Category: Seoul

Korea DAY 3: (Pt. 1) Seoul Station Roaming + Gimpo Airport

3/15/2025

I slept past 1 AM after hair-washing and bookkeeping needs. One is likely to believe that I would fall into a deep, uninterrupted slumber given the previous 48 hours, but this was hardly the case.

Although the room was cooler this time around, quality of sleep remained poor. My browsing partner had turned off the fan at the foot of the bed. Towards the middle of the night, I turned it back on, but forgot to aim the base in my direction, nullifying its cooling effects.

Around 5:50 AM, I awoke, then continued sleeping fitfully till 6:34 AM. By this point, I could no longer resume rest and resolved to fight through the fatigue.

Gearing up in comfortable attire, I announced a solo last-minute run to Seoul Station, then rushed out with an eco bag in tow.

It was during this journey that I discovered the nearby tunnel entrance to Seoul Station - a fixture that had been overlooked previously.

One wrong turn took me to the filthier section of the terminal, one that felt barren - save the noticeable presence of homeless residents. Many of these residents were elderly, if not middle-aged. Some shouted at commuters while remaining stationary, yet not in an aggressive way like Toronto or Vancouver. The utterances were disruptive, but mainly song-like in nature.

Eventually, I found the double escalators that led me up to Connect Place and Lotte Mart, where I had explored the previous day.

Then, by adhering to coloured signage, I found myself in the KTX terminal we had hurriedly bypassed on the day of departure. The terminal was met with a bustling scene even in the early hours of the day.

The terminal operated not only as a transit hub for municipal, regional, and airport connections, but boasted plenty of food vendors and retail options as well. Within the KTX terminal were bubble tea (Truedan), pretzel and buns, cakes and smoothies, and even a fish cake counter.

I was positively salivating peering at the selection from beyond the glass windows. Prices ranged from 3500 KRW to 4000 KRW per stick, which I, someone who hails from a land where flat fish cakes are a rarity, considered extremely affordable.

Korea DAY 2: (Pt. 1) Morning Walk + Climbing N Seoul Tower

3/14/2025

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Neither open windows nor a fan blowing at the foot of our beds all night could ease the stickiness in the air. Quality of sleep was extremely poor, and the rumble of trains that rush hour brought into the nearby transit hub hadn't helped either.

I had climbed into bed just before midnight after what appeared a never-ending evening of navigation woes. Throughout the night, I woke two to three times, then surrendered around the 5 AM mark. While my browsing partner fought to ignore my morning ruckus, I moved with resoluteness to start the day early. Time is of the essence always, but especially so on vacation.

When we had checked in late the previous evening, I had skipped perusal of hotel amenities. To start, I'd venture down to the 19th floor lobby to locate a WOWPASS machine for currency conversion. A middle-aged Japanese couple hovered before it, expressing confusion then ultimately walking away with a dissatisfied exchange.

Drawing near the giant screen, I tapped my card to exchange the four 50-dollar bills I had brought with me. After all, the machine would only accept Canadian dollars in the form of fifties. Two hundred Canadian dollars was the equivalent of 195,000 KRW after exchange.

Next, I headed to the laundry room. Coin Laundry was possible between the hours of 9 AM - 9 PM, with washing and drying priced at 5,000 KRW each and detergent and fabric softener at 1,000 KRW each. Two sets of washer-dryers were found behind the door.

Within the room were also a microwave, water dispenser, and ironing setup (iron + board). I took note of these features, then reached for an empty laundry bag for my browsing partner, as the room only included one.

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Korea DAY 2: (Pt. 2) Seoul Station, Gyeongbokgung Palace + National Folk Museum of Korea

3/14/2025

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Read Part 1 HERE !

Despite the path from the hotel to N Seoul Tower being relatively straightforward on foot, all buses routed towards Seoul Station involved a detour before the entrance of Gyeongbokgung Palace, as only the arterials roads were wide enough to be traversed.

Moreover, the short-lived commute involved one transfer. While I could have undertaken the remaining twenty minutes on foot instead of waiting seven minutes for the next bus, the mid-morning hours had become far warmer than anticipated. In the presence of concrete interlock walkways and sheer absence of tree cover, I opted to take cover under ledge of the nearest bus shelter. It was, in this moment, that I noted not a single member of society donned sunglasses in the face of eyeball-scorching UV rays.

