Ka Lae, the southernmost point in the US

KONA or HILO are the two main cities you want to stay during your visit to Big Island. Either way, you’ll have to drive around the whole island anyways, so it really depends on how you plan your itinerary (most people choose to stay on the Kona side for a few days and move over to Hilo for the rest of the trip. Also depends on where you fly in from! There ARE airports in both areas, so it’s on you to plan accordingly! I chose to stay in the Kona side because I thought the drive was easier that way but that’s strictly my preference.

Nothing better than a gorgeous view of the Hawaiian sunrise with a cup of Kona coffee (who didn’t know Kona was especially famous for its coffee?) The best way to start a day!

My brother & I made a trip down to Ka Lae (South Point).  Before this trip, I always thought Key West in Florida was the southernmost point in the US, and I’m sure a LOT of people around me also believe that is the case as well. However, many don’t realize that Ka Lae (South Point) in Hawaii is actually the southernmost point. The scenic view to get to Ka Lae was just beyond incredible, and the weather? You see it in the pictures. Out of 13 climate zones in the world, Big Island has 11! The Kona side is considered a desert, so we had the perfect high 80’s during our stay.

Another fun part about driving along the coast was the number of exotic plans we encountered. I couldn’t resist my journalistic instinct, so I had to stop many times during the drive to get a photo! So much greenery, and not to mention I fell in love with that bent over tree from the last picture above.

& rewinding a bit. We only had a few hours from our first day, so we didn’t get to do much BUT we did experience the gorgeous sunset hues & made it to Waimea, the eastern part of the island where whale watching is popular (we were too late for the whales, though)

Here’s bits & pieces from the Waimea Harbor and during the drive back to Kona!

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*All photos taken by Crystall Cho

The clear waters and the beautiful sky took my breath away. Need I say more!

TIPS: Visit the Green Sand Beach while you’re visiting La Kae. You may drive to the South Point on your own, but you must receive a local’s help to get to the Green Sands. There are signs available when you get to the South Point to direct you to where the Green Sands is, so just follow & there will be a tent with water and a bunch of locals waiting in Jeeps (It’s not as sketchy at all). When I went, it was $30/person.
-crystallsjcho.

Big Island (Hawaiʻi) – Day 1

To change up the scenery a bit, I decided to put my last few posts of the Korea trip on HOLD and go with my Hawaii trip. Yes, for those of you who didn’t know, I made a trip to Big Island, also known as Hawaiʻi, for a few days. The island itself is named Hawaii, so people just call it Big Island to clear the confusion. I’ve been to 6/7 of the Hawaiian islands, so this trip completes my Hawaiian goal 🙂

Name a few keywords when you think of Hawaii. Your list probably includes the typical; emerald beaches, snorkeling, SUNSHINE, Hula shows, pineapples, and vacation. While this WAS a vacation for me, it wasn’t quite like my typical Hawaiian vacation. The largest Hawaiian island, there were so many things to do/see besides doing the usual water activities and dinner shows (although I made sure to include them in my itineraries!)

Thanks to not having any direct flights to Hawaii from Dallas, getting there was an adventure itself.
[ DFW – SFO – KOA ] I don’t even want to say how long it took me, but it was fun observing the landscape change every few hours 🙂

When we got to KOA, I was surprised how small & cute the Kona Regional Airport was! And compared to the winter I was having in Texas (it actually can get cold here), it was fantastic to be reunited with the sun. We decided to take the first day easy & just enjoy the weather while driving around. Below are some scenery pics I managed to take while driving.

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Our abode for the next few days!

I stayed at the Courtyard Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel. Amazing service and the loved the M-AZING view every morning! I chose this specific hotel because it actually holds one of the best Luau‘s in Hawaii. I’ll be doing a whole post on just this Luau, so stay tuned! I can proudly say it was one of the top best moments of my Big Island trip.

I was so exhausted from the flight, but skipping a meal is unacceptable so! We headed towards the back of our hotel. About 10 miles in length, the Kailua Kona Historic Village sits along the Kailua Bay behind the Courtyard Marriott. You can find a variety of shops, restaurants, local vendors, local musicians, night snorkelers, and bars. We managed to find a restaurant that had a lot of specials going on, & so there it was. I got a shrimp+rice+sautéed veggies plate & my brother got a kalua pork bun. Definitely took the first day easy since we had some jet lag going on, taking in all the wonderful-ness of Hawaii.

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That’s it for my first day! I left all the sunset pictures, because I want to save them for a different post 🙂
Can’t wait to share all the beautiful sights I managed to capture on my iPhone and camera!

Tips: YOU MUST RENT A CAR. Unlike Maui or Honolulu where transportation within the city is reliable, it isn’t in Big Island. Since it’s a tourist spot, it definitely is a bit pricier and with the cheapest option, you wouldn’t be able to travel to certain roads (which could be one of the most important attractions you must visit in Big Island), so spend a little extra while you’re on vacation anyway & go with a compact or a 4-wheel 🙂 I got a compact and I spent about $450 for a week. (That was my discounted price for going during an off-peak season)

–crystallsjcho.

