6 Places to Experience Seoul Fall

Autumn is my favorite season, Korean fall is known for its colorful leaves and it's definitely the most beautiful season here.

1- Seokchonhosu Lake: Such a pretty place, the lake is the attraction in summer time, the trees lined up all around he lake are the main attraction in autumn. Seeing the colored trees reflected in the water is just gorgeous. It's a lovely walk.

2- Olympic park: this park is my favorite place in the whole world. It's beautiful in every season. However, it is extra beautiful in autumn. I could spend the whole day there.

3- Namsan: whether you're a tourist or you are an expat in Korea. You just must visit Namsan in autumn. It's a charming mountain, hiking or riding the cable car, either one would make you happy.

4- Seoul grand park: A big park with breathtaking views, warm autumn food is sold in the park and Seoul Zoo is nearby.

5- Jeong-dong: romantic walk around the neighborhood, bright autumn colors all over the place and sometimes, if you're lucky, you get to see an art display.

6- Gyeongbokgung Palace: It's a must see palace. The mountains surrounding it, the ponds, the pavilion and the trees.

4 Sex Parks Around Korea

Warning: this post contain adult contents. 18+ years old.

When travelers think about South Korea, they think about the delicious food, old culture, pretty hanok houses and modern buildings. They never think about the sex museums in Korea. There are few sex parks and museums around the country to break the taboo issue of sex.

1- Love Land Jeju Island:

Ok, I have to say this place is the best of the sex parks. It's located on a beautiful island and was built in a beautiful location. It has more than 140 works of penis, vagina and naked sculptures. There is a sex toy shop inside the park. This is a must visit place while in Jeju.

Operating hours: 9:00AM to midnight.

Admission: 9,000KW.

http://www.jejuloveland.com/eng.html

2- Samcheok Penis Park:

This place has a breath taking view, just climb up the hill and look down at the ocean, listen to the waves and birds' chirping. The natural beauty will make you forgot where you are for a while. Then again, when you look around you, you will see giant penises at every corner, even way up on the hill outside of the park, street vendors are selling penis souvenirs.

Actually, the legend behind the park is sad. A young virgin drowned in the sea while waiting for her lover to come back.

3- Love Castle, Gyeongju:

Personally, I liked Love Land better, but nonetheless, this love castle is also fun and surrounded by beautiful nature. It has a lot of erotic art, sculptures and red light district photo booth.

4- The Museum of Sex & Health, Jeju:

A showcase of sex education and international sex culture from all around. 

http://www.sexmuseum.or.kr/

A Road Trip To Taean National Park

Taean is one of the most beautiful places on the east coast of Korea. The best way to travel around Taean is by a motorbike. As you drive the bike, you feel the wind, you drive through the hills and pass by the ocean.
Such a great city full of friendly people, but we couldn’t find any western food there. Fried chicken and pizza were the only things that weren’t Korean food.

We stayed in a pension called Pension Bronze, for 50,000KW, our first night there. The owner was an old lady. She was really friendly and the pension was 2 minutes away from the beach and had a very cute pink room. The only problem there was the hot water.

On the following morning we visited Taean Temple, which is lovely but the roads need to be improved. Then we went to the Recreational Forest, had the best walk between the pine trees. A place you should totally visit during your Taean trip, you just can't miss it.

Buddha's huge statue.

At that night we stayed at Don Beach motel, for 40,000KW we've got a room with ocean view, air con, cable and DVD. Pretty cheap, right?

On the last day we went to the Anmyondo Jurassic Park museum. The museum is located on the top of a hill and has a beautiful view. The museum operates from Tuesday-Sunday. Closed on Mondays. The admission fee: 10,000W for adults, 4,000 for children and 8,000 for teens.

Dinosaur and a naked Greek statue?

For more information, please click on the link below.
http://anmyondojurassic.com/en/

7 Places to Eat Out in Asan

Whether you like Korean food or international food, you will find your taste for sure. There are plenty of restaurants in the area. Some are traditional Korean food and some are foreign food and some fusion restaurants. There are good restaurants, okay restaurants and there are bad ones.

1- Asan new town, known as “Fake Europe:” you can find almost whatever food you want there. Korean, Italian, Thai, Vietnamese, Mexican, Filipino. And countless cafes all around.

Cantina, the Mexican place, is a popular spot for the local expats in the area. It's always busy, the atmosphere is nice and the owner is very friendly. The food is a bit pricey for the portion size they serve.

2- Eating at Pentaport: I pretty much went to all of the restaurants there. Don't try the restaurants in the basement E-mart food court because upstairs there are way better restaurants. Here's the best food spots there:

A) Fun Fish: I'm insanely in love with this sushi and salad bar buffet. It's just so good. The food is amazing and the staff are friendly. Recommended to go during dinner time. 30,000W per person.

