temple

Seonamsa Temple

A UNESCO World Heritage site, Seonamsa Temple, home to the Korean Jogyesan Buddhist order, is tucked into the mountains a 45min rural bus ride away from Suncheon in Jeollanam-do, South Korea. This place has been on my Korean bucket list since I knew I was moving to Jeollanamdo, but in my year and a halfContinue reading “Seonamsa Temple”

The Temples of Hanoi

Hanoi has temples hidden across the city. Every neighborhood has one. Some are Buddhist or Daoist temples; others are Confucian temples or ancestral shrines built to honor famous Vietnamese heroes. To the average tourist without much experience in eastern religions, it can be hard to differentiate between Buddhist, Daoist, and Confucian temples and some ancestralContinue reading “The Temples of Hanoi”

Hanoi

It’s easy to see the beauty of Hanoi, but for some visitors, it may be hard to look past the chaos and the hustlers trying to make a dollar or two off of fixing your shoe or making you buy their product. At times these ‘scams’ feel violating and can be very unsettling, especially whenContinue reading “Hanoi”

Explore Busan

Busan, can you be redeemed? Unfortunately, my first trip to Busan 부산 left me with a sour taste in my mouth that I had yet to shake. I hope that by spending a few days here, my mind could be changed, and I could fall in love with the city. After an hour and aContinue reading “Explore Busan”

Jumunjin Fish Market and Nakasansa Temple

On my second day in Gangneung 강릉시, I traveled to Jumunjin Fish Market 강릉 주문진수산시장, where people travel around the country to purchase the fresh and dried fish that the market is famous for. It is a haven for those who enjoy smoking up the atmosphere of a place with an odd, fishy smell, theContinue reading “Jumunjin Fish Market and Nakasansa Temple”

3 Free and Peacful Spots in Seoul

There is something magical and almost fourteen feeling about parks in major cities. Even if the park doesn’t surround you by nature, they often still possess the power to transport us from the city’s noise to a place of peace. This is true of Cheonggyecheon Stream 청계천. Once covered by a major highway Cheonggyecheon StreamContinue reading “3 Free and Peacful Spots in Seoul”

A Lasting Impression Busan Part 1

I’ve started and stopped writing this blog several times. For a city that I have been excited to visit since before I even came to Korea I’m having trouble speaking about it. There is one thing that happened on this trip that has really changed my outlook on my future here in Korea, but IContinue reading “A Lasting Impression Busan Part 1”