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Taejongdae Resort Park: Cliffs, Dinosaur Tracks, and Busan’s Best Coastal Views
Taejongdae Resort Park (태종대), named after the 29th king of the Silla Dynasty, King Taejong, who enjoyed shooting arrows off the cliffs, is a top attraction in Busan, Korea and for good reason. Located at the southernmost tip of Yeongdo Island, it offers breathtaking views of the ocean, rugged cliffs, dinosaur tracks, and on clear days people can even spot Daema, or Tsushima, Island of Japan. It is one of 28 designated monuments in the city and is absolutely one of the best things to do in Busan. The varying shades of blue as they wave back and forth from the cliffside out to the horizon is dreamy and there…
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Korean Cooking: How to make Yukgaejang
Yukgaejang (육개장) is a Korean beef and veggie stew that I manage to forget that I like before being reminded that I liked it multiple times a year. It’s a classic dish in any Korean household and after we’d gone out to eat it quite a few times in the past few weeks, I decided to try and make it myself. After having good experiences with Korean side dishes, my confidence was high to try another soup. If you like Korean food with a spicy kick, this is a good soup to learn how to make but also, it’s pretty palatable for people that aren’t so good with spicy food.…
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My Top Ten Adventures of 2013!
2013 was a great year for traveling. Not only did I get to see some fantastic places in Korea, but I also enjoyed quite a few trips abroad. Here are the top 10 places, here and abroad, that I saw in 2013. What a year! 1. Fukuoka, Japan: We started off the year with a trip to Fukuoka, Japan in February. It seems as the end of winter nears we always start to get a little cabin fever, not that we live in a cabin, or that we completely hibernate all winter, but we just need to get away. I had been to Fukuoka before, as had my husband, but this…
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Why Korea Has Two Address Systems and How to Actually Use Them
Living in Korea as a foreigner can be amazing, until you need to send a letter, fill out your address on a form, or explain to a delivery person where you live. That’s when things get confusing fast. Why do you have two addresses? Why are there three numbers in one address line? And why does the street change names without warning? Living in a foreign country comes with a lot of new things to learn and the address system in Korea, is one of those things to learn if you’ll be living here. Here’s your no-fluff, updated guide to understanding Korean addresses: the two systems, how to read them,…
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Jagalchi Fish Market: What To Eat, How To Order, and What To Know
Jagalchi Fish Market (부산자갈치시장) is the largest fish market in South Korea and one of the best things to do in Busan, and that’s true even if you never buy a single thing. Walking the stalls alone is worth it: live octopus pulling itself over the edge of tanks trying to escape back to the ocean… literally, tentacles as long as your arm, shellfish you don’t have names for in English, and fish that hang drying in the booths that line the market’s watery alleyways. Each booth is run by an older woman who may not seem particularly welcoming at first glance. That’s just the southern Busan demeanor. They’re used…
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Korean Eating: The Different Kinds of Korean Bean Sprout Soup
Bean sprout soup, or kongnamul-guk (콩나물국), is one of my favorite dishes in Korea. It’s simple and clean, if that is a good adjective to use with food. It’s fresh and delicious and hits the spot no matter what mood I’m in. And if you’re in Korea you may be in for a surprise every time you order it. Why? Depending where you are and who is making it, the broth can be completely different. In some places, Korean bean sprout soup served with a clear broth, in some places it’s served with a red broth, and in some places it’s served with a cloudy broth and yet on the…
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The War Memorial of Korea: A Must Visit & FREE Museum In Seoul
Where once the Korean Infantry held their headquarters now sits the War Memorial of Korea (전쟁기념관), a museum that is free for the public to appreciate and learn about ancient battles, the Korean War, and beyond. Not only is this a great stop for the budget minded traveler to Seoul, Korea, but it’s really a must visit for anyone that wants to learn more about the history of the country with specific regards to war. I’ve been more than five times and still find things I don’t remember seeing before. There’s just so much information to take in. The War Memorial of Korea is one of the largest war museums…
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Best Winter Hike In Seoul: The Seoul Fortress Wall on Bugaksan Mountain
Huge flakes of snow were falling from the sky and to most it would have seemed an inopportune time to head out to hike along the Seoul Fortress Wall on Bugaksan Mountain (북악산), but plans had been made and the hiking club members, no strangers to adverse hiking conditions, suited up to head out into the cold. If you’re looking for one of the best hikes in Seoul no matter the weather, this is it. Snow keeps many people away from the mountains, but for those that do make it out, it can be an extra special time to hike in the quiet after the snow and the calm surroundings…
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Crazy Multiply!
Crazy Multiply is an art collective based in Seoul, Korea that promotes contemporary Korean and international artists. They aim to bring artists and musicians together and explore different themes in a variety of mediums. According to Amy Smith, one of the founders and curators, Crazy Multiply started from a desire to show their own work. A friend departing Korea wanted to have an art show before departure and a roommate suggested paring it with some music and thus an idea was born. The first few shows went so well, Amy Smith along with Olivia McNair and Laura MacDonald chose a name and the collective was established in the hopes that…
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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…
