Welcome to another week of Travel Photo Thursday. This week my students are “suffering” through their midterm exams. The weather is turning colder, and I continue to dream of warmer climes.

To join in the Travel Photo Thursday fun simply post a photo on your blog. Return here and place your link in the Mr. Linky at the bottom of this post.

Please post a link to a post featuring a travel photo, not simply a link to your blog.

If you do tweet a shot, please use the hashtag #TPThursday.

Here are two of my favorite shots from the Anseong Dance Festival that I attended several weeks ago.

(To view a larger version click on the photo.)

Spinning the Ribbon… (using only his head)

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Spinning the Disks

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This was a fun and inexpensive day. My only expenses were getting to the festival and lunch. I spent about $20.00.

To learn more about Korean Traditional dancing:

Korean Traditional Dance

If you are planning a trip to Korea, you can find festival information here:

Korea Festivals

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Welcome to another week of Travel Photo Thursday. The weather has turned cold here in Daejeon. We could be heading for a long winter. I’m glad I’m out of here on December 17th. Last weekend found me enjoying the energy and colors of the Choenan World Dance Festival. In fact, it was so good that I went for two days.

To join in the Travel Photo Thursday fun simply post a photo on your blog. Return here and place your link in the Mr. Linky at the bottom of this post.
Please post a link to a post featuring a travel photo, not simply a link to your blog.

If you do tweet a shot, please use the hashtag #TPThursday.

A few of my favorite shots from the festival…

Mexico…

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Russia…

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Korea…

About the Festival

I’ve been to a lot of festival over the years in Korea, and this ranks as one of the best. The venue was large, so although there were a lot of people there, I didn’t feel like I was being crowded. (Remember, Asians have a very different take on personal space then most Westerners. They tend to like to get up close and personal.)

The price was right… free! What more can a budget traveler ask for? Food is always plentiful, but you really do have to look to find anything reasonably priced. We found a restaurant servicing delicious seafood paejeon (Korean pancake). For two, the price was $10.00 US. What a bargain, eh? This included several side dishes. They served the best kimchi! The only other expense was getting there, and we took the train…$13.00 US; another great budget travel bargain! There was a free shuttle available from the train station, and it ran back and forth every twenty minutes until after 11pm.

This festival was also foreigner friendly. They provided an excellent English brochure, and many of the volunteers spoke English. There were lots of kid friendly activities available, and local products for sale.

If you’re planning a trip to Korea, try and take in a festival or two. This is one of the best ways I know of to stretch your travel dollars. You can find a list of festivals here…

Visit Korea

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Magnificent Monday is here again (how time flies)! The theme this week is Spring and Autumn Collections. Hosted by Jim at Holes in My Shoes, head over there to view more fantastic spring and fall shots from around the world. You can even join in the fun.

Fall has definitely struck here on the Korean peninsula. This was the first weekend that I have had to wear jeans and a fleece jacket since last April! I even had my gloves on last night. If this cold snap continues, we are in for a long winter. This is my 11th autumn in Korea, and I have taken many great fall shots over the years. Here is a sample…

(Click on any of the photos to view a larger version.)

Changing leaves at Buseoka Temple (Yeongju, Korea)…

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Seoul Forest

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Seoul Forest (Taken the same day as the photo above, but at a different location in the park.)

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Daejeon Balloon Festival (held every October in Daejeon)

These shots were all taken on day trips from Daejeon, and are perfect for any budget traveler. The only cost involved was transportation. As you can see autumn in Korea is a canvas of gorgeous color.

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Here we are for another week of Wanderfood Wednesday, kindly hosted by Wanderlust and Lipstick.

Fred Flinstone and his sidekick Dino have made it to Daejeon, Korea. At least that’s what I said the day my bus zipped by the Dino Meat Grill House. Although I’m not a huge meat eater, I knew I had to make it to Dino’s at least once.

We were in for a couple of pleasant surprises. Dino’s is an all you can eat meat restaurant. You choose your meat, various cuts of beef and, pork from a refrigerated display case. Then you move onto a small buffet where you can indulge in salad, kimchi, raw garlic, and all the other condiments that you need for good Korean barbecue. Beef can be very expensive in Korea, so at 15,000W/per person (approximately $17.00US) Dino’s was a steal.

