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Huinnyeoul Culture Village: The Most Colorful Place To Visit In Busan
Like most people, I’ve been to the more well-known Gamcheon Culture Village, but did you know there is another colorful and more coastal culture village in Busan? Yes! The Huinnyeoul Culture Village (희여울문화마을) is a colorful seaside spot to see art, enjoy cafes and food, and have a good time with friends or family walking along the southern coast of Korea. Looking for something to do in Busan? Look no further. Here’s what you need to know about the Huinnyeoul Culture Village in Busan, 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.…
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Spa Land Centum City Busan: Complete Guide, Tips, and What To Expect
Walking into a Korean jjimjilbang for the first time is one of those experiences that sounds intimidating in theory and becomes one of your favorite Korea memories in practice. The nudity, the communal baths, the strangers in various states of undress, it all sounds like a lot until you’re actually inside and realize everyone is just relaxed and focused on their own experience. The jjimjilbang, or Korean spa, is one of the most memorable Korean experiences you can have. And if you’re going to do it once, or if you want to do it properly, the place to go is Spa Land Centum City (스파랜드 센텀시티) in Busan. Here’s why:…
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Songdo, Busan: A Beach, The Busan Air Cruise Cable Car & A Suspension Bridge Too!
Songdo is an area in Busan that might be overlooked for hotspots like Gwanganli or Haeundae but honestly, it won my heart. Songdo is home to a lovely beach as well as bridges to walk across while looking at the Busan heonyeo finding sea creatures, the Songdo Marine Cable Car, also known as the Busan Air Cruise, and a suspension bridge with a lookout, too. Basically, if you’re looking for things to do in Busan or where to stay in Busan with things to do, this might just be the perfect spot for you. It’s one of those areas that you could easily get a hotel in and never venture…
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Busan Travel Guide: Best Things To Do, Where To Stay, and What To Eat
Busan is the kind of city that gets under your skin. Korea’s second largest city sits on the southern coast with beaches on one side, mountains on the other, and some of the best seafood in the country running through the middle of it all. My husband grew up here and if we weren’t based in Seoul, Busan would be home, which means I’ve spent years learning this city the way a local does rather than a tourist. This is the guide I wish existed when I first arrived. It covers everything from the beaches and the hillside villages to the fish markets, the best food to seek out, where…
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Yeonji Park’s Lake in Gimhae
While most people probably don’t head out of Busan to the nearby city of Gimhae unless they’re going to the airport located there, my in-laws live in that ‘burb so I am always on the lookout for places to go around town when my mother-in-law is not trying to fill our bellies. On previous trips, we’d stumbled upon the dilapidated and abandoned Gaya Land Amusement Park, learned about the historical relevance of the area at King Suro’s Tomb and enjoyed Dongrimsa and Eunhasa Buddhist temples located nearby. While there for Chuseok this past weekend, we decided to find a park so that the little one could enjoy some swings and…
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Live Music Fun This Summer!
It’s difficult to imagine a better way to enjoy summer than with friends, some drinks and live music. The warm weather is begging people to get outside and the music festival summer extravaganza is about to kick off! Here’s a list of the festivals to look out for to listen to live music and dance the summer away: 1. HaeBangChon May Festival May 22-23, 2015; HaeBongChon local bars & pubs, Seoul This year is the 10th anniversary of HBC fest and if you’re looking for a good way to kick off the summer with some good eats, craft beer and loads of foreign bands, this is the local fest for…
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Every Single Day: A Pictorial History Lesson
Here are some of my favorite pictures that I've taken while I've gone to concerts with my husband. From backstage, behind the band and to standing with thousands of people in front of the stage at festivals, this is Every Single Day from my perspective.
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How To Set The Table for Jesa
On Seollal, before anything else, family members awake very early to cleanse themselves and dress in nice clean clothes. They may even wear a Hanbok, a traditional Korean style of clothing. Next, the table will be set. The table setting varies from region to region and family to family, but there are some basic rules that are followed everywhere.
