Author Archives: derekversuslonelyplanet
Welcome to China: Visa Process and Quarantine Edition
So I was in China for a Year Let’s play some catchup shall we? About a year and a half ago, our school in South Korea told us that they were going to close down. This has always been a real possibility because we were a small school, with a very low student population. We […]
Splish Splash I Was Taking a Bath.. With Elephants at Krabi Elephant House Sanctuary
Welcome to Krabi Thailand. After a long year away from the family (more on that later), J and I decided it would be good for a little family quality time on the beach. After a couple of days in Bangkok, we decided to book a ticket to Krabi. After doing a little research on things […]
Nirvana in Gwangju: Finding Zen in the Heart of Gwangju
Welcome to Nirvana And Where The Heck Have I Been? Welcome back! This is my first post in a very long time. Although, I don’t want to take too much away from my post on Nirvana, the time-consuming life of a dad of two, husband and of course the pandemic made the life of Derek […]
Nori Table in Itaewon – California Roll Love
By: Amanda Diamond Photos: Amanda Diamond IG: @diamands I have been wanting to check out Nori Table since it opened a while back, but never got around to going. Thankfully, Derek was kind enough to ask me to review this restaurant and I am really glad he did. The food, service, and atmosphere all joined […]
Hello Korea. Good to See You Again!
So it has been what? Two years? Wow. So I thought this blog was dead, but like everything in my life, what I think is deceased, buried, ready to immortalize themselves in the caches of life, becomes revived, renewed and ready for the challenges ahead. It sounds cliche but I have been thinking about you […]
Cre8 Cookies – Cre8ing Warm, Chocolately Goodness in Gyeongridan
You know that warm comforting feeling of baking chocolate chip cookies in the fall? A moment that can recall thousands of different memories for millions of people? Cre8 Cookies in Gyeongridan will create that moment for you. Don’t tell grandma. How to get there: Cre8 Cookies is a bit of a hike, but well worth it […]
Mozzie in Itaewon – Mozzie! Mozzie! Mozzie! Oy! Oy! Oy!
I want to go out on a limb here and say that was my best title ever. So up on a hill full of lust and a country bar with cheap drinks, sits Mozzie, a New Zealand restaurant located inside the ITW Hotel. With lamb shanks, sausages and steaks galore, Mozzie hit the Spotzie (hahaha… […]
Gino’s Pizza in Itaewon – Still Rocking Some Good Pies New York Style
Six months ago, I visited Gino’s with a friend and came away impressed with their service and of course, their pizzas. Over the course of the summer, with their soft opening now long gone, and their appearance on a Korean food television show spiking their popularity, I headed back with the NYC ladies, Steph and Sabrina, […]
Gyeongpo Beach in Gangneung – Cool Vibes. Cool Water. Lots of Fireworks
Happy Chuseok! I hope you are having a great time exploring the ROK or anywhere else for that matter and enjoying the last few days of summer before we abruptly begin autumn in a couple of weeks. This June, I headed down to Gangneung for a Father’s Day retreat and had the opportunity to visit […]
Chuseok 2016: Five Places to Visit in Korea
So for some, mostly the international school gang, their Chuseok began on Friday at 4:30KST and like most people on holidays, their social media is currently bursting with selfies from all around Asia… and here I am.. sitting in me flat, with me wife, and two crying children, writing this column… Chuseok ain’t what it […]
Derek Versus Lonely Planet 