Creating me

[vukieu-blog]

Be free, be authentic, and be thankful

A little update on my Couchsurfing profile today:

“I am glad that you stopped by my profile :) In turn, I like to share these little lessons about Vietnam, which you must read before sending me a request:

1. Foreigners cant stay in a Vietnamese's house. It is illegal! ( It is possible for Vietnameses to host foreigners if I live in a foreigner area in HCMC, or live in an apartment building which a lot of foreigners living in - which I already did both; OR run a hotel business, or live in another country, ha ha - which I will do for a period of time in the near future.

2. I am living with my parents in a house in a new area of the town. Surprisingly, after 2 years of building up, this area now becomes a home to mosquitos and rats, not just seasonal but all year round. But dont' worry:) Everybody is fine. This area is still the best place in town to live. It is just because I am too sensitive and too concerned -.- I really feel ashamed of myself for doing nothing about this concern. I thought it was supposed to be better.

P/s: FYI, 1. For the case of hosting Vietnamese people, it requires that the host need to report to the police nearby. It is so funny that my colleague got fined because his neighbor hated him and turned him in when he let his friend stay in without reporting to the police.

2. The hotel price is very cheap here: 7$ - 10$ for a private room with the air con. There are many hotels close to my house, within a-few-step-walk distance.

Here is what I can share with you during your stay: 

1. Awesome food! Fresh, tasty, yummy, and cheap! You can also enjoy my father's home-cook meals. My mother is still the chef in the kitchen but I recommend to try my father's food, ha ha 2. Swim in the early morning at the beach nearby 3. A slow paced life 4. Exploration of the hidden charm of beautiful beaches in my hometown”

* No matter what the ostacles are, I still let myself own the right to surf. Taking and giving is not a math equation, so I’ll try my best to be a good guest as well as a good host under circumstances. 

[vukieu-blog]

Believes make a poor person own a rich mind. Surrender make a poor person own a poorer mind. I have witnessed and myself experienced both circumstances. There is nothing right or wrong. It is about choices.

I didnt travel much and everybody questioned about that. I just found the answer today. There is no doubt that travelling makes a person have a richer mind, but does it mean not travelling much proves that I have a poor mind? - Obviously not, because everybody thought I had travelled a lot. Thanks to the Internet, the world become smaller and understandable. To short, it turns out that travelling is not my hobby because I can’t make it happen often and it is not my primary priority. I have many other missions to complete.

However, I do long for travelling and staying in a different country for a certain period of time. It is not just about crossing the borders and checking famous touristic places. It is about refreshing myself, sharing my love and my faith to people from a different culture, and taking whatever they offer. I chose Korea as my first destination of this kind of travelling because I felt so connected with them. I fell in love with Korean food and their sense of humor. During my journey in Korea, I received a lot helps and shares from strangers. Also, thanks to Couchsurfing, my fright of loneliness disappeared, my trip was filled up with loves, passions, trusts, faiths, laughs, and so on. I can't thank enough all people I met, who made my trip meaningful and colorful. Yep, I wanted to have it all, and my trip was much more perfect than I expected.

I dont know when I will do the next trip to where, but I will live with the spirit I got from Korea trip. I will try harder and make beautiful things happen ❤️

[vukieu-blog]

Rocks ❤️💕

[vukieu-blog]

1 month in South Korea - Day 27 - Insadong, Bukchon Hanok Village, Gyeongbukgung & Jamsil

My friend tried to learn my preference and put a little bit of this and that to make a perfect plan for a day. In Insadong, I enjoyed the art in Ssamjigil and Kim Hyun Jung artist’s artworks. I was lucky to know her gallery this time 😍

In Gyeongbukgung, I was so amazed when seeing Korean women in Hanbok. The dresses were so beautiful and I believed they are traditional ones with traditional fabric. I was not sure what Jeonju’s hanboks were supposed to look like, but I really liked Seoul’s hanboks. The National Palace Museum took me a lot of time even though I tried to just have a quick glance. The touch screen on some display glasses were so amazing. It even surprised Koreans.

