A July Dreamer

A Travel & Lifestyle Blog

Asia ·

First Impressions of South Korea Day 0

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For the last 2 months I had been burning your ears on my desire to travel to Korea and visit my friend who is teaching English there. I finally managed to get my british passport and booked my ticket last month (2 weeks before departure), I can not believe it was actually happening until Wednesday 30th April 2015 arrived when I woke up at 3am (flight was 10am and I was only 15 minutes away), I was too excited. I had packed and repacked everything for the humpth time until it was time to leave the door. Because I knew my friend’s family wanted to send her something I decided to visit them the day before and spend the night there since they live so close to the airport. The majority of my items were in my hand luggage so they had enough space to give me to take for my friend.

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I managed to grab a cab from there house to Heathrow terminal 2 where I caught a flight to Munich, Germany and waited for less than 2 hours before I boarded my 10+ hour flight to Incheon International Airport, Korea (south). The flight from London to Munich was not too bad but the flight to Incheon was bloody long and painful. Lufthansa offered great services and I can honestly say I give them 5* for their flight and customer services, what didn’t work for me was the man I sat next to. Good lord breath mints and showering plus deodorant never hurt no one. I do not think he had showered or bathed in a couple days, I can not judge since I do not know his circumstance but for 10+ hours I had to hold something over my nose as not to smell him, I could not even eat properly. This really ticked me off as well as forgetting to bring my neck pillow. I stupidly bought the inflatable pillow and ladies/gents operative word here is INFLATABLE instead of the already done ones. Have you ever tried to blow a balloon up there in the sky so close to God, an impossibility for me so I had to forgo that and stick to my fleece blanket and aeroplane pillows which are always a nightmare and they were on this flight too.

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When I arrived in Incheon things got a bit funny, my pick-up person cancelled on my friend the same hour I was landing so my friend had to request day off to come collect me from the airport. I waited for my friend for an hour but I was lucky because wireless is free and very much accessible everywhere in Korea. When she arrived we took a cab to her place, me and my lack of knowing money I thought 120,000won converts to $12 actually it converts to $120 (insert big gulp). It cost her that much so I could ride comfortably and safely reach her place instead of train or bus trolling my suitcase and bags.

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When we arrived at her place, I had a shower and we headed into town to have some lunch as we were both starving. I knew what I wanted to eat, though I did not know the name of it I knew it was something I have seen in KDRAMAs many a time so I was ready. But good lord do I suck at using chopsticks, I very britishly requested for a folk which I got and enjoyed my food.

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After lunch we walked around to show me the town she has been living in for almost a year now. Her Korea is so much better than my 2 cents and she is absolutely loving it here.

we headed out for the night and met up with her fellow teacher friends some who were british and another Korea. It was such a lovely night, I met so many people. I managed to attend a live band, two pubs and 2 clubs all in 10 hours of arriving in Seoul. By the time we got back to her place it was 7am Friday morning, we had not done this since we finished university in 2013 so this was long overdue.

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I will definitely say my day 0 in Seoul, Korea was epic and one that I will not be forgetting anytime soon.

Have you ever been to Seoul?myrabev-signature[wysija_form id=”1″]

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Comments

  3. Don` says

    Sounds like a great first day in Korea. Glad you were able to reconnect with your friend, and get some authentic Korean food, and stay out all night. Not sure if I could handle such an epic day after flying, but sounds like you managed just fine. Hope the rest of your trip was just as awesome.

    Reply

  5. Roselynn says

    I have not been to Seoul before but it is a place I would like to visit. You’re lucky you have a friend there, I find the travel to be much more fun when you have someone to be your guide.

    Reply

    • Miranda says

      It is so much easier to travel to a foreign land when you have friends who can act as a guide plus free accommodation comes to mind too lol

    • Miranda says

      It is such an awesome place, I can not wait to go back in 2 months time. It is epic, the people are so nice and most are friendly

  12. Sharon Ulery Ruggieri says

    Nope, never been, but I love the culture and plan on going one day. I’ll remember to bring a real pillow and avoid stinky people 😀

    Reply

  14. Amanda Love says

    I’ve never been to Korea but I would very much love to go. I travel at least once a year so will have to put Korea on my bucket list. Have fun!

    Reply

  15. A Life of Love and Joy says

    Sounds like you had a crazy start to your trip! I don’t think I could remotely handle a long flight, haha. I can barely handle a 2.5 hour flight from Tampa, FL to Buffalo, NY! LOL!

    Reply

  16. Jennifer Juro says

    What a crazy day!!! All of the food looks amazing and what a great adventure this started out to be!

    Reply

  17. DeafWanderlust says

    Awesome! Sorry suffering with the stinky person right next to you on the plane. I’m sure you were excited to inhaled fresh air in South Korea, haha. I love South Korea! I went there last summer to Seoul and other cities. I suggest you to check out Busan and Gyeongju as well if you want something different. There are posts about it on my blog (: Enjoy South Korea! (:

    Reply

  20. Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says

    Thanks so much for sharing this. I’ve never actually seen pictures of Korea, and your pictures are so cool!

    Reply

  21. Christy Maurer says

    I am not sure I would have handled the flight any better than you did! 10 hours by a stinky person is not fun! I love using chopsticks, though I suck at them too lol.

    Reply

  22. Michele says

    I am glad your trip to see your friend was a success-even though the plane ride was a bit uncomfortable. You certainly got a lot done in that short period of time!!

    Reply

  23. Fiona Naughton says

    I’m so glad you mad it to Seoul, I know you were really looking forward to your trip. How unfortunate to be sitting next to a smelly soul for a long haul flight though :/

    Reply

  25. fashion-mommy says

    What a fabulous experience to go to Korea, but your flight, oh dear, what a total nightmare to sit by a smelly for 10 hours.

    #UKBloggers

    Reply

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