Seoul Searching: A Whirlwind of Kimbap and Constant Rain
okay, so i'm still processing *Seoul. seriously. the energy here is… a lot. i landed yesterday, and the weather? totally unpredictable. i just checked and it's drizzling lightly, a kind of damp chill that seeps into your bones. hope you like that kind of thing.
this trip was kind of a last-minute thing. needed to shake things up, you know? my usual routine was feeling like a beige cardigan. and the numbers…1838069 and 1410438648. what do they mean? i have no clue, but they were staring back at me from a weird fortune cookie at the airport. maybe it’s a code? or maybe it’s just random. like life, right?
my little corner of Myeongdong is… lively. loud. a constant stream of people, street food vendors blasting K-pop, and the scent of kimchi competing with… something vaguely floral? my neighbor, an elderly woman named Mrs. Kim, waves hello every morning. she doesn’t speak much english, but she always offers me a little wrapped sweet. sweet gestures. it’s surprisingly comforting.
gear-ish stuff. not really a gear list, more like… essentials:
*Portable Charger: absolutely crucial. my phone dies faster than a houseplant in a desert.
*Comfy Shoes: you're gonna walk miles. think sneakers, not heels. seriously.
*Umbrella: duh. it rains. a lot.
*Pocket Wifi: helps with navigation and avoiding roaming charges. i used a service from Skyscanner to find the best deals.
spent yesterday wandering through Insadong, getting happily lost in the antique shops and tea houses. bought a ridiculously ornate teacup that i probably won't use, but it looked cool. Insadong is a good place to start if you want to soak in the traditional Korean vibes.
I heard that the Gangnam area is totally different - more upscale, definitely more shopping. someone told me that the prices there are way inflated, and it’s mostly about showing off. Hongdae, on the other hand, is where the young artists and musicians hang out. it’s got a cool, edgy vibe, and the street performances are insane. i’m thinking of checking that out later this week. you can check out some event listings on Time Out Seoul.
“Don’t be afraid to get lost. That’s where you’ll find the best hidden gems.” - a guy selling street food near Gyeongbokgung Palace.
food, oh god, the food. kimbap is my new obsession. basically seaweed rice rolls filled with all sorts of deliciousness. also trying to master the art of eating tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes). it’s a challenge. and i’ve heard that the best bibimbap (mixed rice with vegetables and meat) is in the smaller, less touristy restaurants.
planning on hitting up the N Seoul Tower for a panoramic view of the city. someone warned me that it gets packed, especially at sunset. but hey, worth it for the Instagram, right? also, apparently, there are tons of love locks hanging all over the place. a bit cheesy, maybe, but hey, it's Seoul. everyone’s a little cheesy here.
this whole trip feels surreal. i'm wandering around a city that’s both ancient and hyper-modern, chaotic and strangely peaceful. it's a sensory overload in the best possible way. and the people? incredibly kind. even with my pathetic attempts at speaking Korean. i'm definitely going to need to brush up on my Hangul before i leave. maybe i'll check out a class at KoreanClass101.
so yeah, that’s Seoul in a nutshell (or a kimbap roll, really). more adventures to come, i hope!
“The best way to learn about a city is to get lost in its alleyways.” - a local barista at a cafe in Itaewon*.
You might also be interested in:
- https://votoris.com/post/owerris-healthcare-not-what-youd-expect-and-thats-okay
- https://votoris.com/post/the-concrete-canvas-of-left-hooks-street-arts-cold-war-in-paris
- https://votoris.com/post/healthcare-quality-in-nagoya-top-hospitals-medical-centers-dont-me-its-my-opinion
- https://votoris.com/post/networking-events-and-professional-communities-in-addis-ababa-a-drunk-consultants-take
- https://votoris.com/post/air-quality-and-environmental-health-in-comayagela-a-digital-nomads-take-with-30-more-caffeine-than-you-need