Seoul

안녕하세요!

My time in Seoul flew by so fast. My hotel was located about a 7 minute walking distance to Myeongdong, a big tourist shopping area, so I spent my nights there walking and eating delicious street food. 

I usually had breakfast at some korean chain bakeries like Tours les Jours.

In Korean bakeries they provide trays and tongs that you use to pick up the breads. You can't touch any of them with your hands since I guess it's not sanitary.

There were so many delicious and different breads like a red bean donut or a tapioca pizza bread.

I took the subway, which was very easy to use since everything is in English and Korean, to Edae. Edae is short for the area around Ewha Woman's University. There were a lot of nice clothing stores that offered cheap prices in order to attract the college students.

Then I chose to go on a tour of Seoul on a tour bus. The bus was only 10,000 won or about $10 and allowed you to get on and off the bus as much as you wanted for a day. 

I stopped at the N Seoul Tower which offered an amazing view of Seoul.

Then I stopped at Insadong, a cultural area in Seoul that is a tourist attraction.

Art market in Insadong

I saw everyone in Insadong with this weird crunchy horn filled with ice cream and I had to have one. :)

Besides my side adventures, I spent my time mostly walking around Myeongdong.

Underground shopping in Myeongdong.

Myeongdong is filled with popular cosmetic and skin care shops.

My favorite was Etude House since everything was cute and pink.

After my 5 days in Seoul, it was time to go south to Masan for my exchange! :)

I found the Hello Kitty Cafe at Incheon Airport!

It was so cute I didn't want to drink it!

Then I arrived in Masan!

I am having a blast here at Kyungnam University! For the first session it is only three of us, me, Andrew from UNF, and Leo from Mexico. We were each assigned a Korean buddy whom also double as our roommates and classmates for the program. 

This is me and my Korean buddy Soo Jeong! :)

The program is well organized and we always do fun things on our free time. Right now we are going out to dinner in the downtown area. 

Until next time!

Natalie

Do re mi fa SEOUL!

안녕하세요!

I finally made it to Seoul! I'm still in shock of being here since I always dreamed I would be here one day :).

I arrived at around 3pm and to my hotel around 5pm. I had to choose between taking a taxi ( too expensive), limousine bus( busses that take you near your hotel), or the airport railway( cheap) in order to get to Seoul from Incheon. I used the express line on the railway which was about 8000 won. I was originally thinking of checking in and sleeping but I think the excitement of being in Seoul got to me and I went to the Myeongdong shopping area!

View from hotel room

Electric toilet!

I'll post pictures and a separate post on Myeongdong later.

Packing

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I found out this morning that my original flight was overbooked and there was no way I would be getting on the plane. So plan B was flying a day earlier or a day after, a day earlier seemed better. Now instead of packing everything tomorrow, I am scrambling to get my things together since I have to be at the airport by 4:30 am. :( Hopefully Ill remember to pack everything I need and make it in time for the flight.