Seoul Searching: A Photo Journal

Last December I traveled to Seoul, South Korea on my first international solo trip. I spent nearly a week traveling on my own, solely on my own terms, and found myself falling into a routine - every morning I would head to this awesome cafe near my guesthouse to enjoy an unhurried breakfast and ask myself, "hmmm, what do I want to do today?", and start my Seoul searching.

I'll write a proper post about my trip to Seoul one of these days (or weeks, or months), but for now, here's a bunch of photos from the trip which I took on my phone.

Snow in Seoul: A Korean Winter

It's Christmas Eve! I haven't posted in a while but I have been meaning to write about my recent solo Seoul trip, which was loads of fun. I'm still trying to get my blogging groove back so this will mostly be photos.

It was already pretty cold during my trip to Seoul and winter was obviously well on its way to freezing up the city. On my last day, while doing some last minute shopping in Myeongdong (and while listening to the "Miracles in December" album - "My Turn To Cry" is by far my favorite track!), it started to snow!

I also have a few photos of a snowed in Samcheongdong from the day prior. If you're dreaming of a White Christmas, I hope these photos help!

Happy Holidays!

A Stroll Along Samcheongdong, Seoul, South Korea

I think the best way to discover a city's hidden charm and best-kept secrets is to explore it on foot, at a leisurely pace, without a particular destination in mind. Walk through a city's hustle and bustle into perhaps its only quiet spot, or stroll along its empty streets on a lazy Sunday morning and suddenly find yourself in a quaint hole-in-the-wall, a perfect setting for a weekend brunch. Don't forget to arm yourself with a camera - you never know what you might find!

I did a lot of walking the two times I visited Seoul with friends, and one of my favorite places to explore on foot was Samcheongdong. The tree-lined streets, the pretty storefronts, and the fusion of modern and traditional details in the architecture were lovely to behold. It was nice to be surrounded with so much creativity, and to discover the quirky details that lurked in every corner. 

I took a lot of photos in Samcheongdong and these are my favorites. Hope you like them! On your next trip, set aside an afternoon or a morning to walk around the city you are visiting. Skip the tourist spots for a bit and live like a local. Don't forget to wear comfortable shoes!

The People We Meet: The Man Who Gave Away Photos, Samcheongdong, Seoul

I love meeting people when I'm on the road. Some end up being single-serving friends, the kind you sit beside on a 2-hour flight and never meet again. Then there are those you end up befriending on Facebook, the kind you keep in touch with occasionally. Whatever the circumstances, wherever the place, however brief the moment shared, I love meeting people who leave an impression on me.

We were nearing the end of our trip to Seoul and were walking along beautiful Samcheongdong when we chanced upon him - a Korean gentleman with his messenger bag, camera in hand and a photo printer by his side, right in the middle of the street. He offered to take our photos and print them for free. Apparently, he spent all day doing exactly that - taking pictures of passersby, printing them and giving them away for free.   

Autumn in Seoul, My First Fall

The romance of autumn entices even those who have lived their entire lives in a tropical country, blessed with the abundance of beaches, clear blue skies and sunshine, but greatly deprived of the warm hues and gently falling leaves of autumn. Which is why, when my friends and I set the date for our trip to South Korea, we made sure that we would experience Seoul in all of its autumn glory. I'd had a taste of the season during my first visit there, but I still longed to experience its true allure. 

Thankfully, our nearly year-long wait and meticulous planning paid off - we had an amazing five days in Seoul with the backdrop of a beautiful autumn, my very first fall. 

Below are some pictures I took from the trip which captured the feel of autumn best - may they remind you of your own autumn memories.