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The LIAL Guide to Seoul, South Korea

Written by: Amanda // Category: Travel Guides

20

Seoul, South Korea is one of the largest cities on earth. It is actually known as a ‘megacity’ because it’s population soars above 10 million. If that isn’t impressive enough, more than half of South Korea’s inhabitants reside in the Seoul Metropolitan Area (including suburbs like Incheon and Gyeongi), making it the second largest metropolitan area in the world at 25 million residents. With it’s 2000 year old history and unique Asian culture, no wonder travelers today are making plans to visit this vibrant city.

SEOUL CITY GUIDE CONTENTS:

1. Know Before You Go
2. Where to Visit
3. Where to Shop
4. Where to Sleep
5. Something to Eat
6. Learn the Language (simple words)

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Population: 10.44 million within the city (over 250,000 of those are foreigners)

Currency: South Korean Won (KRW)

Language Korean (otherwise known as Hangul)- however a good majority of the public speaks a little English as well.

Getting Around: The easiest way to see all of Seoul is by taking the Metro. A day pass is 15,000 won ($15 USD), and can also be used for bus fare. Once you have reached the district of your choice (via public transportation), its pretty easy to walk to your final destination. Subway stops are literally every couple kilometers, so do research ahead of time for places you want to visit, and where the closest stop would be to it.

Tipping: Tipping is not practiced in Korea. If you stay at a fancy hotel or dine at a nice restaurant, you may notice a 10% service charge on your bill. That will be your gratuity. If you try to give a tip to your taxi driver, odds are he might be super confused, as taxi drivers don’t typically speak English very well. By nodding with your head, giving a little wave, and saying “gahm-sah-hahm-ni-da.” (thank you) he should recognize the fact that you really don’t want your change.

Climate: Spring and fall are the best times of year to visit Seoul weather-wise. Summer tends to be very hot and humid with little breeze, where winter tends to be bitterly cold and dry. It can be brutal walking around Seoul in either the summer or winter seasons, so be sure to plan accordingly.

WHERE TO VISIT

Gyeongbokgung Palace: This palace (known as one of the biggest and most beautiful palaces in Korea) was built in the 1395, but was later destroyed in the Japanese Invasion (1592-98). Restorations to the palace’s 7,700 rooms began in 1852,and finished in 1912. If you’re wanting to jump right into Korean culture, this may be the place to do it! Its a beautiful representation of Korean history.
ENTRY FEE: Adults 3,000 won/ Children & Youth 1,500w won

14

Lotte World: A Guiness World Record holder for largest indoor theme park in the world, visiting Lotte World is a must! With over 6 million visitors a year, this theme park stays busy. It’s proud to offer: a full size ice skating rink, a folk museum, multiple parades a day, outdoor extension of the theme park (more fun attractions!), and thrilling rides!It’s a magical land worth going to. Just do your best not to visit during a holiday or (if you can help it) the weekend. You’d be surprised at how crowded it can get!
ENTRY FEE: Adults 46,000 won / Youth 40,000 won / Children 36,000 won / Infants 12,000 won

Everland: Yet another gigantic theme park in Korea (even bigger and better than Lotte World). Everland is a world-class theme park, with a layout similar to Disneyland: fantasy buildings, zoo animals, fairgrounds, rides, live music, restaurants and more! Whether you hop aboard an African safari bus, or stroll through it’s award-winning flower gardens, Everland has a little something for everyone.
ENTRY FEE: Adults 46,000 won / Children 36,000 won

N. Seoul Tower: If you plan on getting a taxi to Seoul Tower, just be sure to call it by it’s other name “Namsan Tower.” It’s located within Namsan Park (which is absolutely gorgeous by the way), and apparently just telling a taxi driver “Seoul Tower” wasn’t enough, and we spent 40 minutes running around back alleys and google translating to find the correct place. Dumb. Seoul Tower is a beautiful lookout of the city, filled with city information, restaurants, a love-lock area, and two observatories! Be sure to go right before dusk so you can see the city light up -absolutely gorgeous.
ENTRY FEE: Teens and Adults (Ages 13-64): 7,000 won / Children (Ages 4-12): 3,000 won / Senior (Ages 65+): 5,000 won

29

War Memorial of Korea: To be honest, I didn’t know a lot about the Korean War before moving to Korea. Because South Korea is such a small little country, you can still feel some of the direct effects of the war on the citizens of Korea. Families were completely split apart with the division between the North and the South.Guide to Seoul-War Memorial of KoreaI wanted to visit the Memorial to learn a little more about the war, and also to pay respects to those who served and gave their lives.

On a lighter note, you can actually climb all over the tanks, planes, and artillery that was used in the war! It’s such a cool thing to experience!
ENTRY FEE: Free for everyone!

Guide to Seoul-War Memorial of Korea

DMZ: Since we’re talking about the Korean War, it’s important that I mention the next Seoul travel destination: the DMZ. If you’re in for a little adventure, you can book a tour (which you’ll have to do ahead of time), and spend most of the day smack dab in the middle of a war zone (remember, N. Korea and S. Korea haven’t ever signed a peace treaty). You’ll be driving through mine fields, taking a few steps into North Korea, and will also have the opportunity to purchase items actually from the other side! You’d be crazy passing up this opportunity, and it’ll be something you can talk about for years to come!
TOUR PRICE: 40,000 (tour of one area) – 130,000 (tour of all areas) won. I’d recommend the full tour.

