By mid-November (2021), we had shipped our boxes and had nearly emptied our apartment. We had a couple of weekends left before we would move out of our rental apartment (in Seoul) to an Airbnb in Mapo. With most of the packing and paperwork sorted, we were now ready to bid farewell to our friends.…
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This post is a continuation of our Seoul farewell series of November, 2021. Every weekend, we’d revisit an iconic monument or a spot that held a special place in our hearts. After visiting Gilsang-sa Temple and the Seoul Wall (Baegaksan Trail), we followed it up by hiking Namsan on the next weekend. We had visited…
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Autumn is one of the best times to visit Korea. Seoul puts on a fantastic display of colour and every street is pretty. And, if you have the time, quiet walks — in nondescript streets — are just the thing to do. For me, autumn was the perfect transition between summer and winter. The mountains…
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No one can prepare you for expat life. It’s hard. It’s exciting. It builds you up — only to tear you down again. Add a raging pandemic to the equation and you’re set for an experience that you’d never forget. My dear friend, Teresa, left Seoul a-year-and-a-half before me. We couldn’t even say our farewells…
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Hangang River at Banpo Chuseok (or Korean Thanksgiving Festival) is a long holiday period in South Korea. It was always hard for us to get out of Seoul before the crowds picked up. So, we started our own tradition of hiking on Chuseok. However, during the pandemic, we spent most of our public holidays either…
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The Drive to Hwanseongul Cave Idyllic countryside roads of Gangwon Province Mountains of Gangwon Province After spending about three days in Gangneung (read all about it here and here), we drove further south to explore Samcheok City. Samcheok is also located along South Korea’s picturesque East Coast and is a part of Gangwon Province. Like…
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In the summer of 2020, when South Korea had managed to contain the active Covid cases below 50 per day, we took a week-long exploratory road trip along the east coast. Gangeung (강릉시), a city in Gangwon Province (강원도), was the starting point of our trip from Seoul. The city is divided into multiple regions…
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It’s best to avoid travel during public holidays in South Korea. Tickets get sold out early and getting out of Seoul can be a nightmare. We generally spent most of the major public holidays like Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) and Seollal (Korean New Year) either at home, hiking a local mountain, or cycling along the Han…
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Most writers have their fair share of irrational fears and insecurities. However, none are as compelling as the fear of losing one’s ability to put words to paper — to build stories from nothing. Can you ever forget how to write? This question plagued me during the course of the last 3 years. Do you…
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South Korea has imposed Level 2 social distancing across the country. Please avoid nonessential travel and check for local government updates before planning a trip. Some tourist sights and places of worship might be closed to contain the spread of the virus. Always wear a mask and don’t forget to wash your hands. Stay at…
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