Duty free please!

With the wave of the festive season, comes the tide of travel and a change of season. And many of us in Korea want to escape the bite of the icy chill and jet off to some tropical, warm place that will take us away from the dreaded winter. Even if it’s for a few days or weeks a quick escape is a must! So with that said, in this post I want to highlight one of my favorite aspects to holiday planning (apart from the holiday itself), which is shopping till I drop at the duty free!

Seoul offers a variety of duty free shopping options; the leaders in this market though have to be the likes of Lotte and Shilla. Most of us usually don’t have enough time to shop before a flight, but this is a worry no more! As at the heart of the city lies Seoul’s “Mecca of shopping”, Myeongdong! Here, hordes of fashion labels and high end brands from local to international designers line the streets. My focus however is set on Lotte Duty Free, which is located on the 9th and 10th floors of Lotte Department Store. This is by far the biggest (and best) duty free store in Seoul. Here you can find the latest trends in jewelry, cosmetics, accessories, technology and a whole lot more!

Lotte Duty Free comprises of several high end brands such as Prada, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Tiffany & Co, Salvatore Ferragamo, Gucci and so many others! Amongst these you can also find traditional Korean food items and some great choices of ginseng tea. If Korean make-up and beauty brands such as Etude House, Innis Free, Missha (etc), is what you’re after, then you’re bound to find some great deals on bulk buys!

Some brands also boast seasonal specials. I recall over the summer several watches were discounted along with some fashionable sunglasses and many other items. It’s also important to note that some deals you may find at the store might not be available online.

It’s usually a breeze shopping here; the sales assistants are friendly, proficient in English and are super helpful.

All you need to get going is your passport and plane ticket or flight number and you’re all set to spend your dough! Once your transaction is complete a sales assistant will inform you of where to pick-up your goods. Sometimes pick-up is at the airport duty free pick-up counter. Alternatively your goods may be ready and waiting for collection at your boarding gate before you hop on the plane. Either way both types of collection occur on the day of your flight.

A nice benefit and great service provided by Lotte and Angel In Us Coffee, is that they provide a free drink of your choice from a select menu. All you need is to provide them with a receipt of your purchase/s for the day. Such a sweet gesture! Literally! I must add that a delicious latte does go a long way and helps provide that much needed pit stop.

So now that you’re all set. Passport and ticket in hand make your way to Myeongdong and see what awesomeness awaits!

Directions to Lotte Duty Free (Myeongdong)

-Euljiro 1-ga (Line 2)-Exit 7 or 8.

-Lotte Department Store is connected directly to these exits.

-For the duty free proceed to floors 9 and 10.

Visit Korea powered by Korea Tourism Organisation, provides a helpful list of the duty free stores in Seoul along with directions on how to get there.

http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SH/SH_EN_7_1_1_1.jsp

Seoul Lantern Festival 2013

It's that time of the year again when the Seoul Metropolitan hosts its annual lantern festival. Since its inception in 2009, the festival has grown tremendously in popularity and this year is no exception.The renowned Cheonggyecheon Stream has been transformed into a runway for the beautifully lit lanterns to strut their stuff.

Hordes of couples, families and friends made their way to see the lanterns on its opening weekend. A few friends and I also made our way downtown to see what it was all about, so here's a sneak peak (without spoiling too much):

Be sure to give yourself enough time to take a stroll along the stream. With the large crowds it does get pretty overwhelming and trying to get some good pictures will prove to be difficult. However, the large amount of people entering and exiting the festival are handled quite orderly as there are several guides along the way directing the crowds and keeping everyone moving. The lines move pretty quickly so no worries about waiting to long in queues.

Like I mentioned the festival has already commenced and will run until 17 November 2013. The lantern shine brightly from 5pm-11pm, nightly. The weather here in Seoul is still pretty great so get out while you still can and see the beauty that the city has to offer.

