Have you heard the how Grandma Ppong was left behind when the tigers were rampaging Jindo island? This sweet little old granny prayed to the gods and asked them to open the sea so she could reunite with her family on the island where they all fled. Since this popular story came to light there’s been […] Read more…
Six Tips to Survive the Jindo Sea Parting Festival
Many moons ago, the island of Jindo was plagued by savage tigers. Fearing the animal, villagers sought refuge on a small island off Jindo. During this escape Grandma Ppong was left behind. Wishing most diligently to be reunited with her family, she prayed to the gods. They answered her prayers and the sea parted enough […] Read more…
Line Friends Store and Cafe
Are cute things really just for kids? Do you have to be under the age of 12 for it to be socially acceptable to have teddy bears on your notebooks, cute ducks on the tip of your pens and sassy rabbit stuffed animals? As I was wandering around in Seoul and pondering the meaning of […] Read more…
Romantic Date Spot in Oido
As humans we are all drawn to water. The human body is made of water, we need water to live, and water is healing. Mother Earth knew what she was doing when she graced us with two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen. I couldn’t help being drawn by a romantic city by the ocean. […] Read more…
Blind Alley Racoon Cafe
UPDATE: Due to COVID-19, the Blind Alley Racoon Cafe had to close their doors for good. All the raccoons in the cafe have been taken to a safe zoo where they can live out the rest of their days in peace. If you’d like to go to a unique animal cafe, then check out the […] Read more…
Everland Romantic Illuminations Photo Essay
One of the best ways to beat the February Blues is obviously go where the pretty lights twinkle and the hot chocolate and coffee shops warm up your chilly bones. Everland has some pretty awesome ones and I just couldn’t stay away. I love romantic date spots, so I obviously had to go with my […] Read more…
What Living In London Taught Me About Life
On today’s guest post, I’m super excited to feature my dear friend, Jaclyn Crawford. In high school, we played badminton, sang our favorite High School Musical songs at practice, attended bonfires and talked about our dreams. I remember Skyping her when she was studying abroad in 2012 and I thought, “She’s living on the other side […] Read more…
How Not to Be a Complete Dickhead in Japan
So you wanna travel Japan to see samurai, geishas, and funky style in Tokyo? Maybe you’ve heard about all the advanced technology and want to try authentic sushi? Japan is an awesome country to travel (or live), but you can’t just bust in, guns blaring, and expect Japanese culture to bend to your whim. You may […] Read more…
The Difficulties of Living in South Korea and How I Overcame Them
Today, I am very proud to feature Izzy from The Next Somewhere. Izzy has an amazingly sweet disposition and a beautiful way with words. Her prose sucks you in and her compelling way of telling us her life experiences will keep you glued until the end. On my blog, I’m a big fan of keeping […] Read more…
I’m Beautiful in Korea
I’m just gonna come out and say it. I’m an attractive foreigner in Korea. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and this beholder just happens to like the girl who stares back in the mirror much more than she did when she lived in Okinawa. When I lived in Japan, I experienced a self-esteem […] Read more…
A Local’s Guide to Chicago
Chicago will be your kind of town. Every time you leave, Chicago will be calling you home. It’ll say, “Don’t you wanna come back for a Chicago style dog or pie?” And no, I don’t mean actual dogs or a sweet dessert. I mean Chicago style hot dogs and pizza. When you visit Chicago, you’ll experience […] Read more…
Things I Miss About Okinawa, Japan
Dum, dum, dum. I hear the beating of the drums, the Eisa cries, and whistling in the distance. Sweat trickles down my back as I pull a purple fan with sakura out of my obi. I tuck my side-swept bangs back in their place as I sip an ice cold Orion beer. I see my friends […] Read more…