For those who enjoy visiting scenic spots, enjoy nature and like a light workout, then making a stop at Haneul Park should be on your to do list. Haneul translates to sky. It truly fits this park, because one truly has to put the work to rise into the sky in order to get to this location. The park is located in the top of a small mountain. There are three ways to get to the top of the mountain - ride a golf cart, walk the hike or take the stairs. I opted for the hike. While I would of prefered the golf cart ride, I didn’t want to miss out on the chance to enjoy the nature on the way up. Also, there was a long line in order to wait for a golf cart to take me up. I choose the hike over the stairs, because while the stairs look very cool, they look challenging.
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Tags:
life in Korea,
working in korea,
living in Seoul,
things to do on the weekends,
hiking in korea,
parks in Korea,
outdoor activities,
teaching at CDL
Growing up in Los Angeles, I’d consider myself very health conscious. There is a range to this. LA health can become a parody of itself, with twelve dollar activated charcoal juice and any vegetable you can imagine being “massaged.” Yoga studios charge exorbitant amounts for classes that make you wonder how aligned the practice is from the place it was created. But for each absurdity you encounter when it comes to wellness, there is also gold. While raised in a predominantly Asian and Latinx neighborhood, there was a fruit stand each direction where I could buy a mango bouquet drenched in chili powder and lime as well as decades-old family run acupuncture studios passing down the stunning tradition of cupping therapy. I had the privilege of having access to so much greenery, with mountains skirting through the city, with countless breathtaking hikes that jumped out at you from the freeway. I’d run through the mountains as frequently as I could, so when I got to South Korea, I knew Bukhansan National Park would be my friend. But I was wrong.
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Tags:
Korean mountains,
hiking in korea,
teaching at Chungdahm,
Health in Korea,
Weekend activities in Korea,
hiking in seoul,
growing with Chungdahm,
teaching at CDL,
things to do in seoul,
personal growth
Hiking is one of the most popular recreational activities to do in Korea, and one of the best times to do this in during the Fall. During the Fall in Korea, not only is the temperature cool enough to make the hiking conditions comfortable, but the foliage also provides for many scenic and colorful views. It is for this reason why on a recent Saturday morning in Seoul, my girlfriend and I had signed up for a trip, through meetup, to visit MunGyeong SaeJae, which is located in the heart of Korea. Despite it lightly raining and the temperature being on the chilly side, we dressed warmly and got on a bus which would lead us to our hiking destination. This would be my first hiking trip I have taken during my time teaching in Korea, and I was especially excited for this adventure as the outdoors were currently filled with warm fall colors.
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fall foliage,
hiking,
things to do on the weekends,
hiking in korea,
Weekend activities in Korea,
fall in korea
Fall is Korea's best season! The weather is cooler and the countryside is sprinkled with a palette of Autumn hues and on every street corner there is the constant smell of roasted chestnuts and crisp air. Last week Korea celebrated the Chuseok holiday which leaves a festive atmosphere looming over the country and is one of the first signs Fall has arrived. As a person who has now spent multiple years living and teaching in Korea, I want to provide you with a list of my three favorite Fall activities you should try to ensure you enjoy the final season before the cold of Winter arrives.
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Tags:
fall,
fall foliage,
things to do,
Chuseok,
hiking in korea,
outdoor activities,
Festivals in Korea,
Korean food,
fall in korea,
fall in seoul,
Korea seasons
I have previously written blogs about fun outdoor activities to do in Korea, and today I wanted write about another adventure that I highly recommend for those outdoor enthusiasts to do during their time teaching in Korea. Recently I visited Igidae Park for the fourth time, which is conveniently located less than an hour outside my current city of Busan. Having been reared in the countryside of South Carolina, city life can become overwhelming for me so I am always lookng for new ways to enjoy nature. Igidae Park is an assuring breath of fresh air and provides a two hour walk along the coast of the East Sea. The scenery is impeccable and on clear days you can faintly see the outline of Japan’s coast.
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Tags:
hiking,
busan,
outdoors,
hiking in korea,
outdoor activities,
Weekend activities in Korea
There are plenty of ways to stay active while teaching in Korea. I’ve found this to be particularly true in Busan. Apart from it being a very walk able city (despite its vastness), there are outdoor and indoor outlets for workout activities. As a person who enjoys staying active, this characteristic is important to me of any place. As the days become warmer, I’m anticipating being outside more and exploring the very nearby mountains. But since I arrived in November, I’ve experienced a conventional gym, a bouldering gym, and a hot yoga studio. Keep reading for my thoughts on each!
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Tags:
Exercising in Korea,
gyms in Korea,
hiking in korea
Spring is a popular season in Korea. Plenty of tourists travel to North East Asia to view the Cherry Blossoms, which bloom in Korea and Japan during the month of April. The season begins in March and ends around May, as the temperatures warm up for Summer in June. Spring is also a season for harvesting. It is common to see countryside farmers planting rice and potatoes, as well as sowing seeds and pruning trees. In this blog I will offer a variety of ways you and your friends can enjoy the comfortable spring weather while living and teaching in Korea.
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Tags:
korea bucket list,
outdoors,
hiking in korea,
Spring,
cherry blossoms,
parks in Korea,
outdoor activities,
Recreational activities,
Cafes,
patbingsu,
Festivals in Korea,
picnics in South Korea,
Spring Time,
korea spring
One of the longest breaks you will have as a ChungDahm teacher is during the Korean holiday of Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving). The other major holiday would be Seollnal (Lunar New Years). Whenever these holidays approach, I always take the time to leave the city. In times past, I’ve visited Malaysia, Manila, and Busan. We have had teachers visit Hong Kong and Thailand during this long vacation too. This year, I decided to take time and go to a place that I had been to before but never got a really chance to explore. This place I decided to go back to was Jeju.
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Tags:
things to do on Jeju,
visit Jeju,
things to do in Korea,
vacation spot in Korea,
Vacations in Korea,
vacation,
vacation destinations,
Jeju Island,
hiking,
Chuseok,
hiking in korea,
island of Jeju,
Beaches in Korea,
hiking in south Korea
When people come to teach in Korea, their first instinct is to pick huge cities like Seoul or Busan. Yes, both places have their own charms and personality, however, many people who would like to teach in Korea should look into this gem of a city in the middle of Korea named Daegu.
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Tags:
Foreigner bars,
Daegu,
hiking in korea,
Nightlife in Korea,
hiking in south Korea,
korean bars,
E-World
Summers in Korea are quite active! People are outside and using the long days to fit in as many activities as possible. Luckily, this summer Busan has not experienced a heavy rainy season, often called monsoon season. So I have had many opportunities to do outdoor activities after work or on the weekends, without fear of getting rained out. The best part about many of the outdoor things you can do while teaching in Korea is that they are free!
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Tags:
summer in korea,
camping,
busan,
hiking in korea,
Beaches in Korea
