Travel
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Korean National Maritime Museum: Explore Busan’s Maritime Heritage
We woke to the sound of heavy rain beating on the bedroom windows so it was fortunate that we still had one museum we wished to visit during our stay in Busan. After a breakfast of dumplings, eggs, fruit and yogurt we set off for the nearby Seomyeon metro station with our umbrellas at the…
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How to Spend a Day in Busan: Gamcheon Culture Village, Busan Tower & Oryukdo Skywalk
The hotel’s breakfast selection varied from day to day and this morning we started the day with bowls of beef bulgogi, yogurt and fruit. Feeling nourished we set off for the Gamcheon Cultural Village. To get there we took a Line 1 train from Seomyeon station. We then caught a local minibus from outside the…
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Busan Travel Guide: A Day in Taejongdae Park & Nampo District
I decided to try the Asian option for breakfast in the hotel this morning and started the day with dumplings and sweet and sour pork for a change which tasted good although probably better eaten for dinner. After several cups of coffee, we raised the energy to set off to explore Taejongdae Park in the…
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Busan Travel Guide: Spend a Day at Haeundae Beach and Nearby Attractions
Opening our curtains we were greeted with clear blue skies for our first full day in Busan. Leaving our room for breakfast it seemed strange taking the lift upwards as the hotel’s restaurant is on the top (13th) floor alongside the reception area. Stepping inside, the breakfast area was very attractive with large, sliding glass…
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Guide to Taking the Korail Train from Seoul to Busan: Tickets, Tips & Travel Info
It was hard to believe that our stay in Seoul had come to an end. There were so many interesting places to visit that our days sped by all too quickly. We enjoyed one last breakfast in the Holiday Inn Express Euljiro which had been an excellent choice for our stay in Seoul. Well equipped…
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Seoul Travel Guide: Exploring Olympic Park & Naksan Mountain
I remembered watching the 1988 Olympic Games on television never expecting that almost 30 years later I would be exploring the Seoul Olympic Park. We took the metro to Mongchontoseong station on Line 8 and entered the Olympic Park through the World Peace Gate. This colourful entrance was built as a sign of peace and…
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How to Spend a Day Visiting Jongmyo Shrine and International Horticulture Goyang
We set off on foot this morning to the Jongmyo Shrine which was located not too far from our hotel. Admission to the shrine is included in the palace combination ticket (10,000 Won / £6.98) which we had purchased earlier in the week. The shrine houses the spirit tablets of the Joseon Dynasty and was…
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Seoul Travel Guide: Gangnam, Temples, Samsung, Taekwondo & the National Assembly
After a delicious hotel breakfast we returned to our room and turned on the television to watch live history being made when the leaders of both North and South Korea met at the DMZ. By 9.45 a.m. we had finished viewing and were ready to take the metro to Samseong in the Gangnam district of…
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Gyeongbokgung Palace & Royal Guard Changing Ceremony, Seoul
It was another warm, sunny morning so after breakfast we took the metro to Gyeongbokgung station so that we could visit Gyeongbokgung Palace. As we had purchased a book of tickets the previous day covering all of Seoul’s palaces we did not need to visit the ticket office. We had arrived at 9.20 a.m. in…
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Visiting Seodaemun Prison & Bukhansan National Park in Seoul
We woke to clear blue skies so after our hotel breakfast we took the metro to the Seodaemun Prison History Hall near the Dongnimmun metro station, exit 5. After leaving the station it was just a short walk through Independence Park to the museum entrance, admission is 3,000 Won (£2.00). This former prison stands as…
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Visiting Changdeokgung & Changgyeonggung Palaces in Seoul
We opened the curtains to clear blue skies and sun pouring into our room which was such a contrast from the previous two days. After enjoying a leisurely hotel breakfast we took the metro to Anguk Station, Line 3, Exit 3 so that we could visit the two royal palaces located near there. Soon we…
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Guide to Visiting the National Museum of Korea
We woke to the sound of heavy rain beating against the windows and on checking the forecast it seemed to be set in for the day. Breakfast was again tasty with some different hot dishes from the previous morning. I spotted some cream of mushroom soup which isn’t something I would usually have for breakfast…
