Singapore

During my winter vacation I escaped from the cold of Korea to the heat and humidity of Southeast Asia. My taste of the Malay Peninsula began in Singapore where I spent the Christmas holiday with my friend and her welcoming family.

Singapore is a city-state off the southern tip of the Malaysian Peninsula. It is often regarded as one of the most enjoyable cities in Southeast Asia and has become a major destination for both visitors and businesses alike. The bustling city is filled with towering skyscrapers, rising modern marvels, and ample green space.

Singapore has enough attractions to keep you busy for days on end. The Singapore Zoo is one of the most popular destinations as well as top ranked on a global scale. The open design with hidden barriers creates a natural and interactive environment for visitors. One can easily spend an entire day wandering through the zoo and enjoying its many exhibits, shows, and interactive experiences such as “Breakfast with Orangutans”. 

The Singapore Zoo.

Modern-day features such as The Marina Bay Sands and Universal Studios, shopping on Orchard Road, and legendary food comprise the city. While Singapore is known for its many contemporary sites, authentic and cultural experiences can still be found. Since the island is populated by mostly Chinese, Malays, and Indians, various temples and traditional communities dot the city. One of which is the Sri Mariamman Temple, Singapore's oldest Hindu temple.

The city skyline at night.

Chinatown

The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple.

The view from the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple.

The Sri Mariamman Temple.

Overall, I really enjoyed Singapore. It’s a beautiful city with plenty to do and at times, the westernized aspects reminded me of the cities back in the states. Nonetheless, there were many cultural treasurers that made it feel unique in its own rite.

New Year's Eve in Seoul

Every New Year’s, thousands of Koreans gather in the streets of Seoul to watch the ringing of Boshingak Bell. Bringing in the New Year in Seoul was an exhilarating experience. At the stroke of midnight, the bell rang and the sky filled with fireworks as everyone roared with pure excitement. The celebration included an endless supply of roman candles, traditional drummers, performances, and drunk Koreans dancing in the streets having a great time. 

 

Celebrating Korean style!

Happy New Year!

Palaces of Seoul

Seoul is usually known for its urban sprawl, skyscrapers, and neon lights. However, there are numerous historical treasures spread throughout the second most populated city in the world. Seoul was founded in 18 B.C. and has developed a storied history over the past 2,000+ years. It was the capital of Korea even during the Joseon Dynasty and the Korean Empire. The city is home to four UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Changdeokgung, one of Seoul’s “Five Grand Palaces."

The “Grand Palaces” were built by the kings of the Joseon Dynasty who ruled the peninsula for nearly five centuries. Unfortunately, many of palaces were damaged and destroyed by the Japanese during their invasion of Korea. Yet, some of the original structures still stand today and many portions have been restored to their former glory. The palaces are a beautiful cultural experience and easily accessible by the Seoul Metro. Most are within walking distance from one another.

Changdeokgung

Changgyeonggung

My favorites are Changdeokgung and Changgyeonggung because of their peaceful gardens and city backdrop. Both palaces are directly next to each other. 

Seoraksan National Park

A couple weeks ago, Blair and I ventured the 6 hour bus ride from Daegu to Sokcho for some fall foliage. Sokcho is a city located on the northeastern coast of Korea, not far from the North Korean border.  The city is known as a gateway to nearby Seoraksan National Park, where we spent most of our weekend.

Seoraksan is one of Korea’s most popular national parks and is listed as a tentative UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park is known for its stunning natural beauty, rare flora and fauna, and Buddhist temples. From the park’s main entrance there are many trails, with some peaks measuring over 1,200 meters above sea level, as well as access to a cable car.  We decided to hike the Biryong Falls and Ulsanbawi courses.

The Biryong Falls course is a short hike from the main entrance. “Biryong” literally means a flying dragon. It is believed that “long ago, the villagers suffered from a dire drought. The villagers found that a dragon had stopped the flow of the stream from the fall. They offered a maid as a sacrifice and the dragon disappeared into the sky, thus letting the stream flow once again."

The Biryong Falls Course.

The Ulsanbawi course is a longer hike and known as one of the park’s more difficult hikes. The top is 876m high, where you can enjoy panoramic views of Daecheongbong (the highest peak), Sokcho, and the East Sea. According to legend, Ulsanbawi comes from the city of Ulsan in southeastern Korea. It is said that on its way to the making of Kumgangsan, the rock fell in love with Seorak and decided to stay there for good.

The Ulsanbawi Course.

Seoraksan is a beautiful national park, the fall foliage made it even more enjoyable. The park has amazing scenery and plenty of great hiking opportunities.

The view of the East Sea in Sokcho.

Busan Jagalchi Festival

Another festival we went to was the Busan Jagalchi Festival. Jagalchi is Korea's largest seafood market. Every October, the market hosts a large festival under the slogan, “Oiso! Boiso! Saiso! (“Come! See! Buy!”).  The festival has various events and hands-on activities, including a parade, live entertainment, barehanded fishing, and octopus relay races. 

The entrance of Jagalchi.

Squid Being unloaded from the boats.

Around the market.

Blair fishing for our dinner.

Our freshly caught fish being grilled. 

The Busan Jagalchi Festival was a fun day out. Fish markets are great way to experience Korean culture. I always have a lot of fun exploring them.