Guide to Seoul-DMZ

Hongdae: If staying up all night dancing to the music is for you, Hongdae is where you want to be. A popular spot for 20-30 year olds, this area of Seoul screams ‘fun.’ Is the night scene not really your thing? No worries, you’ll still want to visit the art-laden streets of Hongdae during the day for a unique experience!

Seoraksan: Hands down, the most gorgeous location in South Korea. Seoraksan National Park is a 3-4 hour drive from Seoul, and worth every minute you spend sitting in that bus (clearly only go if you have the extra time). There are campsites and hostels lining the entrance of the park, so if you decide to stay more than 24 hours (recommended), it’ll be easy to find a spot to lay your head.

Guide to Seoul -Seoraksan National Park IMG_37871Wake up very early in the morning to be first in line to ride the cable car up to the top of the iconic mountains for a stunning view. I bet it’s gorgeous at sunset too! There are also miles and miles of breathtaking hiking trails to enjoy.
ENTRY FEE: Adults 2,500 won / Middle to high school students (ages 14-19)1,000 won / Elementary school students (ages 8-13) 500 won
CABLE CAR FEE: 9,000 won

WHERE TO SHOP

Myeongdong: World-renowned as Seoul’s fashion and cultural hub, if you shop anywhere in Seoul, it has to be Myeongdong. This one square kilometer district can see more than two million visitors a day. Myeongdong stores sell mostly mid to higher end items, but you’ll also find a multitude of street vendors that sell really cool things for a cheap price as well!

Insadong: Needing to purchase a few souvenirs for friends and family back home? Insadong is definitely the place to go, as you’ll find shop after shop chalk full of traditional Korean trinkets and souvenirs. Be sure to try some green tea ice-cream or a giant potato stick while you’re in the area! Insadong is also filled with art museums and shows and gives off an ‘artistic, peaceful vibe,’ which is a dramatic contrast from the rest of Seoul (think crazy busy all the time).

Yongsan Electronics Market: This is where you can purchase any and ever kind of electronic known to man. With over 20 buildings and 5000 stores, you’re bound to find a good deal. Korean-made products generally cost 20% less in Yongsan than other retail outlets, while imported items can be as much as 50% cheaper. Most store owners speak fairly good English, so you don’t have to worry about confusing them with asking questions. I purchased my Canon 5D Mark ii and a few lenses from Yongsan, and was able to get them at a crazy good price!

Gangnam: Home of the Coex Shopping Mall which is the biggest underground shopping center in Asia, with a full aquarium (whale sharks!), Kimchi museum, 16 restaurants, theaters, arcades, and more! You’ll also find plenty of dog and cat cafes in Gangnam; just in case you’re needing a little furry love (and coffee)! Gangnam is home to the richest and most famous, and celebrity sightings are common. Let it also be known that Gangnam is expensive. If you’re wanting to go somewhere for dinner and not spend a pretty penny, you might just want to pass this one all together.

Dongdaemun: Bartering/Haggling is iffy in Korea. Sometimes you can get away with it, and other times you’ll have shop owners spit in your face. But if bartering is something you’re really wanting to try, the Dongdaemun district might just be your golden ticket! There are over 20 shopping malls in this little slice of Seoul, and most of which sell their clothes as wholesale (meaning a lot of other stores in Korea purchase their items from this location). The only shop you are strictly forbidden to barter in is Doota. Just remember that name! An extra bonus? A lot of the stores and malls are open almost 24 hours a day! So that means, if you feel like shopping at 3:00am, go for it.

WHERE TO SLEEP

Jjimjilbang: If you’re wanting a true Korean experience, you have to visit a Jjimjilbang (aka public bathhouse). The part about being naked tends to turn quite a few people off (don’t worry it’s a segregated bathhouse), but if you’re wanting a cheap place to stay the night, cheap snacks, and a nice spa, this may be your golden ticket. If you’re traveling with a partner of the opposite sex, don’t worry, the sleeping rooms are communal as are the gaming and food areas. You’ll have to don these silly looking gym outfits after bathing, but that just adds to the experience!
PRICE PER NIGHT: 6,000-15,000 won (24 hour stay).

Guest Houses: Basically the same thing as a hostel, but can be a little more traditional if you find the right one. Guest houses are literally remodeled family houses turned into sleeping quarters. Most of the rooms are communal, but you can sometimes find private rooms. Most guest houses are located near downtown or tourist areas, which makes them super convenient to stay in.
PRICE PER NIGHT: 20,000-30,000 won

Love Motels: Yet another great Korean experience you just have to experience once or twice in your life. ‘Love Motels’ are ‘pay-buy-the-hour’ rooms…if you know what I mean. The rooms are full of all kinds of ‘goodies’ for you to witness and experience this is getting awkward, but they’re cheap and literally everywhere, and that’s why we’ve stayed at quite a few during our time in Korea. I would strongly advise you not to bring children to a Love motel (not even sure if they’re allowed?). All that being said, the rooms actually are relatively clean, and have cool lighting features (think black lights, wall lights that change color, lighted ceiling murals…and more)! The smell of cigarette smoke is always a given, so if you cannot stand that, don’t buy a room. Also note that a lot of the ‘cheap’ hotels on Agoda for Seoul and surrounding areas are actually love motels.
PRICE PER NIGHT: 30,000-90,000+ won

Higher-end Hotels: A large majority of the nicer hotels are actually located in Gangnam (Park Hyatt, Renaissance Marriott, Intercontinental). They will, for sure, charge you a pretty penny for everything! That being said, if you check out Priceline’s Name Your Price hotel finder, you can get absolutely insane deals! We stayed at the Renaissance Marriott one night for 75,000 KRW instead of it’s normal asking price of 345,000KRW!
PRICE PER NIGHT: 120,000-2,000,000+ won

SOMETHING TO EAT

Itaewon: If you’re an expat living in Korea or another part of Asia, you’re going to want to visit Itaewon. Known as the district ‘all the foreigners go to’, you might as well just add yourself to that statistic and pay a visit with an empty stomach. Visit a quaint french restaurant for breakfast, hit up Mexican for lunch, and do Brazilian BBQ for dinner! You can also find American-style pizza as big as a tractor, specialty burger joints, Turkish kabobs, Indian, Italian, and even South African restaurants in Itaewon. I’m making myself hungry thinking of all this amazing food.

