auspicious | Michelle Duer | Travel Blog

Page 4 of auspicious Travel Blog Posts

Seoul Lantern Festival: Costumes and Drunkards

Asia » South Korea » Seoul » Jongno-gu May 13th 2010

These are photos from the all-day Lantern Festival that took up blocks in an already busy area of Seoul. There were crowds of people from various countries and the second I saw the diversity, I was in love. There's nothing that makes me happier than being surrounded by cultural hodgepodge. Beautiful women dressed in traditional clothes urged us to experience a 1-hr temple stay (my friend and I refused because we had both done more authentic temple-stays and wanted to see what else was going on). Lanterns decorated the Jogyesa Temple and the streets. As daylight faded, the lanterns glowed, illuminating all corners of the streets. Though we missed it, I recommend seeing the floating lanterns they place in Cheong Geh Cheon River. One of my fellow Incheon teachers posted photos of the floating lanterns and ... read more

A Shaman's Apartment in Daejeon

Asia » South Korea » Taejon November 12th 2009

Fortune Teller

auspicious

I spent quite some time when I was younger visiting my extended family in Daejeon. But, back then, it was all about playing and finding friends more than traveling. As an only child, all I could think of was seeing my favorite cousins. In '93, we went to the opening of the Expo. I remember standing in lines, making faces into the camera, looking forward to rides, and seeing the biggest mosquito of my life. Still, to this day, no mosquito has ever beaten the size of the blood-sucking mutant that my older cousin splattered with his foot. In November, I took up my auntie's offer (ahem, my duty) to visit her while working in Korea. I wasn't exactly excited for the trip because I couldn't remember anything I'd ever loved about Daejeon besides my cousins. ... read more

Interior Decoration in Shaman's Apartment

Colorful Seoraksan (Autumn/Fall)

Asia » South Korea » Gangwon-do » Sokcho October 29th 2009

Wishing Stones

auspicious

I noticed that there were not many photos of autumn in Seorak Mountain (aka Seoraksan National Park), so I'm posting some from a trip last year. A lot of native teachers headed to the mountain in September and early October. By chance, we ended up going the last weekend of October and it was completely different from what other people experienced! I had already seen many of the vibrant red maple trees on the way to the mountain, but when we entered the park, the first words out of my mouth were, "Oh my god. So this is what autumn's supposed to look like." *insert jaw drop* I recommend heading out early (before 11am, at least) because the park gets more and more crowded. Still, despite the amount of people, the terrain is spacious. Entrance fee ... read more

Ganghwa-do: Holey Moley Mud Beach

Asia » South Korea » Gyeonggi-do » Ganghwa October 23rd 2009

Old Halmonis (grandmothers)

auspicious

With the promise of a mud beach, a much-needed vacation (after only working in S. Korea for little over a month), and a girls' slumber party, I headed over to Ganghwa-do where one of my new friends out of IMOE (Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education) had been placed. Our third party wasn't able to make it because of a last second hweh-shik(company dinner). I nervously followed my friend's directions from the Bupyeong Subway Station, guessing my way out of the maze-like exit and making it out to the main street (you know you are successful when you come out to a McDonalds and a big roundabout street). I crossed the street to the square. Note: You may think that automobiles at lights are stopped, but after one too many cars have jerked in your direction or ... read more

First Day Teaching ESL in Korea + Misc Information

Asia » South Korea » Incheon August 31st 2009

Welcome to Korea!

auspicious

A little info for anyone who may be interested in teaching ESL in Korea. If you want more details about teaching a class, you can also refer to my other entries: , Recruiter or No? Public School or Hagwon? I went through a recruiter named Canadian Connection because they had received positive reviews and my initial contact with them over the phone was very pleasant. Follow your gut if you decide to go through a recruiter; if the person sounds like a salesman or a jackass, well, you probably don't want to place your trust in them down the line. There are TONS of jobs available in Korea, so go through someone who inspires trust or take the matter into your own hands. Also, buy your plane tickets yourself! I saved $400 by buying my own ... read more