Thailand and Korea trip
- 2 hours ago
- 13 min read
It's been almost two years since we visited Thailand. We flew Korean Air and transferred in Seoul. 25 hours to Bangkok. The air was hot and humid. Luckily we didn't hit so much traffic on the way to our Airbnb. We settled into our 2-bedroom, 2-bath apartment in the heart of Bangkok. We were very close to Lumpini Park, and we went out for a run every morning that we were in Bangkok. We tried to go to sleep at night but ended up waking up around 4am. This was good for us because running in the park before the sunrise was pleasant and not too hot. Once the sun was up, it was too hot to move around without getting sunburn. We left New York at 1 am on Wednesday and arrived in Bangkok late afternoon on Thursday; we lost a day and a half traveling east. Friday morning, we went out for a run in Lumpini Park, and it was nice. After the run, we brought a lot of food from food stalls outside the park and brought it back to the apartment. Maew came to join us around 10 am, and we took the BTS Skytrain to visit Aunt Jed, Aunt Pid, and cousin Ratt in a suburb of Bangkok. Aunt Jed and Aunt Pid couldn't remember much of us, but it was nice to see them. After the visit, we went back to our apartment to get changed and get ready to see Muay Thai at Rajadamnern Stadium. I was not so thrilled to go at first, but David and Sarah really wanted to go, so we got tickets from Klook.com at the discount price, and our seats were the best seats. The boxing was so amazing that we will definitely go again next time we are in Bangkok. There were 8 matches. The event was so entertaining with sights and sounds that the time passed quickly. This Thai boxing event was one of the highlights of this trip.
Beef Bulgogi, in flight food and layover in Seoul, encountered K-Pop groups coming in with crowds surrounding them. Pork tonkatsu at the airport was cheap and delicious.
Day 1, Bangkok
With Maew on the Skytrain, with Aunt Jed and cousin Ratt at their home on the other side of the Chao Phraya River.
On our first morning in Bangkok at Lumpini Park, I was thrilled to get shrimp paste fried rice (Khao khluk kapii) and fried bananas (Kluay Tod) with the recipe here, my two favorite Thai dishes. We also picked up the best iced coffee at Café Amazon.
Day 2
Started the day with a short run in the park and went to visit Chatuchak weekend market. We ate so many kinds of food; David's and Sarah's new favorite was little grilled northeastern sausage balls, eaten with a chunk of fresh ginger and a piece of lettuce leaf. My favorite thing was crispy fried bananas. After eating, we shopped for some one-of-a-kind clothing and accessories. Sarah went crazy in a dessert shop and bought a lot of desserts to take home. The weather was very hot and sunny; we drank so much water to cool down.
After a day of walking, shopping, and eating, we went home to take a shower and get changed for dinner by the river to celebrate Sarah's early birthday. The day was filled with food and fun.
Sarah's Birthday Dinner
We went to Chakrabongse Dining for Sarah's early birthday dinner in Bangkok. We were the only customers in this place; maybe it was because this place was difficult to get to and the price was expensive for Thai standards. The scenery of the river was stunning while the sun was setting. It reminded me of when I was growing up in a house by the same river. We watched the boats and ferries go by. This place, an old palace, was beautiful. We felt like we were having a private party served by butlers. The food was good and came in big portions. We didn't finish half of it.
Day 3 and Day 4 in Rayong
We hired a car to drive us to Rayong, where my mom lives, which is about a 3-hours from Bangkok. On the way, in Chonburi, we stopped at the restaurant Maew introduced to us last time we were in Thailand, where the food is delicious. We got checked in at our Airbnb before we went for dinner at Mom's place. I was glad to see she's doing well. We met her friends who came by to introduce themselves. Among them were her neighbors, Mike and Noi. They came by my mom's house often, and I am grateful for that since she is living alone. On the morning of day 4, Mike and Noi invited us to join them at the café by the beach. The coffee and food were good, and the atmosphere was amazing with a sea breeze. We sat under the shade of a big tree. It was so relaxing after a few days of walking so much in Bangkok. After breakfast, Mike and Noi took us to the park nearby. At the park, you can rent bicycles to explore the land or kayaks to explore the water. The park was a wetland filled with lotuses; it was so beautiful. I didn't know that Rayong had such a beautiful attraction like this botanical park. We walked around the park for an hour before heading to my mom for a big lunch before leaving for Bangkok.
