CULINARY TRAVEL Sipping Through Time: A Journey Inside Cheongdo’s Wine Tunnel Posted on October 11, 2015June 9, 2024 The Gam Wine Tunnel opened its doors in 2006 in Cheongdo and is the world’s FIRST persimmon wine cellar. Cheongdo is lined with bright orange persimmon trees and small family farms. The persimmon is dried, made into juice and wine. I love wine, but I think I prefer the dried fruit option the best. Read more
MILITARY RELATED The Life of a Military Ex-pat in South Korea Posted on September 30, 2015October 31, 2024 I once referred to myself as an expat. But during a recent dinner party at my home, we welcomed “real” American Expats to a long promised and much appreciated home cooked meal. Read more
PLACES OinK: Only in Korea Jjimjibangs & Gangnam Style Posted on September 30, 2015June 9, 2024 OinK: Only in Korea Jjimjibangs & Gangnam Style Now that I’ve been here a little while, I’ve noticed that many of my first impressions still hold up to be true. Only in Korea or OinK– good, bad and indifferent. I am enjoying my new temporary home and getting as acclimated… Read more
PLACES What’s UP with the Peace Sign in South Korea Posted on September 22, 2015May 20, 2024 They are doing it all over Korea. They do it in China. And even though I won’t see it for myself until next month, I suspect they are doing it in Japan too. And contrary to what I’ve read, its not just the school girls. The guys do it to look cool, usually keeping it low and to the side, while the girls do it to look cute, either framing their face or straight up. Now, they’ve even got me doing it too. Read more
PLACES What to Expect: 4-Day Group Tour to Beijing China Posted on September 10, 2015July 30, 2024 First impressions about Beijing… it’s BIG!! Really big. More than 250 million people live in the city and its surrounding suburbs. Imagine that. There are only 50 and 322 million people living gin the entire countries of Korea and the United States respectively. Read more
CULINARY TRAVEL The Skinny on Peking Duck at Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant Posted on September 9, 2015May 20, 2024 Peking Duck at Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant Our last meal in Beijing concluded with Peking Duck at Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant. It is rarely prepared at home because it is considered a celebratory meal. It is a famous dish that has been prepared in every corner of China since the… Read more
PLACES Take the Great Wall Off My Bucket List Posted on September 9, 2015May 20, 2024 I was a freaking kid climbing those darn stairs– an old one– but a kid nonetheless!! It was something I’d dreampt about my whole life and I’m paying for it now. I can hardly move but it was worth it a thousamd times over for the views, the bragging rights and the exercise!! Look the Mongolian horde… oh no its just the bloody Brits. Read more
TRAVEL EXPERIENCES Knockoffs and Mandatory Group Shopping Tours in Beijing Posted on September 9, 2015May 18, 2024 Mandatory Group Shopping Tours in Beijing The Rebel in me talks a lot of smack about the high-pressure mandatory shopping trips the Chinese Government forces tour groups to go on. And shopping in Beijing can be intense. Yes, the Silk Market is high stress, a man-handling, chaotic swarm of knock… Read more