There are several means of accessing the Cheonggyecheon Stream, the most convenient is via subway:

Directions:

1. Jonggak Station (line 1)-Exit 4 or 5 
2. Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5)-Exit 5 
3. City Hall Station (Line 2)-Exit 4 

4. Euljiro 1-ga Station ( Line 2)-Exit 2 or 3

Bumming it in Busan

So being a Durban born girl, I grew up and lived there all my life, the ocean never phased me. And ever since I’ve moved to Korea the thought of going to spend a day/weekend at the beach never crossed my mind, not only because there are no good beaches remotely close to where I live, but also because I was not a “beach-goer”. This month however I was fortunate enough to travel to Busan for the weekend with a bunch of my mates, and man oh man! did this greatly change my perspective.

I never actually realized how much I missed the sand on my toes, or the sound of the crashing waves, heck, I didn’t even realize how much I missed what a beautiful sunset looked like over the ocean. Busan drew me back to Durban for the weekend, and it felt FANTASTIC!

 Okay, so my reasoning to go to Busan was to see the place, as I had never been there before, the fact that I would see some awesome beaches did not even cross my mind. Another reason was to get to play dress-up for some pre-Halloween fun with a great bunch of people and to catch a glimpse of the Busan Fireworks Festival.

With all this in the mix, I had spotted a pretty great deal that a tour company (WINK) had on offer for that particular weekend; the price of the trip was really competitive. The cost included a round trip charted bus, accommodation and dinner on 1 night. There was also an additional fee for a half day tour of Busan by private coach. This was optional.

We left Seoul on Friday night; although the bus was running a little late we were all pretty excited so we had barely noticed. From there on out we were Busan bound. The overnight bus ride took about 6 hours, I tried to get some sleep in, but being on a moving, noisy bus this didn’t prove successful. I managed to get a few winks in for a bit just before we arrived on the sore of Gwangalli beach. Waking up to the sunrise was sensational. I read lots about the Diamond Bridge, but seeing it first hand was breathtaking.

We were stationed at the beach all morning from about 6am up until 1pm when our rooms were ready and we could check-in. So we killed some time that morning bumming it on the beach. A little after 9 am when some shops opened we managed to grab a much needed cup of coffee. We headed back to the sand and chatted with a few locals.

As brunch time approached we were famished so we decided to try one of the many great looking places on offer. The promenade at Gwangalli boasted a wide array of western food. Here, you can find anything from pancakes to club sandwiches and whatever in-between.

After brunch we collected our luggage and checked-in. By this time the roads leading into Gwangalli beach had been closed off in preparation for the fireworks that would be taking over the sky later that night. The rest of the day consisted of free time, so we decided to go back to the beach and settle on a good spot to see the fireworks. At about 6pm the WINK tour group met for dinner at a local galbi restaurant. A few of us who were vegetarians (I felt) were not well catered for and were only offered side dishes as our main meal. This disappointed me after previously stating that I was vegetarian, anyway I opted out of the dinner and headed back to the beach. A fellow veggie and I held our beach spot until the others would return.

Between the hours of 6.30pm-7.30pm it seemed Halloween demons had descended upon us. The crowds had tripled in size and people were now packed like sardines on the beach. It was by far one of the most uncomfortable experiences I ever encountered in Korea, People were extremely rude, stepping all over each other’s beach mats, some even took up space on our mat as they kept trying to squeeze in more and more people. Every 5 seconds a family or two would try to get out or in, kicking up sand into people’s food and drinks along the way. A poor friend of mind even had beer spilt on her in this ordeal. After putting up with this terrifying situation for about an hour, we decided to give up or spot and watch the fireworks from our motel instead.

I believe the fireworks started at 8pm, I was already over the hype by this time, and because of being pushed and shoved earlier I skipped the display altogether, however a buddy of mine did get a few good shots of it for me and I had seen some videos as well, it did not appear to be much different from the Yeouido fireworks festival which I saw last year (I say Seoul hosted a better display that Busan from what I saw)

So while the fireworks were going off, we were getting our costumes on! A night of fun and frolic awaited us. After dressing up we got onto an over packed subway car and headed to the university area of Busan, namely: Kyungsung University Area (KSU).