I met up with my browsing partner within my ETA period. Before departing, a stopover was made at CU. I made it a point to obtain the Korea Tour Card to enable discounts on admission and other related attractions, not knowing that the 4,000 KRW card would be phased out at the end of the month.

Quick lunch options at CU were dismissed on the bases of blandness; though, I must admit to giddiness at seeing the same packaged chicken breast that Mark had showcased in his latest Korea VLOG.

We then slowly made our way to Seoul Station, with me identifying items of interest along the way. While we could have descended directly into the station via the nearest subway entrance, my browsing partner expressed curiosity towards the pedestrian overpass.
"We have to head over there (across the street) anyway - might as well see the view from up there." was the justification. Little did I know that these gentle nudges would continue to postpone meal times and delay desired activities for the rest of the trip.

And so, braving the blazing sun, we climbed up to the first pedestrian overpass and crossed over the complex intersection of Hangang-daero/Sejong-daero, Tongil-ro, and Toegye-ro.

Glass panels had been erected along the edges of the exposed walkway for the obvious reason of safety, save a bump-out observation deck with a singular opening for unobscured photo capture. I detested the pathway's proximity to the cloudless sky, again expressing distaste for the lack of streetscaping. The observation of a café with an elevated seating area - Yes, you read that right: even higher than the overpass - was bewildering to me.

Scalp burning immensely, I urged my browsing partner to make haste. Obtaining a hat for the remainder of the day's outdoor activities appeared non-negotiable at this point.

Descending a winding staircase led us back to the station where confusion and fatigue had plagued us the night before. Homeless sightings hadn't diminished in the slightest. Rather, the ruckus was louder and area busier.

Striding past a defunct railway terminal, homeless elderly men yelling indistinguishable phrases, and substantial smoking area, we made our way into the teensiest Daiso I had ever seen. Cramped corridors and failure to find hats prompted our near-immediate exit. We'd head two levels up towards Lotte Mart to continue our search.

In the bustling supermarket, I'd find a plethora of snacks but not a single hat of interest. The grocery section of the Mart was positively flourishing, which raised an eyebrow given that it was still a weekday afternoon.

I resisted the purchase of skincare items and weighty munchables, for we'd soon be subject to luggage overage charges imposed by Jeju-bound air carriers. A pack of Kanu instant coffee was procured, then we ventured to the connecting floors of Lotte Mall.

Utterly unplanned was the browsing of said retail floors. Alas, one distraction led to another, causing time to pass quicker than we realized.

One level above Lotte Mart was a haven for enthusiasts of games and animated characters: There were dedicated sections for Pokémon, Pixar, Nintendo, LEGO, and more!

Naturally, I was also unable to resist the conveniently positioned photobooth. The Korean Life4Cuts accepted payment by card and cash and charged a mere 5,000 KRW for two copies. Furthermore, there were no surcharges for specialty/exclusive frame options. The widespread availability of photobooths was a pleasant observation, but the accessible prices even more.

The unexpected yet convenient location of Muji incited a visit. There, I found products that would otherwise be pricier and not yet in stock back home. Given the allure of Instant Tax Refund, I committed to purchasing two sunhats for the upcoming itinerary. One adopted a dusty pink hue with a wide brim and waterproof coating, while the other a lightweight black with breathable top.

Washrooms were located on the same level as the parking lot. In contrast to the aura presented by the department store, the stalls weren't particularly clean, nor was the absence of soap and water regarded favourably.

By the time Lotte Mall had been traversed in most of its entirety, the clock read 2 PM. Sustenance was needed.

Tokkijung Project was selected based on proximity.

The interior housed a greater number of patrons than perceived from the outside. Luggage was held near the reception desk as to prevent obstructions in the main corridors of access. Meanwhile, servers flitted between different sections of the restaurant, transporting giant glasses of carbonated mixed drinks and shareable platters to parties of two, three, and four.

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Korea DAY 2: (Pt. 3) Bukchon Hanok Village Feat. Wonder Cookies, Acorn Caricature + N Seoul Tower at Night

3/14/2025

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Read Part 2 HERE !

Apparently, a recently introduced tourist curfew would come into effect for Bukchon Hanok Village and the surrounding districts beyond the hours of 10 AM to 5 PM.

