Chuseok is the time of the year when Seoul is empty and everything is calm and tranquil in the city. This year Chuseok is from Tuesday, September 21st 2010 to Thursday, September 23rd. Many people have the Monday off. I'll be in Nova Scotia for a business conference so I'll be missing all the festivities. Chuseok is a ancestor memorial service- to honor the relatives who bore the hardship of life to give a better life for their children. For those looking for a primer, he's an article I wrote explaining Chuseok a while back. Cheers, Dan Chuseok Chuseok is the Korean version of Thanksgiving. During this holiday, the family gives thanks to their ancestors by welcoming the spirits into their houses to taste the ethereal flavors of the year's harvest. This may sound superstitious, but the real intention is to commemorate the departed. Because without our ancestors, literally, we wouldn’t exist. This is a family holiday and to be invited to a family's Chuseo...

You think this winter is bad? Not so much. I first came to Korea back in 2005 to Gyeong Ju (a city on the Southeastern part of Korea) and that winter it snowed a lot. I lived in a tiny, tiny one room. Where you see the computer screen was my bed. And here is the snowy wonderland that was Gyeong Ju that year. Pretty interesting, huh? Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3 inch LCD (Black)

According to ex-roommate Carol, the best patbingsu in the world is right outside of the Sunmudo Temple in Gyeongju. Look at those Mountain Raspberries! And I can see the candied tteok (candied rice cake)! Oh, I'll have to make a trip down soon. Yummmm.... Dan

Hey all, I am doing a quick post on Gyeong Ju (or Kyung Ju) while it is fresh in my mind. These are some of the best restaurants and bars that I've found in Gyeong ju so far. All the cool kids and University students hang out in Sunggungdong. If you are trying to find it tell the taxi driver Dongdae Sagaree (동대사거리). 1. 미깡 It's the classiest Japanese style joint you'll find in the area. The food and side dishes are great and they have live octopus. 010-3537-2208 2. S Multi-cultural Creative Space. It's a wine bar that has brick igloo like enclosures for each section. The wine prices are reasonable (20-80,000) and the snacks are alright. 054-772-7979 Downtown and around the Tombs Downtown is near the touristy areas so you should definitely check it out if you are looking to go shopping or see some sights. 1. 이풍녀 구로쌈밥(Guro Ssambap) This is the most famous Ssambap restaurant in the area. They will cover your entire table with side dishes, lettuce and fresh greens. It's ...

The following is my article on my journey to Gyeongju and Yeongdeok. You can read the rest at the Seoul Tourism Site. The site is one of my paid gigs, so help a brother out and please, please post a comment on their site. Thank you! Dan Sometimes you just gotta get away from the maddening energy that is Seoul. Getting away lets you appreciate all that you have. Recently, I had a weekend free and I decided to visit my old haunt, Gyeong Ju and since I was near the East Sea, I decided to see Yeongdeok. Gyeong Ju is famous for being the birthplace of the Shilla Dynasty- one of the most powerful and longest ruling dynasties in Korean history. The city has a tremendous amount of history and it is a tourism spot for Koreans and foreigners alike. My first year in Korea, I lived in Gyeong Ju and I developed many close friendships. I really enjoyed the simplicity of this city and the warm-hearted nature of the people. The food is comforting and very fresh. I wouldn’t call Gyeong Ju a food Mecca,...