We hung out here for most of the night, walking about the side alleys and seeing everyone all dressed up. It was really fun! By far my “Best Costume Award” went to Albert Einstein (whom almost everyone was raving about). This guy was on point with his get-up! It was seriously freaky how closely his costume resembled Einstein.

We hopped around a couple of bars that night, but my favorite was Blue Monkey- a great bar, with an awesome vibe and good music. It also boasted a mini dance floor along with some great drinks specials. If you are in the area and looking for a good night out this is a good spot.

On the morning of our departure day we got to see some of the most popular sites of Busan. The tour was the highlight of it all! Our first stop was Yonggungsa Temple . No picture could ever capture the beauty of this temple which is built in the mountains over-looking the ocean. This was the most spectacular temple I have seen in Korea. It definitely is a must-see for anyone travelling to Busan.

After walking around the temple grounds we got back on the tour bus and moved on to Haeundae Beach. Just as pretty as Gwangalli beach, where we took a nice long stroll along the beach promenade.

Next stop, Jagalchi fish market! Here we saw hordes of fresh fish. It’s basically an overcrowded fist market with some great deals on raw fish. Here it is typical to find raw fish restaurants as well as fried fish place. If you are daring enough and have a tough stomach I suggest you give it a try for a real Busan experience.

Our last stop was Busan Tower. The 129m tall tower provided a breath-taking view from way up high. Busan is a really dense city! It’s amazing to see how close to the shore the city’s infrastructure runs.

 

This brought us to the end of our tour. I was glad to be heading back to Seoul, but sad that I had to leave the coast behind.

Joining a tour group like WINK was a great opportunity, we had lots of free time and we also got to meet some new people and make new friends. All in all it was a good experience to be had. I would suggest checking out all the above mentioned sites if you are ever in Busan. It’s easy to get to each place by public transport or taxi service once you’re there. You can easily get into Busan via plane as it hosts a fully functional international airport. Alternatively the KTX is a reliable mode of transport. Tickets for the KTX can be bought online, and its prices are pretty reasonable.

If you would check out any upcoming events/tours by WINK you can like their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wheninkorea/.

You can also find an abundance of information about Busan, provided by Korea Tourism Organisation: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/mapInfo.kto?func_name=depth2&md=enu&lang_se=ENG&area_code=6

Happy travelling!

Costume hunting: Hongdae

Okay, so it’s that time of the year again, when hocus pocus fills the air, all things creepy go bump in the night and of course when classic scary movies  re-runs are showing on TV. That’s right folks Halloween is upon us!

Here in Korea celebrations go down a little differently. It’s actually not that popular among the locals, however a few hipsters are growing more and more accustomed to celebrating Halloween as years pass by. So this crowd, mixed in with some tourists and expats has allowed for a rise in party shops. Many of which are currently stocked up with Halloween costumes, accessories and everything in-between. Whether you are planning on hosting a Halloween party or simply attending one, these party shops have several items which would suit your needs.

Anyway, for Halloween this year a bunch of friends and I are travelling down to Busan to spend the weekend, and we are in need of costumes, or at least costume ideas. After an extensive internet search the most positive results were gathered from AngloINFO Seoul (no surprise!). The websites directory of “party venues and supplies” (http://seoul.angloinfo.com/af/712/seoul-party-venues-and-supplies.html) helped kick-off our search. Of course I came across other sites which recommended stores in Gangnam, and around Sadang station. But, since I live all the way in Paju, my first and closest bet was to go to Hongdae, and that’s exactly what a friend and I did.

