Around the World in Reality: South Korea

This trip was unlike any other I had taken before. Although I occasionally travel for work, international trips are a rare treat for me. When the opportunity arose to visit Asia, I simply couldn’t resist. Thus, I embarked on my first-ever trip to South Korea. Filled with a mix of excitement and nerves, I braced myself for an unforgettable adventure in Seoul and Jeju Island.

Travel Day

My travel began with a five-hour flight to Seattle, where I had a brief layover before continuing to Seoul. During the layover, I made sure to visit the Delta Sky Club—a delightful experience that surpassed my expectations. Unlike some other lounges, this one offered a commendable variety of food options suitable for pescatarians like myself. Additionally, their exquisite poinsettias were made to perfection. Overall, I would rate the Seattle Delta Sky Club a solid 9 out of 10.

The flight from Seattle to Seoul lasted approximately 12 hours, making it quite a journey. However, it soon dawned on me that I had made an oversight by forgetting to bring passion flower or melatonin to aid in sleep. I will delve into this oversight in more detail later.

Finally, on a Sunday evening, the plane touched down in Seoul, and without wasting any time, I hopped into a taxi and headed straight to the Nine Tree Premier Hotel Myeondong II. The hotel’s location was perfect for both work events and exploring the city, but for now, I was in need of some rest. I arrived at the hotel and promptly called it a night.

Day 1 – Monday, April 17

HIGHLIGHTS: Gyeongbokgung Tour, Nuldam Space – Gyeongbok Palace and Jihwaja

I woke up early and enjoyed a nice breakfast at the hotel. Eager to embark on my first adventure, I prepared to visit the Gyeongbok Palace. As a strong advocate for utilizing public transportation while traveling, I took advantage of the convenient kiosk in our hotel to create a transit card. Since Donnell wasn’t with me, I thought having a personalized card featuring both of us would be nice.

Arriving early, I had the opportunity to witness a practice session of the changing of the guard. Although I couldn’t fully grasp its significance at first glance, it turned out to be an intriguing preview of the upcoming event. Shortly after the practice, the official changing of the guard commenced—a truly captivating and unique experience that I was grateful to witness.

With the conclusion of this beautiful tradition, our tour began. Initially consisting of four members, our group was reduced to myself and a charming young lady from Malaysia who showed up. Our knowledgeable tour guide provided us with an intimate and engaging 90-minute tour.

After the tour, I decided to visit Nuldam Space, a café that caught my attention with its unique program. Visitors could write letters to themselves or others that would be mailed the following year.

As I contemplated what to write, I treated myself to a Vegan Ice Cream Croffle with Black Sesame (9.5) and an Elderflower Drink (9). It was my first time trying a croffle, and I must say, it will not be my last. The combination of cream and vegan ice cream was delightful, although the texture of the vegan ice cream fell slightly short, leading me to deduct half a point. As a lover of elderflower, I thoroughly enjoyed the drink, although I admit I should have mixed it before downing it. Nevertheless, it was a great choice.

For dinner, my colleagues and I had the pleasure of dining at Jihwaja, a unique establishment showcasing Korean royal court cuisine. Our meal consisted of approximately seven courses, accompanied by wine and makali, a traditional Korean rice liquor. While I wish I could provide more details about each course, I don’t have specific information. Nonetheless, the overall experience was nothing short of phenomenal, deserving of a well-earned 9 out of 10 rating.

Day 2 – Tuesday, April 18

HIGHLIGHTS: DDP and Doota Mall

I woke up early with the intention of exploring before starting my workday, and I made my way to Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP). This cultural complex houses various exhibitions, and I had the opportunity to explore two of them. The first was the Circulation of Placeness exhibition, which showcased the works of five teams of next-generation media artists. It was a truly unique and captivating experience. The second exhibition, TELE+VISION: Memories of the Future, focused on the history of TV design. It was fascinating to see the evolution of television over the years. Additionally, this exhibition included a small-scale rendering of the DDP itself.