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My Top Ten Adventures of 2014!
This year was full of new adventures for me and for my husband and not all of them included travel. I used to think traveling someplace new was all an adventure could be but, this year I learned that adventures can come in all shapes and sizes and experiences. 1. New Orleans, Louisiana: For our trip home this year we didn’t exactly go home. Instead of heading to my home state of Ohio, we headed to the Big Easy with my family to celebrate some big birthdays. We enjoyed the beautiful historic buildings and homes that lined the streets of the French Quarter and filled our bellies with the very filling…
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Korean Eating: Where To Try Daegutang in Busan
Not all stews in Korea are spicy, though depending on where they are served, some may be spicier than others. Daegutang (대구탕), or cod fish stew, is one dish that is very different if you pop into a shop to eat some in the north versus the south. In the north, the soup comes out with a deep red broth. It’s spicy and is more akin to maeuntang (매운탕), or spicy fish stew. In the south however, the cod is boiled and served in a broth that hasn’t had spices other than salt, pepper and garlic added. The result is a deliciously simple yet flavorful and filling dish that allows…
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Gaya Land: Abandoned to Revived Amusement Park in Korea
Just a short walk from my in-laws house, I spotted a Ferris wheel and never one to pass up a good view we headed in the direction only to find ourselves at an abandoned amusement park. I have never been one to enter places where entrance is clearly not permitted, but this was different. The front entrance wasn’t fenced off in any way and the signage didn’t make it sound too serious if we did enter. Down in Gimhae, Korea, you can find some great places to explore that are lively and fun like the Gimhae Gaya Theme Park and the ClayArch Ceramics Museum, but there are also some derelict…
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Taejongdae: Scenice Cliffs and Ocean Views in Busan, Korea
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, dinosoar tracks, and on clear days people can even spot Daema, or Tsushima, Island of Japan. Whether it’s sunny, rainy, spring, summer, winter, or autumn, the views are gorgeous and the walk around the tip of the island, fun and energizing. Whether you’re a solo adventurer, family traveler, or photography enthusiast, this park is a gorgeous coastal escape that should…
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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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Jagalchi Market In Busan: How To Get There & What To Eat!
Jagalchi Fish Market (부산자갈치시장) is a must see for anyone headed to Busan on the southern coast of Korea. The fish market is the largest fish market in South Korea and fun to check out even if you won’t be dining but just want to see some amazing seafood delights. Each booth of the market is run by an older woman, who may not seem so kind on the outside, but that’s just the strong southern demeanor. They seem used to foreigners ogling their fishy goods and snapping pictures without purchasing and just look the other way. Fishy water and maybe some fishy guts cover the small umbrella covered alley…
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First Meeting: The Korean Women of the Family
Two weeks ago, my mother-in-law and sister-in-law both called to ask what I wanted for my birthday. I’m getting better at telling them what I need, because I’ve realized when left to their own devices they get me things that aren’t me at all either because what they’re giving me is what Korean family members usually give each other, or they just don’t know me all that well due to the obvious language differences. I’m still not sure which is the case, to be honest. I can explain things in Korean until I’m blue in the face, but when it comes to showing my personality, my real personality, it’s a…
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Dongrimsa Temple in Gimhae, South Korea
Sitting just 400 meters away from the more popular Eunhasa Temple on Sineosan Mountain, or Fish of the Gods Mountain, is Dongrimsa Temple (동림사). As it is smaller and was quieter without the people milling around on Lunar New Year, it felt as if we’d arrived to a shop afterhours. Also said to be from the time of King Suro in the Gaya Kingdom, it was supposedly established by King Suro’s wife’s, Heo Hwangok, brother, monk Jangyuhwasang. It features a tall statue of Jijang-bosal, the God of the Afterlife, in the courtyard surrounded by six smaller statues of Jijang-bosal that are the most telling feature of the temple. The statue is rather…