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Guide to Visiting The War Memorial of Korea, Seoul
We slept really well in our comfortable bed, waking early at 6.30 a.m. due to the time change. Breakfast at the Holiday Inn Express Euljiro was served in the basement and we found a varied selection of hot and cold dishes to suit all tastes. Most diners were wearing smart business suits, appearing very formal…
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The start of our South Korean adventure
The morning had arrived for the start of another Asian adventure and I felt very excited as I boarded my Virgin East Coast train to London King’s Cross Station. Our flight was from London Gatwick airport which is easily accessible from St. Pancras as it is located next door to King’s Cross station. I travelled…
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Stoke-on-Trent Ceramics Trail Guide: Potteries, Museums & Heritage
It was slightly overcast as we checked out of the Trentham Travelodge which had been an excellent base for touring The Potteries. We drove into nearby Hanley for breakfast which we enjoyed in the Reginald Mitchell pub named after the inventor of the Spitfire. The building was once a meat market and its glass roof…
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Exploring World of Wedgwood & Biddulph Grange Gardens
After a good night’s sleep, we set off after breakfast for a visit to the World of Wedgwood in nearby Barlaston. The Wedgwood group of companies is owned by Fiskars, the Finnish gardening and homeward group so it was interesting to visit as I have visited their showroom in Helsinki. The Wedgwood estate stretches for…
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Exploring The Potteries, Trentham Monkey Forest & Gardens
Stoke-on-Trent doesn’t always spring to mind for a short break in the U.K. but reading about its industrial heritage as the world capital of ceramics tempted us to spend a few days exploring the city. Stoke is located midway between Manchester and Birmingham and has direct rail services to London taking only 90 minutes. In…
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Visiting Thorp Perrow Arboretum in the Yorkshire Dales
I’ve always enjoyed woodland walks and when it was suggested that we visit an arboretum I was eager to explore Thorp Perrow Arboretum, which boasts one of the largest collections of trees and shrubs in the north of England. These include the national collection of Ash, Lime, Laburnum, Walnut and Cotinus. The Arboretum is located…
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How to visit the Riga Open-Air Museum
On our final day in Riga we woke to clear blue skies enabling us to experience Latvia’s natural beauty outside the capital. After enjoying our final breakfast at the Ibis Riga Centre we gathered our belongings together and left our bags at reception, as our flight home wasn’t until late in the evening giving us…
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Guide to Majori: Riga’s Seaside Resort
A dry start to the day after the previous day’s torrential downpours meant that we could return to our planned activities. So, after a leisurely hotel breakfast we crossed the road to the nearby railway station and purchased return tickets to the coastal town of Majori. Single tickets for the 30 minute journey cost €1.40…
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Exploring Riga, Latvia
Our hearts sank as we drew back the curtains to see torrential rain beating against the windows, causing us to rethink our plans for the day! First though, it was off to breakfast which is served in the basement of the hotel. The cellars have been tastefully converted into two eating areas with a third…
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Riga City Break
Having enjoyed visiting Tallinn in Estonia on numerous occasions, we decided to explore its neighbour Latvia for the first time. We booked flights with the low cost carrier Ryanair from Leeds Bradford airport which were very reasonably priced. It was an early start to the day as we needed to get up at…
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A walk along the Kennet & Avon canal in Newbury
What could be nicer on a warm, sunny spring day than to enjoy a leisurely wander along a canal towpath. With this in mind, we jumped in the car and drove to Newbury, a market town in West Berkshire. The town is approximately 30 minutes drive from Oxford and about an hour by train from…
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Visiting Knaresborough & Mother Shipton’s Cave
Although we are frequent visitors to the spa town of Harrogate it’s awhile since we visited the attractive North Yorkshire market town of Knaresborough yet it’s only 4 miles from there. We had come to visit Mother Shipton’s Cave, England’s oldest paying visitor attraction which has been open to the public since 1630. Admission is…
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