Once a resting shelter and vacation destination for kings, the grounds of Hwaseong Haenggung in Suwon, South Korea are now a site where locals and tourists can learn about Korean royal history and culture. Despite recent renovations, every inch of the palace has a story to tell. So much so, in fact, that when I …
Let me just make one thing clear. I am not a fan of Korean winters. Sure, the snow can be beautiful and the holiday decorations do make me all fuzzy on the inside but on any given day from December to March, the last place you’ll find me is outside. Coincidentally, many Koreans share my …
To take advantage of the oh-so-wonderful but way-too-short bout of beautiful weather, a couple friends and I recently planned a weekend camping trip to Muuido, a small island located near Incheon International Airport. The Korean peninsula’s western coast often takes a lot of flak for its less than impressive beaches and lackluster views. As we …
When I was a young gal, I had an ungodly fear of sharks. Perhaps it was the animatronics at the Jaws ride at Universal Studios, or the threat constantly reiterated by the warning signs on the beaches of Destin, a beachside town in Florida where my family and I spent our summer vacations. So, it …
Is the weather not glorious right now?! In sunshine like this, I refuse to be inside for any longer than I absolutely have to. This includes for meals. In fact, one of my favorite things to do in this weather is picnic. And with all the great green spaces the city has to offer (like …
Ever dreamed of rubbing elbows with the likes of Brad Pitt, George Clooney or Angelina Jolie? What about K-star heartthrobs like Lee Min-ho, Hyun Bin or Kim Soo-hyun? Or, perhaps you’d prefer to get up close with historical figures like Leonardo Di Vinci and Ghandi, or world famous athletes such as Lionel Messi. Well, now …
Some of the best memories of my travels involve sharing a meal with the local people. From slurping up chanko at a sumo wrestling championship with a Japanese couple in Tokyo to picnicking with Tibetan monks in India to chowing down on tajine with Berber nomads in the middle of the Sahara Desert, the experience …
If the recent drop in temperatures and merciless wind are any indication of what’s to come this winter, we’re in for a long, cold season. And if you’re like me, this weather is anything but enjoyable. Between the incessant time spent inside and the pain endured in the frigid outdoors while in transit, coming down …
Everland is, without a doubt, Korea’s best amusement park. Modeled after Disney World- albeit on a much smaller scale- the theme park consists of plenty of fun attractions that draw in more than 7 million visitors a year. With those attendance numbers, one can only imagine what the weekend crowds are like, particularly at peak …
Over the past decade, Korea has gained a reputation for being one of the top beauty destinations of the world. Anyone who has strolled the streets of Seoul would probably agree that Koreans are some of the most beautiful, well put-together people on earth. It seems that just about everyone- including the men- has flawless …