Joy Party is where it’s at! This franchise store with a branch in Gangnam overwhelmed us. Their selection was great, with all sorts of goodies, not just for Halloween, but for Christmas, weddings, birthdays and more. This got our minds working, we went in with no expectation, but what we found was a gem! And best of all it’s so close to home! Because of all of the choices laid out in from of us we could not decide on what or who we will be this Halloween, but we defiantly got the ideas flowing and we will be headed back soon to pick up everything we need. The stores prices are pretty reasonable, we found a Supergirl costume for just 40.000won, giant angel wings for 12.000 won and other accessories starting from 4000won. A bargain store, really! Joy Party also stocks wigs, capes, glow sticks, and some deadly looking make-up. (Just a very small selection of make-up.)

They also have some great pictures pasted on the walls that can help you with group or individual themes and ideas. I plan on editing this blog soon; adding pictures of some of the stock they have. In the meantime here’s how to get there.

Directions:

-From Hapjeong Station take exit 3

-Walk straight for about 5 minutes until you see Bobo Hotel and turn right.

-Continue walking straight for about 300m and you should find Joy Party on your right.

-Joy Party is in the 5^th floor of the YB Building. There is a CU mart on the first floor.

If you’re lost just call 02 333 5100 (Korean only)

Operating hours: Monday-Saturday-10am-8pm

 Closed on public holidays!

Happy shopping ^^

Out and about in Itaewon

A few friends and I recently headed out to the “foreigners” district in Seoul, namely Itaewon. Personally, heading here has become a real “out of Korea experience”. I mean, the main street and several side streets are lined with international stores of all sorts! There isn’t anything you couldn’t find from your hometown here on the streets of Itaewon.

Our journey started out, when we visited a few of the foreign marts around the area. The main attraction of our day however, was our hunt to find the best Mexican food (in our opinion) that Seoul had to offer. A few weeks prior we talked to other friends about their favorite Mexican eats in Seoul, and the name Vatos Tacos came up quite often. So, after a bit of grocery shopping we headed over there.

 Upon arrival we were in awe of the very cool and trendy set-up the restaurant hosted. The deck was choked. People were deep into conversation, stuffing their faces and drinking their drinks. Others like ourselves were lined up waiting to be seated. We were the greeted by a lovely host who assured us we would be taken care of as soon as possible. We were given a buzzer and sent merrily on our way. We killed some time browsing through the menu, deciding on what we would order. Fifteen minutes later we were called in and seated indoors.

Once inside we found some special deals that were advertised on the table. We decided to stick to the original menu as it was apparently the best thing about the place. Assortments of tacos were available. The burritos also varied, but what was great was that you could choose your meat. Options included beef, pork, chicken and seafood.

Before ordering we made sure to peak into the plates around us. The taco’s honestly looked so tiny! They were bite-size and for the price they were, it didn’t seem to be what we needed (we were crippled with hunger). The burritos on the other hand, now those seemed to be packed with goodness. I opted for a spicy chicken original burrito. 

We felt the restaurant works on a minimalist approach, as there was no garnish on the place. The presentation of the food was bleak, but we were mostly interested in what it tasted like more than how it looked. I quote a friend of mine in saying “they give you nothing”. And this was kind of true. When we saw the tacos they looked rationed, and then when we saw the presentation of our burritos we thought we were rationed and finally, we had to ask for any kind of sauce (rationed again) to add some kick to the dish. Overall the taste of it was not too bad. For the price and portion of the burrito I can say that it was pretty reasonable. Also the staff are great, their English excellent and the vibe is sublime.

I  noticed several margaritas flying around. We decided to skip on the drinks as they were more expensive than the food. Also were headed to a café for some much needed desert, therefore we didn’t want to take away from our taste buds.

On to the next one!

Our day was made at Tartine A café and bakery that will blow your mind and senses. The tarts tasted like nothing I’ve ever tasted before. It sure was worth every cent and calorie!

 This “American” styled café, with a wide variety of tarts to choose from had me in a trance. From strawberry rhubarb to pecan tarts, chocolate brownies and everything in-between. We could not make up our minds. We eventually settled for a crack pie, coconut crème pie, and a banana cake to take home. 

