All posts filed under: Travel

Seochon-dong | Hanoks & Whimsy

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  Situated to the West of Gyeongbokgung, Seochon, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Seoul, is an obvious treasure. It’s name is simply, “west village,” but that doesn’t embody the liveliness and warmth that you can experience here. Seochon hanoks were under threat of massive redevelopment and destruction up until 2008. The concerned took measures to ensure the preservation of the hanoks in this area, like that of Bukchon, the hanok village on the other side of Gyeongbokgung. And we should thank our lucky stars that this beautiful area has been saved and updated so that generations to come can walk through the streets and buy up all the things. Or just look around, that’s okay too. 🙂 In Robert J. Fouser’s book, Hanok, The Korean House, he explains how this area is an example of the neo-traditional style, or the “mixed hanok.” This new genre allows for experimentation and, perhaps more importantly, the expression of the owner’s personality. Like the city of Seoul itself, they appear similar from afar but sparkle with the color of individuality up close. Not to …

Lhasa Cafe | Seochon dong

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Behind a very nondescript door, to an even nondescript-ior building in Seochon-dong, lies one of the most amazing cafes I’ve ever been to. And we wouldn’t have gone in, but my partner in adventure, Phil, really need a break. Such a lucky break! (#punused #sorrynotsorry) I love Seoul in so many ways, but just randomly finding this treasure trove reminds me why Seoul is just the best. Walking into Lhasa is like walking into an intrepid traveler’s basement full of wonder. You awe at the collection of stuff and dust and quietly wonder if the owner of such goodies is probably a nutjob. The bottom floor has memorabilia and antiques touching every nook and cranny. The small kitchen for coffee, beer or a bit of food is underneath  a large staircase. There are records playing…real records on a turntable. The upstairs remained a mystery for a bit as I drank my beer and admired everything. There was a sign on the stairs that lets patrons know that if you don’t buy something from the cafe, then …

Reminiscing | Seoul’s Cherry Blossoms 2014

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Seoul’s on the edge of Cherry Blossom season. A little honesty- after 4 1/2 years here in Korea, I’m over it. I do not ever feel like fighting the throngs of couples lining every street that happens to have these beautiful, delicate trees to get the perfect photo op. Seeing the cherry blossoms are  a bucket list item, for sure, but once you’ve dumped it in your bucket, it’s not worth being tangled up in the mess. Go see them once or twice and then, let the couples get their 100 pictures. In 2014, my sister and brother in law visited me in Seoul. Not only was I thrilled because it the one and only time anyone from back home has visited me here, but I was excited just to show them everything I loved about Korea. They arrived at the end of April so I told them we’d be lucky to see any cherry blossoms at that point. My sister really wanted to see the trees so I thought we would head to the National Assembly, where I …

Tamun Ayun Temple | Bali Temple Collection

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This gorgeous temple is the first blog in the epic trilogy I will write out the temples I visited while in Bali.  And it’s mainly epic, not because of my braggy writing, but because they are just beautiful without the need for hyperbole. 🙂 The Tamun Ayun is a large temple set upon an even larger, well manicured and lusciously green garden area.  There are pools of water and ponds to create an atmosphere of peace. The name Tamun Ayun translates to beautiful garden, and is so evident walking around and taking in the spectacular (albeit boiling hot) temple of worship. It was built in 1634 for the people of the Mengwi kingdom, so they did not need to travel far to another large, main temple. The temple has towering pagodas for worship inside the main courtyard, which cannot be entered unless it is a special, sacred holiday. But, it’s opened only for worshipers, not visitors. The view of it is enough and makes it all the more special that people can’t tramp all over the …

Ikseon Dong | A Hanok Island

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Prepare yourself, folks, there’s a history lesson in here today! 🙂 I think most would agree that the skyline of Seoul in many areas is quite impressive, however, the inside of most apartment buildings, the majority of the skyscrapers in Seoul, look like something this side of a psych ward. The apartments weren’t made to necessarily be creative, interesting or impressive. Barren boxes, designed to house as many families as possible, is what comes to mind when I think about how most of us live in Seoul. So when we are tired of looking at our boring little boxes, it is time to visit areas with traditional architecture and a time when homes were made with a bit more love and care. One such area is a tiny hanok island surrounded by those tall, boring buildings, called Ikseon-dong. It’s just a neighborhood over from Insa-dong.  The entire area is experiencing a glowing revival, much the same as the hanok renovations in Samcheong, Bukchon and Seochon. Renovations to these wonderful little places have been met with controversy through the years, however. In the …

