Hello everyone, welcome back. Today, I will share my experience of traveling abroad for the first time as a young man from the countryside. The country I visited was South Korea. This time, I went with a tour group called Smile To Korea. The tour leader was a very kind lady named Oai.

Without further ado, let's get started.

  • Today was my first time ever entering Suvarnabhumi Airport. It was a massive airport. My friends and I had to travel at 1 am, but the airport was still bustling with activity. Oh, and on the day of our departure, three Korean celebrities were also returning to their country. I heard one of them was named Soo-yeon, but I don't know who the other two were. After that, it was finally time for us to board the plane. This trip was with T-Way Airlines. Once we were on the plane, we sat and slept for the six-hour flight.

Upon arrival at Incheon Airport, the tour leader gathered everyone for an introduction and to adjust their watches, as Korea is two hours ahead of Thailand. After synchronizing their timepieces, the group proceeded to Korean immigration. Initially, there was some apprehension as my passport was still blank, and I was informed that it might be difficult to pass through. However, as long as all necessary documents are prepared, there is no need to worry. After clearing the checkpoint, we headed to the baggage claim area to retrieve our luggage. At this point, the tour leader instructed us to wash our faces and brush our teeth before meeting back at the airport at 11:00 AM. Once everyone was refreshed, we boarded a bus and headed for lunch. Our first Korean meal was bulgogi, which is similar to Thai sukiyaki. However, it was accompanied by side dishes such as fresh seaweed, kimchi, and another unidentified but delicious item that resembled fish floss.

    • Blue Bulgogi
    • The taste is similar to sukiyaki soup, with pork, vegetables, tofu, and noodles inside. I don't know what the noodles are called, but they are like glass noodles but thicker.

This one is recommended, it tastes like the fish floss we have at home.

After finishing our meal, we headed to the Hyundai Motor Studio. In Korea, most people drive Hyundai, Kia, or Samsung cars. I can tell you that the cars here are truly beautiful and tempting to own.

After leaving Hyundai, we headed straight to the next station. It didn't take long to reach our destination.

  • One Mount "Snow Park": I didn't go in to play, but it seemed like a popular spot for Korean teenagers and children. There were arcade games, claw machines, and various shops. The highlight was the ice cream, as the cones were made of cookies and the ice cream itself was smooth and creamy. It was also affordable, with four flavors to choose from. The elderly man who sold it was very meticulous in making each one.

    • Couquebon ice cream
    • Green tea, vanilla, chocolate, Oreo
    • Price per piece: 3,000 to 4,000 won

After finishing our ice cream, we headed to the amusement park, which took about 30 minutes to an hour. During this time, we took a nap on the bus. EverLand amusement park is a land of happiness. It is a very large amusement park. When you arrive, the inside is divided into 5 main zones: a flower garden, a zoo, a children's amusement park, an adult amusement park, and so on. However, there was only one thing I wanted to play. They said that the T-Express wooden roller coaster was the most worthwhile ride if we got to play it. We didn't hesitate to do it. There was a display showing how many minutes we had to wait in line. When we went to wait in line, it was about 70 minutes because there were so many people. Teenagers and children were also playing. When it was our turn to get on, my heart sank to my stomach. At that moment, I thought to myself, "Why did we have to play this ride?" But it was just a thought because before I knew it, the roller coaster had already started moving away from the stopping point. When the car came down from the release point, it was about a 70-degree angle. How can I explain it? My body lifted off the seat, and only the belt helped to hold me to the barrier so that I wouldn't fall. My words may not be able to fully explain it. You have to try it yourself. Trust me, it's worth it. After playing the roller coaster, we went to find something to eat (we came on this trip to eat, haha). We had ice cream balls (ice cream again). From what I've seen, they say that if you come here, you have to try it. It was delicious. It sucked on my tongue when I first ate it. The taste was good. If you go, you have to try it.

Admission Fees

Daytime:

  • Adults: 37,000 won
  • Teenagers: 31,000 won
  • Children: 26,000 won

Nighttime:

  • Adults: 30,000 won
  • Teenagers: 25,000 won
  • Children: 22,000 won

T-Express, the wooden roller coaster, is a must-ride.

This will be rainbow ice cream.

This is Honey Pink Blue ice cream.