Easy day trip – Incheon

It’s been awhile since I’ve last updated my Korea series! If you’ve been keeping up with my blog, I’ve done/seen so much in Korea during my two-month trip alone, and I probably can continue a series for a whole year. However, I’ve selected and have been featuring some of the most valuable memories to share, and I have just a few more posts left from my Korea trip. So stay with me and if my posts give travel lovers like myself a small idea of how each place I visit looks like, I’m satsified! Thank you in advance for those who actively visit my page & continue to give me feedbacks 🙂 

A city located northwest of South Korea, Incheon is where the 2014 Asian Games took place this year. Incheon is known as the second biggest port city, and is also the home of Incheon International Airport (ICN), one of the biggest airports in the world.

I want to share three spots I absolutely loved in Incheon: Chinatown, Story Village, and Wolmido. Consider it a little city tour package. All three attractions are pretty close to each other, so transit was not an issue, but note that traffic is always an issue on weekends in an overpopulated country like Korea.

Chinatown & Story Village are literally besides each other, so that was convenient. The only Chinatown I’ve been to was in San Francisco, CA, so going to a Chinatown in a different country was quite a new experience for me. Would’ve been better if I knew more about China, but one thing I do know is that red is a symbol of luck! So for those of you who do, great! I lost many of the pics I took this day for some reason, but here are some that managed to survive. I would say the lamb kebabs on the street were the best part (food over attraction, always) 🙂 Not sure what kind of spice it is, but it had a little kick to it, which I absolutely loved. The architecture and the murals definitely represented China’s own culture. Oh, and the first picture below is a dumpling photo booth!

Right next door is the Story Village, an attraction available for any family to enjoy. The city decided to transform this specific village in Incheon into an attraction, with sculptures, murals, paintings and shops based upon cartoon or Disney characters for tourists. Yes, there are actual residents living in these homes. As I mentioned in my Naksan Mural Village post (click for the actual post), this has been a trend in Korea for the past several years. More and more traditional homes are converting to tourists spots each year. The kids obviously love this place!

The last spot of my one-day course in Incheon is Wolmido. Directly by the coast, think about it as a separate town on a harbor. Apparently it’s the spot most popular among local Incheon-ers when it comes to dates, or simply to resort. I would say Wolmido would be the best way to end a day in Incheon by treating yourself with fresh, local seafood, and snacking a variety of street food. Also, there is a stage where local artists come to perform every weekend, and a fountain show which I luckily attended.

*All photos taken by Crystall Cho 
So there goes my one-day course guide in Incheon that won’t cost you a penny.
My next post will be on Busan, the second largest metropolis after Seoul, and the home of original seafood.

TIPS: Lunch in Chinatown, digest while walking through the Story Village, dinner at Wolmido and enjoy the carnival and nightlife afterwards. I’d say that’s not too bad of a date!
–crystallsjcho.

Table Full Of Happiness

I am proud to say food is one of my favorite things in life. I have a small stomach which won’t allow me to consume a large amount of food, but I try to eat a little bit of everything. I love to share the food I eat or to introduce some of my favorite restaurants using my blog or through social media.

If you have read my previous blogs, South Korea is a country rich with all sorts of history. I want to dedicate the next few blog posts to talk about the traditional food culture. When I titled this post “Table Full Of Happiness,” I literally mean a TABLE FULL OF HAPPINESS. Each restaurant may vary, but some of the most traditional restaurants offer over 20 dishes spread out in front of you, or each dish may come out as a never-ending course. Note that not ALL restaurants in Korea are like this. These restaurants are specifically called “Hanjungsik” restaurants, which means a full-course Korean meal.

Take a look below for what a full table would look like below!

Bubble Bop!

It’s a given that you’ll see many talented artists and buskers along the streets of South Korea. Nowadays, a new sensation has been spreading; BUBBLE SHOWS by BUBBLE ARTISTS. My first bubble show experience proved that age doesn’t matter when it comes to bubbles 🙂

I spotted my first bubble show just after my visit to Insa-Dong. If you haven’t read about my trip to Insa-Dong, HERE is the link for it! Right before entering the streets of Insa-Dong, there is a circle where this bubble show takes place every two weeks.

The bubble artist I saw was Bubble Max. He told the audience that he performs his bubble shows all throughout the country, not just Seoul. All his shows are never inside, so weather plays a big role for his shows. The perfect amount of humidity and turbulence determines a great show or a terrible show.

Apparently, Bubble Max was the first bubble artist in the country. He created different types of bubble tools using fish nets and ropes to create a variety of shapes and sizes.

