Corner Turn

Boston Public Library

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Sat, 23 Sep 2017 18:06:00 +0000

We have been looking for a place that would appeal to adults and the kids. The weather forecast was hot and humid so we would prefer to be indoors. Since we are staying in the Back Bay area, we need something close. The Prudential Mall is out of the question. The Boston Public Library in Copley Square checks all that requirement.

Built in 1895, the library design is based on the Renaissance style similar to Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris. It includes a large reading room and an open air central courtyard. It was the first urban library building in the nation.

We inquired on the Library tour but was told that there is a toddler story time in the open courtyard. I was surprised that my kids were quiet and listening to the storyteller.

Afterwards, we started to walk around the building. We skipped the tour.

I like this idea of an open area courtyard that look like cloisters. You can enjoy the outdoors on a nice weather. It is like a small park.

Then we stepped in the reading room called Bates Hall.

Nostalgia just hit me when I found traces of old fashioned library tool such as this card cabinet. I used to work for a library in my college days.

Then we look into the murals outside Bates Hall. It is by Puvis de Chavannes called Muses Welcoming the Genius of Enlightenment.

Going up the 3rd floor is the John Singer Sargent murals titled Triumph of Religion. It is his largest scale mural in which he worked on for thirty years. The sky lights on the roof make it possible to have the colors on the murals look vivid.

By the grand staircase, there were two large lions that were dedicated to the 2nd and 20th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiments of the Civil War.

The Boston Public Library has two sections: McKim building (the old library) and the Johnson building (the new one). Both libraries were connected by a walkway.

There is a large Children's Library inside the Johnson Building. They have books and ample space for toddlers to run and play.

We happened to attend a bubble presentation in the afternoon. My daughter even participated on the exhibition by standing inside a giant bubble.

I would recommend visiting the Boston Public Library at least once. Walk around the McKim Building, look around the reading rooms and the murals. There is a space for kids if you need a safe place for them to move around. We might stop by again if we are in the area. Maybe next time, I will sign up for the tour.

MIT Museum and around Cambridge

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 18:15:00 +0000

There were so many museums to visit in Boston but we only can visit one for this trip. I don't want to cram all activities with kids in tow on a hot summer season. It is a recipe for meltdowns. I like to take my time looking at exhibits and read some facts or details on display.

We chose the MIT Museum in Cambridge. It would be a good reason to walk around the area beyond Boston. Another reason was to open up possibilities of learning science and technology for our kids.

The current exhibition was titled Robots and Beyond: Exploring Artificial Intelligence. The exhibit showed the ideas that shaped the current technology from the time MIT opened it's Artificial Intelligence lab in 1959.

It was a joy looking at the little one pointing at the bubble machine. It was probably the largest bubble machine he saw so far.

Amazingly, I could just stare at this movement for a certain period of time. It's hypnotic. Do you agree?

This robot is something you see that moves seamlessly at the movies. Looking up close, it looked like a lot of work (or moving parts).

All this walking made us hungry and crave for something sweet and cold. There was an ice cream place walking distance from the museum.

We heard about Toscanini and made our way to try it. I had a combination of Grapenut and Earl Grey. It was really good.

Afterwards, we went to buy some grocery and maybe grab a quick lunch. We took the bus to the nearest H-Mart and found a nice food court inside.

We found this nice alley way next door. The sun made the colors intense, it made it blend.

There was a shared space between this bao place and an Indian takeout. We tried both to get a sample of each specialty. It was delicious.

We end our day short. The sun was intense and so are the kids. I was disappointed that I wasn't able to walk through the campus. I guess we would put that thought on another visit.

Eataly Boston

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 18:59:00 +0000

We are big fans of Eataly New York. And since the mall is close to our hotel, we decided to stop by and maybe look around and get some gelato.

First impressions, it is a much smaller location than New York City since it is located inside the mall. It seems that it had a higher price point too based on the size ratio of the pastries.

I would like to get this apple cinnamon pastry but it was too pricey for its size. For that much, you would be able to get a whole cake for that price.

There were reasonable items to purchase like this fancy tagliatelle.

People seem relaxed and enjoying their food.

We decided to get some gelatos. They have a good selection and were pretty good.

Too bad there wasn't a place to sit. They have a huge table in the front but no chairs to sit on. There were mall benches but it was all taken.

Maybe next time we would stop by a little longer and enjoy a plate of pasta. I know it would be good.

Memorial Day Weekend in New York

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 10:00:00 +0000

We decided to stay in New York City for the weekend. One of our favorite places in NYC was the park, particularly Bryant Park. We love that it is centrally located and well maintained. There is always something to do in Bryant Park like Juggling Lessons. The kids love that they leave the equipment on the lawn for everyone to use.

Since we only have one full day, we set our sights on going to Staten Island for Fleet Week. We are on our way to visit the guided missile destroyer USS Lassen.

