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!

With Love, From London

There is nothing quite so inspiring as wandering through London in the early hours of a Sunday morning as the city slowly come to life. In that first golden hour, as the majority are still recovering from their Saturday night shenanigans, one can find a tranquil escape wandering along the cobblestones and tarmac.

There is never a dull moment in London. The vibrant city feeds on the life buzzing within it, which is one reason why the quiet moments are likely to hold the most promise of excitement, for it is within these moments that the unexpected can and will occur.

Exiting Westminster Station to the stunning backdrop of the nation's most iconic image contains an element of magic in and of itself. The beautiful clear blue sky speckled with the occasional flirtatious cloud created an idyllic setting to take in the grandeur of the Palace of Westminster with its unforgettable Elizabeth Tower which holds Big Ben.

Yet the view, despite all its glory, was not the highlight of the moment. Walking towards Westminster bridge in order to cross over towards the London Eye, we noticed a commotion on the other side of the road. A massive Panavision crane was in motion focusing on a crowd moving on cue. We stood and watched as Rebecca Ferguson filmed a mini scene for Mission Impossible 5 in awe at the process unfolding before us. Though strangely surreal it was thrilling to watch this small frame of filming take place and it took us quite some time to pluck up the courage to give up hope of watching the next frame occur and walk away from the recurring scene before us.

Walking on past the London Eye and crossing back over the Thames on the Millennium bridge, we watched the street vendors prepare to open for the day and the taxis begin to prowl. Passing the old home of Scotland Yard, we eventually found ourselves at Trafalgar Square where police were holding back traffic for an approaching military parade. Brass band trumpeting away at full force they marched towards us from Buckingham Palace passing through Admiralty Arch and disappearing off down the road.

Passing under Admiralty Arch, we were soon in the heart of St. James' Park and tummies rumbling ready for breakfast we were happy to find we weren't far from one of my favorite stops. Just nest to the waterfowl pond, sits a little restaurant called Inn the Park. Here we sat down for some heart warming tea and a scrumptious breakfast which disappeared quickly. Sitting outside, admiring the fountain and watching the number of people in the park quickly multiply we  finished off our drinks and headed back into the busy city of London we know so well.

London is a magical city which is heaving with people 85% of the time, so if you find yourself lucky enough to be exploring London, make the effort to wake up early on a Sunday morning to experience the city in its true glory and maybe even experience some of the unexpected magic that will undoubtedly occur.

Getting Wild in the Smokies

Straddling the border of North Carolina & Tennessee the Great Smoky Mountains are one of America's natural wonders. Part of the greater Appalachian Mountain chain, the Smokies are an integral part of the Appalachian Trail and a popular destination for outdoor explorers of all kinds. Wandering through this national park, you are likely to stumble upon intriguing  native birds, timid deer, and bold black bears among other native creatures. 

I enjoyed not only the tranquility of exploring the Great Smoky Mountains on my own, but the vibrant life that was surrounding me. The flora & fauna present in this protected area are a feast for the eyes to behold. Tall trees climb the mountains surrounding you only interrupted by the road upon which you pass or the rivers & streams that weave their way through the mountains. 

At the advice of some friends, I made my way to Cade's Cove where I could enjoy a scenic drive, numerous nature trails, and had a high chance of catching a glimpse of a magnificent black bear. Pulling through the gates to enter into Cade's cove, there was only one other car in my sights and I slowly rolled along enjoying the stunning views while keeping my eyes peeled for interesting wildlife. 

Having driven a few miles through the cove, I decided to pull over and go wandering down one of the nature paths. I parked my car, grabbed my camera, and took of walking down the narrow path laid out before me. As the road behind me disappeared, I noticed a deer off in the distance and paused to capture its image before becoming distracted by a stunning woodpecker off in the distance. Focusing on the woodpecker, and trying to catch a better glimpse I was startled when I heard a branch break just behind me. Turning slowly around, I found myself standing 6 feet from the deer I had been admiring earlier. Not wishing to startle the magnificent creature, I took a few steps forward along the path and listened as it followed me.  Realizing I had gained a shadow, I decided to take my time and take a few photos of my new found friend. It was such a strange and magical feeling to be sharing this moment with the wild, each intrigued by the other while sharing a mutual respect for the other. I stood observing the deer grazing around me for several moments before making a wide berth around it and heading back to my car. 

The cove had grown busier and there were now several other cars along the route. I continued along the designated road until I arrived at Cooper trail where I parked to embark on my next adventure.  I began walking, passing several families and groups out hiking along the trails. After a while I found myself hiking in whatever direction took me away from the loudest families, who seemed to have forgotten we were in the peace and tranquility of nature and therefore didn't need to be shouting at the top of their lungs and make even the water rush away. Noisy people all around and the day nearing an end, I decided to head back to my car so I could venture down towards Abrams Falls.

It is a 5 mile round trip to Abrams Falls so I knew I could not make it to the falls and back without getting caught out in the night so I decided to walk as far as I could in 30 minutes and then double back so I could finish the drive in that golden hour before the sun goes to bed. Walking along the trail a midst the trees to the sound of the rushing water in the river I felt as though I had been transported to a different time & place. Only passing a few people at the trail head who were heading out, I found myself alone in the woods with only my thoughts for company. This sense of solitude, incredibly freeing, made it easy to get lost in the brilliance of the world surrounding me as I watched cranes fish, leaves dance, and bees flirt with flowers. 

The Smoky Mountains reminded me of the location depicted in the Hunger Games, where Catniss finds solace in the mountainous woodlands before finding herself battling her peers in the landscape which once held such a sense of security for her. Staring at the sun through the never ending rows of trees, it was easy to understand why she found solace hunting in the woods outside the gates of District 12. (In fact, It all looked so familiar I googled the filming locations for the Hunger Games and discovered that a lot of the filming took place in Asheville, North Carolina which was only about 100 miles away.)