B) Saint Augustin: it brings flavors of Thailand to your table. The dishes prices are high but they serve big portions that are enough for two people or you can take the leftovers home. I liked all of the dishes I had there, not the Tom Yam soup, though.

Red Beef Curry, Thai food

100. Outback Steak House: Yes, of course Outback is on the list with their lovely but expensive steak and their seasonal menu, yum.

500. Coco shabu shabu and salad bar: Only if you like shabu shabu. The soup was really good and flavorful. However, the salad bar was awful.

E) Abiko Japanese curry: offers curry and noodles with Japanese taste. Some of the curry dishes are listed in numbers of how spicy it is. Never order numbers 4 and 5, those two are crazy spicy.

F) Bubble Tok: the best bubble tea in Asan and Cheonan.

G) Lucycato Dessert Cafe: I really like their macaroons.

3- Eating at Blue Crystal Village: I tried few places there and I liked Casa Mingo coffee and brunch place, they offer panini, salad, pasta, soup and coffee.

Cheese and tomato panini

Just walk around the village and I'm sure you'll find an attractive restaurant! You can chose from Chinese, not authentic Mediterranean food, fried chicken and more.

4- Eating at Lottemart: in the top of Lottemart, across street from Cheonan/Asan KTX station, there are many restaurants, some of them are pricey, try to avoid them if you're on budget.

5- Eating at E-Mart Traders food court: it offers chicken baked bread, pizza, steak and soup.

6- Eating at Galleria: It's a shopping mall with a big food court, Italian, burger, Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean food.

7- Eating at the KTX station: there are some restaurants and cafes inside the station with good prices. Don't expect much, the food is okay there, not great.

Things to do in Asan, South Korea

The Asan area is famous for the hot springs, which are now turned to popular spas. Whether you're visiting or living in Asan, you might think there is not much to do other than getting pampered in a spa.

Actually, there is a lot to do if you know where to go and what to eat. :)

Places to go and things to do:

1- Spa, of course. Since you're visiting Asan you should go to one of the famous spas and some of them have water parks during the summer. Spavis is the best known spa in the area. Paradise Spa Dogo and Hot Spring hotel in Onyang Oncheon offer you a relaxing stay with a sauna.

2- Oeam-ri folk village: take a trip through time and visit a historical village to get to know how Koreans have lived in the past.

3- Hyeonchungsa Shrine: it's the shrine of general Lee Sun-Shin, a national hero. A beautiful garden with a pond surrounding the temple and the houses.

Hyeonchungsa

4- Onyang folk museum: a closer look at Korean culture and traditional households.

5- Gongseri Catholic church: a historical church with gorgeous architecture.

6- Pinnacle Land.

7- Bonggoksa Temple.

8- Botanical Garden: a thousand species of flowers.

9- Sinjeong Lake: some call it a resort but it isn't, it's just a lake. Nonetheless, it's still a nice walk, especially during autumn as the leaves change colors and during the spring when cherry blossom are in full bloom.

Sinjeong Lake

10- Soonchunhyang University: Only recommended to visit during the cherry blossom season. A walk around the university will take your breath away, hundreds of trees in full bloom in white and pink. And usually there's a festival goes on in Spring there. 

Soonchunhyang university 

11- Asan rail bike: get around the countryside by pedaling.

12- Blue Crystal Village: Mediterranean style architecture with nice-ish cafes and restaurants. It's a nice walk for sure.

visitkorea.or.kr

13- Pentaport: there are many things to do in Pentaport. Watch a movie at CGV theaters. Go clothes shopping at Moda stores, a bit pricey. Food shopping at E-Mart. Shoot zombies in the arcade. Get a fancy and relaxing massage at Amia. 

Chuncheon, a Fun Destination

Chuncheon has been always one of my favorite cities in Korea. Actually it was the reason I wanted to visit Korea. Years ago I watched a popular Korean drama “Winter Sonata” which was filmed in Chuncheon and showed the beautiful nature of it, I put it in my bucket list. When I visited it the first time, I wasn't disappointed and that's the reason why I keep coming back and visiting again.

There are many outdoors and indoors activities in Chuncheon you can enjoy.

1-Nami island is a must-see, whether you liked the drama or no. You should go for a day trip and enjoy the island or rent a bungalow by the riverside for the night. You can take the ferry to the island or zip-line your way to it.

The island offers you beautiful nature and fun activities, Here are some things you could do:

a- ride the UNICEF charity train around the island. 2,000W one way.

b- rent a bicycle. 3,000W for 30 minutes per person.

c- get on an electric car-tour bus. 5,000W per person.

d- tour the lake in a motorboat. 40,000W for 5 people.

e- zip-line. 38,000W that include the entry fee to the island.

There are a lot of cafes and restaurants around the island and souvenir shops, of course.

2-Cheongpyeongsa Temple.