For more detail of the visit, click here.

It is always nice to see the Lady Liberty. The ferry to Staten Island is free, one of the great free things to do in New York City. Yes, it is that rare.

Afterwards, we went to Chinatown to get something to eat. Then we stopped by and get some ice cream at Soft Swerve. They let us try some of the flavors and settled with Matcha Green Tea and Ube Purple Yam. I didn't like the Black Sesame, it is too nutty for my taste. It was a nice touch to have the mochi, it makes the ice cream chewy.

We head over to Mid-town by Rockefeller Center to do some window shopping. We got caught on the rain. The ballerina blow up doll has now replaced the giant Christmas Tree that they put up during the holidays. It is still popular with the tourists.

We stumbled this street fair on our way to our hotel. We got some samplers like popcorns to snack. It was a good time to take some food for dinner.

Time seems to go faster in New York City. So much to do, so much to eat with so little time. Were planning another weekend vacation back as we speak.

Newport in May

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 10:00:00 +0000

It is always too difficult to book a room in Newport, Rhode Island. It is just way too popular even on off season. While we are now looking forward to warm weather in the East Coast, it takes a while till it gets warm in the New England States. Places like Newport that is close to the water takes way more longer because of the wind chill factor.

While our resort had adequate facilities like indoor play area and swimming pool, we still tend to walk our way to the nearest coffee shop or food places like the lobster shack across the street.

The kitchen at the Lobster Shack is still closed until Memorial Day weekend. But the shack is open if you need to pick up some lobsters and crabs. They will steam it for you for a small fee.

We bought some rock crabs and lobster for take out. Those rock crabs shell seem impossible to break without proper tools. It took us a while to open them up. But they were very good.

We plan to come back to Newport in the middle of summer. In the off season, this place seem dreary but in the warm months it comes back to life with the crowds and almost impossible to get parking.

Fleet Week - USS Lassen

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 15:12:00 +0000

Fleet week is one of my favorite traditions during Memorial Day weekend. It is a weeklong event that starts with a line of visiting military ships that cruise over the Hudson River. You are allowed to visit these ships through a guided tour.

This year, we decided to head over to Staten Island, New York to visit the guided missile destroyer, USS Lassen. It was first commissioned in 1991 and was among the largest and heavily armed destroyers ever built.

We waited about an hour in line for the next tour batch. We were introduced to our tour guide whom gave us an overview of life on sea.

Previous cruisers were built with a steel hull and an aluminum superstructure mast to reduce top weight. But a 1975 fire aboard a previous cruiser that gutted the aluminum superstructure had prompted to change the design to build the new class of ships made entirely of steel.

Above where the torpedo launchers.

After going through inside dark tunnels and ladders. We head off to the ramp where they have additional demonstrations on first aid and combat tactics.

Click here for more information of the USS Lassen

Note: This year was a sad one for Fleet Week. A Navy Seal died during routine demonstration in Liberty State Park when his parachute failed to open that caused him to fall the Hudson River.

What we ate at Seoul

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Fri, 23 Jun 2017 18:13:00 +0000

We had so many food options in Seoul. We didn't even got to try the street foods. Often times, we save our appetite for the main meal where we sat down and eat. We walked around so much that we want to rest our feet for a while we enjoy our food.

Below are the foods we tried. Some of them we really like too much that we ate it almost everyday.

Plane food

Okay, we are not in Seoul yet but en route. We took Korean Air so we can have a direct flight to Seoul and try to see their service and food options. And oh boy, they didn't disappoint.

Throughout the 13 hour flight, I had the selection of Bibimbap (seen below), congee and meat/potatoes combo.

Pork Belly (Samgyupsal)

Due to jet lag, we are all awake at 3 am and starving. We want to eat solid food and the morning breakfast at the hotel were not open yet. Outside our hotel and across the street is a grill place that is open 24 hours. We end up eating at this place almost every morning when we were at Seoul.

Banchan

These are the side dishes that came with the main meal. They usually compliment your meal. This particular banchan was on a non-descript place at the back of the bus station. They were simple and good. They would refill for free if you would ask.

Chicken and Beer combo

This has became our favorite at Korea. Nothing beats a cold beer and spicy fried chicken on any night cap. In fact, we were eating the same combo while watching a local baseball game. We did this twice. I still miss even long after we came back from our trip.

Noodle bowl (Hot and Cold)

This was the to go food whenever we need a quick meal. Often costs less than $8, it is such a deal and filing. You could never get wrong with this meal.

Bulgogi Noodle by N Tower in Seoul.

Cold Noodle with Shrimp Tempura. We got this in Centum City in Busan.

