It seems to be a right of passage that when a new teacher joins my team at ChungDahm, within the first semester we as a group must all experience Hongdae together. Hongdae, located in Eastern Seoul, is one of the most popular areas for expats and university students alike. Located in front of Hongik University (Green subway line #2), it’s the perfect place to spend both the day and night. Here are some of my top suggestions to do while you are there.
Read MoreTags: shopping in Korea, hongdae, cafes in Korea, Nightlife in Korea, Late night eating, night life, doggy cafe
Cafe culture in Korea is taken seriously -- cafes are on every corner in my neighborhood. In addition to your run of the mill coffee shops, cafes with specific themes abound. I've posted previously about my visits to a board game cafe and the Mustoy cafe, but I have to admit, when I came to Korea, I was the most excited about the availability of a cafe theme I hadn't encountered before: animals.
Tags: tourist spots in Korea, things to do before leaving korea, coffee in Korea, cafes in Korea, Cafe, Activities to do in Korea, tourist attractions, coffee shop, coffee, cat, dog cafes in korea, doggy cafe, Dr Fish, Cafes
In case you haven't noticed, owls are super "in" right now, and Korea is definitely following suit. They also happen to be one of my favorite animals and in the past decade or so, I've amassed quite an owl collection. You can just imagine my elation and fascination, then, when I heard that Seoul has an actual Owl Museum! After spending the morning walking around the Bukchon Hanok Village, my friends and I wandered through the neighboring Samcheongdong to see what this Owl Museum was all about...
Tags: tourist spots in Korea, museum, things to do on the weekend, cafes in Korea, Cafe, museums, museums in Korea, Cafes, Weekend activities in Korea
A friend’s cat recently fell of the top of his 4 story apartment building. The cat is still in the hospital, but after he lived through the first night, it looks like he’ll be OK. Pets are a funny thing, especially while living abroad. At some point, almost everyone considers getting a dog or cat because the distance from and absence of family has that effect. But most people choose to not adopt because their is another option. CAFES! Last week I went downtown to a cat cafe with some friends. Yup, it’s exactly what it sounds like. A cafe full of cats. I expected the place to be shady and dingy with hairballs strewn about and a cat lady hiding under some rags at the register. However, the experience was actually really enjoyable. We ended up staying for almost 3 hours.
Tags: Games, What?, cafes in Korea, cat, Cafes
Although I have yet to experience a jimjilbang, the ultimate place for relaxation, I did enjoy some great downtime at Yang Yang Cat Cafe in Busan, South Korea. I haven't always been the biggest fan of cats, but I was lured in by the promise of a hot beverage, as the weather was a little rainy that day. Little did I know, I would be staying in the cafe long after the weather cleared.
Tags: pets in Korea, busan, pet, cafes in Korea, Cafe, Activities to do in Korea, pets, cat
Right now, Korea is smack in the middle of the infamous monsoon season. While it can make walking to work a little less than pleasant, you can’t let it hamper your free time, especially your weekends. Since the out of doors is particularly damp, hot, and muggy, finding indoors activities is a top priority. Luckily, Seoul has a wide range of things to keep you both dry and busy. You can go the normal route like museums and movies, or you can track down some of the more unusual activities. This weekend’s diversion? The Mustoy Café in Seoul...
Tags: English teachers in Korea, things to do in Korea, things to do on the weekend, free time in korea, what to do in korea, hongdae, art, cafes in Korea, Cafe, Weekend activities in Korea
I’ve been in Korea close to 12 months already. Over the past 11 months, I’ve come to appreciate many of what Korea has to offer to foreigners like myself who choose to live and teach in Korea for a year or more. Personally, I think that the year I’ve been in Korea was well spent. Although I’ve spent much of my time alone, I feel that I’ve come to know myself much better as a result. Korea offers foreigners the chance to explore Asian culture, a comfortable lifestyle, a decent income and a welcoming attitude. What more could you ask for? One of my favorite places to go during my downtime, Cafe Bene. Here’s why.
Tags: coffee in Korea, cafes in Korea, coffee shop, Relaxing in Korea
As I've said before, I'm not crazy about the cold. Yes, I'm from New England, but no, I don't really ski, so winter for me is about the first magical snow (just one please, that's enough) and then of course the oh so mature Christmas countdown. Sometimes January and February can leave me in a kind of funk. But this really hasn't been the case in Korea.
Tags: a year in Korea, winter in Korea, food in Korea, cafes in Korea, what to see in korea, having fun in korea, Cafe, juice, beetlejuice, juice bar, Activities to do in Korea, Weekend activities in Korea
It’s been almost five months since I’ve been teaching English in Korea, and the work week has become somewhat routine. Weekends on the otherhand, is used for exploring Korea either solo or with friends. With Chungdahm Learning hours being in the late afternoon, teachers have the whole morning to themselves. Truth be told, some mornings are spent recovering from hanging out all night at the local bar with friends. However, I tend to head home to my pet poodle, Choco, who is taken for a walk after I get off from work. This is also the time I call friends and family back in the states and chitchat.
Staying in allows me to get up within reasonable hours and make the most out of my day. Today for example, after I took Choco for a walk, I did some house cleaning and headed to the downtown area to handle some errands. It’s relatively easy to get around Korea. I use what’s called a T-Money card, which gives a discounted rate on the bus fare and can also be used in taxicabs. T-Money cards can be purchased in convenient stores, where you can also add money as necessary. Also, the buses run quite frequently, which makes it quite convenient to get around.
Tags: teaching in Korea, a year in Korea, cafes in Korea, teaching at Chungdahm, year in Korea, Transportation in Korea
"You look like you could use an almond milk coffee smoothie with real mint chocolate bits," the man behind the counter caught me off-guard as I stood at the entrance of the store wide-eyed and drooling. "I can make it for you now and you can enjoy it while you shop." I nodded, unable to verbalize my gratitude. "Did he just read my mind?" I thought. Maybe he did, or maybe he just saw me for the sucker that I am, regardless, the drink was beyond amazing and I couldn't help but make a few annoying slurping sounds with my straw as I managed to enjoy each bit of the almond milk deliciousness as I browsed all that High Street Market had to offer.
Tags: High Street Market, a year in Korea, things to do on weekend, cooking in korea, food in Korea, Itaewon, cafes in Korea, foreign products