Songjeong District, Gwangsan-gu
The neighborhood of Songjeong is wonderful and provides a serene environment as well as a safe and secure atmosphere where the international residents can lead happy and joyful lives.
Category: Travel
Local Loner’s Longtime Sledding Dreams Dashed
Sensing faint pangs of discontent across social media, the ever-perceptive Gwangju News dispatched its crack team of reporters to pursue a bevy of disparate leads, all of which culminated at the Cheetos-strewn bedside of a gaunt, woebegone loner for further elucidation. What follows is our earth-sundering report.
Casualties of the “Crust Belt”
To kick off the new year, we’ll unshelve our trusty Farmers’ Almanac and put its sage guidance and folksy humor to good use in the pursuit of understanding Korea’s modern agricultural craze: sowing apartment complexes in the middle of nowhere. What could possibly go wrong? So, without further ado, let’s hop in the car and head to the countryside – oh, and feel free to ask any questions along the way…….
Beyond Bukhansan
In fact, arguably the first mountain you’d think of when South Korea comes to mind is Bukhansan, nestled in its eponymous national park spread out over 30.86 square miles along the northern periphery of Seoul. Unsurprisingly, it tops most peoples’ to-do list and would likely be your first port of call as a hungry hiker newly moved here. But there are many more mountains to be explored beyond Bukhansan.
Hwasun’s Hidden Shrines and Fortress Ruins
This month, we’ll turn to the interior for a visit to Hwasun County, located just southeast of Gwangju. There we’ll visit a pair of abandoned family shrines and the ruins of a mountain fortress dating back to the Goryeo era.
Solo Trip to Almaty – Kazakhstan’s Largest City
The five nations of Central Asia – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan – were once part of the USSR. Their being late to obtain independence has meant that they are arguably still overlooked, though they are hidden gems in their own right. Kazakhstan, like its neighbors, is home to scenery that is nothing short of epic: Mountains capped with snow, glacial lakes, and gorges make it a dream for keen hikers and novices alike. It is a country where the influences of Islam and communism still clash wonderfully with each other, making way for some truly beautiful architecture, the likes of which I have never seen anywhere else.
Sunshine and Scat at Seoul Forest Jazz Festival
Now any seasoned festival-goer will tell you, getting to the site is always a gruelling slog, which leaves you exhausted before the first chord is even strummed. I have had motorway breakdowns, cancelled coaches, and overcrowded trains. But this festival was different – we actually arrived in style.
Enjoy Autumn Leaves in Gwangju and Jeollanam-do!
Korea is known as a peninsula which has four distinct seasons and four distinct landscapes according to each season. Since Koreans enjoy seeing red and yellow foliage in the autumn, there is a specific Korean word called danpungnori (단풍놀이, directly translated as “autumn foliage play”), which refers to the act of going out to enjoy the autumn leaves. For this year, it is expected that we will be able to see the first fall leaves from late October (in the southern provinces). Below are the spots that are famous for danpungnori.