Mini blog: South Korea – why I want to visit again

At the Gyeokbokgung Palace - I was the photographer and you can tell how cold it was (or how averse we were to the cold)

South Korea – a country known for its unique cuisine and language, and the dynamic entertainment scene. I previously visited South Korea (more specifically, Seoul) with my family in 2018. Yes, back then, I hadn’t even thought of starting a travel blog! It was a 5 day 4 night tour package which covered key attractions like Nami Island and Lotte World.

Places we visited (and want to go again):

Bukchon Hanok Village: With the little wooden houses originating from the Joseon era, this village makes you feel like you’re back in the ancient dynasty period. Will definitely be back to explore the sprinkle of cute shops in the village, which I didn’t manage to cover during the tour. Tip: Combine this with a visit to the nearby Gyeokboggung Palace (so that you can appreciate the history and culture that originated from one of the most famous eras in South Korea ) – and start early as the Hanok Village can get really crowded with people taking photos of their Korean costumes.

The Palaces (Gyeokbokgung and Changdeokgung): Both palaces are UNESCO heritage sites and so worth to visit. Gyeokboggung Palace was first built in the Joseon era and you need to pay a small fee to enter. Don’t forget to catch the change of guards ceremony which are conducted twice a day. In comparison, I felt that while Gyeokbokgung was built to impress, Changdeokgung was built to harmonise with the surroundings of the city. Don’t miss out the Joseon-era garden hidden within Changdeokgung!

Nami Island: If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of Seoul, Nami Island is for you. However I’d recommend to visit in spring or autumn as the highlight of the island is the nature (forests) which are most beautiful in spring/autumn. The pine tree lane and gingko lane are Instagram-worthy spots, especially in autumn! We visited in winter and it was still an enjoyable experience with thick heaps of fallen snow – but it was really, really cold. Want to spend endless hours strolling through nature and getting the best pictures? Highly recommended to visit in spring/autumn when you wouldn’t be spending half the time warming up your hands or layering your puffer jackets!

Had a-lotte fun at Lotte World!

Korean food:

Korean food makes my top-5 favourite cuisines list and it started with the trip to South Korea! Among other dishes, my standouts were Samgyeopsal (pork belly grilled on barbecue plates – which goes so well with Soju but I was underage back then!) and Korean stew/jjigae (various meats with vegetables in a big pot of soup). Stay tuned for my upcoming post on Korean food!

Mom always loves a hot stew!

Final thoughts:

Seoul to me felt like my home country Singapore – fast paced, crowded, and bustling. Am looking forward to visit Jeju island and Busan hopefully next year!

Tried skiing for the first time in my life at Yeongpyeong Ski Resort