Sunshine, Sand and Private Beach Clubs

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What’s a beach club, you may ask? Only one of the most spectacular destinations to go on vacation. Honestly, before researching activities for Bali, I didn’t know what beach clubs were all about. It’s so much more than just spending the day on a beach. So much more. (Cue daydreamy music…) Picture this: You enter the club after paying a nominal fee, which includes your beach towel and a percentage toward food. Then you enter a pristine beach area, find your spot under an umbrella and begin your day. You can order drinks and food from the restaurant. You can snorkel, dive or participate in some other activities. You only need to bring yourself, a bucket of sunblock and a big bottle of water. Otherwise, you are taken care of for the day, eliminating the need to bring big, bulky beach bags filled with necessities. Sounds unbelievable, right? Your next beachy vacation needs to include a beach club. And, until then, please enjoy our trip to Finn’s Beach Club in Bali. It’s a private beach club …

West Coast Living | Downtown Portland

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Since my trip to the friendliest city in America, Portland, Oregon, was last summer, I guess it’s about time to write a little blurb about it. Yeah, Portland, it’s true. You have too many homeless. I don’t like seeing babies on the street with their mom who is begging. Not cool. There is definitely room for improvements to be made. But the charm of Portland still seeped through. There is old architecture and design through it’s entirety. At the time I visited it was a bit sleepy and calm. There is no real hustle and bustle. Just a city like you might see in the movies, where people can actually walk nonchalantly gossiping without getting in everyone’s way…or worse, being pushed out of the way by those in a bigger rush. A few places I wanted to hit while there were VooDoo Donuts, Finnegan’s Toy Store, Powell’s Books and food truck mecca. Although we went to VooDoo Donuts first, we were too late. Already there was a massive line for what I can assume are good but not worth …

The Food of Paradise

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The trip I took to Bali over Christmas was a once in a lifetime opportunity for a gal from the Midwest. To fully experience the true essence of Bali I decided to join a traditional cooking class and shove food all in my face. The cooking class at Paon is entertaining, delicious and inspiring. For a measley $24 USD, you spend the morning in the Ubud market learning about fruits, vegetables and spices they use in Balinese cooking, are given an introduction to the family and hosts (Who are amateur comedians, I think), directed to the most beautiful kitchen and work together with a group of strangers who become cooking comrades among knives and hot coconut oil. There was a real sense of community and fun as we cut, chopped, fried, skewered, mashed and rolled real Bali ingredients with real Bali spices.   So let me take you through the culinary dream: We were ushered into one of the most beautiful houses I’ve ever seen. The Balinese homes are several rooms situated among a type of small compound. Their home …

Tap Rooms & Tapas | A Visit to Vancouver, Washington

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Being a resident of South Korea, it is not often I have the chance to see old friends. After I secured a glorious three weeks off this year at work, I set about organizing my first trip to the West coast in over ten years. My friend, Gina lives in Vancouver, Washington, which holds (bff) hands with Portland, Oregon over the Columbia River. It is super cute. It has good coffee, beer and food. It is a very enjoyable little city that you should visit when you are in Portland.  So check out these pictures and get on down/up/over there! Downtown A wonderbeer tap room, the Old Ivy Brewery & Taproom. So many beers.  108 W Evergreen Blvd, Vancouver, Washington Charlie’s Bodega. Tapas all around!  1220 Main Street, Vancouver, WA

Arario Museum | Jongno

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I visit a lot of museums which allows me to visit some really fascinating worlds. Sometimes, they are amazingly weird and curious things. Sometimes, those things are peculiar and have an oh so unsubtle hint of dread and horror.  All in good fun, though, I’m sure. Arario Museum is a weird and wonderful world.  At times, the weird outweighs the wonderful, like the plastic mold of an artist’s head, hollowed out and filled to the brim with the artist’s real blood. Or the sparkling deer made of glass bubbles, which looks straight from Narnia, until you peek closer and realize that underneath the translucent glass bubbles is a real taxidermy deer attached to the back of another taxidermy deer. But, then there are other things that are fun and spectacular. There is an entire room dedicated to Keith Haring. There are the absurd self portraits of Cindy Sherman, which are every woman’s hilarious nightmare reflected back at us. There is also the building itself, which is dreamlike with its small circular stairwells, exposed brick, beautiful, ivy covered windows …