Jun – Jul 2024

South Korea, 2024

A 15-day adventure by JHarwood & Hannah Read more

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Trip start
June 19, 2024
South Korea, 2024
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Day 2
Thursday, June 20, 2024 at 11:43 AM
☁️ 23 °C
Altitude: 185 m
Austria Stock-im-Eisen-Platz 48.208214, 16.37138748°12’30” N 16°22’17” E
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First stop Vienna
June 20, 2024 in Austria ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C
Starting our trip to South Korea logically in Vienna 🇦🇹!

The flights to S. Korea were RIDICULOUSLY cheap but firstly we had to fly to Vienna first.

We started the day with a visit to the city centre taking in the sights of Stephansdom, Hofburg Imperial Palace, and the Rathaus.

We had a lovely walk through the city centre but my goodness it was hot 31* by lunchtime.Read more
Traveler No timbersports no party
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Traveler 😻😻😻 you dirty devil
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Day 2
Thursday, June 20, 2024 at 6:46 PM
☁️ 26 °C
Altitude: 190 m
Austria Hietzing 48.184137, 16.31107248°11’3” N 16°18’40” E
Schönbrunn Palace
June 20, 2024 in Austria ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C
The final stop in Vienna was Schönbrunn Palace (joined by Tamara now).

This was the first time that I’d visited in the Summer, and the glow of the setting sun against the palace was fantastic.

We had a short walk around the gardens and then smell of Schnitzel took us back to the city centre.Read more
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Day 3
Friday, June 21, 2024 at 1:07 PM
⛅ 30 °C
Altitude: 167 m
Austria Vienna International Airport 48.117725, 16.56852848°7’4” N 16°34’7” E
Vienna Airprot
June 21, 2024 in Austria ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C
When I found these flights on an error fair website we had originally booked with “Saudi Airlines” for the cost of £200. It included return flights from Vienna to Seoul with a stop in Jeddah.

Five weeks after booking I received an email to say that our return segment of the flights had been cancelled and that our flights to S.Korea would now take 38 hours.

After a surprisingly quick phone call to Saudi customer services they rebooked us on to a different airline… Emirates. The new flights were quicker, and allowed us to spend more time in Korea. Not to mention the fact we’d bagged €1,400 flights for just £200.

Bargain!

The other perk was that we’d now be flying on the largest passenger plane in the world the A380. As a child I’d seen the factory where they made the wings for this plane but this was the first opportunity I’d had to fly on it. Both Hannah and I were very excited.Read more
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Day 3
Friday, June 21, 2024
☀️ 40 °C
Altitude: 6 m
United Arab Emirates Dubai International Airport 25.252966, 55.36842325°15’11” N 55°22’6” E
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Dubai Airport
June 21, 2024 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ☀️ 40 °C
First flight done and dusted now for a 4 hour layover before our 9 hour flight to Seoul!

Dubai airport didn’t disappoint, we got a glimpse of the Burj Khalifa (the world tallest building) while landing and at the airport we saw MANY expensive shops with people buying jewellery for silly money at 3am.Read more
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Day 4
Saturday, June 22, 2024 at 7:49 PM
☁️ 23 °C
Altitude: 36 m
South Korea Seoul Station 37.554092, 126.97259537°33’15” N 126°58’21” E
Seoul Station
June 22, 2024 in South Korea ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C
After nearly 16 hours of flying and two countries later we’ve finally arrived in South Korea and our first stop Seoul.

Tonight it was operation food and sleep so we could feel refreshed ready for our early morning train to Gyeongju.Read more
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Day 5
Sunday, June 23, 2024 at 7:28 AM
☁️ 22 °C
Altitude: 49 m
South Korea Seoul Station 37.553663, 126.97110837°33’13” N 126°58’16” E
🚂 Seoul —> Gyeongju
June 23, 2024 in South Korea ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
Early morning today to fight off that jet lag! We are taking the 07:50 KTX train to Gyeongju. The trains in S.Korea are SERIOUSLY fast with an average speed of over 300kph (200mph).
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Day 5
Sunday, June 23, 2024 at 12:11 PM
☁️ 23 °C
Altitude: 238 m
South Korea Saritap 35.789805, 129.33114735°47’23” N 129°19’52” E
Bulguksa Temple
June 23, 2024 in South Korea ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C
First stop in Gyeongju is the Bulguksa Temple. Set on a series of stone steps this Unesco World Cultural Heritage listed Temple the name of the temple means 'World of Buddha Temple.’

