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The world seems to be slowly opening up again, doesn’t it? Travel is back on many minds and tourism is ramping back up in many economies, including here in South Korea.
The Blerd Explorer is just in time with his guide to Daegu, a city in southeastern South Korea. Depending on who you ask, it’s either the 3rd or 4th largest city in the country. Every time I’ve visited I’ve had a good time. Even so–this book makes me feel like I’m missing out! There is a lot to do in Daegu and this guide does a great job of highlighting how much fun the city is. There’s good food, green parks, hiking trails, night markets, festivals and so much more, all captured in great photos and clear text with a few fun anecdotes mixed in. The author did a fair bit of research as well and includes COVID-19 restrictions and schedule changes in helpful places. All of the spots mentioned in the book are collected in a handy index in the back. All in all, this is a much more thorough and exciting effort than the previous guide in the series (for the city of Incheon); although both guides are helpful, this one made me actually want to book a trip to Daegu ASAP.
One of the most interesting sections is a handful of travel testimonials from Black people who either live in or have visited Daegu. Daegu has a reputation for being a bit chilly to outsiders that has only increased since the city was the epicenter of Korea’s COVID-19 outbreak last year. Additionally, Black travelers face a unique set of challenges when we’re abroad–everything from stares to hair product challenges. The testimonials, all from seasoned Black American travelers, are thoughtful, detailed and will probably go a long way to set a Black travel newbie’s heart at ease.
My only quibble with this book is that there are quite a few typos and formatting issues. The info included is so helpful that I was largely able to ignore them, but Mr. Explorer! DUDE. We’re teachers! Get it together! 😂🤣😂
4.5 stars and a big serving of chicken and beer to The Black Traveler’s Guide to Daegu.
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