This year, with my cousin Carine, we decided to go on holiday together in September. At first, the destination we had chosen was the USA; however, after my trip in 2017 to Japan and my love for Korean dramas and K-pop (I took K-pop classes during the 2017-2018 school year), I was very interested in going to South Korea. I managed to convince my cousin and we opted for Seoul, the capital of South Korea.
I also wanted to spend a day in Busan. I also wanted to go to Jeju-do Island but I was afraid that the prices would be too high. Indeed, in Korean dramas, going to this island is apparently a luxury. I looked at the prices from Incheon airport and was flabbergasted, the price was very high! Then I looked from Gimpo airport and the prices were quite affordable, 5 times cheaper than from Incheon. Then I looked at what was possible to do on this island and the first proposed article talked about Jeju Love Land Park, a kind of park that is very popular with young couples. I'm not saying anymore at the moment, you'll know more by reading the rest of my article on South Korea.
I immediately talked to my cousin who agreed and we booked our flight to Jeju and a hotel to spend the night. The hotel, 4 stars, was not expensive at all.
We left from CDG and stopped over in Warsaw. We travelled with the Polish company LOT for both flights. Our first flight (2h30) was 20 minutes late but our stopover was long enough not to miss our next flight.
At Warsaw-Chopin airport, we had lunch in a fast food restaurant and went for a walk in the Duty Free shops before taking our flight to Seoul.
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Polish vodka |
In order to pass the time, with my cousin we also did crossword puzzles and slept a lot too ;-)
Day 1
Finally we arrived at Incheon airport, we took a bus that took us to the Itaewon district where our AirBnb was located; 1h30 drive including traffic jams and the driver's break. We paid about 10€.
Once we got off the bus, we headed for the AirBnb thanks to the instructions given by Jay, our host. It was about a 7-minute walk.
When we arrived in front of the building, we had to go to the second floor. Know that when we say 2nd floor, it is actually the 1st floor that we have in France because the ground floor does not exist.
As in Korean dramas, there is no key or lock on the doors but a code to enter.
We then went out to visit the Itaewon district and have lunch. We tasted soju for the first time. We took the grapefruit one.
We went to the Gwanghwamun district where we visited the Gyeongbokgung palace. A jovial Korean approached us and told us that he liked France, Marseille and Paris. We then visited the Jogye-sa temple and went to drink a hot drink in a Starbucks coffee shop to shelter because it rained that day. We then walked around the Hanok village of Buckchon where we met some French people who told us that we shouldn't make any noise in this village and that they were here because their daughter had just married a Korean. We also had dinner in the neighbourhood.
We ended up on the beautiful Cheong-gye-cheon river, wonderful at night.
Gyeongbokgung palace
Jogye-sa temple
Break at Starbucks coffee shop
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Violet potato drink |
Hanok Village of Buckchon
Dinner in a Korean restaurant
Cheong-gye-cheon river
Day 2
In the morning, we took the cable car to the N Seoul Tower on Mount Namsan. Close to the N Seoul Tower, there is the equivalent of Paris Pont des Arts. However, here there are padlocks everywhere and some people have even added empty cans and phone shells on which they have written the name of their dear and loving partner surrounded by a heart. We then headed for the Namdaemun market. There is everything from clothing to mouth-watering food stands.We then tried to find the City Hall without success and came across Myeong-Dong Cathedral, which we also wanted to see. We walked around Myeong-Dong, a must for shopping, then we ended up at Cat Cafe, a cat bar.
On the way to N Seoul Tower
N Seoul Tower
View from N Seoul Tower (you can see the entrance of the cable car)
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Bus stop at the exit of N Seoul Tower |
Namdaemun market and surroundings
Myeong-Dong cathedral
Myeong-Dong
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Pikachu, Lightning attack! |
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Yes, this is a police station |
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Delicious dumplings |
Cat Cafe
Days 3 and 4
The third and fourth days we went to Jeju-do Island, where we spent a night in a splendid hotel.We woke up at dawn to catch the first subway (5:30 am) to arrive early at Gimpo Airport from where our flight was leaving. Once we arrived at the station leading to Gimpo Airport, we took a shuttle (like the shuttle to the various CDG Airport Terminals) thinking that it would take us to the right terminal (on our flight ticket, no terminal was indicated). Halfway through, we realized that the "shuttle" we had taken was actually a train crossing all of Seoul to take us to Incheon Airport. So we turned back; fortunately we had planned to arrive early! Once we got back to square one, we ran to the check-in counter because we had to print our tickets. In the end, there was no need to rush and we were able to get on our flight on time without any problems.
Jeju airport
Once arrived at Jeju Airport, we took a bus to Jeju Love Island with some difficulty.
