"KOREA: "Absolutely, Positively, Unintentionally !"" Top 5 Page for this destination South Korea by Hmmmm

South Korea Travel Guide: 6,381 reviews and 17,043 photos

KOREA: "Absolutely, Positively, Unintentionally !" - South Korea

One of the things that interests me most about Korea is it's flexibility. Economically, Korea is already a force to be reckoned with, which is utterly intriguing when one remembers the almost innumerable tragedies that have befallen Korea throughout it's rich history. Today Korea (and its capital, Seoul) is a vibrant and prosperous place, modern and fast moving and yet in the face of this, is fiercely traditional and historically aware.

Korea has a culture-history can be found not only in the landscape that has shaped the people of Korea, but also in the legacies of people from other countries, in particular China and Japan, culminating in a cuture history endemic to the Korean Peninsula, making it a really interesting country to experience...

Seoul.

Do Nam Dong, Seoul by Night. Photo by Aaron Irving

Seoul is Huge. I recently read that it is number three in the world in metropolitan (agglomerative) population size after Tokyo, and New York and ahead of Mexico City and Rio. Which doesn't surprise me when I stop and anticipate the mass of humanity here.

Seoul, however, is not all human and Human construction (although at times it is hard to tell). Mountains circle Seoul on all sides with Namsan (South Mountain) springing up in the center. Although the Han River once marked the southern boundary, the city has sprawled across to the southern side with some 2 dozen bridges crossing it and one subway tunnel underneath. As Korea's capital and most populous city, Seoul represents the country's center for business, education, and modern culture. But Korea is not only Seoul....

Greater Seoul (Just Kidding) Korea beyond Seoul.

Beach on Docho Do, Cholla Province. Aaron Irving

Sometimes the nicest thing one can do is leave Seoul, and enter rural Korea. Apart from the Well known places like Jeonju, Kyeong Ju and Jeju there are score of beautiful magical little places, away from the hordes, little enclaves of yesteryear that allow all of that city stress to escape you in a the whiff of a mountain breeze.

76% of korea is mountainous so everywhere you go in Korea, you will find forest, mountain streams/springs and nearby them, budhist temples. Closeby the buddhist temples but not too close you will find small mountain villages. These are a must see. Traditional (Pre Modern) Korean culture 'auf einen blick'.

I love to try the local fare, photograph some of the people and do my best to make them laugh with my broken korean. Rest assured you may well be the first foreigner many of these people have met. And at time si feel Like I am meeting koreans for the first time as well.

Its wonderful to get out of seoul, so that I can appreciate how wonderful it is to be there. If you get what i mean.....

Pros and Cons

Pros:Interesting, action packed, Fast fast fast, and great shopping
Cons:People EVERYWHERE, Cars EVERYWHERE, Pollution EVERYWHERE
In a nutshell:Interesting, real and fascinating. But not a place for a Thailand type toursit.

Last visit to South Korea: Nov 2003
Intro Updated Sep 15, 2004
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Comments (40)

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hunterV Nov 11, 2009 at 12:19 PM

Hi, Aaron! I like your narration: inspired and exciting! Thanks a lot, mate!
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Big-Damian Feb 19, 2009 at 8:17 AM

Oh yeah, the Banana spider. those thing are a bit scary. They will leave a nasty bite, but they won't kill you. Just a big red painful mark on your skin.
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JessH Feb 12, 2007 at 3:26 AM

What a great page! Well-deserving of a top-5 rank! Looks like you really emerged yourself as a "local" during your time here. Thanks for sharing the great tips. Greetings from Dubai :-) Jess
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Eurasian68 Jan 11, 2007 at 12:55 PM

So glad i read this page before my trip to Seoul in May:-) Thank You so much!!! Really looking forward to the Buddhist Street Festival on 18.-20. May this year. It will certainly be a highlight for a Seon student like me... Hapchang
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rosaseok Mar 17, 2006 at 11:55 AM

WoW! you know about korea than me. My university is located at Donamdong. It's sungshin women's UNIV. Anyway, glad to see you..^^*
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bpacker Mar 14, 2006 at 7:13 AM

Omigawd Aaron, why didn't I read your page before going to seoul?? Your food recommendations are great!
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symbiont Mar 7, 2006 at 3:58 PM

Excellent pages here on South Korea. You have definitely whetted my appetite for more in the land of the morning calm...Cheers to you!
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chewy3326 Jan 28, 2006 at 8:49 PM

South Korea looks interesting and beautiful. I've never known much about it, thanks for a great + informative page!
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hindu1936 Dec 24, 2005 at 6:45 AM

last time I looked, Seoul Land was still in Government Nat'l station out of Gwachon and Everland was just out of Yong-in where my daughter lives. Both are just about 25 km south of seoul and about 20 km apart.
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antonela Oct 18, 2005 at 5:29 PM

Absolutely impossible not to leave a comment on your pages. You take photos with your heart and you are able to see deeper than the surface.