Gwangjang Market: South Korea is famous for it’s amazing (and cheap) street food. Although you can find street food practically everywhere, Gwangjang Market is the epicenter of it all. Come hungry, come eager to try new things, and come with your pockets full of change! Gwangjang Market is Korea’s oldest daily market (established in 1905), so you’ll also be able to score your self some amazing souvenirs to take back home! The food stands are open from 11am-11pm daily.

Guide to Seoul-Gwangjang Market

photo via

Noryangjin Fish Market: Not for those who can’t stand strong smells, the Noryangjin Fish Market is quite the sight (and smell) to behold. Noryangjin opened in 1927 and remains one of Korea’s largest seafood markets. You’re bound to see all sorts of sea creatures: octopus, snails, sea cucumbers, squid, crabs, clams, and just about any other sea-dwelling creature that swims, slithers, or sits. After finding something you’d like to purchase, you can even eat it right on the spot as sashimi prepared by one of the location restaurants for you. If you’re super daring, you can give eating live octopus a try! It’s considered a Korean ‘rite of passage’ into adulthood if you can eat a whole wriggling baby octopus. (no. thank. you.)

YOU HAVE TO TRY: Here’s a list of a few Korean dishes you have to try while visiting!
Kimchi (kim-chi)-duh. This national Korean dish (consisting of fermented peppers, cabbage, and other vegetables) is so popular, it would be almost impossible not to be offered it at least once or twice as a free side dish at a restaurant!

Guide to Seoul-Kimchi

photo via

There are actually quite a few different kinds of Kimchi, where some are more spicy than others. Be sure to have some rice or water next to you to help cool your mouth after you first bite! I’ve learned that you either love it or hate it…there’s no in-between.

Bulgogi (bul-go-gi)-Yet another traditional Korean dish, this one is a little more palatable with its’ sweet sauce put on Korean beef and barbequed. McDonald’s even sells a bulgogi burger for those of you wanting a cheap option. Bulgogi is one of my favorite Korean dishes.

Tteokbokki (tteok-bok-ki)-Spicy, hot, but super addicting and yummy! You can either get it plain with just rice cakes, fish cakes, and sweet chili sauce (don’t be deceived) from a street vendor, or buy it in a restaurant as a stir fry with rice cakes, cabbage, onions, garlic, pork or chicken, and other vegetables. I really don’t like spicy foods, but somehow, while living in Korea, I couldn’t get enough of Tteokbokki. It’s such a spicy dish- I always ended up sitting there with tears streaming down my face as I shoveled in as much as I could with my two chopsticks.

Yangnyeom Chicken (Yang-nyeom)– If I didn’t add this one to the list, Derik would have never forgiven me. A popular street food amongst kids, it’s also snatched my husband’s heart (or mouth). Yangnyeom chicken is fried chicken mixed with Tteokbokki and various sauces. You can get yangnyeom chicken in super spicy chili sauce, super sweet chili sauce, and some sort of spicy garlic sauce (my favorite).

Hoeddeok (hoe-ddeok)– As Yangnyeom chicken is to Derik, Hoeddeok is to me. You can find this yummy pancake treat basically everywhere, and around a Hoeddeok cart see tons of kids begging their moms for 1,000 won to buy one or two. Hoeddeok is a pancake filled with all kinds of yummy-ness. My favorite was the cinnamon and sugar filled pancake, as it’s pretty much the closest thing you’ll find the Cinnabon on this side of the world (yet for a fraction of the price). You can also get Hoeddeok filled with seeds, red beans, cream. I’m not sure how you ask for specific ones as the ladies that sell them don’t really speak English. Just stand around long enough until you see her make a new one, and point to it giving your head a nod and a smile so she knows which one you want.

Bibimbap (bi-bim-bap)– The word ‘Bibimbap’ literally mean ‘mixed rice’ in Korean. There’s no surprises or shocks in this dish: it’s literally steamed rice topped with all sorts of vegetables, a little sauce, and an egg. If you’re wanting to get away from the traditional Korean spice (hello heartburn), this might just be the perfect dish to do that with. It’s colorful (perfect for pictures), never comes in a size other than large (perfect for sharing), and it’s relatively cheap!

Guide to Seoul-Bibimbap

photo via

LEARN THE LANGUAGE (SIMPLE WORDS)

Hello:an-nyeong-ha-seyo (안녕하세요)
Thank you: gahm-sah-hahm-ni-da (감사합니다)
You’re Welcome: chon-mahn-eh-yo (천만에요)
Yes: neh (네)
No: ah-nee-oh (아니요) Crossing your arms in an ‘x’ in front of you helps strengthen your “No.” The bigger the better!
Please: ju-se-yo (주세요)
Goodbye: ahn-nyong-hee ga-se-yo (안녕히 계세요)

This guide is built from my time and experience in South Korea. All opinions are my own. There are several other locations to go to, places to sleep, foods to eat, and things to do within Seoul, so be sure to check out other sites like Trip Advisor or Lonely Planet for more suggestions!

