Abundance Go's: Jjimjilbang

Well fall is nearly over and winter will be on its way. That means much more colder temperatures, coats and hats. During this season many Korean folks like to head to the jjimjilbang or sauna, where they can relax in a heated atmosphere. For this post I will show tales of Kbloggers fun times at such establishments around Korea.

1. A Search for Happiness: One of the numbers of places on her list of where to sleep in Korea. Jjimjilbangs are not just for letting loose stress, they often are a place for people to sleep on the cheap. If you don't sleeping on the floor in a room with many strangers, it's the place for you.

2. Whatawaygook: Perhaps a body scrub sounds good? One of the services available at these saunas and sometimes is definitely a new experience. Check out the post for more information.

3. The View From Over Here: A good post about her experience at the Itaewon Land jjimjilbang in Itaewon. Here she experienced the many "room" such as an ice and hot room. Fun times!

4. Blood, rice and noodles: One of the notorious places to go is the Dragon Hill Spa which has all the parts of a jjimjilbang, accompanied with notoriety. Check out this full post to get a great idea of it all.

Stay warm and keep having fun!

Abundance Go's: Fall around us

Guess what? Summer is over and long gone. The cool air is here and the leaves have changed colors. It's time to strap on those hiking boots and hit the trails for some fresh air and beautiful scenery. Let's have a look at some places people have been to enjoy the Fall weather, and just any other stuff you can do this season.

1. Karori to Korea: These guys recently came back to Korea so I am glad to see I can use their posts. Here is one about flowers in the Fall. Who would have thought you can see flowers too?

2. A Search for Happiness: What foods would be considered a specialty in the Fall time, here in Korea? Maybe chestnuts or persimmons? How about grasshoppers!

3. The Harrington Times: Even though it is a ideal to head to the mountains to see the Fall foliage, it also means thousands of other people had the same idea. In this post they found a spot less crowded, where they were able to enjoy the scenery.

4. Daughter of Korea: And finally a lovely post bursting with color about the ripe persimmon trees you can find around Korea, this time of year.

Even if you don't have time to get to the mountains to see the lovely sites, you can still admire the changes in your neighborhood and the clear blue skies that Fall has to offer.

Culture Cookies: Fan Death and other Korean Myths

As the typhoon blows itself over Seoul I thought I would update here. Today's post will be a "culture cookie" one where I explore some culture from Korea. This one is going to be about Korean myths that we hear about through our time here. Whether it is the infamous Fan Death or other such things they can make life out here more interesting.

1. Kiss My Kimchi: A fun and whimsical post about many Korean Myths and whether they are real or not. I didn't know about the whistling at night one....oh boy!

2. F5 Waeg: Sometimes we create myths amongst our expat selves, here in Korea. Here is one about how those with an F5 visa earn more money than those on an E3.

3. The Marmot's Hole: I discovered he posted about a video someone made on the subject of Fan Death. A bit funny and silly as well!

4. Whatawaygook: General myths people might have about Korea discussed and debunked. For example, I guess some people think you can't get foreign food in Korea or you can't buy fluoride toothpaste. 

5. GwangjuNews: Who would have thought that eating apples at night are considered bad. Well here is a Korean myth discussed with science in mind. 

"It’s believed in Korea that eating an apple at night is actually unhealthy, causing indigestion and making it difficult to get a good night’s sleep. The origins of this idea are unknown, but the belief seems to be well known in Korea. There are many Koreans who say they’ve heard about this from an elder at some point in their life. A few of them believe it and refrain from eating sahgwah (Hangeul: 사과) at night."

Well I think it is safe to say you can learn a few new things from all those posts. What kind of myths come from my home country that people would find absurd? 

Abundance Works: Volunteering

If you worry about the image of foreigners in Korea, one way to make sure there is a positive scene is to volunteer your time. Certainly there must be some organizations in Korea where you can work at a soup kitchen or help out animals in need. I've often heard stories from friends who volunteer and give their time back to the Korean community. Here for you are some resources found, and some blog posts about what it's like.

