Travel ideas

The Suncheon Bay Garden Expo 2013 opens in Jeollanam-do

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by Philip Gowman on 21 April, 2013

in Expos and Festivals | Gardens and horticulture | Jeollanam-do | Travel ideas

Hwang Ji-hae, Korea’s best-known garden designer, won’t be at Chelsea this year. After two consecutive Chelsea gold medals, she’s taking a break from what is possibly the world’s most prestigious flower show, and instead has been concentrating on designing a garden closer to home: for Korea’s first International Garden Expo at Suncheon, Jeollanam-do. The Mayor [...]

Tagged as: Hwang Jihae (황지해), Suncheon-si

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January in the KTO 2013 Calendar

by Philip Gowman 21 January 2013
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Does anyone have the Korean Tourism Organisation’s 2013 Calendar entitled Discovering the Path to Korea? January is particularly fine: Dodamsambong Peaks, Danyang-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do 도담삼봉 단양군 충청북도 [Map]. Photo by Seung-jin Song. Another place to put on the list to visit.

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Korea’s latest theme park celebrates the toilet

by Philip Gowman 19 August 2012
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Suwon is home to Korea’s latest theme park: the “Restroom Cultural Park” (수원 화장실 문화공원), which opened on 4 July 2012. Suwon is the city that launched the “Making Beautiful Public Restrooms” project in 1997, and lists its top conveniences on the city website. (via Rocket News; photo: KBS)

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Some celebrity holiday companions for some lucky winners

by Philip Gowman 24 May 2012
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Fancy going on holiday with Miss A or 2PM? You had a one in 310 chance courtesy of the KTO, if you’d managed to spot the opportunity in time. Not bad odds. Surely would have been worth a try? http://bit.ly/JUKKO3

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The DMZ as eco-tourism – and as a garden

by Philip Gowman 8 May 2012
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South Korea is turning the DMZ into eco-tourism zone, says Lucy Williamson on the BBC. Hwang Jihae’s DMZ Garden at the Chelsea Flower Show this year is looking increasingly relevant. Links: LKL’s complete coverage of Hwang Jihae’s gardens at Chelsea 2012 and 2011 Quiet Time: DMZ Forbidden Garden on Facebook. Please donate using the Paypal [...]

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Hallyu Museum to open near Incheon Airpot

by Philip Gowman 14 April 2012
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According to bridge bloggers AllKpop, who have translated a Korean article on Nate, a Hallyu Museum will be opening in the second half of 2012 near Incheon Airport to enable travellers to get a quick fix of their current bias or favourite TV actor. An interesting way of catering to the hallyu tourists.

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Korea’s National Museum in top 10

by Philip Gowman 23 March 2012
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The National Museum of Korea makes top ten most visited global art venue, according to The Art Newspaper (via the BBC) http://bbc.in/GOytcN. The same article gives a special mention to the National Folk Museum of Korea in the grounds of the Gyeongbokgung for four exhibitions attracting more than 9,000 visitors a day.

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CNN’s 50 beautiful places to visit in Korea

by Philip Gowman 15 January 2012
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CNN GO has some great ideas for 50 beautiful places to visit in Korea outside of Seoul. Nice pics too. http://t.co/YjTrdiFw

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Travel ideas in Gyeongju: the Teddy Bear museum

by Philip Gowman 26 September 2011
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In Gyeongju? Had too much Silla dynasty culture? Try the Teddy Bear museum – including bears visiting models of tourist attractions such as the Seokguram Grotto. Cute. http://t.co/aPfXkhCF

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The many attractions of Sancheong County at the Thames Festival and beyond

by Philip Gowman 9 September 2011
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This year, as for the past four years, Korea will be heavily represented at the Thames Festival. But this year, for the first time, the Korean village will host some stalls from parts of the country outside of Seoul. The regions all have particular unique characteristics to attract people to visit. Jeju-do, still in the [...]

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Lee Charm’s Korean holiday itinerary

by Philip Gowman 15 August 2011
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KTO chief Lee Charm shows good taste vacationing in Sancheong. http://t.co/hP4mhX5. No doubt getting a top-up of 기. http://t.co/7QfIfCj #

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Hotels in Pyongyang

by Philip Gowman 7 August 2011
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Shard vs. Ryugyong – Spot the differences, Spot the similarities…True or False? From Koryo Tours. http://bit.ly/o0qOPe #. Also, via @fcaidan: TripAdvisor reviews hotels in Pyongyang! No entries for the Ryugyong, so far; surprise surprise. http://bit.ly/qrPWz0 #

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The Gangjin Celadon Festival

by Philip Gowman 30 July 2011
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If I was in Korea right now I’d be heading for Jeollanam-do and the Gangjin Celadon Festival http://bit.ly/otRFzY #. (Photo: Chosun Ilbo)

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Walking the Baekdu-Daegan trail

by Philip Gowman 8 July 2011
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Roger Shepherd & Andrew Douch, with David A Mason: Baekdu Daegan Trail Seoul Selection, 2010, 446pp Korea is a mountainous country. If you google that phrase you will learn that 70% of South Korea’s land mass is designated as upland or mountains. And everyone knows that a lot of Koreans love hiking in the hills. [...]

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A better than average trip to the DPRK

by Philip Gowman 17 June 2011
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I’m always doubtful about going on a trip to the DPRK. Yes, I’d love to see the Mass Games and maybe some other tourist attractions such as Mount Baekdu. But I always think these trips are very expensive and I never know how much of the cash ends up subsidising Kim Jong-il’s collection of expensive [...]

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David Cameron’s G20 sightseeing

by Philip Gowman 21 November 2010
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Ambassador Uden chronicles David Cameron's sightseeing outside of the G20 summit. http://bit.ly/dBNnxv #: a visit to Gloster Valley, jogging with the Spanish Prime Ministry, shopping in Insadong and tea at Bongeunsa.

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Waujeongsa, Gyeonggi-do: home of record-breaking statues

by Philip Gowman 20 November 2010
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Where is the biggest Buddha head in the world? Waujeongsa, Gyeonggi-do (above. Photo credit: Wake up and Laugh!). It also contains the world’s largest wooden statue of a Buddha in a lying down position. Via @CoolstuffKorea.

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Ideas for a brief stopover in Seoul

by Philip Gowman 14 November 2010
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The New York Times: http://is.gd/h2dlH has a list of things to do in 36 hours in Seoul. The Leeum, Gangnam, Samcheong-dong and a jjimjilbang (above: Dragon Hill Spa & Resort. Credit: NY Times). A good list, but Chris Backe suspects he could do better. #

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Chris Backe’s top 3 travel tips

by Philip Gowman 29 September 2010
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Check out @chrisinseoulsk‘s top 3 Travel Secrets: Travel light Try staying in love motels The 1330 hotline I know a retired SOAS lecturer who also stayed in a love motel while researching Buddhist temples. I don’t think he used that particular travel agent again. http://bit.ly/aB0cXF #

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Hot Destination: Seoul featured in Conde Nast Traveler

by Philip Gowman 24 September 2010
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Condé Nast Traveler features Hot Destination: Seoul, featuring some of the stylish new hotels and some of the high profile construction projects – the Dongdaemun Design Plaza and the Floating Islands.

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Korean gardens and other top travel ideas

by Philip Gowman 11 September 2010
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Check out Korean Gardens on the KTO website – this is how I’m going to persuade my wife to come to Korea # And Nanoomi has a great feature on the top 10 vacation spots in Korea – some suggestions you might not have come across before (http://bit.ly/ciIKL9 #) including the Hwansun Caves in Samcheok, [...]

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