Kkotji Beach, Anmyeondo

I had the surprise of my life this weekend when I saw bio-luminescent plankton light up the waters at Kkotji Beach, Anmyeondo. I never knew these existed in Korean waters and it was absolutely stunning. It was definitely a case of the right place at the right time as these plankton are unpredictable as to when and where they will show and in how many numbers. We were fortunately enough that Saturday night brought many of these types of plankton to that particular beach we decided to camp by.

It is simply mesmerising  watching the waves light up as they break on the shore, and have your footprints shine with each step you take.

Buddha's Birthday

One of the most interesting and best times to visit the ROK (Republic of Korea aka South Korea) is during Buddha's birthday. This year it was held on Friday 17th May. During this time you can really get a feel of the local culture and immerse yourself in with the locals to help celebrate this special day with them. 

Buddhism is the top religion here in South Korea and celebrating Buddha's birthday is very important. Korean's call this day 석가탄신일 (Seokgatansinil- Buddhas Birthday) or 부처님 오신 날 (Bucheonnim osin nal, which means the day when the buddha came). Lotus lanterns line the streets for most of the month and temples look even more magnificent as they adorn themselves with colourful lights.

According to Buddhist beliefs, lanterns symbolise wisdom in that they bring light to the world. “Yeondeung”, which means lighting lantern, is an important ritual in Buddhism as it gives respect to the Buddha. 

For the first time, I was able to attend a local lantern festival here in Gunsan at Eunjeoksa temple (one of the oldest temples in the city). It is located at the foot of Wolmyeong mountain. Here, I was able to witness and partake in the Buddhist rituals to honour Buddha. 

Seoul Eats

Just a few really good places to eat while in Seoul.

VATOS URBAN TACOS. This is one of Seoul’s newer restaurants (apparently been open for about a year) and serves Korean-Americanized mexican food. Located in Itaewon, this place is always popular so it’s best to go in early and put your name down on the waiting list for a table. We arrived at peak hour and waited an hour and 45 minutes but it was well worth it.

***Kimchi Carnitas Fries (Fries, braised carnitas, sauteed kimchi„ melted cheese, sour cream, vatos sauce, chopped cilantro and onions)

*Beer battered fish tacos

*Galbi short rib tacos

*Chili Lime Shrimp Burrito

ANDONGJANG. (안동장) This is one of the oldest restaurants in Seoul. The first thing I noticed about Korea is how fast a shop can open and how fast it can close down and be replaced, so when a shop lasts longer than a few months I normally see it as a big feat. This shop has been open since 1948 and serves a Korean-Asian fusion menu. They are most popular for their sweet and sour pork as well as their oyster jjampong. This is located near the cultural area of Insadong.

*Sweet and Sour Pork

*Fried Noodles with Shrimp

TO SOK CHON (토속촌). Located near Gyeongbukgong Palace, it is famous for a Korean dish called Samgyetang. When we first arrived a line out the front door went down the road and around a corner so we knew the food must be good. Luckily, the wait was only about 25 minutes. This dish is a young, spring chicken (stuffed with chestnuts, garlic, dried jujubes, rice and ginseng) which is slow cooked for hours. It is a highly nutritious and delicious meal.

Korean Airlines on-board food

It was my first time flying Korean Airlines recently and I was impressed by what they offered on-board for their meals. Flying to Cambodia we were offered dinner and you get your usual choices of chicken, beef or fish. This is pretty typical for most airlines and I'm not usually a fan of airline eats but I was surprised by how tasty and filling their meals were. Being Korean they also give you a good amount of side dishes with your meal, which is a norm in their culture, and to top it off warm bread which I covered with the Anchor New Zealand butter they served (another plus for me!).

Coming back from Hanoi we were offered breakfast. The variety they gave us included traditional hot cooked breakfast (omlette), korean style breakfast (beef porridge) and an option that included fish. Again, this meal did not disappoint. I wish I had taken photos to show you all how great the display was as well. I guess you'll just have to fly with them to find out!

Flying between Asian countries I do usually go for the cheaper budget airlines first but this airline turned out to have a great deal and was only a few dollars more expensive than the likes of Air Asia. I lucked out in this deal being a direct flight, offered checked-in luggage, given on-board entertainment and delicious on-board meals. A+ for Korean Airlines.


Visit CheapOair.co.uk for Last minute flights.