Magical Murals - Shinhwa Art Village

In honor of my blog's one year anniversary I am ready to share with you one of my most randomly spectacular adventures. This is what I love about traveling, I love experiencing different cultures with all of my senses and seeing what makes a place unique in person with my own eyes. Stumbling  upon something as fantastic and unknown as Shinwha Art Village and being able to share it with the world in the hopes that more people may be able to enjoy it is priceless. This is why I travel and this is why I blog. The world is such a spectacular place and instead of collecting things I am out to collect memories and experience each and every part of our amazing planet Earth.

Shinwha Art Village

Hidden away in the large industrial city of Ulsan, South Korea, there sits a quaint little local village which has been enveloped by the growing city. More than just a simple village, it is unique to any I have yet seen on my travels. An art village, decorated with stunning murals of everything from pop culture to folk lore it completely took my breath away.

Shinhwa Art Village is comprised of several cobblestone roads and walkways which wind through the various dwellings and shops. Almost every wall is ordained with a mural of a different theme and style. Though most revolve around whales and the sea, due to the villages close proximity to the ocean, there are also murals featuring pop culture icons, cartoons, and politics.

One could easily view the whole village in half an hour but as I had the time I took advantage of it. I felt at peace wandering the colorful pathways and spent several hours admiring the art and engaging with the locals. I was quite obviously the only non local in the village. Wandering around in my bright blue ski jacket taking photos of every square inch of art I stood out like a sore thumb and had a few people wave at me and say hello. There is no charge to view the art as it is just a part of where they live and it was obvious that although it is sign posted from the road as an art village it doesn't get all that many visitors. I made a point to buy a drink and a snack from the two local shops and bought a fabulous photo of the village buried in snow from a sweet lady in her photography studio.

Unlisted on the top tourist sights such as Trip Advisor, Shinhwa is an under-appreciated local gem that should be on the top of any tourists to do list. Most people probably stumble across it as I did and wonder why in a town with so little for tourists to do it wasn't listed anywhere. Hopefully this will soon change but until then you will just have to take my advice and head there yourself.

(Show your taxi driver the pictures of the street signs below and they can get you there!)

Hope You Enjoy the Photos!

Thanks for reading and Cheers to another year of blogging!

Sketch out of this World...

Champagne in the Parlour

Have you ever been to a restaurant that can make you feel like you are travelling through different eras and genres? One minute you are enjoying a drink in a swanky parlour and the next you are enjoying dinner in an explicable pink art gallery. Every centimeter of Sketch was planned out so flawlessly that they even managed to make a trip to the toilet unforgettable. In fact Sketch is so incredible that even if the food were horrendous it would draw people in for the unique environment alone, so once you consider the top notch quality of the the food anyone could understand why Sketch is a must see London hot spot.

Boasting a two Michelin star restaurant called the Lecture Room, Sketch is a culinary mastermind creating tantalizingly tasty dishes. The Lecture Room is a cozy restaurant reminiscent of a modern twist on a bourgeois club/restaurant from the 20s. With comfortable armchairs around well dressed tables one can relax while feeling incredibly posh.



If you can not manage to score reservations for the two Michelin star Lecture Room then it would hardly be a hardship to wrangle a reservation for the Gallery. The modern art gallery surrounds its guests with original works of art from the walls to the tableware. Its menu, totally inspired, takes the familiar and unfamiliar and molds them into culinary masterpieces, food in the form of art to compliment that gallery in which you sit. Undergoing a total remodel every two years, the Gallery is a fluid canvas that evolves with the times, keeping up with the hottest trends of the art world.

Interested in visiting Sketch but either couldn't get a reservation or don't have loads of money to spend on food? Visit the Parlour or the Glade for a deliciously comforting menu in a luxuriously sexy setting and enjoy a divine cocktail while you wait.

Whether you are there for dinner or just fancy, you must pop into the East Bar to enjoy the hip and artistic atmosphere. Great for casual conversation with friends or an unpredictable date night with a loved one, this bar provides an intimate setting in a club like atmosphere for a classy & exclusive night out on the town.

(Check out this video walking through the restaurant... you will be surprised where we end up...)

Dinner in the Heavens

Aqua at the Shard:

Enjoying a delicious 3 course meal that melts in your mouth with every bite, the amount of food on your plate is only disappointing until you look up and find yourself admiring the never ending views of London surrounding you.

Aqua is located on the 31st floor of the Shard offering fine dining with a spectacular view. Floor to ceiling windows enable guests of Aqua Shard to catch a glimpse of every inch of London, historic and new, in all of her glory. Specializing in British cuisine, the menu provides a delightful taste of British culture to London tourists and delectable versions of local delights to her British guests. With locally sourced ingredients, the knowledgable staff can easily tell you where the food on your plate has come from while giving you a detailed description of the delights listed on the menu.

Boasting a brilliant breakfast and dinner menu,  the real highlight of Aqua Shard is the set menu for lunch. To visit the Viewing Gallery at the top of the Shard it costs £30 if you buy it on site and all you get to consume is the view. However, for £35 you are served a three course meal and get to dine among the heavens taking in the breathtaking views of London all around you.

I happened to go for a celebration in the sky in honour of my fabulous aunt's birthday. However, providing more than just a felicitous occasion, this restaurant left a taste in my mouth and a stunning vision in my mind that I want relive over and over again. Now a staple on my London tourist circuit, Aqua at the Shard provides the perfect lunch with a view to break up a full day of tourism in London.

(Equipped with naught but an iPhone I have only a few pictures, none of which do it justice. To see more visit, www.aquashard.co.uk)

Afternoon Tea at the Ritz

This bear has been in hibernation for the holidays and what better way to wake up from a long sleepy winter than with food! Over my next few posts I will be treating you to exquisite fine dining across London.

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You only live once and the one beautiful undeniable fact is that we all need to eat to survive. So why not treat yourself to some fabulous food with an unforgettable experience. London is one of the many major metropolitan cities around the world where foodies can unite to indulge themselves. With an endless array of choices, one can dine inside the mind of a brilliant chef, eat among astonishing history, and enjoy the height of sophistication in the local culture.

On my most recent trip to London, as a celebration of various events, I was lucky enough to find myself in three deliciously exquisite London hot spots and each experience left an imprint that will forever remain in my soul. 

We will start out with my childhood dream and go for tea at the Ritz before visiting my next two hot spots later this month. 

The Ritz:

There are not words to describe tea at the Ritz. Elegance & sophistication, opulence & grandeur these words don't even begin to shed light on the palatial hotel and the overall royalty of the experience. Sitting in a crowded room one would not expect to have such detailed and individualized service but the Ritz (unsurprisingly) delivers an experience like no other.

The highlight however, (and rightly so) is not the service but the food. Deliciously delicate sandwiches, richly sumptuous cakes, and warm decadent scones never disappear from the table, despite how many you eat, as they are refilled before you can even notice they are gone. Mouth watering from the bottomless nibbles, hot tea is the perfect compliment, refreshing your pallet while quenching your thirst. The wide array of loose leaf teas on the menu are impossible to choose from as they all sound so delicious, yet luckily you can choose as many as you like given there is room in your tummy and on the table.

Although this culinary adventure is not inexpensive at £50 per person, it is worth every penny. So if you are going to London (and will have the spare time & money) then why not indulge and book yourself afternoon tea at the Ritz. (Just don't forget to the dress the part or you may not be granted entry.)