Art and Travel Ramblings
As I’ve said before, summertime in Seoul is hot – one of the only respites being the singularly wonderful invention of air conditioning. -But it is perfect weather to spend some quality time with the sun, sand, and some ocean waves. A group of coworkers and I planned a girl’s trip to the seaside city […]
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I was thinking about titling this post “Sweaty Summer in Seoul”, but I thought that would make me sound too much like a gross person…. well, too late. I’ve said it anyway. When I noticed the handheld electric fans starting to be sold in the underground shopping markets I should have known what I was […]
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Since living in South Korea, we’ve visited two of the “Five Grand Palaces” built during the Joseon dynasty. As with a lot of the historical structures in Seoul, the palaces were ravaged, pillaged, and destroyed by the Japanese. All have been burnt down or partially burnt down, or burnt down multiple times and rebuilt over […]
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After living in Southern California for 7 years, you almost forget that weather exists. Enter South Korea’s monsoon season. If I could describe the weather succinctly I would say hellish haha. It’s a muggy, steamy, hot, humid, mess. Also, my hair expands to hilarious and frizzy proportions (If you’ve ever watched the television show Friends, […]
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On any given Saturday or Sunday in Seoul, the subways and buses are packed with families and friends decked out in brightly colored hiking gear. This eclectic bustle of rainbow-clothed people are on their way to hike the numerous mountains surrounding the city. These mountains are islands of calm surrounded by the ever-busy and bustling metropolis, […]
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Recently, I had the unfortunate experience to need some medical assistance, and I thought it would be helpful to put up some tips for other foreigners who may need to maneuver Korean hospitals. It can be pretty scary to have to find a doctor/hospital/clinic in another country. The emergency number here is 119, if you […]
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Living in another country will inevitably require you to do things in a different way. So it’s best to encounter something new with little/no expectation and a lot of acceptance (i.e. try and do as the locals do). This is far from a comprehensive list, just some random things I’ve found to be new or […]
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Being surrounded by glass, chrome, and asphalt for an extended period of time always has me feeling a deep-seated need to get out and find some nature. So, on a cool spring day, my significant other, a couple of friends and I decided to leave Seoul and explore Nami Island (or Namiseom 남이섬). Nami Island is famous […]
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On a cool day in October, I stood on the starboard side of a ferry that was slicing slowly through the rolling waves, wind tossing my hair about wildly. As the boat turned toward the dock – a red gate rose majestically out of the waters, announcing the Shinto Shrine beyond. I was about to […]
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Spring: a time of renewal, growth, the part of the year when Persephone gets to return to the Earth after spending some casual time in the Underworld, cherry blossoms. Oh, and in South Korea? Yellow Dust. What I would describe as a parasitic cloud of fine dust that oozes down from the Gobi Desert to […]
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Clumsy Adventurer 