So, I went to South Korea

Warning: This is a lengthy blog.

jizelle, mamu chrissie and me at Incheon International Airport

(I will post the other photos soon)

Last April, two of my colleagues and I went for a tour in South Korea. Mamu, one of my colleagues, was able to find a tour that is scheduled for April 2019 and the good thing was it is a lay-away tour package so we were able to pay for it monthly (including our Visa application) until the month before the trip. I got so excited that I packed my stuff a month before the trip just to make sure that I have everything that I need.

The preparations that I did to be ready for the trip are as follows:

1. Pre-planning my outfits. Knowing that spring in South Korea are cooler than the usual climate that I am used to, I went ahead and planned outfits that will make me warm and look cute at the same time. I referenced k-pop stars for the outfits that I bought with me, noting that I should wear the heavier pieces of clothing going there to lessen the weight of my luggage.

2. Planning my budget for the trip. I know that going on trips will cost a lot and that is what I bore in mind in this adventure. I made sure to bring just enough money for a little shopping because our food and lodging are included in the tour package (which is a huge help on my savings).

3. Preparing the gadgets needed. I made sure to bring a camera to capture the sights and scenes while we were on tour. I want to keep the memories that we made during the trip so that I can look back and reminisce. I also bought a converter socket because I know that the electric sockets in South Korea are different from what we have here in the Philippines. Lastly, I made sure to bring cords for both my iPhone and Android phones for charging.

4. Making sure that the weight of my suitcase is within the limit. We were given 20kgs per person for baggage allowance and I made sure that I am within that limit. I left the Philippines with 16kgs of luggage and went back with 17kgs including the things that I bought. I have no idea how I did it but that is pretty much everything that I need in one small luggage.

5. Using packing cubes. I bought packing cubes a couple of months before the trip and planned what I will put where so that I am ready to pack and go. I saw these packing cubes in Shopee and they came in a green color with white polka dots in them, which are so cute.

Since we were on a tour, we went to specific places each day and let me tell you, each day was jam-packed. Our days were so tightly scheduled that when we reach the hotel at the end of the day, we were all exhausted. We had fun taking photos and making memories during each tour and it was so unforgettable. I loved the weather in South Korea that I thought 4 days are not enough for me to stay there.

original template used here

Day 1: Arrival at Incheon Airport, Songwoldong Fairy Tale Village, G Tower & N Seoul Tower
Upon arrival, we were met by our tour guide David and tour photographer Jimmy. We rode on a bus to our first stop which is the Incheon China Town. Once there, we ate the traditional Korean black bean sauce noodles for lunch. It was an unusual meal but I had fun and we were able to meet our companions for the tour. KC came along with me, mamu Chrissie and Jizelle right after we had lunch.. We went to Songwoldong Fairy Tale Village after lunch just to roam and do a little sight seeing. Mamu tried bubble milk tea while Jizelle tried the glazed strawberries. We were able to have our first glimpse of the cherry blossoms and realized that they were such delicate flowers. We loved the cool breeze and non polluted air that South Korea had. We took a ton of photos especially at the Songdo Central Park near G Tower. Mamu and I chose not to go up the tower and decided to roam around the park to take photos. We went to N Seoul Tower for dinner and it was scrumptious. David showed us the love locks in the tower. We were able to have, almost, a bird's eye view of the city.

original template used here

Day 2: Petite France, Nami Island, & Kimchi Making
I even had an accident with my camera thinking that I broke the lens but when I sent a photo of it to my brother, he told me that I just broke the filer and not the lens itself which was a relief. KC and I were able to roam around the park and we enjoyed taking photos in spots that were eye catching. It really does feel like you are in a small town in France. There is a ferry ride to the island and we enjoyed the short trip. Upon arriving, you will see line of people waiting for a ride back to the main island from Nami. The iconic row of trees was breathtaking and the lanterns adorning the path made it more romantic than it was. The cherry blossoms are still in bloom in the island and we were so lucky to see them before they shed those pretty little flowers in the next couple of days. Andrea Brillantes and EJ Falcon, celebrities in our country, were in the island and we were starstruck.

Day 3: Gyeongbok Palace, Health Shops, Charm & Charm Cosmetics Shop & Myeongdong Shopping Street

The Gyeongbok Palace was near the Blue House, which is South Korea's version of the White House, and it was a massive space with a palace and a couple of parks inside. There were a lot of people wearing traditional and non-traditional Korean clothes known as hanboks. A street filled with shops where you could rent can be found outside of the palace. Of course, we were able to take a ton of photos in the palace which meant that we weren't able to witness the changing of the guards. We also visited shops that focuses on health such as the Healthy Liver Shop, Red Ginseng Shop and Red Pine Tree. These shops taught us on how plants can help normalize blood flow, clear clogged vessels, lower cholesterol, help with the health of our liver and can also help lengthen your life span. I bought a bag full of sheet mask for 10,000 won from the Charm & Charm cosmetics store. The place has a truckload of cosmetics, skin care and other random beauty products. We were able to try a couple of the street food being sold in Myeongdong. The first thing that we tried is the gyeran bbang which is basically bread topped with baked egg. We also tried tteokbokki and I fell in love with it and there was also this starchy bread that we weren't really a fan of. Since it is Holy Week, we decided to drop by Myeongdong Cathedral to pray and meditate. It is just at the end of the street and the structure is majestic and I was stunned. I was able to look at the booklet that they use during the mass and it is pretty interesting. KC & Jizelle were able to buy K-Pop merchandise from one of the stores that they saw online. I love how the name of K-Pop groups are posted on each step of the stairs. We also saw a beauty queen from the Philippines, Ms. Nicole Cordovez, strolling along Myeongdong with her boyfriend. This was also the day when we were able to try authentic bibimbap.

Day 4: Everland & our last day in South Korea

I have been to Universal Studio in Singapore and Hong Kong Disneyland but I never get tired of going to theme parks. The little girl in me gets excited whenever I go to these places. I would love to try out all the rides but with the strict time frame, the large expanse of land the park has and the number of people there made me think otherwise. We were given 8,000 won worth of food coupons to use while we were there. The four of us decided to combine all our coupons and buy a meal in just one restaurant. We were able to find seats al fresco and ate our food feeling the cold spring breeze and witnessed the dance of the cherry blossom trees. I was able to buy a pair of piggy clips to complete my whole Everland experience.

I had a lot of fun in the tour that we were and I am looking forward to going back there during either Autumn or Winter. I have always wanted to see the famous cherry blossoms and experiencing it first hand was unforgettable. I am glad that I joined my friends in this trip because I get to experience things that I have never thought that I would. I hope to travel more in the coming months and will make sure to share the experience with all of you.

Thank you for reading this entry and happy week!

“The gladdest moment in human life is a departure into unknown lands.”

– Sir Richard Burton