What is Jeju Love Island? A kind of amusement park in which the visitor discovers erotic statues everywhere. Some are in more than daring positions while others are rather soft and cute. There are also puppets that can be animated with a crank handle. There is also a kind of centre in which sextoys of different sizes and shapes are displayed. Finally, another centre allows you to buy sextoys and other objects for both women's and men's pleasure. This centre also exhibits characters in action in everyday life settings.
We were very lucky because that day the weather was very nice and the park started to fill up as we got out. We met elderly people who were absolutely delighted to pose in front of the park's countless erotic statues.
We were very lucky because that day the weather was very nice and the park started to fill up as we got out. We met elderly people who were absolutely delighted to pose in front of the park's countless erotic statues.
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A donkey on the way to Jeju Island |
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We are immediately put in the erotic atmosphere with this toilet |
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Even the animals start to do it |
At the exit of the park, we took a taxi to go to our hotel and drop off our things.
What about this hotel? It's beautiful! This is a 4-star hotel that was not very expensive for the services offered. We took the formula with breakfast of course. The room was large and had a balcony and a very beautiful bathroom.
Toscana Hotel
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The hotel swimming pool |
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Toscana Hotel by night |
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Royal breakfast |
Cheonjiyeon Waterfalls
We rested a little and then took another taxi to go to Cheonjiyeon Waterfalls. As its name suggests, these are waterfalls. A beautiful place.
At the exit of the waterfalls, we took a taxi back to the hotel.
We did some shopping in the supermarket next door and then went home.
The next day, we went downstairs for breakfast. The buffet was sumptuous! There was everything: fresh fruit, rice, bulgogi (Korean-style sautéed beef), eggs, smoked salmon and much more. Everything was good, of course. One of the waiters at the buffet came to talk to us and asked us where we came from. We replied that we were French and he told us that it was a pity that we left the same day because he would have introduced us to one of his French-speaking friends.
Once we were full, we went back to sleep for a while and then went down to return our keys and asked the reception to order us a taxi that was supposed to drop us off in downtown Jeju. The driver dropped us off in a town that didn't seem to be the city centre at all. No tip for him, too bad! There was almost nothing in this "city centre"; so we went to get something to take away in a MacDonald's in spite of ourselves. It's sacrilege to eat in a McDonald's in a country that offers delicious dishes!
We landed in a park and Jehovah's Witnesses came to us. They stayed talking to us for quite some time despite the fact that we told them we were not interested.
Once they finally left, we also left and took a taxi to go to Noodle Culture Street, a street full of restaurants offering noodles. The restaurant where we had lunch, Kook Su Ma Dang, was very good.
Noodle Culture Street
We then went to the Samseonghyeol sanctuary before taking a taxi back to Jeju airport.
Samseonghyeol sanctuary
Jeju airport
At the airport, we attended a performance by a troupe performing musical comedy songs.
Itaewon
Return to Seoul in the evening. We went back to the restaurant we had already tested in Itaewon but this time we had a Korean beef barbecue; it was a pure delight.
As she left the restaurant, the restaurateur, a cute little woman, started playing with Carine's hair.
Day 5
We went to the Jeoldusan Martyrs' Sanctuary and then headed for Seonyudo. To get to Seonyudo, we passed through a park in which there were plenty of sports equipment.
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Doing sport does not hurt |
In the evening, we had dinner in the restaurant Oven chicken and beer Noo Na Hol Dak.
Martyrs' sanctuary
Seonyudo Park
Oven chicken and beer
Day 6
Shopping day in Myeong-Dong, our favorite neighborhood.
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Delicious Bibimbap for 5€ only with meat board |
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Cute elevator |
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Stand selling delicious snacks to eat |
Day 7
That day, we went to visit Bogeun-sa temple in the heart of the city.
Temple Bogeun-sa
We then went to Myeong-Dong for the Meerkat Cafe where we were able to play with baby kangaroos, meerkats, cats and a raccoon. We had stumbled upon this coffee the night before but it was already late and the coffee was starting to close.
Meerkat Cafe
In the evening, we walked along the K-Star Road. I thought this avenue was like the Hollywood Boulevard I visited during a stay in Los Angeles, so I expected the same thing. In the end, it was an avenue on which statues in the shape of teddy bears represented a group of K-pop.
K-Star Road
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Apgujeongrodeo subway station |
Day 8
Stroll around Itaewon district and dinner in Gangnam, yes, the famous Gangnam from the song Gangnam Style of the Korean singer PSY.
Itaewon
Gangnam
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Oppa Gangnam Style ♫ |
Day 9
Stroll around Insadong and Gangnam. On that day, there were a lot of people in Insadong dressed in traditional clothing. That day was actually Chuseok, the harvest festival during which Koreans wear hanbok, the traditional costume. This day is therefore a public holiday as well as the next 2 days.
