I just got back from South Korea, and if there’s one thing that defined the whole trip—it was the cold.
Super lamig.
Not the kind you slowly adjust to. Yung labas mo pa lang, ramdam mo agad. Breath visible, hands freezing, and you’re constantly thinking about where to go next just to warm up.
But even with that, the trip didn’t feel difficult.
It felt different—in a good way.
I stayed in Hongdae with my friend Mark, and that area alone already gave a strong first impression.
Busy streets, people still out at night, performers, shops open. Even in the cold, the city didn’t slow down.
That stood out to me.
Most days were a mix of moving around the city—palaces, shopping areas, random streets—and then stopping in between just to warm up.
Coffee helped. A lot.
Mega Coffee, Ediya, even convenience store stops. Hindi siya about finding the “best café.” It was more about taking breaks and staying warm.
One of the moments I didn’t expect was seeing snow fall.
It wasn’t planned. It just happened while I was outside.
Simple moment, but it stayed with me.
Toward the end of the trip, I went to Incheon to visit a friend.
Completely different pace.
We went to Inspire Casino, stayed overnight, then had a proper samgyupsal before heading to the airport the next day.
No rush. Just ending the trip in a more relaxed way.
Looking back—well, not even looking back, since I just got home—it didn’t feel like a perfect itinerary trip.
But it felt real.
Cold weather, simple routines, moving around the city, small moments in between.
And that’s what made it stick.