We had a lovely time exploring the temple and taking in the trees and plants on the approach up to the temple. Though my goodness we got a shock with a humidity of nearly 90% we were sweating from EVERYWHERE!Read more
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Day 5
Sunday, June 23, 2024 at 2:31 PM
☁️ 26 °C
Altitude: 41 m
South Korea Beopjangsa 35.841192, 129.21139535°50’28” N 129°12’41” E
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Noseo-dong Tombs
June 23, 2024 in South Korea ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C
Near the main shopping area is the Noseo-dong district, there is a park with a collection of Silla tombs built between the 4th and 5th century. They were excavated between 1921 and 1946.

Though not much is known about who is buried below the mounds of earth it is assumed that they are kings of the ancient Silla Kingdom.Read more
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Day 5
Sunday, June 23, 2024 at 4:53 PM
☁️ 28 °C
Altitude: 37 m
South Korea Seodangmaeul 35.829717, 129.21756235°49’47” N 129°13’3” E
Woljeonggyo Bridge
June 23, 2024 in South Korea ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C
A reconstructed Silla Dynasty built wooden bridge set on the outskirts of the city Hannah and I explored this area as the sun was beginning to set. It was VERY hot so midway we decided to get drinks, and in true Korean fashion it was a pouch of peach iced tea and a plastic cup of ice. You buy both together and then pour the pouch into the cup and then BOOM you have a perfect iced drink.Read more
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Day 5
Sunday, June 23, 2024 at 5:17 PM
☁️ 28 °C
Altitude: 36 m
South Korea Seodangmaeul 35.830128, 129.21578835°49’48” N 129°12’57” E
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Hard-Earned Injeolmi Ice Cream
June 23, 2024 in South Korea ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C
Traveler No wonder you picked that one
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Day 5
Sunday, June 23, 2024 at 7:33 PM
☁️ 25 °C
Altitude: 44 m
South Korea Michuwangneungseonggobungongwon 35.83713, 129.21133335°50’14” N 129°12’41” E
Gyeongju Dinner
June 23, 2024 in South Korea ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C
I think we may have over ordered!

A recommendation from the Lonely Planet book for dinner and it did not disappoint. We opted for the 20 plate tasting meal. I’m still not 100% what exactly we ate. BUT, I can tell you that it was absolutely fantastic!Read more
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Day 5
Sunday, June 23, 2024 at 8:46 PM
⛅ 24 °C
Altitude: 48 m
South Korea Anapji 35.833875, 129.22668335°50’2” N 129°13’36” E
Donggung Palace
June 23, 2024 in South Korea ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
Finally stop while in Gyeongju is Donggung Palace. We decided to follow another recommendation from the guide book and visit at night. The Palace looked absolutely fantastic lit up brightly by hundreds of glowing amber lights.

Outside the gates there was a theme park like buzz about the place with market stalls and people selling light up toys and balloons!Read more
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Day 6
Monday, June 24, 2024 at 11:47 AM
☁️ 25 °C
Altitude: 16 m
South Korea Busanyeok 35.114886, 129.04002535°6’54” N 129°2’24” E
🚂 Gyeongju—> Busan
June 24, 2024 in South Korea ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C
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Day 6
Monday, June 24, 2024 at 1:23 PM
🌬 25 °C
Altitude: 8 m
South Korea South Inner Harbor 35.096561, 129.02929735°5’48” N 129°1’45” E
Jagalchi Market
June 24, 2024 in South Korea ⋅ 🌬 25 °C
First stop in Busan, after we’d dropped off our bags, was the ‘Jagalchi Fish Market.’

Located on the seaside road in Busan's Jung-gu, it is Korea's largest seafood market, selling both live and dried fish. After the Korean War, the market became a fish market. Most of the people who sell fish are women, so the vendors here are called Jagalchi Ajumeoni, "ajumeoni" meaning middle-aged or married woman in Korean.

