Yeongdeungpo Yeouido Spring Flower Festival | Seoul, South Korea

Visiting the Spring Flower Festival at Yeouido Park was so much fun that we went twice! The festival is renown for it's 1,886 Korean cherry trees, so there are plenty of blossoms to see, in addition to flowering azalea and forsythia blooms!

Actually, in truth, the cherry blossoms (which are truly the star of the show here, who are we kidding?) bloomed over several weeks here in Seoul so there was never a time when ALL of the trees were in bloom at once. We went to the festival on the first weekend and there were a couple of gorgeous trees in bloom, and small buds on some, but most of the trees were pretty bare. Despite the lack of blooms, we did some walking around and familiarized ourselves with this particular part of Seoul. There was still plenty to see and do and we looked forward to returning the following weekend when more trees would be flowering.

We accessed the park via the Yeouido Station and walked about five minutes to get there (see map below). On the way we stopped for a Billy Angel 20 Layer Rainbow Crepe Cake and had a small picnic in the park. So fun!

These yellow buds were in bloom the first weekend we went! So many selfie sticks!

This is Yeouido Park. There is a bike/walking track that goes around the entire park.

Cute matching outfits on these young girls!

Yeouido Park also has a large open area. There were a ton of people playing basketball, riding bikes or scooters, and hanging out enjoying the afternoon.

The second weekend, after our trip to Jeju Island, more of the trees had bloomed and word had definitely spread! The crowds were insane, (hello, this is Seoul we're talking about) but seeing the gorgeous pale pink blooms on that beautiful spring afternoon was totally worth the second trip to Seoul. It was a beautiful spring day and most everyone was enjoying the warmer weather. 

Yeouido is a beautiful park to relax in, a peaceful spot right in the middle of Seoul.

More matching outfits! A very popular trend in South Korea.

This year the Yeongdeungpo Yeouido Spring Flower Festival was April 1-9, 2017. 

If you hope to catch the festival next year, you can find the dates on this website.

I should start an album of photos of me taking photos of strangers... 

So go check out the cherry blossoms at Yeouido Park in the spring. There are plenty of food trucks and fun activities like renting a bike to ride around the park, walking along the Han River, and watching street performers. It's a great time and a fun way to spend a weekend!

Spring was definitely in the air! There's something romantic about flowering cherry tress and those tiny little blooms. If you're lucky, you might find yourself watching a marriage proposal... see below! 

How cute is that? It was so interesting to see a Korean proposal play out. Ethan and I sat on the grass for about an hour as the guy waited for his girlfriend to be led to the park. Talk about dramatic afternoon entertainment! He had an enormous bouquet of roses, so big that he could hardly hold it! It looked really heavy, there was also a heart of rose petals on the grass. Children and older people kept coming up to him and talking to him, or picking up the petals. I was so worried they would ruin the moment! But luckily it went smoothly, aside from the people who blocked my shot (who are likely related to the couple...) Darn them. Ha!

Here are the details for the Spring Flower Festival! Double check this website for dates. They may not be released until much closer to time, as the weather determines when the blossoms are in full bloom, so the dates are uncertain.

The Details

• What: Yeongdeungpo Yeouido Spring Flower Festival
• When: Dates vary, likely early April
• Where: Gukhoe-daero, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul

The Gelato Shop | Bangkok, Thailand

The moon was rising as we stepped off the swaying boat docked at the Sathorn pier in Bangkok, Thailand, just a short three minute walk from our room at the Centre Point Silom. I wasn't quite ready to turn in for the night, but I could feel the fatigue creeping up on me and my sandaled feet were getting sore. We'd done a lot of walking in the past three days, even for us, so used to not having a vehicle for the past eight months. The river market had been a fun attraction, but we had regretted going for the second night in a row. It was our last night in Bangkok and I'd wanted it to be more memorable than this.

Walking back to our hotel, opposite a main road, we came upon a gelato shop, brightly lit with big sparkling windows and laughter coming from inside. It was a stark contrast to the darkness of the streets. We were lured in by the cool A/C and promise of sweet dessert. At the gelato freezer I stared at the assortment of flavors. This was certainly not on my typical diet of fresh ingredients and no dairy, but we were in Bangkok and that was reason enough. The Thai woman behind the counter offered me a sample. I had a question, I don't recall it now, but she didn't quite understand my English and called for her husband, who was certainly not Thai.

A tall man with a kind face came over and addressed me in a thick Austrian accent. So thick that I had trouble understanding him, but we chatted for a moment as I decided on what flavor to have scooped into a waffle cone for my enjoyment. I strained to hear him over the counter as loud laughter erupted for a second time and I watched the mild grimace on the shop owner's face. "They've been here since six. It's a birthday party." He said, smiling again, only slightly annoyed that the guests had been there over four hours, visiting, but seeming to enjoy it all the same. It certainly seemed like the crowd was having a good time in the bright cafe. The owner came around the counter as his wife handed me my gelato cone.

