Day Trippin

Nightlife in Itaewon

2010-03-14T00:22:00.000-08:00

By night, Itaewon attracts hordes of young Koreans as well as foreigners. The Itaewon strip has doubled in length in recent years, with many new discotheques and restaurants catering to a new generation. In former times the hundreds of bars and discos used to rock until the break of day, the alcohol flowed, the crowds got rowdy, and Itaewon earned a rather disreputable name for itself among Koreans. Still, many a cross-cultural marriage had its beginnings in one of the packed clubs. Itaewon has calmed down a little since its heyday, and the lower prices and more varied entertainment options of districts such as Sinchon have diverted a certain amount of the custom. Nevertheless it still attracts the crowds-particularly since it was declared a special tourist zone. The new link to the city subway system should boost numbers further.

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Photo Credits: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tristanskye/3440981405/

Itaewon At The Present

2010-03-11T15:57:00.000-08:00

Today, Itaewon merchants attract shoppers from civilian ranks as well, and visitors hail from all over the world. By day, bargain-hunters swarm through the hundreds of clothing, leather goods, eelskin, brassware, shoe, and antique stores where they stock up on Korean-made goods.

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Photo Credits: http://www.flickr.com/photos/imcomkorea/4027173795/

Itaewon: Back To The Time

2010-03-11T03:58:00.000-08:00

Centuries back, Itaewon was used as a stopover point for visitors to the capital. Then, during the Japanese Occupation, Japanese troops were housed here. These soldiers were replaced after the Korean War with American soldiers stationed at the adjacent Yongsan base, and Korean merchants moved into the thoroughfare to cater to the troops' needs.

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Photo Credits: http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/Korea_yongsan%20military%20base.jpg

The Grand Hyatt Hotel

2010-02-15T17:03:00.000-08:00

Imagine the astonished reactions of the Buddhist monks who, for some 500 years, kept a free hostel for travelers near the Itaewon. What exists now, albeit breathtaking, may prove to be too developed for their tastes: the Grand Hyatt Hotel's mirrored facade reflecting a setting sun and passing clouds; and the twin minarets of the onion-domed mosque below, from which resounds the muezzin's call to afternoon prayer.

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Photo credits: http://www.fnetravel.com/english/seoulhotels/grandhyatt/grand-hyatt-intro.jpg

Towering Building of Namsan

2010-02-03T23:30:00.000-08:00

For years, that flank of Namsan has been one of the main housing areas for Westerners as the Korea Housing Corporation, a government agency, built and maintained Western-style houses there. That idea is perpetuated, but foreigners, not all of them Western, now occupy multi-story apartment buildings higher up the mountain - a location that gives them a sweeping view of the Han River and mountain ridges south of the city.

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2010-01-29T04:46:00.000-08:00

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Cruising-Itaewon

2010-01-20T15:56:00.000-08:00

Itaewon (accessible via the subway system; alternatively, take a taxi or Bus No. 0014 from Seoul Railway Station) is an urban area that runs down from the southern flank of Namsan and eastwood from the fenced edge of Yongsan Garison, the site of the headquarters of the 8th US Army and the huge War Memorial. The main thoroughfare that bisects the army base into north-south posts similarly bisects Itaewon into an uphill-Namsan side and a downhill side toward the Han River.

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Photo Credits: http://www.flickr.com/photos/awe2020/2306720757/

Contact Me

2010-01-18T00:45:00.000-08:00

Blogging is another part of my daily routine. In this way, I can document the lives of my family and special people around me and also write about any topic under the heat of the sun through blogging and other creative endeavors.

If you have any questions or would like to post your Ads on my blog please fill up the form below.

Walker Hill Resort

2010-01-17T18:24:00.000-08:00

A lovely spot from which to view Seoul over a proper martini is the Walker Hill Resort complex (subway line 5 to Gwangnaru Station, then take a taxi). This nightlife area of Las Vegas-style revues (dinner shows at 4:30pm and 7:30pm), gambling (in the Sheraton Walker Hill Casino), and resort amenities is located above Seoul's eastern suburbs and overlooks a picturesque bend in the Han River. From Walker Hill's glittering lounges and gardens, you can see Seoul's city lights twinkling in the urban west. Walker Hill was named after General Walton H. Walker, former Commanding General of the US Eighth Army, who was killed in a traffic mishap during the Korean War.

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Wedding Street

2010-01-14T17:19:00.000-08:00

If you are planning on getting married, Wedding Street (shops open daily 10am-8pm) might be the the place for you. Rows of shops display fanciful wedding gowns in their windows hoping to entice well-heeled 20-year-olds. Weddings are a serious business in Korea - a wedding gown, make-up, and hairstyle (all these services are offered a the wedding shops), will set Daddy back thousands of dollars. Then there is the wedding hall, the dinner for all the guests, a photographer and wedding gifts (from the parents); a Korean wedding runs into the tens of thousands of dollars.

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Photo Credits: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/cms/resource/32/225532_image2_1.jpg

Nightlife in Seoul, Korea

2010-01-12T04:58:00.000-08:00

Seoul has several entertainment centers that cater to the young, but one of the most popular and interesting is Daeheungno, which caters to students from nearby universities. The streets in this district (Sinchon) have such a profusion of restaurants, bars (some with live entertainment, video arcades, clothing stores and coffee shops that young people from all over Seoul come here on evenings and weekends.

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Janghanpyeong Antique Market

2010-01-08T17:16:00.000-08:00

A little more conventional is the Janghanpyeong Antique Market (subway line 5; Janghanpyeong Station; closed Sunday). Dozens of small shops are located in several two-story buildings; kind of mini-antique malls. Most of the dealers here do not handle top-of-the-line antiques (you need to go to Insadong for these), but since there are regulations concerning the export of valued Korean antiquities anyway, Janghanpyeong is the perfect place to find a funky piece to decorate your living room. How about a large wooden bowl that was once used to clean rice? Or a handmade farmers wood plow? And a Korean ceramic pillow makes a great conversation piece.

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Photo Credits: http://www.lifeinkorea.com/Korea/Hotels/Pics/1590mape.gif

The Gyeongdong Oriental Medicine Market

2010-01-06T16:31:00.000-08:00

Not far away from the Hwanghakdong Flea Market is the equally unusual Gyeongdong Oriental Medicine Market (subway line; Jegidong Station; open daily 9am-6.30pm except 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month). This is a great place to buy fresh ginseng, or dozens of other odd-looking roots and fungi that are said to be good for a myriad of ailments. There are also a few dealers of dog meat, which is considered a health food in the Orient.

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Photo Credits: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3162/3070166505_2f9fb9a288.jpg

Market For All Tastes

2010-01-04T16:13:00.000-08:00

Just outside the old city center lies a threesome of interesting specialty markets. Two subways stops east from Dongdaemun (subway lines 2 or 6; Sindang Station) is a sprawling Hwanghakdong Flea Market (open daily 8 am-6.30pm). If you're looking for a life-size statue of an American Indian, reproduction antique furniture, used ice skates or an old TV, you stand a good chance of finding it here. For the truly bizarre, there is the snake salesman with microphone in hand. He dips his free hand into a bag and brings our a handful of snakes, tossing them into a plastic tub. A few turtles are added for good measure. Somehow he manages to sell this writhing basket of reptiles to one of the middle-aged men crowding around. While the salesman sets up another sale, his assistants boil the basket of turtles and snakes, and quickly bottle them in soju. Minutes later, the lucky customer leaves with a big smile, knowing that it will be a long time before he will be suffering from virility problems.

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Photo Credits: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hwanghak-dong_Flea_Market

It Pays To Visit Korea

2010-01-02T05:38:00.001-08:00

Following on the heels of urban expansion, and in tune with a rapidly rising standard of living, many of the outer areas of Seoul have become shopping and entertainment centers that rival those found in the downtown area. With the notable exception of Itaewon, however, they do not attract a lot of foreigners. Part of the reason is that, even though any given point in Seoul seems to be only minutes from a subway station, it can still take an hour or more to travel across town. The subways are quick enough (allow about two minutes between each subway stop); it's just that you can seldom get your destination without one or two subway transfers, and a taxi ride. Still, there are some interesting places across the Han River that deserve a visit. The thing to do is to make a day of it, and check out several places of interest. And really, there is no better way to get to know modern Korea than by exploring the fringes of Seoul.

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Outer Seoul

2010-01-01T15:59:00.000-08:00

Outside Seoul's historic heart is the modern part of the city, where you'll find huge department stores and markets, ultra-modern entertainment complexes and cultural centers.

Welcome 2010. To officially start the year, my blog will feature another attraction of Korea. We will discover the beauty of the outer areas of Seoul.

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Photo Credits: http://img74.imageshack.us/i/dsc0084.jpg/

View From The Top

2009-12-30T06:23:00.000-08:00

Once you reach the exact Panmunjeom talks site, you will be escorted around a heavily guarded sector formally known as the Joint Security Area. In the Conference Room your American military guide will explain another propaganda "war", concerning the question of who had the bigger flag. This "battle" ended in a truce when the flags of the two sides were too large to bring into the meeting room.