​

Welcome to Living in Another Language! Thanks for dropping by. We’re Derik and Amanda, a couple with a permanent case of wanderlust. Follow along with us as we travel the world. Read more about us HERE.

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2020 has been a year has it not? As much as I love 2020 has been a year has it not? As much as I love social media, I found myself taking a break as the things we were all going through made social media so insignificant to me. 

In January/February I had a miscarriage. It was a horrible way to start the year, and little did I know it was just the beginning of it all. 

Even with the loss, hardship of moving back to the US in the middle of a global pandemic, and navigating our new lives here, we were given many blessings. The greatest of those was finding out I was pregnant again in March.

It’s a scary time to be pregnant right now, especially after a miscarriage, because doctors visits are very minimal. Also, Derik was never able to come to a single visit. I was terrified something would happen and I would be told bad news and have to face that alone. But God was gracious to us. 

We kept our special little secret to ourselves, and it wasn’t until our third trimester before we told immediate family and close friends. My pregnancy was very private for me, and a special time to bond closely with the babe growing inside me.

Our sweet little girl arrived November 30, and yes I had to deliver with a mask on, but she is perfect and I truly feel our family is complete. 💕🌈
 
“When a rainbow appears, it doesn’t mean the storm never happened or that we are not still dealing with its aftermath. It means something beautiful and full of light has appeared in the midst of the darkness and clouds. Storm clouds may still hover but the rainbow provides a counterbalance of color, energy, and hope.”
I am in love. As I’m sure every other plant/mons I am in love. As I’m sure every other plant/monstera collector is when you get to behold such a beauty in real life. If there were ever #plantgoals, this is it. 

Since moving from Germany, it has been a long and slow process getting our life back to normal. All of our belongings have yet to arrive so we’ve literally been camping in our house on an air bed and camping chairs for two months. 😂 All that to say, having to start my plant collection over again here stateside has been so much fun! I will miss the plant prices if Germany, but the selection here blows my mind. Anyone else obsessed? We’ve lived here for almost 8 weeks now and I already have 11 plants 😂😬😬😬. I don’t have a bed or a couch, but by golly I have greenery. 😂🤦🏼‍♀️🌱
Oh my heart. I’ve been trying to figure out the Oh my heart.

I’ve been trying to figure out the words to say about our time in Germany, but my fingers can’t seem to type out how to express my love, gratefulness, thankfulness, sadness, and heartbreak I feel about leaving. Every country we’ve lived in has taught us something and has given us so many beautiful memories, as well as opened our eyes a little more to different cultures and ways of living.

But Germany was special. The first time we stepped foot into Germany was in 2015, and we loved it so much we stayed the extent of our travel visa (3 months). I was able to visit again in 2016, and then we officially packed everything and moved in 2017. Germany has always had my heart: the people, the festivals, the food, wine and beer, the immaculate home landscaping, and even all the rules that every resident is just expected to follow to a tee (like recycling every tiny scrap of trash). Our family grew from two to three while in Germany. Bringing our daughter into the world, and raising her for a year and a half in a different culture, will be one of the most beautiful memories of my life.

Our move was impacted by the COVID pandemic, and it took three long months of delays, red tape, and countless phone calls to get everything together so we could actually get on a plane and have our stuff packed and shipped to our new home. 
I am breathing a sigh of relief to know all the stress of everything is over and our new adventure can begin. I am mourning the loss of leaving Germany. I am in a weird transition right now trying to grasp it all, but here we are jumping into new things head first! We are back in the US for a while, in the beautiful state of Tennessee, and look forward to many new memories, travels, friends, and being able to spend time with family! 
Photos from my sweet and talented friend @juliejayphotos
I feel like I failed hard this year at Christmas m I feel like I failed hard this year at Christmas markets. We went to a total of ONE market, which is exactly 19 less than I told myself I would go to this year to make up for not going to any the year before 🤦🏼‍♀️(I was 40 weeks pregnant and not feeling crowds). I will say, it was a great one and the weather was so nice, we stayed out until the market shut down.

If there’s one thing I will miss most about Germany when it is our time to move, will be the sheer enthusiasm this country has for Christmas, and I’m not talking about consumerism. Food, laughter, friends, family, music, dancing: celebration. Also, Germany shuts down for not only one day, but THREE. Stores are closed, mail is not delivered, people aren’t out and about. Everyone is home enjoying time with family, and I love it. However, I may have gone into full blown panic mode Christmas Eve when I realized I had a total of 8 diapers to get us through until the 27th. 👀
We spent Thanksgiving back in North America: Whist We spent Thanksgiving back in North America: Whistler, Canada! A 10 hour flight from Germany , and I can’t say this one was better than the one we took over the summer on our trip to Alaska, but we survived! Entertaining a 11 month old for that long is much harder than a 6 month old, especially when they aren’t into sleeping on the plane AT ALL. 🤪

Whistler was beautiful despite the lack of snow, and we enjoyed our time with family, the delicious food, and as much sightseeing as one could do with a jet-lagged baby. 
This was actually my first trip to Canada ever, (unless you want to count the move my parents took up to Alaska from Arkansas when I was two. 😂🤷‍♀️ ) and I loved it! We would really like to take a big Canadian road trip someday and explore more of the country! 😍😍🇨🇦
Being a mama may mean I don’t always have time t Being a mama may mean I don’t always have time to put myself together, but I would rather spend the extra moments making special memories with our daughter that she can cherish forever. I doubt that she will look at this picture and see a tired, messy haired mama that’s barely had time to wash her face nevermind carefully apply makeup, but am hoping she will see a mama that never tires of carrying and cuddling her, or sharing new experiences with her. 💕

