Daily Life Korea

Rediscovering Seoul

One of my favorite things about life abroad is the opportunity to run into friends in unexpected places. Not long after I arrived in Korea, I had a chance to catch up with my good friend and former coworker, Lisa, who traveled from Shanghai for a weekend. A week after that, my college friend Bibi flew in from Osaka. What timely excuses for Seoul explorations!

I drove into the city with some nice people from work who took me to lovely neighborhoods in Seoul. I loved Samcheongdong’s tree-lined paths, converted hanok houses, quiet alleyways and hidden cafes, and shops full of little knicknacks.

I suppose this is Motherland, after all.

Untitled

Untitled
Walking past Insadong, towards Samcheongdong.

Untitled

Untitled

Untitled

Untitled

Untitled

Untitled

Untitled

Untitled

Untitled

Untitled

Untitled

Untitled

Untitled
Me and Bibi, captured on my phone.

Untitled

Untitled

Untitled

Untitled

Untitled

“Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive,
and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.” 
― Anaïs Nin

Untitled

Untitled

18 Comments

  • Reply
    Rina
    July 16, 2013 at 4:43 am

    I love the contrast between this post and the previous one; from the countryside to the city. I wonder if it’s just a coincidence, or if I am overanalyzing things ( ;
    Is that green stuff shaved ice? perfect for the summer. Even though you’re in the city, I still mange to see bits of greenery in the photos. I especially love those vines growing on the buildings.
    kind of magical~
    ♥♥

    • Reply
      Sewon
      July 17, 2013 at 10:07 pm

      I think you’re right, Rina. My life here in the mountains is certainly so different from city life. And yes, that’s green tea bingsoo (shaved ice dessert)…there was sweet beans and other things hidden inside! <3

  • Reply
    memtree
    July 16, 2013 at 5:39 am

    what lovely photos! hope you’re settling back in well 🙂

    • Reply
      Sewon
      July 17, 2013 at 10:07 pm

      Thank you! 🙂

  • Reply
    Gabby
    July 16, 2013 at 11:03 pm

    Nice photos as always and what a great journey you have! I particularly love that Anais Nin’s quote, for that is exactly one quote my friend gave me before we parted ways. I cannot wait to see the rest of your adventure!

    • Reply
      Sewon
      July 17, 2013 at 10:08 pm

      What a lovely quote to give to a friend as a parting gift. The adventure is just unfolding! 🙂

  • Reply
    Parisa Mahmoudi
    July 17, 2013 at 5:02 am

    Wow, the pics are wonderful !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    You are so lucky that you can travel every where you like !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂

    • Reply
      Sewon
      July 17, 2013 at 10:08 pm

      Thank you, Parisa! You, too, can go anywhere you want. 🙂

  • Reply
    SARA
    July 18, 2013 at 6:13 am

    Such beauty in this photos 🙂

    i’m reading Anais Nin right now and this is sure a wonderful and true quote… My favorite thig in the workd is to introduce friends so they can start another friendship and new things are born from that connection!

    • Reply
      Sewon
      July 22, 2013 at 9:22 pm

      What a lovely habit of introducing friends! 🙂

  • Reply
    ai
    July 18, 2013 at 7:49 am

    Do people there also use parasols/umbrellas to stay away from the sun? A French woman traveling Japan said during some TV interview that it’s crazy, so it kind of got me thinking if it’s just us. Also I don’t think I’ve ever seen cats in Seoul!

    • Reply
      Sewon
      July 22, 2013 at 9:25 pm

      I don’t see women carrying parasols as much as I saw in Japan, but most of the women seem sensitive about the sun and wear big hats. I just wear my sunglasses and I don’t mind the sun as much. I’ve noticed quite a few cats in Seoul, but mostly in random places like markets or neighborhood alleys. 🙂

  • Reply
    Winnie
    July 21, 2013 at 4:49 am

    Oh wow, these photos make me want to visit Seoul more than ever. The food and candid shots are really lovely Sewon!

    • Reply
      Sewon
      July 22, 2013 at 9:26 pm

      I’m glad you like them, Winnie! 🙂

  • Reply
    Matthew Pike
    July 22, 2013 at 11:36 am

    Really enjoyed your images, the bridge is a stunner. What’s the green bowl stuff?

    • Reply
      Sewon
      July 22, 2013 at 9:27 pm

      It’s a bowl of shaved ice dessert called bingsoo. The ice was made out of green tea and there was sweet red bean hidden in the layers. 🙂

  • Reply
    Karen Robinson
    July 23, 2013 at 8:43 am

    Is it just me or does that coffee and waffle cafe look like the Korean version of Waffle House?

  • Reply
    Ceri
    August 2, 2013 at 4:07 am

    I’m so excited so be in Korea and visit Seoul next year.

  • Leave a Reply to Winnie Cancel reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.