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Photo Credits: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:070401_Panmunjeom3.jpg

Propaganda Village

2009-12-30T04:57:00.000-08:00

In the distance, across the dividing line in the North Korean half of the demilitarized no-man's-land, is another village. It boasts bigger flag (so large, in fact, that it flops listlessly against its giant flagpole in anything less than a Force Eight gale). The village is said to be the biggest in the world, but no-one appears to live there. Curiously, even the windows on the buildings appear to be nothing more than black paint. American soldiers are in the habit of calling the North Korea village "Propaganda Village". However, it goes under the official name of Gwijeongdong.

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Photo Credits: http://www.koreadmztour.com/english/jsa/jsa_16.htm

Freedom Village

2009-12-28T22:29:00.000-08:00

Past the checkpoints and into the DMZ is an enormous South Korean flag. This marks the village of Daeseongdong (which means "Attaining Success Town"), a community of ex-refugees allowed to resettle in their native habitat. Called "Freedom Village" by the US military, Daeseongdong is about a mile from Panmunjeom. Villagers - and soldiers - have to endure propaganda blasted over from the North Korean side by loudspeakers, but for their pains they enjoy certain benefits; among them exemption from military service and taxation. In fact the residents here are extremely wealthy in comparison with other Korean farmers. Otherwise, life generally goes on here in much the same way it does in other pasts of South Korea.

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Photo Credits: http://alexrtravels.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/dsc03907.jpg

National Highway 1

2009-12-28T16:50:00.000-08:00

National Highway 1 is green and lush during the summer months, but when the winter chill sets in its beauty turns bleak and brittle. The late author James Wade describes this region best in his book West Meets East: "North of Seoul the Korean landscape is austerely beautiful in late winter. A light dusting of snow sets off the dark dots of rice stubble in frozen paddies and the lonely clumps of thatch-roofed farm houses. The steel-gray horizon, rimmed with jagged, ice-streaked mountains, recedes before the jeep as it rumbles past the rail terminal city of Munsanni and approcahes the Imjin River, with its symbolically narrow and precarious Freedom Bridge." Suddenly you realize that the bleak new chain of mountains looming up ahead is North Korean territory.

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Photo Credits: http://clip2net.com/clip/m18172/1262049048-clip-42kb.png

Highway to History

2009-12-28T01:42:00.000-08:00

Your Panmunjeom-bound tour bus courses due north of Seoul on the national Highway 1 and follows wartime history through plains and valleys. Not so long ago, these peaceful surroundings were the heavily bunkered scenes of massive military advances and retreats during the Korean War and even during a Mongol invasion a few centuries ago.

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Photo Credits: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MilitaryDemarcationLine.jpg

Panmunjeom

2009-12-23T20:26:00.000-08:00

Geographically, Panmunjeom sits in a wide valley just northwest of the broad Imjin River and about 56 km (35 miles) northwest of Seoul. Cartographically, and therefore politically, Panmunjeom also straddles the stretch of land near the western end of Korea's Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), a demarcation line about 4km (2 1/2 miles) wide which winds its way for 250 km (150 miles) across the waist of Korean peninsula. This truce camp is the point of official contact between North Korea and the free world. This is also a heavily mined, barricaded and patrolled "no-man's land" only for well-armed soldiers, a few hundred formers, and, ironically, several formerly endangered species of birds (such as the spectacular Manchurian crane). These species have flourished within the confines of the DMZ since it was declared off-limits to most of humanity in 1953.

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Photo credits: http://dmz-korea.net/images/maps/Panmunjeom_1.jpg

Panmunjeom and the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)

2009-12-21T23:28:00.000-08:00

The danger is still there, and to acquaint overly-optimistic tourists about this potentially volatile situation, the Korean government and the United Nations representatives have sanctioned one of the the world's most unusual tourist outings. This unique visitor attraction is a day trip to Panmunjeom, the site of a small farming village which was obliterated during the Korean War. Panmunjeom (accessible only through an organized tour) is the historic site on Korea's 38th parallel where American and South Korean representatives of a special United Nations Military Armistice Commission have been holding periodic talks with North Korean and Chinese negotiators. Their goal: to mutually supervise a ceasefire truce that was signed here on July 27, 1953. That truce agreement formally divided Korea into North and South political sectors and put an uneasy end to the bloody Korean War.

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Photo credits: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ed/Panmunjeom_DMZ.png

The Life in Korea

2009-12-21T23:09:00.000-08:00

The economic boom of the past two decades and the apparent tranquility of life in suburban Seoul and rural Korea make the possibility of war inconceivable for most visitors. Indeed, it's hard to believe that - after almost 50 years of ceasefire and a Korean War truce agreement - the threat of an all-out war still exists, although tensions have decreased with the recent thaw in North-South relations.

The Wonders of Bomun-sa

2009-12-20T19:31:00.000-08:00

Bomun-sa is a nearby restored 1,400-year-old temple, behind which, carved into the mountain, is a stone chamber with 22 small stone Buddhas enshrined in individual wall niches behind an altar. The Buddha statues are said to have been caught by a fisherman who dreamt he was instructed by a monk to enshrine them here. Steps lead further above this stone chamber through junipers: at the end of a steep, heart-thumping hike is the massive concave Ma-ae Seakbuljwasang ("Eyebrow Rock" Buddha), sculpted into the granite mountainside. He blissfully overlooks the rice fields, the pale blue Yellow Sea, the setting sun and strangely shaped islands that dissolve into the horizon.

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Photo Credits: http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/6986713.jpg

Seongmo-do Island

2009-12-20T01:05:00.000-08:00

One last significant full-day excursion is a trip to the "Eyebrow Rock" Buddha at Bomun-sa on the neighboring island of Seongmo-do. This pilgrimage starts with a bus ride to Uipo, a fishing village on the West Coast. Foreigners may be asked to show their passports before taking the 10-minute ferry ride to te westward island. The bus ride from the landing on the opposite side to Bomun-sa takes about 45-minutes on a bumpy dirt road, but island destination provides a serene contrast with its endless carpet of rice paddies, punctuated by pointed church steeples.

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Photo Credits: http://www.lifeinkorea.com/Images/Incheon/SMD1776.jpg

Sangbangi and the Dangun's Altar

2009-12-20T00:45:00.000-08:00

About 2 km (1 1/4 miles) southwest of Jeondeung-sa lies the small town of Sangbangni and the site of Dangun's Altar on nearby Manisan It is an arduous climb of almost 500 meters (1650 ft) up to the summit, where one can get a sweeping view of Ganghwa-do and touch the spot where an important Korean legend was born. Some archaeologists claim Dangun's altar is no more than 400 years old, which would date it considerably younger than Dangun who, according to popular myths, descended to earth from heaven in 2333BC.

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Photo Credits: http://san-shin.org/dangun-011.jpg

Some of the attractions in Jeondeung-sa

2009-12-20T00:24:00.000-08:00

On the temple grounds is an iron bell about 1.8 meters (6ft) tall. It was cast in 1097 during the Northern Sung dynasty in a typical Chinese style. Despite its foreign origin, the bell has been designated a national treasure. Before departing from Jeondeung-sa, examine the unique ornamentation of human images engraved on the eaves of Daeungjeon Hall. This particular design style was popular during the mid-Jeseon dynasty and is rarely seen anymore.

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Photo Credits: http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/20010204.jpg

YugaTech Great Gadget Giveaway

2009-12-17T00:15:00.000-08:00

Christmas is fast approaching and this time you will be even happier in this holiday season with the YugaTech's Great Gadget Giveaway. The giveaway will be in 3 parts which will run for 3 weeks (1 round per week). This week, Yuga is giving away a total of 62 prizes for people who will Tweet, Blog or Comment on this Gadget Giveaway. Prizes at stake are Modu phones, Globe Tatoo USB, and prepaid load cards worth P500. In the following rounds, Yuga will be giving away a brand new MSI netbook.

Mechanics:

Via Twitter

Follow @abeolandres and @talk2globe on Twitter.
Post a tweet “Just entered to win a Modu Phone. Quick! Go follow @abeolandres and @talk2globe and retweet: http://bit.ly/6e2q7O #thanks2yugatech”

Via Blog

Blog about the “YugaTech Great Gadget Giveaway”. Include the photo I posted here and link to Yuga's contest page.
Don’t forget to include in your post the mechanics for the Twitter contest above.
Leave a comment on Yuga's blog post with the URL of your entry.

Via Comment

Leave a comment on Yuga's blog post with the answer to this question — “If you’re stuck in an island with a phone and only have one call left, who would you call and why?“

View complete promo mechanics

Promo period is from December 14 -to January 2, 2009

3 separate giveaways that will run for 3 weeks (1 per week)

Amazing Prizes:

Via Twitter (31 winners)

1 Modu phone
10 Globe Tattoo
20 prepaid call cards worth P500 each

Via Blog (21 winners)

1 Modu phone
10 Globe Tattoo
10 prepaid load cards worth P500 each

Via Comment

10 prepaid load cards worth P500 each for the most witty comments

For more details, please visit Yugatech.com

The Welcoming Way of the Monks

2009-12-15T20:32:00.000-08:00

The friendly monks at Jeondeung-sa Temple may invite you to share a vegetarian meal with them or guide you to some of the remaining Tripitaka Koreana sculptural wood blocks carved during the 13th century. It took 16 years to carve the Buddhist scriptures on these blocks, a monumental task done in hopes of preventing a consuming Mongol invasion.