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Hanbok, traditional Korean costume |
Day 10
This day was dedicated to the visit of Poo Poo Land, a park on the theme of poop, yes, you read well. On the Internet, it is indicated that this place is in Insadong and many signs also indicate where it is located. However, we didn't find it, so we had to use our Wi-Fi pocket (provided by our host) to use GPS. In fact, Poo Poo Poo Land was located elsewhere. We finally found it.
What is Poo Poo Poo Land? A kind of permanent exhibition in which we learn how food turns into poop (there is a path to follow in which we enter the mouth, play with the glottis, pass through the intestines and end up in the toilet, yes Sir! You can also take a picture while defecating. This exhibition will delight children very much.
There is also a Poo Poo Poo Land café, located in Insadong, the former address of the exhibition.
Insadong
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Traditional costumes |
Poo Poo Land
We then went to sing in a karaoke that we had spotted the day before and was closed. In this karaoke, you don't pay at the cash register but in the room where you sing. There is a kind of directory in which are listed all the songs that can be performed. There are of course Korean songs but also English songs. You insert a coin in the machine to start singing. It's 250 won a song. We sang: "Just the way you are" and "That's what I like" from Bruno Mars, "Someone like you" from Adele, "I'm sexy and I know it" from LMFAO, "Shape of you" from Ed Sheeran, "Lose yourself" from Eminem and "I'm the one" from DJ Khaled.
Karaoke
On the way back from karaoke, we stopped at an ice cream stand and they were so good.
Day 10
In the morning, we walked around Hongik University Street where we had lunch and attended a street concert. We ate again a Korean barbecue.
Hongik University Street
We then did the Skygarden by night at Seoul Station. We were very surprised to see so many homeless people there, it was the first time we had seen so many gathered in one place. If, like me, you have already done the High Line from New York to Manhattan, feel free to do the Skygarden too. In the evening, there are musicians and there is a very pretty and colourful fountain that will undoubtedly amaze you.
Finally, dinner in Myeong-Dong; fried rice with seafood.
Skygarden
Myeong-Dong
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Seafood rice |
Day 12
For this penultimate day in Seoul, we went back to Insadong to do some shopping.


Day 13
We woke up at dawn and took a taxi to the airport in the direction of Paris.
Additional information and feelings:
- Korean people -
Not surprisingly, Korean people are civilized, just like the Japanese people. They are always ready to help you.Surprisingly, they are not at all modest or stuck. My cousin and I have never met so many couples in our lives. They were everywhere, on every street corner, on every escalator, in every staircase, in every shopping mall. And that's where the kisses go here and there, not primary school kisses of course!
They are also always glued to their phones on public transport, young and old alike.
- Public transportation -
To get around, we bought a T-Money card that can be recharged at a terminal in any metro station. It also allows you to pay for the taxi.Public transport is very clean and metro trains are very wide. There are places reserved for the elderly and pregnant women and no one sits on them.
The platforms are secured as on line 1 in Paris; there is no risk of a person committing suicide.
There are several screens that indicate where the next subway is located and music sounds when it is approaching. The names of the metro stations are written in English and Korean. In the train, there are also screens announcing the next station in Korean, Japanese, Chinese and English (the next station was also announced in these languages when we took the airport bus to the AirBnB). There are no controllers in the subways or buses because no one cheats here. To access the platforms, you have to badge your transport card; you also have to badge it when you leave, just like the Navigo Pass in Paris when you take the RER. The amount of the trip is indicated on a small screen when you badge. On some lines, there are trains that stop at all stations and others that do not, so it is important to check the screens on the platform. We have taken a direct metro without knowing it and had to go back.
- Toilets -
There are free and clean toilets in every metro station, it's really convenient.- Restaurants -
The food is excellent and cheap.
In general, there is a button on each table that is pressed to call the waiter when you are ready to order; the waiter arrives immediately to take the order.
The menus are written in English and Korean and there are pictures of each dish.
- Cleanliness -
The streets are generally clean and just like in Japan, it is difficult to find a garbage can on the street.- Theft -
There's no such thing here. No problem on public transport or escalators, you can leave your bag on your back without any problem.- Sockets -
No need for an adapter because the sockets are identical to the French sockets.- French brands -
There are a lot of them, Koreans people like French people.- My cousin Carinou 💜 -
I think I have found in Carine the ideal companion to travel with. We both want to visit the same countries and we can and prefer to travel outside the tourist season.
I loved going on a trip with her because we really have the same jokes. Every day we had a laugh.
For a first trip with her, I think it went very well.
Obviously, this will not be the last trip we will make together because we have planned to visit many other countries.
This trip to South Korea is the best trip I've made so far and Carine has something to do with it :-)
See you soon for the new adventures of Carinou and Vanou :-)
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