Bianca In South Korea: Land Of Morning Calm

Today was Arthur’s birthday, his very first one in South Korea. And of course, I had a little surprise prepared for him… Korean-style. A few days earlier, I picked up a bowl of miyeok-guk (미역국), or seaweed soup, from a local shop. In Korea, this soup is traditionally eaten on birthdays. It’s more than a warm meal, it carries a deeper meaning. Miyeok-guk is a symbolic dish that honors Samsin Halmoni,  the goddess who watches over childbirth and mothers. By eating miyeok-guk  on your birthday, you’re essentially paying quiet tribute to your mother for bringing you into the world. A Quick Stop at Daiso In preparation, I also made a quick stop at Daiso; the famous one-stop shop where you can find almost anything. There seems to be one on nearly every corner in Seoul and it’s where many Koreans often go for affordable everyday items: household goods, beauty products, kitchenware, snacks, pet supplies, stationery and plenty of quirky little things you didn’t know you needed.  ...

The weather was absolutely perfect, a solft blue sky with some clouds, the kind of day you want to spend outside. After a simple breakfast of cereal and instant coffee, Arthur and I set off to explore some beautiful spots on the north side of the Han River. I wanted to start at Euljiro 3(sam)-ga Station and to keep things simple, we walked to Gangnam Station (Line 2) so we could take the subway  there without any transfers. A quick tip when navigating Seoul’s subway system: always check which Exit you need before arriving. Many stations are enormous beneath the streets and choosing the right exit can save you quite a bit of wandering. A Stroll Along Cheonggyecheon Stream When we stepped out of the station, we found ourselves surrounded by a fascinating mix of tiny neighborhood shops selling all kinds of odds and ends, standing side by side with towering construction sites reshaping the city skyline.  From there, w e made our way to one of my favorite places in Seoul: Cheonggye...

After two unforgettable months in South Korea, I’m finally back home. The final weeks of my journey were a whirlwind of travel and adventure, which meant I didn’t always have time to write and publish blog posts in the moment.  Now that I’m back home, I’m slowly catching up on the last days of my journey, especially the three weeks Arthur and I spent traveling together through South Korea. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ A Last Night Out in Hongdae My solo time in Seoul ended with a fun night out in Hongdae.  After saying goodbye to my friends, I got out of the taxi in Gangnam and walked the last fifteen minutes to my accommodation. While walking through the quiet streets, I texted my husband Arthur, who was just about to board his flight to Incheon. At one point he asked me if I knew what time it was.  Of course I did… it was still seven hours earlier in the Netherlands 😉. During my stay in Seoul I walked through the streets of Gangnam twice in the early hours of the morning and both time...