Sakura in Korea

My favorite out-of-the-country trip so far has got to be my trip to South Korea last year. I'm no fan of K-Pop but I grew up watching Koreanovelas and using their beauty products so imagine my excitement when I booked a flight going there. Hehe! Not to forget, this is the first time that I went on a trip outside the country with my college barkada and Pao. So let me give you a rundown of my first spring experience in Seoul and other parts of South Korea.

I booked our flight more than a year before the actual flight. I'm pretty sure that you already know that this is how seat sales work. Our tickets costed a little less than P6,000.00, round-trip, and my PLANNED budget was supposedly P25,000.00, airfare included. I had no idea how much the cost of living there was and my stupid mistake is not asking my two companions who have been there before. To cut this long story short, I exceeded (But I made it through, don't worry hehehe).

Alex, Pao, Camille and I arrived there in the afternoon. We went straight to our booked hotel, 2nd Casa, before we went strolling around to explore Seoul.

The very modern Incheon airport

There's a train linking the airport to other stations

2nd Casa is near a lot of establishments and a train station

Our hotel room good enough for the 4 of us

After leaving our luggages at the hotel, we went straight to find Bukchon Village where we got lost. Haha! We found it hard to look for that one street so we ended up walking in circles when we got to the area.

No lunch yet but still giddy

We met this lady selling matcha pancakes near Bukchon.

After Bukchon Village, we went straight to Insadong to have a sumptuous Korean dinner and of course, to shop.

My favorite cuisine next to Japanese <3

HANGRY

One of the malls in Insadong

After shopping, we went straight to Dongdaemun to check its museum and the night market that ends before dawn.

Designed by Zaha Hadid

First

Streetfood time!

After shopping at Dongdaemun Night Market, we went back to our hotel to finally call it a day.

Our second day comprised of touring the Gyeongbukgong Palace, Eveland Theme Park, and Cheonggyecheon Stream.

Cams and A

Right after the changing of guards

The sea of tulips in Everland. AAAAHHHHH

Spring has got to be my favorite season now <3

Baby, this is what I came for

And boy, oh boy, this roller coaster did not disappoint.

It was already dark when we got there.

Our third day was solely dedicated for the activities outside Seoul. We went to The Garden of Morning Calm, Petit France and Nami Island.

Our hotel was too cute, I highly recommend it!

Garden of Morning Calm

Remember Love from Another Star? This is where they shot that iconic scene

This is probably what my house would look like when I'm old. Too shabby for my life <3

As soon as we landed in Nami Island, we treated ourselves to Korean bbq and samgyeupsal

Papasa na ba sa Koreanovela? :))

That famous array of trees

The Soul Sistahs

Our fourth day in Seoul was spent for SHOPPING. Remember when I wrote earlier that I got broke in my stay there? I had to borrow some USD from Edgarpoo just to sustain my need for shopping. Hahaha it was that bad and no, I don't have a credit card yet during this time, hence the utang.

We first went to Namsan Seoul Tower, then shopped at Nandaemun, Myeongdong and finally, watched the light show at Han River.

We brought our own locks, oha.

Too cute

I swear, these veggie pancakes are TDF

Myeongdong, the K-cosmetic haven

Han River at night.

On our fifth and last day, we chilled-out and strolled along Hongdae. We tried some cafes there, did a little shopping and went to the Trick Eye Museum.

The only time I was taller than him

My first HK Cafe experience

Food was soooo pricy tho

Hehehe OOTD

Our flight was in the evening so we still had time to go around Incheon airport. Luckily, we were able to find something to do - try wearing their tradition hanbok.

Hahahahahaha we look hilarious, I'm so sorry :))))

My first trip to Korea is definitely one for the books! It was my first time to experience spring, and also the first time I traveled with my friends. I can't wait to go back to do more shopping and spend a little more time strolling around the city. I promise to bring more money next time also hahaha! Can't wait to be back and who knows? I might just come back sooner than expected ;)

Check out our travel video below and watch it in HD :)

Korea 2015 from Lean Jess Dela Cruz on Vimeo.