As winter rears its sometimes unforgiving head in Seoul, I reflect on the times in the country where I actually leave my officetel. One of the most tender and important was a weekend I spent just a bus ride away outside the city, spent in Paju and Imjingak. I stumbled into many gems in terms of sightseeing, but that’s only the first draw to return. It was the love and energy people gifted me with while I was there that make me plan my next trip now.
Read MoreTags: things to do on the weekend, Weekend activities in Korea, teach and travel,, traveling
Seollal, or Lunar New Year, is one of the holidays celebrated in South Korea, along with other countries like Japan, Indonesia, Cambodia, and places with a large Chinese diasporic population. In South Korea, it is one of the most important holidays of the year, in which loved ones congregate in festivities that can last for three days. People travel far and wide to spend time with family, dress up in hanbok, the traditional garb, and perform rituals of filial piety and ancestral worship. They play folk games and eat traditional foods like tteok, rice cake, and jeon, savory pancakes.
Read MoreTags: Lunar New Year, Holidays in South Korea, New Year's in South Korea, teach and travel,, traveling, seollal
One of the best parts of living in South Korea is it’s a hop, jump, and a skip away from a myriad of destinations within Asia. With the popularity of budget airlines like AirAsia, it’s easier than ever to go on that trip into the Mongolian desert or the temples of Cambodia. One of the most impressive places to go is the Philippines, which is where my family and roots are. There’s many a blog by teachers about their trips to the archipelago, detailing the bliss you find from escaping the bitter Korean winter to an island paradise like Boracay or Palawan. Going to any of those locations for holiday is a guaranteed good time.
Read MoreTags: Southeast Asia, teach and travel,, traveling, Traveling Asia
Taking the first steps of an adventure is almost never an easy ordeal. You have all these questions that zoom in and out of your head adding to the list before you can even answer the first ones that popped up. Will it work out? Will I be happy? What if I get lost? What if I do something wrong? What if a giant prehistoric creature ascends from the oceans and battles a giant moth? Ok, maybe that last one was a horrible reference to Godzilla vs Mothra but you get the idea.
Read MoreTags: applying to teach English, teach and travel,, traveling, growing with Chungdahm, chungdham, aclipse, Traveling Asia
Traveling is the major reason I chose English teaching as a profession. I love to travel...and becoming an ESL instructor made my dreams come true, having traveled to 42 countries in the past six years. For me, this is an accomplishment - one I know will be a part of my identity for many years to come.
If you love to travel, engage with other cultures, learn new languages and see things you never dreamed of; then choosing ESL might be the right path for you!
Read MoreTags: Teach in Asia, vacation destinations, teach in Korea, Teach English in Asia, teach and travel,, travel, traveling
Dreaming of an island getaway? Wondering what exotic places you can travel to while living and teaching in Korea? Think...Coconuts in hand, pristine beaches, and world class snorkeling; the Philippines is a value-for-money destination that is only a three-hour flight from Incheon International Airport.
Read MoreTags: islands, international, philippines, islands of korea, teach and travel,, travel, traveling
When you are teaching in Korea and have a 3 day weekend working for ChungDahm or April, it's always worth your while to take a mini vacation if you can afford it. Now that I am splitting my time between teaching ChungDahm and April Academy, I am getting more time off. Knowing that Lunar New Year would be coming up, my friend and I realized how expensive those tickets would be. So we decided to go on our trip the weekend before the major holiday. She had never been to Osaka or Kyoto so we decided to see if we could spend one day in Osaka and one day in Kyoto. My advice would be to not do it. A one day trip to either place is not nearly enough time to soak in what each city has to offer. There is so much to see and do in both places, you will not do either city its justice. Many teachers love to go to Osaka because it is only a 2 hour flight from Incheon International Airport (ICN) to Kansai International Airport (KIX). The last time I took this trip, we spent a full day at Universal Studios Japan (Osaka) and toured the following day. However, many teachers don't realize how close, how beautiful, and how historic Kyoto is. Here was my to-do list for traveling to Kyoto.
Read MoreTags: Japan from Korea, vacation, vacation destinations, japan, Osaka, Kyoto, visit japan, teach and travel,, traveling, weekend travel, seollal
Korea does not come to mind, when I think of white sand beaches and blue sunny skies. However, with a little bit of digging during my time teaching in Korea, I discovered that Korea does indeed have white sand beaches and places that have a beach culture. Coming from South Africa myself I decided to search for a piece of Summer paradise by traveling and experiencing various places in Korea. Over the years, I fell in love with a few beaches in Korea that are situated in various provinces all over the country and have come to choose my favorite beaches according to my mood and vibe I would like to enjoy during a weekend getaway.
Read MoreTags: things to do in Korea, summer in korea, mudfest in korea, daechon, Trips in Korea, Jeju Island, things to see in korea, getaway, Gangwondo, busan, Tongyeong, Beaches in Korea, teach and travel,, weekend travel
Spring is just around the corner! I look forward to the blooming cherry blossoms, blue skies and delicious strawberries everywhere! Korea is a popular travel destination during the months of April and May, because of the great weather and stunning Spring atmosphere. The scenery is magnificent, from the Canola flowers growing inside Mt. Hallasan's crater to the perfectly pictured Yeoido Cherry Blossom trees. Korea really is superb during this season and there are a lot of festivals to celebrate the arrival of Spring in Korea!
Read MoreTags: Korean countryside, Korean culture, things to do in Korea, festivals, Spring, outdoor activities, cultural activities, teach and travel,, Spring Time, weekend travel, adventure
Gangwondo province, located in the mid-Eastern part of the peninsula, boasts some of the best scenic landscapes and vacation spots in Korea. The province, which is only 2 hours from Seoul, is a wonderful place to escape no matter the time of year. It is famous for its white sand beaches, hiking trails and scenic views. While living and teaching in Korea, you must plan a trip to Gangwondo. Every season has its own unique theme and beauty. Plan the ideal trip that you want, in the Fall, Summer or Winter!
Read MoreTags: Gangwondo, Sokcho, teach and travel,, weekend travel, adventure