IMID Notes

Autumn is one of the loveliest seasons for exploring the mountains around Seoul. On a sunny Sunday in late October, our family went hiking in Bukhansan National Park (북한산국립공원) with our friends and their family, including their ten-year-old daughter. We wanted to enjoy the weather, spend time together, and discover a different mountain landscape. Bukhansan’s rocky peaks and a view from Guknyeongsa. Starting from Bukhansanseong We began in the Bukhansanseong area, walked past the Bukhansanseong Visitor Center (북한산성탐방지원센터) , and followed the signs toward Guknyeongsa Temple. Information boards near the entrance introduced the national park, the fortress area, and nearby walking routes. A Bukhansan National Park sign near the start of our visit. A trail information board in the Bukhansanseong area. Although Bukhansan is a popular hiking destination, there were not many visitors along the route we took. The peaceful atmosphere made it easy for both families to walk at a comfortable pace. Fo...

When I first heard that MrBeast was coming to Uzbekistan, I felt excited. As an Uzbek living in South Korea, I was happy to see my home country receiving attention from one of the world's most influential YouTube creators. But as the news developed, my feelings became mixed. His visit to Tashkent and Samarkand left me with two very different impressions. One was excitement that Uzbekistan had attracted such a globally recognized figure. The other was disappointment and concern about the scenes that followed, particularly in Samarkand. I followed these events from Korea, not as someone who attended them, but as a mother, a viewer, and an Uzbek who cares about how her country is represented internationally. MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson), photographed in 2023 (cropped). Photo: Steven Khan / Wikimedia Commons , CC BY 4.0 . When My Son Heard That MrBeast Was Coming to Uzbekistan In our family, MrBeast is a familiar name. Both of my sons have watched...

Shopping for children becomes a little different as they grow older. They begin to develop their own preferences, and finding something they like in the right size is not always easy. Garden 5 in Seoul is one of the shopping places we visit from time to time, as it is not far from our home. On a pleasant autumn afternoon, we decided to go there again, this time to look for clothes and shoes for my 10-year-old son. Although we did not end up buying the items we had planned, the afternoon gave us a chance to browse the stores, compare prices, and enjoy some family time. I thought I would share our experience, along with a few practical observations for parents considering shopping at Garden 5. An Autumn Afternoon on the Way to Garden 5 The weather was lovely that day. On our way to Garden 5, the autumn sky over Seoul looked especially beautiful, with soft clouds surrounding the city skyline. I could not resist taking a few photographs of Lotte World Tower along the way. ...

Some cities are so closely associated with their history that it is easy to forget they are also places where people live, work, shop, and carry on with everyday routines. Samarkand is one of those cities. Known for its blue domes, intricate tilework, and place along the ancient Silk Road, Samarkand is among Uzbekistan's best-known historical cities. I had the opportunity to visit Samarkand twice with a group of professors and colleagues from Korea, during different seasons. Both visits gave me a chance to explore its historical monuments and experience the markets, streets, and restaurants that make it a living city. The photographs in this post were taken during both visits, which is why the city may look a little different from one picture to another.  Samarkand's historic architecture was one of the highlights of our visit. Registan Square: The Heart of Historic Samarkand It is difficult to imagine Samarkand without Registan Square. Its three grand madrasahs, Ulugb...

Historic Bukhara, a city I have begun to see differently after years of living abroad. Bukhara is one of those cities where the past never feels very far away. Brick streets, madrasas, minarets and courtyards carry traces of its long history, while everyday life continues around them in different languages, traditions and rhythms. For me, however, Bukhara has always been more than a historic city. I was born and grew up there, although most of my everyday life was in the modern part of the city rather than its historic center. Old Bukhara was familiar to me, but it was not the neighborhood where I lived. During my high-school years, I went there from time to time because my school was nearby. Back then, I did not think much about the historical importance of what I was seeing. The Ark, madrasas, minarets and narrow streets were familiar sights. I probably paid much less attention to them than I do today. After living abroad for many years, I find myself l...