DESTINATIONS & CITY GUIDES Why Families Love the Daegu Arboretum: How to Make the Most of Your Visit Posted on April 9, 2017November 15, 2025 Daegu Arboretum leads the country as the first eco-friendly park built on a former landfill. City officials transformed nearly a square mile of waste into a thriving green space. Today, the park features more than 1,000 varieties of trees, wildflowers, cacti, and medicinal herbs. Visitors can stroll past bonsai, ponds,… Read more
DESTINATIONS & CITY GUIDES Daegaya Museum in Goryeong Posted on April 7, 2017November 15, 2025 I woke up in the morning with the sun already high in the sky. One of the first warm days signalling spring was on the way made it impossible for me to stay inside. It’s strawberry season in Goryeong, which is the capital of the former Daegaya Dynasty. It’s also home to the Daegaya Museum and Burial Tombs and a fantastic day trip to combine my love of history while enjoying the warm day and blue skies. Read more
DESTINATIONS & CITY GUIDES Asian Foods Adventure: Unveiling My Most Loved Dishes Posted on April 5, 2017November 15, 2025 I loved almost everything I ate while traveling, especially the street foods and most definitely the street food in Thailand and Cambodia– where we almost always pulled up a plastic chair to a plastic table just a few feet from the curb. Read more
DESTINATIONS & CITY GUIDES Temple Travel in Asia: How to Visit a Buddhist Temple the Right Way Posted on March 27, 2017November 15, 2025 Do not touch the monks unless you ask or they touch you first. This is especially true for women. You should also be aware, some temples are not open to women. Do not be offended. Women were allowed in these temples at one time. Women were banned because they menstruate, soiling the mats. Unfortunately the modern day conveniences of tampons has had no effect on the prohibition. Women are still considered “unclean”. Read more
DESTINATIONS & CITY GUIDES The Best Brunch: La Mia Emily Hanok Cafe in Daegu Posted on March 23, 2017November 15, 2025 Brunch is served from 11-1 pm daily and cost 11,500 Won per person. Brunch includes eggs (cooked your way or scrambled with/ without bacon), hash browns, sausage and bacon, tossed salad, toast or bagel, fresh fruit and your choice of coffee or juice. Today we had sliced bananas and oranges. Merline enjoyed an Americano and I had a caramel macchiato under a blue sky and a comfy blanket. Read more
DESTINATIONS & CITY GUIDES Traveling with Kids: How to Make Family Vacations Less Stressful Posted on March 7, 2017February 13, 2026 A family getaway can sometimes be much less idyllic than it sounds. Children are very active by nature, which can result in a trip that’s more work than relaxation. Travel is hard and traveling with kids is even harder. If you treat your trip like an adventure, annoyances, missteps and mishaps simply become small obstacles for your hearty band of explorers to overcome. Read more
DESTINATIONS & CITY GUIDES Palgongsan Mountain Hike: How to Reach the Famous Gatbawi Buddha Posted on February 9, 2017November 15, 2025 That’s when I discovered we hadn’t even started the trail yet and I knew we were in for a climb to Gatbawi. Then we saw the them… the infamous rock stairs. There are literally thousands of them carved into the 3 hr hike up an 80 degree mountain face of Palgonsan Mountain. You can take the stairs or you can take a much longer, much less strenuous winding trail up to the top. Read more
DESTINATIONS & CITY GUIDES Beyond Seoul: Unveiling the Magic of Korea’s Small Towns Posted on February 1, 2017January 9, 2026 South Korea is much than its big cities –much more than Daegu, Busan or Seoul. And in my humble opinion, you may find the seat of power, the mighty infrastructure and the cogs of industry in the big city, but the soul of the country lies in the mountanous terrain of its much smaller cities, villages and towns. It’s in the celebrations, rice paddies, green tea terraces and traditional hanoks that we are lucky enough to experience firsthand. Read more