Grilled Fish and Tofu Stew (Soonduboo Jjigae)

We found this place on the 2nd floor of Yongsan Station. The place looks filled with locals and they serve mostly basic stews and fish. We gave it a try and had a memorable meal. Given an opportunity, we would come back here again.

Temple Food

On this trip, we decided to focus on new experiences. I saw good reviews on this restaurant that serves temple prepared food. It was vegan cuisine that had the guys on our group refusing to go. They were outnumbered so they were forced to go. You have to come and try this with an open mind. The food was surprisingly good and filling.

The food below are fried mushrooms. If we didn't know anything about it, we would guessed it was General Tso's chicken. The mushrooms were dry, probably double fried to give it a chewy consistency so it would blend with the sauce. This was very good.

Seafood Market

Going to Noryangin Seafood Market was on top of my to do list in Seoul. We originally wanted to do this in Jalgachi Market in Busan but we didn't have the time. I know I can't leave Seoul without getting some prawns and king crabs. It was one of the highlights of our trip. A great way to cap our last dinner in this city.

Grilled Prawns. So good, it was wiped out in 60 seconds.

Crab Fried Rice. I swear I have to go back for more of this. This meal had me at hello. Yes, that good.

Last thoughts:

Our last trip to Seoul is such a short one. We didn't even got to go to Myeongdong or Gwangjang for street foods. Even if we pass by a good cart (which is often), it was a struggle not to try them since we need to save our appetite for lunch/dinner. Even when you pass by the basement food courts at shopping malls, the food do look interesting. Like I always said, I will be back hopefully with our kids in tow. I think they will enjoy it.

Seen at Gyeongbokgung Palace

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Thu, 22 Jun 2017 21:38:00 +0000

The Gyeongbokgung Palace was originally built in 1395, it was the royal palace and center of government during the Joseon Dynasty. It was destroyed by the Imjin War and was abandoned for two centuries. Later it was restored to its original design that incorporated the traditions of the Joseon era.

Gwanghamun gate. I have been here a couple of times but it felt like seeing this place with fresh eyes. I forgot how magnificent this place was.

Unlike the eaves that I have seen in temples, this one by the gate was more elaborate. Look at all the detail and color.

Changing of the guards ceremony by the gate.

It so happens that I love watching visitors in Hanbok. They all look so pretty which gives the palace visit a bit of color. I was also told that you get in free if you come in costume. Maybe I should try that next time.

Our Last Full Day in Seoul

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 18:27:00 +0000

It is our last day in Seoul, we had enough exploring and now its time for more serious stuff like shopping. Usually, I don't like to do a lot of going back and forth as I want to save my energy and focus the task at hand-- shopping for the kids.

Today we went around in the morning in Itaewon, Namdaemun in the afternoon and dinner in Noryangjin.

Itaewon

We stumbled upon this large store in Itaewon. It is a store full of cartoons called the Line Friends with merchandise. There were giant stuff toys. It's like a wonderland chock full of cuteness. I saw a recent billboard in Times Square, New York, I assume they would open a store here soon.

Some items were pricey but we got toys and accessories for the kids. I was surprised to see some collaborations with known US brands.

We decided to a little splurge on food and went for a French restaurant. This tomato soup tastes divine. Only a week has passed and I already miss western food.

Salmon and cream pasta. It was also divine.

Mussels and fries. Yes, very good too.

Hubby got the meatballs and pasta.

I am beginning to like Itaewon, there is so much diversity here. I feel at home.

Namdaemun

Seoul can be a lot of things, it can be glossy, new age, historic then there is Namdaemun, unfiltered. To really know about a city is to visit its local market. You can get anything here, only you can find it.

I bought prescription glasses on one (of the many) eyeglass shops in the market. I came prepared and bought my doctor's prescription, this made the transaction flawless. The pair I got cost about $60 and it was good quality. I should have bought a second pair. You learn something new everyday.

There is now a tourist information booth in the middle of the market, they give you a map that sorts out the categories so you can find items you need to purchase. And the vendors were more pleasant and patient handling foreign shoppers.

I am not sure if they were only in transit to a performance destination or this is routine show for foreign shoppers like me. Either way, I'll take it.

There were a lot of food stalls in Namdaemun and it is evident they make it on site. We want to try one but we are saving our appetite for a huge dinner tonight.

Noryangjin

When I booked my flight to Seoul, this place came up in mind. About all travel shows talk about seafood markets in South Korea and had shown to buy the items downstairs and had them cook upstairs. Seafood is something we rarely eat at home and considered a luxury when we have them at restaurants.

We went to Noryangin Fish Market and sure enough we had somebody ask to assist us on purchasing some items. We decided on buying a large King Crab, 2 pounds of large prawns and a bundle (about a dozen) of bamboo clams. Sure enough the guy that help us translate sent us to the second floor restaurant. He recommended to have the bamboo clams stir fried, grill the prawns, steam the king crab and add an order of crab rice. He dropped us at the Dragon Palace, I assume he gets commission for customers he sends there. Either way, he was nice and personable and wasn't really pushy. We thanked him for helping us through the transaction.

