kja, I am happy and relieved that you are OK! You have been missed. I always have enjoyed your trip reports.

HappyTrvlr! How very nice to hear from you! :):):) Thank you for your gracious words – you have certainly made me feel appreciated. :blush:

I’ll open a short PM window for you, should you choose to use it. No worries if not! Either way, know that I wish you well and thank you for your kind message. :yay::ok::tu:

May I be cheeky and also ask if we can connect. I have a thought for you!

@ Kavey: Done!

@ Kavey: Just making sure you saw my response to your much appreciated thought?

Yes I did, I sent a message to your straight away. 😁 I'm guessing it didn't get through? I was giving you my email which is public anyway -- it's Kaveyf at gmail dot com. Have a personal message i wanted to share.

@ Kavey: I got your message, and sent a reply via a personal message through Fodor's rather than using personal email accounts. Have you checked your Fodor's PMs?

Got it! Replied!🥰

@ Kavey: Glad we got that solved!

Best to all who explore fascinating South Korea. Just top this trip report if you have questions for me.

Sounds like a fun adventure. To be fair, the coffee was a lot better when I went a few years ago!

@ jimboj: It was a fun adventure! I'm glad to hear that the coffee has improved. :)

Nice to see a kja post at the top of a forum!

@ mlgb: And nice to see an mlgb post in reply! I believe in responding when anyone takes the time, and has the courtesy, to acknowledge one of my trip reports, and so set up email alerts to make sure I know when someone does so. :) Hoping YOU are well!

Just read your excellent report from years ago and enjoyed it thoroughly. I’m in preliminary planning for a trip to South Korea in late 2024, thanks for all the helpful information.

@ livetoroam: I'm so glad you enjoyed my trip report -- many thanks for letting me know. I found South Korea to be a fascinating place with welcoming people, extraordinary foods, and stunning scenery. I hope you enjoy it, too! Let me know if you have any questions and best wishes with your planning.

I also found S. Korea to be a fantastic place to visit. Where the cities end, the mountains begin. Also, the juxtaposition between the modern and traditional is striking. You'll find transportation and communications are modern while you will still find sprawling markets with some folks selling from the ground.

Before I started preparing for my trip, I didn't even realize that the Korean language has an alphabet (it's called Hangul). It's surprisingly easy to pick up, and I enjoyed being able to read a few things, especially related to food. Even now back home I find it interesting and helpful to be able to read signs and menu items in the local Korean community. Even when there is an English translation, it's sometimes wrong or misleading.

Hangul is a very interesting alphabet! As I understand it, hangul was created so that each letter represents the tongue and lip positions associated with the letter's sound.