Fall time has been great here in Korea. The mountains of Busan, where I live and teach school, were  a patchwork of beautiful colors.  The markets are more colorful than ever with fruits and vegetables, many of which come from Jeju, a Korea island 100 miles to the south of the peninsula. 

November is coming to a close and the people are preparing for the winter, buying warm gloves, hats, coats and quilts. The memories of October’s many beautiful festivals will surely keep us warm for the months to come.

For example, the Andong Maskdance Festival brought people from not just Korea but all over the world to watch a variety of performances that date back to the early Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897).  

There was also the Yeogju Ginseng festival, where visitors harvested the root and were able to taste it in a variety of Korean dishes , most famous of which is Samgyetang (boiled chicken with ginseng, garlic and jujube fruits).

There was also the Busan Jagalchi Festival, located in the biggest fish market in the country. This was not a place for the squimish as Korean’s eat almost everything from the sea. 

Last but certainly not least was the Gwangju World Kimchi Culture Festival that featured the more than 100 varieties of Korean’s favorite food, Kimchi.

I fortunately was able to visit a few of these wonderful festivals and I hope that my pictures have captured a glimpse of this seasons beauty.

Andog Maskdance Festival participants.

Andog Maskdance headquarters.

A common street scene - a "fast food" vendor.

Here I am at during the Mask Festival.

The trees lining the city street are turning color here.