30 | March | 2013 | I am no travel planner.

While famous tourist places and activities are great, nothing beats being able to experience the everyday. – 03.23.13

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My next destination is Seoul Station as I meant to check out the old Seoul Station. In stark contrast with Hangangjin Station’s quiet is Seoul Station‘s busy-ness.

Hangangjin versus Seoul Station. Sure, stations are usually crowded but in Seoul Station, it was my first to ride an escalator that was that full.

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One thing I realized from this trip is how what is most interesting about places is not what you see but the unique feeling that the place gives you because of what you see, hear and/or even smell. In this station, I felt like I was at the center of a typical everyday among the locals. It is quite difficult to explain but maybe because it doesn’t try to be clean, cultural or fun for the tourists – it just simply is. That is, crowded, there are side stalls which I didn’t see in the other stations (this kind of reminded me of Manila). There are also homeless guys – a lot of them actually especially in the plaza across the old station.

Sunbathing.

Continue reading [Seoul] ~ Experiencing the everyday →

For there is beauty in making plans.. and breaking them. – 03.23.13

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That day was originally meant for an out-of-Seoul trip to Gapyeong where I can see Nami Island, Garden of Morning Calm and Petite France. But my ‘always getting lost’ fate on my first day made me a bit scared. Also, there was a change in my scheduled dinner with family that I thought going someplace far would not be the best itinerary for the day.

I am sure being with other people has its unique joy but travelling alone has this perk of flexibility – you can easily change plans without pissing off anyone. So early that morning, with my sore muscles and while having my breakfast of Peppero stick and Coke Zero, I made my ‘what to do today’ list.

At times like then, a subway map, my travel notebook and Evernote were helpful.

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Being my usual self – making such a mess with my bed

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After a few minutes of ‘planning’, I decided to go the Leeum Samsung Art of Museum that morning. I just saw online how it has some interesting gigantic art pieces so I said to self – let’s give it a try. Later on, I learned that this houses the most valued collection of Lee Kun-hee, the president of Samsung. What is more interesting is that unlike other museums that are either traditional or modern, this place combines both the traditional and contemporary.