An afternoon walk along Jeongdong-gil, the romantic stone-wall road beside Deoksugung Palace brought me to a stately building called Jungmyeongjeon Hall. It isn’t grand in size, but its facade is elegant and dignified. I had little idea then of its bitter mark in Korea’s history. It was originally a single-story building that served as a… Read More Tracing back Sam-Il to Jungmyeongjeon Hall
reposting…. blogged in 2017 Since I came to Korea, I have always urged my husband for us to go check South Korea’s Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). But he was just not interested. When the DMZ train came into operation in 2014, my hopes were high again. I planned on going there with friends… whoever was willing.… Read More Taking a Peek at North Korea from Korea’s DMZ
also published here: Fascinating Afternoon at Museum DAH What comes to mind when you hear the word “museum”? Without a doubt, you immediately visualize a quiet place with impeccably curated high-valued works of art that are meant to be seen but never touched. Or you visualize exhibitions encased in glasses lest the well-preserved relics of… Read More Honorary Reporters Were Fascinated at Museum DAH
first published here It was an early November respite and I was excited to hike with cheerful friends. It was also a perfect day, not warm and not chilly either. Just the soft, cool breeze that offered welcome relief when the body warmed up from the unexpected steepness and challenges of the hike. We didn’t really know how… Read More Inwangsan Trail: Hiking with a Twist
(reposting from my old post) I live in the World Cup Park Apartments, very near to Haneul Park, one of the must-go-to places during Autumn. I have always wanted to go up there to take pictures but strangely, the nearer we are the harder it seems to have the time to go to a place that… Read More Fiery Autumn Sunset
published in the May 2019 printed issue of Groove Magazine Seoul days are, at its worst, extremely hazardous to one’s health and well-being. At its best, clear blue skies cover the city and all residents can go out to open cafes and spaces to bask in the luxury of fresh air. Seoul was at its… Read More Where Dogs Play
published in the May 2019 printed issue of Groove Magazine It was a drizzly morning, the driver was dexterously steering the left-handed car through the Kathmandu traffic when “Monkeys!”, my sons shouted pointing to a roof in one of the houses lining the streets. As if sensing their excitement, more monkeys emerged out of previously… Read More Tastes and Colors of Kathmandu
(Published in the April 2019 printed edition of Groove Magazine) Recent years have solidified the gentrification of Seoul. Perhaps, the most talked about area we have seen was the unfolding of Seollo 7017, once a highway overpass that became a safety risk. Located near Seoul Station, it used to be an alternative route for buses… Read More Abandoned, Yet Vibrant, Railway Station
The holiest of all church activities are observed during Holy Week. It is even more religiously observed than Christmas. Perhaps because Christmas is all about excitement for the birth of Jesus, so it is filled with love and anticipation. It is a celebration. In contrast, the Holy Week digs deep into our worldly indulgences and… Read More A Piece of Heaven on Earth
As a 외국 가족 (foreign family) living here in Korea, with no roots to pay homage to the way Koreans do their ancestral rites, my family and I, and our friends, walked the streets of Chinatown the day before the Lunar New Year. We knew there was no public celebration to look forward to. Instead,… Read More Walking the Streets of Chinatown