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The Past

  • ►2019
    • ►April
      • Traveling During Pregnancy: First Trimester
  • ►2018
    • ►October
      • Campervan Iceland with Happy Campers
    • ►September
      • A Taste of German Tradition in Spreewald, Germany
    • ►August
      • Changes, Life in Germany: an Unpublished Year
    • ►March
      • A perfect stay at House of Bruges
    • ►January
      • An Overnight Layover in Singapore
      • A Day in Brugge, Belgium
  • ►2017
    • ►November
      • Switzerland on a Budget
      • Travel Guide to Krakow, Poland
      • Korcula Town to Stari Grad with MedSailors
    • ►October
      • Andronikos Hotel Mykonos
    • ►September
      • Sailing to Vis, Croatia
    • ►June
      • A Visit to Berchtesgaden, Germany
      • A Day in Oslo, Norway
    • ►May
      • Why it is Important to Blog for Yourself
      • Staycation at Hilton Palacio Del Rio
      • Oh Hi, We Moved to Germany
    • ►April
      • Norway in a Nutshell
  • ►2016
    • ►December
      • Finding the Perfect Christmas Gift
      • 36 Hours in Istanbul, Turkey
    • ►October
      • Visiting The World’s Largest Pumpkin Festival
      • One day in Mykonos, Greece
    • ►September
      • 10 Ways Alaska and New Zealand Are Remarkably Similar
      • Exploring the Alamo with Jord Watches
    • ►August
      • Exploring Kenai Fjords National Park with Major Marine Tours
    • ►May
      • Hiking Bodenburg Butte
    • ►April
      • 6 Tricks to Enhance your Images
      • Hatcher Pass with Pins To Kill
      • Monkey Forest, Ubud
    • ►March
      • Glamping Bali with Sandat Tents
      • Cruising Milford Sound
    • ►February
      • 5 Reasons to Book a Yacht Charter This Summer
    • ►January
      • Bali Cooking Class
      • Revisiting the Grand Mirage
  • ►2015
    • ►December
      • What to do in Mallorca, Spain
      • PNW Coast with Jord Wood Watches
      • Why Park City, Utah Should Be On Your Winter Bucket List
      • Holiday Gift Guide for the Traveler and Expat
    • ►November
      • 24 hours in Wanaka
      • Finding and Photographing the Aurora in New Zealand
    • ►October
      • A Luxury Villa Stay in Mallorca, Spain
      • 20 more travel quotes you probably haven't heard before
      • Anniversary Getaway at the Shangri-La Bosphorus, Istanbul
      • 8 Must-Try Foods in New Zealand
      • Kaikoura Dolphin Encounter
    • ►August
      • A Day in Ruedesheim
      • Living Expenses in New Zealand
      • A Romantic Stay at The Gangsa Private Villas
      • The Best Time of Day to Post on Instagram
      • 5 ways to encourage travel bloggers
      • A Luxurious Getaway at Samabe
    • ►July
      • The Other Half
      • An Adventure Tour through New Zealand
      • A Clean Slate
    • ►May
      • 5 Tips to Help Overcome Travel Anxiety
      • Staying at Sala Arun Bangkok
      • Fall in New Zealand
    • ►April
      • 6 lesser-known vacation spots you should definitely consider for 2015
      • Let's catch up.
      • Aurora Australis in New Zealand
      • Are You a Traveler or a Tourist?
      • 8 Things I Don't Like About Long-Term Travel
      • Maré, New Caledonia
    • ►March
      • 15 Blog Post Ideas for Travel Bloggers
      • 5 Reasons New Zealand Should Be On Your Bucket List
      • Finding a Place to Live in New Zealand
      • A Weekend Getaway at Kinross Cottages
      • Beachcomber Island, Fiji
      • How to Grow Your Travel Blog
    • ►February
      • Central Otago Wine Tour
      • The Best Times to Travel Internationally
      • Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
      • What 1,095 Days of Travel Has Taught Me
      • The Story Behind The Name
      • 10 Travel Quotes That Will Inspire You To See the World
      • Cruising Sydney Harbor
    • ►January
      • Let's Chat
      • The LIAL Guide to Seoul, South Korea
      • So You're Going on Your First Cruise...
      • Sunrise at St Clair Beach, Dunedin
      • 10 Ways to Save Money for Travel
      • New Years Eve in Sydney Harbor
      • What's In My Camera Bag
      • 2014-Our Year in Travels.
  • ►2014
    • ►December
      • LIAL Reader Survey 2014 RESULTS
      • Travel Insurance: Yay or Nay?
      • Beginner's Guide to Astrophotography
      • And We're Off!!!
      • Yonderbound: Make Travel Planning a Breeze
      • Things All Expats Do But Won't Admit To
      • Wellington, New Zealand
      • 12 Songs for Your Travel Playlist
    • ►November
      • Why You Should Travel in 2015
      • Travel Blogging + Marriage
      • Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine, Osaka, Japan
      • Things I Find Strange About New Zealand
      • Pearl Harbor
      • Five things you should do before you start traveling
      • Tunnel Beach, Dunedin
    • ►October
      • LIAL Reader Survey 2014
      • Queens Park, Invercargill
      • The 5 Types of Travel Bloggers
      • The Lunar Eclipse
      • 10 Tips to Improve Your Photography
      • Minus 5 Ice Bar, Queenstown
      • Rain Boots or Wellies?
      • What Travel Means To Me
