About my travel to Seoul, Korea. Sharing what I experienced there.
Like Peninsular Malaysia, Korea is a peninsula situated in the east of Asia. It shares land borders with China and Russia in the north and in the south, separated with Japan by the Korean Straits. Due to its geography, Korean history very much influenced by and related to power struggles between its neighbouring countries which in many ways shape and influence it. Now the said peninsular is divided into two: South and North Korea. While the former, in many ways followed Western countries in various aspects and chose democratic government, the latter is more inclined to communism due to Russian’s and China’s influences. They fought with one another many years ago and until now still show strong enmity with each other. The 38th. Parallel which divides both countries practically in the middle is heavily guarded by both armies. Since Seoul is situated not too far from the line, its citizens are always on a full alert of the treat from North Korea.
As for Malaysians South Korea is popular due to its kimchi, car manufacturers, handphone company, Korean drama series, and famous music bands. It comes as no surprise this country attracts sizeable number of Malaysians. Apart from its physical beauty, long history, sky-crappers, the question how the country which heavily devastated by the war has managed to gain high economic status and advancement of development has gained respect from many. We can learn many things from the country's miracle. Assuredly, Koreans themselves make their beloved country great.
Our Air Asia’s evening flight from KLIA2 to the Incheon International Airport that was scheduled to take off at 11 pm was 'retimed' to 4 am. Could you imagine the long hours we waited for the flight? That did not include the time we took to travel from Kota Bharu and the time we left our home to the local airport two hours earlier. We tried to sleep on the available benches at the departure hall but our eyes refused to do so. We noticed some passengers slept soundly, oblivious of what was happening in the surroundings. To fritter away time, we looked for a food outlet, luckily, we found one was still in operation; nasi lemak taste was quite delicious to fill our hungry tummies. A gang of Indonesian teenagers enjoyed eating and drinking at the next table, they laughed and giggled, indicating their closeness, feeling free and open with one another. And soon they left, leaving us as the last customers before it ceased its operation by around 3 am albeit a few customers asking for its services.
The Airbus A320 flight bound to Seoul was full, and the journey took four and half hours seemed less when we enjoyed chicken biryani rice, Pak Nasir Nasik Lemak and teh tarik and intermittent naps due to tiredness and sleepless while waiting for our flight at the airport. The flight touched down on the tarmac at the Incheon Airport in the late afternoon. We were greeted by the cold winter once we stepped outside the plane – welcoming us in South Korea.
Amongst areas in Seoul, Itaewon is famous for Malaysians and tourists from other countries. Since South Korea has excellent transportation systems, going there is not a problem, even for first-time visitors. We had a seamless train journey from the Incheon International Airport to Seoul and then exchanged a train to Seoul’s subway line to arrive here. Apart from affordability, staying in a hotel around this place was justified due several reasons. First, we could easily find halal restaurants. Many options available for us, Turkish kebab, Indian and Pakistani Biryani, Malaysian and Indonesian restaurants as well as Halal Korean authentic foods for options. We trampled hilly and small asphalt streets and found a street here is named as Islam Street. So with a few options of Halal restaurants we had no worry about foods, just to choose any one we preferred. Trying Halal Korean foods was the best option, after all, travelling is not about places but also to experience local cuisines. Best upmarket hotels and restaurants were also here but those for those with deep pockets, we managed to glean at them. Second, the availability of a masjid. The Seoul Centre Mosque, the largest in Korea, has been standing here since in the late 1970s. Third, the central location of Itaewon itself in Seoul, so we could go to attractive and touristy places within short period of journeys.
At present, the availability of travel apps including Google Map, making travelling comes in handy. Apart from subway trains we could use buses and take metered cabs. We could head anywhere and everywhere in Seoul as we prepared to go, from here most places are equally short jaunts. Apart from the main roads, streets around here are small, narrow and hilly. Walking in a cold winter was not a problem for us as we wore suitable clothes, that warmed our bodies and it was a good exercise to keep us healthy. After all, walking makes our bodies fit to travel. Itaewon was a launch pad for us to explore this capital city, the place that many Malaysians crave and look forward to staying and visiting.
There was a plethora of purposes of visiting South Korea. We traveled to see breathtaking panorama or views as well as to experience things on our own. Of course we could see pictures and watch videos uploaded by YouTubers and other people on social media the places that they shared during their visits, but for us to be physically there offered much more experience because our five senses experienced and captured things on the real sites. For example, we shouldered to shouldered with tourists and locals who thronged the same popular places. Smelling the aroma of freshly baked cakes or traditional cookies wafted in the air when sipping cups of coffee at the nearby café as well as heard also heard shouting and giggling of children under the watchful eyes of their parents were something not available online. Traveling is also good for education. Once we traveled here we could learn and look things from different perspectives and nurtured outward looking which helped us to be more open, tolerant and down to earth persons.
The early morning in the next day, we took the bus from our hotel in Itaewon to Gyeongbokgung Palace located in South of Seoul. This palace is a magnet for locals and international tourists. A visit to Seoul will not be complete if ones do not visit here. However, during the visit, we found only a score of international tourists as the country just opened its border after the Covid 19 pandemic. How lucky we were! Once we donned traditional clothes that we hired for three hours from the shop at the vicinity we walked to the palace. We saw a young woman, taking a selfie in front of the main entrance of the palace. And at the nearby, a group of local tourists, wearing traditional dresses of Korea, proudly posing for photos with the strong tall palace's guards. If not due to the cacophony of the sound of vehicles at the background, we surely were back in time, during the glorious era of Joseon Dynasty which ruled the country many centuries ago. The centuries where Korean Peninsula during its tranquil scenery with clear, and serene country side with stunning mountains in the background, befitting of its name - The Land of Morning Calm.
