My sister-in-law took us to Itaewon for NY Pizza with cousins.

This gotta be Chloe’s favorite place in Seoul… brightly lit two-storey Starfield Library. It’s located in the largest underground shopping center in Asia, COEX Mall and it’s filled with over 50,000 books.

My first ddukbokki. Yum! 

Kids and I decided Nang-myun is our favorite Korean food this summer. It is perrrrrfect.

The last leg of the trip:  4 hours ride to go home.

Thank you Mom & Dad for this amazing, unforgettable trip!!! And thank you to my kiddos for being awesome travel buddies! You guys are my favorite kids! 😉

We are in Yangsan, a city in Gyeongsangnam-do Province, visiting Tongdosa Temple.  This temple was built more than 1,000 years ago, and is set in some fantastic landscape with forest, rivers and paths. Really is a tranquil place…

The name ‘Tongdosa’ was named after the belief that mankind can be saved through Buddhism. Tongdosa Temple was built during Queen Sun-Deok’s reign (646). Tongdosa Temple is said to have survived numerous wars and invasions, its Beopdeung (temple candle) has never gone out, for 1,300 years. Inside, there are 35 buildings and Pagoda’s, and 14 small temples in its vicinity. The main building is designated as National Treasure No.290.

Chloe was fascinated by many monks and visitors praying and chanting. She ran around looking at each and every room in there. For me, I was a little weirded by all of that act of workship to Budha but I could understand why Chloe was so amazed by them.

Mt. Chiseosan, has a beautiful view from the temple. The several hundred year-old pine trees lined up from the entrance to Ilju Gate, the small drum (used when praying in front of a Buddha figure) and bell, the sunset, the pond and the rocks and waterfalls behind the temple are grouped and called the ‘Eight Famous Sceneries of Tongdosa Temple.’

Right behind our hotel is beautiful island called Dongbaek where you’ll find a mermaid and a light house. I remember taking a stroll here every evening with my mom back in the old days. 🙂

And now I get to take a stroll with my daughter!

Today’s the last day we’ll have this amazing breakfast buffet at hotels. I was just getting used to this lifestyle!

We arrived at our final destination, a place I have a fond memory of. When I was in college I came to visit my parents in Korea and we stayed here that summer.

Busan is South Korea‘s second most popular city after Seoul, with a population of over 3.5 million inhabitants- only about 120 miles from the Japanese islands of Kyushu and Honshu. 

Our hotel is located right in front of Haeundae Beach.

After dinner Chloe and I came out to check out the night scene.

 Water show

Here’s the live octopus~~~!

She took it for the team! Haha, I ate one too but after it stopped wriggling. Chloe ate one too!

As our journey continues and we do have a quiet some time on the bus. Kids are good at entertaining themselves.

Can’t forget the sunscreen in-between the stops.

Our next destination brings us to a famous fish market

This town is known for Honey bread (? ?) and where Chungmu Gimbap (????), which is Shane’s favorite kind of Gimbap, originated from!

He had two servings by himself. Whoa.