[This post was updated in February 2019] One of the first things you’ll learn about me can be summarised in this very simple mathematical equation: Me + butterflies = heaven! Let me explain: in Polish motyl means butterfly and my surname just so happens to be Motylska. So,…
Hadong is renowned for being the first tea plantation in South Korea. It remains popular among locals and tourists foreigners because it’s one of the few tea plantations where tea is still prepared by hand rather than mechanically. Hence the reason why Hadong’s green tea is…
Cheonggye Temple is quietly nestled on Cheonggye san (‘san’ meaning mountain in Korean), which is 618 metres high. The 20-minute walk up a fairly steep road runs parallel to a stream. Cheonggye mountain is blessed with beautiful geographical features and it was no surprise to see many visitors ascending…
Hwaseong Fortress enfolds Suwon CBD in its arms. The fortress extends 5.74 kilometres and encloses 1.3 square kilometres. It was built in the late eighteenth century to protect the capital of Gyeonggi Province, which is where Seoul is located. It took two and a half years or 700,000 man hours…
Bongeunsa Temple is a Zen Buddhist temple that was founded in 794AD by monk Yeon-hoe, who was the highest ranking monk of the Silla dynasty at the time. Nowadays, its location seems quite incongruous among the surrounding high-rise buildings of Gangnam, which tower above it. It is directly opposite COEX Mall…
I visited Gyeongbokgung Palace so many times during my two years in South Korea that I’ve lost county. Yet each visit brought with it some new insight into Korean culture and its proud people. The palace is synonymous with Seoul and arguably South Korea; it’s…