Korea Trip Part 1 : Flying to Korea

Even though a number of people dream to visit Korea once in a lifetime, Korea is not one on my top list of the next destinations. I NEVER watch Korean series/movies ... NEVER recognize any of Korean actors/actresses ... NEVER know any Korean artists or songs that are now popular worldwide. Moreover, I eat neither vegetables nor spicy food, so original Kimchi cannot attract me in any way. However, Korean  meat Shabu Shabu and BBQ is quite interesting. Anyway, once I have an opportunity to make a visit to this country, "Saying NO is NOT AN OPTION."

Flying to Korea with Jin Air, a Korean low-cost airline : My first impression of this airline is full of surprises. I never expect to see flight attendants and pilot wearing jeans, polo shirts, caps and Converse shoes, but these are actually their uniform.

I like the way they are treated as people who are on board to actually do their jobs. I don't think that high-heels and thick suits with neckties are suitable for what they are responsible for. They need to be brisk and they turn out to be naturally beautiful and smart.

It takes 5-6 hours from Thailand to Korea and the time over there is 2 hours faster. For those who plan to travel to Korea, you might want to think ahead about what you expect to see >>>

March - May : Spring
June - August : Summer
September - November : Autumn
December - February : Winter

I travel to Korea in early July, so it is supposed to be something between spring and summer... and, of course, I may expect a little (actually, according to the weather forecast, a lot of) rain. And here is the first picture I take in Korea >>>

Fortunately, it rains only on the first and the last days. This allows me to take good pictures with bright sky during the whole trips.

What else to prepare if you are traveling to Korea ...

1) Korean money (Won) and credit card(s) : If you plan to go shopping in Korea, you need a lot of money and probably an extra luggage. Most stores accept credit cards, but you might want to check whether they will charge it. Here are some references >>>
1,000 - 3,000 Won = small snack, such as dessert, fruit, candies, gums, ice-cream, or a skin mask
5,000 Won = bigger snack, like a bucket of popcorn in 7-11, small meal, T-shirt, flip flops or little cosmetic stuff
10,000 - 30,000 Won = real meal, fancy shirt, pants, skirt, shoes, or cosmetic item(s)
50,000 Won = big meal, brand name sportswear, or a set of cosmetics
100,000 Won = all of the above and more

What I like about traveling in Korea is that the entrance tickets for entering important places are not expensive. Many places are free, while normal prices of the tickets are between 300 - 8,000 Won.

To plan your budget, it is also a good idea to check the currency exchange rate.

2) A plug adapter (220 voltage) : A wall plug in Korea looks like this >>>

3) A good camera : If you are following your favorite Korean actors/actresses in the series, you probably want to make sure that you actually have a chance to step on the same spots they did. Also, there are a number of actual-sized pictures of these popular stars everywhere. Don't tell me you don't want to have any picture with them. Or if you are not interested in these people, Korea has a lot more to offer. Just have a camera with you and use it to keep the moments as parts of your good memory.

4) An understandable guide book : There are a number of guide books to Korea on the shelves nowadays, but you need to choose the one that you can understand it clearly or maybe the one with  maps, history, stories, and of course the places you want to visit. And let's hope that it conveys accurate information (since you never know if it is a good guide book until you get there.)

5) Clothes : You may prepare clothes according to the season. In my case, I am told to bring an umbrella (with hope that I don't have to use it).

We are now ready for the Korean trip.

Korean lesson for the first day : "Hello" ... "An-nyoung-ha-seh-yo"