The premise of the market is that you enter on the ground floor, buy live fish and then take them upstairs for the women prepare them. They’ll be served either raw or cooked.

The women are known for being very pushy for a sale and the amount that lifted fish out of tanks for us to take a closer look, or attempted to force us to take a seat in their restaurant was crazy! I think I’ve seen enough octopus 🐙, and crabs 🦀 to last a life time!Read more
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Day 6
Monday, June 24, 2024 at 5:04 PM
☁️ 24 °C
Altitude: 25 m
South Korea Fukuhei-san 35.100247, 129.03314235°6’1” N 129°1’59” E
Busan Tower
June 24, 2024 in South Korea ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C
To round off our tour of Nampo we visited Yongdusan Park
(용두산공원) and the Busan Tower. The views over the city were fantastic and it was here that we unlocked a new N.Korea character… a seagull called Boogi. Though the three of us agreed that it resembled a chicken!Read more
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Day 6
Monday, June 24, 2024 at 5:35 PM
☁️ 24 °C
Altitude: Sea level
South Korea Shihei-zan 35.098989, 129.03164735°5’56” N 129°1’54” E
Shipping on BIFF Square
June 24, 2024 in South Korea ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C
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Day 6
Monday, June 24, 2024 at 7:59 PM
☁️ 23 °C
Altitude: 15 m
South Korea Buam 35.155358, 129.0556235°9’19” N 129°3’20” E
Korean BBQ
June 24, 2024 in South Korea ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C
For dinner we visited a local pork restaurant that was recommended online. Unexpectedly it ended up being a Korean BBQ restaurant- our first in Korea and my first time ever.

The waiter struggled through with broken English to explain to us how it all worked! With so many side dishes, sauces and veg it was a taste sensation. The waiter explained that the pork would be cooked for us int he kitchen and then brought over to continue to cook on a BBQ at the table. While we waited for our meat we were given free ramen, and fish cake soup. All washed down with two local beers.

It was hands down the best food we’ve had since arrived in Korea!Read more
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Day 7
Tuesday, June 25, 2024 at 9:15 AM
☁️ 22 °C
Altitude: 312 m
South Korea Gyemyeongbong 35.283737, 129.06938135°17’1” N 129°4’10” E
Beomeosa Temple
June 25, 2024 in South Korea ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
It was an early start this morning to visit Beomeosa Temple. Situated about 55 minutes out of the city by public transport it was a trek to get too but was absolutely worth it!

It is the “Great Headquarters Temple of Seon Buddhism” and sat tiered on Geumjeongsan mountain. As we’ve arrived early there was hardly anybody there, the only sounds were the birds singing, trees rustling and the monks praying.

We hiked a little further through the temple and along a rocky path to the next temple that sat above Beomeosa. It was there we were greeted by a fantastic view of the mountains that surround Busan.Read more
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Day 7
Tuesday, June 25, 2024 at 1:02 PM
☁️ 25 °C
Altitude: 445 m
South Korea Mandeokchon 35.223564, 129.06321735°13’25” N 129°3’48” E
Geumgang Cable Car (금강공원 로프웨이)
June 25, 2024 in South Korea ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C
Next stop was the Grumgang Cable Car. At 1,260m long it is the longest ropeway in Korea and first opened in 1966. It takes you from the park to the summit of Geumjeong Mountain 🏔️. On the way up and at the top you were able to see expansive views all across Busan, from the Sea of Japan to the mountains that’s surround the city.

At the top there were two cafes and a small shop. We decided to do the short 250m climb up the mountain to where there was another viewpoint.

It was easily one of our highlights from our time in Busan.Read more
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Day 7
Tuesday, June 25, 2024 at 3:36 PM
☁️ 24 °C
Altitude: Sea level
South Korea Kodu-mal1 35.159306, 129.19168135°9’34” N 129°11’30” E
Cheongsapo & Blueline Park
June 25, 2024 in South Korea ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C
Next stop for today was the costal walk from Cheongsapo to Haeundae.