Stir fried Bamboo Clams. They actually look like razor clams. A little bit spicy for my taste but good as well.

Grilled Prawns. Gone in 60 seconds.

They always use scissors here in South Korea. I guess it is safer to use instead of a sharp knife. The King Crab was nice and sweet. This crab is large enough to feed a group of 6. It is also our biggest splurge on our food budget.

The crab fried rice is probably the best item we ordered. I think I would have to come back for this. The combination of rice, oyster sauce, sesame oil, sesame seed and roasted seaweed (gim, for the umami) made it delicious. Definitely, a memorable meal.

Last thoughts, I did tally on how much it would have cost per person for this sumptuous meal. Including additional items ordered like a couple bottles of beer, the meal would have cost $40 per person. Not bad for Seoul standards.

Trip to Gyeongju

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 13:26:00 +0000

Before the Joseon dynasty, there was once an ancient kingdom referred to as Silla. It was composed of three kingdoms that unified the Korean peninsula. Gyeongju was its capital and it became one of the prosperous and wealthy city of its era. Political instability had contributed to its decline until it was succeeded by the Goryeo dynasty.

There were two options on travelling from Busan to Gyeongju, it is a choice between bus or train. You can easily catch the train from the Busan Train Station and the bus from the Bus station one subway stop from Beomeosa. If you ask me, it is better to take the bus since the bus station in Gyeongju is in the middle of town compared to the train station which is located on the outskirts. If you count local traffic, it is another 45 minutes of travel time.

After we got off the bus station, we are all hungry and would like to start our second leg of our trip with a full belly before heading back to Seoul. We chose this non-descript place that serve the usual Korean food. We ordered a simple Seafood Pancake and Tofu Stew. But while we are waiting for our main meal, here is the ban chan (side dishes) spread they provided us. This is local food at its best.

Our plan was to go to Bulguksa Temple and head over to Seokguram Grotto to see the seated Buddha under the hill. Since we only have an afternoon to spare, we decided to see the Seokguram Grotto.

After a 45 minute bus ride from Busan Intercity Bus Terminal to Gyeongju Intercity Bus Terminal, we have to do a transfer to a local bus (Bus #10) to drop us off to Bulguksa Temple and do another transfer to Seokguram Grotto. There is a tourist information booth (and restrooms as well!) on the Bulguksa stop so you have easy access to information. Bus pick up times are posted on the bus stop. It is also a major tourist destination that there were a lot of people waiting for the transfer bus to the bus or train station.

We saw that the last bus to drop us off back to Bolguksa is coming in 2 hours. We have to rush and walk our way to the grotto.

There is a giant bell inside and for a small fee, you are allowed to ring the bell for luck and prosperity.

I can't help and admire the eaves on these roofs. They are found mostly on palaces and temples.

We start our (long) walk to the grotto. We were lucky that we had a good day, it is still spring cold but with the sun, it was a mild day. I could imagine that these road could be slippery on rainy days. I only wish that we had a lot of time to enjoy this place longer. Maybe one day we could stay here a full day and bring picnic food and the kids to run through these winding roads.

This was the entrance to see the Seated Buddha. No photographs allowed. I don't think photography is enough to describe its beauty in person. Sometimes, I ask why do I travel and most of the time the answers were the reward of seeing and experiencing such beauty in person. Of which in my opinion, is priceless.

I took a picture of the brochure we got from the tourist center.

I noticed a lot of rocks stacked on the pathways, my guess this is something of a form of worship.

After climbing significant amount of stairs, we came on this view.

Then we see a whole bus full of students on a field trip. Notice on the mound behind the small temple is the Seokguram Grotto.

Me and hubby on our way back.

One of the regrets on not having enough time to explore was missing out on beautiful parks like these. We are heading straight to the train station for our last leg of our South Korea trip. Days like these came so fast. I do wish to go back and do this all over again.

Beomeosa Temple

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Sun, 11 Jun 2017 17:40:00 +0000

Beomeosa Temple means the temple of heavenly fish. It is said that a gold fish came from the sky and settled on the well on top of Mount Geumjeongsan.

The original temple was built 1,300 years ago until it was lost during the Japanese invasion in 1592. It was renovated in 1713 and became one of the most delicate architectures in the Joseon era.

We took the subway from Busan Station to the Beomeosa stop and made another bus transfer that would take us to the entrance of the Temple. It was the first week of April and spring is evident on the trees outside the temple.

Walking through the long path to the temple. It is noticeably peaceful and calm in here.

The multiple stelae along the path were commemorative ancient inscriptions on top the turtle (often a symbol of longevity) and the dragon that serves its protector.

