Changwonderful

Written by Collette Lee One of the nicest parts about working as an expat in Korea is that we have ample opportunity to see parts of the world we otherwise might not have had the chance to visit. However, it is generally a good idea to avoid catching something that …

One of the many great hiking places in Changwon. Thanks to Coby Zeifman for the pictures. Map below. Pictures (with story) originally posted here. View Paryongsan Pagodas in a larger map

CAFÉ HAU is a great coffee shop with a purpose here in Changwon. I sat down with Cecile Hwang and GyungHee Moon to ask them some questions about this unique place. View Cafe Hau in a larger map Café Hau is a great place for coffee. What is your history? …

  If you haven’t been to Cafe HaU before, you are in for a refreshing treat. Cafe HaU is one of the nicest cafes in Changwon with a great selection of hand drip fair trade coffee. They use Kalita pots to brew the delicious coffee and you can taste the difference. …

If you have done some research on Changwon, you will have heard of Mageumsan Hot Springs. The distance may have frightened you, but let me assure you, a trip out to the hot springs is a trip worth taking, if not for the healthy baths, then perhaps for the views. Mageumsan is located …

Yongji Lake is a great place to enjoy Changwon’s lovely scenery. With its soft track, foot massage path, and of course the light show, Yongji Lake seems to have everything. But did you know that there are two parks next to the lake where a person can also sit, relax, …

The lack of readily available tools and hardware stores is the single most emasculating thing about living in South Korea. Whether you want to cover yourself in 10W40 motor oil and eat a burger or just stab yourself repeatedly in the foot with a screwdriver, the poor selection of tools …

The new immigration office sits in bureaucratic hiding towards the Free Trade Area of Masan. The short move: 300 yards down the street, seems to have invigorated the staff and instilled some efficiency. To get there, taking a bus is only around 5 minutes longer than a taxi, although a …

Every month I receive my big fat salary deposited into my surprisingly svelte bank account but I oft feel as though the money is in and out within a few days like a new lover that promises the world and then jumps the next cross-country train once I ‘give it …

Part two! In the first post I explained how to search for directions, but didn’t really go into some of the many things that Daum maps can do. In this post I will cover how to search for things or services that you might find yourself needing while in Korea. …

Since I first arrived in Korea, I have gone through several different methods of trying to keep track of bus numbers and how to navigate the bus system. At first, I kept a handy list of all the routes that went to my school and places that I often frequented. …

Paul Hyland, master of all things movie, gave us this gem that everyone should know. “If trying to find a website for movie listings, just link to www.google.com/movies and it will bring you immediate listings at the cinema nearest your location, and tell you if it’s in English or Korean. …

This map has it all. Really. If you are new to the area, or starting to look for new places to explore, check out this fantastic map. Have some places to add? Open up the map in a larger view (below) and send a message to Steve. He generously opens …

Eventually you will need to transfer money in Changwon. Maybe you will want to run in a foot race. Or you will want to rent a pension. Or you will want to buy something. Anyway, when this happens, do not panic. It is quite a simple thing to do. And …

Picture the scene: I want Thai food on a Wednesday evening. I post on Facebook to see if there is anywhere to obtain on the regular Thai cuisine. I am thwarted — although Austin, the proprietor of O’Briens in Changwon puts on a fine Thai Green Curry, I hear. In …

In the process of life in an Asian country it will almost certainly fall upon the hungry, the needy and such to venture out of the space they normally occupy in order to find something. Upon leaving the comfort zone it can quickly become apparent that the city we live …

The NC Dinos call our beloved Changwon home, and they play their first season this year as the 9th and newest member of the Korean major leagues -the Korea Baseball Championship. The Dinos cut their chops in the Futures League last year – their first year in existence – playing …

Continuing the task of mapping out Changwon’s neighborhoods (dongs), here is our map of central Masan, including Masan-happo gu and Masan-hoewon gu.  Unlike our central Changwon map, we were able to track down the actual neighborhood borders, thanks to the korean-language version of Masan’s wikipedia pages (1, 2).  For the …

Changwon, as the capital of Gyeongnam province, is home to the Gyeongnam Art Museum, the province’s main art museum.  Also known as GAM, the museum was announced in December 2003, and opened in June 2004.  The museum’s exterior is a pretty unique site in Changwon, with large glass facades spanning …

Located on Eumji-do, on the south coast of Jinhae, is the Changwon Marine Park (formerly known as Jinhae Marine Park).  Connected to the mainland via the 250m long Eumji bridge, it is a complex, initially started in 2000 at a cost of 52 billion won. The Oceanic Life Theme Park …