Lunch in Chonburi, on the way to Rayong
Sunrise walk along the beach
Café by the beach
At Mom's house, she made sweet chili fried fish and grilled prawns. This time was durian season, and I ate a lot, which was delicious. We left Rayong full and happy and plan to visit again during Christmas and New Year this year. The drive back seemed shorter. We said goodbye to Maew after we arrived in Bangkok. She and her sister are coming to New York in October, so we will see her in a few months.
Day 5
We were by ourselves without Maew on our last day in Bangkok. We went shopping at Siam Square and had lunch at the Siam Mall food court. Hainanese chicken (Khao Mun Kai) was the best dish there.
Khao Man Gai was delicious!
Last night in Bangkok, we had dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant nearby.
Day 6, traveling to Seoul
We woke up early to get to the airport 2 hours before departing for Korea. I felt the trip to Thailand was short, but we got to see and eat a lot of stuff. We went through immigration super fast. Seunghwan was waiting for us at the exit. The air in Seoul was different from Bangkok; the temperature was cooler and very comfortable. We arrived around 6 pm; we went to drop our luggage off at our Airbnb in Hanok Village. The house was a traditional house in Bukchon Hanok Village with 2 bedrooms and one bath. We love the look and the location. I was glad that I booked this place for our first two days in Seoul. After that, Seunghwan took us to a restaurant that served puffer fish. By the time we got to the restaurant and started eating dinner, it was already 9 pm. Puffer fish 3 ways were so good. After that, we all went for a walk along the old wall on a hill looking at the city below.
Day 1 in Seoul
Our house at Hanok Village
First night in Seoul: pufferfish dinner at 동래복국 DongRaePukGuk. Then we took a walk around Heunginjimun Park. After the walk, we drove to Bugak Palgakjeong, which overlooked the night sky of Seoul.
Day 2 in Seoul
We woke up early. to get out for a short run. We passed Gyeongbokgung Palace and the Blue House (Cheong Wa Dae) and stopped to get coffee from a local café nearby. Later we went to Artist Bakery, which is a part of the London Bagel Museum and is a viral artisan bakery based in Seoul, Korea, famed for its massive variety of "soggeum pang" (salt butter bread). Known for its crisp, buttery crust, soft, chewy interior, and a pool of melted butter at the base. The bakery was very crowded, and there was a long line for sitting down customers.
After that Seunghwan came to pick us up to go to Namsan Tower. I went to Namsan Tower two years ago when I stayed at the Grand Hyatt hotel by Namsan Tower, but Sarah and David have never been, so we went there and hiked up the steps to reach the top. You can see the city of Seoul from the top. On the way down, we played with some exercise machines. That was so much fun.
After visiting Namsan Tower, we walked through Insadong alleys to get to Seunghwan's favorite dumpling spot called Chiyabeol Guksi (취야벌국시) for lunch. We sat on the floor eating hot dumplings and soup. Then we took a taxi to the car and drove to Gwangjang Market, which is the oldest traditional market in Seoul. We walked around and got some dried fruit and fried baby crabs and tried famous mochi donuts at Gwangjang Market Chapssal Kkwabaegi (Glutinous Rice Twist), 광장시장 찹쌀꽈배기.
After lunch, we took a taxi to have coffee at Whyden Coffee Seongsu 와이덴 성수, Seunghwan's favorite spot, and then walked over to Seongsu-dong, the trendy shopping area. Sarah visited the K-beauty shop and other clothing stores.
We ended the day with a baseball game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium 잠실종합운동장 잠실야구장 to watch Samsung Lions vs. LG Twins. After the game, we all agreed that this was the highlight of the trip in Seoul. We LOVED it so much! Thanks, Seughwan, for getting us the tickets to this game. The crowds and the cheers kept us there until the end of the game.
