Touchbase goes to South Korea!
On November 24-28 the Touchbase team took a trip to immerse ourselves in the history, culture, and hospitality of South Korea.
After about a four-hour flight, the team touched down at Incheon Airport just before midnight. The air was clean and crisp, and the wind was nipping from the moment the plane doors opened.
The next day, we were set to go to Namiseom, a small island of evergreens, seasonal colors, and, of course, the famous sequoia trail. Having scheduled the trip right as winter was rolling in, everyone was praying for their first snowy experience. We were lucky enough to catch Nami Island a day after it got some snowfall. Namiseom is an Instagram-worthy chance to be one with nature—walking and playing around on a blanket of fallen snow, through snow-capped foliage of vibrant evergreens and autumn reds, embracing the freezing cold in our fingertips.
Afterwards, we took a trip up a mountain road to Petite France, a quaint village featuring French-style architecture and culture along the hillside. Despite not having snow here, the altitude and high winds made it even colder, but it was here that we began to familiarize ourselves with the constant chill.
Around twilight, we headed off to the N Seoul Tower, where we hiked up a mountain slope to see the sun set on the Seoul cityscape from the second highest point in Seoul.
The next morning, we went on a bit of a history trip as we toured Bukchon Hanok Village, the National Folk Museum of Korea, and the Gyeongbokgung Palace.
We also kiiiind of learned how to make seaweed snacks and kimchi, and tried on hanboks, the traditional Korean garb.
Afterwards, we had a bit of a shopping opportunity in various locations like the Korean Ginseng Museum, the Donghwa Duty Free Shop, and along the streets of Seoul.
Throughout our stay, we were able to try some traditional Korean food from different restaurants: from the side dish staples of various types of kimchi, pickled vegetables, rice cakes and fish cakes, to bulgogi, bibimbap, ginseng chicken, and samgyeopsal. It was only natural that on our final night there, we went out to experience the evening street food and scene around our hotel in Dongdaemun-gu.
We closed the trip off with a free-roaming visit to the Myeongdong shopping area for a taste of the bustling city life: an apt closing statement as far as immersion goes.
A few days after the trip, as we settled back into our quiet lives here at home, the trip to Seoul seemed like a distant dream. The change in culture and scenery, and just the complete enveloping feeling of being in such a different part of the world was difficult to think of as a personal experience. But in the end, we all share this memory—to look back on with fondness.