Photo Credits: http://eng.greatkorea.go.kr/5/images/img_pic1_2_4.jpg

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The Temple of the Inherited Lamp

2009-12-14T01:17:00.000-08:00

Now travel back in time to the Three Kingdom Period. On the southern end of Ganghwado (take a bus to Onsuri from town), about 16 km (10 miles) south of Ganghwa town, is one of the oldest temples in Korea, Jeondeung-sa, the "Temple of the Inherited Lamp". A Goryeo queen named Jeondeung-sa after a jade lamp presented to the temple. Formerly called Jinjong-sa, it was built in AD 381 by a famous monk named Ado. Legend has it that the wall surrounding the temple was constructed by three princes to fortify the monastery. Thus the fortress was named Samnangseong, or the castle "Castle of Three Flowers of Youth".

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Photo Credits: http://www.into.or.kr/usr/board_upload/0-78950100_1218110196.jpg

Pagodas and Panoramas

2009-12-06T23:59:00.002-08:00

Further down the bus line, in Hajeommyeon, there is another old but less-visited stone sculpture. It is a five-story pagodas, soektap, that was once a part of a Goryeo temple. The temple is gone but the pagoda stands hidden in the pine forest. If you do seek out pagodas, which is about a mile's walk from the main road past farmhouses, you might also want to scale Bongcheonsan, the high hill behind it. Hikers are promised a panoramic view of Imjin Estuary and an opportunity to stomp around the ruins of an old stone beacon tower. This tower supported one of 696 beacon fires lit during the Joseon dynasty to relay national security messages to Seoul. It was rendered obsolete when the telegraph was introduced in 1894.

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Photo credits: http://jikimi.cha.go.kr

Korean Dolmen

2009-11-30T16:32:00.000-08:00

The dolmen on Ganghwa Island are the best known in Korea, but dolmen are found throughout the country. Apparently they protected the burial sites of important people. They would have to have been important, because the size of the rocks would require a significant labor force to put them in place.

There have been both stone tools and a few bronze items discovered in and around the dolmen, though archeologists generally associate the dolmen with the Korean Bronze Age (circa 900-400 BC).

The dolmen found in Korea are of three types. Those on Ganghwa are typical of the Northern Style (sometimes called the Table Style) and have large upright stones in a rough sqaure, covered by a flat capstone.

The Southern Style (found south of the Han River) has a large boulder as a capstone place atop smaller stones.

The third type of dolmen simple has a large capstone laid over the burial site.

Stone dolmen are not just a Korean phenomenon they are found throughout central Asia and western Europe. It is rather intriguing to think that Korean dolmen are exactly like those found in Ireland, some 9,600 km (6,000 miles) to the west.

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Photo Credits: http://pen.jdsn.net/cafe/data/cheditor/0711/nms819_2.jpg

Ganghwa Jiseongmyo Dolmen

2009-11-28T02:21:00.000-08:00

About 3km (2 miles) from town, down a dirt path behind a chicken farm, stands a primitive stone structure constructed of three large, flat boulders. Known as the Ganghwa Jiseongmyo Dolmen, archaeologists have identified this ancient monument as a Northern-style dolmen (in Korea goindol - a sacred tomb or altar) which dates back to Neolithic times. Life goes on around these huge stones, as they stand undisturbed in the midst of peppers, tobacco and ginseng.

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Photo credits: http://spanish.korea.net/05Pfebturpic02.jpg

The Prehistoric Dolmen

2009-11-26T23:40:00.000-08:00

After seeing this eclectic site, catch a bus at the main terminal and head northwest of Ganghwa town to one of the most mysterious sculptures in Korea, the Prehistoric Dolmen. The scenery along this roadway is dominated mostly by fields of ginseng protected by low thatched lean-tos, and typical Ganghwa farm houses and silos decorated with contemporary folk art. This art is form of meticulous sheet-metal sculpture attached at the upturns of caves and along the edge of corrugated metal roofs. Here and there you will see brilliantly painted sheet-metal cranes, lotus blossoms, airplanes and other such symbolic and surrealistic roofcraft.

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Photo Credits: http://unearthingasia.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/ganghwa-dolmen-by-friars-balsam.jpg

Korea's oldest Episcopal Church (Gamdeok Gyohoe)

2009-11-26T15:40:00.000-08:00

Your next stop should be Korea's oldest and most unusual Episcopal Church, Gamdeok Gyohoe. This Christian structure, built in 1900 by Bishop Charles Cort, about 10 years after his arrival in Korea, harmoniously combines Christians, Taoist, and Buddhist elements in its overall design.

The front gate of the church is decorated with a large paisleyed Taoist symbol; the church, constructed of wood, is classically Korean in its interior and exterior architecture; a bodhi tree, an old Buddhism-related symbol, was planted in he church's main courtyard at the time of the church's dedication; and atop the roof is a Christian cross trimmed with fluorescent light bulbs which show visitors the way at night.

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Experience Pleasure with the places in North Korea

2009-11-26T15:06:00.000-08:00

From the Georyo palace, take a taxi up to the neatly restored North Gate Bungmun, for a view of the distant blue mountains of North Korea. On a clear day you see for several miles across the Imjin estuary and into the forbidden and communist north. The most dramatic view of North Korea, however, is from Aegibong Peak (open daily 9am-5pm). Once off-limits, except in December when church groups were able to hold Christmas services at the "Christmas Tree," a pylon decked in colored lights, the peak is now open to civilians. You have to show your ID and fill in a form at a checkpoint before you get there, a reminder that you are at the frontline. It is said that this is the only place in South Korea where you can actually observe villages in the North with the naked eye. Note the brush cleared away from the hillside underneath the North Korean checkpoint.

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Photo Credits: http://eng.gg.go.kr/attach/1/1001722058.jpg

Bronze Bell of Ganghwa

2009-11-25T14:17:00.001-08:00

Take a car ride to the silk factory (off the main street on the road opposite the bridge fronting the marketplace). Since visitors are no longer allowed inside for tours, take a long look instead at a bronze bell hanging idly inside a small slated pavilion next to the factory. Cast during King Sukjong's reign (1674-1720), this bell used to toll at 4am to signal the opening of Ganghwa's city gates. When French troops stormed the city in 1866 to seek revenge for the execution of several French Catholic priests, they attempted to haul this 3,864kg (8.520lb) bell to their ship, but abandoned their efforts because it was too heavy. At the top of this same road is the restored Goryeo Palace where King Gojong lived in retreat during his unsuccessful 29-year resistance against invading Mongol hordes in the mid-1200s.

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Photo Credits: http://jikimi.cha.go.kr/unisearch/popup/EDirectory_Image.jsp?VdkVgwKey=12,00110800,23&imgfname=b0011080023001.jpg&dirname=treasure

Ganghwa-do, Island of Refuge

2009-11-22T19:29:00.000-08:00

Gangwa-do, an island 50 km (31 miles) northwest of Seoul across the narrow Yeomha Strait, is steeped in history. To get there, catch an express bus at Seoul'd Sinchon bus terminal; the journey takes approximately 90 minutes. Ganghwa town is small and easy-going, ideal for tourists to walk around its market place and handicraft shops. Korea's finest rushcraft weaving is meticulously created on the island, so in local shops you'll find numerous baskets of all kinds. You can also see fine floor mats and doorway hangings that are woven so perfectly they let summer breezes in while filtering out pesky warm-weather mosquitos. Another kind of weaving - silkweaving - is also specialty of this town - you can hear the sound of machines clacking out reams of silk as you walk along Ganghwa's streets and footpaths.

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Photo credits: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/cms/resource/80/730180_image2_1.jpg

Glimpse of the Beauty

2009-11-20T18:31:00.000-08:00

Close by Sejo's tomb is a small temple, Bongseon-sa, with a 2.6-meter (8 1/2 ft) bell, the third-largest in Korea. Gwangnung is located 28 km (17 miles) north east of the capital and just past Uijeongbu, a satellite city of Seoul, with military camp made famous in the American movie and television series.

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Photo Credits: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/4/5289384_8d1d3f678f.jpg

The Hidden Beauty of the Tomb

2009-11-19T15:08:00.000-08:00

A short detour from the main road leading back to the capital leads to the impressive Confucian-style burial tombs of King Sejo (1456-1468), the 7th Joseon King, and his wife, Queen Yun Jeonghi. Known as Gwangneung (open Tues-Sun p:30am-5:30pm, Nov-Mar closes at 4:30pm; entrace fee), these are probably the most idyllically located tombs in the Seoul area, hidden in the midst of a beautiful forest of old trees which shade melodious, trickling streams and wide greens ideal for picnicking. The surrounding woodland is very popular with bridwatchers, being a prime habitat for Tristram's Woodpeckers and other rare species.

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Photo Credits: http://portal.unesco.org/en/files/45865/1245969172330208969_400.jpg/30208969_400.jpg

Sanjeonghosu Lake: Artificial Lake

2009-11-17T15:15:00.000-08:00

On your return journey to Seoul, you may want to stop off at Sanjeonghosu Lake, an artificial lake built by Japanese engineers during Japan's colonial occupation of Korea. This is a popular skating spot in wintertime, and for most of the year it's a splendid area for hiking (there are numerous hiking trails in the woods around the lake), boating and relaxation. Look out for the large colorful tents which serve as dance halls.

