It’s time to visit South Korea!!!
Traveling to South Korea had long been on my itinerary. It always seemed to be a country that was unfathomed and a little out of reach. Many do not significantly ‘travel’ to Korea as the US, and Europe are the most preferred choices, keeping it as the least favored destination, this also appealed to me.
The thought of facing, and dealing with huge cultural and language barriers didn’t bother me at all – After having voyaged to various places, I’m a hardened, free-spirited traveler and was excited to experience the new things Korea had in store. With 4 weeks to pass through the country, I had time for a few hitches along the way and prepared for the bout. That’s often the best way to learn I believe.
Regaled with the thought of how amazing South Korea would be, I plummeted with an idea and set out on a journey to Korea. March-April is the best time to visit South Korea (the cherry blossom season)
I started my journey from Bangalore – Bangkok – Seoul. Thanks to the technical glitch, the flight halted in Taipei (Taiwan) for 7 hours, allowing me to enjoy the premium business lounge and had a good 2 hour nap and also herbal tea. After landing, I straight headed to the Lotte hotel which was on Hongdae street.
I didn’t have any particular South Korean schedule, instead, I just landed in the capital ready for a sporadic escapade. I grew to love the arty side of Seoul, choosing the jazzy Hongdae as my base and enjoying the atmosphere of Itaewon and Gangnam which is best seen when the sun goes down. From huge markets, old villages, historical palaces, entertainment districts, and shopping plazas, there was always something new to try to seek out daily. For the coffee scene, Seoul’s array of cafes and coffee roasters will most certainly keep you occupied & It took no time to realize ‘ A Twosome Place’ would be my 2nd most favorite coffee shop after ‘Kaffe Alt Wein’ in Vienna.
The next day, I head out and start exploring it further starting with “Myeong-Dong Street”. I decided to explore this street and indulge in some street food and shopping. I picked some winter coats for myself (apparently, could wear them only during my next visit to Hungary)
One pro tip: when street shopping in Seoul, do bargain a bit if you think the price is too high or not worth it. But otherwise, everything that I got was like a steal deal and of very good quality.
Also, since the Korean currency “Won” is lower than the Indian rupee, shopping in Korea is a treat.
My visit to Seoul couldn’t have been completed, had I not visited “Lotte World Tower”. It is the highest building in South Korea with an observation deck on the 118th floor to get a stunning & panoramic view of the entire Seoul city. One evening, I decided to visit some underground markets. Underground markets are very popular culture in South Korea. Everything is super affordable.
The breathtaking view from “Namsan Seoul Tower” And the bridge full of love locks is a beautiful sight to have witnessed, very similar to the one found in Paris.
One day, I decided to travel the miles and I hired a cab to go to the famous “Nami Islands”. I learned about ‘Nami Islands’ from my sister who is an avid follower of ‘Korean Dramas’ like most millennials. Besides offering a peaceful escape from the bustle of Seoul, it served as a beautiful setting in various popular Korean dramas, with its exceedingly picturesque landscape round-the-year.
The best part of this island was its breathtaking beauty. The tall trees, and the red, yellow, and orange-fell leaves made the island look like a colorful painting. I got to experience autumn in South Korea. It felt more like a live scene from the Korean Dramas I watched with my sister on TV occasionally.
I believe the food we eat is intricately entwined with our culture. One can ascertain a lot about a particular culture by exploring their food habits and tradition.
Amongst the gamut of Korean Cuisine, Bibimbap, stands out. A hot stone bowl filled with cooked rice topped with vegetables, pickled Chinese radish, carrot, and mushrooms, with egg yolk and raw meat as popular additions. Another familiar treat is kimchi, a Lacto-fermented Chinese leaf seasoned with chili. Not to forget the world-famous ‘Korean Barbecues’ & ‘Bulgogi, where the meat of different forms is marinated in soy sauce, sugar, and pear juice, then cooked on a hot plate.
Interestingly, many Koreans don’t feel that it’s been a real Korean-style dinner unless ‘soju’ Korean rice wine is involved. (Now soju is a part of my wine collections)
TRAIN TO BUSAN !
Having watched the movie titled’ TRAIN TO BUSAN’ it was indeed an exhilarating train journey to Busan from Seoul. Traveling to Busan by train is Perhaps the most convenient way covering 330 Kms in a short time of 2.40 hours. KTX was the perfect option for me.
Rest assured, there were no undead zombies on board the train to Busan.
Busan, being the second-largest city in South Korea, boasts white sandy beaches and a galore of Seafood. Besides, it also holds a renowned ‘Busan International film festival’ at BIFF Square, worth a visit for any fans of engineering or architecture to see the world’s longest cantilever roof.
while Gamcheoan Culture Village gives you a glimpse of a past era, the Danubi train Ride to the famous Taejongdae cliff, with several stops to enjoy the best views of the magnificent rocky seaside cliff. The spectacular sea surprised us with the different shades of blue.
The scenic view of Songdo beach as we walked the path on Songdo Skywalk was worth the risk, the glass floor walking paths enabled me to look down at the blue ocean water!
The time spent across various regions including Jeju Islands lent me huge insight into the history and well-retained culture of South Korea and the technical prowess they have fostered. No surprise they have the fastest internet speed in the world & free WIFI covering the major cities.
This scenic, friendly country is more than a food & shopping paradise. My days in Korea were truly memorable and enjoyable, and I can’t wait to make another visit.
Gumsahbnida ( Thank you) is the only word I could still remember out of all I learned.
Take me with you next time.