Being born and raised in the United Arab Emirates, I spent my life in a continuous never-ending Summer. The only weather conditions I ever knew and experienced were extremely hot, averagely hot, and less hot.
I visited South Korea for the first time during October of last year. It was the first Autumn I lived in my 24 years. The beauty of the yellow, orange, red and brown leaves and the fresh, cool breeze were so foreign and very beautiful to me.
I was lucky to go on my first ever trip all alone. It gave me a chance to challenge myself, break boundaries and experience independence. And it was amazing! I was able to make many new friends, eat a lot of yummy meals, and explore new places and landscapes.
Walking around Seoul with friends. October, 2022. Photo by Haneen Abushehab.
Discovering and enjoying new cuisines is -probably- the best part of any trip. At least to me it is. In this article I’ll share some of the moments and meals I enjoyed during my short stay.
Korea has a lot of booths, tents, or snack carts (포장마차) which sell simple snacks and street food. You can enjoy a variety of delicious foods for usually cheap prices, which can be as low as 100 Korean won! (0.075 USD). This experience really makes your journey to Korea much more enjoyable. You can sit at a stall or walk around and enjoy night markets and night views. Korea is also known for it’s night-life. People in their twenties-thirties usually stay out until very late hours so the streets are normally bustling with life, youth, and fun.
Twisted Bread Sticks Store. Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. October, 2022. Photo by Haneen Abushehab.
South Koreans were very respectful and kind to me. I went out with friends after midnight and an old lady invited us to her twisted bread sticks (꽈배기) store. She offered us three pieces and refused to take any money. When we insisted to pay, she packaged all baked goods she had unsold from that day for us to share with friends. We were very thankful for her kindness.
Korean convenience store snacks. Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. October, 2022. Photos by Haneen Abushehab.
Convenience stores were one of my favorite experiences. The ambience of visiting one late at night with friends, enjoying instant noodles, Kimbab, juices or Korea's world-famous banana milk among other delicious snacks while sitting in front of a window out-looking the empty streets outside and enjoying laughs and conversations is definitely unforgettable.
This is my first article as an Honorary Reporter at KOCIS. Please show me a lot of support and wait for many more of what I have to share! 많이 사랑해주세요!
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