The most traditional Korean market in Seoul, it is walking distance from Jegi station (line 1). It smells like herbs, cinnamon, liquorice and ginseng. The whole place is jam packed with bizarre oriental ingredients such as roots, antlers and dried frogs and apparently lizards! Why would you want to go there? To get some fresh produce, submerge in a local community and try some dishes … Continue reading Gyeongdong Oriental Medicine Market in Seoul
A few weeks ago I went to Osaka. It wasn’t my first time in Japan, so I wanted to make this trip a little bit different. So there were no walking tours, no museums and no cafes. Well, apart from an owl cafe. So now, I’ve been to cat cafes, sheep cafe and was curious to find out what an owl cafe was all about. There … Continue reading Lucky owl cafe Osaka
Here I am, walking to work one day, excited about falling snow and a crisp winter day outside. And then boom! Got hit by a snowflake right in the eye! No worries, I thought to myself, if only I could get a closer look. If you feel like that too, here is a field guide to snowflakes. A clever chap, Kenneth Libbrecht, did some extensive research … Continue reading Field guide to snowflakes
Over the last couple of years I came across and visited a number of spas and saunas. There were Turkish, Hungarian, Czech, Japanese and a more simple more, which I’d like to call gym-style. My favourite one is still Korean Jimjilbang. Koreans take their kimchi seriously, and so they do their saunas. Here are a few things you should know about local saunas: 1. Pay … Continue reading Korean Sauna (Jimjilbang)
Around two or so years ago I was stuck on a plane, for a very long time, especially by my standards. What do you do for 12 hours x 2 ? I stare out of the window. Unfortunately in my case, I saw nothing. The sky and ocean are exactly the same colour, with a few clouds and when the sun goes down it’s just … Continue reading Window gazing
Autumn in the city. Out and about in Seoul on a Sunday afternoon. Continue reading Out and about in Seoul
This post dedicated to my first Korean “compartment”, i.e a small studio apartment, apparently big enough for one. I spent the last seven months living there, enjoying myself as much as possible. I’d also like to add, that I now have a bigger place which will see me through for the rest of my stay in South Korea. The only other things that fit into … Continue reading The house where Bear lived
This is my grandma, or babushka as I prefer to call her. She is in her 80’s and lives in a one bedroom flat in Minsk, Belarus. When I think of her, first things that spring into my mind are how neat and tidy she is, her red lampshade in the living room, old school phone and her enormous supply of pickled veg and jams. … Continue reading Babushkas rule the world
Let’s face it, cat cafes are so last year. Thanks Nature cafe in Seoul, South Korea. How to get there: Hongik University station, line two. Continue reading Sheep cafe
by Andrey As I sit in the hotel lobby waiting for my airport shuttle, I thought why not jot down a few points on my week here in Morocco. Morocco, a country of over 35 million people and the most westerly of the North African counties. In short hot, dry, rocky and lots of people!My trip started in Marrakesh, a bustling market city. Head to … Continue reading Moroccan Adventure
B is for bear. Your irregular dose of inspiration 