Tag Archives: Korea

Testing Out Airbnb. . . A step-by-step analysis updated live

4 Aug

UPDATED!!!

CHECK OUT THE RESULTS ON THE FOLLOWING POST HERE: Testing Out AirBnB. . . the Results!

 

Seoul, Korea. . . Here I come!

Yes, I am returning to this country of my heart in June, where I get the opportunity to stay for almost 3 weeks.  I will be studying in Kyoto and Tianjin, but I get a little time in between.  After scouring the airline prices, it is definitely cheaper to fly to Korea and hang out there in cheap housing rather than fly back and forth to the US.  Plus, I’m dying to go back!

However, since I am a very cheap student (did I mention I was cheap, as in uber, uber cheap?) I am looking for someplace to stay in Korea for the duration.  Last semester I stayed in Chungmuro, but that hotel is way too expensive to stay in without school loans helping to cover the cost.  On the other hand, I liked being in that area of Seoul, so I think I’ll try finding something in the nearby vicinity of that dip in the Han River.   Continue reading →

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Korean Architecture

23 Jun

Traveled around a bunch of places in Seoul today on a wandering trip. Stumbled across some great architectural structures; I love the buildings here. Kind of like being in an art museum, especially in the Gangnam area.

Gangnam Architecture
Samsung Plaza (Many of the corporate headquarters are housed here.)
More Gangnam
Gangnam again
Close to Myeongdong
Near COEX, at Samseong Station
Near CoEx again

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Han River Cruise

22 Jun

Took a trip down the Han River with the Hangang River Cruise today, and it was just as wonderful as I remembered. The sky was pretty foggy, so my pictures weren’t as crisp, but in real life it was just mind-blowing. I think I truly fell in love with Seoul the first time I took this cruise. Before then, I was enjoying my visit and I had started to get used to my surroundings and the excitement of the trip. But it was after this cruise that it really felt like home there. There is a difference from feeling like a guest made comfortable and feeling like this is where you belong. The Han River makes me feel like I belong.

Perhaps it’s because I was raised alongside the Mississippi, but there is just something truly magical about floating down a huge expanse of water, listening to the bobbing waves mixing with crooning lyrics from the radio as you are encompassed by the dark, lit only by the cityscape on either side and the multi-colored lights lining the bridges.  It’s hard to explain, and photos (which fail to encompass sound, or smell, or feelings) can never even come close to doing it justice.  With the moon above you, and the world passing by on either side, you just feel awed. Yes, that’s the word I”m looking for–Awed.  So much so that I put my camera down for the last half of the trip, and just sat there. Quietly, alone with my thoughts and with the world on pause. Maybe I”ll go back tomorrow.

Makes me think of the “Ghostly Galleon’s” of pirate legend. Kind of a ghostly night. 🙂
This was the night of the Super Moon–Meaning the moon seems larger and brighter than normal
The crowd on the Ship
We passed the Cruise ship owned and run by Citi.
View of 63 City at night

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Seoul International Book Fair

21 Jun

Seoul Book Fair

The 2013 Annual Seoul International Book Fair

Yes, all you English Majors in the world out there, be very, very jealous. For today, I was placed into a HUGE auditorium filled with books, and authors, and publishers, and it just keeps going! It was reader’s heaven!  So many books out there that I had never heard of (mostly because the vast majority were in foreign languages 😛 ).  

First opening in 1995, the Seoul International Book Fair has been going strong ever since.  Every year the Korea Publishers Assn.  hosts the event, which this year is at the COEX Exhibition Hall from June 19- June 23.  You can by your ticket at the ticket booth next to the exhibition hall, and then enter into a book-lover’s (and child’s) wonderland.

Stall

Instead of being one of those places where children with sticky Continue reading →

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Seoul Rose Garden Festival

20 Jun

I’m Back!

Yes, it’s me, the Procrastinating writer. Once again I fail to keep this up-to-date with my travels. But today, you are in luck! I come with fresh photos and news about my venture into the Seoul Rose Garden Festival today.  

 

Seoul Rose Garden Festival!

What:

Rose Garden

To clear up some confusion (I admit to being one of those bewildered), there are two names here to take into account. The Rose Theme Garden is the name of the location/garden. It is open 365 days a year and can be viewed at any time. It boasts of 20,000+ Roses in nearly 300+ varieties, but there are many other kinds of flowers as well.  You can find dozens of little ponds, Continue reading →

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Image

A Lazy Day in Lion Land

20 Jun LIon

LIon

Lol, he kept yawning. It was making me sleepy!