After wandering around for a while, I stumbled upon a nearby mall. Inside, I discovered Olive Young, a Korean skincare store that carries a wide range of brands. I must admit, I felt a bit overwhelmed by the variety of options. However, I decided to play it safe and purchased sunscreen, knowing it was a reliable choice. To my surprise, I also came across kombucha packets, something I had never seen before, and I couldn’t resist buying them.

When it was time for lunch, I made my way to the nearby food court. Among the local vendors, I chose to order the spicy octopus dish (7.5). The dish itself was flavorful, but it turned out to be spicier than I had anticipated. The portion size was generous, and I couldn’t finish it all. To cool down my mouth, I sought out another store in the food court and treated myself to an iced Jeju Tangerine Green Tea (10), which was absolutely delightful and deserving of a perfect rating.

The remainder of my day was dedicated to work. During this time, I was overwhelmed by the immense hospitality shown by our alumni and friends. Although I won’t delve into the specifics, I can say that the experience was truly remarkable and left a lasting impression.

Day 3 – Wednesday, April 19

HIGHLIGHTS: Diamond, Museum of African Art and Daepo Jusangjeolli Cliff

For the next leg of my work travel, I headed to Jeju Island. After a quick 60-minute flight, I arrived around 8:30 AM and hopped into a taxi for a 40-minute ride to my hotel, Booyoung Hotel and Resort.

Upon our arrival, I wasn’t able to check in right away, so I had lunch at Diamond, a restaurant located within the hotel. I opted for the seabass (9.5), and it exceeded my expectations in terms of freshness and flavor. It was absolutely delicious.

Following my satisfying lunch, I felt a sense of curiosity and decided to explore a bit. I made my way to the nearby Museum of African Art, intrigued by the presence of such a museum on Jeju Island. I thoroughly enjoyed the museum and found the display of African textiles to be particularly captivating. 

Just across the street from the museum, I discovered the Daepo Jusangjeolli Cliff. This cliff, formed by volcanic activity, provided a tranquil and therapeutic atmosphere. After taking in its natural beauty, I took the scenic route back to the hotel, soaking in the picturesque views along the way.

Once I was finally able to check in, I dedicated the next few hours to work. Afterward, it was time to attend another reception with our alumni and friends. The venue had one of the most breathtaking view of the island, providing the perfect backdrop to witness a spectacular sunset.

As evening fell, we returned to Diamond Restaurant for dinner. This time, I opted for the halibut (8). It was very fresh and flavorful like the seabass, but I did enjoy the seabass more. Nonetheless, it was a solid choice.

Day 4 – Thursday, April 20

As I grappled with the challenges of adjusting to the time change, I decided to embrace the early morning hours and dive headfirst into my work routine. On this particular morning, I was fortunate enough to witness a mesmerizing sunrise from my room. The sight was absolutely stunning, capturing the essence of the island’s beauty.

Given the nature of the day, it was primarily dedicated to work engagements with our esteemed alumni and friends. The time was well spent, fostering connections and furthering professional collaborations.

Despite my busy schedule, I managed to steal a moment for myself and embarked on a leisurely walk, allowing me to stumble upon yet another enchanting view. I must confess that throughout my time on Jeju Island, not once did I encounter a view that failed to captivate me. The island truly holds an abundance of natural wonders and beauty.

Day 5 – Friday, April 21

HIGHLIGHTS: Aromind, Olympic Park, Rooted Seoul, Seoul Sky and Bar Geranium

I woke up early to head back to Seoul. Upon arrival, I took the subway to the Grid Inn, my hotel for the next 24 hours. Unfortunately, the room wasn’t quite ready for check-in, so I decided to grab lunch before starting my day of exploration. With the intention of dining near my first experience, I wandered around in search of an open restaurant. The restaurant I initially planned to visit was bustling with customers, making it impossible to secure a table. Instead, I settled for Cafe 4M. There, I ordered brunch (6) which consisted of French toast, hash browns, vegetables, and eggs. The meal was pretty average. Nothing particularly noteworthy to write home about. I also tried a Passionfruit Ade (7), which was pretty good, but a bit too tangy.

