Bianca In South Korea: Land Of Morning Calm

22nd May Our final travel day in South Korea started simply, yet perfectly, with a sweet breakfast and a big latte at Starbucks. I know it’s not everyone’s favorite, but honestly… I just love their coffee. By noon, we checked out of Ibis Ambassador Suwon, picked up our car from the garage and set off under a cloudy sky. Our destination: Incheon International Airport Terminal 1, just about an hour’s drive away. A Journey in Circles This trip truly felt like coming full circle.  The airport sits on an island, connected to the mainland by impressive brigdes. This time, we drove across the breathtaking Incheon Bridge. A completely different experience from my arrival, weeks ago, via the Yeongjong Grand Bridge. The contrast was striking: The Yeongjong Bridge: functional, layered, connecting road and rail The Incheon Bridge: wide, elegant and dramatic with its towering pylons and fan-like cables At 21 km long, it’s the longest cable-stayed bridge in South Korea and without a doubt the mo...

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.  ...