On 13 June 2012, Mr. BoBo (my luggage), Joshua (my camera), Shaun (my phone), Nathan (my laptop) and I took a six-hour flight to Incheon International Airport. We arrived on 14 June and i begin  the fifty-eight day journey of my lifetime.

I have not been to many countries. This, coupled with the fact that i have an over-protective (and somewhat paranoid) mother who thinks i am the #1 Most Desired Kidnap/Rape/Murder Target in Singapore, probably fuelled my desire to go waaaaaaaay out of my comfort zone and embark on a solo trip to a country that i have been wanting to visit for a long time. Eventually, i did it! On the premise of a summer exchange programme at SNU, my mother allowed her beloved daughter to blast off into the sky towards Kimchi Land.

Along the way, i met many people who made my trip so much more enjoyable. I sincerely thank them for making my trip even more memorable and i wish them all the best in the future.

This travel blog documents my entire journey and i hope you will enjoy reading about my adventures. Feel free to leave any comments too! I took a Korean Language module as part of the summer programme and i can speak a little bit of (broken) Korean. I will be compiling a list of places that i have visited soon. I would like to thank a fellow solo traveller, Yun Yun, for all the tips that she has given me!

I am also compiling a list of my favourite places. These places bring back fond memories and i wish to share them with you.

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Seoul(categories listed below)
Seoul Homestay: Read from Day 3 to Day 7
Achasan Mountain
Anguk + MMMG Cafe
Ant Village
Baeksasil Valley
Buam-dong 1: Sanmotoonge cafe
Buam-dong 2: Art For Life
Bukchon Hanok Village
Changdeokgung
Cheonggyecheon
Chungmuro: Jajangmyun
COEX Mall
Dongdaemun 1: Wholesale Markets
Dongdaemun 2: Shopping Centres
Edae shopping streets
Ewha Village
Gangnam 1: Jajangmyun
Gangnam 2: Dinner + Shopping
Garosu-gil
Goguryeo Blacksmith Village (filming site for 'Faith')
Hannam 1
Hannam 2: Pizza School
Hannam 3: Cafe 12PM
Heyri Art Village
Hongdae 1
Hongdae 2: Sunnyne Pet Cafe
Hongdae 3: Farm Kamille Restaurant
Hongdae 4: Free Market
Hongdae 5: Hello Kitty Cafe
Hongik Mural Alley
Hyehwa
Insadong 1
Insadong 2
Insadong 3: Travel Cafe BuLa
Itaewon
Lotte Mart
Myeongdong 1
Myeongdong 2: Hara Donuts
Myeongdong 3: Street Food
Myeongdong 4: Red Sun Tteokbokki
Naksongdae station: Jean Boulangerie and Cafe Felicita
Namsangol Hanok Village
N-Seoul Tower
Nokdu-ro: Streets, Pajeon restaurant (1) (2)
Samcheong-dong
Seoul National Univ. station: Baseball batting 1, Baseball batting 2, Cafe Whipping
Jio Book Cafe, Samgyupsal restaurant, Cold Stone Creamery
Sinchon: Dakgalbi, BBQ Buffet
Sungshin Womens' Univ. streets
The National Folk Museum of Korea
Unhyeongung Palace
Wangsimni

Cafes
Art For Life
Bauhaus Dog Cafe
Cafe 12PM
Cafe Whipping
Hakrim Dabang (second half of post)
Hello Kitty Cafe
Jio Book Cafe
MMMG Cafe
Sanmotoonge cafe
Sunnyne Pet Cafe
Travel Cafe BuLa
Yoger Presso: (1) (2)

Markets
Dongdaemun: Wholesale Markets
Gwangjang Market
Mapo Agricultural and Marine Products Market
Namdaemun Market 1
Namdaemun Market 2
Seoul Folk Flea Market
Yongcheon Market

Neighbourhoods
Ant Village
Baeksasil Valley
Ewha Village
Hannam
Wangsimni

Parks
Daechi Sports Park (walking distance from Samseong station exit 2)
Haneul Park
Imjingak Park
Seoul Grand Park
Tapgol Park
Yeouido Park

Remnants of History
Bukchon Hanok Village
Changdeokgung
Goguryeo Blacksmith Village (filming site for 'Faith')
Namsangol Hanok Village
Seodaemun Prison Hall
The National Folk Museum of Korea
Unhyeongung Palace

Temples
Bongwonsa
Bongeunsa (filming site for 'Faith')
Jogyesa

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Busan 
Busan Homestay (1) (2)
Bosu-dong Book Street
Bosu-dong Book Street: Mio Cafe
Bujeon Market
Gukje Market and Gwangbok-ro street
Igidae Park
Pusan National Univ. street
Pusan National Univ. street: A+ Bubble and Bubble Tea
Sun Design Coffee
Taejongdae
Taegeuk-do Village: 1, 2, Youzin Cafe
Temples: Beomosa, Haedong Yonggungsa


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Chuncheon
Getting to Chuncheon
Cheongpyeongsa Temple: Directions
Cheongpyeongsa Temple
Chuncheon: Dakgalbi


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Daegu
(in chronological order)
Getting to Daegu
Banwoldang
Seomun Market 1
Dongseongno Street 1
I Got Lost
Yongyeonsa Temple
Walking from Duryu to Gamsan
Dalseong Park
Seomun Market 2: Hotteok
Dongseongno Street 2: Tteokbokki with Sophie

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Pyeongchang
Daegwallyeong Samyang Ranch: Directions, Part I, Part II, Part III, Samyang cup noodles
Tandem Paragliding

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Suwon
Fine Art St.: Mul Naengmyeon
Hwaseong Fortress
Hwaseong Fortress: Traditional Archery
Hwaseong Haenggung
Korean Folk Village: Meet Cookie!, Meet Hearty!
Paldalmun Market, Ji-dong Market
Streets Near Paldalmun

Day 58 Goodbye Seoul
Day 58 Last Cafe Hop: Travel Cafe BuLa and Hakrim ...
Day 58 My Last Day In Seoul
Day 57 The First Friends I Made in Seoul
Day 57 Thank You Houxiao
Day 56 Good food + Bauhaus visit with a friend!
Day 55 The Last Chapter
Day 55 Seodaemun Prison Hall
Day 54 The Dark Night Rises at Gangnam!
Day 53 A Day at Home

June 2012
July 2012
August 2012
September 2012
December 2012
March 2013
May 2013

Taegeuk-do Village in Busan (1) (2)

Buam-dong, a tranquil neighbourhood in Seoul: Baeksasil Valley, Art For Life Gallery and Cafe, Sanmotoonge Cafe