Making Each Day Count

Hi there! Can you believe September’s almost coming to a close? How has your month been so far?

I was looking forward to this month because this was when D and I would have the chance to visit Seoul, South Korea, once again. The last time we went there was in 2013, and for years we’ve attempted to get our Korean visa renewed but it had been difficult. Prior to 2020 the queue to getting a Korean visa could take up to three months – which didn’t work for us because our jobs sometimes entail impromptu overseas trips. Finally, early this year we got to have our visa renewed, and when Philippine Airlines had a seat sale, I immediately booked us roundtrip tickets from Manila to Seoul.

Our flight was at 1:20 AM on Friday, and coming from work I’ve been so tired I was immediately asleep as soon as I buckled my seatbelt. When I woke up and opened my window to see if anything can be seen outside at all, the first thing that caught my eye was the splash of pink, orange and dark blue sky from the sunrise. I counted this as my first blessing as I only ever get to witness the beauty of the sunrise during vacations. We landed at Incheon Airport after four hours. Before taking the airport limo bus to Gangnam Station, we first picked up our sim card and transportation card at the LG kiosk in Terminal 1. Though I read that most of the places in Seoul have Wi-Fi, we’ll need our data when we use the apps we downloaded prior to the trip. I read that Google Maps was not as widely used in Seoul, and so I had my Naver app ready, and, in case we’d need to take the taxi, I also have the k.ride app on my phone.

On Day 1 we walked to Starfield Coex Mall where the much-hyped Starfield Library was located. Though it was a bit packed, it was fun to see. D did a bit of shopping and got himself a pair of sneakers which were hard to find in the Philippines. I, on the other hand, was content with our Korean cuisine dinner. On our way home we stopped by a cute little cafe for dessert and drinks.

On Day 2, D and I took the bus to Suwon, a charming city about an hour’s ride from Gangnam Station. As we wandered the streets of Suwon, we were drawn to its character – there were quaint shops, pockets of parks, bike paths, Instagram-worthy cafes and restaurants. The overall vibe was relaxed, making us enjoy our leisurely stroll.

We had lunch before we made our way to the Suwon Museum of Art. It was a spacious museum of abstract art, paintings and sculptures, and they also held some immersive activities.

After about an hour, D and I headed to the Hwaseong Haenggung, a historical palace by King Jeongjo. It was a hot and humid day, so I was thankful I did not forget to bring an umbrella. We were hoping to go up the hill for a vantage point view of Suwon, but the road uphill was unfortunately closed off. At around 3:30PM D and I walked back to the bus station and were drawn to a cool cafe called Frank Coffin Bar where we stopped by for iced coffee and waffle.

Day 3 was a Sunday, and we hopped on the bus from Gangnam Station to Insadong Culture Street. It was filled with shops where we got a couple of souvenirs. There were also street food vendors, so we tried out some street food.

Afterward we walked over to Gwanghwamun Square, a familiar spot we had visited before. Because it was a Sunday afternoon the place was bustling with activity. I enjoyed the energy around us – people walking about, and children laughing as they played in the water fountains. There were colorful bean bags, and some bookshelves set up in a section of the square, forming the Seoul Outdoor Library. I wished we could have stayed until sundown to read a book (or in my case an e-book), but we had to get going for our early dinner. As we walked further, we stumbled upon a K-food festival. We were tempted to have our dinner there, however the queues were not in our favor, so we reluctantly decided to look for a restaurant instead.

A few hundred meters away was the Cheonggyecheon, a serene stream with walkways that serve as a recreational area and a retreat for both locals and tourists. I often see it Korean dramas and seeing it in person was quiet a thrill. We lingered there until sunset, captivated by the steady sound of the flowing water, the idyllic glide of the ducks and the statue-like stand of a crane.

Finally D and I found a quietly tucked Korean restaurant nearby where we enjoyed the banchan appetizers that often feel like a full meal themselves. I have always had a soft spot for Korean food, and I’d say checking out a variety of restaurants and street carts was probably the highlight of our trip. As a foodie, every meal felt like an adventure, offering something new and memorable.

Stay tuned for the part 2 of my Korea adventure blog!