It was an ordinary Thursday night, and I was scrolling through Xiaohongshu as usual in bed. Suddenly, a photo made me stop scrolling. It was a golden rapeseed field on Jeju Island, looking particularly brilliant under the sunlight. The flower sea was dotted with a few Jeju-specific tangerine trees, with the misty Mount Halla in the distance. The composition of this photo was perfect, with the angle making the rapeseed field appear endless.
I was immediately inspired by this photo, already imagining myself walking through the flower sea. I could even picture standing in the middle of the rapeseed field, feeling the refreshing fragrance as the breeze passed by. And so, I began searching through various travel websites for guides about Korea, diving deep into travel planning.
As an experienced traveler who has been across China, I know how much effort goes into planning a perfect trip. At the time, I was experiencing a bottleneck in my work and particularly needed a spontaneous journey. Even so, I still spent two whole weeks planning this Korea trip.
I worked during the day and researched travel guides on my laptop at night. Jeju Island's transportation issue gave me a headache for quite a while. Unlike Seoul's comprehensive subway system, Jeju Island's public transportation is truly inadequate. The island's buses run infrequently, and the stops are far apart. Relying solely on buses would waste a lot of time waiting.
After thorough research, I found that renting a car was the ideal choice. On a certain car rental platform, I carefully compared dozens of car models before finally selecting a Hyundai compact SUV. This car had moderate fuel consumption, enough space, and most importantly, good value for money. The five-day rental cost just over 1,200 RMB, averaging about 240 per day, much more economical than taking taxis.
Speaking of car rental, I must mention an experience where I almost fell into a trap. I saw an exceptionally cheap price on a car rental comparison website, about half the normal price. I almost paid for it, but something felt off. Upon closer inspection, I realized insurance was calculated separately, along with various additional fees. In the end, the total price was nearly double that of regular platforms. This made me realize that for car rentals, you must choose reliable platforms and not just look at the surface price.
Besides transportation, accommodation was another key consideration. In Seoul, I chose a cost-effective business hotel. On Jeju Island, I preferred a guesthouse with local characteristics. After comparing multiple booking platforms, I finally found a highly-rated traditional Jeju guesthouse on Airbnb.
For the itinerary, I didn't pack it too full. I arranged four days in Seoul, mainly exploring popular areas like Myeongdong and Hongdae, with the remaining time spent on Jeju Island. I left myself plenty of free time, as the most important part of travel isn't checking off tourist spots but truly experiencing the local atmosphere.
From Incheon Airport to downtown Seoul, I chose the airport bus. Although the subway was also available, the bus was more comfortable with my 28-inch suitcase. That day, Seoul was drizzling, and through the bus window, the silhouettes of skyscrapers appeared particularly hazy in the rain. Raindrops sliding down the window turned the outside scenery into something like an ink painting.
The bus took about an hour to reach Myeongdong station. The moment I got off, the bustling commercial district immediately impacted my senses. Various Korean signs flickered with neon lights, with cosmetic shops and clothing stores lining both sides of the street. But what attracted me most was the various food aromas wafting through the air.
Walking slowly through Myeongdong's alleys, I discovered that the food stalls here were the real treasure. I remember being attracted to a fragrant small stall. The owner was an elderly Korean lady who enthusiastically introduced her spicy rice cakes in broken Chinese when she noticed my gaze. That bowl of rice cakes looked ordinary, but the first bite amazed me. The rice cakes were soft on the outside yet chewy inside, paired with special spicy sauce - spicy and delicious without being too intense.
During my days in Seoul, I visited many places. Besides must-visit attractions, I specifically went to some local spots that aren't as well-known to tourists. For instance, in Samcheong-dong, I discovered a vintage café hidden in a small alley. Though small, the interior decoration was stylish, full of 1970s retro vibes. I ordered a pour-over coffee and sat by the window, watching passersby and feeling the rhythm of the city.
Just shopping in Seoul made my suitcase several pounds heavier. From cosmetics to clothing, from stationery to daily necessities, Korean products really know how to capture girls' hearts. However, what delighted me most was discovering many independent designers' works in a small shop in Hongdae. Those handmade jewelry pieces and bags, though expensive, were each unique.
[To be continued...]
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