Before walking through the gates, you will pass the statue of the Four Heavenly Kings, they were the Buddhist gods that protects and oversees one cardinal direction. The photo below is one of them.

One of the many pavilions on the temple grounds. Some of them were well maintained and some not as I see some work getting done on some roofs of the pavilion.

This was one of the pavilion that need maintenance. The temple accepts donations and would let you write your prayer (or your name) on one of the tile roofs.

Beomeosa Temple is also one of the eight complexes for monastic training facility.

We happened to stop by and hear some of the prayer chants for the day.

An ancient water well under the large rock. I tried to wash my hands on the well and the water was ice cold.

After the walking up the stairs, we head our way back down to catch the bus back to the subway stop.

We didn't spend much time here at Beomeosa Temple since we were pressed for time. We still have to catch the bus to Gyeongju and take the KTX back to Seoul.

Trip to Busan

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Fri, 09 Jun 2017 15:26:00 +0000

Busan is South Korea's second largest city. You would have heard this name from popular movie such as Train to Busan, it was also on the list of New York Times' 52 Places to Go in 2017 (it is number 48 on the list).

While Seoul is a bustling metropolis with people in suits, in Busan it is the largest industrial area and at first glance it is mostly blue collar. It has now gone through a renaissance and it has established itself as a creative and international center for hosting sports tournaments and events like the Annual Busan Film Festival.

We took the morning train to Busan from Seoul. We were not sure what to expect but we bought the first class tickets. We had wide comfortable seats and we were given courtesy water bottles. The free wifi was strong enough to stream videos. The 3-hour trip was a breeze.

Our plan was to take the morning train to Busan and spend the entire day on a hop on-hop off tourist bus. It was raining that day and since Busan is by the water the wind is strong and cold. All seats inside the bus was taken so we were forced to endure the cold rain on the open top.

As expected, our bus looped around the port and bridges around Busan. All I can see were ships, crates and high rises. It is definitely more rugged than the sleek Seoul.

The drive through this high loops made me uneasy. They look too narrow and high.

Looking outside the concrete jungle.

We decided to get lunch at Centum City, one of the worlds largest department store. There were so many food options at the food court and there were also individual restaurants upstairs.

After sitting in the cold rain, all I want to eat was something warm. A bowl of noodles was a good idea but the menu didn't have much details beyond the picture and the lady didn't really made small talk reminding me that this was a cold noodle bowl. You should see my horror on my first taste of the broth and found out it was ice cold soup with pieces of shredded ice on top. I think my mouth got numb afterwards. Nevertheless, I finished my food. I don't want it to go to waste.

While everyone in my group is getting tired and cold from the rain, we decided to take the bus back to our hotel to rest and get ready to walk around and end our day with a hefty (and hopefully warm!) dinner.

We walked around between Jagalchi and Nampo area and found these lively narrow alleyways. It was easy to get lost to them and these lighted alleyways seem endless.

We plan to have our dinner at Jagalchi Market where you could pick the items you want to eat and they will cook it for you. The market seem to wrap up for the night and most vendors were heading home. We settled to go somewhere else.

The guys want to eat something substantial so we all settled for this lively chicken and beer place.

We ordered 2 sets of chicken: garlic and original fried. Paired with light beers and rice were equally delicious. This fed a group of 6 people. This probably started our obsession with chicken and beer. Koreans seem to know how to live the best life - one chicken and beer (or soju) at a time.

We end our day walking back to our hotel. We found a non-descript place to stay by the Busan Station. It is a small room with a soaking tub which would be perfect for my sore feet. We have to get some sleep since we would visit the Beomeosa Temple and head straight to Gyeongju.

Last thoughts: I am actually intrigued with Busan and would like to explore further. I am curious how this city looks like in the warmer months when the beach opens. Also, it seemed that it is more cheaper to stay in Busan compared to Seoul. Maybe a little more laid back and informal.

On my next visit, I will stay longer and would take that 3 hour ferry to Japan.

Second Day in Seoul

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Mon, 05 Jun 2017 15:17:00 +0000

It is our second day in Seoul. The night before we were so tired that we did not even finished the baseball game in Jamsil Stadium. We slept early but woke up at 3 am and so hungry that we can't even go back to sleep. Instead of fighting the urge, we went outside the hotel where there was a 24 hour restaurant. It turned out that this will be our breakfast routine for the next couple of days.

This was our first breakfast in Seoul. One thing about this city that there is always a place to eat round the clock. You would never get hungry in Seoul. I am beginning to love this city a little more.

After eating, we went to get some coffee and so it happens that my sister whom is scheduled to come in the night before had a delayed flight. They landed around midnight. They so happened to stop by and get coffee too and we are happy to have a reunion and all happy to see them. We sat down and talked for a little bit before heading back to the hotel.