Bukchon Village and the National Museum of Modern Contemporary Art were also the places where art showcased. Although there were so many noises from the curious tourists, I could still enjoy the peace of the hanok houses themselves. In the MMCA, I had chance to see stunning artworks of Jullius Popp and Ahn Kyuchul.

I tried to finish the day at Jamsil as my friend suggested. She told me to see the ice rink, Seokchon lake and Lotte tower. I couldnt see the bridge but the last 2 pics made me satisfied enough 😍

[vukieu-blog]

1 month in South Korea - Day 26 - Ttukseom park, Namsagol Hanok Village, Myeongdong, and Hongdae

Although my friend liked to take me to Jamsil to see the Lotte tower and Seokchon lake in the morning, she couldnt get up early to make it. I didnt feel comfortable seeing her blame herself but I thought it was good for her to sleep more. I promised to cook her some Vietnamese dishes but we barely had time. After discussing, walking around to find ingredients, I could make only 1 dish:) Then she took me to Ttukseom and rent bicycles for both of us. She rode with me for 30 minutes and let me use the bike for the 30 minute left because she had to go to school.

Seoul was so rich of cultures and I really enjoyed walking around the Korea House, Namsagol Hanok Village. Then I went to Myeongdong for shopping. I couldnt find the Noonsquare to have new glasses as my friend recommended, so I needed to come back here tomorrow.

I messed up with the subway lines, exits and came to the meeting point 30 minutes late in Hongdae. She treated me the dinner, her friend ( who travelled with her in Vietnam) treated me the patbingsu. We then tried to check many nightclubs but it seemed we had only 1 option - stay until 11pm for free entrance. We hated the noise so much and were all tired afterwards.

[vukieu-blog]

1 month in South Korea - Day 25 - Seoul - Dongdaemun

I had 3 days left in Seoul, Korea, so I liked to focus on the hanok village and museums as much as I could. However, the park and the nature in the city here were so well managed and more beautiful than those in the other cities that I visited. But I never regretted about anything in my trip because I knew what I was searching for.

Trying a cheap pancake on the street near Dongdaemun station, I visited the City Wall museum, walked along the fortress, to DDP, checked out the Dongdaemun museum and a lot of creative things around, then finally the Cheonggyecheon stream 😍

I met my Korean friend after her school time. Think that she could host me for only 1 day, she was hurry to introduce me her favorite shopping mall as well as to make a very detailed plan for the days later. It was too bad that we couldnt talk much and she was exhausted after all.

I really liked the interior of that shopping mall. She helped me to buy shoes and sunblocks that night. Although my broken shoes was stinky after suffering the rain in Jeonju, she was very patient to help me choose the best ones, and bought me a new pair of socks 😅

[vukieu-blog]

1 month in South Korea - Day 23 & 24 - Jeonju

Arrived in Jeonju on the previous night, I had only 2 days in Jeonju. Besides the Hanok village, I was quite uncertain anywhere else to go. But it turned out that although I visited the village 3 times, I still missed a lot of places in the village.

After having a wonderful breakfast with the best chicken soup ever, I had a fancy bicycle tour to the Hanok village with my host. I might make him a bit upset with a lot of questions like: why do they call it a slow city? Do you think it is still a slow city? Are those real hanboks, or just for rent type? With the traditional fabric? 🤓 He couldnt answer with certainty and had to check up to the Internet to give me reasonable answers. We kept talking although there were more and more disagreements and opposite points of view. It was uncomfortable but at least we could learn from each other and that was what we wanted. We could laugh and he liked my sunblock story, ha ha

I went to the Hanji museum by myself. My host forgot to tell me that it was in a Hanji mill, so I was kind of about to turn around when the security approached me. But he welcomed me and asked in English “museum? Museum?” I was always curious about Korean and Japanese paper covering the door, and now I had chance to learn about it. It was so good to be warmly welcomed and have a hand-made hanji experience. I loved to be here and to learn how a traditional material came to modern life and had many future potentials