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Photo Credits: http://english.gg.go.kr/tour/gallery/photo/11.jpg

The Dragon Waterfall and the Feisty Carp

2009-11-16T20:50:00.000-08:00

Due south of the Lonely Rock - in a deep canyon and off a steep dirt road - is the little known Sambuyeon or "Dragon Waterfall". You'll probably see local villagers fishing for carp in pools above the falls. This is appropriate pastime, because in these parts - and in oriental mythology in general - the carp and the dragon are distant and legendary relatives. A famous story in natural lore tells about a carp (regarded by Koreans as a symbol of strength and perseverance) that persistently tried to climb up this strong waterfall. On the 100th day of his attempt, this feisty carp succeeded (with the help of the gods) to scale Sambuyeon, and as a reward he was magically turned into a powerful dragon. These falls, however, are rather easy to climb (a well-trodden path runs through a stone tunnel to the right side of the falls; and of course there is little worry of being turned into a dragon at the top.

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Photo Credits: http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/16907660.jpg

Superb Waterfalls and River

2009-11-15T23:45:00.000-08:00

An even more dramatic waterfalls and river scene is located much further north in the Sincheorwon area. Be aware that, because there are several military checkpoints in this area close to the 38th parallel, it is recommended that foreign visitors join a tour if possible. A massive granite boulder, Goseokjeong, nicknamed "The Lonely Rock", sits in the Hantangang River and invites clambering up to its pine-studded brow. Legend says that this rock rolled in from the east coast and decided to rest at this lovely turn in the fast-flowing river. A pleasure pavilion overlooks the rock and the river's noisy rapids, and local boatmen may be hired for a ride through the narrow river canyons that just to the north. It is also the most popular rafting spot near Seoul.

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Photo Credits: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/cms/resource/52/746252_image2_1.jpg

A Temple in Dongducheon

2009-11-15T02:55:00.000-08:00

Traveling further north, the terrain becomes wilder, with impressive canyons and ravines. Beyond Dongducheon, turn at the highway into the Soyosan Mountains and make the short hike to Jajaeam Temple (open daily 9am-sunset: entrance fee), a place famed as the testing ground for a monk's celibacy, ornately carved dragons snarl out from this quaint temple's caves. Inside, you will find a pair of tempestuous carved dragons writhing on the ceiling. A spouting waterfall and narrow gorge with a stream complement this little canyon.

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Photo credits: http://eng.gg.go.kr/attach/1/1166019609.jpg

Bukhansanseong

2009-11-14T20:59:00.000-08:00

Bukhansanseong was originally constructed during the early Baekje period and at various times fell into martial disuse. Following sustained attacks during 17th century by armies of Qing-dynasty (led by Manchurians) China, the Joseon King Sukjong refurbished its battlements. During that era, the fortification had 13 gates, three command posts, a palace and warehouses within its walls. The walls and buildings were almost completely destroyed during the Korean War, but have since been partially restored to honor their historic importance. Today, you can walk along most of the 8km (5miles) of wall and see the west gate, and view what remains of the palace and warehouses within the walls. A neat village has grown alongside a stream in the crater-like center of the fortress, and meadows and small forests on its less-populated fringes are favored picnic sites.

Being so close to Seoul, this park is immensely popular for both hikers and picnickers, and the most popular trails and riverside picnicking areas are quite crowded on weekends. Access from Seoul is easy, take like 4 on the subway to Suyu Station, or to Dobongsan Station for the northern part of the park.

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Photo credits: http://visitasiaguide.com/visit-korea/pics-korea/bukhansanseong-mountain-fortress.jpg

A king's Last Resort

2009-11-13T19:06:00.000-08:00

Besides its natural beauty, Bukhansan National Park also has historic Bukhansanseong (North Han Mountain Fortress), one of two major ancient fortress in the Seoul area- the other being Namhansanseong, to the south of the capital - built to defend the royal family against attacking hordes of Manchus and Mongolians when all other defenses had failed. This historical fortress is similar in design and setting to its southern counterpart, and is located above the sprawling northeast suburbs of Seoul along the rocky high ridges of Bukhansan mountain.

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Photo credits: http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/cms/resource/08/527608_image2_1.jpg

The Amazing Dobongsan

2009-11-13T02:34:00.000-08:00

Dobongsan, (740 meters/2,428 ft), is one of several pleasant peaks just a few miles north of downtown Seoul. The hike to the summit takes several hours. You may want to linger en route next to a clear stream or, if you are a camera buff, photograph the many odd rock formations; or you may wish to trek along one of the meandering paths leading to the picturesque Buddhist temples of Mangwol, Cheonchuk, and Hweryong.

Dobongsan lies within one of Korea's 20 national parks - Bukhansan National Park. Further south from Dobongsan there is a triad of granite mountains, Samgaksan (triangle peaks) which is better known as Bukhansan. The tallest of these, at 837 meters (2,746 ft.) is Baegundae, from whose ridges you can catch some great views of Seoul. Another peak, Insubong (812 meters/2,644 feet), has a sheer granite face that many have compared to the better known El Capitan in Califonia's Yosemite National Park. Like its California counterpart, Insubong is popular with technical climbers. Bukhansan National Park is a legitimate alpine environment, even if it is surrounded by a sea of concrete apartment buildings, so if you decide to do some hiking, take plenty of water and warm clothes.

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Photo credits: http://izsak02.com/Korea/Dobongsan25.jpg
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Plum Blossoms in the snow

2009-11-09T22:21:00.000-08:00

Visitors and Seoulites alike are often told that they should spend at least one late winter day in the area north of Seoul. This region is dubbed by some as the "Realm of the Immortals." If possible, try to go when plum blossoms - the year's first flower - begin to bloom in snow-dusted forests and ravines. It is, after all, what the ancients advise: "Do as amused immortals do: whenever the boredom and frustration of a long winter indoors becomes too much for them, they put on their cape and hat, tell the attendant to saddle the donkey, and go out in the snow looking for plum blossoms."

This "immortal" journey will take you on Highway 43 north of Seoul between two popular hiking mountains: Dobongsan and Suraksan. Dobongsan, the rocky harsh-looking mountain on the west side of the road, is said to represent the male gender, while the curved and flowing Surkasan on the east side is supposed to personify the female qualities.

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Photo credits: http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/South-Korea/Seoul/blog-334051.html
http://cache.virtualtourist.com/2557033-Suraksan-Seoul.jpg
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2006-02/18/xin_20020318160858924059.jpg

Gyeongi Province North

2009-11-08T02:15:00.000-08:00

Beyond Seoul are numerous day outings where one can get away from the hustle and bustle of urban life, all within easy reach of the sprawling city. Do as Koreans do: simply follow your nose until it leads you to a stream filled with plum blossoms, or a meadow bursting with pink cosmos blossoms. This November we will explore the trips to north of Seoul that are a sample of enjoyable and interesting excursions recommended as worth your time.

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Photo credits: http://www.flickr.com/photos/batabidd/2500812173/

Hurray Readers

2009-11-04T04:25:00.000-08:00

As promised, every month this blog will feature one tourist destination of Korea. This November after all the tossing of coins and tiring draw lots system, I chose Gyeonggi Province. To start with, let's explore the beauty and wonders of Gyeonggi through its location. The area north of Seoul is unique: where else has a highly fortified border, seemingly on the verge of full-scale war, been turned into a tourist attraction?

Enjoy and continue reading!

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Photo credit: http://english.gg.go.kr/living/contents_01_right_1.html

The Silla Tombs

2009-10-31T04:52:00.000-07:00

There are several routes you can take to see Gyeongju's sites, but since Dumulli Park (open daily 8:30am-6pm, Nov-Mar closes at 5pm; entrance fee) sits near the middle of the historic part of the city, it's a good place to start. This is a unique 15-hectare (37-acre) "tomb park" on the southeast side of Gyeongju with some 20 tombs of varying sizes that were originally heaped into place as early as the mid-1st century. Until 30 years ago, this restored, beautifully landscaped and lamplit complex of mounded graves was just another ordinary neighborhood in Gyeongju. When private individuals and government archeological teams began to find literally thousands of important items here, however, the area was quickly cleared of homesites and was designed as a national museum and site of major historical significance.

The restoration of Dumulli Park began in 1973, and the complex was officially dedicated and opened to the public in 1975.

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Photo credits: http://www.karenmassier.com/htmlver/galleries.php?galnum=3&sec=2
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Gyeongju From a View

2009-10-31T04:40:00.000-07:00

Gyeongju is one of the three most popular destinations in Korea (the other two being Seoul and Jeju Island), and Koreans have an immense pride in Gyeongju and Silla Kingdom that was able to unite the peninsula for the first time. Like the corresponding Tang Dynasty in neighboring China, the Silla period is considered the epitome of Korean art and culture. In early Silla, the dominant belief system was based on shamanism, that magical world inhabited by benevolent mountain spirits, and malevolent demons.

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Photo credits: http://www.igougo.com/journal-j52191-Gyeongju-Gyeongju_Ancient_Cultural_Capital_of_Korea.html

Opulent Shaman Kings

2009-10-29T18:00:00.000-07:00

Gyeongju was well known to Asia's ancients as Geumseong, the home of powerful and opulent shaman kings. Today, it's an easy-going resort town where rice cultivation and tourism are more important than wars of conquest. Its distinction as a one-time seat of power, however, cannot ever be forgotten. This 214-sq. km (83-sq. mile) valley dotted with burial tombs - most from the 1st to 8th centuries but some more recent - tired pagodas, fortress ruins, granite sculptures, palace grounds and other remnants of the rich Three Kingdoms Period.

