Last week, I posted part one of my blogs on the annual Lotus Lantern Festival, thrown in honor of Buddha's Birthday in Seoul. After we spent some time last weekend walking around Jogyesa and taking billions of photos of the lanterns, it was time for my favorite part of the festival: the Lantern Parade.
Tags: things to do before leaving korea, festival, festivals, korea bucket list, cultural experience, bucket list, Buddhist Temples, Buddhism, tourist attraction in korea, tourist attractions, Korean traditions, Buddha's Birthday, lotus lantern festival, cultural activities, Buddhist, Holidays in South Korea, Weekend activities in Korea
Next to Dongdaemun Gate is an area of Seoul famous for its countless markets, ranging from clothing to textiles to craft supplies. Now, in the middle of these more traditional markets and hip shopping malls, a structure that looks like something out of a futuristic landscape has finally been unveiled. This spaceship-like building is the new Dongdaemun Design Plaza, and not only is it really, really cool, but possibly one of my new favorite spots to visit in Seoul.
Tags: tourist spots in Korea, things to do on weekend, things to do on the weekend, seoul, things to do, what to do on the weekend, things to see in korea, tourist attraction in korea, tourist attractions, dongdaemun, dongdaemun design plaza, ddp, Weekend activities in Korea
The weather is finally getting warmer and in anticipation of the prime sightseeing and out-of-doors season, I've been revisiting pictures from my past springs and summers in Korea. I can't wait to get out and take full advantage of my upcoming weekends! One of my favorite spots that I'm looking forward to revisiting this springtime is the grandest of the five palaces in Seoul: Gyeongbokgung.
Tags: things to do in Korea, things to do on weekend, seoul, what to do on the weekend, what to see in korea, tourist attraction, museums in Korea, tourist attraction in korea, palaces in Korea, gyeongbokgung, Weekend activities in Korea
Near the end of 2013, years of construction finally came to a close and the Seoul branch of Korea's Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art opened. Located next to Gyeongbok Palace in my favorite area of Seoul, this new museum offers excellent exhibits that range from sculptures, paintings, and interactive installations. I happily spent a few hours there recently and I highly recommend checking it out while you're in Seoul!
Tags: tourist spots in Korea, museum, things to do in Korea, things to do on the weekend, seoul, art, museums, art gallery in korea, museums in Korea, tourist attraction in korea, mmca, mmca seoul, museum of modern and contemporary art, Activities to do in Korea
Well, I should amend that title by saying these are my favorite spots from my first visit to Jeju... I'm sure future visits will introduce me to other places that are equally awesome. My recent Jeju trip was over the Lunar New Year holiday, which was a four-day weekend. The end of January isn't ideal Jeju weather, but it didn't stop us from touring all over the island and thoroughly enjoying ourselves. Here's the best of what I saw...
Tags: islands, teaching in Korea, tourist spots in Korea, things to do before leaving korea, jeju, Jeju Island, things to do on the weekends, what to see in korea, tourist attraction in korea, island, island of Jeju, Weekend activities in Korea
There are quite a few spots around Seoul that offer a breathtaking view of the sprawling city. As a bad knee prevents me from being an avid hiker, I've yet to get a look at the city from the top of one of its numerous mountain peaks. Instead, I opted to check out the famous 63 Building, which sits right on the Han River and gives a chance at a full 360 panorama of Seoul. And let me just say: Seoul is one good looking city.
Tags: teaching in Korea, tourist spots in Korea, south korea, what to do in korea, tourist attraction in korea, Han river, tourist attractions, places to see, 63 building, Weekend activities in Korea
Imagine a warehouse with tiny booths packed so full of beads and yarn and fabrics they look ready to explode. Then imagine narrow little aisles sprawling out into an impossible maze. Multiply this by a thousand and put it into six floors of a building. Voila, you have Seoul's Dongdaemun Fabric and Craft Market. It's a total sensory overload of colors and textures and people, but for the crafty DIYer, it's basically heaven.
Tags: seoul, Korea, shopping in Korea, markets, traditional market, art, tourist attraction, tourist attraction in korea, dongdaemun, crafts
A trip to Samcheok on Korea's east coast isn't complete without a visit to one of its best tourist destinations: Hwanseon Cave. I'd never been in a large cave before, so I was seriously excited to check out one that boasted being not only the "largest limestone cave in Korea," but also one of the largest in all of Asia. I recently took a weekend trip with some friends who were visiting from the U.S. and the cave was just as awe-inspiring as we were hoping.
Tags: nature in Korea, samcheok, hwanseongul, hwanseon cave, teaching in Korea, tourist attraction in korea, Activities to do in Korea, outdoor activities, Weekend activities in Korea
This year, Korea's Chuseok holiday fell on a Thursday, meaning we would have Wednesday-Friday off from teaching. A glorious 5-day weekend is a rare thing, so I was resolved to go somewhere awesome this year. As I watched airplane tickets to international destinations steadily climb in price, I turned to domestic spots. I'd been eyeing Ulleungdo for over a year, with it hovering near the top of my Korea Bucket List, and I quickly realized that the Chuseok weekend was a prime opportunity.
Tags: islands, ulleungdo, dokdo, teaching in Korea, things to do before leaving korea, vacation spot in Korea, Vacations in Korea, vacation destinations, korea bucket list, Chuseok, tourist attraction, tourist attraction in korea, Activities to do in Korea, island, makgeolli, Beaches in Korea
This past weekend, I was excited to be able to cross another destination off my ever growing Korea Bucket List: Namiseom. This gorgeous, half moon shaped island has always looked appealing with its famous tree-lined paths and photogenic surroundings, so some fellow English teachers and I took full advantage of its proximity to Seoul and took an excellent day trip to the island!
Tags: islands, teaching in Korea, Korea, south korea, korea bucket list, what to do in korea, life in Korea, nami island, chuncheon, winter in Korea, bucket list, entertainment in Korea, what to see in korea, tourist attraction, Korean Dramas, tourist attraction in korea, Activities to do in Korea, island, nami, namiseom, Weekend activities in Korea