A little "ding" on my phone this morning — my Funky Food box had arrived. There's something strangely satisfying about opening a box of groceries you ordered yourself, and still feeling that little flutter of "ooh, what's in there" when you actually open it. Even though I already know roughly what's coming, unpacking it still feels like unwrapping a small present. So What Exactly Is Funky Food? If you haven't heard of it yet, Funky Food is an Australian grocery subscription s

Have you ever felt like dining out in Sydney is an absolute minefield due to food allergies? If you are someone who has to constantly ask, "Does this contain gluten, dairy, or eggs?" every time you look at a menu, I have some incredible news for you! Today, I am taking you on a journey to the heart of hip Newtown to introduce an absolute lifesaver of a cafe: Comeco Foods. Personally, I don’t suffer from severe, life-threatening food allergies. However, I notice that whenever

Today, I did something incredibly rewarding—I went and donated blood! It has been a very long time since my last donation, and it was actually my first time ever donating here in Sydney, Australia. When I was younger (or should I say, when I was a kid? Haha), I used to donate quite frequently. However, because I lived in the UK for a few years, I was barred from donating for a long time due to the strict restrictions surrounding Mad Cow Disease (vCJD) from that era, as resear

Now you can officially call me a lunchtime pianist! 🎹✨ I’ve recently started playing the piano at a local nursing home near my place during their lunch hour. It’s a weekly volunteer commitment that has quickly become one of the highlights of my week. Although I am just a hobby-level pianist, I am incredibly grateful to share whatever skills I have with others. Playing the piano during lunchtime The idea first came to me while I was doing my practical work placement for my Ce

Want to start meditating but not sure where to begin? These days, you don’t need to travel to a retreat to find peace. You can simply log on and learn how to meditate from the comfort of your home! All you need is a Zoom account, and you can join live virtual meditation sessions with people from all over the world. In this post, we’ve rounded up some of the best free online meditation communities you can join from anywhere. Not only do they offer flexible sessions that fit y

Last year, I started studying for my Certificate III in Individual Support (Aged Care & Disability) here in Sydney. By balancing online study with in-person classes on a part-time basis, I managed to wrap up all the theoretical coursework. These days, I’m in the middle of completing my 120-hour practical placement, working and learning on-the-job at a local residential aged care facility. Life has been incredibly busy lately because of this, but I’m learning so much every day

A few days ago, I was chatting with a friend, and we ended up talking about where most of our daily stress comes from. We both agreed: a massive chunk of it stems from human relations. There are times in life when interacting with others feels exceptionally heavy and draining. It could be a subtle tension with a co-worker, an unexpected sting of disappointment from an old friend, or recurring arguments with family—the people we care about most. When our feelings get hurt by o

Whenever I visit Brisbane, there is one place I always make a point of going back to — Brisbane Meditation. Tucked away in the suburb of Nundah, the centre is just an eight-minute walk from Nundah Station, which makes it wonderfully easy to get to without a car. The moment you step inside, you are met with a cosy, warm atmosphere that immediately puts you at ease. It genuinely feels like a place where everyone is welcome, regardless of where you come from or what you know abo

If you like the thrill of being on heights, this might be the place for you. There are hikes you do for the exercise. There are hikes you do for the views. And then there are hikes that quietly leave something behind — a thought, a moment, a reminder of something you didn't know you needed. This was one of those. Me standing on top of the Hanging Rock Our Little Running Crew Turns One Every other Sunday, I lace up my shoes and head out with a group of people I've come to genu

I’ve been volunteering as a meditation guide for more than 20 years, and recently I realized something surprising: I’ve never actually written a proper post introducing Sydney Meditation . How bad! 😅 Sydney Meditation So here I am, sitting in front of my computer, finally doing something I hope might help people who are searching for a real solution. After two decades of seeing people walk through our doors carrying the weight of the world, I’ve learned one thing for sure: e

나이 들수록 깊어지는 중년 우울증과 공황장애, 해결책은 없을까요? 마음수련 명상을 통해 마음속 '생각의 사진'을 비우고 삶의 활력과 행동력을 되찾는 방법을 확인해 보세요.

When the net is tightly knit, even small things will get caught. One evening, I joined one of our online meditation sessions. As usual, before we began, we were casually talking about the mind. That day, the topic was the judging mind —how we judge people and situations, often without even noticing it. We talked about how, in the end, it’s not the person we judge who suffers the most. It’s us. The judging mind creates noise inside our head, not theirs. That constant evaluati

The other day, I was walking outside in a light, misty rain. As the tiny droplets landed on my shoulders, a classic Korean proverb came to mind: “You don’t even realize your clothes are getting wet in a drizzle.” It’s a simple observation, but a profound one. A drizzle feels insignificant—so light you think it won’t matter. You don't even bother with an umbrella. But if you stay in it long enough, you eventually find yourself completely soaked to the bone. I shared this thoug

Hi everyone! Welcome back to my kitchen. Today, I’m sharing a recipe that is a literal lifesaver when you have nothing in the fridge but a few stray potatoes. Gamja-chae-jeon (감자채전) If you’re a fan of Hash Browns or Rösti , you are going to fall in love with Gamja-chae-jeon (감자채전) . Unlike the traditional Korean potato pancake where you grate the potato into a paste, this version uses thin strips (matchsticks). It’s faster, easier, and gives you that perfect "crispy on the

Hello everyone! Welcome back to the blog. Today, I’m sharing a recipe for one of my absolute favourite Korean side dishes ( Banchan ): Oi-Muchim (오이무침) . If you’re looking for something refreshing, spicy, and incredibly crunchy to brighten up your meal, this is it. It’s the perfect "emergency" kimchi substitute when you’re out of baechu-kimchi but crave that spicy kick! Oi Muchim : Spicy Korean Cucumber Salad (Oi-Muchim): The Perfect Kimchi Substitute Why You’ll Love This Rec

I recently received a message from a dear friend who found a story online that resonated with her deeply. After reading it, I knew I had to share it here. It is a powerful reminder of what we often take for granted, and it’s a story I want to keep close to my heart. The Magic Bank Account Imagine that you had won this prize in a contest: Each morning your bank would deposit $86,400 in your private account for your use. However, this prize has rules: Everything that you didn't

In a world obsessed with curation—curating our feeds, our appearances, and our achievements—it is easy to lose sight of what actually constitutes a life well-lived. Recently, I revisited a profound passage by the late Jang Young-hee , a beloved South Korean essayist and Professor of English Literature. Her life was not easy. Contracting polio as a child, she spent her life fighting the stigma of disability in a conservative society. Later, she battled cancer, which eventually

Hey, the Blue Mountains' Mt Solitary Loop track is finally open! It's gonna be awesome! When I heard the news, my initial reaction was a casual, "Oh, that's great, enjoy!" thinking the 'they' referred to just about anyone else. The response was swift: "Well, you're coming. That's why I'm telling you." What? Me? Mt Solitary? Again? It was one of the toughest hikes I'd done last year, and I'd sworn to myself that once was enough . But, that time, the loop wasn't fully open;

If the Answer Is Love, I Will Love Everything in This World The line is simple, yet overwhelming in its finality: "Now, if that answer is...

Sydney is getting ready once again for one of the most exciting cultural events of the year – the Korea Day Festival ! If you’ve ever...