The word hike, by definition, is a long walk. In Korea, this could mean lots of different things. On one hand, with my school trips, it usually means a long walk on a paved surface with minimal incline. On the other hand, it could mean 3 hours of wondering why the heck you made your outfit decisions, and deciding in your head which of your friends you’ll eat first because that banana you had for breakfast just isn’t cutting it anymore. Our trip up and over Geumjangsan falls somewhere in the middle. Nobody died, though, and that’s a plus. The chance to make and take home a big bucket of makgeolli at the end of the hike was a pretty good reward. The pots of gold at the end, guys. They exist.
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An adventure in tetanus avoidance! Hooray!
This post will be presented almost completely void of any interesting informational bits because my friends and I literally know nothing about this wonderful little rusty abandoned water park. We assume it was open in the early 2000s, we also assume it was closed around 5 years ago. My guess would be longer, because nature has almost reclaimed the space completely. The property itself is really interesting because there’s a large outdoor slide, indoor swimming spaces, a spa, and a few hagwon spaces inside. I’d like to shake the hand of the guy who thought it would be a good idea to put classrooms (with windows) next to the giant slide area. Read More
One of the worst decisions I’ve made whilst living in the ROK has to be the time that I decided that I was fully capable of snowboarding without proper lessons. I headed out, board in hand, prepared to take on the snow with my limited knowledge of long boards and skiing, ready to “tear it up”, or whatever it is the kids say nowadays. For some reason, I was convinced that it wouldn’t be a big deal. I was so wrong.Read More
New Year’s Eve (not to be confused with Lunar New Year) in Korea tends to be a bit more laid back than what I’m used to in the US. That doesn’t mean that it’s any less enjoyable, though. Especially this year, when we decided to rent a pension on the beach.Read More
The Busan International Fireworks Festival is a free annual event held at Gwangalli Beach at the beginning of fall. The festival is a massive event complete with fireworks, lasers, live music, and lots of free seating right on the beach.
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Nampo has got to be one of my favorite areas in Busan. It’s got everything – food, clothes, cameras, cafes, temples, performances – you name it, it’s there. Whatever it is that you’re looking for, be it Obama socks or used books, you’ll find it in Nampo. That’s why, when a few months ago, I stumbled upon a vintage clothing labyrinth in Gukje Market, my heart exploded with a brand new love for Nampo-dong.
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