On the way back to the meeting point, I got off at stop with interesting sidewalk vendors. Turned out, it was Jungang market and there was a cover on the ground engraved “ Rice cake street” I enjoyed walking around the market with attempt to find the best rice cake shop. Finally, I found one, I believed. It was super cheap, super delicious, offered tables inside, happy faces of the owners…,and the shop was on the TV show👍 (Most host tried a few of cakes and agreed it was very delicious and cheap) Somehow I took a bus to the inside of the Cheonbuk university campus. That was the first time I saw a huge soccer field inside a university. The campus was like an town of its own. I had to asked 2 Koreans to find the way out 😅 That night, my host was dedicated to rent a car and planned to take me and his lovely girl friend to the cherry blossom park. But traffic jam occurred and we all liked to go to the Hanok village. He introduced me a lot of places in the village but he still recommended that I should check out this village more by myself.

I had another wonderful breakfast on the second day, and got ready to Moaksan. The hike to the summit was the challenging one ever but it was good for my spirit and health. On the top, I met a group of old people. When they knew I came from Vietnam, they gave me some cookies. One man introduced that he was in Vietnam war and could sing a Vietnam song. Confidently, he sang. Although I couldnt hear a word, the rhythm was definitely correct. They invited me to have lunch with them but I refused because I didnt want to bother them much. If I had been able to communicate in Korean, I would have liked to “bother” them, ha ha 😎 Anyway, they called me back and gave me a kimbab. I took another trail to go down and it was so beautiful and perfect

This trail led to Geumsansa and it had 3 parts: beautiful pine trees on both sides, a stream along the second part, cherry flower trees. Or you could hear the wind and bird first, the stream, and the bee buzz. They were trying to make Geumsansa bigger and build its own website. Very promising! I visited the Hanok village for the third times and took the map at info desk. Yep, I missed a lot of places and I couldnt make it up because of raining and time limit. Anyway, I slept in Spalaqua jjimjilbang that night, the best jjimjilbang in this trip.

[vukieu-blog]

1 month in South Korea - Day 22 - Hwasun It was also a cloudy day but we still could make the trip to Unjusa and Dolmen site happen. My host was off that day and he could take me to these place:) The trip took longer than our plan because of preparation, procrastination, and ....fun fun time, unexpected things! We had the black goat soup for lunch, and visited the Unjusa first. We spent most of the time in Unjusa because it was famous and unique. We wanted to stop by the Dolmen site to have a quick look and to call it a day because my host heard that this place just simply had rocks. However the dolmen site was a real highlight on that day. There was a real large canola field on the way in. The worker at the info desk welcomed us with a lot of interesting information and instructions. This was the first time for...both of us visited a dolmen site and we dropped jaws with the stunning site of nature. There were also a lake, cherry flower trees, canola fields along the way. I liked the dolmen shapes, the mosses, and the he stories here. We said goodbye at the Usquare with words, jokes, pics within 10 minutes. He was always good with timing and fun-serious switch😎

[vukieu-blog]

1 month in South Korea - Day 21 - Gwangju

I planned to visit Unjusa and UNESCO Dolmen Site in Hwasun on this day and head to Jeonju on the following morning. However, before and especially during my stay, my host worried about the rain forecasted. He suggested that I go somewhere in Gwangju today. On the way to work, he dropped me at the 5.18 Memorial Park.

This park was so amazing that I spent for 4 hour there. I walked around the park twice and enjoyed all different sceneries, lots of birds, trees and the tower on the top with 360 degree view. The meaning of the memorial park was also important and I should start learning about that.