Our plan today was to take the hop on-hop off Seoul Bus Tour and bought tickets to take the cable car up to Namsan Tower.

The initial view from the cable car.

You have the option to climb the Namsan mountain by foot.

Once out of the cable car, you still have to walk to the tower and ride the elevator to the top.

It was still a foggy day but clear enough to see Seoul.

Afterwards, we walked around the area and found a sea of love locks.

Found on Mount Namsan were old smoke signal stations that were used as an emergency communication station during the Joseon era.

Castle walls were built on top of the Mount Namsan to use are capital defense for foreign invasion.

There were also a lot of food options by the N Tower.

This Bulgogi noodle soup did not disappoint. Good and inexpensive.

We are on our way back to the cable car and while waiting we saw this large ad. The model on the ad is probably the most recognizable actor in Asia. And I would admit that I am one of this biggest fan.

We were stuck in traffic for hours since there was an event on one of the major parks on our tour loop. We decided to hop on the closest subway stop which happened to be in Hongdae.

Hongdae was also crowded but we found a lot of street performances. We walked around for a short while till we hopped on the subway to catch another baseball game.

It was our second day in watching baseball. Compared to the day before which happened to be a Saturday, it is now more crowded had more cheerleaders on the ledge. We didn't finish the game but found out that our team Nexxen won the game. Yes! Go Nexxen!

We are now exhausted and still battling jetlag. We also have to prepare for another full day tomorrow for our DMZ excursion.

Temple Food - Balwoo Gongyang

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Thu, 25 May 2017 18:13:00 +0000

For our trip in Seoul, I made sure that our itinerary were more focused on new experiences. I have always admired travel shows where they show you how to prepare Buddhist temple food from scratch. They seem to be pain staking since they made it by hand and no short cuts.

All reviews for Balwoo Gongyang seem consistent. They were all good and well recommended. It is walking distance on the main Insadong area. Convenient enough that we booked lunch reservations earlier through email. They were accommodating and had us on the list on the day and time we wanted.

We did not know much about temple food except they were vegan, they don't contain garlic, green onions or chives. I would not have any idea on how the food would taste. But I came with an open mind and took the plunge. Worse comes to worst they might serve a whole bowl of salad greens.

We were a group of 6 with 4 women and 2 men. The women voted to try this place while the men (such babies!) were complaining about the vegan option. They complied with us when we promised them steak and beer meals for dinner.

We decided to pick the pre-fix lunch menu called Seon, it translates to Meditation.

They started with marinated cherry tomatoes with fermented sauce, water kimchi, porridge with mugwort and bean. The marinated cherry tomatoes tasted good and the water kimchi wasn't as spicy but the porridge was bland.

Next, they served salad which consists of spring vegetable kimchi, glass noodle salad (japchae) and mungbean jelly. They seasoned them with a course soy sauce and soy bean paste.

I had a second serving of the mungbean jelly.

Then they sent the main course, deep fried mushrooms and vegetables with gochujang (red chili paste). The mushrooms must have been fried twice since it was dry. If I wasn't told what it was I would have guessed it was General Tso's chicken. Yes, it was good and actually tasted like chicken.

The main course was served with yellow rice, soy bean paste stew (jiggae), kimchi and spring vegetables.

At this point, we were full and wasn't able to finish some of the dishes.

For dessert, we had sweet rice punch and mugwort rice cake. The rice punch taste refreshing as they served it cold. It's like drinking iced tea.

I would recommend this place if you want to try temple food.

Would I come back again? Maybe.

Our DMZ Tour

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Fri, 19 May 2017 16:09:00 +0000

The DMZ tour was something that I skipped the last time when I was in South Korea. I know it would be on my list on my next visit.

We were picked up at the hotel lobby and the car dropped us off on the meeting place where the bus (a brand new one!) was waiting for the rest of the tour group.

Once were off the road, the tour guide gave us an insight and history of Korean history and the creation of DMZ (De Militarized Zone). She had us fill out our name and information on the list to get permission to enter the zone. You also need to bring your passport.

Our first stop was the Imgingak Park. Nothing much here but there were toilets and food stalls to grab some quick bites.

Second stop was the tour of the 3rd Infiltration tunnel. Discovered in 1978, this mile long tunnel is measured at 6.5 ft high and 6.11 ft wide. North Korea declared that it was built as a coal mine but there were no geological signs that indicate any coal in the area.

We were allowed to walk through the tunnel. They warned us the it is an easy walk down inside due to the steep incline but walking back up would be difficult. They also gave us hard hats since the tunnel gets smaller further inside.

Photos are not allowed but they built a replica. The walk inside can be daunting, you start on a steep incline down, the temperature is cold similar to a wine cellar. You start to feel claustrophobic, the walls seems tighter and ceilings are shorter.