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Photo credits: http://reference.findtarget.com/search/Buddhism%20in%20Korea/

Get to Know Gyeongju

2009-10-27T04:18:00.000-07:00

It's the massive burial mounds, brown and dusted by frost in the winter, and carpeted with a dark-green nap in the summer, which punctuate any visit to Gyeongju. Rising here and there in populated and rural areas, they dominate all other physical realities in this riverine valley between Daegu and Busan. The mounds memorial tombs or neung in Korean, represents the glory that was Silla, and the wonders contained within are now waiting to be unearthened. The area around the city is also full of interest - secluded temples, including famous Bulguk-sa, abound in the wooded hills of Namsan and Tohamsan.

To know more about Gyeongju, visit : http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/index.kto

Visit & Explore the Wonders of Gyeongju

2009-10-23T01:21:00.000-07:00

Rich in artifacts from Korea's Silla Dynasty, the southeastern valley region of Gyeongju is the place to visit if you want to delve deeply into the peninsula's history.

**This October my blog will highlight all the beauty of Gyeongju that Koreans are so proud of. Keep on reading my blog. Thanks ^.^

To know more about Gyeongju, visit: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/index.kto

Photo credits: http://media.photobucket.com/image/gyeongju/lessergrebe/Album%20Korea%20Mainland/65BulguksaTemple.jpg?o=7

iPhone Apps & iPod touch Giveaway!

2009-10-13T06:06:00.000-07:00

Just tell her about your favorite DIY related apps. If you have a top 5, she wants to hear about them! Don’t have an iPhone or iPod touch? Then let her knows what would be the type of app you would want if you did? Stand a chance to win an iphone and iPod Touch

Visit: http://www.livinglocurto.com/ for the contest details.

The Four Temple Guardians

2009-09-28T05:48:00.000-07:00

The Four Heavenly Guardians stand watch at the entryway of almost every Buddhist temple in Korea. In the larger temples, the Guardians are gigantic wooden or concrete statues housed in the temple's second gate. At smaller temples, Guardians are painted on the wooden doors of the temple gate.

The Guardian of the North stands with a pagoda, a reliquary for the ashes of monks, as this is the direction of death. The Guardian of the South controls the weather with his lute, and the Guardian of the West carries a sword that is able to multiply whenever needed. Finally, the Guardian of the East holds a dragon to ensure good fortune.

First-time visitors are often taken aback by the ferocity of the Guardians. They stand with sword dragon or lute in hand, wide-eyed and with ferocious grins, Underfoot a bizarre little gremlin winces in anguish. But don't worry their ferocity isn't directed at visitors with a pure heart; they're there to protect the temple against evil from the four directions of the compass, standing ever vigilant against devils and demons trying to enter the temple grounds.

To know more about these Four Heavenly Guardians, visit: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/index.kto

Photo credits: http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Four_Heavenly_Kings

All About the Temple

2009-09-28T05:43:00.000-07:00

Mountain Spirit

To the rear of almost every mountain temple are shrines to the Mountain Spirit and the Hermit, both remnants of a shamanistic past.

To know more about this Mountain Spirit in mountain temple, visit: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/index.kto

Photo credits: http://kimcheetimes.blogspot.com/2009/08/buddhist-temple-in-south-korea-bongeun.html

All About the Temple

2009-09-28T05:40:00.000-07:00

Time Out

Whether nestled in a remote mountain valley or just off a busy street, temples offer a peaceful escape from today's stresses and worries.

To know more about Korean Temple, visit: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/index.kto

Photo credits: http://www.pbase.com/selvin/image/27119610

All About the Temple

2009-09-27T20:39:00.000-07:00

Temple Worship

Several times a day, monks can be heard chanting while striking a wooden gong. Layman worship involves a series of bows to the main Buddha statue.

To know more about the worship in the temple, visit: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/index.kto

Photo credits: http://mwbuddhist.org/buddhabirthday.htm

All About the Temple

2009-09-27T20:35:00.000-07:00

Giant Buddha

Size matters, at least when it comes to Buddhas. The larger and more ornate statues are a symbol of the devotion of their creators.

To know more about this Giant Buddha, visit: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/index.kto

Photo credits: http://jimmyinsandiego.com/Where%20I%20Live.htm

All About the Temple

2009-09-27T20:31:00.000-07:00

Keeping Guard

The temple guardian repels evil and reminds the faithful they are entering a world of peaceful solitude.

To know more about Korean Temple, visit: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/index.kto

Photo credits: http://flickr.com/photos/janekeeler/836930501/

All About the Temple

2009-09-27T16:21:00.000-07:00

Stone Pagodas

Maisan Temple is famous for its delicate, sometimes outrageous, stone pagodas built over several decades by a local hermit.

To know more about Stone Pagodas, visit: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/index.kto

Photo Credits: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Korea-Gangwon-Woljeongsa_Nine_Story_Stone_Pagoda_1723-07.JPG

All About the Temple

2009-09-27T03:11:00.000-07:00

A Monk's Life
Korea's monks and nuns spend a good deal of the summer and winter months in meditative retreat. Autumn and spring are for travel and personal reflection.

To know more about Korean monk, visit: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/index.kto

Photo credits: http://buddhism.about.com/b/2008/11/15/a-monk-is-born.htm

Visiting The Temples

2009-09-26T21:37:00.000-07:00

The temples, along with their surrounding mountain trails, are popular weekend destinations for both Korean and foreign tourists. If you choose to visit one of the temples, make a day of it. Take time to explore the main temple complex and to appreciate the charm and delicate details of the many buildings. On the doors of the Main Hall, colorful demons repel evils, and lotus flowers promise the hope of nirvana. Inside, look up and you're likely to see dragons and cranes softly suspended from the rafters. And finally, visit the small shrine on the hillside behind the main buildings and pay homage to the Mountain Spirit and Recluse.

To know more about Korean Temples, visit: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/index.kto

Photo credits: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kayseph/3619088668/

Korea's Beautiful Mountain Temples

2009-09-26T21:25:00.000-07:00

While the urban centers have their attractions, a visit to Korea would be incomplete without experiencing the peace of these rustic hideaways.

Korea's largest and most historic Buddhist temples are found in mountain valleys far removed from the hectic urban centers. Many of Korea's artistic treasures are to be found within the temple grounds, although the greatest treasure may be the beauty of the temples and their pristine natural setting. These mountain shrines and their grounds have become the centerpieces of Korea's well-developed system of Provincial and National Parks, from Jirisan in the south to Seokraksan in the north.
It is not happenstance that the temples are located in beautiful mountain locations. For most of the staunchly Confucian Joseon dynasty (1392-1910) Buddhist temples, and even monks, mountains were their refuge. Today, these temples in the hills provide visitors with a quiet opportunity to calm, refresh and renew their spiritual side.
To know more about these magnificent Korean temples, visit: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/index.kto

Photo credits: http://eng.koreatemple.net/travel/templestay/default.asp?cat_id=50&code=C028

Green Tea?

2009-09-26T21:12:00.001-07:00

When the freshly sprouting leaves are plucked from the tea bushes in late April or May, they are a vivid green color. To make a green tea, they have to be dried before they wither; this means within a few hours of being picked. Tea bushes only grow in the far south of the Korean peninsula, on the southern slopes of Jirisan, around Boseong, and on the hills of Jeju Island off the south coast. On the slopes of Jirisan, individual tea-makers spend hours crouched over heated cauldrons, turning and rubbing the tea by hand until it is perfectly dry. This is the finest and most expensive variety of Korean tea, although tea made industrially by such large companies as Taepyong-yang can also be very good. The first, small sprouts gathered in April give the most delicate tea, known as "Ujeon". The leaves gathered in early May yield "Sejak" and in last weeks of May, when the taste of the leaves is beginning to grow weaker, the tea is known as "Jungjak". Menus in tea houses will often list green tea by these categories.

For further info about green tea, visit: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/index.kto

Photo credits: http://www.mellowmonk.com/labels/EGCG.html

All About Green Tea

2009-09-25T20:57:00.000-07:00

Point Of Origin

Green Tea, Chinese tea, and the black tea from India or Sri Lanka are all made with leaves from the same bush, Camellia sinensis.

Harvest Time

The Taepyongyang company's tea plantations at Boseong employ dozens of women during the brief tea-picking season between April and June.

Formal Ceremony

Holding their cups in both hands, first admire the color, then inhale the fragrance, then drink and savor the aftertaste.

Tools of the Trade

Korean potters copy some of the country's finest ancient pottery to create a Korean style of tea service.

To know more about green tea, visit: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/index.kto

Photo credits: http://epicself.com/category/wellness/page/23/
http://www.ikjournal.com/InvestKoreaWar/work/journal/content/content_main.jsp?c ode=4570408

All About Green Tea

2009-09-25T02:39:00.000-07:00

Whisked Tea
Finely powdered tea is whisked to a forth in warm water, in one version of the tea ceremony; more usually, green tea is brewed in a teapot and poured into small cups.

Drying The Leaves
The very finest green tea is slowly dried over a fire in an iron cauldron, the leaves stirred and rubbed between the tea-makers' hands.

Traditional Tea House
Young, couples, as well as monks, frequent Korean tea houses, drinking green tea slowly in a relaxed atmosphere.