      • Sandfly Bay, Otago Peninsula
      • Real Life Friends
    • ►September
      • Moeraki Boulders
      • A Journey Through Middle Earth: Hobbiton
      • Thoughts
      • Travel Blogging Isn't for the Faint of Heart
      • Finding Work in New Zealand
      • Radio Silence
    • ►August
      • Campervan New Zealand
      • A Case for Travel Partners
      • Getting a Working Holiday Visa in New Zealand
      • How to Survive Long-Distance Flights
      • 7 Tips to Help You Grow Your Instagram
      • Why Russell, New Zealand Should be on Your Travel Itinerary
      • 10 Things to See and Do While Visiting South Korea
      • New Zealand in Instagram Photos
    • ►July
      • Look Up
      • New Zealand Bucket List
      • Pros and Cons of Living in New Zealand (30 day edition)
      • The Suitcase Designs (New Look + Premades!!)
      • 6 of the best tropical destinations in Asia
      • Why New Zealand?
      • Not Captured on Camera
      • Pololu Valley, Hawaii
      • Thoughts On Living in a Campervan
    • ►June
      • Searching for Whale Sharks
      • Final Words on Korea
      • Moving Overseas? How to Get You and Your Belongings to Your Destination Country
      • Boracay, Philippines
      • Steel Wool Photography Tutorial
      • Things to Do in Phuket
      • Why We're Leaving Korea
      • We're Officially Announcing...
      • Living Expenses in Korea
    • ►May
      • What I Miss About Summer in the USA
      • Phuket Botanical Garden
      • Instagram Favorites
      • Monkey Beach
      • Sunburn Remedy: Instant Pain Relief and Overnight Healing
      • Change is Inevitable
      • The Negative Side to Travel
      • James Bond Island
    • ►April
      • Korean Commercials Pt. 3
      • Macro Photography Without A Macro Lens
      • 21 Household Tips and Tricks
      • Belated Blogiversary
      • Gyeongju Cherry Blossom Festival
      • Wat Chedi Luang, Chiang Mai
      • Pros and Cons of Living in Korea
      • Thoughts
      • Springtime in Geoje
      • 12 Tips on Night Photography
      • Sunday Night Market, Chiang Mai
    • ►March
      • Lately in Korea
      • White Temple, Chiang Rai
      • When Hotels Bite
      • Grand Palace, Bangkok
      • Living Minimalistically
      • Stay Out of Trouble While Traveling
      • Things Only Expats Understand
      • Maui Photo Session
      • Backpacking for 60 days
      • Long Neck Karen Tribe
      • Back Home
    • ►February
      • One Year of No-Poo
      • How to Travel Right out of College
      • Two Year Expat Anniversary
      • Valentine's Day
      • Lessons of Love (From Abroad)
      • Your Questions Answered: The Miscellaneous
      • Teaching ESL is Hard
    • ►January
      • Your Questions Answered: Expat Living
      • Tips on Moving Abroad
      • Blogging 101: When Blogging isn't Fun Anymore
      • What Not to Say to an Expat
      • Your Questions Answered: Travel
      • Initial Thoughts from the USA
  • ►2013
    • ►December
      • 2013-Our Year in Travels.
      • Geoje Sculpture Park
      • Christmas
      • Saturday's Thoughts
      • Lok Kawi Wildlife Park
      • Have I Changed?
      • Korea has Taught Me...
      • Not Home for the Holidays
      • Rokuon-ji (the golden temple)
      • I Need Your Questions!
    • ►November
      • A Post About My Hair
      • Thanksgiving: Through the Eyes of an Expat
      • Blogging 101: Time Management
      • Sandakan: River Adventure
      • How to Photograph Fireworks
      • A Recent Blog Design
      • Chuo Ward, Japan
      • Search Terms for the Win
      • Miss/Don't Miss (part 2)
    • ►October
      • Blogging 101: Using Pinterest to Maximize your Blogging Potential
      • Busan International Fireworks Festival
      • Geisha Town [Kyoto After Dark]
      • Confessions of an Expat
      • Korea: Where Random Situations Rule (on Twitter)
      • Jinju Lantern Festival
      • Quarter of a Century
      • Capture the Colour 2013
      • Do You Have Fur On Your Legs?
      • Simply Just Blogging
    • ►September
      • [Japan] Fushimi Inari Shrine
      • Homeless for Half a Month
      • I Don't Understand
      • Looking for Saltwater Crocodiles
      • Blogging 101: Advice
      • Saturday Takeover: Misadventures in Japan
      • Korean Commercials Pt. 2
      • Expat Blues
      • Snorkeling Borneo
      • LASIK in Korea? You must be kidding.
      • 500,000? That's a Big Number
      • Finding Home
      • [BORNEO] Sunsets and Coconut Water
    • ►August
      • Guess We Didn't Get the Memo
      • Korea Doesn't Care About Miley
      • Step Into My Life
      • Blogging 101: The Sponsor Game
      • Don't Get Mugged
      • Introducing...(aka HUGE NEWS)
      • Three Years Ago the Wedding Bells Rang
      • Let's Talk About 'No Poo' (FAQ 2)
      • We're Back!
      • As of Now...
    • ►July
      • Why I'm the Worst Traveler Ever
      • How To Be a Tourist in Asia
      • It Wasn't That Long Ago...
      • Blogging 101: Wordpress Plugins
      • Lately [10]
      • 30 day challenge
      • Korean Commercials Pt. 1