The best of the three in my opinion was the banana cake. The texture, taste and presentation were all superb. The coconut crème pie is great if you’re a coconut lover as the taste of it is definitely ‘coconut-y’! I found it to be delicious. And lastly Tartine’s famous crack pie was amazing! Packed with sugary sweetness, this is the perfect tool to help you de-stress. I found out about adding a scoop of ice-cream too late, so I suggest when you’re headed over there be sure to request for a scoop atop that crack pie, and let me know how it tastes!

The day came to a more then successful end and if you in and around Itaewon be sure to check out my recommendations. Hopefully your experience will be just as pleasurable as ours was.

Vatos Tacos directions:

Take exit 1 out of Itaewon station (Line 6). Keep walking straight for about 7-10 minutes; pass ‘What the Book”. You will see an incline behind you next to the Standard Charted Bank. Vatos Tacos is on your right.

Tartine directions:

Take exit 1 out of Itaewon station (Line 6). Walk straight and turn right at the second alley. You will find Tartine on your right.

Why Korea?

I was pretty ignorant about my move to Korea. Before arriving at Incheon  airport I hadn't done any research on the town I’d be living in or made any enquiries about… well… anything, really. I made the decision to up and leave and I did just that. Once the news of my move was official I was faced with the same question, from several different people. “Why Korea?” they asked. At the time I couldn't properly answer any of them, but now I can.

Firstly, the biggest pull was the ease of finding employment. Sure the process of applying, getting all your documentation in order and dealing with the dreaded tax office (all Saffa’s can relate) was long drawn out and tiresome, but once was all done and submitted a job was “guaranteed”.

Next I’ll argue that I considered the super-efficient and world-class subway system. You can get to just about anywhere and everywhere by using the trains. It’s convenient, clean and CHEAP! Once you’re here, you don’t ever have to worry about how you’ll get around the city. There are also some great  free English apps available, like Jihachul which provide the time schedule and suggest the best routes to reach your final destination (Either by quickest time or by least transfers). It even calculates approximately how much the journey could cost you. Seriously, all you need to do is get a T-money card, which costs 2500₩ from any convenience store, load it up and you’re off! Yes it’s that easy!

Easy entrance, easy exit: Korea is also a great place to live in because of its ease to travel outside of it. Surfing Asia especially, becomes so easy and affordable. There are several Korean airlines which provide highly competitive rates when it comes to booking your flight tickets. Incheon International Airport plays hosts to a vast array of airlines and so your choices are seemingly endless. Planning a quick trip to the Philippines or even Thailand is possible, and for fellow South Africans you’d be glad to hear there are so many places you can travel to without the hassle of have to apply for a visa beforehand, (above two destinations included!).

Another interesting draw is the rich culture and history of South Korea. In and around Seoul on most days it feels like I’m living amongst these. Places like Gwanghwamun square and the enchanting palaces of Seoul, engulf one in the country’s antiquity.

From street markets in Namdemun to fish markets in Noryangjin, these all add to the country’s uniqueness. Korean cuisine is also a major contributor that adds to the charm of Seoul. Your pallet will definitely come to life, weather you’re trying traditional or contemporary Korean dishes.

I could go on and on about why Seoul has my soul, but if I had to narrow it down to top few choices these would be it. So if you’re arriving soon for the very first time and like me, are oblivious to all that is Korea, I hope this enlightens you.

See you soon ^^

August: The farewell month

It's that time of the year again, when the tide changes in teachers circles. It's out with the old and in with the new (unless your contracts renewed). A bittersweet feeling of being happy for a friend who is off to start a new journey in life, whilst at the same time a saddening feeling stretches across our hearts as we have to let go of friends who have become family in the time we spend together living here. Sure, it's also a great time to meet new people, however its feels like the first date syndrome all over again!

