- Seoul
- Busan
Seoul
Accommodation: Time Travelers Party Hostel. This hostel wasn’t the greatest. Definitely in the lower ratings side out of the year. The bunk beds seem to be fragile. The people we met were cool. I have a vivid memory of the bathroom door lock not being stable (literally the nails came out) and someone walking in on me!! That’s definitely something I can’t forget!
First day started,
•Gwangjang Market – 88 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
At the market, Tim and I tried many things. A popular Korean winter street snack – Bungeoppang (Taiyaki). A fish shaped pastry (with assorted fillings, pick your choice – red bean, custard, chocolate, cheese). Tried a bowl of spicy chicken bites. And tried fresh gimbap and steamed dumplings.
One of the more popular stories Tim and I bring home is the Michelin star beef tartar served with raw egg and live octopus and a bit of seasoning on the side. This was inside the market and there was a large line. We saw our bunkmates in line and joined them. The group decided to add a drink Makgeolli (Korean: 막걸리; lit. raw rice wine; [mak. k͈ʌɭɭi]), sometimes anglicized to makkoli (/ˈmækəli/, MAK-ə-lee), is a Korean alcoholic drink. It is a milky, off-white, and lightly sparkling rice wine that has a slight viscosity, and tastes slightly sweet, tangy, bitter, and astringent. -wikipedia. After lunch we separated our ways and promised to meet up again for dinner!
Dongdaemun Design Plaza – 281 Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea – spin chair, curved statues
Their convenient stores had fun looking flavorful snacks and ice creams
Saemaul Restaurant Hongdae Seoul – 144 Eoulmadang-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea – popular BBQ spot with long wait line. This was the first one Tim and I experienced upon arrival
Gyeongbokgung Palace – 161 Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea – first palace built in 1395. Very large to walk through, great lil house presentations, pretty trees and flowers, many statues
When Tim went to the border, DMZ (Demilitarized Zone)
I visited:
- Thanks Nature Cafe 10 Hongik-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea – I found this place randomly on google and after I enjoyed some latte, I met two cute lambs.
- Eggdrop Hongdae – 15 Hongik-ro, Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
- Shopping – Changcheon-Dong
Most often visited Changcheon-Dong, here there were street performances, more of a college crowd
We tried, James Chicago Pizza Sinchon (it was okay…) And fried chicken!! two different flavors + corn cheese = my fave side dish
train to Busan – looked EXACTLY like the zombie movie
Accommodation: Kimchee Busan Downtown Guesthouse – 20-8 Hwangnyeong-daero 7beon-gil, Busanjin-gu, Busan, South Korea. More spacious, beds were comfy. Segregated bathrooms (girls on one floor and boys on another)
Had a lot of browsing and randomly popping into stores:
•Gunam-ro 41beon-gil, Haeundae, Busan, South Korea – randomly popped in and ordered dumplings + baos, walked along the streets
•Haeundae Beach (visited multiple times)
•Bay 101 – Yacht Club walked by during the night sky
bought cute bus cards at 7/11 and ventured off to •Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, Busan – 86 Yonggung-gil, Gijang-gun, Busan, South Korea -Buddhist water temple!!
•Songjeong Beach – 송정해수욕장 – from the water temple we walked to Songjeong Beach. We passed a cute beach cafe, further on our walk we noticed how seaweed is dried out/layed out. We came across a buiser area and got a corn dog (ordered 2) There was an outside patio for soak in some vitamin D. We walked next to the beach and saw people surfing.
•Seomyeon Young Street – for dinner we had THE BEST BBQ. Cooked for you and very flavorful
For a night out we went back to few bars on Seomyeon Young Street – 이야우와 South Korea, Busan, Busanjin-gu, Bujeon-dong, 168 110번지 1층, we had pizza before the fun, stopped by an Irish Bar, Hit The Beach – 14 Seojeon-ro 10beon-gil, Busanjin-gu, Busan, South Korea, and more
more stops,
•Gamcheon Culture village – 203 Gamnae 2-ro, Saha-gu, Busan, South Korea- had to take a bus – known for the picturesque attraction featuring colorful houses, painted murals, shops & cafes. One doggo lived at the shop and reminded me of home ❤
•Nampo-dong is a central commercial and shopping area in Busan, South Korea – fish market, walked by here around sunset. Stumbled upon another market, came across a new restaurant where they cooked the beef, with cheese and rice.
•Pohang Dwaeji-gukbap – 27 Seomyeon-ro 68beon-gil, Busanjin-gu, Busan, South Korea
If you copy and paste the address above. I randomly found it on the map. It was an non-touristy spot. The only tourist was Tim and I. We tried a different kind of soup mixed with a lot of different/random pork parts and when the soup was placed on the table, you get to adjust your own salt and spice level. No one spoke English. It was tasty – if you’re feeling adventurous, I would go! Hard to find but worth the lil scanvenger hunt. It reminded me of a specialty Feijoada restuarant Tim and I visited near Floripa. This popular spot had all parts of the pig in their Feijoada.
LAST DAY of Busan well spent at •SPA LAND Centum City – 35 Centum nam-daero, Haeundae-gu, Busan, South Korea many saunas to choose from with different themes. Different degrees. Designed outdoor for foot spa, in the segregated (female/male) locker rooms there is an outlet for the hot springs. Spa land was for all ages. There is a movie section, food court, massage chairs.. gyms, literally paradise.
back to Seoul
Accommodation returning to Seoul Airbnb
End goal – bring a whole suit case dedicated for Korean skin care products!
Although, I notice some stores carry similar products as Olive Young, more like hidden gems if I stumble across them in America.
•N Seoul Tower – a good lil hike, reminded us of the walk up towards Taipei’s tower. At the top along the fence line there were locks.
Gogisalon – South Korea, Seoul, Mapo-gu, World Cup buk-ro 6-gil, 60 1층 another bbq spot where they cook for you
last meal we hauled our luggage to a small Chinese restaurant (ate fried rice, spicy wontons, soup) and hopped on the bus to the airport
Beyond Rose 
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