On
the second last day in Korea, which was spent in Seoul (GANDWON-DO & JEJU THROUGH MY LENS) e skipped the usual
hotel buffet breakfast and were taken to an eatery instead. Remember, I told
you how it's difficult to figure out the names of eateries in Korea, as the
signboards are all in Korean? By the time we walked in, it seemed it was almost
the end of breakfast. The tables were a mess, created by previous tour groups
who had already eaten and left. It felt like we were helping ourselves to the
remnants of the dishes, and the staff seemed uninterested in serving us.
Nevertheless, we helped ourselves to pumpkin porridge and spinach porridge,
along with Kimchi soup and side dishes. Despite the initial chaos, it was
a pleasant meal.
Next, we headed to the heart of Seoul.
Another bustling city with a rush of life, we walked alongside big groups of
Chinese tourists as we began our shopping spree. First, we visited the National
Ginseng Center, followed by a bird's nest outlet, where my travel buddies were
eager to buy the products. I must admit, I picked up some vital knowledge about
Korean ginseng and bird's nest, despite it feeling like a sales pitch. Lunch
followed, and it was the first buffet lunch of the trip. I quite enjoyed it, as
the variety of dishes was different compared to the hotel buffet breakfasts
we'd had so far. The desserts were unique and truly delicious.
For the next few hours, until 6 pm - almost
five hours - we were dropped off on Myeongdong Street. Shopping while
traveling? Oh dear, sheer waste of time. Amongst the loads of people walking up
and down, it felt like a carnival atmosphere. I bought nothing, despite the
abundance of Korean products ranging from skincare to souvenirs and clothes. Such a big hype only.
I walked around, sat on an empty bench,
and immersed myself in social media, thanks to the fast, free Wi-Fi. The
shopping wasn't over yet; we were taken to two shopping malls while the rain
lashed down. I wandered around for half an hour before finding a spot to return
to social media, again due to the free Wi-Fi.
The next morning, we were back to shopping
at Dongwha Duty Free Shop, Lotte Duty Free Outlet,
and a beauty outlet - sheer waste of my time. The only consolation for the last
two days was spending time at Gwanghwamun Square, a historic public space
located in the heart of the city. It stretches from Gwanghwamun Gate, the main
gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace, to Sejong-ro Avenue. This iconic square is adorned with statues
of King Sejong the Great and Admiral Yi Sun-sin, two of Korea's most revered
historical figures. Gwanghwamun Square serves as a cultural and political hub,
frequently hosting public events, protests, and celebrations.
Standing around, looking around, and
walking aimlessly, I enjoyed every moment. I love such easy-to-go, free and
easy visits, especially to historical sites. Remember, I am a history buff?
Later, we walked to Cheonggyecheon Stream.
This stunning urban renewal project has transformed a once-buried waterway into
a picturesque, 11-kilometer-long public space. Flowing through the heart of the
city, this revitalized stream offers a serene escape from the bustling
metropolis with its clear waters, lush greenery, and numerous pedestrian
pathways.
The stream is lined with art
installations, small waterfalls, and historic stone bridges, providing both
aesthetic beauty and cultural significance. Cheonggyecheon Stream is a
testament to Seoul's commitment to sustainable urban development and environmental
conservation, blending nature with modernity in a harmonious urban oasis.
Wow! I had a ball of a time at
Cheonggyecheon Stream. It's such an amazing
concept in a city. Shouldn’t there be more places like this for our urban living?
This marked the end of my Korean tour before heading to the airport and
returning home.
Korea Through
My Eyes & Lens
Learning Curve
Traveling is
all about the experience, and so it is in South Korea. It's about the learning
curve and gaining knowledge to broaden your mindset, not bragging about how
many countries you've visited like some people I know. Sadly, for these folks,
they've learned nothing, as there's no character polishing, no humility, just a
lot of hot air (OSAKA SUNSETS).
The Korean Tour
Guide
Oh my! What a
personality. Educated in the US, he thought he was a class above all of us.
Defensive, self-centered, and even scolding us for not listening to him and
taking orders - what a lost soul. He was all about earning commission by taking
us to outlets that clearly benefited him. And when I didn’t buy anything, he
had nasty things to say.
Additionally,
he shortchanged us on the meals listed in the itinerary, failing to deliver
what was promised. Except for the first day, he claimed that drinking water, as
mineral water in bottles, was not included in the tour. When we returned home,
we all complained about him and were refunded his commission, which was
included in the tour cost, along with some extra compensation for the things he
didn’t deliver.
Koreans
Apart from the tour guide, I had wonderful
interactions with Koreans. Despite the language barrier, we communicated
through silent and body language. At the Aqua Center, I shared joyful moments
with Korean families as their children excitedly watched colorful fish. Street
vendors were initially cautious, seemingly upon noticing an Indian woman alone,
but their demeanor warmed with faint smiles, which was truly meaningful.
At
Everland, eatery staff went above and beyond, accompanying me to purchase an umbrella,
a gesture that deeply touched me. In queues at various sightseeing spots, I
also experienced silent moments of connection and friendship with locals. Since
I was sightseeing by myself, asking Koreans for help with pictures was
incredibly swift as well.
Tour
Buddies
Such humble and
simple people.
All of them were Chinese, including those from
Indonesia who joined this tour. It was really amusing when they asked me why I
was traveling alone, where my husband was, and encouraged me to travel with
him. Even the Chinese have such a mindset when an Indian woman travels alone?
They also asked how I could sleep alone in hotel rooms, and talked about horror
and ghosts in hotel rooms. Oh-oh! They didn’t know that this Indian lady has
been a solo traveler for the longest time.
They even gave
me tips on how to keep ghosts away from hotel rooms. So hilarious, but it did
shake me a bit. They told me to knock on the room door before entering and
suggested that once I enter the room, I should speak to any ghost that might
exist, letting it know that I am staying for a short period. But the question I
asked them was, what language should I use? Bahasa Indonesia, English, Chinese,
or Tamil? Will Korean ghosts understand? Hahahahaha!
Korean Cuisine
There's nothing
to fault with Korean cuisine - I love it. But what I couldn’t understand is why
it’s always either steamboat or hot plate on this tour. I've heard the same
from others who have traveled on tours to Korea as well. There are so many
other types of Korean dishes that would have made my culinary experience
better, but we didn't get to try them. Thank goodness for Banchan, which
literally saved my meals. These little varieties of dishes are truly divine and
appetizing. And I'm so glad for rice in Korea - it's a lifesaver for a rice lover
like me.
Shopping
I just can’t
understand the hype of shopping (NEW DELHI REVELATION & KOCHI KALEISCOPE) in Korea. Did you know you can buy almost all
of these items in Malaysia for even cheaper? I checked out the skincare
products, which I love, but they weren’t affordable. Prices are slightly
cheaper for unknown brands, and there are hundreds of Korean skincare brands
I’ve never heard of. Even the higher-end skincare products were pricey, like
RM300 and more for a cleanser.
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