“Oppa is Gangnam style Gangnam style” In 2012, Psy turned into an instant YouTube sensation with the catchy song, “Gangnam Style“. And even if, very few truly understood what or what about he was singing; Gangnam would soon become Seoul’s top tourist draw. Back then, neither the beat nor lyrics particularly appealed to me and I couldn’t understand the need…
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Nature has a way of helping you cope with change. There’s a brief interlude before the onslaught of severe cold or heat. These intervals don’t last for very long; but give you the respite, you’d need, to handle the difficult months to come. After a cold, seemingly never-ending winter and a chaotic trip back home; I…
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For a person with a fear of heights; the earth can be an incredibly flat place to explore. At a young age, you learn to take the longer path around and avoid anything that can make you crumble to your knees. You can never see peaks — only mountains of fear. It’s hard to explain the fear of…
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The cherry blossoms have faded away, trees have got new leaves, and warm days are around the corner. This period opens a fantastic gateway to exploring Korean mountains. Last year, a heat wave swept across the country (like many other parts of Asia) making it extremely difficult to hike or even travel. That’s when, you…
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Surviving a cold winter isn’t easy. The days are short, the sun becomes a mythical entity, a sheath of white spreads over, and winds blow from lands — you’d probably never get to see. In Seoul, the streets often resemble Gotham city, with skyscrapers reflecting the darkness a million times over — doing nothing to lift your fallen spirit or…
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On most prominent public holidays, Seoul resembles a zombie town. I’d only heard about it and never experienced it until Lunar New Year last month. For starters, getting out of Seoul becomes a nightmare. If you have a car, it’s best to leave in the wee hours (around 2 AM) of the morning. For the rest of us…
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“Only those who attempt the absurd can achieve the impossible.” ― Albert Einstein Being ordinary can be a good thing. No-one really expects anything from you. No-one expects you to scale mountains or walk under water. Or fly like a bird to cast shadows below or walk without wanting to reach anywhere. No-one expects you to use hand…
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In January, Gangwan-do province is a hub for snow festivals, skiing, and ice fishing. Taebaeksan National Park hosts an annual Snow Festival, in the second week of January, when temperatures dip to an all-time low. Taebaeksan is also popular for its sunrise view hike. I generally avoid festivals and tourism events. But, I felt the need to escape Seoul, city life, and…
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I’ve always struggled with ‘faith’. The battle to believe in the heavens is as hard as the one to believe in myself. From believer to cycnic, my thoughts and beliefs often oscillate between blind hope and indifference. And yet, Christmas has always been special for me. It symbolised new beginnings, family, and a reason to be happy. Unlike…
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Gangwan-do province is popular for its captivating mountain views, dense national parks, ski resorts, and scenic beaches. In winter, a sheath of white covers the region, making it a hub for local snow festivals and hiking enthusiasts. For the Christmas break, we chose to visit Pyeongchang county — the venue of the 2018 Winter Olympics. Pyeongchang is an hour…
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