Next on my itinerary was an exciting experience at Aromind, where I delved into the world of perfume creation. The session began with an informative lesson on base, middle, and top scents. We then smelled various fragrances and rated them on a scale of 1 to 5. Once we completed the scent evaluation, we started combining different layers to create unique blends. After finding a combination we liked, we crafted a tester version to confirm our preferences. Finally, we produced a larger version of our chosen scent and were able to keep both samples. This hands-on perfume creation experience was truly remarkable and one I highly recommend to others.

For the second half of the day, I made my way south to Olympic Park, the site of the 1988 Olympics. It was a lovely part full of people enjoying the beautiful weather. Although time constraints limited my exploration, I took a short stroll to take in some fresh air before heading back to the subway.

As evening approached, I headed to dinner at Rooted Seoul, a nearby vegan restaurant. As soon as I walked in, I instantly fell in love with the vibe. After consulting with the cook for recommendations, I opted for the hummus plate (9.5). Unfortunately, my photo fails to do this dish justice. There was so much going on with this dish and it was absolutely delicious. The portion size was incredibly generous, as I found nearly all of my meals in South Korea to be.

Eager to take in the breathtaking views of Seoul, I headed to Seoul Sky, where I ascended 17+ floors to reach the upper levels of the building. While the experience was enjoyable, I couldn’t shake the feeling of slight movement in the building. I know this is a design feature of tall buildings, but it made me a bit uneasy. Despite my brief stay of around 30 minutes, the amazing views were absolutely worth it, and I would still recommend it.

To cap off the night, I decided to visit Bar Geranium for a unique sensory experience. This extraordinary bar engaged the sense of smell to influence one’s drink selection. Guests were presented with five different scents to determine their preferences, and based on their favorite aromas, they were offered three signature cocktails to choose from. My first choice was Vetiver, and I selected the Vetiver Seasonal Punch (8). The second fragrance I favored was Patchouli, leading me to try the Monsoon Forest (7.5). It was a fascinating experience to connect the sense of smell with the sense of taste in this way. If you know me, I rarely meet a stranger. My conversation with the bartender about whiskey led to a shot on the house.

Day 6 – Saturday, April 22

HIGHLIGHTS: Seoul World Cup Stadium and Cooking Class

With some spare time before my final experience, I decided to visit the Seoul World Cup Stadium. Although the website stated that tours began at 10 AM, I couldn’t spot anyone around. However, there was an open door that seemed to be the starting point for tours, so I ventured inside in hopes of finding a staff member to direct me. Even though I didn’t encounter anyone, I took the opportunity to explore the open area of the stadium. It was a very nice stadium that I would definitely return to for an official tour.

For my final experience in Seoul, I was excited to participate in a cooking class. Ever since my memorable cooking class in Madrid, it has become a must-do activity for me. First, I met our welcoming host and the other participants, and together we headed to a local market. The market tour itself was an incredible experience. Our host guided us through numerous stalls, introducing us to the various ingredients we would use in our class. Along the way, we had the pleasure of sampling a few delicious foods from the market.

After the market tour, we proceeded to our host’s home, where our cooking class would take place. Our first dish was dakgalbi, but as a pescatarian, I substituted mushrooms for the chicken. The second dish on the menu was a seafood pancake, which proved to be an exciting challenge as we attempted to flip it in the air. It was a lot of fun! Lastly, we prepared bibimbap, a visually stunning dish.

To conclude the class, we devoured the food we had cooked and enjoyed each other’s company. It was a fantastic class.

With my culinary adventure complete, it was time for me to make my way to the airport, bidding farewell to Seoul with fond memories and a satisfied palate. My first visit to my fifth continent was complete.

Final Thoughts

South Korea was great. I was impressed by the warm hospitality and accommodating nature of everyone I encountered. The city itself was easy to navigate, and it offered a wealth of experiences and cultural immersion. It’s difficult for me to choose a single favorite experience as the cooking class and the Aromind perfume class left a lasting impression on me. They were both exceptional in their own ways. Additionally, Rooted Seoul stands out as my favorite restaurant—a remarkable vegan dining establishment that left me in awe. Overall, my experience in South Korea was absolutely wonderful.