To know more about Korean green tea, visit: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/index.kto

Photo credits: http://www.flickr.com/photos/68558939@N00/2395229790/
http://www.mellowmonk.com/labels/green%20tea%20in%20the%20news.html
http://binbrain.com/blog/2009/05/02/a-cup-of-green-tea/

Korean Tea Today

2009-09-25T02:13:00.000-07:00

Today, tea ceremonies are a popular activity among housewives, while Buddhist monks and many ordinary people enjoy drinking green tea in an informal manner. To enjoy the full experience, look for a jeontong chatjip (traditional tea house). In Seoul, the alleyways of the Insadong district offer a fine selection of these. Staff will gladly show you how to prepare your tea, if you are unsure. The most important thing to remember is that the water must not be too hot or the delicate taste will be spoiled. Tea is reckoned to contain five or six tastes: salt, sweet, bitter, tart, peppery, in varying proportions. Ordinary tea will have lost most of its flavor after three servings, but very good tea may be used to make four or five rounds. Koreans will tell you that Chinese tea has perfume, Japanese tea has color, but Korean green tea has a deeper, richer taste than either. And it is better for you, too!

To know more about Korean green tea, visit: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/index.kto

Photo credits: http://www.mellowmonk.com/labels/green%20tea%20in%20the%20news.html

The Way of Tea - Korean Style

2009-09-24T07:25:00.000-07:00

Green Tea is increasingly popular worldwide, and Korean green tea is the best there is. Yet almost no-one seems to have heard of it.

The drinking of tea (cha) was introduced to Korea and Japan around 7th centuries AD by Buddhist monks from China. Over the following centuries, tea drinking remained closely linked with Buddhism; when a new dynasty, the Joseon, took control of the Korean peninsula in the 14th century and decided to break the power of Buddhism, the tradition was almost completely lost. In the 19th century the Buddhist monk Cho Ui, followed by Hyodang in the 20th century, led revivals that are only now beginning to bear fruit.

To know more about green tea, visit: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/index.kto

Photo credits: http://www.topnews.in/healthcare/diseases/cancer?page=1

Folk Villages: A Korean Specialty

2009-09-23T01:06:00.000-07:00

Folk Village at Suwon, one of many such villages scattered around South Korea. These villages provide a useful introduction to traditional Korean ways of life, as well as to the many types of clothing worn by different people at different times; actors, in appropriate costume, represents the various occupations of traditional Korean society, from laborers and weavers to schoolteachers and officials.
To know more about Korea visit: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/index.kto

Photo credits: http://izsak02.com/KoreaSuwonFolkVillage.html

Traditional Korean Costume

2009-09-18T23:10:00.000-07:00

Traditional Korean clothing is usually known as hanbok, and consists of a two-part ensemble of short for women, and a jacket with loose trousers tied at the ankles for men. As long ago as AD 500, clothing in this style was worn, as we know from wall paintings found in ancient tombs. Tailoring and proportions varied over time, with the Joseon period preferring a short jacket length for women along with very long, trailing skirts.

Since Koreans sat on the paper-covered floors of their houses, rather than on chairs, loose, flowing skirts and trousers were both comfortable and practical. When traveling or visiting outside the home, upper-class men would wear long coats, woven from silk or ramie and lined with fur in the hard winters. This was completed by a distinctive black hat, which hid long hair tied up into a topknot. Commoners had woven straw shoes, or wooden clogs for muddy paths. Indoors, woven shoes of silk, hemp and animal hides were the norm. Children were dressed in bright colors until they reached adulthood, whereas married women wore sober, restrained colors. Clothing marked the wearer's social standing.

Farmers and laborers wore undyed workclothes, although on special occasions they would don bright and festive attire.

Know more about Korea at: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/1001_About%20Korea.jsp

Photos credits: http://www.flickr.com/photos/artisticasianinfatuation/3827679505/in/photostream/

Korean Kite Fighting

2009-09-18T22:44:00.000-07:00

In korea, kites (yeon) aren't just for children. Indeed, you're more likely to find an accountant or college professor holding a kite string than a bright-eyed waif. It's been that way for centuries, as soldiers and upper class used fighting kites to hone their battle strategies.

The objective of Korean kite fighting is to maneuver your kite so it cuts your opponents kite string, sending their kite floating ignobly to earth. Strings are made of silk, with ceramic filings (or even finely crushed diamonds) along their length-making them deadly when rubbed against an opponent's string.

A favorite location for kite flying is the Hangang Citizen's Park in Seoul and you'll see members of the Seoul Kite Club engaged in good-natured combat, or discussing strategies and admiring each other's kites. The International Kite Festival is held here in the first month of the Lunar Year.

To know more about this festival, do visit: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/1001_About%20Korea.jsp

Photo credits: http://www.flickr.com/photos/arena_provietnam/3005428144/sizes/o/

Korea's Amazing Festivals

2009-09-18T03:12:00.000-07:00

Gimchi Festival

Foreigners are encouraged to try their luck at making the ubiquitous Korean staple at Gwangju's Gimchi Festival.

Farmers' Dance

At many festivals, villages from throughout the region send bands to a competition to see which is the most colorful and noisy.

Fun and Games

Neolttwigi, pictured here at the spring Dano festival, is Korea's version of the seesaw.

Village Parody

The Korean mask dance, where every stuffed shirt and village oddball is parodied, is a true folk tradition with roots in Korea's shamanistic past.

Festive Lanterns

Brightly colored lanterns fill the courtyard of a mountain temple during the week-long celebration of Buddha's birthday, Korea's most important Buddhist festival.

Alms Appreciation

Monks are no longer allowed to beg for alms on Korea's streets, so offering of rice, fruit and money, as at the Buddha's birthday festival, are much appreciated.

Mask Festival

A young boy is dwarfed by masks at the Andong International Mask Festival. Korea's best dance groups make this one of the country's liveliest festivals.

Taking in the Show

No one loves a festival like Korea's senior citizens, who put on their finest clothes, pack a lunch and stock up on soju for a day of merry-making.

To know more about Korea's Festivals. Please visit: http://www.tour2korea.co.kr/

Photo credits: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_2_1.jsp?cid=293204
http://english.visitseoul.net/visit2007en/activities/livingtraditions/livingtraditions.jsp?cid=118&sid=550
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/cms/dispatcher.jsp?cid=752897&fid=4735&ctypeid=222
http://www.wandalust.com/50226711/lotus_lantern_festival_seoul_korea.php
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/include/print.asp?newsIdx=23025
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ctdimaging/86366924/
http://www.blognetnews.com/hamptonroadsva/feed.php?channel=128&y=2009&m=07

Some of Korean Costumes

2009-09-18T02:57:00.000-07:00

Palace Guards

Guards at the Deoksugung Palace in Seoul wear long, plain robes and broad-rimmed hats as they beat time with brightly decorated drums.

Modern Hanbok

The bright jacket, jeogori, tiedwith an ornamental bow to the right, contrasts with the darkest skirt, chima, in this modern version of the hanbok.

Birthday Party

Dressed in a traditional stripe-sleeved silk coat, this child marks his first birthday by choosing an object that foretells his future. Money or rice suggest riches.

Ancestors Worship

A Confucian ceremony at Jongmyo shrine in honor of royal ancestors. 'Courtiers' wear black silk hats and round-necked robes.

Shaman Rites

The shaman is an enduring feature Korean society. A shaman's assistant wears a hood bearing tri-colored taegeuk symbols.

Working Clothes

In contrast to the flowing lines of formal hanbok, modern working clothes are designed for ease of movement and comfort.

Wedding Clothes

At a traditional wedding, the bride wears red silk embellished with gold leaf; the groom has an embroidered jacket and silk trousers.

Flowing Lines

Hanbok with tapering sleeves and high-waisted skirt makes for a flowing silhouette.

To know more about Traditional Korean Dress visit: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/1001_About%20Korea.jsp

Photo Credits: http://www.flickr.com/photos/foodiejp/402236614/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/feetmanseoul/3870064219/
http://www.tomandnancylin.com/2007/12/31/olivias-1st-birthday-party/
http://kisoe.kins.re.kr/ex/exs51_001_06_03.html
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200704/06/archive.html
http://www.dollnasian.com/asian-dress/korean-dress
http://www.lifeinkorea.com/culture/clothes/clothes.cfm?xURL=ceremony
http://www.flickr.com/photos/almostjaded/2772551416/

Korea's Flavor

2009-09-18T01:42:00.000-07:00

Activities at Korean festivals revolve around a theme, usually a product or a cultural activity for which the region is famous. Ginseng, mud baths, mushrooms and Korean liquors all have a weekend set aside to celebrate their attributes. Folk performances--the noisy farmer bands, the softer sounds of pansori (traditional song), the local mask dance, and probably by shamans to ensure the community's prosperity. If at all possible, schedule a day for a festival while visiting Korea.
More Korean festivals at http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/index.kto

Photo credits: http://www.tour2korea.co.kr/

Korea's Vibrant Festivals

2009-09-13T05:59:00.000-07:00

Spring and autumn are lively seasons in Korea where almost every weekend there is a festival going on somewhere in the country. Some, such as the Andong International Mask Festival, are larger affairs that attract people from all over Korea. Others, such as the Tea Festival in Boseong, are local affairs that you might come across while traveling the countryside. Visiting a festival is a great opportunity to see just how downright sociable Koreans can be. Despite all the pushing and shoving, and those stony Confucian faces encountered in the city. Koreans can party with the best of them. While attending a festival , it's likely you'll be offered a sip of soju from some grandfather's bottle, or maybe a brightly dressed ajumma will ask you to sit and enjoy a plate of gimbap.
Please click this link VISIT KOREA to know more about Korea.

