May 1 - 25: After My Solo Stay in Seoul - The Start of Our 3-Week Adventure Together (Part 1)

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.

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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 times, I felt completely safe. There was a quiet calm to the city at that hour and not once did I feel uneasy. 

It’s one of the things I really came to appreciate about Seoul: even in the stillness of the night, there’s a comforting sense of security.

Coffee, Rain and a Clever Invention

After a short night of sleep, I woke up early. Because the cleaners were already working and before they wanted to clean my room, I had a quick breakfast of cereal and instant coffee. 

It was raining outside, so I grabbed my small umbrella and walked to a large Starbucks near Sinnonhyeon Station (Line 9) for a proper coffee: a large caffè latte.

At the entrance, I noticed something I had already seen before in other places when it was raining, but this time I took a closer look. 

It was a clever device with an umbrella symbol on it, showing how to swipe your wet umbrella dry before entering. What a simple but brilliant invention!

With my coffee in hand, I sat down and read a few pages from the two small Korean Children’s books I had bought the day before at Kyobo Book Center, a large bookstore near Sinnonhyeon Station. 

An Unexpected Moment at the Bookstore

During my quiet visit to the bookstore the day before, I had one of those unexpected travel moments that stay with you. 

While browsing the shelves, I struck up a conversation with one of the security guards. To my surprise, he had lived in Germany for many years, he was even married there before returning to South Korea after his divorce. 

When he realized I spoke German too (even though I’m from the Netherlands), his face lit up.

There was something heartwarming about connecting through a language neither of us was ‘supposed’ to speak in this setting. 

He kindly helped me ask one of the staff members to find some Korean children’s books, as I was hoping to practice my reading. 

And just as I was sifting through the shelves, another customer approached me. She had overheard our conversation and recognizing the German, asked if I needed help. She, too, had lived in Germany for quite some time and seemed happy to offer a few book suggestions. 

With a warm smile, she asked if the books were for my children.

I had to laugh a little inside. 

I explained that they were actually for me, just trying to get a handle on Korean in the gentlest way possible. 

It was such a small moment, but a meaningful one. Strangers in Seoul, brought together for a brief moment by a shared language from another chapter in our lives. 

These are the kinds of connections that remind me why I love to travel. Not just to see new places, but to feel the world open up in the most unexpected ways.

A Quiet Morning in Gangnam

Back at my accommodation, I treated myself to a relaxing face mask from Olive Young and enjoyed a few peaceful hours before heading to the airport.

Soon it was time to leave for Incheon Airport. I took Airport Bus 6009 from Gangnam, feeling excited and maybe a little dreamy, about the next part of the journey: three weeks exploring South Korea together with Arthur.

Reunited at Incheon Airport

I arrived at Incheon Airport quite early, excited and a little bit nervous. Arthur’s flight was scheduled to land at 16:25. 

To make his arrival a bit smoother, I had already picked up a T-Money card for him and loaded it with 20,000 KRW so he could immediately use the bus or subway.

The big arrival board showed that his flight was actually ahead of schedule, but it still took quite a while before he finally appeared through the arrival doors.

Later, Arthur explained what had happened: another plane was still parked at their gate, so the captain had to wait and eventually dock at a different spot to let everyone off. That delayed everything a little.

But the moment we finally saw each other again after five weeks apart, none of that mattered anymore.

It was simply wonderful to be reunited.

An Unexpected Route Back to Gangnam

Getting to Incheon from Gangnam was easy enough earlier that day. I had taken the airport limousine bus and paid with my T-Money card (17,000 KRW) for a smooth and direct ride.

Naturally, I assumed we could do the same on the way back. 

But no, turns out, you can’t use a T-Money card for the busride from the airport unless you’ve bought an actual bus ticket at a machine. 

Since I didn’t really feel like doing that, that option was off the table.

So, onto Plan B: the subway. 

And honestly? It turned out to be a great choice. 

Not only was it much cheaper (just 5,100 KRW), but it was also fast and straightforward. Just one easy transfer at Gimpo Airport onto the Express Line 9, straight to Sinnonhyeon Station.

Our First Dinner Together in Seoul

Back in Gangnam, Arthur unpacked his suitcases, freshened up, and then we headed out for a relaxed walk and dinner. 

I took him to a restaurant I’d already visited twice with friends; it’s quickly becoming a favorite.

They serve a delicious jjajangmyeon (짜장면), a comforting dish made with thick noodles in a rich, savory black bean sauce with onions (and meat, if you want). 

I couldn’t resist and ordered it again, along with a bottle of soju. 

Arthur wanted to try a soup, even though I warned him it might be too spicy. 

He bravely gave it a try… 

…and ended up eating half of my meal instead. 

Classic.

The Perfect Start to the Next Chapter

The rain had stopped and the night was clear, so we enjoyed a little walk through Gangnam before heading back. 

It had been a full day, travel hiccups, unexpected connections, a joyful reunion and a familiar bowl of  noodles.

Not a bad way to start this next chapter of our time in Seoul.

And this was only the beginning of our three-week adventure through South Korea together.