It started raining in the afternoon, so I entered Emart nearby to shop and drink free water 😋 Then I decided to have a city tour on bus by taking a random bus, before backing to the Usquare and asked the bus to my host’s house. It was nice to pass the cherry blossom park and the old downtown, which i was took to on the day before. Then I waited and waited to see somewhere interesting to get off. But soon I realized I was on the bus with a mom and a son left, and it seemed the bus head to Hwasun, I got off the bus on the expressway with the mom and the son. Trying to keep calm when it was raining outside, I tried to look at all the buses passing by and check the names of the bus stops in Hangeul, recall which bus number my host told me. Finally, I got a perfect one to the host’s town. It was so so nice that my Gwangju city tour turned into the Hwasun tour 😎✨ The town was so peaceful and beautiful that I suddenly missed my hometown😅 With a precise instruction from a local, I walked to home easily. I could see the beautiful neighborhood when walking.

While waiting for my host, I had a long rest, had dinner and drunk beer with his mom. Then I talked with him a lot on studies until very late 🤓🤓

P/s: It was very gentle of him to let me take his bed on the first night. However, I gave it back to him on the second night :) because I love wooden floors too 😅

[vukieu-blog]

1 month in South Korea - Day 19 & 20 - Damyang and Gwangju

At Gwangju terminal, named Usquare, I asked the info desk how to get to Juknokwon by bus, and how to get to the nearest jjimjilbang. It was so good to know that there was 1 sauna on the second floor.

I didnt much of expectation here because I was quite familiar with bamboo in Vietnam. However, the way they turned this forest into a park impressed me. The only thing made me regret was I didn’t wear shades because I wanted to see the real green of the bamboo. My eyes got sunburn 😎😩 The forest was not very big but I spent for 3 hour there, with 1 hour lying down at 2 perfect bamboo beds.

Back to Usquare, I walked around to check the Sauna, looking for a place to eat , even at Shinsege, Emart. Finally, I chose Ashley’s buffet. It was so good to taste a lot of creative flavors here. But I agreed with my host that I met the following day, having buffet was not a smart choice. So impressed with his knowledge of the food here.

On the day following, it took me like 1 hour to decide where to go. The info desk helped me again with the bus instruction. I went to Mudeungsan and Jeungsimsa first. It was nice to see so many locals around and sportwear shops here. However, the trail let me down with a big steady concrete road. After reaching the Jeungsimsa, I went back to the bus stop and head to the Eco Lake Park. It was an interesting area with reservoir, village, rice field on the way. There were many young couples and families picnicking here. I really liked this park and imagined how beautiful it would be in summer and autumn. At this point, it was like a dead land but I still loved it and enjoyed seeing how the parents taught their kids about trees, natures and even how to throw stones into water 🤓 The kids were learning and so was I.

My day didnt end yet. I met my host and we had a long night with a lot of fun. It was so strange that we didn’t have to say something general for ice breaking. Just naturally, we kept talking and talking. He took me to the old downtown, to the cherryblossom park. Meeting up and drinking with his best friends was an unexpected part for both of us. He said I was simply lucky to meet his friends on that day. His friends were super fun and authentic, which didn’t make me nervous to talk to, ha ha 😅 In fact, I laughed out loud many times

P/s: My host also revealed that I was lucky to visit Juknokwon this time because normally the mosquitos would really annoyed visitors 😊✨

[vukieu-blog]

1 month in South Korea - Day 18 - Gurye

As the yesterday ladies and the taxi driver highly recommended not to hike to Nogodan this season because of the weather and the off-season bus schedule, I just hiked from Hwaeomsa to Yeongiam. It was a wonderful hike with rock stairs, car roads, a lot of trees and shades, squirrels, temples. It was the best hike in my trip.

I tried to save a bit of energy to hike to the small mountain Bongseong in Gurye town in late afternoon but my host was really dedicated to make it happen. He joined me and took me to different trails. It was so good when we experienced the cherry blossom on the first day of blossom and for the first time for both of us on this mountain. Yesterday, the mountain still looked green but now it turned pink from bottom to top. It was so perfect for my last day in Gurye ❤️

P/s: It takes only 2 and a half hour for my American host to Nogodan peak, but 4 hour for Koreans and maybe me :)

[vukieu-blog]

1 month in South Korea - Day 17 - Gurye

It is quite easy to make a 1-day trip by bus in Gurye and there are many different courses to go. My plan for the day was spending most of the time in Jiri Spa Land - introduced as Korea’s largest hotspring, visiting Sansuyu village, and the Cherry blossom road if possible.

