Korea Part 1: Seoul - Busan

SEOUL - BUSAN

December,2022

SEOUL

This trip was in December 2022. With the guidance & assistance from Amex platinum service I could get chances to try many local restaurants in both Seoul and Busan.

I fly AirAsia and after the long queues of immigration check point, the journey has begin. The first 2 days were not productive, I spent 2days learning how to travel with the public transportation in Seoul. Also the first day was ended with doing nothing much, flight was arrived almost 11am.

I realised that Naver app is a key, I am not sure if it's only me having problem with the google map. I went to Eunpyeong Hanok Village by bus, it took me an hour and I stopped at the fresh market to change the bus. Since it's noon and I didn't have breakfast, I tried kimbup, tokboggi with soup and after took a walk I've met the master who owns the shop, he was so kind to let me take the pictures of everything in his shop. He also showed me the picture of him when he was a soldier, picture of his nephew. It was a good moment indeed.

When I left the market , bus took me to the Eunpyeong hank village. Don't mixed it up with the mess one in Seoul, this one is so peaceful. After walk around the village, I stoped at the museum, love the colourful masks and architectural image showing how the village in the past was built. Then took the moment to enjoy the dessert at the cafe next to the museum. This morning it was snowed, so now the weather is so still freezing. 

                            

I checked nearby place on map and found the temple, I walked around 30 mins with the freezing breeze to the temple. All the way up to the temple has the tunnel which almost freeze , the lights from the candle hanged around the temple, the decoration of the entrance gates. Women monk welcoming me even they cannot speak English. It was so peaceful there. 

I left when the dark has come. Took the bus back to Seoul. I still don't want to go back to the hotel, so I walked to the cafe which famous for the view of Church. 

Christmas is everywhere 🎄

Today is day 3. My friend and I planned to meet at Seoul Tower. After that, we were going to take the high-speed train to Busan, but my friend got lost and was late. I rebooked a new train time. We had arrived early, so there was still no information on the screen about our train program as to which platform we needed to get to. We wait on the platform we think it should be. Almost an hour has passed. I was unsure about the platform so I went to check the monitor and discovered that we were waiting on the wrong platform. Luckily I felt something. So we don't miss it anymore.

BUSAN

Busan is a big city, but it can't compare to Seoul. Most transportation uses buses. There is no subway besides the city center. Getting from point A to point B takes a very long time. But what I like most is the food. Especially seafood, fresh, delicious, unique.

 

seafood with special source recipes 

After Busan, I returned to Seoul and spent several more nights before leaving the city. And on the last day before leaving, it started snowing again. It was the first snowfall of the year. I stupidly didn't know that Gianbongung Palace was closed. I scrubbed outside while it was snowing hoping to take photos of the palace. Then I went to the market before returning to the airport. 

Until we meet again

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