Stories from the other side.
We started watching Korean serials, dramas, and mainstream movies to get a better understanding of the language and cultural nuances. In the popular Korean series: Stranger, also featured in the list of ‘Best International Shows of 2017’ by the New York Times, (spoiler alert) the protagonist is transferred to Namhae for exposing corruption in the…
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Last June (2019), we rented a car and travelled around the southern part of the Korean Peninsula. We normally travel, in South Korea, only during public holidays or long weekends. It took us a while to realise that we hadn’t explored so much of the country and we decided to spend our summer holidays in…
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We spent most of last year travelling around South Korea. Every opportunity or holiday was converted to a weekend getaway from Seoul. Our trips were spontaneous and planned on the spot. We wanted to explore paths that were off the popular tourist radar and closer to nature. Last April (2019), we explored the city of…
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“And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” ― Paulo Coelho I started this year on a positive note. We had spent Christmas in Uzbekistan and the change of scenery had done wonders for me. January, the coldest winter month, wasn’t over; but I had found ways to beat…
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Chuseok is the long Korean Thanksgiving Holiday that prompts mass migrations across the country. We were lucky to get two bus tickets for Sokcho (from Dong Seoul Bus Terminal) last September. We spent the first two days at Seoraksan National Park and hiked to the peak of Ulsanbawi. We moved back to Sokcho City after…
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Namsan is our favourite mountain in Seoul. It’s reasonably small (can be confused for a hill) and is easily accessible from Myeongdong Station (opposite UNIQLO). The mountain has multiple access points (Itaewon, Noksapyeong, & Hannam) and trails. We’ve walked along most of them, but there could be many routes that we’ve not explored. Namsan (NSeoul…
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Last November, Basil coaxed me to join him on a work trip to Jeju. I usually prefer to stay back in Seoul and stick with my routine. But I’d also just come back to Korea — after an annual monthlong trip of visiting family and friends. I was glum and Seoul’s dipping temperatures weren’t doing…
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Driving in Jeju Jeju is South Korea’s paradise island and is perfect for a weekend getaway from Seoul. Travelling around Jeju can be quite a task with its crawling transport system — often making distances appear farther away. We had tried tourist transport, local buses, and taxis on our earlier trips. Last June, Basil finally…
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It was Christmas morning (2019) and the weather was unusually warm for winter. Our second road trip, in Uzbekistan, would take us from Bukhara to Samarkand. Most tours skip Shakrisabz — cutting down the travel time by a couple of hours. Shakrisabz is a hidden gem and definitely worth a visit. Chor Minor Madrassah We…
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Travel helps me escape lines. I can be who I am — without having to conform — to the lines that people draw around me. I can be the story I want to write. I can live the picture that I photograph. I can find acceptance in random acts of kindness. I can draw parallels…
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