reservoir tanks that were transformed for public use. While this isn’t your standard tourist site, it is really intriguing to people interested in urban regeneration, but also of interest if you want to know where local events and performances are held in Mapo-gu. Looking for something interesting to see near Hongdae? Check out this spot:…
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Incheon Songdo’s Central Park And The Tri-Bowl Are A Must See
If you’re looking for a cool area to spend the day in Incheon, Korea, look no further than Incheon Songdo, not to be confused with a few other Songdo’s in the country. The area of Songdo in South Korea is interesting as it’s a smart city, but for visitors like you and me, there’s still plenty to see and do. Get ready to spend a day in Songdo Central Park seeing the architecturally inspiring Tri Bowl and then visit the National Museum of World Languages between boat rides and walks. Plan a trip to the Songdo Central Park: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage…
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Housing & Money: A Guide To Getting A Place In Korea
Having lived in Korea for ten years, I’ve gone though numerous housing arrangements. I started off living in school provided housing which worked out fabulously for my first year and have gone from renting to now owning while in Korea. My second job was horrible, the owner didn’t even look into finding me the housing that was promised until a month in (I slept on an amazing friend’s floor during that time) so I ended up taking a flat cash stipend and found my own room to rent from someone. It was during that time that I learned just how horrible it could have been to live in school provided…
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The Korean Bath House: The Etiquette Inside A Jjimjilbang
Korean bath houses are one of those topics that come up in conversation and it seems while there is high interest, most foreigners that come to Korea just don’t know what to expect and only have visions of sitting around naked and uncomfortable with a lot of people. Sure, there’s nudity in a Korean jjimjilbang (찜질방) but that’s not the only thing that happens in a Korean spa. I’ve visited a mokyoktang, or neighborhood bath house, a number of times and also been to more high-end one time experience Korean spas that are perfect for tourists. Both have their purposes and are equally essential for a good beauty ritual if…
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15 Cafes Making A Statement in Hongdae
Café hopping is one of the ultimate past times to have if you visit or live in Seoul, Korea. It’s just utterly amazing how many interesting and new cafes there are are ALWAYS! Korea has unique design concepts and quirky fun cafes too. If you’re visiting Seoul, every day should have at least one interesting cafe stop. If you live in Seoul, then you KNOW you have to get out to see a cool cafe once awhile if not more. Here is a list of the coolest and best cafes to check out in the Hongdae / Hapjeong area of Seoul. This district is known for the young college crowd…
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Hamdeok Beach: The Idyllic Place To Stay on Jeju Island
Jeju Island is the best place in South Korea to visit in the summer months in Korea. There are plenty of beaches to explore and museums and fun indoor sites too. Our favorite place to stay and what I would consider one of the best beaches on Jeju Island, the white sandy Hamdeok Beach is so inviting. When you’re stuck between the city buildings of Seoul and the clear blue waters of Jeju are calling, this is where you’ll want to stay in Jeju. It is too enticing to pass up. Looking for a beautiful and also kid friendly area on Jeju Island? Definitely check out Hamdeok Beach on Jeju’s…
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Solgaheon: A Foot Bath & Tea in Bukchon
(This cafe has closed unfortunately. For another option in the area, head to Tea Therapy where you can also sip tea and have a foot bath.) Bukchon has a handful of experience programs set in traditional Hanok houses that I have been able to try over the years and I have enjoyed every single one of them. There’s just something about the unique traditional setting, the opportunity to learn a bit more about the Korean culture in a different way and the history of the area. A few weeks ago, I headed over to Solgaheon (솔가헌) which specializes in rejuvenation for the immune system through medicinal herbal teas. Walk down…
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Yongma Land: The Abandoned Amusement Park in Seoul
Yongma Land (용마랜드) is a small failed amusement park in northeastern Seoul that has become popular with photographers and photo-op seeking teenagers in recent years. The abandoned amusement area offers some of the standard rides like the iconic carousel and the “Viking” as well as a mini train that is now covered in vines. Whether you’re looking for abandoned places in Seoul or want to film your own Kpop video to mimic your favorite artists, this is the place to go in Seoul. It’s not the most common addition to a Seoul itinerary, but it’s a cool spot if you want something unique in the capital of Korea. Plan a…
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Seoullo 7017: Where To Walk In Seoul, Korea
If you’re headed down to central Seoul, Korea and happen to be transiting through Seoul Station, then you cannot miss a walk along Seoullo 7017. This elevated pedestrian walkway completely changed the major roadway outside of the ever busy Seoul Station in 2017 and hosts events by day and light shows by night. There’s more to see around Seoul Station than most people realize and this is one thing that has gained a lot of attention not only for what it provides to see like the Seoullo 7017 Skygarden, but also what it provides a safe place to walk for pedestrians in the downtown Seoul area. If you’re headed downtown…
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15 Of The Best Beaches in Korea You Haven’t Heard About
When summer comes, it’s amazing how fast those beaches start beckoning. With the temperatures rise, the sun’s rays are strong and all I can think about are lapping waters, sandy beaches and swimming, swimming, swimming. The salty seas refresh and luckily in Korea there are miles and miles of beaches to choose from. The western coast, eastern coast and southern coast of Korea offers up beautiful beaches of all kinds. From white sand and clear blue waters in the east to the long mud flat fun of the west and then the sprawling beaches of the south, not to mention Jeju’s beautiful white sand, black sand and rocky beaches too,…
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FishisFast: The Mail Forwarding Service You Cannot Live Without!
Over the years in Korea there have been times when there’s something I just CANNOT find and want to get from the States. There was that time I put out a call to get some Cow Tales shipped to me and then that time I was looking for maternity clothes that I just couldn’t find here in Korea. In those times, Fishisfast would have come in handy. Things like fitted bed sheets, peanut butter M&Ms and a few other specialty items can arrive at your door in just days… once you sign up and order them and all that jazz. While sites may offer global shipping, those costs can add…
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Cafe Valor: K-Drama Filming Location, Coffee & More!
[NOW CLOSED] Cafe Valor (카페발로) first drew my attention when I was planning my trip out to Incheon to stay at the immaculately designed Nest Hotel some months back but I didn’t get a chance to visit the cafe/studio until recently. Not having spent terribly much time in Incheon, I wanted to know what there was to see and one tool at my disposal was, of course, Instagram. I ended up with a great itinerary for the westernmost coast of Incheon that included Incheon’s Chinatown, the Fairytale Village and more but just couldn’t find the time to get to Cafe Valor which really took my fancy. Was it a cafe? Was…
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The Soul of Seoul | Operation High Jinks Recap
This past weekend I hosted an AMAZINGLY fun event called “Operation High Jinks”. A bit Amazing Race missions, a bit Running Man hysterics and a bit scavenger hunt clues, it was a race planned to introduce attendees to Korea of today in a fun way. Not only did teams get to meet local Koreans and cook Kimchi jeon (Kimchi pancakes), they got to meet a local photographer and get a photo, meet some local expat entrepreneurs and more. (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking. Thank you for your support.) Finding things unique to Korea like dressed…
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The Seoul Sky Observatory: Tallest Building in Korea
The Seoul Sky Observatory (서울스카이), the third highest observatory in the world but featuring the highest glass deck in the world, sits in Lotte World Tower. It is easily a must see spot in Seoul and should make it into the top 10 things to see in Seoul every time. If you’re looking for the most amazing view of the Seoul skyline, then this is the tower you should be seeking out on your next trip to Seoul as you can get panoramic views and you’ll literally be standing higher than the helicopters that check the traffic are flying down below. On clear days, you can see as far as…