Somehow I got Sansuyu village first and didn’t feel I could go around comfortably. I asked the bus driver to let me get off at Jiri Spa Land. It didnt have jjimjilbang, and the sauna, hotspring was super average. I enjoyed the public bath but this place shouldn’t be put on the list of good jjimjilbang or even of attractions. Some Korean I met later agreed too. They tried to make it become something but they failed. I heard that the locals preferred the jjimjilbang named “cage”.

While waiting for the bus to the terminal, I tried to make another plan for the rest of the day but was not certain. Maybe just back to the terminal and go for the Piagol valley. Suddenly, 2 Korean ladies approached the bus stop and we started talking. I was so curious about their plan and liked to share them mine. In fact, they went the “cage” spa. They said it was more expensive than Jiri spa land but it was better. When a taxi approached, they asked if I liked to join the drive and share the fee. After so many fun talks between them, taxi driver, and me, the ladies invited me to join them for the rest of the day. I couldnt be happier. We had a great lunch in the Gurye’s best restaurant. They were afraid that I couldnt eat snails but I was kind of familiar with snails in Vietnam, and really liked that Korean dish. I forgot to tell them that this was the best dish I had ever tried in Korea😅 But I did tell them that the food were so good and I was very happy.

They treated me a tea, which was the best peppermint tea I had ever tried in my whole life. We visited Saseongam and hiked to the top of Mt. Osan to enjoy the 360 degree view of Gurye, which later the host and his friend also agreed that that was the best place to see the Gurye, even better than Nogodan peak 👍 Because I shared the ladies about my big dream passionately earlier, they asked me to write my wishes down on the black tile and were happy to donate a bit to the temple for my wishes. It was quite embarrassing to write all my big words down, so I just said simple and fun things. It was a bit clumsy english wordings but I was happy with these wishes. When I said I liked to visit the cherry blossom road nearby, they asked their friend to drive us there and we had a very happy ending. We said goodbye and their friend drove them back to their hometown near Seoul.

What a sweet day! I am a lucky girl ❤️ Thanks to my host, I had a great home-cook dinner with all kinds of things: all world-class ingredients, super expensive Canadian coffee, ice cream, rice paper ( from me), eggnog. Oh la la ❤️💕

[vukieu-blog]

1 month in South Korea - Day 16 - Gurye

I asked 2 Koreans to help me buy the ticket to Gurye from Jinju but the answer was the same. They had only the bus to Hadong and from Hadong, I could take another bus to Gurye. It was a nice trip from Hadong to Gurye actually. The bus stopped by Hwagae village, which was also famous for cherry blossom festival. Gurye was a really really small town but its bus terminal was way better than the other cities. It had Romanized signs, lockers, nice toilet, free drinking water 👍 and surprisingly they had the bus to Jinju. That was how the bus system worked :)

My host in Gurye introduced that the town was so small that I could go around on foot but it was also easy to get lost. He was really right. I was so excited to explore the town on foot and a flock of old people toward the sport park at the noon that I didnt notice my host’ house look and direction. I just liked to test my instinct all the time and it was a bit confusing here. I had better just use my brain 🤓

Just a simple day to walk around the town with an attempt to visit the Cherry blossom road along Seomjingang river. But I was too scared of the guard dogs at the greenhouse field. So just simply got lost and found the way back home, enjoyed 2kg of strawberries with my host and his friend, tried the famous bibimbap restaurant, and drank soju which was kept for 4 month in the fridge 😍.

