Destination: Seonjeongneung (a Joseon Dynasty royal tomb and park) (Seoul, South Korea)

Amidst the urban jungle of Gangnam-gu is a park posing as the Seonjeongneung Royal Tomb. Called Samneung Park (삼능공원) by some, Seonjeongneung is less majestic a setting than a shrine like Jongmyo – but the park area more than makes up for it. With two royal tombs...

Destination: Haeundae Sand Festival (Busan, South Korea)

As you might expect, a sand festival has a lot to see. Why a sand festival? Why not? It’s about that time of year where the weather gets warm, the beaches get nicer, and the swimsuits / suntan lotion get pulled out of the closet for their first use of the year....

Destination: Naksan Park – an artsy, peaceful stop uphill in Seoul (South Korea)

Welcome to Naksan Park, home to part of Seoul’s old-school fortress wall. It goes without saying that the city has grown far beyond the walled interior, and this is a great place to see that growth in a dramatic fashion. (By the way, this park should NOT be...

The hidden Hongdae (Seoul, South Korea)

If you’re a Western teacher living in Seoul, you’ve probably been to Hongdae / Hongik University. Whether you come for the night life or just a casual visit, you’ve explored the several-square-block area of mostly bars and clubs near Hongik...

Destination: Namhansanseong, part 2 – another look at Seoul’s mountain fortress (South Korea)

Part 1 to Namhansanseong is here. These pictures were uploaded via the old way, so they’re a little smaller on preview but wonderfully sized upon clicking. As promised, I found my way back to Namhansanseong on a new day to find the fortress and the South gate,...

Destination: Seoul Friendship Fair / Hi Seoul Festival (Spring 2009)

Where else in Seoul can you sample Chilean wine, buy Russian vodka, bite into Egyptian bread, wear an Indian or Malaysian dress, or even tie on a Vietnamese tie – all in one day? The Friendship Fair offers those things from over 50 countries, and balances out...

Destination: Namhansanseong – Seoul’s mountain fortress (South Korea)

Namhansanseong was originally built in the Silla Dynasty, or what the rest of the world would call the 7th century A.D. Built for wars against the Tang Dynasty (no relation to the beverage, I hope), the fortress presumably was destroyed at some point, since the...

Destination: Lotus Lantern Festival 2009 (Seoul, South Korea)

If you like lanterns, Buddhism, or parades, you’re in luck – with Buddha’s birthday just around the corner, the Lotus Lantern Festival was the perfect tourist destination to take in the Buddhist tradition. The party started Sunday afternoon near...

Destination: Changdeokgung (palace) and Biwon, the Secret Garden

창덕궁 (Changdeokgung) was originally built as a secondary palace to Gyeongbokgung in 1405. Although King Taejong explained the main palace’s topography was not auspicious enough, it’s also possible he didn’t want to live in the main palace after he...

Destination: Olympic Park, part 2 (Seoul, South Korea)

Even though I’ve gone to Olympic Park before, there’s a lot more to see than one trip will allow. This time around I went around a different way – although there’s plenty more forest and park to see… Compared to the prime weekend of fall...