I gave myself a nice, easy, relaxed start to my holiday in Seoul this past spring. So relaxed, in fact, that there isn’t much to say about those first few hours. I paid my old friend the National Museum of Korea a visit – as is my habit whenever I’m in Seoul – and, sinceContinue reading “Field Snapshots: Seoul’s National Museum of Korea and Yongsan Family Park (23 March 2019)”
Category Archives: Korea
Field Report: Dongbaekseom, Busan, South Korea (04 February 2019)
After spending part of the morning at Busan’s Taejongdae forest park, I made my way to one of the city’s other public leisure grounds: an island – or rather, former island – where world leaders enjoyed both Korean hospitality and Korean natural beauty.
Field Report: Taejongdae Park, Busan, South Korea (04 February 2019)
As the busiest port and second most populous city in Korea, Busan (부산) might easily be dismissed as a soulless industrial hub, rich in concrete but poor in charm. I’ll admit to entertaining that notion in the past, but this false idea was decisively dispelled by the historic and cultural attractions I enjoyed during aContinue reading “Field Report: Taejongdae Park, Busan, South Korea (04 February 2019)”
Field Report: Gyeongju, South Korea (03 February 2019)
Over the past couple of years, a city in Gyeongsangbuk-do has quietly risen to the top ranks of my favourite destinations in Korea. Rich in historic sites and archaeological discoveries – particularly in relation to the long-lost kingdom of Silla – this place has never failed to reveal something new, something incredible, something downright amazingContinue reading “Field Report: Gyeongju, South Korea (03 February 2019)”
Field Report: Bulguksa, Gyeongju, South Korea (02 February 2019)
There was a very large gap in my first visit to Gyeongju last year: a gap by the name of Bulguksa. On my second encounter with this historic corner of Korea, filling that gap ranked amongst my highest priorities.
Flight Report: ICN-MNL on Jeju Air Flight 7C 2305 (25 March 2019)
In my previous flight report, I painted an image of Jeju Air (7C) as a reliable LCC alternative to the full-service airlines I usually fly with between the Philippines and Korea. Let’s see if we can complete the picture with the same positive strokes by looking at how they’ve performed on the home-bound leg. WelcomeContinue reading “Flight Report: ICN-MNL on Jeju Air Flight 7C 2305 (25 March 2019)”
Flight Report: MNL-ICN on Jeju Air Flight 7C 2306 (22 March 2019)
When it comes to airlines based in South Korea, I’ve only flown with full-service carriers – namely, Asiana Airlines and Korean Air. That is, until a few days ago when I travelled with one of their LCC compatriots on the busy, competitive route between Manila and Seoul. Welcome aboard Jeju Air flight 7C 2306.
Rail Report: First Class on the KTX from Busan to Seoul, South Korea (04 February 2019)
Korea’s high-speed rail network makes it incredibly easy to cover the roughly 320 kilometres (as the crow flies) between Busan in the southeast and Seoul in the northwest, with the fastest services taking just a little over 2 hours to traverse the distance. In this report, we’ll see what a passenger can expect from theContinue reading “Rail Report: First Class on the KTX from Busan to Seoul, South Korea (04 February 2019)”
Rail Report: Busan to Gyeongju via Singyeongju Station, South Korea (02-03 February 2019)
With more historic sites and cultural treasures than one can hope to see in a lifetime, Gyeongju (경주) deserves at least an overnight stay for one to properly appreciate the key attractions. That said, the sprawling city of Busan (부산) to the south – with its airport, harbour, and railway station – can also serveContinue reading “Rail Report: Busan to Gyeongju via Singyeongju Station, South Korea (02-03 February 2019)”
Flight Report: ICN-MNL on Korean Air Flight KE 649 (06 February 2019)
Korean Air (KE) did an excellent job in bringing me from Manila to Seoul on KE 624, and they followed with a successful onward transit to Busan on KE 1401. Now let’s see if they can finish the itinerary – my first with this airline, by the way – on a high note by returningContinue reading “Flight Report: ICN-MNL on Korean Air Flight KE 649 (06 February 2019)”
Within striking distance 