Travel Warms My Soul - A Journey to Seoul, Korea

I loved watching K-Dramas so much, I knew I just had to visit Korea. A skewed perception of reality through TV shows I know, but I wanted to discover for myself what it was really like. The natural beauty of the country, its people, food, culture and traditions all beckoned. I was so excited, and so in August last year I convinced my family to join me on a quick 1 week trip. It was to celebrate a milestone Birthday of mine for which I am extremely grateful to be in a position to do so.

My sister wanted to visit Japan for 3 nights as she hadn't been before so we made the crazy decision to stay 3 nights in Seoul, fly to Osaka and then back to Seoul for one night! Would I recommend this - NO! Four nights was definitely not enough.

We stayed at Arirang Hill Hotel Dongdaemun a good option for families with comfortable rooms, friendly staff, onsite restaurant and a cafe on the ground floor. The surroundings were great with lots of little restaurants, cafes, convenience stores and ideally located very close to the Sungshin University Women's Subway Station.

It is a 7 minute subway ride from here to Dongdaemun Station.  From here you can explore the Dongdaemon Design Plaza (DDP) an iconic cultural and social hub. The DDP is an architectural masterpiece designed by Zaha Hadid that is a very futuristic design resembling a spaceship. It is the worlds largest 3D amorphous structure in the world. None of its over 45,000 exterior panels are the same. With the existing technology available it would have taken 20 years to build. Thankfully Samsung helped and invented the technology to produce these panels and it was built in 4 1/2 years. That in itself is unbelievable, it really is an amazing feat of architectural and technological genius.

Nearby is the Cheonggyecheon stream featured in many K-Dramas. The stream flows for 10.84km through Seoul from Gwanghwamun to Dongdaemun and is a beautiful spot for walking. Light displays and features, and several festivals are centred around the stream which also weaves its way close to many nearby tourist attractions. We also visited a large market in Dongdaemun close to DDP.

Myeongdong, the most popular tourist destination in Seoul is a short subway ride from Dongdaemun.  The famous Myeongdong Night Market is definitely a must see. With food trucks, all types of shopping, music and a throng of people it is such a lively spot to explore. I loved the oreo churros, starchicken anyone? which made me laugh and the best was the toasted marshmallow with ice-cream in the centre.

We also visited a cat cafe which my family really wanted to try.  I personally think it is cruel as the cats seemed very sedated, half are awake but very docile and the other half are asleep. My family did however enjoy the experience with a free drink each included.

Another bucket list while in Korea was - I had to try Korean chicken, in Korea. Sounds corny but it really is one of my favourite foods and paired with Kimchi it truly is the best! You can accompany it with beer, however I like it with Soju. Added bonus, Soju from a convenience store costs around 1900 won (around $2AUD) versus $13AUD in Australia. I would also recommend bibimbap (really delicious) and gimbap (similar to sushi) for food to try and my daughter likes the cheesy tteokbokki (rice cakes) because it is not so spicy.

Travel to the heart of Seoul, and you will find Gyeongbokgung Palace which means "to receive great blessings" a potent reminder of a by-gone era, contrasting beautifully against the backdrop of a thriving modern city.

Gyeongbokgung Palace was the first royal palace of the Joseon dynasty established in 1395 and the Geunjeongjeon area was destinated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2023.It is now a major tourist destination showcasing stunning architectural masterpieces and peaceful gardens scattered over the sprawling grounds. It is free entry for anyone who wears hanbok - traditional Korean dress, children 6 and under and seniors 65 and over. A nominal fee of 3000 won for adults or children aged 7 -18 years 1500 won. It is closed on Tuesdays but may be open if a public holiday falls on a Tuesday. Please refer to the official site for up to date details. We went in late August so it was very hot. Remember to dress for the season such as a hat and sunscreen and to bring water as you explore this enchanting memory of a moment in time.

We were lucky enough to witness the changing of the guard ceremony which re-enacts the Changing of the Royal Guard using traditional uniforms, instruments and weapons. The ceremony takes place at 10am and 2pm daily (except Tuesday) in front of the main gate of Gyeongbokgung.

The highlight of our trip for me was an enchanting evening visiting the NSeoul Tower area in Namsam Park. To reach the area its a quick cable car ride to the top of Namsam mountain. We didn't feel the need to go up the tower as we were already surrounded by outstanding views overlooking the city.

The area is world renowned for the sea of love lockets made famous by many a K-Drama. This was one of the main reasons to come so we could put a love locket for our family in amongst the seemingly endless ones being added to everyday.

The theme of love continues with a giant pink teddy bear in the square which you can write on with your fingers against the material and the giant heart near the restaurants.

It really is one of the most romantic places in the world.

For our last night in Seoul we chose to stay at The Classic 500 Pentaz Executive Residence. The apartment style accomodation meant we could all be together and offered the opportunity to explore another district of Seoul. The hotel located in Gwangjin-gu has all the facilities you would expect from a five star hotel. The area is great with many shops and a nearby Lotte Department store. My sister and daughter enjoyed a soak in the hot spring spa pools after a long day out.

Seoul is the beauty capital of the world. My daughter, sister and myself all stocked up on their famous face masks and many other beauty products. My daughters favourite beauty store was Olive Young, one of the leading players in South Korea's health and beauty store industry. She visited several stores including one in Myeongdong, one opposite our stay at the Arirang Hotel and together we visited the one close to The Classic 500 Pentaz.

I believe true beauty comes from within. We should also honour and respect our bodies and our minds with some pampering and TLC if it makes us feel good.

We spent our last day travelling to the world famous Gangnam district, a very affluent area of Seoul where you just might spot a celebrity. The main reason we wanted to go there was to visit the Starfield Library.  An amazing open library housed within the COEX mall. Shops and cafes surround the pillars of books which are displayed in a truly creative way.

Koreans are friendly, polite and welcoming and we had very few problems interacting in English. Would we go again - absolutely. In hindsight I wished we had stayed at least one week, preferably two to really unwind and appreciate the journey. I would have loved to have continued further south to Daegu, Busan and Jeju Island.

Seoul was more than we expected. Although a very modern society, the depth of the culture is prevalent everywhere you go, woven so intrinsincally into the people, places and things that its seamless balance will leave you captivated.

 

Melanie Saint-James is a writer for IDARES CENTRAL.

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