My thoughts on my trip to Seoul, South Korea, and my first day back home
My room where I stayed for the week. I’ve already packed my backpack and I’m...
My trip to Seoul, South Korea turned out to be surprisingly smooth—maybe even easier than my experience in Japan. From the moment I arrived at the airport to getting into the city, everything just felt convenient and intuitive. Taking the bus was simple, paying with my debit card worked everywhere without any friction, and the metro system was easy to navigate without overthinking anything. I never found myself confused or making mistakes, which made the whole experience feel very comfortable. In some ways, it even reminded me of the best moments I’ve had traveling around Europe, where things just work the way you expect them to.
At the same time, I’d say that one week in Seoul is more than enough to see the main attractions, explore different neighborhoods, and get a real sense of the city’s atmosphere. Compared to Tokyo, Seoul feels a bit simpler and more relaxed, which actually adds to its charm. Still, I can’t say I’m already planning to come back, mostly because I’ve experienced similar vibes in places like Thailand and Vietnam. That said, it was definitely a unique and memorable trip, and I’m really glad I went—South Korea is absolutely worth visiting at least once.
One thing I noticed during the trip was how much the time zone changes affected my sleep. Both in Japan and South Korea, I kept oversleeping—going to bed around 1 AM or even earlier, but still waking up at 10 or 11 AM. My Mi Band consistently showed 9–10 hours of sleep, which felt unusual for me. But today, after getting back home, I woke up at 8 AM, and that already feels like a return to a healthier rhythm. It just shows how strongly shifting time zones can impact your body, even if everything else during the trip feels perfectly balanced.
Morning in Tokyo streets at 5 AM. On my way to the metro station
I can already say that I don’t see any reason to come back again—even to another city in Japan. My main goal was to visit all the major places I had planned in Tokyo, and I basically achieved...
My opinion about my trip to Seoul, South Korea, and my first day in my city after arriving
My trip to South Korea wasn't bad either, maybe even much smoother than Japan. Because I had some convenient and comfortable feelings beginning at the airport and ending in the city. I could easily take the bus to the city and to the airport, I could pay everywhere with my debit card without any issues, and I didn't have any problems at the metro. Everything was intuitively understandable, and I didn't make any wrong actions during my trip. Therefore, I want to compare some moments with European countries where I had a great experience when I visited them.
However, in my opinion, one week is much more than enough for the city to watch the main attractions and just walk around the city streets and feel that vibe. If I compare Seoul with Tokyo, I notice that everything is a bit simpler and easier, and the city is much more comfortable. But I can't say that I'm ready to come back because I felt the same feelings and atmosphere in Thailand, Vietnam, and others. Overall, it was a very cool and unique experience that I got from South Korea during the week. Definitely, this place should be visited.
Also, I want to describe my sleep observation, because during the trip, when I arrived in Japan and South Korea, I had some issues with oversleeping. Even when I went to bed at 1 AM or earlier, I slept until 10-11 AM, and it's worried me. My Mi Band showed me 9-10 hours of sleep time during these two weeks. But today, after arriving, I woke up at 8 AM, and in my opinion, it's already a healthier rhythm. It shows that changing so many different hours between the time zones can impact my organism.