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Showing posts with label outside-seoul. Show all posts

Nov 12-13, 2023

During autumn last year, I fulfilled one item on my ever-growing bucket list, which was to go to Andong. Andong is a traditional, provincial area in South Korea, known for preserving its heritage. When I first entered the UNESCO World Heritage Andong Hahoe Village, it felt like stepping onto a movie set for a Joseon dynasty drama.

I have a lot to share about last year's adventure, and hopefully, it will also inspire you to plan an itinerary outside the city. Let's start with my transit story.

I've been to the Gamcheon Culture Village of Busan twice already, first was during winter time in 2018 for a solo trip. The second time was more recently, autumn of 2022, with my friend Paxie. Both experience were very memorable.

You will think it's just a place to take pictures of the rainbow houses, but spend a little more time here for the food, for the art, and of course, for the sunset. For both times I was there, it was always golden hour. The place looks beautiful with the pink skies as background.

READ: ALL ABOUT BUSAN (2018)

Purplish pink sunset on my first time at the Gamcheon Culture Village

It would have been nice if we visited Cafe Magnate during Jimin Day (initial plan), but thanks to the internet we found out early October 13 that it was already impossible to enter the cafe unless we lined up before they opened the gates.

Since it was also the BTS Busan concert week, tourists flocked the coffee shop--some even with luggages in tow. Food were already flying out of their menu midday. Jimin's dad also gave away cute baby Jimin freebies like straws, tumblers, and tumblers.. which I wished I was able to snag. But honestly, our quiet time in the cafe a week late from Jimin Day was also nice.

BORAHAE BUSAN: BTS Week + Busan Travel Guide

I was here! What a dream come true!

One of the best surprises from this one month Korea trip is getting chosen to go to the BTS In The Soop Season 1 shooting location for FREE.

October 17-19, 2022

After the hectic days of the trip--solo traveling for the first part, and then being with friends for the great BTS Week in Busan--it felt nice when we finally hopped on a quiet bus to go to a provincial part in Korea called POHANG.

Pohang became widely known for Korea travellers ever since the Kdrama Hometown Cha Cha Cha was aired around a year ago. The little town of GONGJIN with its well-loved community was actually set in this major seaport and world's largest steel production city.

October 12-17, 2022

Another memorable part of this long Korea trip is heading to Busan for "BTS Week". We went there earlier to avoid the crowd we were anticipating (advance mag isip), but I realized how Korea's transportation system was sooo good that it didn't bother the other ARMYs who travelled just in time for the concert. Super commendable, mapapa sanaol nalang ako!

Asiad Stadium in Busan, South Korea, the venue of BTS' historic FREE concert

For this trip, I went back to Daegu for 4 days - 3 nights. I think it was one of my favorite stops!

It has the right amount of hallyu, right amount of touristy, and a bit of food adventure on the side.

It started with a pre-booked tour to see my favorite Kpop stars live....

Prior this trip, the only thing I know about Incheon is that it is the city where we go to and from South Korea's main airport.

I'm already more than half-way for this trip when I decided to explore Incheon beyond the Incheon International Airport. Sharing some of the places I was able to go to during that short visit!

Jumunjin was my next stop after 2 nights in Sokcho.

You'll rarely encounter Jumunjin in travel or Korea blogs. All I know is that Jumunjin is near Sokcho, a perfect stopover before heading back to Seoul especially for fan girls like me! You'll find two popular Hallyu shooting locations in this northeastern town of Gangneung City.

Gwangju is the hardest to grasp for me for this Spring 2019 trip. It was frustrating! I thought it will be Yeosu since I only had less than a day to explore this city. But Gwangju, I had the same feeling during my last day in Busan--sobrang bitin! I haven't figured out the city yet, but I already have to leave.

Gwangju's must see sites, aside from the ones I was able to visit, are about 2-3 hours away from the city proper. These include a bamboo forest and a green tea farm from neighboring cities. I had to take long bus rides to achieve these side trips, which will take up my whole day. It wasn't possible on my day 1 since it was just my arrival, and my day 2 since it was also the SBS Super Concert day. And sadly, even my day 3 was already set as my transit day for Seoul (plus it was raining!).

While making my itinerary for this trip, I saw a gap day between Jeonju and Gwangju. Instead of extending a day in either of them, I decided to pick a random city in between. I don't know how I landed in Yeosu, but what I do know is that I have a spot for port towns. Anything by the beach is instant good vibes! My short stay in Yeosu was definitely worthwhile.

Travel Dates: April 24-25, 2019

This trip started early this year when I decided to celebrate my blog's 10th anniversary in Korea. As per usual, I wanted to explore another city outside of Seoul.