1. Korea4Expats: Just a good list of sites to go volunteer at including, helping with craft projects to cleaning up pollution. Take a look.

2. Ms. Lee to Be: An amazing and thorough post on what it is like to volunteer for an animal shelter. It can't help but warm your heart and give you an idea of where to take your time.

3. Seeking Seoul: A post about volunteering for the group PLUR where the person helped out at a soup kitchen. Volunteering, it seems, also comes with some protocol...

I was told to say a phrase, in Korean, that basically means “enjoy your meal, sir.”  It was in the formal and respectful form of speech.  I was also instructed to use both hands when giving the food – a respectful mannerism here in Korea.  Next, I was told to speak quietly when entering the areas these guys call home.  We were told to be watchful, if they needed medical attention let the guide know and they would call an ambulance.  Don’t photograph them or their homes.  Be respectful. 

4. Bathhouse Ballads: Sometimes volunteering your time doesn't mean you have to go out and do something in public. Perhaps volunteering your creative skills is also a way to give the foreigner community a voice. Here we see a group in Daegu that puts together a small 'zine called Daegu Pockets.  Otherwise making any creative contributions, I feel is a way of giving back to Korean society in a positive manner.

5. Seoul Stitch N Bitch: Another good list of links to volunteer at, including some to help out women in need.

6. Ulsan Online: Here you can see how to help North Korean defectors adjust to South Korean life. Certainly that would be very interesting!

As you can see the possibilities are definitely out there, and you don't really have to live in Seoul. I would suggest giving up some time to go out and give back, and give a positive image to your local area or wherever. Have you volunteered before? What did you do?

Abundance Go's: Boryeong Mud Festival

Located South of Seoul and on the Daecheon beach in Boryeong city, is a thing called the Boryeong Mud Festival. Yes in my four years living in Korea, I have never been to it. But if you talk to most veteran expats you will hear them tell you how you must go to this event at least once. That is why I will showcase to you glimpses into what previous festivals were like, and if possible get you enticed to go to this years upcoming event in July.

1. Annie Around the World: I like how she sums it up in one sentence, "But a bunch of mud + the beach + summer + cheap alcohol + no open container laws = one out-of-hand party" It is originally promoted as a place to get a dollop of healing mud put on you, but the reality is that the place is a party zone. But that's great, isn't it?

2. Lee's Korea Blog: Can you believe that it has been about 15 years since the first festival. So it has likely evolved and expanded over the years, right? Here is a post from a festival goer that happened in 2008. As you read you start to notice that the festival added more attractions like a "mud prison." I can't imagine all the stuff that is going to be there at the next festival. At least they got away with some unique mud soap...

3. Elyse Marie: For the most part the festival is the place to be to capture exciting imagery. A lot has been said over the years about Korean media heading down there to get photos of foreigners behaving bad. But generally people covered in mud is definitely photogenic. I didn't know it but I guess you can paint yourself in different color muds.  (Photo from her blog..)

4. Long Time Gone: Maybe you want to know if Boryeong is a destination to go to when no such event is happening. Well take a look here and find out for yourself.

If you still don't get the point of the festival than go back and look at these posts. It is all good ...not clean...fun!

Abundance Yum!: Pasta in Korea

You know you love Korean food, but now and then you still want to have something non-Korean. You have options in this matter, but the most easy one is finding a pasta / pizza place. These days you can get great options at various places, or lousy ones and wonder what's wrong with the universe. Let's see what folks have enjoyed in the past, and see for ourselves what's good or not.

1. Eleonora's Life in Korea: The reason behind the way pasta tastes in Korea can be said due to how the cuisine passed over. In this post she exams how some Western and Asian dishes transformed themselves as they made it into Korea.

2. Seoul Eats: It's possible to find the more fancy end of the pasta dish in Seoul. Here we are taken to the Tasting Room and shown a selection of yummy Italian fusion dishes.

3. Zen Kimchi: Perhaps heading out for pasta is not your thing, and you would rather make it at home. When you go to the supermarket you have choices of pre-made sauce you could buy. Here he found an odd Bulgolgi sauce and gave it a try.