I had urged my browsing partner to hurry, only to later learn that our area of interest lay with the retail side of the village. Residing just outside the curfew zone, this strip was distinctly more modern than heritage.

Making our way through the village, our gaze fell upon a Baskin Robbins and Madang collaboration set within a hanok, yet another museum (the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul), an O-Sulloc outpost, and even a Blue Bottle location.

My eyes shone with wonder as we chanced across hoddeok and bunggeoppang stalls. Neither sparked the same reaction from my browsing partner. Regrettably, the former could not be consumed due its peanut-based filling, while the latter succeeded only in enticing one of us (me).

We opted to browse nearby shops instead, where I surrendered my first bill of Korean won for a mini knitted tote intended for my coworker.

Rounding the corner of Bukchon-ro 5-gil at Bukchon-ro, we encountered a staggering number of protests. Police buses had lined the length of the street, seemingly positioned in place for the long term.

A few steps away was the storefront of Wonder Cookies, appearing precisely in the configuration shown online by Hanbit Cho.

The storefront gave the illusion of an old-fashioned music box with its partially Serif font and robin's egg blue accents. Artificial garden elements were also arranged outside surrounding the seating area. Given the external conditions though, it was far too noisy and chilly to sit comfortably for extended periods of time.

Upon pulling open the double doors, we were greeted warmly by the sole member of front line staff. Baking operations had evidently ceased for the day, though one could make out at least two members of staff assisting the pastry chef himself in the back room.

The front of the store housed two areas: a vestibule with baking-related replicas (countertop oven, cookbook, cookies, etc.) on display and a compact seating area with benches and backless chairs. Past this section were the product display shelves, labelled "Pop-Up, "Cookie", and "Order" respectively. It was presumed that "Pop-Up" items were introduced on a rotational basis, while "Cookie" indicated fixed selections.

By the time of our mid-afternoon visit, many varieties had already sold out. Amongst the remaining assortment were: Levain, White-Macadamia, Apple Pecan, Red Velvet, Fig Marshmallow, Lotus Marshmallow, Matcha Marshmallow, and Earl Grey Peach. I automatically dismissed the varieties containing fruit preserves, for they were likely to accumulate moisture quickly. Flavours of Red Velvet and S'Mores spinoffs were also largely unappealing to me, leaving me to lean towards Levain and White Chocolate Macadamia - the arguably classic cookies profiles.

Frankly, their fist-sized appearances had deterred my appetite slightly, as I would be sampling them solo. Since the cashier could not guarantee against potential cross-contamination with the peanut-containing doughs, my browsing partner erred on the side of caution. The cookies would largely be reserved for my consumption, while a slice of Basque Cheesecake was shared.

"Ade" is a persistently prominent drink choice in Korea. Composed of carbonated water and fruit compote or jam, the beverage is served over ice and remarkably popular during the sweltering summer months. For those hailing from cold countries - ahem, us - it would serve as a wonderful late afternoon pick-me-up in place of coffee.

Wonder Cookies' signature Citron Grapefruit Ade and Plum Ade set us back 5,500 KRW and 5,900 KRW respectively. Meanwhile, the cookies rang in at 5,900 KRW each and the Basque Cheesecake at 7,400 KRW. Visually pleasing cafés are hardly budget-friendly, though one could confirm that Korea was charging a hefty markup from North American prices on all items except the Basque cheesecake, which is usually priced between five to seven dollars before tax.

Our cashier strived to communicate with us in English, taking care to double check our orders to prevent misunderstandings. When it came to entering the Ades into the POS system, I simplified the task by pointing to the menu and reading the Hangul out loud. While expressing allergies wasn't the easiest task, I was glad that being literate in food terminology facilitated the ordering process.

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Korea DAY 1: Journey to Seoul

3/13/2025

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Fitful was my slumber before the day of departure. Unfortunately, it hadn't only been one night of restlessness. At least three consecutive nights had been met with interrupted periods of rest, which eventually revealed itself in facial imperfections. The tension was partially owed to work-related qualms and partially anxieties from a long absence from international travel. Suffice to say, my browsing partner did aim to not alleviate either of these concerns. Above all, the greatest annoyance was the excruciatingly long planning phase, wherein seemingly endless back and forth would ensue before some form of compromise could be attained.

