Last night, I was sorting out some old books when my eyes caught a little red notebook; it’s my travel log with my old passport attached to it buried deep among piles of papers and dusts. When I opened it, all the travel info and brochures from my last visit to Korea went stumbling down my lap.
Ahh…South Korea how could I forget you not in this lifetime.
It has been a long overdue travel blog. Last year on 8th September I ended my holidays to South Korea. The journey from Kuala Lumpur to Busan to Seoul to Jeju Island back to Busan and ended in Kota Kinabalu is one I will forever remember.
I have very fond memories of South Korea. I must say by far it was my best backpacking experience (don’t you agree Eton...hahaha). Why..? Just because I love nature and history best, while writing this I could still remember the green pasture back at Sangumburi crater, the blue/green sea of Udo Island and wind at Seongsan IIchubong. The Palaces are historical and magnificent, the folk museums are alive, the foods are to die for and cosmetics shopping are definitely worth it.
I arrived at the beginning of autumn on 30th August 2013. It was windy and temperature dropped to below 10 degree at night. But it shined during the day with temperature of 16-20 degree Celsius. You might want to bring those extra cloths or wind breaker if you are visiting at this time of the year, toward the end of my travel it was raining so umbrella is essential.
The subway line is rather efficiency and if you are accustom to raiding this you should have no problem finding your way around because most of the tourist attractions in Seoul are connected via subway EXCEPT in Jeju Island, the main public transport is Bus and its rather efficient as well (just be sure to stand at the correct bus stand and you will have a pleasant journey ahead and if you are offered to hitch a ride because the driver says it’s a long journey ahead and you can’t possibly walk without hurting you Achilles heels, thank him and take the ride and pay the amount after you are dropped off, because from my experience when the info stated it’s a 30 minutes walks - It IS definitely a 30 minutes walks. Just don’t try to argue with maths).
Finding your way around may be hassles if you don't already have the direction ready back at the backpack centre (wireless is superb) as roaming/international telephone line is a NO NO in Korea. You can always opt for cell phone rental at the airport (but words of advice you are on holidays there are no need to be reminded of all the workloads back at home…surely they can survived without you for the next 10 days or so).
Most Korean does not speak English but should you lost your way you can seek direction from the younger savvy Korean generation. (That was exactly how we arrived at our first accommodation in Seoul or more like the Good Samaritan girl found us and made a phone call for the backpacker owner to pick us up…)
If I have anything to complaint it would be the limited time I had in Jeju Island. I just can’t get enough of the beautiful scenery. It was then that I felt how small I was and how precious life can be. I could not remember how many times I uttered the word ‘beautiful, just beautiful… (Believe me you tend to forget the other vocabularies...) ’. I guess nature has a way to get you really emotional.
How much did I spend on this Holidays? Let’s just say a little less than MYR5000 and I remember clearly having a balance of ₩ 96,500 at the end of the holiday.
The best thing about backpacking travel is the hands on experiences you get from your travel. If I may quote from the line of J. R. R. Tolkien “Not all those who wander are lost…” you just have to will it...