3-Jungdo Island

4-Jade Gardens, where the Korean dramas Full House 2 and Love Rain were filmed.

5-Soyangho Lake

6-Gangchon Recreational Area.

7-Bungee Jumping, if you love adventure.

8-Walk around the lake.

9-Swim in the river. Follow road 65 under the bridge in Sa Bok Myeon, Otan Ri. There's a nice spot where you can swim.

10-Canoeing. We used West Canoe company. They didn't speak much English, however, they were very nice and friendly to us.

11-Ride a rail-bike.

12-Animation Museum. It's a very cute place, but it's definitely for children.

Eating in Chuncheon:

Oh boy, there are plenty of good restaurants over there. I was impressed with the food.

1- Ramos Burger, this is my favorite. Oh my god, heavenly food. The food and the service were outstanding. The best burger I have ever had and chili french fries. I'll be eating there when I go to Chuncheon again. Check them out on Facebook @ ramosburger.

Chili French Fries

Beef Burger with shrimp and Mango Salad

2- Myeong Dong Bak Ga restaurant in Myeong-Dong area. Dalkalbi is one of the best Korean dishes and Chuncheon is famous for its delicious dalkalbi. This restaurant took the dish to a new level of yumminess. They add udon noodles to the chicken and sweet potatoes and veggies. Check out the website: www.mdbg.co.kr

Dalkalbi

3- Buckwheat Cafe and Restaurant, when we ordered I noticed that the prices were a bit high for the two dishes we ordered, but I realized I was wrong when the food came! The first course came, soup and bread and salad, then the main dishes came and the portions were huge. Each dish was enough for two people for sure. The food was tasty and comforting. I ate a lot there and I have no regret. The service was good.

Adderss: Gangwon-do Chuncheon-si, su myeon, hyeon am-ri 697-3

Phone: (033) 244-6080

Chicken Fried Rice

Cheese Pasta

4- Jacaranda cafe, they serve pizza, pasta, and pork cutlet and drinks. Most of the dishes include pork. The prices are high and the potions are regular size. The decoration is nice.

Phone: 070-8830-6271

Gorgonzola Pizza 

5- East River Restaurant, we ordered dalkalbi and potato jeon. The dalkalbi was ok, the potato jeon was good. The service was bad and I won't go there again.

Address: Gangwon-do Chuncheon-si, sa bok myeon, otan 2 ri 566-2.

Phone: (033) 243-5545

Potato Jeon

6- River Story Cafe, a lovely little cafe and restaurant with nice atmosphere. Phone: (033)243-6353

Address: gangwon-do Chuncheon-si Su Myeon Bak sa ro 1210. 

Boryeong Mud Festival

You know it's summer when the festival breaks the heat and cools down your body by mud bath. This year is the 18^th Mud Festival, if you haven't been before, it's time for you to visit.

www.visitkorea.or.kr

The festival is located on Daecheon beach, you'll know you're in the right place when you'll see a big crowd dancing, singing and covered in mud. The mud festival is one of my favorite Korean festivals. It's so lively with fun activities. You won't get bored there.

Activities:

1- Mud bath and massage.

2- Mud slide.

3- Mud games.

4- Mud marathon.

5- Mud kids land.

6- Opening and closing ceremony.

7- Live concerts.

And other special events will take place during the festival, Starting July 17^th to 26^th

Eating and drinking around Daecheon area:

You don't have to worry about what you are going to eat at all. There are countless seafood restaurants along side the beach and around it.

Fried chicken and beer joints are also popular there. There are even some delivery guys who walk around the beach with already cooked chicken and sell it. So, while you're laying on the sand enjoying the sun, your lunch or dinner will come to you.

There are a few cafes that serve sandwiches too. There will be food stalls around the festival that sells shawarma and chicken kebabs, Turkish ice cream.

You can buy drinks from anywhere, 7/11, 25GS, C&U.

Sleeping in Daecheon:

Okay, that might be the hardest part. You should book a room in advance if you're planing to spend a night or two at the festival. All of the good rooms will disappear quickly in the first couple of days of the festival. The rooms that are left are either very bad or far from the beach.

Other things to do:

1- Walk around and explore the town.

2- Play fair games.

3- Visit the trick eye museum.

4- Go to the water park across the street from the beach.

For more information, please visit the link below:

http://www.mudfestival.or.kr/#header

10 Dishes You Must Eat While in Egypt

People usually ask me to recommend tourist attractions in Egypt. I always recommend food first. That's right, Egyptian food comes before the pyramids, the Nile and ancient temples. Why? Because Egyptian food is delicious, and you should do a food tour around the country.

