Seoul-searching -- Part 1

My South Korea trip was like a K-drama script. The first trip after many, many years (I have not been travelling as I was caregiving for my father) ticked all the main elements in a K-drama. 

• The snowstorm (the heaviest in more than a century) left us stranded in the airplane on the tarmac in Incheon. 

• Rushing around to catch the trains with 75 kg of luggage. 

• Reached Busan in the wee hours of the morning to an empty station; the zombies had gone back to their graves.

• Reached Airbnb and discovered that there was no lift. I had to lug more about 40 kg  of books for the Busan International Children’s Book Fair (BICBF).

• My friend who came with me discovered she lost her diary and it upset her greatly.

• Met ‘angels’ along the way: the hot guy in the train to Busan, the university undergrad at Busan Station, the illustrator who lived above me at the Airbnb.

• Had a wonderful fair, meeting passionate people in the book industry. 

• Met the Boss of Nami Island who came to BICBF with his staff.

• Went to Busan Al-Fatah Mosque for Friday prayers and to fulfil our little telekung project.

• Squeezed in time to see the sights and sounds of Busan like Gamcheon Village, Seaside capsule ride etc.

• Stayed in hotels near Seoul Station, reminded me of school days overseas staying in small places. Hapy coincidence that there were police stations near my lodging! I love police and crime stories in K-drama.

• Martial law was imposed in South Korea, causing temporary frenzy for my family members and friends who worried about my safety.

• Went to Nami Island where staff hosted us. Just found my destination wedding venue –

• nature, books, musollah, halal food, hotel, calmness

• Stayed in quaint hanok near Geobokyung Palace and museums, art galleries, coffee places.

• Discovered (by accident) two coffee joints which were featured two favourite K-drama – Reply 1994 (Café Coin) and The Glory (Café Russo). Cafes in Seoul are distinctive and each one tells a different story and vibe.

• Meet friends (by accident) in Busan and Seoul. Even in remote Gamcheon village, someone shouted, “Is that Hidayah Amin?”; ahh… celebrity moment.

• Seoul subway was a test in physical strength what with endless labyrinths of stairs. Where are the escalators and lifts?

• Meeting strangers who spoke to me in Korean and one even thought I was the Korean owner of Stay256 Hanok. Aigoo…

Photos of BICBF: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1153420926783656&type=3

Photos in Busan: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10170510469680228&type=3