In the early afternoon hours, I bid a tearful farewell to Larry, Mr. Buttons, and Mini Sulley - I'd be devoid of their plush embrace for almost two weeks! I had imposed a three-hour buffer between our arrival at Pearson and the flight time. Upon arriving at the airport, I learned of Air Canada's new check-in kiosks, which were now more compact and less finnicky than the obsolete version.

Shockingly, we blitzed through both baggage drop and security without a moment's delay. Most outbound flights had congregated in the domestic terminal, leaving the international screening area utterly barren.

With more than enough to explore the terminal, we sauntered through the duty-free gift shop. Deeply patriotic findings, such as RCMP moose plushies and Nordic-style pouches, proved amusing to me.

Throughout the process, my browsing partner continued to exude grouchiness, either griping about one item or another. The topic of in-flight meals had stirred up yet another altercation with my browsing partner prior to boarding. A supposed mandate for airlines to offer food on international or long haul flights had been declared in a way that seemed rational to all. Appalling was the insinuative attitude. As someone that travels less than once per year on average, with international travels being a highly seldom occurrence - if even, this trivia was hardly common sense. Truthfully, I could not comprehend the value of ruffling feathers prior to a long-awaited vacation.

We browsed the shop a bit more before plugging into a nearby seating area. At this point, I'd unveil my remaining Cheese Buffin halve from COBS Bread. In contemplation of a brownie from Tim Hortons, I sauntered over to the kiosk. Mobile Ordering had been advertised at its door, however I soon discovered that it was a browser-based platform exclusive to the airport terminal location, rather than the all-inclusive Tim Hortons app itself.

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Out & About #271 | Sorry Coffee Preview

9/26/2016

Quite honestly, the only positive thing about peeling my PJs off before 6:30 AM is the fact that I'm sometimes rewarded with the stunning gradients of a pre-sunrise sky. Sometimes.

As a result of the desire to familiarize myself with up-and-coming happenings in the transportation and municipal construction sectors, I excused myself immediately upon the termination of class and sped downtown.
Considering that a fellow K-Pop friend of mine happened to be making her way over later in the day, I concluded that there was no better opportunity to check out Sorry Coffee in Yorkville.

It's not easy to spot this tiny space from the south side of Bloor, as it's joined to the back of minimalist apparel shop Kit and Ace. Spaces are few, and outlets even fewer. I predict the maximum capacity to hover around twelve; a strip of bar stools and two shorter tables with window sills as seats make up the entirety of the seating area.

Decor is intriguing enough: the hints of bronze and gold allow the shop to appeal to the more laidback crowd of the high-profile shopping area. Thin wires forming abstract geometric shapes provide a cohesive property through its prominent usage in chairs and light fixture casings.

< Pictured above and below: Latte w/ Canadiana syrup and Jasmine Tea >

[The Intense Summer] SEOUL/HONG KONG DAY 1 (Part 3)

7/2/2014

Continuing from Part 2, this post includes photos from our arrival at Incheon Airport and transfer from Incheon to Hong Kong.

We arrived in Seoul around 4 PM, and were welcomed by humidity and a thin layer of fog.

After a quick refuel at the airport lounge (which unfortunately did not allow photos, though I took some sneakily anway xD), we walked around for a bit to do some duty-free shopping.

[The Intense Summer] SEOUL/HONG KONG DAY 1 (Part 2)

7/1/2014

<Continuing from PART 1>

This time around we flew Business Class and were provided with a rather extensive lunch menu.

As we were flying business class, we received complementary salted almonds upon take-off. (I actually fell asleep when the flight attendant came around with them, and just woke up to find them there.

Korea DAY 3: (Pt. 1) Seoul Station Roaming + Gimpo Airport

Korea DAY 2: (Pt. 1) Morning Walk + Climbing N Seoul Tower

Korea DAY 2: (Pt. 2) Seoul Station, Gyeongbokgung Palace + National Folk Museum of Korea

Korea DAY 2: (Pt. 3) Bukchon Hanok Village Feat. Wonder Cookies, Acorn Caricature + N Seoul Tower at Night

Korea DAY 1: Journey to Seoul

Out & About #271 | Sorry Coffee Preview

[The Intense Summer] SEOUL/HONG KONG DAY 1 (Part 3)

[The Intense Summer] SEOUL/HONG KONG DAY 1 (Part 2)

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