Destination: Seoul Design Olympiad (2009) (South Korea)

After last year’s interesting exhibitions, the Seoul Design Olympiad is back for another year. Going through the 9th through the 29th of October, you’ll have plenty of time – and two more weekends – to check it out. Despite the brouhaha about...

Destination: Uam Historical Park – a great shrine to a scholar (Daejeon, South Korea)

Uam Historical Park (우암사적공원) celebrates the life and teachings of Uam Song Si-yeol (1607–1689). A Joseon Dynasty scholar in Taoism, he also served with the government with the Minister of General Management and later the Prime Minister. He’s credited with being one of...

Destination: Pyung Kang Biblical Archaeology Museum (AKA the Abraham Park and Kenneth Vine Collection) (Seoul, South Korea)

Askos pot – the oldest piece in the museum, from 4000-3000B.C. All pictures and descriptions from the museum’s website Spanning thousands of years worth of history, the Pyung Kang Biblical Archaeology Museum merges the worlds of archaeology and religion...

Destination: Cheonggwonsa – a shrine, a tomb, and a forest to boot

Like most shrines located in Seoul, Cheonggwonsa (sa can mean either temple or shrine, thus Cheonggwon Shrine) preserves memories of the past so as to be understood for the present and future. While not precisely a tourist site – and definitely not touristy in...

Destination: Ppuri Park – learn about Korean ancestry and family names (Daejeon, South Korea)

Offering a look into the origins of Korean family names, Ppuri Park (뿌리 공원) combines history and beauty in Daejeon. With 136 statues recognizing as many family names and origins across the Korean peninsula, it’s a chance for the locals to learn more about where...

Destination: the NEW Yeouido Han River Park (Seoul, South Korea)

After being closed for nearly a year, the Yeouido Han River Park is back and better than ever – mostly. Yesterday was considered the grand opening of the park to the public, and unbeknownest to me, there was to be a fairly grand ceremony to go with it. Since the...

Destination: Yuldong Park – a new, natural area with old tombs in the middle of urban planning (Bundang / Seongnam, South Korea))

Yuldong Park is somewhat known for being the only place to bungee jump in the area – but there’s plenty more to do beyond jumping off with a giant rubber band attached to your body. Opened in 1999, the park offers a large lake, a 4km walking trail around...

A tale of two tombs and a memorial hall – Destination: Uireung and Sunginwon, Seoul, South Korea

Today’s travel destination is sponsored by…several dead people. That’s right, it’s time to see some tombs given to people somehow related to the royalty of the time. Three tombs and a memorial hall are within a kilometer of each other in...

Destination: Seoul Forest, part 2 – another look at the urban wooded area (South Korea)

My trip here last year was during the Seoul Drum Festival, and as such my attention was mostly diverted from the park itself. Created on 350,000 pyeong (286 acres, 1.15 million square meters), it requires a full day to truly see and enjoy the park. One review of the...

Destination: Bomunsa – a temple of Korean Buddhist nuns (South Korea)

The high temple of Asia’s Korea’s only order of Buddhist nuns welcomes you. Originally founded in 1115 during the Goryeo dynasty, this temple has seen its ups and downs as they all have. Above is 호지문, also known as the temple’s front gate. It’s quite elaborate — and...