This area of Busan is a small seaside village which feels a million miles away from bustle of the city centre, and the crisp sea breeze gave a welcome break from the hot weather. Sadly the Sky Capsules were fully booked for the day so we opted for the coastal walk instead.

On the walk round you had views of the Sea of Japan (on a clear day you can see an island off Japan, sadly despite patches of blue sky it wasn’t clear enough). As we continued the walk around we began to see the skyscrapers and Haeundae beach.Read more
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Day 7
Tuesday, June 25, 2024 at 5:38 PM
☁️ 23 °C
Altitude: Sea level
South Korea Haeundaehaesuyokjang 35.1591, 129.16874735°9’33” N 129°10’7” E
Haeundae Beach
June 25, 2024 in South Korea ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C
Maybe this place is a Korean Benidorm, as the similarities were uncanny. Joking aside it was so surreal seeing massive skyscrapers right next to a beach!
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Day 7
Tuesday, June 25, 2024 at 7:14 PM
☁️ 23 °C
Altitude: 10 m
South Korea Yongdang-dong 35.127995, 129.10028135°7’41” N 129°6’1” E
UN Memorial Cemetery
June 25, 2024 in South Korea ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C
The final stop for today was the UN memorial Cemetery. The park had a sculpture walk which included monuments for every nation that supported S.Korea in their war with N.Korea in the 1950s.

Unexpectedly in amongst the monuments was exercise equipment including a clay walkway where you take your shoes off and walk bare foot. Called “earthing” it is supposed to advocate numerous health benefits including aches, pains and tiredness. Safe to say after 2 laps of the walkway it did not solve my back problems.

After that we walked around the park and headed back for the metro, on our way we saw runners, walkers and an outdoor dance class.Read more
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Day 8
Wednesday, June 26, 2024 at 12:24 PM
☁️ 24 °C
Altitude: 57 m
South Korea T’aejong-san 35.059681, 129.08021735°3’35” N 129°4’49” E
Haedong Yonggungsa Temple
June 26, 2024 in South Korea ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C
Called the most beautiful temple in Korea, the Haedong Yonggungsa Temple sits on a cliff overlooking the Sea of Japan.

There has been some form of temple here since the 1300s (though some dispute this) however, the modern temple was destroyed by an invasion of Korea by Japan in 1930 and was subsequently rebuilt.

The temple was stunning and totally different to what we had seen before with most temples being built high up in the mountains.

One highlight was the money Buddha, two large gold coloured pigs which if you rub their nose is meant to give you good luck when it comes to money <- I rubbed it MANY times (I was thinking of plastering, bathroom designers, sofas, and kitchen fitters).Read more
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Day 8
Wednesday, June 26, 2024 at 12:24 PM
☁️ 24 °C
Altitude: 57 m
South Korea T’aejong-san 35.059681, 129.08021735°3’35” N 129°4’49” E
Taejongdae Park
June 26, 2024 in South Korea ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C
Next stop on our guided tour of Busan was Taejongdae Park. This picturesque park offered us breathtaking views of the ocean, cliffs and Busan city.

To explore the park we used the Park train (on wheels), but on the return there wasn’t enough seats for me and 4 other people on the tour. The tour guide was frantically trying to find seats- all while Hannah and Tamara look on gleefully that they’d managed to find a seat on the train. The tour guide told us to wait for the next on and she made numerous phone calls. One of them was to me (who was standing 2 metres away from her), she was asking me what we wanted for lunch 😂😂. Throughout the conversation she did not twig that I was stood next to her.Read more
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Day 8
Wednesday, June 26, 2024 at 3:33 PM
☁️ 25 °C
Altitude: 149 m
South Korea Amisan 35.097443, 129.01037635°5’51” N 129°0’37” E
Gamcheon Culture Village
June 26, 2024 in South Korea ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C
The next stop was the Gamcheon Culture Village. This village was built during the 1920s and 1930s when Busan city decided to relocate the working-class population into an area secluded from the port, yet close enough to provide labour. Built on a steep mountain-side slope, the village has been nicknamed "Korea's Santorini" and the "Machu Picchu of Busan.” In 2009 in an effort to bring tourism to the area the city carried out a public art-themed renovation effort to convert the village into a cultural hub as it can be seen today!Read more
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