Here's 10 traditional Egyptian dishes you can't miss:

1- Kabab and kofta: chunks of beef and beef fingers that were spiced and grilled slowly on a coal grill. 

www.ma3hd.net

2- Mombar: rice sausages boiled then fried in deep oil. 

www.women.bo7.net

3- Molokhia: smashed jute leaves, cooked with garlic and chicken broth (the most commonly used broth for this soup) It's also considered the national dish of Egypt. Could be vegetarian if the chef used a vegetable stock. 

www.vb.n4hr.com

4- Alexandrian cow liver: cut to small pieces and cooked with butter, green chilies and onions. One of my favorite street foods. 

www.ma7shy.com

5- Shawarma: you can get beef or chicken shawarma from pretty much any street in Egypt, I love it when it's served in hotdog buns with pickles.

www.gaym.com

For vegetarians, you can get my vegetarians' Egyptian food guide on Amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/Vegetarians-Guide-Egyptian-Street-Food-ebook

6- Stuffed and deep fried fish: mackerel fish stuffed with a mix of parsley, garlic and spices. Powdered with flour and deep fried, served with caramelized onion and turmeric rice and green salad.

www.yasmin.jaeed.com

7- Macarona bi al-bechamel: two layers of penne pasta, stuffed with ground beef and covered with bechamel sauce. 

www.qamoora.com

8- Fatta: many cook this dish to celebrate a religious holiday, like the feast or Ramadan. A layer of Egyptian toasted bread, a layer of rice, topped with chunks of beef, then pour a scoop of soup and a scoop of garlic and tomato salsa. 

www.galleryhip.com

9- Renga: salted and smocked herring fish served with lemon, tahini sauce and Egyptian whole wheat and bran bread. Egyptians love eating it on Sham El-Nassim day, spring festival. 

www.sharkiatoday.com

10- Last but not least, Foul Medammes: we eat this dish every day for breakfast. It's fava beans simmered slowly and spiced with salt, cumin, chili powder and lemon juice. Served with tahini, oil, bread. 

www.elwatannews.com

Writing this list makes me hungry!

Gwangmyeong Cave

Are you looking for an adventure underground? If your answer is yes, then you should visit Gwangmyeong cave.

The “cave” went through dramatic transformation, from an abandoned coal mine to a cool themed cave.

Gwangmyeong cave provides visitors with a unique experience from the moment they arrive. Hike up a short staircase and you'll find a cafe on the top of the cliff with lovely view and the flowers of the spring covering the sidewalks.

Hike up more stairs and enter the cave. The cave is cold, so I recommend you take a jacket or a sweater with you. There are a few people working inside to guide you through the cave, so don't worry about getting lost.

There are many themes going on inside and each of them is fun. Lighted passages and lighted tunnel are beautiful.

Tiny caves with lighted bugs and creatures crawling out of them.

An aquarium with some rare fishes.

A golden road with some treasures.

An artificial waterfall.

A lovely surprise, the appearance of Gollum. Yup, there's a sculpture of Gollum deep in the cave. My favorite part of the trip was WETA artwork hanging on the walls near Gollum.

A modern history exhibit and some info about the cave.

A wine store where you can taste and buy local and international wine. And at the end a passage of flowers.

I know there are a lot going but somehow all of the themes are working together.

Admission: 4,000 won for adults/ 2,500 won for youths and 1,500 won for children.

Opening hours: 9:00-5:00. Closed on Mondays.

Address: San 17-1, Gahak-dong, Gwangmyeong-si, Gyeonggi-do
Directions: Gwangmyeong Station (Seoul Subway Line 1), Exit 8.
Get on bus 17 in front of the station and get off at Gwangmyeong Cave.
Walk along the path for 15 min.(290m)

For more information please visit the link below: The website is in Korean only. 

http://cavern.gm.go.kr/site/cavern/main.do

Ilsan Lake Park and International Horticulture Goyang Korea

Spring is here and the flowers are in full bloom and the best way to enjoy a sunny spring day is by going to the flower exhibit with a lake view.

Ilsan Lake Park is hosting international horticulture from April 24^th to May 10^th. Walking through flowers that came from all over the world and smelling the fragrance is the perfect day trip.

The thing I enjoyed most in my visit was seeing families, couples, children and elderly smiling and taking photos with the flowers.

For more information please visit the link below: 

https://www.flower.or.kr:5521/eng/main/main.php

There are some fun activities, like biking around the lake. You can make flower ornaments. You can sail a flower boat for 5,000KW per person. You totally should do the boat thing, it was fun.

Eating:

Okay, do yourself a favor and don't eat before you go. There are many street vendors who sell yummy food and drinks.

Shopping:

You can buy flowers, gardening tools and seeds.

You can buy exotic essences.

You can even buy clothes from there.

Some Peruvians had a tent were they were selling bags, clothes, and llama dolls, and at the end of the day they performed traditional dances.

Operating hours: 9:00 to 19:00 on weekends and 8:30 to 20:00pm on weekends and public holidays.

Admission fee: 10,000 won or 8,000 won for foreigners.