    • Ice cream
    • Flavors: Banana, Honey Pink Blue, Chocolate, Rainbow
    • Price: 3,200 won

We finished having fun and then we continued to go to dinner. Tonight's dinner menu is my favorite, Kalbi grilled pork (Korean grilled pork). We didn't drive very far to the restaurant. For those who come with a tour, let me tell you that if you come to this restaurant, eat a lot. You don't have to worry about getting fat because you can lose weight back in Thailand. When eating this grilled pork, use the scissors provided by the restaurant to cut the pork into bite-sized pieces, grill it until it is cooked, and then place it on fresh vegetables with garlic, onions, kimchi, and dipping sauce. Then put it in your mouth and savor the delicious taste (I'm drooling as I type this). There is also fresh seaweed salad here, which is very delicious. Oh, I forgot to mention that the garlic here has no pungent smell and does not numb the tongue. The onions are very sweet if you grill them and eat them. For those who are afraid of getting tired, the restaurant also offers unlimited seaweed soup. Another thing is that people here eat food with a bland taste and do not add MSG.

The pork is incredibly tender and delicious. The grill pan used for cooking the pork is replaced if it becomes blackened, demonstrating the restaurant's commitment to hygiene and customer satisfaction.


After a hearty meal, we boarded a vehicle to our accommodation for the night. We were staying at the Suwon Pacific Hotel in the city of Gyeonggi-do. Despite being a 3-star establishment, the hotel's interior was surprisingly well-maintained. Upon arrival, we freshened up and changed into more comfortable attire. While some of our companions opted to rest, others, including myself, decided to venture out and soak in the evening atmosphere of Korea.


Late at night, this Korean instant noodle paired with peach-flavored soju is perfect for women. It's easy to eat.

This dish resembles our Thai Mama pork mince noodles, but it's not as salty and is very affordable.

The second bottle tasted like the alcohol used to clean wounds, but it was easy to drink. I slept soundly after drinking it. However, Koreans usually mix it with beer, adding a little soju and then beer.

After walking around and eating, I went to sleep as usual. I need a lot of energy tomorrow.

Morning

Good morning! This morning's breakfast was the hotel's food, which included sausages, stir-fried mushrooms, fried rice, and toast. I didn't bring my camera down, so I couldn't take any pictures because I woke up a little late (probably because of the soju last night). After breakfast, we packed our bags and got on the bus to continue our journey.

This morning, the guide took us to a medical cosmetics center, which is a store that sells cosmetics used in plastic surgery. The brand is DEWINS, which many women may know. By the way, the following places are a secret of Korea, so I couldn't take any pictures. I apologize for that.

After shopping for medical cosmetics, we headed to the Korean Ginseng Center to taste real Korean ginseng. We then went to the Seaweed Museum to see how kimbap (Korean seaweed rice rolls) is made. After making it, we dressed up in hanbok.

Kimbap: Ingredients

Kimbap is a popular Korean dish consisting of cooked rice, seaweed, and various fillings rolled together. The typical ingredients include:

  • Rice: Short-grain white rice is the base of kimbap.
  • Seaweed: Dried sheets of laver seaweed (gim) are used to wrap the fillings.
  • Cucumber: Thinly sliced cucumbers add a refreshing crunch.
  • Pickled radish: Danmuji, a type of pickled radish, provides a tangy flavor.
  • Carrot: Julienned carrots add sweetness and color.
  • Egg omelet: A thin omelet, often seasoned with salt and pepper, adds protein and texture.
  • Ham: Thinly sliced ham is a common addition, although other meats or vegetarian options can be used.

These ingredients are combined and rolled tightly into a cylindrical shape, then sliced into bite-sized pieces. Kimbap is often served with soy sauce, sesame oil, and other dipping sauces.

Ready to eat, right? The instructor drizzled a little sesame oil and wrapped it up for us to eat in the car.

This is my first time wearing a hanbok, and I asked my girlfriend to take a picture of me. It turned out like this (both the front and back are blurry).

After finishing our hanbok fitting, we headed to the souvenir shop before boarding the bus. I highly recommend this shop to anyone looking for souvenirs, as the prices here are significantly lower than those you'll find elsewhere. I bought keychains, snacks, and various other souvenirs. With our shopping complete, we set off for Nami Island.

  • Dakgalbi: Before heading to Nami Island, we needed to refuel. For lunch, I recommend Dakgalbi, a spicy Korean stir-fried chicken dish that is one of the country's most popular dishes.

Korean Spicy Chicken with Rice

This dish features stir-fried chicken with Korean sauce, served with a variety of side dishes.

Ingredients:

  • Chicken breast, shredded
  • Napa cabbage, chopped
  • Korean spicy sauce
  • Rice
  • Seaweed
  • Kimchi
  • Pickled peppers
  • Seaweed soup

Instructions:

  1. Stir-fry the chicken with the Korean spicy sauce until cooked through.
  2. Add the chopped Napa cabbage and cook until softened.
  3. Mix in the cooked rice and seaweed.
  4. Serve with kimchi, pickled peppers, and seaweed soup.

