#derek4real

Driving around Lapland in the Arctic Circle reminds me of Siberia. The sheer beauty of the terrain is overwhelming...like stepping into a frozen winter wonderland. The crisp cool breeze, fresh air and pristine sea of snow around you have a strange but refreshing way of making you feel like the only one in this magical paradise.....except for whatever winter wildlife critter made those tracks in the snow 🐾 Sadly, that illusion is shattered as soon as someone speaks. And that's when the snowball fight begins 😉 #followupsiberia http://bit.ly/2TB9Rxf

Did you know North Korea has one of the tallest flagpoles in the world? It's right on the DMZ border between North and South Korea, and although it was once the tallest flagpole in the world, recently it has been pushed down to #4. They built it during a pissing contest against the South over who had the tallest flag at the DMZ. http://bit.ly/2yRZ4p1

Street art on the exterior of a building in Changdong Art Village, an entire neighborhood full of artists, art studios, galleries, workshops and more 🖌🇰🇷 #visitKorea http://bit.ly/2yAs3xr

When in Korea, do as the Koreans do. And since I don't want to be one of those guys drinking soju all day and passing out on the sidewalk, I'm going traditional and wearing a Korean hanbok. There are shops all around the palace to rent the clothing, plus it turns out that entry to the palace is free if you are wearing a hanbok -- which was also free thanks to the Discover Seoul Pass. Hooray Korea 🇰🇷 #visitKorea http://bit.ly/2xZrzk3

Deoksugung is one of the many temples in Seoul that is still preserved in all its original glory while the modern city grows around it http://bit.ly/2zsmbI6

This colorful village used to be a poor colorless neighborhood until about 9 years ago when the locals decided to revamp the area. Now Gamcheon is known for its steep streets, twisting alleys, street art and brightly painted houses, which have been restored and enhanced in recent years to attract tourism. And guess what.....it worked! #visitKorea http://bit.ly/2OBeN2k

Temples, temples, temples everywhere! When you get out of the big cities there is actually a lot of culture and history to explore around Korea 🇰🇷 #visitKorea http://bit.ly/2Nv8WOS

King Sejong The Great reigned in the early 1400's but is still one of the two most revered rulers in Korean history. He created the Korean alphabet that is still in use today (known as Hangul) and is famous for many other accomplishments, including stabilizing the nation, improving prosperity, and promoting the advancement of scientific technology. This 9.5m bronze statue was unveiled in 2009 with the creation of Gwanghwamun Plaza, a historical and cultural place featuring many attractions, exhibits and museums #visitKorea http://bit.ly/2wEYhrb