My Seoul Story My soulmate, my Seoul
.jpg?w=728)
Chika Bugtas
This is the seventh in a series of contributions about Seoul's charms as seen from foreigners' points of view. ― ED.
By Chika Bugtas
I read somewhere that before one finds her soulmate, one must first discover her soul. I am lucky because I found both when I visited Seoul last October.
It was my first time traveling overseas and traveling alone. Just like most Korean wave fanatics, I have always dreamed of visiting Seoul, and imagining my joy when I landed at Incheon International Airport one cool autumn night. It was like meeting my soulmate I’d been longing to see and hug. I was in a different country, yet everything felt so familiar. I felt safe and at home.
My most memorable moment in Seoul was when I visited N Seoul Tower and Myeong-dong. I initially hesitated in visiting this spot because I was traveling solo. Fortunately, a former Korean tutee offered to accompany me. He recommended we ride the cable car up to the tower. It was already dark when we took the ride. It was the best decision I made in my entire visit. I was able to witness the beautiful night view of Seoul from inside the cable car. However, it was only a prelude to my beautiful tower experience.
The view from the tower was even more magical. I was speechless while looking over Seoul’s beautiful nightscape. Everything was surreal. I did not even want to blink. Even though I could not visit all the tourist spots in Seoul due to my limited time, my visit to N Seoul Tower made up for everything. It is truly the window to every temporary Seoulite’s soul. It was when I was already at the top of the tower when the thought finally sunk in: I was really in Korea, and dreams do come true!
Myeong-dong is another must-visit tourist spot in Seoul. It is the Mecca of every lady. There are makeup and cosmetics shops anywhere you look. Aside from shopping, I also enjoyed sampling every street food. There was a variety of affordable street foods on almost every corner of Myeong-dong. My favorites are tteokgalbi (short rib patties) meatballs, churros and tteokbokki (rice cake in red pepper sauce). The tteokgalbi meatballs were so juicy and savory. I wanted to bring some home with me. I had already tried churros back home a number of times but the one I tried in Myeong-dong was the best by far. I also enjoyed the spicy rice cakes I bought from a Korean couple. I cannot forget them as they were really nice to me and offered me a seat in their small space.
Since it was my first time traveling solo, I discovered so much about myself while exploring the lovely sights in Seoul. I realized that a soulmate is not always a person, but sometimes an unforgettable place, a place that gives one comfort in its strangeness. I fell in love with Seoul even before I visited it, and I loved it even more when I set foot on it.
Chika Bugtas is a lawyer in the Philippines and a huge fan of Korean culture.