6 years ago, I embarked on a 9-day solo trip to Korea, spending the entirety of my time in Seoul. For someone who isn’t a foodie or fashionista, the 9 days felt a tad too long cooped up in a bustling city not that different from Singapore.
While I visited the usual tourist spots in the capital, a jaunt to Busan didn’t feel worthwhile given that my accommodation was already booked and the 2.5-hour train ride each way certainly wasn’t time well spent.
Unlike many others, food wasn’t a highlight of the trip for me as I was never a huge fan of Korean cuisine. In fact, I only had a handful of Korean fare for the whole duration of the trip, opting for other international meals whenever I got the chance.
After that trip, I thought to myself that it’d probably be many more years before I’d step foot into Korea again. But unexpectedly, I ended up visiting the country this April albeit to idyllic Jeju this time which stood in stark contrast to Seoul’s metropolis.
The visit took us to the capital of recent K-dramas and it’s not hard to see why with its rustic landscapes and expansive coastline. Although this trip was meant to be a cherry blossom filled, we didn’t see any in Jeju though we were fortunate enough to still catch some in Seoul which bookended our vacation.
Scenic sightseeing like hiking around Hallasan and admiring the majestic cliffs of Jusangjeollidae was punctuated by restaurant hunting and cafe-hopping, enabling us to indulge in the delectable seafood and black pork dishes renowned on the island.
Little did I know I’d enjoy Korean cuisine that much on this trip and probably wouldn’t have had if not for my partner’s nudging. While I’m still not a big fan of their food, I’ve learnt to appreciate new dishes beyond the typical ramyeon.
Even though Jeju wasn’t as bucolic as I’d have imagined it to be, it was undoubtedly an eye-opening vacation as I got to experience a very different side of Korea as compared to my first trip in 2019. Still, I don’t think I’d visit again in the next few years, but then again, who knows?
Leave a Reply