Notes:

  • The spiciness of the dish can be adjusted to taste.
  • The seaweed soup can be made with water, seaweed, and a small amount of salt.
  • This dish is typically served with a variety of other side dishes, such as pickled vegetables and rice cakes.

Additional Information:

  • This dish is a popular Korean comfort food.
  • The Korean spicy sauce is typically made with gochujang, a fermented chili paste.
  • The seaweed soup is believed to have health benefits, such as aiding digestion and boosting the immune system.

After lunch, we took a boat to Nami Island, following the footsteps of the TV series "Winter Sonata". When the boat docked, the tour guide took us to the highlight of the island, the spot where the famous scene with the trees was filmed. However, we had other priorities: food! We had already declared this trip a culinary adventure, so we indulged in black bean buns, ice cream, Ajumma sausages, and melon ice cream. It was a feast!

A short boat ride, no more than 10 minutes, took us to Nami Island.

Upon arrival, visitors are encouraged to take photos with the statues of Bae Yong-joon and Choi Ji-woo, the protagonists of the iconic Korean drama series "Winter Sonata."

This shop serves delicious black bean buns. A hot cup of green tea would be the perfect accompaniment.

I initially thought this was a long ice cream, but it turned out to be not that long. However, the chocolate flavor was very rich and intense.

This Ajumma sausage is a must-try. It's the signature dish here, and we couldn't resist ordering it as soon as we saw it.

    • Ajumma sausage
    • Full-bodied pork flavor, with two sauce options
    • 3,000 won

    • Melon ice cream
    • Melon and milk flavor, not too sweet
    • Price 1,000 won

    • This appears to be a melon-flavored ice cream in a pouch.
    • The pure melon flavor is much sweeter than the bar version.
    • The price is 1,500 won.

After a day of strolling, taking photos, and enjoying delicious food, we boarded the boat to return and have dinner. Let's go!

Candidly capturing the Korean heartthrobs, whose appearances in this country are undeniably worthy of celebrity status.

We arrived at our dinner destination shortly after getting in the car. Initially, we thought it would be a regular restaurant, but to our surprise, it was on a boat! The boat was stationary, and people were fishing around it. The fish were enormous, and the view and weather were fantastic.

Appetizer:

  • Korean Ginseng Chicken Stew: The dish consisted of stewed chicken, ginseng broth, and glass noodles. But wait, there's more! The excitement came when we opened the chicken breast. Inside, we found rice, various spices stuffed within the chicken, young ginseng, and other herbs.

The side dishes served are similar to those found elsewhere, with the addition of fish sauce.

    • Ginseng chicken stew
    • The taste is bland and may not be to everyone's liking, especially if you don't like things that are too wet. The rice inside (for some people) is reminiscent of chili powder, vinegar, and sugar, or even seafood dipping sauce to dip the chicken in.

Ginseng liquor, not plain water. I don't know if they told him to pour it into the chicken, but we drank it straight. It tastes like regular liquor. If you think it will have a ginseng smell, it doesn't. It just tastes like regular liquor.

After finishing dinner, we got on the bus to return to the hotel. Today we are staying in Seoul at the BENIKEA Seoul Hotel, a three-star hotel. When we arrived at the hotel, we were really exhausted, so we took a shower and went to bed without going anywhere. z Z

  • Annyeonghaseyo, good morning. Today is a bright morning. After showering, washing our faces, brushing our teeth, and getting dressed, we went down to have breakfast at the hotel. Today's breakfast includes sausages, boiled eggs, French fries, toast, fresh milk, orange juice, and seaweed soup. After breakfast, it was time to hit the road. Today, we went to the Red Pine Oil Center. As usual, we were not allowed to take pictures because it is their secret. We skipped it and went to the next place.
  • N Seoul Tower @ Namsan Mountain + Love Rock This place is like a gym because the path up is very steep, but the path is no problem for the people here. Everyone here is strong, including the tourists who went with us. When we got to the top, we enjoyed the view of the city of Korea. If you want to follow the movie and lock the key and throw it away, you can do it here. They also have draft beer here (Koreans drink a lot of beer).

There are many types of keys used for locking, both large and small.

After taking photos and enjoying the view, it was time to descend the mountain. Be careful when walking down, as the path is steep and a fall could lead to a long drop! After descending, we continued our journey. But wait! Before we continue, we need to refuel, as we lost a lot of energy on the descent. For lunch today, our guide will take us to eat shabu-shabu, or hot pot shabu.