      • Weird Wednesday (7/17)
      • The temple on the sea
      • I love bloglovin!
      • A saturday photo session
      • Friday Funnies {7}
      • A game of charades (aka everyday life)
      • Blogging 101
      • The collective social blog hop
      • This one goes to the cats
      • This holiday we call the 4th of july
      • The good, the bad, and the ugly
      • Island camping: it's pretty nice
    • ►June
      • Friday Funnies {6}
      • Recipe: blt stuffed avocado
      • Using the shadows
      • Friday Funnies {5}
      • Camping with the locals (expat level: expert)
      • Lately [9]
      • 'No poo' frequently asked questions
      • Would you like to know? [3]
      • Friday Funnies {4}
      • Thanks for having a birthday buddha
      • Weird Wednesday 6/12 + Sponsor Spotlight {june} pt.2
      • No gym membership required
      • Friday funnies {3}
      • Would you like a cup of tea with that? (Boseong)
      • Korea: the country where random situations rule
    • ►May
      • Friday Funnies {2}
      • Lately [8]
      • Weird Wednesday (5/30)
      • Things I wish I had known...part two
      • Seoraksan favorites
      • Lately[7]
      • Friday Funnies (LINK-UP!)
      • I STILL Don't Use Shampoo
      • Weird Wednesday (05/22)
      • The thing about 'selfies'
      • Latey [6]
      • Would you like to know? [2]
      • Green smoothie: grapefruit
      • The time we went to an adult playground
      • Lately [5]
      • Things i wish i had known...
      • Breakfast in seosan
      • Lately [4]
      • Hakdong (pebble) beach
    • ►April
      • Why would i say that?
      • Recipes: fish tacos
      • Lately [3]
      • Would you like to know?
      • Weird Wednesday (4/23)
      • Friend connect bloghop
      • .org vs .com and how I almost lost it
      • Cocoppa: an ocd iphone lover's dream
      • Lately [2]
      • The candid series: busan
      • For every woman
      • DIY Lip Balm
      • Lately
      • Of 'Weird Wednesdays' and liebster awards
      • Recipes: boneless bbq chicken
      • Shopping habits
      • Out with the old...
      • I'm attracted to attractions
      • Preparing for war
      • Recipes: cheddar garlic biscuits
      • The purple mountain (Mt. Daegeumsan)
    • ►March
      • Weird Wednesday (03/27)
      • Osaka aquarium kaiyukan (part two)
      • The dentist.
      • I don't use shampoo
      • Weekly photo challenge: my korean happy meal
      • Fireworks + friends = epic
      • Thirty-three reasons why I love my job.
      • Japan: land of the rising sun
      • So...you want to be an ESL teacher?
      • Weird Wednesday (03/06)
    • ►February
      • Bored on a thursday night?
      • Osaka aquarium kaiyukan (part one)
      • The time i went to north korea (DMZ)
      • Weekly photo challenge: forward
      • A trip to the bamboo forest
      • Year one
      • Be mine
      • French press lattes
      • Weird Wednesday (02/13)
      • The bet we made with the boys
      • [Vietnam] last day in paradise
      • [Vietnam] $10 dollar scooters and free spray tans
      • Weekly Photo Challenge: Unique (Dr. Seuss)
    • ►January
      • Weird Wednesday (01/30)
      • I practice my hobbies on saturdays...
      • Weird Wednesday (01/23)
      • [Vietnam] the time i ate sea urchin
      • The candid series: farmer's market
      • [Vietnam] landing in paradise
      • Weird Wednesday (01/16)
      • 5D
      • [Vietnam] a morning in the bay
      • Weird Wednesday (01/09)
      • [Vietnam] in silent waters
      • [Vietnam] of busy streets and great food
      • Weird Wednesday (01/03)
  • ►2012
    • ►December
      • Dear santa...love, an expat.
      • Delicate
      • Bring forth the holiday cheer pt.2
      • Recipes: grandma knows best
      • I've become domesticated.
    • ►November
      • Weekend reunions
      • Bring forth the holiday cheer
      • They deserve it the most...
      • Three quarters.
      • 11/11
      • Halloween: 'korean style'
    • ►October
      • I wish I were...
      • Foreign
      • Sorry if i'm rude, i'm american.
      • Expat resources
      • As the days get colder
      • Big
      • Colors of change
      • Chuseok
      • 24
      • Top ten
      • Jasmine: not the tea or the disney princess.
      • Where do i get it? 10/4
    • ►September
      • six months plus.
      • [Bali] late night cruisin'
      • [Bali] water adventure day
    • ►August
      • Grand mirage...a piece of paradise. [bali]
      • The first of many [bali].
    • ►July
      • The dirtiest people i've ever seen
    • ►June
      • Its not always about the pictures.
      • Yeosu world expo. Basically the coolest event i've ever been to.
    • ►May
      • Seoul. It's beautiful chaos.
    • ►April
      • When did time escape me?
    • ►March
      • That BBQ Chicken...
      • Sick Days...
      • Busan
    • ►February
      • Of food and other things.
      • The Journey Over
      • The Grand Adventure
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Currently on Instagram