I remember posting a survey on Instagram, and the cities that were suggested include Gwangju, Jeongno, Pyeongchang, and of course, Jeonju. I searched these cities on the internet, and what little information I got while planning for my Daegu and Jeju trips--let's say around 1/4 lang nito ang lumabas for Gwangju, Jeongno, Jeonju, etc!

In short, kung first choice ang Seoul, and 2nd to 4th choices ang Daegu, Busan, and Jeju, asa pang 5th to 10th na halos ang Jeonju. I think this lack of information made me even more ecstatic to plan and push for this new solo travel adventure in Korea!

Last April 28, my 7th day in Korea, I woke up with a different beat. I was a bit more energetic, excited, and I knew this was going to be one of the highlights of this "Chasing Spring" Korea 2019 trip!

I went out of our room to our guesthouse owner cooking breakfast for us: Kimchi Pancakes! Ahhh the smell of hot food in the morning! I was the first one on the table, and had a fresh batch of what they call the kimchijeon, it tastes so so good! I think it's the best out there!

I went out early and it was raining. I had to drop by a convenience store just to get a clear plastic umbrella at around Php 220. Kahit nag kukuripot ako, it turned out to be a good decision as I was able to maximize it when I lined up outdoors for the ticket exchange and it was raining really hard.

I am sure almost all autumn trips are already set, but to those still booking last minute tickets or those planning to spend winter (or even early Spring!) in Korea, I decided to collect some of the hostels and guesthouses I've stayed in during my group and solo trips.

I am a country repeater. Never thought I'd type that four or five years ago. I've always been the type na mag hihinayang if I go to same places again and again--instead of spending the travel budget to see a whole new place. But then again, am I seeing the exact same things whenever I go to Korea?

Well not really! I am so used to people saying "KOREA NANAMAN!?" or "Tumira ka na kaya dyan?" HAHA! But they don't understand, I cannot afford to live in Korea yet HAHA! The most is 10 days. Also, it's not as if I go there just to see the same places again and again. Masawain akong tao by nature. First, there's the different seasons that we don't have here so I still enjoy them (winter, spring, and autumn). And secondly, I choose to focus on different cities on my every visit. For Spring of 2018, my 7th time in South Korea, I decided to go to their non-touristy city which is DAEGU.

I think no other scene in this wonderful world of Korean drama made my heart flutter as much as Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo's theme park episode when Joon-hyung fulfilled Kim Bok Joo's secret bucket list.

As usual and as with any other goodbyes, leaving my Seoul guesthouse gave me a certain weird tingling feeling on my tummy:

I never regretted a single travel, never regretted being game to activities even though I am not really good at it and may even result to embarrassment, hehe. Whether it's surfing, wake boarding, or those other activities that involve a lot of courage but does not require much skill (haha) like jumping off cliffs or riding steep roller coasters, I am up for it! When the day comes that I've consumed all my strength and courage, I'll be proud to say that at least I've used them all up well.

To me, a winter trip will not be completed without going to an ice festival and try skiing for the first time! I don't know why I set the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival & Elysian Gangchon Ski Resort (Updated 2024 Link!) package on my last full day in Korea, the day before my flight, but it actually sounds like the perfect finale for my 10-day Winter in Korea adventure.

One of the best moments for me in this trip is stepping in Busan. Maybe because it's my first time here, everything's all too unfamiliar and new and exciting. Or maybe the sun and the beach were the warm welcome that I needed after days of freezing in Jeju's winter wonderland, or that Busan's chill vibe reminds me of my home in Alabang (a city, but not quite). Whatever it is, I am making sure that this short encounter will not be my last.

Do you have any plans of going to Jeju after exploring every corner of Seoul? To me, heading to Jeju one time is never enough. It might look like a tiny round island in maps, but I learned that it is even BIGGER THAN SINGAPORE. Maybe that's why one full day during my visit in 2016 was not enough. I was only able to go to their museums like the Hello Kitty Land, Teddy Bear Museum, O'sulloc, and the Van Gogh exhibit at that time.

Now that it's my second time in the island, I made sure to correct a few mistakes. First, I have to be ready even before my flight by knowing where I want to go and booking Jeju Island Bus Tour through my favorite Korean online booking site Trazy.com. Second, location-wise I chose a hostel that's nearer the places I want to go to. In 2016, a bus ride from my hostel near the airport to my destination will take me an hour and a half. Ubos oras talaga that you won't be able to go to so much places as planned! Anyway, so you don't have to commit the same mistakes that I did, here's a blog post just for you!