Istanbul, 11.04.2025 Protection from the evil eye

Seoul, 12.04.2025 New territory

We would have loved to take Moritz as well, but my spring (and autumn) holidays start when his semester break ends. So Tobi, Mia and I traveled to Seoul for Easter. It`s been a while we have traveled so far, and it feels just like this: very far. On arrival, it is dark, cold and rainy, and the first shop we encounter is a pet food store which is open 24/7. No salesperson around. The next shop is a 7-11 and it almost feels like home with almost all things necessary available. The third thing we encounter is another great shop: a store full of stuffed animals, big, small and tiny, in coin slot machines ready for gambling. It feels great to be back in Southeast Asia!

Seoul, 13.04.2025 Love locks

It is freezing cold, so we are happy that we brought all kinds of clothing. Today, the first shop we enter is a shop full of iron-on stickers, where Mia gets an apron. After strolling through a food market street, we climbed the Namsan and watched the city from its peak.

Seoul, 14.04.2025 Hanbok

Right next to modern skyskrapers, Seoul has various old and beautiful temple compelexes. Today, despite the rainy and cold weather, we visited one of them. It is possible to rent traditional Korean clothing, wearing this Hanbok you don`t have to pay the entry fee. A lot of Koreans and foreigners do so, and it is funny and nice to see so many of them walking around. Today, it was extra special because of the rain. Afterwards, we went to a traditional market, where Tobi enjoyed crabs and I enjoyed Hotteok, a Korean style yeast pancake which I like a lot.

Seoul, 15.04.2025 Birthday weather

The weather got better, finally. We enjoyed scones for breakfast thinking about Moritz and took the chance to visit another temple complex with sunny weater and a blue sky. The cherry blossoms were even more beautiful than before! After the temple visit, we hiked the mountains surrounding Seoul, which is a welcome change to the busy city life.

Busan, 16.04.2025 Heading south

We took the bullet train to Busan to get to know a different part of Korea. Tobi forgot his work bag in the compartment, and we were astonished (and happy) that it took one call and a pick up at the lost-and-found at Busan station to get it back. Busan is located by the sea, with a busy port and lots of fish and seafood. We were impressed by the huge camelias and enjoyed the Snoopy cafe and a small street with a night market.

Busan, 17.04.2025 Cat cafe

Sometimes we encounter spaces that are definitely build for people smaller than Tobi!

We tried a cat cafe, where you pay an entry fee to meet and greet a bunch of cats waiting for you to open cat treats. We were lucky that the one peeing on customers laps was sound asleep while we visited.

In the evening, Tobi and I strolled through the harbour and enjoyed a great dinner, just not suitable for vegetarians.

Busan, 18.04.2025 Hope

Today we visited a small temple at the seaside very close to our apartment. It was touching to see the red and golden leaves with all the good thoughts and wishes for love, peace, health and happiness in different languages.

In the outskirts of Seoul, we hiked through a bamboo forest where Shitake mushrooms were cultivated. We had a lovely lunch, too.

Busan, 19.04.2025 Gamcheon culture village

Gamcheon is a part of Busan, where lots of poor refugees settled after the war. Through an artists initiative, the neighbourhood was transformed into a colourful touristic attraction. Even a statue of the Little Prince is here. What we enjoyed most: there was a shop with postcards and a post office on top of it. You could chose yourself when your letter was to be send within the next 365 days.

My most remarkable Korea moment. Mia and Tobi ordered Bingsu, a traditional Korean dessert, similar to Bingsha in China. I had a spoon and I burst into tears because it reminded me of Shanghai so much.

The dinner was just phenomenal. The scoop was called Mochiri, it is made from Tofu, but with the texture of a bufallo mozzarella. I hope we can manage to get that back in Berlin, too, because it was just so delicious.

Seoul, 20.04.2025 Hanok

I wanted to stay in a traditional Korean house once and so we did. It was called the "Welcome mistakes house" and we felt very welcome indeed. I even had my very own Bingsu in a coffee shop called 'Stammtisch'.

Seoul, 21.04.2025 Portrait

Seoul is really surrounded by mountains everywhere and it is a great pleasure to hike from one neighbourhood to the other. We strolled through a huge fleamarket, had the three of us drawn in one of the portrait studios and simply enjoyed spring flowers in a park.

Seoul, 22.04.2025 Public library

It was raining again and so we went to a big mall with a gigantic public library. Impressive!

Seoul, 23.04.2025 Ouch

I never ever went to a city with this many weird and funny and great coffee shops, and 'Ouch' was just one of them. It doesn`t look like it, but the cake was not only beautiful to look at, but also really tasty.

It happened to me once before, with a young woman on a Levis advertisement. You see someone or a picture of her and somehow she reminds you of yourself. This time, it was in an exhibit from Roni Horn 'You are the weather'.

Seoul, 24.04.2025 Kitty Monchichi

So many many gadgets for kids or adults still loving My melody and comparable stuff. Korea would have been paradise for me as a girl.

Our one time only when a K-pop-star walked by. We wouldn`t have noticed if not for the huge crowd of people filming and waving.

Chinese influencers selling something special online:

I was quite fascinated they were not taking a baby for a walk.

Seoul, 25.04.2025 Goodbye Korea

We truly had a lovely time, being so far away, but still feeling connected through our years in China. Korea is definitely worth visiting, especially in spring, when all is in bloom.