Journey to the Soul of Korea
- Thao Chu
- Jan 14, 2019
- 3 min read
Fun Fact #1: The right way to pronounce "Seoul" is kinda similar to the word "soul", not "Se-un"...
Fun Fact #2: So many Koreans asked us about Park Hang Seo when they knew we're from Vietnam. And when I say many, that includes airport custodians and taxi drivers! #AFFCup2018Champion
Fun Fact #3: My departure to Seoul was not an easy one, but I managed to get to Seoul in one piece after paying more than $700 and a sleepless night on the phone with Korean Air and Orbitz.
The highlight of this trip, besides having my boyfriend as a companion, was breathing in the young city vibes every day. Imagine walking out of the house every morning in the warm winter, strolling down the busy streets to grab good coffee, knocking off the touristy places, then wandering around fashion boutiques and stopping by some random food stalls to feel local. The city is a contrast of historical and modern feels; Palaces are located in the heart of Seoul, with traditional hanbok gliding inside the wall and buildings poking the sky just outside. A Buddhist temple remained quiet and sacred despite the busy street of Gangnam.
One new thing I learned is Google Maps doesn't work in South Korea for some national security reasons. The alternative was Naver App, which provides all walking, driving, and public transportation directions. Some locations are not recognized in Latin alphabet, but you can just google the English word and copy paste the Korean version. It's actually quite easy to use after being lost a few times lol...However, taking the unnecessary longer route is a blessing in disguise, as it led us to so many unexpected stops such as:
Travel Café
42-8 Naksan-gil, Ihwa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
The first, and my most favorite destination, is a rooftop cafe called Travel. We passed it while breathlessly climbing the hill to Ihwa Mural Village. Their menu was pretty traditional with lattes and mochas, but the view was spectacular. From the rooftop, you can enjoy the bird-eye's view of the non-modern part of Seoul, filled with irregular rows of steel roofs and led string lights.
The lesser known Korean dishes...
The love of my life: spicy chicken feet.
Almost every food stall at Gwangjang market has chicken feet, but the best must be that in Myeongdong. What makes these better? They are grilled with fire and melted cheese!
Another dish I've never heard of before is Dak Galbi. We stopped by a random place near Nami Island and realized this is the signature food in the area. It is simply a pan of chicken stir-fried with cabbage and seaweed rice, yet the ingredients make the blended flavors really tasty to eat!
Petite France Cultural Village
At first, we were not at all attracted to this French-looking village, since it seems artificial with a lot of human's touches. However, since we cannot find a day tour to Nami Island without this, we had no choice but give Petite France a shot. To our surprise, the place is a true definition of how cute (in its most literal meaning) Korea is. The childlike theme with cartoonish paintings, colorful tiny LED bulbs, pastel alleys, and Christmas decor definitely added uniqueness to the village. It felt like Wonderland walking through the lighted arches and looking over the magnificent mountains from the flowery observation deck.
Last but not least, the Gangnam Style statue
...in the middle of the wealthy Gangnam district.
No regrets we decided to stay just in Seoul for 5 days. There was still so much more to see and experience, but we were glad we didn't stick to a strict itinerary. To truly feel the vibes of such a cute place like Seoul, allow yourself to wander. Leave space for spontaneity. Let yourself be lost. There's when profound discoveries are made!
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