“The Irises”
A blog about a first time visit to Seoul, South Korea and what you should see and do.
I started writing this blog because I wanted to keep all my friends and family updated on my trip to Korea. I thought it would be fun to write about the places i saw, the food i ate, and just a general overview of the culture in Korea.
Blog is under construction during my trip so please check back often for new posts.**
Korea is an amazing country, especially because it’s been so modernized from such a young age. The people are extremely friendly and the food is delicious! Very affordable too! You can get some really great deals in Korea if you’re looking for electronics or clothes. There are also always cool new things opening up here in Seoul as well as other parts of Korea. The subway system is also very convenient for getting around without a car or bicycle. If you’re looking for something different to do than going bar hopping then check out some of these interesting places that i’ve already visited!
Love this place! It’s a good place to go on a rainy day or if you’re looking for cheap eats with a Korean twist. Seafood pancakes, spicy chicken wings/ribs, squid
The Irises is a blog about my first impressions of Seoul and what I should see and do. It is also about my experiences in the country, food and culture.
Seoul is a large city with an amazing past and exciting present. The city has been named as one of the world’s top destinations for young people by the New York Times and Lonely Planet. It has a lot to offer, but sometimes it can be difficult to know where to start when you’re new.
Because this website is still new, I will be making changes frequently. Please stop by often to check out the latest updates!
Note: The views expressed on this blog are solely my own and may not reflect those of my employer or family members.
In the midst of an otherwise unremarkable post about a trip to Seoul, a friend of mine posted this photo of purple irises.
I don’t know much about flowers, but I thought they were beautiful. And then I started thinking about them and their contrast against the stark landscape and architecture of Seoul.
Irises are native to Korea, and the first one was discovered in 1891 by a French missionary. Since then, they have became almost synonymous with spring in Korea and represent new life.
They bloom between April and July, depending on the area, and that is when you can see them in full color at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP).
The DDP is designed like an iris flower itself, and the entrance looks like not petals but leaves (after all, it’s spring!). The inside of the building is also designed with irises as inspiration, with each individual petal having its own unique design.
During the months when the DDP is hosting art exhibits, there are often think pieces about how art has become the dominant cultural export of Korea in recent years.
But if you look at ancient Korean pottery or artwork from before 1900 or so, you will find something strange: no irises! So what changed
I arrived in Seoul for the first time in July of 2015. I was staying at my friend’s home in Mapo-gu, which is located in northwestern Seoul. I had flown from Los Angeles to Incheon International Airport and traveled by KTX train from Incheon to Seoul Station. After being dropped off at my friend’s home, I took a short taxi ride from Mapo to Sinchon in Seodaemun-gu. The taxi driver spoke absolutely no English, so I had to show him the map on my ipad (he seemed to like the ipad…I don’t know why) and point out where I wanted to go.
My friend and his wife were very kind and made sure that I had everything that I needed during my stay with them. On the first night, we went out to dinner with a few friends of theirs and some of their close friends. It was a really nice evening out and it was a great way for me to get to know more about their friends and their culture. The food was amazing!
On my first morning in Korea, after breakfast with my friend’s family, he drove me around some of the major sights that were nearby such as Gangnam’s COEX Mall (very cool), Gwangj
In this blog, I intend to share my experiences of Korea, the food, people, culture and the things i would recommend for tourists.
I am sure that Seoul will be a great place to visit. Seoul can be a bit intimidating. It is one of the worlds largest metropolises and its infrastructure is modern and efficient. There isn’t much in the way of public transport but you can get anywhere using taxis or the subway/metro system.
You should plan to visit Seoul for at least a week if you want to see as much as possible within your time there.
This blog is a compilation of my thoughts whilst traveling around Seoul, South Korea. I hope you enjoy reading about my impressions of the city and its history.
In the beginning, I was excited because I knew that this was big opportunity for me. I could really use this chance to learn more about myself and what I want to do with my life. Seoul was a little bit stressful, but it was an amazing experience. The people were very nice and the food was amazing! All of the things that we did were great experiences and they taught me a lot about myself and just how much I can accomplish if I put my mind to it. This trip gave me hope and inspiration because it showed me that anything is possible if you really want it to happen.
I learned many new things on my trip to Korea, some were more important than others. One thing that I learned is that there are many different ways to do something that makes you happy; for example: there are lots of different ways to eat kimchi and so many different restaurants that sell it. Another thing that I learned from my trip is that you can always find a way out or around a problem or situation when you are not sure what to do next. There was one time where we had no idea what we were supposed to do next and so we went into a store and bought some snacks, then went back out onto the street and found someone who knew where