Why you went?
My husband, daughter and I went to Japan to see my husband to race, and then we headed over to Korea. I'm half Korean and still have some family members living in Seoul who we were lucky enough to have as tourguides taking us around.
Why you loved it?
Asia is unlike anywhere else I've visited in the world. Korea is so advanced in technology, skincare, fashion, food, and toilets. English is widely spoken and unlike most European jaunts, the alphabet isn't even the same as ours. It's an extremely affordable country and you can eat hot meals with fast service for really reasonable prices.
The FASHION! Koreans have been doing baggy clothes long before it was trendy. they make wearing sweatshirts look chic. The fashion on the streets is contagious. Everyone seems to ooze with style, even the ajummas or grandmas. Noone is running around in workout clothes, but always dressed as if they're going somewhere important.
to do:
seongsu a super trendy area I had seen tons of videos about on social media. worth the hype with so many pop up shops and brands that typically only have an online shopping presence. fun bags, shoes, and fragrance spots and a super cute paper goods store
hannam another area oozing with cool. near the famous itaewon area and a little more off the beaten path
iksaendong village in a traditional korean hanok village, the architecture has been preserved but used in creative ways to house cafes and shops. get your portrait made at a caricature house or go shopping in the little boutiques
apm wholesale shopping not for the faint of heart! open from 8pm-5am, this wholesale shopping market has messengers running around, and a cafe inside it. Most retailers make you buy at least 2 of anything, and you can't try things on but you can get an insight into what's coming into style about two years ahead of the rest of the world!
olive young the drug store of all time. I found most of my recs online ahead of time and pointed to things on a screen to the workers. honestly all souvenirs from korea should be sheetmasks.
coffee culture in korea is so good! They're open all day and night. there's no time of day too late for koreans to drink coffee. Tons of them have specialty pastries specific to their shops. Some favorites for your afternoon pick me up or morning brew...anthracite, gabaedo, low coffee, blue bottle, berkeley coffee social.
beauty treatments
Facials, hair spas, laser treatment, custom foundation colors, color analysis, korean hair salon, manicure. Honestly the most truly immersive experience to have as a tourist.
They're ahead of us in any area so you can't go wrong with a beauty treatment! I got a facial that used AI technology to analyze my pores and then create a personalized treatment. I also got a Korean perm done, and left a very chic salon 4 hours later with natural waves that will last me 6 months.
lp bars
Beginning in the 90s, these bars have record collections unlike anywhere you've seen. They range from cozy cocktail bars for a conversation in the corner, to upbeat night club feeling spots. A must if you're in Korea.
sokcho-si we took a trip to the coast-a small town called Sokcho where my grandmother grew up summering. The coastline reminds me of California with uninhibited views of sweeping blue oceans, and delicious seafood restaurants. Seoul is a bustling city so it can be nice to get a breath of fresh air, away from the hustle and bustle of the big city.
what to pack:
cusco waterlily in ivory, lombok skirt in clay parquet, oslo blouse in red, santander skirt In pewter, windsor vest in olive parquet, jackson sweater in camel, cortina handknit sweater vest in grey, cerritos top in branch, calistoga pant in red, malmo dress in navy lilypad
pro tip...pack one suitcase and buy one there to fill with skincare and goodies!
happy travels!! xxf
