Sym Blanchard and I have a lively, informal discussion. Think of it as eavesdropping on a debate between long-time friends. Yes, I talk over and interrupt Sym, which is unprofessional for a typical interview, but meant to be a natural, fast-paced conversation.

00:00 Te Araroa09:40 Koreas uniting14:00 Shakespeare

Scott Williams, a hiking buddy of Sym and me, disagrees with Sym about the Te Araroa trail. Unlike Sym, Scott hiked almost all of it. Subscribe to get his take in 2026!

More from Sym

If you enjoy this philosophical episode, listen to the dozen episodes with Sym Blanchard!

In 2025, I catch up with one of the most remarkable 72-year-olds you’ll ever meet, Sym Blanchard!

This page features five episodes starring Sym.

Listen to all the episodes featuring Sym Blanchard since 2018!

* A 66-year-old Adventurer Shows How To Live A Meaningful Life in 2018 (one of the top 5 most popular WanderLearn episodes!)

* Traveling To Find One’s Ancestors in 2019

* Near Death on the CDT + Sym’s 60-Year Love Story in 2020

* Nine Shows Sharing Travel Wisdom Featuring Sym Blanchard in 2022

* Unstoppable 70-year-old Adventurer Sym Blanchard in 2023

Do cherry trees in South Korea produce edible cherries?

In the episode, Sym said, “No.” I was skeptical and fact-checked. This is what Perplexity.ai says:

Cherry trees in South Korea do produce fruit, but it depends on the variety. Native species like King cherry (Prunus yedoensis var. Nudiflora) and Korean mountain cherry (Prunus maximowiczii) produce edible fruit. The King cherry, native especially to Jeju Island, bears fruit but is primarily valued for its blossoms. Many ornamental varieties like the Yoshino cherry produce small, bitter fruit less suitable for human consumption, but can feed wildlife.

Summary:

* Native Korean cherries produce edible fruit.

* Ornamental varieties mainly produce less palatable fruit.

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