  • Shabu-shabu or hot pot shabu is similar to the boiled pork we had on the first day, but the difference is that today we only have vegetables and thinly sliced pork, golden needle mushrooms. The side dishes are similar, with kimchi, pickled radish, but this time there are small fish and peanuts.

  • The Changdeokgung Palace, a World Heritage Site, is a large and cool palace. According to our guide, the palace was burned down by the Japanese and has since been rebuilt. The guide also shared the history of the palace, which helps explain why some Koreans dislike the Japanese. (This sentiment is mainly held by older generations, while younger Koreans are generally less bothered.)

After visiting the palace, we boarded a bus and passed the Blue House (the Korean president's residence) on our way to the traditional village of Bukchon Hanok. I didn't want to stay there for long because each house is inhabited, and I didn't want to disturb the residents who value their peace and quiet. However, wherever there are tourists, there is bound to be noise. After exploring the old houses, we went to the duty-free shop, which is a real money-drainer for women. There were so many lipsticks, mascaras, perfumes, and clothes to choose from.

After spending our money on cosmetics, it was time for dinner. We had free time, so the guide took us to Myeongdong, the fashion street of Korea. (Insert TV Champion sound effect)

  • Myeongdong is a street with everything you could possibly want, including cosmetics, food, clothes, and shoes. But all we wanted was to eat, eat, eat, and eat some more.

Grilled Chicken with Korean Sauce

Description: Grilled chicken with a tender texture, topped with grilled scallions and coated in a flavorful Korean sauce.

Price: 3,000 won

    • Korean dumplings
    • Taste like regular dumplings, nothing special
    • Price: 3,000 won

Tteokbokki

  • Description: Chewy rice cakes in a mild spicy sauce.
  • Taste: The flavor is a bit confusing, with a sweet and savory sauce that is not particularly spicy.
  • Price: 2,000 won.

    • Odeng, or skewered fish balls
    • Tastes similar to fish sausage or fish noodles used in noodle soup
    • Price: 2,000 won

    • Grilled squid
    • Slightly sweet and not chewy. At first, I thought it would be fishy because there was no dipping sauce, but when I ate it, it wasn't fishy at all and it was delicious.
    • Price: 5,000 won

Crepe with Egg

  • Description: A sweet crepe with a soft, fluffy texture. It features a whole egg and a sunny-side-up egg on top, with a hint of buttery aroma.
  • Taste: Sweet.
  • Price: 1,500 won.
  • Target Audience: May be enjoyed by children.

    • Long green tea ice cream
    • Average taste, nothing special but long and large
    • Price: 2,000 won

    • Lobster baked with cheese
    • The taste of the meat is sweet, contrasting with the slightly salty cheese. The meat is tender and very fresh. I must say that when I ate this, I cried. Not because it was expensive, but because of the taste.
    • Price: 15,000 won

After finishing our meal, we returned to our accommodation, the same hotel we had stayed in the previous night. Upon arriving at the hotel, we showered and changed. The time was just right, a little after 11 pm. The weather was pleasantly cool, so it was time to go out and find something to eat, as it was our last night. We didn't walk far from our accommodation and came across a Korean fried chicken restaurant.

    • Korean Fried Chicken
    • Tastes like Bonchon chicken, served hot. The side dishes are pickled cucumbers and pickled radishes. The highlight is the dipping sauce. Overall, it's quite good.
    • Price: 26,000 won

Day 3: Exploring Seoul

After enjoying chicken and beer, we returned to our accommodation to pack our unused belongings into our suitcases. As we had to leave the hotel early the next morning, we wanted to avoid wasting time. We then rested and recharged for another day of sightseeing.

Day 4: Farewell to Korea

Good morning, our last day in Korea! It's hard to believe how quickly time has flown by. As usual, we started the day with a shower, brushing our teeth, and changing clothes before heading down for breakfast with our luggage. The driver would collect our bags before leaving, so we could make a quick departure.

We then went our separate ways for breakfast at the hotel. Today's breakfast was similar to yesterday's, but instead of boiled eggs, we were given the option to fry our own eggs. I opted for an omelet. Interestingly, Koreans don't seem to know how to make omelets. When they put the eggs in the pan and they're almost cooked, they start stirring them with a spatula, turning them into scrambled eggs instead.

After breakfast, the guide gave us some time to use the restroom. Some people used the time to apply makeup, while others who hadn't brought their luggage downstairs yet rushed to get it. Once everyone was ready, we boarded the bus and headed to the Namu Hockey Center (no photography allowed).

According to our guide, people in this area drink heavily, and by morning, they're too hungover to work. In this country, there are even drinks infused with Namu Hockey to help people sweat out the alcohol through their urine and other bodily fluids. However, we couldn't confirm the truth of this claim as none of us had tried it.

