Who says that we single ladies cannot travel alone? Much like Elizabeth Gilbert in Eat, Pray, Love, we women have this desire to experience life in a different setting, away from those stressful needs and responsibilities at home/school/work. I also want to experience the daily lives of Koreans, especially like those female leads in Korean dramas and movies. If Elizabeth Gilbert wants to experience eating in Italy, praying in India, and love in Bali, I want to be able to experience the everyday life of a Korean female character in those dramas and movies that I love.
Usually, our female heroes are seen to be working hard just to earn a living. We also see her at home, all alone, eating instant ramen from a gold pot for dinner since she's tired and cannot cook a full meal for herself. Afterwards, the female lead would usually head to a convenience store, maybe to buy some more snacks, or because she ran out of canned beer to end her dinner. I admire female characters like that from Korean dramas or movies, those who live alone yet manages to carry themselves well, and usually even ends up meeting their prince charming. So now, even if we're just visiting Seoul for 2 days and 1 night, I bet we can also feel like our female heroes from Korean dramas and movies.. and we might end up meeting the male lead of our life!
Now, this tour is just a suggestion, and I will not have much details like how to get there and stuff. I'm not in Korea myself but should I get a chance to visit Seoul for two days and one night, I'll definitely follow this track.
In my post for K-Mondays two weeks ago, I mentioned some places that I want to visit in Seoul. Some of those places really go with this theme of "Be like your favorite female K-drama character," so I will include it in this itinerary. First up is a Cat Cafe in Hongdae. For lunchtime, I know that we're not hungry enough to be able to eat much because we're too excited that we've finally arrived in Seoul, so a cafe would not be bad for starters.
Day 1 Lunchtime: Tom's Cat Cafe in Hongdae.
(Photo taken from Visit Korea website)
If you're travelling alone, and I suggest that you do when you follow this tour, you'd want to spend it with our furry friends in Korea. I am not sure if they serve any meals in this cafe, but I bet even just a drink will be all worth it for the kitties. If you're still hungry after petting the kitties, there are lots of street foods that you can find outside and I tell you they're all awesome and yummy.
I know that there are also other cat cafe's in Hongdae or perhaps all over Seoul, but being in Hongdae will be an advantage since the next location is the Hongae Free Market. It is called the "free market" because independent artists crowd all over the place and sell their crafts there on Saturdays, from March to November every year.
Day 1 Experience: Hongdae Market
(Photo taken from Visit Korea website)
You can buy stuff there which are handmade by the artists themselves. Isn't it great to have a one of a kind stuff bought from an independent artist in Seoul? You can also buy some crafts for souvenir items there which will be quite unique than the common souvenir stuff.
(Photo taken from Visit Korea website)
Popular in Hongdae are the street musicians who plays good indie music. What good way to find your special someone! (Have you seen Marry Me, Mary?) Who knows, he might be the one providing good music to the audience, or some complete stranger also travelling alone in Seoul and getting inspired by the music he hears. Now I'm getting all hopelessly romantic.
If, however, you didn't get to catch the Hongdae Free Market because you didn't get to go on a Saturday, you can go cafe hopping instead after visiting the cat cafe. There are all sorts of cafe there; Hello Kitty cafe, a dress-up cafe, a sheep cafe, toy cafe, etc. I bet you'll never be bored by visiting all those.
Day 1 Experienc: Hello Kitty, Sheep Cafe, etc.
(Photo taken from Visit Korea website)
As we all know, many dramas and movies have filmed here in Hongdae like "Coffee Prince," "Marry Me, Mary," etc. It's such a good place to just roam around and feel the energy of our youth. Also, you can go to the famous Hongdae Playground, where you can just sit and observe people or instead be the one who's being observed and go play! Just spending a whole day there would be magical since you could meet other people around Hongdae, witness more street performances, and try out unusual snacks.
Next stop is for dinner! Once you're all tired from looking around Hongdae at day, you can now go for a sumptuous dinner at the best bibimbap restaurant in town! Head to Insadong through a cab or train and go to Gogung restaurant.
Day 1 Dinner: Gogung Restaurant
This restaurant serves Jeonju style bibimbap, which can be considered the mother of all bibimbap in Korea. Why head for a bibimbap restaurant anyway? Well, we should know that in Korean dramas and movies, we see our favorite female heroes mixing and savoring their bibimbap. One example is Han Ji Eun's poorly made bibimbap and how she happily eats it while Lee Young Jae tells her that it's dog food but ends up eating the same "dog food" the other day.
Now we go to a different location, where we relax. Remember those places where everyone has the same clothes, has a sheep towel hat on their head, and eats boiled eggs? You got it! It's called a jjimjilbang. There are many jjimjilbangs in Seoul, and Yongsan Dragon Hill Spa is one of them.
Now we go to a different location, where we relax. Remember those places where everyone has the same clothes, has a sheep towel hat on their head, and eats boiled eggs? You got it! It's called a jjimjilbang. There are many jjimjilbangs in Seoul, and Yongsan Dragon Hill Spa is one of them.
Day 1 Experience: Yongsan Dragon Hill Spa (jjimjilbang)
Usually jjimjilbangs have a sauna, hot bath, and spa or massage area. There are also places where you can hang-out with your friends after having a bath. I'm still pushing for being alone though, because these sorts of places are for families or friends but I think that we can also come alone of course. We're looking for relaxation, and if Joo Yoo Rin (My Girl) can go there alone and even stay for the night, why can't we?
Yes, you heard that right. There is a nighttime and daytime fee in jjimjilbangs, where daytime is usually from 5am to 8pm and nighttime from 8pm to 5am. If you want to stay there overnight to fit your budget, do so. But if you have reserved a lodging beforehand, then why should you stay in the jjimjilbang? Go to your lodging of course, after enjoying the jjimjilbang.
After having a relaxing night, you can sleep and feel like you're in a Korean halmeoni's (grandmother) home in a Hanok style bedroom.
Yes, you heard that right. There is a nighttime and daytime fee in jjimjilbangs, where daytime is usually from 5am to 8pm and nighttime from 8pm to 5am. If you want to stay there overnight to fit your budget, do so. But if you have reserved a lodging beforehand, then why should you stay in the jjimjilbang? Go to your lodging of course, after enjoying the jjimjilbang.
After having a relaxing night, you can sleep and feel like you're in a Korean halmeoni's (grandmother) home in a Hanok style bedroom.
Day 1 Lodging: Bukchon Guest House
Now, that's a full-on Korean experience! Even if it's just for a night, you'll be able to feel like you're at home in perhaps your Korean grandma's old house that you inherited. (kidding) Once you wake up in the morning, you can just sit on the veranda and feel the morning sun, greet other lodgers like they're family, and say hello to the caretaker as if he/she's your aunt or uncle.
Day 2 Breakfast: Gung Restaurant
(Photo taken from Visit Korea website)
That ends my itinerary for a two days and one night trip to Seoul. I hope that by following this itinerary, we'll be able to feel like a real independent female Korean drama character and relive their wonderful everyday moments in Seoul.