Photo credits: http://socius.or.kr/2007/09/16/andong-international-mask-festival/

Postech Takes Center Stage in Science Growth

2009-08-17T05:08:00.000-07:00

Ask a South Korean what Pohang is, and he will undoubtedly say it is the center of the country’s iron and steel production. It was not this way amid the post-war poverty of Korea 30 years ago, however.

Pohang was a fishing port totally lacking in notoriety, except among Marines, for whom it was the starting point for some of the most unforgettably harsh trading, then in the mid-1960s it was forever transformed by the dedication of a gigantic steel mill by the Pohang Iron and Steel Co. (POSCO). With blithe disregard for the skepticism of Korean and foreign specialists, POSCO created the “economic miracle on the Hyongsan River” and turned Pohang into the center of Koren iron and steel production, reshaping it in the process.

Photo credits:
http://www.squarehe.com/archive/0645.php

Behind a Fan: Varieties of Romances

2009-08-15T23:28:00.000-07:00

Most people given the choice would never opt for the fan as a summer cooling system, yet even a cursory look at the history of the fan in Korea arouses some nostalgia as we discover that it was an article, beautiful, graceful and even dignified and mysterious.

The devotees of the fan have mostly disappeared from our midst in these days of electric devices for beating the heat, but when you consider that bamboo was used for the ribs of the traditional fan, and that an item often appearing on the agenda of the royal court was the sever devastation of bamboo groves, you have some ideas of how many fans waved in Korean hands.

Painting fan leaves has always been regarded as a branch of the fine arts in the Orient. Korean fans were first painted during the 13th century and by the 15th century the exchange of calligraphically or painted fans were very popular among members of the aristocratic class. Many were carefully kept rather than put to practical use as they were considered too precious. Their subjects featured various aspects of Korean life.

Photo credits:
http://emedia.leeward.hawaii.edu/frary/pic8.htm

Ancient Architecture: A Fading Memory

2009-08-13T16:38:00.000-07:00

Korea’s typical family was neither a large nor a nuclear one but a combination of two. Women usually lived in an inner house, or the main building of family, and men occupied the outer house of a family’s male master, or sarangchae, which was for receiving male guests or used as a study. Quite often children lived and studied in sarangchae and female guests were entertained in the inner house.

“A boy and a girl should not sit together after they have reached the age of seven” was a common law in old Korea under the influence of Confucianism. Even marriage could not excuse lovers from such firmness, since Confucius and wife should be kept properly distinctive.” Thus came the Korean style male space, the sarangchae, available to almost each and every house in old Korea, where the head of a household not only did his “high” business but also managed the necessities of life.

Photo credits:
http://arosebud.wordpress.com/2009/05/20/korea-holiday-trip/

Four Wooden Sticks Tell Shifts in Fortune

2009-08-11T04:17:00.000-07:00

Games are as old as the human race and as young as the children who play them. Human beings have been playing games for fun and excitement for as long as they have lived on this planet.

Koreans use sticks for a different kind of game. Instead of kicking sticks, they throw four 10-inch-long wooden sticks into the air and watch how they land. This game reflects the nature of Koreans; whether it is performed inside or out-of-doors, it enhances the festive mood of both the players and the spectators.

Sometimes in the distant past, Koreans used pieces of split wood to seek the advice of their gods. To tell the future, they would toss the sticks into the air, believing that the gods would answer their questions by controlling the way the sticks landed.

Photo Credits:
http://www.hyonjooparklee.com/korea-society/culture/korean-new-year-day-lunar-new-year-day-seolnal-yutnori.html

Tea Ceremony: Freedom From Earthly Cares

2009-08-10T07:47:00.000-07:00

One by one the guests wash their hands at a small stone basin in a ritual of purification before entering the sparsely decorated tea room. The guest of honor takes up position at the right hand of the hostess and then all present bows solemnly to one another while sitting in a circle on the floor. Every moment is conducted according to the strict code of etiquette.

Only the sound of boiling water, called the “soughing of the wind in the pines,” breaks the silence of the room as the hostess prepares tea by following a precise and intricate sequence of actions. The atmosphere is one of great spiritual disciplines, harmony, respect and tranquility, for this is “tado, the way of tea or Korean tea Ceremony.”

Photo Credits:
http://micheleroohani.com/blog/2009/07/05/tea-from-the-land-of-the-morning-calm/

The Elegant Hanbok

2009-08-09T20:46:00.000-07:00

Fashions come and fashions go, but the true elegance endures forever. If you doubt it, you only have to walk along any street in Seoul and watch the kaleidoscope of fashions Korea’s modern generation in wearing. Along with everyday grab, you can see such chic foreign labels, or reasonable copies thereof, as “Umberto Severi,” “London Fog,” or “Yves Saint-Laurent.” And in the midst of the throng, you will see a Korean lady strolling along confidently and sedately, clad in a hanbok. She is not about to give up the traditional dress of her ancestors with its dignity and grace, every feminine sense tells her that her beauty was never more alluring.

Foreigners are always charmed by the sight of Korean women in their voluminous long skirts, chima, and short jackets, chagori, both of pastel tones billowing gracefully in the breeze like butterflies floating near the earth.

In Korea today tourists are able to buy those beautiful traditional dresses readymade in arcades and department stores.

Photo credits:
http://www.imeem.com/groups/ms0xAVzv/forums/tfYGAoBk/FWuU8lZi/culture-of-korea/

Pulkuk Temple Remains Beautiful After 1,400 Yrs.

2009-08-09T20:17:00.000-07:00

The most famous of Korea’s hundreds of temples is pulkuk-sa.

Standing on a series of stone terraces on the western slopes of Mt. Toham, the temple complex commands a fine view of the many peaks of Mt. Namsan.

Traditional tile roofs make the temple buildings look as if they are about to take wing, and superbly complicated Tabotap and Sakya Pagoda spring high among the roofs and are reflected in a pond.

On the hill behind Pulkuk-sa is the Sokkuram grotto, hand carved from solid granite centuries ago. The statue of Buddha carved inside is said to be one of the best examples of Buddhist art in Asia and among 73 figures seated facing east to help defend the Silla people against pirates who infested the East Sea.

A temple annex several kilometers beyond was built by Kim Daesong and has become a major pilgrimage site for practitioners and students of Buddhism.

Photo Credits:
http://www.postech.ac.kr/LiMAT2001/Acceptance.htm

Enticing Taste of Kimchi

2009-08-08T00:07:00.000-07:00

Kimchi is a mouth-watering side dish that made the Korean food well-known around the world. It is doing for Korea what Scotch did for Scotland, what pizza did for Italy and what the hamburger did for the United States. In the past few years, the world has given rare reviews to this staple of the Korean diet.

Next to boiled rice, kimchi is the main part of a Korean meal. It is spicy and fiery, yet earthy and cool.

Attesting to its popularity is the fact that modern English dictionaries carry the world “kimchi”, which is defined roughly as “a fermented vegetable pickle seasoned with pungent garlic, hot chili pepper, ginger, fish and various other seafood; it is the national dish of Korea.”

Even though the Chinese and Japanese also eat marinated vegetables, kimchi is exclusively Korean. Unlike the Chinese and Japanese vegetables, kimchi is extremely seasoned with spices and condiments, such as chili pepper, garlic, shrimps, hairtail (Trichiuridae haumela), anchovies, oysters, razor clams and also fresh fruit. The Chinese pickle a long, stalk form of cabbage in rice vinegar and the Japanese make takuan, pickled radish, without using spices or condiments.

In this age of instant food, Koreans can buy ready-made kimchi in cans, vacuum packs or jars, instead of going through the laborious, time-consuming process of making it. There are even kimchi factories that can produce a winter’s supply of kimchi to suit any individual’s palate.

Any trip to Korea would be incomplete without a taste of kimchi, but the unaccustomed foreigner should have plenty of water on hand to douse the fire that will erupt in his throat. To visit Korea without savoring kimchi would be like going to Switzerland without eating cheese or like touring Russia without sampling vodka.

Photo credits:
http://www.markfitzhenry.com/korea/march09.php

Experience the Rhythm of the Orient

2009-08-04T21:18:00.000-07:00

This country offers myriad of unique sights waiting for you in the “Land of the Morning Calm”. Experience for yourself a country where they live life in a different rhythm. Korea.

Photo credits:

http://www.paulnoll.com/Korea/Maps/Korean-map-Korea-all.html

http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cerd/followup-procedure.htm

Contact Me

2009-07-25T23:14:00.000-07:00

If you have any questions or would like to post your Ads on my blog please fill up the form below.

Canon Image Nation : Capture Every Smile

2009-06-16T03:46:00.001-07:00

Canon Image Nation : Capture Every Smile

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Election 2010

2009-05-11T04:51:00.000-07:00

EACH TIME you are honest and conduct yourself with honesty, a success force will drive you toward greater success. Each time you lie, even with a little white lie, there are strong forces pushing you toward failure. --Joseph Sugarman

Starting today it's a 365 days countdown for the 2010 Election. The campaign season will set in motion and Filipinos again face challenge of finding the right persons for public office, it is high time to reconsider our voting practices and find more ways to vote wisely.
The right of suffrage or the right to vote is more than a right; it is also a privilege and an opportunity.
As a right, it is inviolable and sacred. It must be protected at all costs. From the birth of a child the right to vote begins, whether he or she grows up to be an ordinary citizen or another politician. This right is personal. A proxy or substitute cannot exercise it.