Getting Loud; Going Out To The Ball Game

I went to my first Korean baseball game for LG Twins v. Lotte Giants. These two teams are two of the most popular professional Korean baseball teams. Enjoying a beer while watching the game at a good spot is one thing, but getting loud together with friends and strangers to cheer your team is the other best part about any baseball games.

I did not get the best spot, but it was good enough to grasp the Korean baseball culture. I was once again surprised to see how unified everyone was when it came to cheering! I don’t think I’ve ever been to such a loud baseball game in my life. It was almost louder than an American football game when the quarterback makes a touchdown!

Getting loud; World Cup Street Rally

The cheering culture is such a big deal in Korea. I will admit Korea is not the best country when it comes to sports. However, seeing the Korean population come altogether for World Cup always surprises me. I visited Korea for World Cup season, so it was quite a sight seeing all the street rallies and seeing so much support throughout the country.

I joined the biggest street rally in Gangnam. The first game was at 4 a.m., but that did not seem to stop anyone from the world cup craze. In fact, I realized that people in Korea just don’t sleep at night. They just love that night culture.. Just imagine the main streets blocked to set up stages, celebrities invited to lead on the crowd, huge screens set up, local restaurants closed, everyone partying out on the streets, drinking and enjoying the crazy atmosphere before the game.

This is a picture of booths set up before the game to sell t-shirts, face painting, cheering equipments, headbands, etc.

And here are the pictures of the street rally as the sun is slowly coming up. Although Korea lost, the fans did not stop cheering on the team until the last minute.

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*All photos taken by Crystall Cho 

So that was my first interesting World Cup street rally experience in Korea; very loud, crazy, chaotic and patriotic. I also went to my first Korean baseball game, and I was actually very surprised at how different it was from American baseball games. Check out my next post for a post on getting loud in baseball games!

-crystallsjcho. 

Locking lights and love – N Seoul Tower

I have completed my island hopping series, and I hope you guys enjoyed my posts on each island! If you haven’t seen/read about them yet, scroll down for my previous posts 😉

It seems like most cities have their renowned towers, right? For example, Dallas has the reunion tower, Chicago has the John Hancock tower or the Willis tower, and the big Apple has the Bank of America tower. Likewise, South Korea has a tower too; the N Seoul Tower (N 서울타워).

The N Seoul is known for two things; the lovely view of Seoul (especially during the nights) and love locks.
It has become a tradition for lovers to
1) come to the tower
2) purchase a love lock
3) write a message
4) lock the padlock on to a fence or the lock trees (symbolizes “everlasting love”)
5) throw the keys away
This tradition is also practiced at the Pont Neuf bridge in Paris.

Island Hopping Part III: U-Do Island

I also had an opportunity to check out U-Do Island during my visit to Jeju Island, mainly because it’s kind of a “given” deal; you must visit U-Do when you go to Jeju! It’s only a 20-minute boat ride. Luckily, I had a friend who let me borrow her car, so I was able to take the car on the boat with me and saved a lot of walking around in U-Do.

So before I show you any more pictures from my visit,  fun fact here. “U-Do” means cow, so the island literally means “cow island.” Why? From a distance, U-Do Island looks like a cow lying down. Tested this from Jeju, and it is true! Not a big island, but I personally found it prettier than Jeju.

Island Hopping Part II: Jeju Island (Island of the Gods)

I purchased a round-trip ticket through Jeju Air (a pretty new airline known for its cheap tickets to Jeju Island) for a little less than $80. This was based on the first week of August. Round-trip tickets are as low as $30-$50 during the off-peak season!

Jeju Island is a good way for mini vacations or even for a day trip from Korea. Also, many Korean celebrities started living in Jeju Island to get away from the city and to go green. 130 Km south of the Korean peninsula, Jeju Island, also known as the “Island of the Gods,” has its own culture although it’s technically considered a part of Korea.

Just as the snowman was an iconic figure of Nami Island from my previous post, Jeju Island also has these stone statues, known as Tolharubang (picture on the right). The Tolharubang is a statue of an old man with a cap on the head, and the whole statue is made of dark lava rocks.To the island natives, Tolharubang is considered the god of protection and fertility. You can pretty much see these figures anywhere in the island.

There’s so much to see/do in Jeju Island, and three days certainly wasn’t enough!
I’m just going to go over some of my favorite attractions, because the post would be too long to post everything 😦

*Lee Jung-Seop Street (이중섭 거리)
Lee Jung-Seop was a famous artist who lived in Jeju. The street is dedicated to Lee, featuring some of his best paintings in a gallery and also his former residence. The street has turned to a center of culture and art, with art events and festivals on the weekends.

LJS Cultural Street

A cute handmade accessory shop

Souvenir! A women diver bracelet.

Street map on the ground

A dog chillin’ in front of Lee’s former residence

Street art on the grounds

Lee’s famous piece

Gallery

Street food

Rice cakes