Jongmyo Shrine

Julio Moreno South Korea, UNESCO World Heritage Site , , , 0 Comment
Jongmyo Shrine
There are nineteen gates holding the spirits and tablets of the first nineteen Joseon monarchs.
There are nineteen gates in this particular building of the Jongmyo Shrine, holding the spirits of the first nineteen Joseon monarchs.

Location: Seoul, South Korea (Scroll down for a map)

Visited:  April, 2011; June, 2012; May 5th, 2013

Background and Opinion: I have been waiting to visit the Jongmyo Shrine one more time during the Jaerye Festival before I did a proper assessment. However, I have decided against awarding this site more points based on an event that happens only once a year since that doesn’t reflect what a typical person would experience any other day.

If you followed my series of top things to do in Seoul, you already know Read more →

Wolchulsan National Park – Jeolla, South Korea

Julio Moreno National Parks, South Korea , , , , , 8 Comments
Wolchulsan National Park – Jeolla, South Korea

“Don’t go to Korea for the nature!!!” I know, I have said it a thousand times (and sorry for quoting myself, that is a sin, I know), and you know what, I am not backing off of that. At least, not yet. Korea has a breathtaking amount of cultural history, with dozens of things to do in the capital alone. However, I reassert that, with the exception of Jeju Island, it is not a natural haven, despite what the official tourism website might say. However, Wolchulsan National Park is a step up from most nature oriented places I have been to in Korea.
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I Just: Walked Across the Sea at the “Miracle Sea Road Festival” in Jindo, South Korea [Videos] Pt.2/2

Julio Moreno Korean Festivals, South Korea , , , , , , , 0 Comment

This is the second part of the Jindo Miracle Sea Road Festival, and I know what you’re thinking. What will you possibly post on this part 2 post that wasn’t already covered in the first Jindo post. Well, given that I did take some video on this trip, I thought this would be the perfect time start the youtube channel I talked about in the first website update. It is my first try at video, so I apologize in advance for the quality. While my camera is supposed to shoot in true HD, the format is sometimes difficult to work with.

Video #1: A parade of people carry banners across the sea road.


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I Just: Walked Across the Sea at the “Miracle Sea Road Festival” in Jindo, South Korea Pt.1/2

Julio Moreno Korean Festivals, South Korea , , , , , 2 Comments
Panoramic picture of people walking across the water from Jindo to Modo
Panoramic picture of people walking across the water.

Korea seems to have a festival for everything. There is a butterfly festival, a lantern festival, about seven cherry blossom festivals, and that is just in April and May. Much like visiting too many temples in a short time, you can also get festival-ed out! The Jindo “Miracle Sea Road Festival” however, is truly unique. Every year around late April [This year, on April 25-28], when the tide is at its lowest, a magical road appears that connects Jindo Island with Modo Island. Compare this map provided  by google, with this one the day of the festival.

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Nature Photo of the Week: Episode #4 – The Fearless Squirrel

Julio Moreno Uncategorized , , , 2 Comments
Relentlessly stealing our food at the top of the Avalanche Trail in Yellowstone.
Relentlessly stealing our food at the top of the Avalanche Trail in Yellowstone.

Don’t let this cute face fool you, he is fearless. When my friends and I went to Yellowstone National Park, we climbed to the top of Avalanche Trail. There was this single squirrel (or chipmunk) who was not afraid of humans at all. He would come down and take our trail mix. At least I got this picture out of it.
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