We continued to chat for a bit as he told me about his shop and asked where we were from and what we had planned in Bangkok. We found out that in addition to his gelato shop in Bangkok, he also worked in jewelry and traveled throughout Asia and the US for meetings and shows. Before we departed, I introduced myself, shaking his hand, and asked his name. "Wolfgang" he said in his thick accent, so thick that I had to have him repeat his name several times. We left the shop smiling, licking our desserts as they quickly began to melt in the sticky Bangkok heat, another roar of laughter following us out of the door.

Wolfgang. A jeweler and gelato shop owner in Bangkok. How very interesting.

This is why we take the path less traveled, to meet interesting individuals along the way and experience something different than what the typical tourist might.

You can visit Wolfgang and enjoy delicious gelato at Gelato Finale, adjacent to the Robinson Bangrak.

Gwanghwamun Square | Seoul, South Korea

Gwanghwamun Square is one of those places in Seoul that you might see in a tourism ad or documentary video about South Korea, however you might not recognize the name right off. It's a place for the people that is a must see if you ever travel to Seoul. Located in the northern part of Seoul between two ways of traffic and right above Gwanghwamun Station, you shouldn't have any trouble locating this historic area. Pictured above is the "Sunken Square", located between the statues of Admiral Yi Sun-Shin and King Sejong the Great, where you can access the subway station. This will put you right in the middle of Gwanghwamun Square, which is why I recommend traveling to this are via the train.

Gwanghwamun Square 

Here lies Gwanghwamun Square on Sejong-ro where the ancient history of Korea still rings today. Yukjo Street - embodying the glory of kings and citizens together in the Joseon Dynasty - is being transformed into a symbolic square that signals new directions for a humane and cultural society with openness and mutual respect. The statue of King Sejong the Great, who devised the Korea alphabet Hangeul and presided over our cultural splendor, finally sits here along with that of Admiral Yi Sun-Shin. The City of Seoul hopes that this square will give unforgettable experiences to visitors who come to see and feel the magnificent and dynamic history of Seoul and dream of happiness and common prosperity in the future.

October 9, 2009 

Sehoon Oh, Mayor of Seoul 

Statue of Admiral Yi Sun-Shin over Gwanghwamun Square, Seoul, South Korea 

Statue of King Sejong the Great at Gwanghwamun Square, Seoul, South Korea 

 When visiting this popular site, you'll also have an opportunity to explore below the square at the "King Sejong Stories" exhibition and learn about the origin of Hangeul, the Korean alphabet, as well as some of South Korea's long history. There is also a gift shop, cafe, as well as restroom facilities available to visitors. During our time there we were also able to practice traditional calligraphy. This activity was geared more toward children, but it'd still be a cool experience. Viewing the exhibition is free of charge.

While walking around the square, you're likely to see younger adults dressed in traditional Korean dress called hanbok. Many girls and even some tourists come in this attire and take photos in front of Gwanghwamun Gate and other historic places. You can rent hanbok for a small fee at some shops and have your own palace experience, since admission is free to these historic sites for those dressed in the traditional garb. More information on renting hanbok here.

It's not uncommon for tourists to take photos of those wearing hanbok. I'm a tourist taking a photo of a tourist taking a photo of Korean girls in hanbok. Ha!

Gwanghwamun Gate, entrance to Gyeongbokgung Palace, the largest of the five palaces in Seoul (and arguably the most beautiful)

Today the palace was closed, so we were unable to go inside. Aside from that fact, it was kind of cold. We plan to return on a warmer day when it's open!

So many selfies! I have never seen a culture of young people so enthralled with taking photos of themselves for social media. There are cell phones everywhere and everyone is on them! Not even in America is it this common, if you can imagine.

In addition to seeing people dressed in traditional hanbok, you might also notice peaceful protests occurring at Gwanghwamun Square. Lately, there have been protests against THAAD, a missile defense system that recently arrived here in South Korea.

I enjoy some of the architecture unique to Korea. This building is located adjacent to the square.

Gwanghwamun Square holds much to see. You could easily spend an entire day in this area, visiting the square and then proceeding into the palace to explore. It's easily accessed via the subway, which I recommend utilizing. Located nearby is the Cheonggyecheon Stream, if you'd like to check that out as well while you're in the area.

The Details

• What: Gwanghwamun Square

• When: 24 hours

• Where: Jiha 172, Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul
서울특별시 종로구 세종대로 지하 172 (세종로)

• Cost: N/A