Day 3
We left Seoul early for Andong. It took about 2 hours to get to Andong; we stopped for lunch at Gilpung (길풍). There were many elderly hikers having their lunch there.
After lunch, we went to visit Byeonsan-seowan, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and Seowan, a Korean Neo-Confucian academy. Seowon is a type of local academy during the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897).
Sarah's camera
After that, we visited Andong Hahoe Folk Village (안동 하회마을). We rented bicycles to ride around the village.
After a full day of walking, we settled in our Airbnb in Andong. The house we stayed in was so new and beautiful; I wish we'd had stayed a little longer. Andonghanok_springdaylove (안동한옥 봄날애) bed & breakfast details are here.
We freshened up to go out for a Korean BBQ dinner at Geochang Galbi (거창갈비) and this was the best Korean BBQ we have ever had. This place is Seughwan's favorite BBQ spot.
We ended the night in Andong visiting Woryeonggyo Bridge (월영교), also known as the Moonlight Bridge, which is the longest wooden pedestrian bridge in South Korea, spanning 387 meters long and 3.6 meters wide across the Nakdong River in Andong. Opened in 2003, this scenic overpass connects Woryeong Park with the Andong Folk Village and is highly celebrated for its romantic evening illuminations.
The Legend of Woryeonggyo
The design of the bridge carries a profound, tragic historical background. It was built in the distinct shape of mituri (traditional Korean hemp shoes) to honor the devotion of a real-life Joseon-dynasty woman. Grieved by the sudden passing of her young husband, Lee Eung-tae, she wove a pair of mituri shoes out of her own hair and buried them with him along with a heartbroken letter. Local lore says that walking across the bridge reinforces a couple's bond and love.
Day 4 in Gyeongju
We started the day with a 5K run in Andong along the river park and had oranges from Jeju for breakfast before heading to Gyeongju, which was a 1 1/2-hour drive. We stopped for coffee and went straight to visit Bulguksa 대한불교조계종 제11교구 본사 불국사.
Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple
Established in the 8th century on the slopes of Mount Toham, the Seokguram Grotto contains a monumental statue of the Buddha looking at the sea in the bhumisparsha mudra position. With the surrounding portrayals of gods, Bodhisattvas, and disciples, all realistically and delicately sculpted in high and low relief, it is considered a masterpiece of Buddhist art in the Far East. The Temple of Bulguksa (built in 774) and the Seokguram Grotto form a religious architectural complex of exceptional significance.
Sarah's camera
We went to have lunch at a cold noodle restaurant called Gyeongju Milmyeon 경주밀면 본점; they were perfect for a hot day. We're lucky that Seunghwan called in ahead of time for a reservation so we didn't have to wait outside for long. I loved this cold noodle and always wanted to try it on a trip in Korea, but I didn't have a chance. It was so delicious that I wished I could have had it every day. The portion was quite big; that meant I'd had to run more.
After lunch, we went to a shopping street, Hwangnidan-gil Street (황리단길), near the famous tombs, Daereungwon Tomb Complex.
Hwangnidan-gil is famous for its seamless blend of traditional Hanok architecture and modern, trendy establishments. Stretching about 1.5 kilometers through the Hwangnam-dong neighborhood, this bustling thoroughfare features over 400 independent cafes, restaurants, photo studios, and boutique shops built within or alongside vintage structures from the 1960s and ’70s. Because it directly borders major historical landmarks like the Silla-era royal tombs and ancient observatories, it has become a central hub for young travelers and international tourists.
Sarah waited on line for a trendy fruit sandwich at Ichini Sando (이니치산도). This specialty cafe is highly celebrated for its visually striking, freshly made sando featuring premium seasonal fruits encased in thick, fluffy Japanese milk bread and signature homemade honey or Greek yogurt cream. Then we walked around the Daereungwon Tomb Complex. We stopped at Sol Cafe (카페솔) for some cold tea. On our way back to our Airbnb located a few blocks away from the tombs, we stopped and got some pretty-looking pastries to try.
For dinner, we went to a traditional Korean restaurant called Yoseokgung 1779 (요석궁 1779).
We walked from our Airbnb passing the flower fields and tombs while the sun was setting.