2020 has been a year has it not? As much as I love 2020 has been a year has it not? As much as I love social media, I found myself taking a break as the things we were all going through made social media so insignificant to me. 

In January/February I had a miscarriage. It was a horrible way to start the year, and little did I know it was just the beginning of it all. 

Even with the loss, hardship of moving back to the US in the middle of a global pandemic, and navigating our new lives here, we were given many blessings. The greatest of those was finding out I was pregnant again in March.

It’s a scary time to be pregnant right now, especially after a miscarriage, because doctors visits are very minimal. Also, Derik was never able to come to a single visit. I was terrified something would happen and I would be told bad news and have to face that alone. But God was gracious to us. 

We kept our special little secret to ourselves, and it wasn’t until our third trimester before we told immediate family and close friends. My pregnancy was very private for me, and a special time to bond closely with the babe growing inside me.

Our sweet little girl arrived November 30, and yes I had to deliver with a mask on, but she is perfect and I truly feel our family is complete. 💕🌈
 
“When a rainbow appears, it doesn’t mean the storm never happened or that we are not still dealing with its aftermath. It means something beautiful and full of light has appeared in the midst of the darkness and clouds. Storm clouds may still hover but the rainbow provides a counterbalance of color, energy, and hope.”
I am in love. As I’m sure every other plant/mons I am in love. As I’m sure every other plant/monstera collector is when you get to behold such a beauty in real life. If there were ever #plantgoals, this is it. 

Since moving from Germany, it has been a long and slow process getting our life back to normal. All of our belongings have yet to arrive so we’ve literally been camping in our house on an air bed and camping chairs for two months. 😂 All that to say, having to start my plant collection over again here stateside has been so much fun! I will miss the plant prices if Germany, but the selection here blows my mind. Anyone else obsessed? We’ve lived here for almost 8 weeks now and I already have 11 plants 😂😬😬😬. I don’t have a bed or a couch, but by golly I have greenery. 😂🤦🏼‍♀️🌱
Oh my heart. I’ve been trying to figure out the Oh my heart.

I’ve been trying to figure out the words to say about our time in Germany, but my fingers can’t seem to type out how to express my love, gratefulness, thankfulness, sadness, and heartbreak I feel about leaving. Every country we’ve lived in has taught us something and has given us so many beautiful memories, as well as opened our eyes a little more to different cultures and ways of living.

But Germany was special. The first time we stepped foot into Germany was in 2015, and we loved it so much we stayed the extent of our travel visa (3 months). I was able to visit again in 2016, and then we officially packed everything and moved in 2017. Germany has always had my heart: the people, the festivals, the food, wine and beer, the immaculate home landscaping, and even all the rules that every resident is just expected to follow to a tee (like recycling every tiny scrap of trash). Our family grew from two to three while in Germany. Bringing our daughter into the world, and raising her for a year and a half in a different culture, will be one of the most beautiful memories of my life.

Our move was impacted by the COVID pandemic, and it took three long months of delays, red tape, and countless phone calls to get everything together so we could actually get on a plane and have our stuff packed and shipped to our new home. 
I am breathing a sigh of relief to know all the stress of everything is over and our new adventure can begin. I am mourning the loss of leaving Germany. I am in a weird transition right now trying to grasp it all, but here we are jumping into new things head first! We are back in the US for a while, in the beautiful state of Tennessee, and look forward to many new memories, travels, friends, and being able to spend time with family! 
Photos from my sweet and talented friend @juliejayphotos
I feel like I failed hard this year at Christmas m I feel like I failed hard this year at Christmas markets. We went to a total of ONE market, which is exactly 19 less than I told myself I would go to this year to make up for not going to any the year before 🤦🏼‍♀️(I was 40 weeks pregnant and not feeling crowds). I will say, it was a great one and the weather was so nice, we stayed out until the market shut down.

If there’s one thing I will miss most about Germany when it is our time to move, will be the sheer enthusiasm this country has for Christmas, and I’m not talking about consumerism. Food, laughter, friends, family, music, dancing: celebration. Also, Germany shuts down for not only one day, but THREE. Stores are closed, mail is not delivered, people aren’t out and about. Everyone is home enjoying time with family, and I love it. However, I may have gone into full blown panic mode Christmas Eve when I realized I had a total of 8 diapers to get us through until the 27th. 👀
We spent Thanksgiving back in North America: Whist We spent Thanksgiving back in North America: Whistler, Canada! A 10 hour flight from Germany , and I can’t say this one was better than the one we took over the summer on our trip to Alaska, but we survived! Entertaining a 11 month old for that long is much harder than a 6 month old, especially when they aren’t into sleeping on the plane AT ALL. 🤪

Whistler was beautiful despite the lack of snow, and we enjoyed our time with family, the delicious food, and as much sightseeing as one could do with a jet-lagged baby. 
This was actually my first trip to Canada ever, (unless you want to count the move my parents took up to Alaska from Arkansas when I was two. 😂🤷‍♀️ ) and I loved it! We would really like to take a big Canadian road trip someday and explore more of the country! 😍😍🇨🇦
Being a mama may mean I don’t always have time t Being a mama may mean I don’t always have time to put myself together, but I would rather spend the extra moments making special memories with our daughter that she can cherish forever. I doubt that she will look at this picture and see a tired, messy haired mama that’s barely had time to wash her face nevermind carefully apply makeup, but am hoping she will see a mama that never tires of carrying and cuddling her, or sharing new experiences with her. 💕
Oh Switzerland, you beaut.🇨🇭 We spent a coup Oh Switzerland, you beaut.🇨🇭 We spent a couple days enjoying the beautiful weather in the land of chocolate, cheese, mountains, and cows with bells 😍😍🤩. If you remember, we visited the same area  a month shy of two years ago but but the weather was quite the opposite! I’d have to say though, when you visit such a majestic and beautiful area, it doesn’t matter what the weather is, you’re going to be in awe and love it anyway!
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