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They Tell Me I’m Beautiful

14 Jun

Well, I hate to have to tell you this, but I can never, ever live in Korea.  It’s impossible. It’ll never work. For one thing, I’d never stop getting distracted by so many cute guys.  And real gentlemen too!  I fell full onto a dude on the subway today (and I’m no lightweight) and he didn’t say anything even remotely close to Ooomph.  Instead he had me hold onto his shoulder straps for his book bag and talked with me the rest of the trip. Smiling. With gorgeous eyes. Did I mention he was hot?!?

See! I told you I would get sidetracked. Back to what I was saying.  I just cannot make a home here because my head would be so big there would be no living with me. Seriously.  I was stopped 6+ times today (no exaggeration) for people wanting to touch my hair (I’m blonde in a sea of Black-headed people) and tell me how “shiny” and “yeoppuda” (pretty in Korean). That or they wanted to feel my skin (I’m pretty much pure German and extremely fair) to tell me how “pure” and “white” and “oohhhh” it was.  People kept telling me how beautiful I was all day long.   And let me tell you, boy did I eat it up.  Kinda put a bounce in my step and I can’t stop smiling.  That would never happen in the US. 

I even got felt up!  I went to the Dragon Hill Spa today (where you are naked in the women’s rooms) and wasn’t looking while putting my stuff in the locker. Suddenly this hand grabs on to parts better left unmentioned. I look down and see the cutest kid. A 1-2 year old boy had gotten away from his mom and was staring back and forth between me and her. He had a hold of me and just wouldn’t let go. 0_0 I think it’s cause I”m blonde and he’s not used to it? The Mother died of embarrassment. I’m pretty sure she’s still red in the face.  So was I. Talk about Awkward! But the grannies in the room cracked up and couldn’t stop rolling on the floor laughing.  At least he blew me kisses goodbye so he’s not a total grab and run.  Lol!

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48 Hours in Seoul: Day 2

24 Feb

48 Hours in Seoul: Day 2

An Itinerary for Getting the Most From A Too Brief Trip

See the introduction here.

See Day 1 here.

Note that all directions & prices were true as of mid-late 2012; I haven’t check back since then. I’m headed back this summer, so I’ll look and see then if I can. 🙂

Itinerary Summary–Day 2

  1. 8:00 a.m.-9:30 a.m. *** Breakfast at Myeongdong 
  2. 10:00 a.m. -11:30 p.m. *** Namsan Tower and the Cable Car
  3. 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. *** Lunch in Coex Mall
  4. 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m. *** Shop and visit the Aquarium in Coex Mall 
  5. 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.***  Korean National Museum
  6. 5:30 p.m.- Whenever you leave *** Shop and enjoy Dondaemeun 

I tried to leave enough time for travel between each stop, but this means you may have a little more or less time depending on how long it takes you to move from one place to another.

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Breakfast/Shopping: Myeongdong

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Why?

Most touristy places in the city aren’t going to open up this early, so this is a good time to wander around and grab some  breakfast if you’re an early riser.  Myeongdong actually opens up pretty early because it caters to tourist shoppers; in fact you may hear people calling out in Japanese, since most of the tourist come from Japan.   Myeongdong is traditionally considered a shopping central for all fashionistas.  It’s got purses, clothes, glasses, beauty supplies, shoe stores, beauty parlors, etc.  Honestly, I preferred some other places more for actual bargain shopping (note that this is where the upper crusts shop as well; we’re talking Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana stores) , but it is an awesome place to grab coffee of a morning.  They have plenty of pastry/coffee shops like Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, etc.  Plus, the stalls are fun to wander if they’re up before you leave, and you can sometimes walk away with a handful of free stuff from the hawkers. If you’re low on funds, maybe save your shopping $$ for later though. Continue reading →

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Riding the Horsey!

23 Feb

Lol, On my trip to Busan, South Korea, we visited one of the temples, and it had a long line of ancient stone monuments lining the walkway.  Kids were enjoying them all, but this was a particular favorite.  Quality isn’t great (I got a new and much better camera today though! Yay!!), but the pic was darling.  He was so excited to climb it all by himself. 🙂

Boy on Horse

So cute!

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500 year old Korean love letter

6 Feb

Had to share this article!  It’s comforting to know that love never changes. no matter where, no matter when, love remains strong, persevering, and unchanging.

500 year old Korean love letter.

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