Next, we visited the 4D Trick Art Museum, the Ice Museum, and the Love Museum. We received a single ticket that granted us access to all three attractions. The VR games zone required an additional fee, and for the 3D photos, it was recommended to use a smartphone camera instead of a regular camera. Notably, some of the 3D images were interactive, but you needed the TrickEye app to experience them.

  • The 4D Illusion Museum: There used to be designated spots for taking photos, but they've faded away, so you'll have to find your own angles. The highlights are probably the fish and snake pictures, as there were quite a few people taking photos there, and those spots even won awards.
  • The Ice Museum: This one is easy to find, just look for the sign that says "-9 degrees". Once you walk in, you'll experience true coldness, as everything inside is made of ice. You can see how well-prepared we were from the picture above. Hehe.
  • The Love Museum: This is the last one before you leave. It's on the 2nd floor of the building, and children under a certain age are not allowed in, as most of the exhibits are 20+ and explicit. You'll see everything, top and bottom.

After that, we walked to the youth district in front of Hongdae University. I don't know exactly where it is or if they had already arrived, but I didn't notice. Haha! But it must be a beautiful place. I'll go check it out next time! Then we went to the youth district and waited for a car to pick us up for about 20 minutes. It was a long wait. The car arrived, and we got on and went to our next destination: the Korea Shopping Center (OUTLET). This was what I was waiting for. Why? Because my shoes were broken! I had to wear flip-flops all day. When we arrived at the OUTLET, I immediately rushed to look at the shoes. The first store I went to was Nike. I tried on some shoes, but the colors I liked were all out of my size. In Korea, people seem to have small feet. It was hard to find my US size 13. But I didn't give up. I went to the next store, Adidas. As usual, no size. I was on the verge of tears at that point, but it was okay. I went to another store, which was quite far away, and we had only one hour because we had to have lunch on a boat. Finally, I went to another store, and I started to smile because I asked the staff if they had US size 13. The staff was very kind and went around looking for my size, but I was disappointed again because they didn't have it. T^T At that point, I thought, "Oh well, it's not meant to be." When I looked at my watch, it was almost 1 pm, and the boat was about to leave. My girlfriend and I ran to catch the boat, afraid we wouldn't make it. Luckily, they were still gathering, and the boat was waiting.

Notes:

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This photo captures the atmosphere on both sides of the path as the boat turns back to its original direction.

The sentence is already in English and does not require translation.


After watching for a while, I secretly took a picture and realized that people were throwing snacks to the birds all the time, so the birds were following the boat.

  • At 13.15, the boat docked and we got off the boat and continued to the last shop, which was a shop that melted Korean won. I have to say that the things inside were really expensive and melted. 5555 As I said, the inside will sell souvenirs, seaweed, and things like that. But some things in the shop are not available outside, so it depends on what you want. After we finished shopping, it was time to say goodbye (goodbye) and get on the bus to Incheon Airport to return to Bangkok. When we arrived at the airport, the shops downstairs were cheaper because they were on sale. Importantly, there were Thai people selling things there. We also stopped to buy souvenirs and find something to eat nearby. But don't forget that we have to find food to eat at Incheon Airport first, or we will be hungry. This is important because we live on food. 5555 We also said goodbye to our Korean guide and boarded the plane to fly back to Thailand with T-Way Airlines, the same airline we came with. The flight attendants of this airline are lovely and they serve drinks all night. After flying for 6-7 hours, we arrived in Thailand and gathered again to say goodbye to the people who went with us. It is normal to exchange phone numbers and Line IDs so that we can travel together again next time. And I have to tell everyone that don't close this thread yet because there will be a special section below.

Bonus! A quick and easy review of Korean snacks

    • Crispy potato chips
    • Buttery flavor, the more you eat, the more delicious it gets

    • Honey-roasted almonds
    • It tastes like french fries, but instead of potatoes, it's almonds. This one can be eaten all the time. You can eat it as a snack.

    • Almond Wasabi
    • The flavor lives up to its name, with a mild wasabi kick that's not overpowering. It's a subtle wasabi experience that still manages to wake up your senses.

    • This is salted crab.
    • It tastes salty and creamy. You can eat it with rice, but people who have never tried it may not like the taste.

That's all for my food and travel trip to Korea. Stay tuned for my next trip, and let me know if you have any suggestions for places to visit.

For now, I'll say goodbye. I apologize for any mistakes in my words or spelling.

Please share my content to support me.

^_^

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#myeongdong#nami island#boat#seoul#restaurant#island#south korea#eat and travel#take a photo.#city tour#bus
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