All cooking happens at the table. The beef is cooked over genuine charcoal, which is changed regularly as it cools down. In this shot you can see that we are cooking pork, garlic and kimchi. Yes, grilled kimchi is delicious. I was most impressed with the cuts of beef available. By the time I took this shot taken the beef had disappeared!

If you eat meat, and are living or visiting Daejeon I highly recommend that you experience the beef barbecue at Dino Meat Grill House. Budget travelers will be thrilled with both the quality and the price.

You can find Dino’s on the 312 bus line, or about a 15 minute walk from the Wolpyeong Subway Station.Their phone number is 042-533-0047. The restaurant seems to be popular, so taxi drivers should know it. If not, you can always give the driver the phone number, and he’ll call for directions.

Dino’s is a chain, so you should also be able to find a location in Seoul, and perhaps other larger Korean cities.

Dino Meat Grill House

For more great food posts be sure to check out WanderLust and Lipstick .

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Welcome to another week of Travel Photo Thursday .

To join in the Travel Photo Thursday fun simply post a photo on your blog. Return here and place your link in the Mr. Linky at the bottom of this post. Please remember to leave a comment after you link. Finally, if you have a few moments, visit the others who have linked. Perhaps you can give them a tweet, a stumble, or a comment on their TRAVEL PHOTO THURSDAY.

Please post a link to a post featuring a travel photo, not simply a link to your blog.

If you do tweet a shot, please use the hashtag #TPThursday.

Last Saturday was my birthday, and I spent the weekend with friends at Daecheon Beach on the western coast of Korea. Saturday was perfect beach weather, and the day ended with this gorgeous sunset.

(Click on the photo to view a larger version.)

Daecheon beach is also home to the famous Boryeong Mud Festival. Every July thousands gather to wallow in the beaches’s famous mud. Rumor has it that the mud has special qualities that will give you the glowing skin you’ve always wanted. If you’re ever in Korea in July, get muddy! While accommodation at Daecheon Beach can be a little pricey, budget travelers will be happy to know that the festival is FREE.

To find out more:

Daecheon Beach

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Welcome to Travel Photo Thursday!

The last two days in Daejeon have been VERY wet. Hopefully, the weather is clearing as we approach the weekend, and I head for the beach.

To join in the Travel Photo Thursday fun simply post a photo on your blog. Return here and place your link in the Mr. Linky at the bottom of this post. Please remember to leave a comment after you link. Finally, if you have a few moments, visit the others who have linked. Perhaps you can give them a tweet, a stumble, or a comment on their TRAVEL PHOTO THURSDAY.

Please post a link to a post featuring a travel photo, not simply a link to your blog.

If you do tweet a shot, please use the hashtag #TPThursday.

The weather for Buddha’s birthday party in Seoul last weekend was perfect. This is one of the biggest events of the year, with a huge parade featuring beautiful costumes, lanterns and floats. Here is one of my favorite shots from the day…

(Click on the photo to view a larger version.)

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Welcome to another week of Travel Photo Thursday!

Here in Daejeon winter gray has been replaced with a multitude of colors. The trees are sporting fresh green leaves, the cherry blossoms have graced us with their beauty. Right now, the university campus is covered with pink and red Azazel; my favorite time of the year.

To join in the fun simply post a photo on your blog. Return here and place your link in the Mr. Linky at the bottom of this post. Please remember to leave a comment after you link. Finally, if you have a few moments, visit the others who have linked. Perhaps you can give them a tweet, a stumble, or a comment on their TRAVEL PHOTO THURSDAY.

PLEASE NOTE: The purpose of Travel Photo Thursday is to show-off a photo on your blog. Don’t simply post a link to your site.

If you do tweet a shot, please use the hashtag #TPThursday.

(Click on the photo for a larger version.)

I took this shot on campus a couple of weeks ago. The blossoms were in full bloom…

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Here we are for another week of Wanderfood Wednesday, kindly hosted by Wanderlust and Lipstick.