Sarah's camera
After dinner we took a walk to Woljeonggyo Bridge (경주 월정교); the night view was stunning.
Sarah bought and tried a new toy.
Day 5, Busan
We woke up early to run and get coffee; the only store that opened before 9 am was Paris Baguette. We got coffee there and left for Busan. Before we left, we tried to get a famous local pastry with red bean stuffing called Hwangnam bread (Korean: 황남빵), named for Hwangnam-dong and also commonly called Gyeongju bread (경주빵), which is a local specialty of Gyeongju, South Korea. It is a small dessert with a filling of red bean paste. Gyeongju bread was first baked in 1939 at Choi Yeonghwa Bakery, and now it's owned by grandson Choi Jinhwan, but it would have been a one-hour wait, so we went to the original shop that started making these pastries first with no wait.
Busan
Sarah and I visited Busan last year but didn't have time to explore the city. This time we started at the Lisbao café, overlooking Busan's bay; it was a sunny, beautiful day.
Then we drove to the Gamcheon Culture Village (감천문화마을).
It was crowded in the village; we left to visit Bupyeong Kkangtong Market (부평깡통시장), a traditional market, and Gukje Market (국제시장) and had mung bean and scallion pancakes.
In Busan, mung bean pancakes are known as bindaetteok (빈대떡) or nokdu jeon (녹두전). They feature a crispy, golden-brown exterior from pan-frying in oil, and a hearty interior packed with ground mung beans, kimchi, pork, and bean sprouts. The Traditional Pairing: These hearty pancakes pair perfectly with a bowl of makgeolli (Korean rice wine), which cuts through the richness of the fried mung beans and pork.
After a day of exploring Busan, we settled in at our Airbnb on the beach, 안리고택 1호점
Bed & breakfast. It had two small bedrooms and a large living room with a hot tub that overlooked the beach on the seventh floor of an apartment building with an amazing view.
We rested for 15 minutes and got ready to go to Le DORER (르도헤) to celebrate Sarah's 19th birthday. The restaurant located on the second floor of an office building overlooks the beach. The food was amazing, on par with New York City's top restaurants. David had the best steak. It was a great way to celebrate Sarah's birthday.
After dinner, we took a half-hour walk to Seunghwan's favorite cocktail bar in Busan, PAVOX (파복스). It is located on the fifth floor of the Harbour Town Building behind a big wooden door. Opened up to a speakeasy, beautiful and spacious with a long, large bar and many seatings. The drinks were so amazing; we will definitely go back there again if we visit Busan in the future. Sarah had two mocktails, and we had two cocktails each, the best margarita I have ever had.
Day 6: left Busan for Seoul
We started the day running along the beach boardwalk. It was hot and sunny at 5:30 am. Then Seunghwan came by to take our suitcases and drove us to the Busan train station, and he drove the car back to meet us later in the day in Seoul. The bullet train took only 2 hours; we were in Seoul before noon and had a whole day of shopping in Hongdae before we met up again with Seunghwan.
In Hongdae, Sarah went on her shopping spree alone while we went to my favorite café in Hongdae and had a Persimmon Bingsu 빙수 and iced coffee. We met up with Sarah for fried chicken at BBQ Fried Chicken and ended our day in Hongdae at Yogurtpresso for a peach-flavored one. Sarah had been waiting to have this yogurt here since we visited Korea last year. After Hongdae, we took a taxi to meet Seunghwan at our Airbnb and went out for drinks at Charles H. bar for our last night stay in Seoul.
Charles H. is an award-winning, speakeasy-style bar hidden in the basement of the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul. Inspired by legendary cocktail writer Charles H. Baker, it blends old-school glamour with global mixology
We left Seoul relaxed and happy. This short trip to Thailand and Korea was so amazing. It was one of our best trips we'd done in a long time. So memorable, with Maew accompanying us in Thailand and Seunghwan taking us around Korea, it was beyond our expectations. Sarah turning 19 in Busan was so special, a precious time we had together. Big special thanks to Seunghwan for showing us the best of Korea; we could not have done it without him. The memories of this trip we will never forget. Wow, what a great trip!!!!
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