Once we got to the end, we hike back up and this time our legs are starting to cramp and our breathing becomes labored. Halfway through the tunnel, there were benches which we stayed to catch our breath. We made about 2 stops through our way out. The floor seems to be getting steeper on our way out and the light on the end of the tunnel deemed to be deceiving. It felt close but not close enough.

After we made our way out, it felt we had a sense of accomplishment. I asked the tour guide how often she walks through the tunnel, she said about 2-3 times a week. She probably have steel legs by now. It was a tough hike for an out of shape person like me.

Next stop was the Dorasan Observation deck. Located on top of Mount Dora, it is an observatory that you can look through the binoculars and catch a glimpse of the DMZ and the North Korea Propaganda Village.

Overlooking the North Korea Propaganda Village.

Our last stop was the Dorasan station, it was once a train station opened in 2007 that connected North and South Korea but closed again in 2008.

Our tour went smoothly, it was well organized. If you happened to be in Seoul, this is something you should do at least once. I recommend DMZ Tours. It was informative and an eye opening experience.

First day in Seoul

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Tue, 09 May 2017 19:10:00 +0000

Our flight landed 4am early. The subway and buses doesn't start till 5am and our hotel check in is at 3pm. We were tired from the long flight but we are forced to fight jet lag -- well at least we have a bed to crash unto.

After dropping our luggage at the hotel front desk, we head back and took the subway to the hop on and hop off tourist bus in Seoul. We saw a lot of options to explore but we were hungry and settled on going to the large mall in Yongsan which is also a major train station.

Upstairs there is the train station and a mall attached on multiple floors. We found a couple of places to eat. They all look good but we settled on a small non-descript restaurant that seem to be busy with locals.

We got the simple meal on the menu. The grilled fish along with the side dishes (ban chan) was delicious. I remember it was cheap too. This was one of our best meals in Seoul.

After our big meal, we decided to go back to the hotel so we can check in and rest until later the day where we are scheduled to watch the baseball game in Jamsil.

Baseball in Seoul

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Sat, 29 Apr 2017 16:48:00 +0000

I didn't even know what to expect on a South Korean baseball game. It turns out that the experience isn't any different from ANY game but it is geared to entertainment and much more.

We head our way to buy tickets. It was on a Friday afternoon and an hour before the game starts. The ticket window is right in front of the subway entrance, it was hard to miss as people line up for tickets. There were a handful of vendors selling foods such as chicken, beer and snacks. Apparently, you are allowed to bring your own food inside the stadium.

It was an easy transaction on the ticket window as I gestured for 2 tickets. The young girl asked where do I want to sit while pointing out on the seat charts. I told her I want to seat in full view of the cheerleading stage. The tickets costs about W15,000 ($13) each, not bad for great seats.

I was looking around to check on the foods the people around me were eating. Most of them bought food from vendor downstairs, some bought their own food as I see some large bento boxes. We bought a box of spicy chicken and beers from the subway vendors and gave us most of the eating tools such as chop sticks, napkin and plastic gloves (very convenient in eating fried chicken!). You are allowed to bring drinks but you have to pour it on a plastic cup that they provide.

Korean baseball teams were sponsored by large conglomerates such as Samsung, LG etc. It is more of an advertising outlet for them and if the team wins, it will make news. This solves the problem on overpriced stadium food, you can bring your own or buy outside.

While the teams are starting their warms up, the cheerleaders were providing entertainment so there is no idle time. All this while we start eating our chicken and drinking our beers.

As the game continues, the weather gets a bit chilly and the cheerleaders were now covered up, Nexxen has the lead. Our side seem to sing and cheer merrily. Probably the beer buzz in full effect.

We didn't finish the game. Our flight landed in Seoul at 4 am that day, it is 8pm now and jetlag has struck. We need to sleep.

So far, it was one of our best experiences ever. And if I happen to live in Seoul, I might make this a routine and I will bring the kids. They would enjoyed it too.

Incheon International Airport (ICN)

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Thu, 20 Apr 2017 15:52:00 +0000

We have landed on Incheon International Airport in South Korea. It is 4 am and everything else is close including the subway to Seoul. The buses and subway doesn't start till 5 am so we decided to stretch our legs and walk around the airport before we drop our bags to the hotel. And as expected, we were greeted with all this cuteness.

The last time I visited Seoul was in 2011, PyeongChang just won their bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics. It was a big deal, the news was all over Seoul at that time. It was hard to miss it. Seven years seem like forever at that time but now it is beginning to be a reality. I thought I won't be able to visit again but here I am back where I started. Starting to feel Seoul again and this time I had my husband to show it around.

On the second floor of the airport lounge was this glass walkway. There were some nice exhibits about the airport and Korean arts and culture. There was a coffee shop too but it was still closed.

