Downtown Daegu holds an annual street festival but this year it was expanded to a more ambitious project of shutting down the traffic street and holding a massive parade. A unique atmosphere was created turning this traffic zone into a cultural space for the weekend where people could leisurely stroll and engage in various cultural activities. The north half of Donseongno was a street bazaar a variety of food vendors and stalls. Items ranged from Uzbekistan Kebab...

The weekend street festival downtown was due to climax with an evening parade. This was the first time Daegu has hosted such a parade by shutting down a major traffic avenue. Many were lining the parade route for the hour leading up to the parade in anticipation and hoping to get a good view. I was a bit further up from the parade start route at Yangyeongsi the Herbal Medicine Street. Large overhead display screens had been set up so people could see the oncoming...

Many cities have a large urban park for its city residents to stroll and relax in. London has Hyde Park, Regents Park, and Hampstead Heath, Toronto has High Park, and New York has Central Park. Daegu has Duryu Park which takes up a large chunk of the city in the south west.I recently visited Duryu Park for the National Sports Festival as the Aquatic Events were being held there (see earlier entry http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-blog-e ntries/londone7/1/135033344...

Last friday myself and the other foreign english teacher from the UK were asked to judge the english festival singing contest. Classes were cancelled friday afternoon and we were brought to the broadcast room. In the other school I was never allowed in here so this was a first.Basically like a TV studio there is a desk with a curtain and we face a camera. Instead of a large camera facing us its a small security camera type one hidden in a glass ball. There is a c...

The highlight and finale of the Opening Ceremonies of the Daegu National Sports Festival was a performance by internet and international megastar PSY performing his breakout hit "Gangnam Style" The audience had been in wild anticipation all evening awaiting his arrival. There were already massive crowds backed up into the subway to get to the stadium to see the performance (see previous entry) Far from being a "one hit wonder" his opening act was not 'Gangnam Sty...