Locals and Tourists in Seoul

Of course, we have taken many photos of cultural sights such as the Gyeongbok Palace and a few others. But that is not what I want to show here – I find everything else more interesting.

Delivery service in Seoul

Another lady gathering old paper on the streets of Seoul. Our accommodations was located in a fairly quiet neighborhood in Seoul, in the northern central part where all the embassies and consulates are. The roads are very clean, so I imagine there is not that much business for her there.

Gathering old paper on the streets in Seoul

Leaving the Gyeongbok Palace, we saw this interesting ad across the street.

"Naked Museum" ad in Seoul

Passing the Palace entrance once more, this time with guards in authentic costume.

Gyeongbok Palace guards

The streets of Seoul are very interesting – pleasant to your eyes and nose. Last, but not least, the locals were extremely helpful when we asked for directions. Some even approached us offering to help. This was very unexpected as I had been told by Korean themselves not to expect too much help.

A truck load of beans parked on the road side

Seoul is definitely worth another visit someday.

Travelling Book in Seoul

I guess Incheon International Airport in Seoul is just as good as any other place to release a book.

The children’s book Sam Pig and His Fiddle by Alison Uttley, to be released in the waiting area of the airport somewhere, might shorten the time for some little ones.

Travelling Books Korea

Enjoy reading and leave it for others.

Travelling Book in Seoul

Whenever I travel, I carry books with me. There are always moments of involuntary waits, a need for physical rest, or just for killing time between flights.

Once I am finished with the book,  I no longer what to lug it around. This is when I release them with the link to this post, inviting the finder to leave a comment.

But like others, I have come to enjoy the release just as much as the reading for pleasure. Today, I went through my library and pulled out books, of which I don’t even know how they ended up in my home.

This one is about Virginia Tech Football by Chris Colston:

Virginia Tech Football

To the finder of this book, please release it again for others to read.

Budget Accommodation in Seoul

Passing through Seoul for a two-day layover is a good opportunity to visit this mega city. The idea of looking for accommodation seemed a bit daunting at first, but we soon found a place in a good location, and reasonably priced.

K-haus Gwanghwamun (patio) in Seoul source: booking.com

We found K-haus Gwanghwamun on booking.com which perfectly fits our budget. We booked a family room (sleeps three people) for two nights at 240,000 KRW ( for about € 160). Booking with booking.com was very easy!

I just love the patio and imagine sitting out there in the evening. I expect the city to be busy and loud, but a few drinks and some good company might help drown out the noise.

Review of this very new hotel is soon to follow.

From Incheon International, you can get there by – [Read more…]

Eco-friendly Gift Wrap

I love recycling and so the article Bojagi Tradition Reborn as Bobos in U.S. featuring bojagi (Korean: 보자기) really touched a nerve. Reviving the art and pleasure of reusable gift wrap will reduce our carbon footprint.

Many Christmases ago I used to get peeved to see hastily torn gift wrap landing in the paper trash. I had hoped to save some of the pretty paper and turn its pretty pictures, cut and pasted, into new homemade Christmas cards. Well, our Altpapier container is filled to the rim right after the holidays. What a waste.

The Korean-American artist, Patricia Lee, has been reviving an old Asian tradition by turning gift wrapping into an eco-friendly creation, which is likely to be more appreciated by westerners. Most young Koreans and Japanese are probably trying to get away from their grandparents’ ways of doing things – wrapping gift in traditional cloth. Most would rather be seen with designer shopping bags, and lots of shiny plastic.

When we lived in Japan, we were sometimes given presents wrapped in a furoshiki (Japanese: 風呂敷) and the furoshiki cloth itself came as a present, too. When food was delivered by a friendly mom, it came wrapped in this cloth, the old fashioned way.

If you are interested in making your own bojagi, then take a look at Patricia Lee’s book:

The Wrapping Scarf Revolution (Leisure Arts #4833) from Amazon.com
The Wrapping Scarf Revolution: The Earth-Friendly Idea That Will Change the Way You Think about Your World from Amazon.co.uk
The Wrapping Scarf Revolution: The Earth-Friendly Idea That Will Change the Way You Think about Your World from Amazon.de

You could also just recycle your:

* old silk or nylon scarves

* cut up old bedsheets 35cm x 35 cm (14″x 14″)

* cut up white sheets and let your child draw on it

Any fabric will do, just give it your personal touch and explore a bit!

For learning more about the history of the Korean bojagi, visit wikipedia.

cloth gift wrap

As you can see, I wrapped one myself using a silk scarf I had received on a trip to China a few years ago. This kind of wrap is ideal when giving books as presents.

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