At Changdeokgung Palace, there’s a secret garden, once used exclusively for Joseon royal family relaxation, contemplation, entertainment and ceremonies. A huge sprawling garden covering almost 78-acres and set right bang in the middle of downtown Seoul, it’s a magnificent wooded space and remains, even today, a highly restricted site. Just 100 timed visitors to the…
Changdeokgung Palace – Old Seoul
We’ve been saving the best until last and it didn’t disappoint. We arrived at the Changdeokgung Palace gates early, armed with our pre-booked ‘Secret Garden’ tickets for 10.30am. It was still only 9.30am so, on a bright and very cold (-5 or so) morning, we stepped into this vast sprawling compound, quickly realising that we…
Up & At ‘Em in 2025
Due to the devastating air crash and subsequent mourning across South Korea this week, New Year’s Eve celebrations were cancelled. New Year’s Eve was a very sombre and quiet night in Seoul with much of the population retreating to small-scale family events. Our hotel had planned drinks but also cancelled, so it was a very…
Dongdaemun Design Plaza – ‘Amazing Tomorrow’
The Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) is what’s known in the business as an architectural showstopper. Designed by the late great Iraqi-British Pritzker Prize winner Zaha Hadid it’s a breathtakingly adventurous and innovative building like no other (except maybe others by Zaha Hadid). Construction first started in 2009 and was officially inaugurated in 2014 and built at a…
Out and About in Sombre Seoul
There are certain famous go-to places in the world that you’ve always heard of and thought: okay, why not? Give it a whirl. Sure, they’re bound to be tourist haunts, but hey, could it really be that bad? Sadly, Gahoe-dong Alley in Bukchon is one of these overly touristy crowded places, as charming as it…
Dress Up Tourism, Gwanghwamun Style
Equipped with our rechargeable Tmoney card we tackled the Seoul subway system. Initially, it’s a tad daunting – just looking at the maps in the subway (not everything in English) is enough to induce a headache it’s so massive, but then its relative colour-coded simplicity and ease of use becomes apparent, just don’t attempt in…
Living It Up, Gangnam Style
We’ve left the intense heat and humidity of Far North Queensland and headed to the deep winter of Seoul, South Korea – and in particular the uber trendy district of Gangnam, south of the Han River, 60 k’s inland from the frigid Yellow Sea. We’ve never been to South Korea, so flying a surprisingly civilised…
Green Island – A Rainforest Coral Cay on The Great Barrier Reef
One of the ‘bucket list’ things to do when up in Far North Queensland is to experience the Great Barrier Reef up close and personal. There’s perhaps nowhere so spectacular and readily accessible than Green Island, a stunningly beautiful rainforest covered coral cay, 28k’s and just an easy 45min Catamaran jaunt off the coast of…
Melbourne Cup, ‘Fabulous Flamingos’ – Palm Cove Style
It’s that time of the year again, Melbourne Cup, when the nation stops for a horse race. Held on the first Tuesday in November since 1861, the Melbourne Cup is one of the world’s richest races. But some 3,065 kilometres away in tropical Palm Cove Far North Queensland, there’s an altogether different race, the 21st anniversary…
Port Douglas, Australia’s Tropical Playground
Port Douglas, or simply ‘Port’ as it’s referred to by locals, is a chilled resort town about 60 ks north of Cairns. It’s perched on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef with the rainforest-clad mountains of the Great Dividing Range tumbling down to the jade-coloured Coral Sea. Huge palm trees line the road leading…
Travels With My Ant 