Just another world from Ploy's view
Namsan has always been on my Seoul cherry blossom spots list for quite a very long time. For years, it kept slipping away from my schedule, spring after spring. Why? Simply because it’s an entire mountain. It’s vast, a little intimidating, and very difficult to pinpoint exactly where to start and which direction to head …
There’s a quiet magic to spring. It arrives softly—a warmer breeze here, a new bud there—and then suddenly, the world explodes into color. For many, cherry blossoms are the heart of that magic. Walking beneath those drifting clouds of pink and white feels like stepping into a painting. But spring is also unpredictable. It has …
On our road trip from Tokyo to Hakuba this past February, Tun and I decided to make a special detour to explore Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine. Having lived in the heart of Seoul for over a decade, I’m used to the fast-paced energy of a major capital, so escaping to the “Little Edo” atmosphere of Kawagoe …
One spring evening, the peak of the cherry blossom season drew us to the neighborhood around Guro Digital Complex Station. After a lovely walk underneath a delicate white-and-pink canvas of blossoms, the crisp spring air left us with a specific craving: Minari Samgyeopsal. A quick search on Naver led us to a place called Yeokjeon …
I first stumbled upon Guro-dong last winter. I was in the neighborhood for apartment hunting, navigating the chilly, bare streets when I noticed something: the sheer volume of cherry blossom trees clustered around Guil Station. Even in their skeletal winter state, I could tell this place was special. I made a quiet promise to myself …
Spring in Seoul this year (2026) has been, quite frankly, a little surreal. We haven’t even officially hit April, yet the city is already draped in white and pink. It’s strange—prominent cherry blossom spots reached full bloom so early this year, even beating out the usual early bloomers like Busan and Jeju! Among the neighborhoods …
You know spring is in full swing in Seoul, South Korea, when the days grow longer, the air turns warmer, and the 벚꽃 (bot-ggot), the Korean word for cherry blossoms, begin to bloom. It’s the season that breathes life back into my sluggish social media presence after a seemingly endless winter hibernation. The moment I spot the …
It’s still the last week of March, but this year, something magical is happening. The cherry blossoms have started to pop and bloom across Seoul much earlier than usual—a rare, early phenomenon that has caught many by surprise. Many spots are reaching their peak before April has even officially arrived. One particular spot that has …
After a decade of living in the heart of Seoul, I’ve navigated my fair share of smoke-filled BBQ joints. From the high-end luxury spots in Gangnam to the hidden “hole-in-the-wall” gems in Mapo, I thought I had seen—and tasted—it all. But then I found 백년갈비 (Baeknyeon Galbi) Sinjeong branch, and frankly, the leaderboard has been …
We are in the last week of March, and Seoul is beautifully undergoing its annual spring magic. While the famous cherry blossoms are still shyly budding, the magnolias have stepped up to take center stage! If you are visiting the city this week, you will likely notice white “popcorns” of magnolia flowers popping up at …