Within the context of the international community and the number of countries under military or communist rule, voting is a privilege.

We are fortunate to have democracy reigning in our country. This privilege, however, carries with it the burden of responsibility and accountability. We need to guard this privilege, which some of our ancestors only dreamed of.

Yes, my ballot may just be a whisper, but combined with other voices, it becomes a loud cry that will awaken the slumbering spirit of patriotism and nationalism.

As a vote sellers know, the right to vote is wonderful opportunity to earn extra money. But that is not the opportunity I am talking about. Election time is an opportunity to unseat the corrupt and anoint the righteous. It is a rare opportunity to help determine the fate of the country. When the elected or appointed officials take office, it is then that the people reap the fruit of how exercise the opportunity to elect.

Sadly, in the belief that there is no clean candidate, some Filipinos forfeit their right to vote by boycotting the elections. Doing so, however, does not make the fate of this country any ray brighter.

Don't forget your appointment on May 11, 2010. Make a difference. Go out and vote for the future of your children and your country.

Ballot box photo from : http://www.flickr.com/photos/jobarracuda/497598011

In My Views

2009-05-06T02:12:00.000-07:00

We now live in a very complex society. Teen pregnancies, violence, suicides are increasing. Our society has lost touch with what children need to mold character and competence.
Today's youth need something. And what is it? They constantly need loving training that corrects the heart and mind. Different persons need different kinds of discipline. When motivated by love, discipline often can be conveyed by reasoning.
Teaching children a sense of order and respect is one great challenge for parents today. Boundaries must be set around personal properties and preferences to imply that it is wrong to love violence or harm one another.

MIDNIGHT DJ says "I write what FLOws from my Pen about the shinny LIPGLOSS

2009-05-02T01:15:00.000-07:00

TV5 Shows: Midnight DJ, Lipgloss and FLO

Horror shows on television isn't my thing, but the Midnight DJ is pretty cool and good. The character of Oyoboy Sotto was perfectly blended with every episodes of the show as a third-eye gifted DJ. As a total, the stories were great idea with even better go after through, and worthy to be watch by those Horror Freak Filipinos out there.

All dreams are not always for all the people.

Take LIPGLOSS, a commendable example of one of TV's great genres: the youth-oriented drama. LIPGLOSS is another glimpse into a challenging, complimentary and demanding planet where youth are worldly wise and prudent, adults and parents naive or degenerate. That's why this drama is more appealing to teens, kids who can't wait to be teens and adults who desire they were teens.

I got the FLO of TV5. The teen magazine show which was sliced into three astig segments namely: Style Ko To, Say Ko To and Trip Ko To plus a taste from your favorite bands in Jam Tayo. It does not only inform the problems our youth is facing today but the show also look at some most up-to-date and hottest in fashion, youth activities, youth inclinations, entertainment, schools and a lot more.

I am really amazed of how the show explores the things that surround the youth of today. In the segment Say Ko To, the show gave the opportunity for the youth to bring up concerns and problems they encounter in today's society. It also talks about conditions and tests they try to conquer at home, work, school, society, anywhere and everywhere. Every youth have problems they want to talk about, and this teen magazine is just right for that. The FLO showcases the youth who have something to tell; and want to speak their mind pertaining to situations they so all the way through in the community. You can catch this amazing show on TV5 every Friday at 11:30 p.m.

Photos from:
http://www.tv5.com.ph/shows/newseason/weekdays_flo.html
http://www.tv5.com.ph/multimedia.html
http://www.tv5.com.ph/shows/newseason/weekends_lipgloss.html
http://www.tv5.com.ph/shows/newseason/weekends_midnightdj.html

This is it. The Blog's Name

2009-04-28T20:10:00.000-07:00

My Blog Invasion. I have tried so many names to my blog because I want it to catch the attention of all its readers out there and a name that best fits its content. So from a long name formulation I ended up with this one. I have started with a name such as Great Minds Meet, Blogging is the Name of the Game to Just a Click in My World and finally to this one: My Blog Invasion. This name is good which I think will maximize its site’s traffic. I’m not good in writing by the way, but I really want to learn it. I have that eagerness and willingness to try something that would help me improve some areas in my life. So, I’m making this blog just to express myself and my creativity as a student and as human being. I really want to try something that my friends and classmates don’t know about me (huhu…In a blogging field). Sometimes reinventing oneself is good, for you to know what other things that you can also do. I am a new man today, I had jumped over the adolescence fence into the adulthood side. That's when I began to think of writing any topic under the sun. I want to write in what flows from my pen. And I will write some more.

I hate Smart Bro

2009-04-17T02:54:00.000-07:00

Smart Bro really ruins my interview. I was scheduled on April 16, 2009 (Thursday) at 3 p.m. for an interview regarding my application as a tutor in an Online English Tutorial site. I had a conversation with my interviewer using Skype that time. I am so disappointed with the services offered with this internet provider. We have to reschedule again my interview because the quality of my sound is kind a choppy and delayed. It’s not because of my headset, my computer (we had just upgraded its memory) and the time (I know it’s not related but the weather is really hot that time), it’s because of this stupid internet provider (Smart Broadband). And now I’m blogging about it for other customer who planned to connect an internet using Smart Bro, Please think about it, if you don’t want to be included in the list of hundreds of displeased customers of Smart Bro.

Romantic Getaway

2009-04-05T04:23:00.000-07:00

I recommend a romantic getaway every three months—and overnight stay in a hotel. Some of you may question my sanity at this point. You’re asking, what about the children? Don’t you know what this would cost? We don’t have time for such craziness!
Think of it this way: It just might be the best investment you ever made in your marriage. Isn’t it wise to spend some time, effort, and money building a romantic, healthy relationship now? If you don’t, the chances are high that you’ll spend the same amount of money later on—but on some very different things, such as counseling, annulment lawyers, court costs, and spouse and child support.
And yes, it must be overnight in a hotel. Let me explain why. What us “home” to a man? It’s his castle! This is where he comes after a hard day at work to spend his free time, to relax, to tank up his energy so he can go out and fight the world again.
What is “home” to a woman? Whether she works outside the home or not, “home” represents WORK, WORK, and more WORK. It doesn’t matter what room she is in. There is something screaming, “Pick me up,” “Put me away,” or “Clean me.” Within the confines of home with so many tasks demanding her attention, it is difficult for her to let go and relax and play the role of “lover” with abandon.
When a woman is away in a resort, she can forget all the work and stress she left behind. It becomes an absolute prerequisite to get a women away from her home environment overnight once every three months, if you want to keep your marriage from burning out.
Here are some common-sense rules that ensure the getaway will renew your marriage.

No talk about bills, children, in-laws, or other irritating topics allowed.

No briefcase, calls to the office, laptop or cellular phones allowed.

No television, videos, or movies allowed (the attention is to be focused in each other, not on the action of others).

Only recreational reading permitted.

No dieting! (Ladies, it is no fun to take someone out for fancy meal and hear them say,” Oh, I can’t eat that!” This one time, eat it and enjoy it!)

Tell everyone you meet you are celebrating a romantic getaway, and watch them break their necks to help you celebrate in grand style.

Creatively show your partner through subtle romantic surprises how much you care!

Remember, relationship do not renew themselves. It is up to you to renew them constantly. Romance is only a part of married life, but it brings pleasure and delight. The challenge of being married is learning to keep relationship romantic, interesting, and alive through all changing years of marriage.

Breaking Up Is Hard to Do

2009-04-05T03:59:00.000-07:00

Dating forms a cycle—dating around, going steady, breaking up; dating around, going steady, breaking up, et cetera. With the exception of the person you really love, you will break up every time you go steady. But how you handle it when the time comes is crucial. Let’s learn to do right.

Breaking Up With a Heart
I know of no gentle way to break up. Whenever two people who have cared for each other part, they will suffer. But you can do something to soften the blow and prevent more serious problems during this difficult time.
Seek counsel. If you have doubts about your decision to call it quits, seek advice from someone you trust and respect. When we are emotionally upset, we often say and do things we regret later. Unburden yourself, if necessary, to a trusted friend, a minister, a counselor, or a teacher. Explaining the whole situation in detail will help clear your mind, and the objective opinion of someone not emotionally involved in the situation often proves helpful.
Pray about it. Seek divine guidance. Ask the Lord to make it clear that you have chosen the right course of action. Also request His help in carrying out your decision with kindness. Pray that the person you are breaking off with will get over the breakup without suffering serious emotional or physical problems.
End the relationship as soon as you decide to do so. Rather than leading the other person on, take steps to end things after you have reasonable doubt.. Don’t pretend to care about someone whom you have lost interest in. Once you have made the decision, stick with it. Don’t be conned by promises to change, compromise, or do things differently.
And lastly, If possible, give the other person a warning. An abrupt break can have the same kind of impact as the sudden death of a close relative. Most people find it easier to accept the death of a terminally ill person than to face an unexpected highway fatality. They have had an opportunity to prepare themselves emotionally. When your dissatisfaction with a relationship reaches the breaking point, you might drop hints about how you feel. For instance, you might say that you are depending on one another too much. Explain that you feel it might be better if you both dated others with the possibility of picking up the threads later after each of you has had the opportunity to make comparisons.