Skiing in the Year of the Snake
Last weekend, Koreans celebrated Seollal, the Lunar New Year. On Monday, everyone officially turned one year older, and on top of an extra year for being in my mother’s womb, I’m now 27 years old in Korea. Damn. I think I’ll stick to my Western age of 25. Koreans welcomed the Year of the Snake...
Ice Fishing in Hwacheon: embracing Korea’s sub-zero temperatures
The stressful holidays have passed, and now it’s January and time to relax. In Korea, we are currently living in frigid, sub-zero temperatures. Everyday I bundle up in my thick winter coat and Uggs, which I refused to wear in the past because they are so hideous-looking, but now I wear them with pride. Sometimes...
Celebrating the New Year on Jeju Island: part II
As I wrote in my last post, Celebrating the New Year on Jeju Island: part I, I spent four days with Adventure Korea in Jeju Island over my New Year’s vacation. On the third full day, after losing my voice from belting out too many songs in the noraebang the night before (namely “I Will Always...
Celebrating the New Year on Jeju Island: part I
Rather than wasting away in Hongdae over my short New Year’s vacation, I traveled to Jeju Island with Adventure Korea, a budget travel company catered to foreigners. I spent four days exploring the “Hawaii of Korea,” and although the temperature wasn’t quite Hawaiian-like, I thoroughly enjoyed walking along the coast, partying in Jeju’s biggest nightclub...
Gyotaku: printmaking with dead fish at Jankura Artspace
I was ten years old. Before following my classmates outside, I grabbed some sheets of white paper and a thick crayon—the homemade kind, comprised of old, leftover pieces of Crayola crayons, the colors swirled together, molded by cupcake wrappers. Outside, I pressed my paper against bark, leaves, bricks and chain-link fences, boldly rubbing my cupcake-shaped...
Climbing in the mi(d)st of Seoraksan National Park
In Seoraksan National Park, towering, jagged peaks jut into layers of clouds overhead. Waterfalls pour off the rocky cliffs, and clear waters flow, carving paths through the valleys. Encompassing 373 km of land, Seoraksan has, throughout history, been a sacred place for Buddhist pilgrimages and monastic life, as well as a muse for artists who have...
Asia / Destination Articles / Festivals / Food and Beverages / Hiking + Climbing / Korea / Photography / Reviews
Hiking, Gochujang and Buddhists with swords
With the vibrant fall foliage currently dotting the Korean countryside in shades of gold, crimson and burnt orange, I embarked on a weekend getaway with Adventure Korea to the county of Sunchang, located in North Jeolla province. A number of traditional Korean foods originated in North Jeolla province, including bibimbap, mixed vegetables with rice, and...
Asia / Destination Articles / Festivals / Food and Beverages / Hiking + Climbing / Korea / Photography / Reviews
Famous for a day: the Heongseong Hanwoo Beef Festival
This past weekend, I was invited on a weekend trip to the Heongseong Hanwoo Beef Festival by Adventure Korea, with the impression that I would eat some delicious beef, hike a mountain, and drink a lot of soju. And that’s exactly what I did–in addition to catching a trout with my bare hands, eating it raw,...
Asia / Destination Articles / Food and Beverages / Health + Lifestyle / Korea / Photography / Reviews
A Korean Farmstay: Cheongpung Farm and green tea fields
Beyond the seas of red crosses and florescent, artificial lights, there are rural patches throughout the South Korean peninsula where the stars glitter visibly overhead. One such place is Cheongpung Farm, located in Hwasoon, a rural area in Korea’s South Jeolla province. Over the weekend, I was invited by Adventure Korea, a budget travel company, to...
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