Making Each Day Count

My July trip to Seoul was my second time visiting during summer, and wow, it was hot. The heat and humidity reminded me so much of April in the Philippines that I almost forgot I was in Korea. I probably felt it even more this time because I spent most of my days walking around with my university friends, the same bunch I traveled to Bali with in early 2025.

I arrived a day later after a red-eye flight from Manila, dropped my bags at our hotel in Hongdae, and immediately caught up on some much-needed nap before meeting everyone.

Our reunion officially kicked off with lunch at Mangwon Market, one of Seoul’s charming neighborhood markets that’s packed with local food stalls and small family-run shops. We shared a fresh sashimi platter and gimmari (crispy seaweed rolls stuffed with glass noodles and deep-fried, usually served with spicy tteokbokki sauce). They were absolutely delicious, although the spice definitely didn’t help in the summer heat!

After lunch, we walked toward our next stop and found ourselves surrounded by some of the prettiest flowers in full bloom.
The Queen’s crape myrtle greeted us with its ruffled lavender-pink blossoms, followed by elegant panicle hydrangeas with creamy white cone-shaped blooms.

We also spotted the delicate pink spikes of the obedient plant, fuzzy foxtail grass swaying beside roses, cheerful petunias with dramatic purple veins, and finally, vibrant pink common crape myrtles that seemed to light up the streets.

With good food, great company, and beautiful flowers along the way, our Seoul adventure was off to a great start.

Stay tuned for Part 2 as our Seoul summer adventure continues.