Can’t believe we’re already one week into the trip—it’s flying by. Today was another really cool day. I kicked things off with the usual hotel breakfast (eggs, sourdough toast, and bacon—can’t go wrong), then we headed out to our first stop: Bukchon Hanok Village.
Bukchon is a traditional Korean neighborhood known for its old-school hanok houses, some dating back to the Joseon Dynasty. It’s tucked right between two palaces and sits up on a hill, so you get a great view overlooking parts of Seoul. I thought the architecture was beautiful—super detailed and different from anything I’m used to. Even though it’s a popular tourist spot, the area still felt peaceful and quiet, thanks to local laws that help preserve that vibe. Just walking through the narrow streets felt like stepping into a different time.
After exploring Bukchon, we made a quick stop at Jogyesa Temple before heading into Namdaemun Market. The temple is just a short walk from the market and is actually one of the most important Buddhist temples in Seoul. Even though it’s in the middle of the city, it felt really calm and spiritual. The lanterns and trees gave it a peaceful vibe, and hearing monks chanting in the background made the whole experience feel surreal. Definitely a cool change of pace.
When we got to Namdaemun Market, I didn’t really do any shopping—it felt kind of like a tourist trap and was a little pricey. But we had a group lunch before free time, and I tried a traditional Korean noodle soup that hit the spot. After lunch, a few of us headed to Hannam-dong, a shopping district inside Itaewon. It reminded me a lot of SoHo in NYC—very trendy, very upscale. Prices were about the same too, so I didn’t buy anything, but we did grab some wild Korean-style hot dogs that were super fun and tasty.
All in all, today was a mix of great views, solid food, and some fun window shopping. Can’t wait to see what the next week has in store!
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