Travel Tips (by Country) | GRRRL TRAVELER

5 Ways to See Busan in a Weekend

Filed under Busan, SOLO TRAVEL by Christine Ka'aloa on May 6, 2010 at 2:46 pm {3 comments}

Small fishing boat dock in Haeundae

11PM Friday-
I didn’t know if I wanted to Busan for the weekend and to do it solo! What did I know about Busan other than it’s on the Korean coast and probably has boats? Solution: Sleep on it and see how I feel in the morning.

9:30 AM Saturday-
I woke up and realized- Ding! Yes, I wanted to go. So, off I went! My travel choices can feel that impulsive and random at times. My sightseeing itinerary however, was a giant question mark.

On the train over, my quick-sketch brain drew 3 main goals for my two-day trip:
a) Experience sleeping at a jjimjilbang
b) Explore the Jalgachi Fish Market
c) Take a walk along Haeundae Beach.

What I experienced within this two day weekend was much much more… (more…)

Solo Korea: 4 Reasons to become a Solo Weekend Travel Warrior!

Filed under Busan, Interviews by Christine Ka'aloa on May 5, 2010 at 3:50 pm {no comments}

Korea is a pretty safe country to travel if you’re a woman. But being a solo traveler – difficult and delightful can share the same coin. While I thoroughly enjoy relaxing into bonding with fellow EPIKers on group day trips as we weather the inevitable culture shock together; excursions alone while initially dreaded, gives me valuable time to explore, grow and reflect upon my new cultural surroundings at a relaxed pace. Plus, I get to take out the DSLR!

But… I don’t always gave ample time to research my cities. If I’m doing a weekend or day trip, researching accommodations and train times are my only afforded concerns. Why? Take my recent 2-day weekend trip to Busan. I (more…)

Sleeping at a Jjimjilbang (a Korean bathhouse & sauna)

Filed under * Korea tips & stays, Busan by Christine Ka'aloa on May 3, 2010 at 5:17 am {11 comments}

Spending a night on the wooden floor of a jjimjilbang. Photo: Grrrltraveler.
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Where can you sleep for cheap in Korea? For travelers and expats, here’s a cultural and budget tip for you…

A friend once mentioned staying overnight at a jjimjilbang as a way to hurdle hotel costs (which may run anywhere from a low $18-40). Those wishing a weekend getaway to visit friends in other cities or just to tour more regions in Korea, a jjimjilbang is a perfect way to do it, while getting an inside peek at Korean culture. Jjimjilbangs are popular with Koreans; it’s a 24-hour public bathhouse (read here) and board. Some jimjilbangs are enormous and grand, featuring many amenities to occupy your day; others may just offer a simple setting. A jjimjilbang isn’t elite but is like a gym or spa with an open membership. (more…)

Two Ways to Prevent Bed Bugs & Mosquitoes

Filed under Travel Tips (by Country), Trip Planning by Christine Ka'aloa on January 28, 2010 at 1:06 am {10 comments}

Sawyer's Permethrin

Last year when my girlfriend and her friends, returned from Costa Rica with a souvenir case of “bed bugs”, it threw my traveler’s hypochondria into a panic. I was nearing my Thailand trip and my budget agenda entailed hostels, guesthouses and trekking in the mountains.

Mosquitoes, bed bugs, head lice,… oh my!

Knowing that a travel buddy had fallen- despite her own safety precautions- warranted a call to my travel doctor for possible bed bug solutions. Until (more…)

Getting my International Driver’s Permit

Filed under Travel Tips (by Country), Trip Planning by Christine Ka'aloa on December 28, 2009 at 1:10 am {4 comments}

IDP
So my moving date and work visa for South Korea are still pending– a bit nerve-wracking at this point. There’s nothing more irritating than the notion of receiving a last-minute notice to book your ticket and move across the globe to a country, where you’re uncertain as to what you should expect in familiarity or a lack thereof.

In a way, I’m not quite sure how to pack for relocation abroad or for a move to South Korea. I have read that certain products are hard to find- i.e. tampons, deodorant, larger sized shoes and clothing, etc…. While I assume that most food and product concerns can be dealt with or worked around if I ever find myself without; the inability to fit shoe/clothing sizes there, can’t be “worked around”. Also, I have questions about where to base my credit cards, ATM accounts and a handful of other questions regarding official documents I may need besides a working visa. Ugh. Well, maybe like most things, you just have to trust your traveler’s sense and wing it…

One thing I can cross of my list is my International Driver’s Permit (aka a ‘license’).