I write this blog reflecting on the time I've spent here, thinking about all the great people whom I’ve met along the way, and how as the end of August draws closer most of them will be leaving Korea. These people who have formed my support structure will be moving onto a new avenue in their life. And as exciting as it's going to be, when we are together we feel our heart break a little every time we say goodbye. The saddest thing I guess is not knowing when in life we will ever meet again. But thankfully through the wonders of the internet and social networking, we can keep in contact effortlessly. This however will never come close to the feeling of being able to spend time together in real-time.

I urge you to spend as much time as you can with your friends who will depart soon. It’s been a great adventure so far and I’ve been blessed to have met people who have become my friends for life. I wish that when you too come to Seoul, you are just as fortunate to make friends who are as great! It’s such a friendly capital here that if you think moving to Korea is going to be a lonely experience.... Think again...

To those who I’ll be saying goodbye too, just know you've made me a better person and you've impacted on my life greatly.

Till we meet again, I wish you all the best in your life’s journey.

Places in Seoul to take... anyone... really!

Well reflecting on the year that has been, I thought I’d write about my best times so far in the ROK. The year 2012-2013 was a really great one, fun-filled and action-packed. 

By far the best moments for me happened over Chuseok holiday last year, when my mom visited from SA. She arrived on 26 September, after what she had described as a looooonnnggg and tiring flight. The night she arrived saw the start of all things wonderful. We managed to visit most (if not all) of the major tourist sites and attractions in Korea. In the month that she was here we definitely created memories that would last beyond a lifetime.

The Friday night of the Chuseok holiday started our shopping extravaganza or what others may call an “addiction”. We kicked butt at the Paju Premium Outlets and afterwards got our hands on the most delicious handmade burgers in town. We dined at a little place called “Burger Hunter Plus”. After insanely overeating we headed home, prepared for the next day and got some much needed shut eye.

 

When I first got to Korea, there were many places in and around Seoul that I was fortunate enough to explore. One of the places that left a lasting impression had to be Insadong. Hence, first on our agenda was a trip to this vibrant and unique street. We walked around, shopped, ate and experienced all things wonderful. After sunset we headed on out to take a quiet stroll around Gwanghwamun Square... AWESOME doesn't even begin to describe what this place is. The towering statue of King Sejong is a glistening site accompanied by a statue of Admiral Yi Sun Shin, which is as equally as breathtaking.

 

The next day we hit up The Korean Folk Village in Yongin and boy oh boy was this a trip or what. An average travel time of about seven hours to get there and then back (as we braved the madness of Chuseok traffic) drained us! Despite it, all this did not get us down, when we eventually got there the site was totally worth it. To see Korea from where it started and progress to the technologically savvy hub that it is today was truly the greatest site.

The village was packed with locals dressed in the traditional Korean Hanbok, along with babies dressed up in cute little dresses and hairpieces. We headed back home starved as there wasn't much “Hindu friendly” food to be found at the village. Dinner was devoured at Korea’s famous “Mr. Pizza”. We topped up our tanks and headed toward the subway.

 On Monday we did as all women should, we went mall surfing and landed at COEX. The largest shopping complex I’ve ever seen in my life! Thanks to it being the holidays we got to watch a few traditional Korean performances about the Korean Thanksgiving Holiday.

Of course shopping is always on top of the agenda! COEX plays host to a wonderful aquarium, this time however we had to take a pass on it, because it was so overcrowded. Lunch was a drastic change of scenery. We ate at the serene “Pho Mein”, a Vietnamese restaurant which serves up the most amazing dishes. Afterwards we motored toward the Seven Luck Casino. Korea is not known for its casinos. In fact if you think about it, it’s practically non-existent to locals as Koreans are prohibited from gambling. Nevertheless we took out advantage of being foreign and went on in...So different from gambling back in SA! But the concept was of course the same and as usual we managed to lose ourselves some dough.

We ended the day with some yummy Baskin Robbins (This was actually the first time we ever ate Baskin Robbins ice-cream. We don’t have the chain back home). Baskin Robbins and ice-cream in general has now turned into an addiction of mine.

