Bianca In South Korea: Land Of Morning Calm

May 4th Introduction Saying goodbye to Seoul felt strangely emotional. For five weeks the city had been my home, a place filled with new routines, discoveries and quiet moments of reflection. But every adventure continues somewhere else and ours was about to take us further south to Busan. What followed were days by the sea, unexpected temple visits, hidden cafés and small moments that quietly turned into meaningful memories. Leaving Seoul: Bittersweet Goodbyes Sunday afternoon marked the start of a new chapter in our South Korea adventure… we left Seoul and boarded the KTX train to Busan. Looking back, I’m incredibly glad I booked the train tickets well in advance. May in South Korea is packed with national holidays like Children’s Day, Buddha’s Birthday and Parents’ Day. As a result, almost every KTX train was completely sold out. Luckily, we managed to secure seats on an afternoon train. Talk about good timing! Leaving my room (nr. 1102) felt a little bittersweet. That small space h...

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...