I love learning to cook the food from the countries that I visit or live in, as much as I do eating it. I’m into my 11th year here in Korea, and from the day I arrived I’ve loved Korean food. The great thing about Korean food is that it’s not only delicious, but relatively easy to make. A favorite dish is Japchae; Korean Fried Noodles. I hope you’ll make this at home and let me know how it turned out…

Recipe

40g. cellophane noodles
50g. pork (leave out for a vegetarian version)
30g.spinach
1 mushroom
1/2 carrot
1/3 onion
1 green onion (slice)
1 clove garlic (crushed)
1 tbls. soy sauce
1 Tbls sesame oil
Sesame seeds to taste
Sugar to taste
Dash of pepper

Blanche the spinach in boiling water; season with sesame oil and salt

Cook the noodle in boiling water until cooked. Season with soy sauce, sesame oil and a bit of sugar.

Slice the mushroom, carrot, and onion.

Slice the pork, season with soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, crushed garlic, black pepper, and sliced green onion.

Add oil to a fry pan, and fry everything together.

Remove, and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Enjoy!

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Here we are for another week of Wanderfood Wednesday, kindly hosted by Wanderlust and Lipstick.

The last five Friday nights  have been reserved for Korean cooking class. This is the second time that I have taken Korean cooking classes here in Daejeon. I have to say the recipes this second time around were far superior to the first class. For about fifty dollars the classes really are a bargain.

An important part of almost any Korean meal are the side dishes, called banchan. One popular side dish is “Ssukgak Dallae Moochim”; Seasoned Crown Daisy & Wild Rocambole. This is one of my favorite side dishes. Until last Friday night I had no idea what it was called, or how to make it.

Crown daisy?; Wild rocambole? What could these possibly be? Well,  crown daisy is leaves from an edible chrysanthemum, and very popular in Korean cooking.
CLICK HERE TO SEE A PHOTO.

Rocambole is a member of the lily family, and looks like a young scallion. CLICK HERE TO SEE A PHOTO.

Here’s my shot of the ssukgak dallae moochim that I made last Friday night. This salad is yummy to eat, easy to make, very affordable, and virtually fat-free.

Ssukgak Dallae Moochim Recipe

Ingredients

1/3 of a bunch of rocambole (8-10) (substitute young scallion)
Bunch of crown daisy (8-10 leave) (substitute water cress or spinach)
1/3 onion
1 red pepper

For Dressing: Mix together…
1 tbls. red pepper powder
1 tbls. red pepper paste
2 cloves of garlic (finely chopped)
1/2 tbls. sugar
1 tsp. soy sauce
2 tbls. vinegar

( Adjust the red pepper powder and past to your taste.)
–Peel and rinse the bulbs of the rocambole. Cut into bite size pieces
–Cut the crown daisy into bite size pieces
–Julienne onion and red pepper

Mix the vegetables with the dressing.

Voila! You have a salad that’s easy to make and healthy to eat.

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Thursday has arrived, and it’s time for TRAVEL PHOTO THURSDAY.Here in Daejeon the sun is shining and sky is as blue as it ever gets. Now, if it would just warm up!

To join in the fun simply post a photo on your blog. Return here and place your link in the Mr. Linky at the bottom of this post. Please remember to leave a comment after you link. Finally, if you have a few moments, visit the others who have linked. Perhaps you can give them a tweet, a stumble, or a comment on their TRAVEL PHOTO THURSDAY.

If you do tweet a shot, please use the hashtag #TPThursday.

Every year the small town of Andong hosts the Andong International Maskdance Festival. Other than the Mask Festival, Andong is probably one of the most boring towns in Korea. I lived there for a year back in 2002, and I thought I would go cross-eyed with boredom. I decided to attend the 2010 Mask Festival, and this was my first time back since 2002. All did not go according to plan, so I arrived on the first day long before the opening ceremonies. In the end everything turned out okay. I got to watch the dress rehearsals without too many other people hanging around with cameras.

(To view a larger version click on the photo.)

Andong is fairly easy to get to from most towns and cities in Korea. Train or bus fares are very reasonable. Accommodation can be a challenge during the festival. There are only two hotels listed on-line and they get sold out very early. There are many small hotels in Andong, so if you want to stay overnight it’s probably best to arrive early in the day and look for a hotel on the spot. Hotel rates are fairly reasonable. Budget travelers will find a day or a weekend at the festival easy on the pocketbook.

The 2011 festival is from September 30 through October 10th. If you’re in Korea, I highly recommend that you make the trip to Andong. To find out more: Andong International Maskdance Festival, 2011.

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