The next day we found ourselves in the global and multicultural hub of Itaewon. Not one of the priority places on our list to see, but we thought we’d knock it off while we could.

Next on the “to do” list was to visit Namsan Tower. We 'subwayed' and cable-car'd ourselves there late noon. There were several traditional performances and a flash-mob of teddy bears dancing to Gangnam Style (Yes, Gangnam Style was still embarrassingly popular back then).

Following the very creepy impersonation of a “teddy bear PSY” we headed up to the Observatory just before sunset. What a beautiful sight to see. The Seoul skyline really looked its best from way up high. Recollecting the memories of spotting so many wondrous mountains in the distance and looking down at the peak-hour traffic which resembled an ant army still leaves me breathless. This was yet another moment the camera could not capture.

We departed from the tower and headed the shopping capital of Myeongdong! First we strolled around the Shinsegae Department Store, picking up a few bargains. Then we crawled the streets of Myeongdong.

The next day we hit down the Noryangjin Fish Market and gee wizz did it hit us back. Okay it was a little smelly, but that comes with the territory. Despite this it was a great site. I saw crabs the size of full grown husky's and shrimp the size of anacondas!

We got ourselves a good deal on some fresh seafood (along with great service) and then headed home with our cooler bag in hand. Through the days blistering heat, we kept hoping that we will get all the fish back safely.

That night mom got to try one of my favorite foods in Korea, the awesome dduk galbi.

Dduk galbi is a Korean specialty dish. Its base is marinated chicken that’s stir-fried over a hot pan, right in front of your eyes. Accompanying the chicken are cabbage, (no dish goes without cabbage here!) slices of sweet potato, spinach leaves and some delicious tteokbokki (Korean rice cake). That mix is seriously a masterpiece!

 After a few rest days we headed on the Han River Cruise. Just a few hours before the Seoul fireworks festival could begin. It was experience that had to be lived. Right from the get-go the fireworks engulfed us with color, which filled the night’s sky. This was short lived however, as we were soon after crushed by latecomers who were trying to see the same thing we were. At that moment I despised Korea for the first time. This year, I’ll be skipping those crowds.

You cannot come to Seoul and not visit Gyeongbokgung Palace! The amazing architecture along with the stunning views from within the palace walls are a photographer’s paradise and a feast for any eye! 

 We went on to look around a gem in Seoul, Gwangjang Market I mentioned in my previous post, (where everything looks the same!)

 A major highlight of our adventures has to be our trek to Everland. Korea's very own “Disneyland”. It definitely did not disappoint. We loved everything about the amusement park. It offered world-class caramel popcorn and attractions! We loved it even more when we were getting our guts smushed around on "Lets Twist". Everland is beyond amazing! I suggest that if you are sticking around for a year, definitely get an annual membership.

During moms last week here, we managed to get as close to South Africa again as we possibly could. We dined at a phenomenal restaurant, namely Braai Republic in Itaewon.

Dinner was with the best company and most amazing co-teacher, (my co-teacher) anyone could ask for. We knocked back a few (too many) tequila's... had ourselves some awesome food (even a poitjie) and to end it all off... sampling the BEST milk tart the world has to offer. Even better then I've tasted back home (Durban).

The final weekend dawned on us and I planned on going all out for this one.

So what better way to be splashy, other than to head to Gangnam. Here I had booked us a full day of pampering at a luxurious day spa. First, we were treated to a hand and foot massage, then a soak in the jet spa, followed by a full body massage and to top it all off a wax manicure. Afterwards we were so relaxed; we could not make it back onto the subway. So we decided to check-into a hotel and spend the night.

On the final day of fun and frolic we went to watch a Nanta performance (Korean style non-verbal performance). It was a lovely way to end our time together. Saying goodbye at the airport was the worst of it all.

But saying goodbye is a whole other topic for another time!