[vukieu-blog]

1 month in South Korea - Day 15 - Sancheong & Jinju The morning later, I still didn’t know where to go next. I liked to hike a bit on Mageumsan but after finding out Namsa Yedamcheon village on the Internet, I thought I had better get going as soon as possible. From Mageumsan to the village, I guessed I must go back to Masan terminal but I was not sure and asked some people at the bus stop. One grandpa-over-flower recognized me as the Vietnamese girl looking for the jjimjilbang yesterday. He said he also went to the bus terminal and would help me to take the bus to Jinju terminal. On the bus and at the terminal, he told some people that I came from Vietnam and had needed to go to Jinju. He walked me to the bus right away even though I liked to use the restroom, ha ha. Seated on the bus, I wondered if he left yet but didn’t check out. I really moved to see his eyes looking toward to my bus when the bus started moving. From Jinju station, I took the bus to Sancheong as the website instructed. The locals there had no idea where Namsa Yedamcheon village was and recommended me to take a taxi. I couldn’t imagine how far it was and felt a bit pissed off the fare I had to pay. The village was very beautiful and I tried to comfort myself when the welcome board said “ The No. 1 beautiful village among Korean’s beautiful villages”. The website said the visiting program and info office open all year round but when I came, the village was empty. Only beautiful houses left. I tried to forget the worry of how I could come back the bus terminal and which city I should stay in the evening then because definitely, I didn’t want to pay another expensive taxi drive. I tried to just enjoy this beautiful place. Only me and myself. There were a group of film makers and then another group of old people walked around the place. I didnt want to give up on this village and asked 1 Korean girl in the filming group to confirm that there were nothing here that I could ask for help. She wished me to have a good time here and then I started to walked around. 80% exhibited houses were open and I could just stand in the front yards. I didnt take any photo because there were nothing special. Just empty villages and locals inside houses made it so peaceful to immerse but challenging to explore. I didn’t feel comfortable at all but surprisingly loved this experience. Still not knowing how to get to the terminal, I decided to have lunch in a restaurant with hope I could ask some help from someone. Hitchhiking flared in my mind but I thought maybe taxi was the only possibility so I didn’t ask anyone. But magically, an grandma-over-flower appeared at a seemed-to-be bus stop. I checked this bus stop many times earlier but couldn’t believe it still worked. The only questions I could ask her were: where does the bus go to? And Is the bus really coming? I liked to back to Sancheong terminal first and still had no idea where to go next. She said this bus would go to Jinju terminal and I could change to the bus to Sancheong on the way. Holding 1300 won in her hand for over 30 minutes, she patiently waited for the bus …, with me. She tried to explained to me that I needed to prepare the same amount as changes too, but I didnt follow because I had Tmoney card. Whoo, the bus finally came and I had to pay by cash 😅 The driver said this bus wouldn’t pass by Samcheong but he would drop me in the middle. Then, I suddenly remembered the nice riverside view with the beautiful fortress near Jinju terminal. I told the driver I liked to get off at Jinju. The grandma got off somewhere but still reminded the driver to let me get off here too to take bus to Sancheong. He replied that I changed my destination and like to go to Jinju. Thank you so much, grandma ❤️ and the driver 😋 At Jinju terminal, I luckily found a good jjimjilbang in Jinju on the Internet and know how to get there with googlemap. Walking along the river to the fortress was so good. This was the first and only fortress that I was able to visit in this trip. I will visit more fortresses in the near future. It was stunning and the riverside view was so perfect. Outside the fortress, I was so glad to see the info desk and asked them the way to the jjilmjibang Theme Spa Land. They were very friendly but also confirmed me to get off the bus stop named Theme Spa Land, which didnt exist. After suffering the yelling from the first driver, I carefully asked the second driver for help and get off at bus stop named Sinan jukong apt. The spa was right behind at the bus stop :) A mom and a daughter in the spa advised me not to eat in the locker room and gave me a yakult, snacks and a orange in the common room ❤️ What a day!

[vukieu-blog]

1 month in South Korea - Day 14 - Jinhae & Changwon

Many people recommended me to visit Gyeongju in Gyeongsangbuk-do before heading to Jeollanam-do, but I just wanted to explore random places on the way to the west, rather than going up to the northeast. I decided where to go for these 2 days on the very last minute.