There was this beautiful stage. I assume they have shows and festivals here. Too bad it was way too early to watch an event.

I am so fascinated with all the flight attendants that passes by. Earlier, there were a whole group of them standing and talking. They all look so put together (even after a long flight) and flawless. When they bid their adieu, the group with khaki jackets were bowing deeply to the group with blue green jackets. Apparently, you could tell the seniors (sunbaes) and juniors (hoobaes) right away. Loving this Confucian dynamics already.

It will be an interesting day ahead. Hotel check in is at 3pm. We still have a full day to spare and jetlag is kicking my ass big time.

Franciscan Monastery, Washington DC

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 23:33:00 +0000

Tucked in a quiet neighborhood in Washington DC is a Romanesque monastery. Completed in 1899, the Mount St. Sepulchre has 15 chapels and has grounds that were replicas of the Lourdes Grotto and various shrines of the Holy Land.

The Monastery gives a tour and let's you go down the underground area. Not a lot of visitors on the tour except some kids on a field trip.

One thing we learned driving on these quiet DC neighborhoods that it has a lot of traffic cameras. Somebody warned us that we already passed 2 cameras that would automatically send us a ticket. He was right, the tickets (two of them) came weeks later.

Urbanspace Vanderbilt NYC

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 16:12:00 +0000

Diverse selections at the upscale Urbanspace Vanderbilt foodcourt. It is one of our favorite places to eat when we pass by Grand Central Station.

Random Photo: Colonial Williamsburg Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 03:44:00 +0000

There is a subtle elegance on how Colonial Williamsburg is decorated during the holidays. It is spare and always items that where you find nature. It teaches you to be festive without overdoing it.

New York Times Travel Show 2017

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Sat, 04 Feb 2017 23:22:00 +0000

The New York Times travel show is the gold standard in the travel industry. You would be able to come across all travel related companies here from tour companies, cruise lines and countries that promotes tourism would have a booth here. The main floor had all the travel pavilion which were grouped by Continents then the tour companies and cruise lines. Downstairs were the seminar rooms, book store and book signing booths.

One of the seminars we attended was the presentation by Patricia Schultz of 1000 places to see before you die. The photo below was a talk on the popularity of traveling to the Falkland Islands. Her photos of the cute penguins got me sold on visiting Antartica.

When? I am not sure but it is on my wish list.

Another travel goal of mine is to go to Russia. Calabria would be there too.

Along the ASIA pavilion is this gentleman making Java coffee. It did smell good. I would have tried it but there is a long line of people want to get some coffee. I just watch him make them.

It was too much to do with so little time. The ticket costs about $20 per day or $25 for 2 days. You need at least 2 days to scan the travel pavilion in detail. There other seminars that I would liked to see but it was scheduled the day before. I shouldn't be complaining since I got our tickets for free. We signed up on a promotion for the first 100 free tickets. It is a long shot but we got it right away.

Overall, it is an interesting take on the travel industry. I might consider going back next year hoping to get another set of free tickets. Thank you NY Times Travel Show!

Random Photo: National Harbor

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Sat, 24 Dec 2016 22:47:00 +0000

It is hard not to get patriotic when you step on National Harbor in Maryland. On a clear day, you can see Washington DC on the other side of the river. It is a short ride through the bridge or a ferry ride away.

The Mount - Edith Wharton's former home

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Mon, 22 Aug 2016 15:09:00 +0000

The Mount is a house museum in the Berkshires that is formerly owned by the novelist Edith Wharton. Built in 1902, she designed (with the assistance of Ogden Codman Jr.) this house based on 17th century design with Italian and French influences. The property has been declared as a National Historic Landmark and it is open to the public that welcomes 40,000 visitors each year.

The exterior is made of plain white stucco and the dark green shutters provided color to this simple front.

My first impression when I stepped in the house that it was bright. It has enough large windows that takes in a lot of natural light.

You could tell that the master of the house is a woman, the furniture and interiors had a feminine feel.

Edith Wharton loves to entertain guests particularly her literary friends. It is said that author Henry James is a frequent visitor.

The author has published 15 novels and wrote 85 short stories. I read The Age of Innocence, The House of Mirth and Summer (my favorite).

It is probably the brightest room in the house and it happens where the author likes to write her stories in bed.

The large stone terrace is found at the back of the house which overlooks at the Italian inspired garden.

After 1911, Edith Wharton moved permanently to France. The house was sold and eventually became a girl's dormitory for the Foxhollow school. It was then bought by the Edith Wharton Restoration society and restored the property on its original condition.

Random Photo: In the Berkshires

noreply@blogger.com (MichDom) — Mon, 15 Aug 2016 15:35:00 +0000

Seen on the grounds of the Mount in Lenox, Massachusetts. Worst time to see them during summer at dawn when the mosquitos start to buzz over your head.