It's fun trying new foods in Korea and can be even more exciting to try old favorites and have them taste fresh and new. What good Italian flavored places do you know to go to in Seoul?

Abundance Go's: Snow Resorts

Even though I tell people I don't like winter, they usually end up saying how much they love going to ski resorts in Korea. I'm not much of a winter sports person (or summer sports), but I'll take their word for it. However, I have heard that these places get really crowded. Anyways, here for you are some people who have been or can talk about winter in a good way.

1. Eleanora's Life in Korea: Last year she wrote about the best time to go skiing in Korea and where to get tickets in case you don't have your own transportation.

2. Kiwi Wonju Blogger: Here he takes us to the Pheonix Ski Park, which by the sound of must be good. Pictures and details await you.

3. KoreaJjang!: Generally have no clue what ski resort to go to? Well this post (although old) can sum up the popular ones to help you out.

4. Halfie in Seoul: Maybe you just find yourself not sure which hat is proper to wear. Keeping the head warm is essential to staying toasty in the winter time. Here is a fun post about hats to wear.

I for one find myself stuffed inside my house doing work at home. It keeps me warm but also away from all these winter wonders. Hopefully I can get out to something special this season, and you too!

Abundance Go's: Noraebang

You can't live here without at least once going to a loud singing room, otherwise known as Noraebang. I don't go as much as other folks, but I've been there when the stories were told of legendary nights spent singing away. Here for you are a selection of tails to capture that Noraebang feeling.

1. F5Waeg: Even for this seasoned resident of Korea one cannot escape the singing room. Check in to hear about some good times.

2. Kiss My Kimchi: Maybe the pleasure of a Noraebang isn't enough, well nowadays you can find "multi-rooms". With video game systems to computers...perhaps the next best thing.

3. Halfie in Seoul: I selected this one because you get a general story of going. Definitely it is a place to let loose and be carefree.

4. WhoMovedMySambal: A post with various pictures so you can get a better idea and some photos of sightseeing.

There are many "rites of passage" when first living in Korea and the Noraebang experience is just one of many. Have any fun tales to share?

Abundance Aid: Ondol Time

One of the first things you learn when moving to Korea is how to heat your house during the winter. For practically everyone this means using the ondol system built into your floor. Somewhere along your wall is a switch that controls the temperature and timing. But not all houses are alike and the same goes with the ondol system. Having lived in 4 different places already, I can tell you I have had 4 different kinds of ondol switches to deal with. Thankfully they all did the same thing, which is heat up your floor. Today I will take you to people's amusement with the ondol and how it has kept their life cozy during Korea's cold season.

1. Bathhouse Ballads: In this amusing post you get to hear how the Korean heating system can often lead your body to getting dried out. Tips are given on how to keep your home from turning into a dry place. Take a look at the post to find out more.

2. Grrl Traveler: Not a blogger linked on this site but I thought it would be useful for those who want to know how to heat themselves in other ways. Like those hand warmer things.

3. On Becoming a Good Korean (Feminist) Wife: This is a great post because it features her pets enjoying the benefits of the ondol. I bet it is paradise for them.

As great as the ondol is, one of the unfortunate aspects is how much your utility bill shoots up. In that case you have to be sometimes selective about your use of the thing, which could leave you freezing one night and burning up the next.

Abundance Go's: Fall Colors, Oh My!

It's exciting seeing the trees go from green to yellow, orange or red. This time of year also reminds you to get ready for winter and that cold months area ahead. But for some reason the sun shining down on a colored tree is always pleasant. Today we look at some blogs who posted about this phenomena.

1. Ahlumdahpda: Mostly just some great photos, but of course that is welcomed.

2. Mountain and Field: Here you can explicitly see how time changes with the seasons.

3. Ajumma's Journal: Wondering where to go this year? Well check out the post for some great details on the hot spots to check out Fall foliage.

Have you already been out and seen the colors change? If so link us to your pics or blog. :)