From Busan, getting off at Jinhae for the Cherry Blossom Festival. The festival was coming in 4 more days but tourists started to flock to the town. As other tourists on the same bus from Busan, we just went around for a while before really learning where we should go. I see the tower at Jehwangsan Park but didn’t tried to climb up because of my backpack. Then found the way to Yeojwacheon Stream by GPS somehow working. The cherry didnt bloom yet but the eyes still were satisfied. However, I don’t think setting up something on the stream is a good idea. The cherry flowers are simply beautiful enough 🤓

Then I looked up information and made a quick decision to complete a day. Yeap, always going for jjimjilbang. Luckily, all the bus drivers were super friendly and surprisingly know a little English. After 3 buses, I got the Mageumsan Hotspring very smoothly. It was the first time I saw a place with so many hotels and hotsprings. Maybe this is a hot spot for vacation in Korea. At that time, my understanding of jjimjilbang was still a bit confusing. I was too afraid to ask the sleep over thing. I thought the 24 hour with jjimjilbang on a sign was a guarantee for a cheap but very nice overnight stay. So I just asked people around for jjimjilbang. Luckily, a nice hotspring owner could speak a little of English and showed me a nearby jjimjilbang. His old lady friends surprised and made fun of him when he spoke to me in English. They were so lovely :) - It turns out that jjimjilbang or sauna can offer or not offer the overnight stay, depending on their business. So, you should check their open time or ask them directly.

Anyway, the jjimjilbang was cheap but really old. It was a good try. I also learnt some Korean words after mistakenly entering the male sleeping room.

[vukieu-blog]

1 month in South Korea - Day 11, 12 & 13 - Busan

The weather in Busan suddenly got so cold that my metal camera Fujifilm couldn’t work. I just could take these 3 pics, but there were so much more of memories. Except Taejongdae, which I found very similar to my home country and not good to visit on the cold day, I love every place that I visited. It is a Dynamic Busan.

On Day 1, I reached Busan around noon, found the host’s house, had delicious instant octopus fried rice, then made a quick plan for the rest of the day. I was so amazed by the nature surrounding Beomeosa, bought super fancy sale-off cookies ( because they were about to be expired) and tried the best pancake and makkoli restaurant in Pusan University area.

On Day 2, somehow I got lost in Gamcheon Cultural village and roamed around the area, which was so exhausting to walk up and down all the ways. But I enjoyed the lost more than the second round on the cultural road. The cultural road is so touristic and not related much to the village life, I guess. There are so many ideas on the cultural road and people like to take selfies at every stop, but it is not my taste. Then enjoyed the cold in Taejongdae. I quickly took the bus back to Nampo downtown, got off at Jalgachi market, and realised there were so many things to explore in the area when walking around. I walked to Lotte Department store, Yongdusan Park, 2 underground markets ( I bought the cheap ipad case there. It was not a smart choice 😅, but still a good deal), Gukje market, and finally the Jalgachi market. The market itself is awesome with a diversity of fishes and its giant scale. But it is a must-visit place because of an another point. Standing inside the market, you can see Gamcheon village in front and the big port behind. It is an amazing place to see all kinds of things. Then I met the host, learnt more about the second-hand book stores area, and tried famous hotteok, tried the best naemyeon ( cold noodle) in the area and then tried the blowfish restaurant ( I am still alive and it s worth trying it in Korea)

Because the weather was getting colder, I decided to just go to the jjimjilbang on the 3rd day. It was an amazing experience in the very old jjimjilbang in an remote area. You can even bring your sweet potatos to bake here. But we didnt 😅

[vukieu-blog]

1 month in Korea - Day 10 - Jeju island - Gimnyeong Songsegi Beach.

I saw this beach on the tour in the east side and decided to spend the last day in Jeju on this beach. It was so beautiful and tempting. It was not the best time of it at this time but it looked still gorgeous.

The seaweed was everywhere and I even could feel this lovely smell directly from the sea 😘

Surprisingly, this beach is also my host’s favorite 👍