From Gyeongju to Seoul: Saying Goodbye to the Ancient City
Our morning started early as we packed up and prepared to leave Gyeongju, our home for the past few days. Before boarding the express bus, we made sure to buy some Gyeongju traditional bread—small, sweet red bean pastries that reminded me so much of Doraemon’s favourite dorayaki! It felt like the perfect edible souvenir to bring a little piece of Gyeongju back to Seoul.
By the way, you may also check out my full summary post here for a day-by-day breakdown.
The express bus ride back to Seoul was smooth and comfortable. I spent most of the ride quietly looking out the window, watching the rural landscapes slowly give way to the busy suburbs of Seoul. It felt bittersweet knowing we were leaving the peaceful historical vibes of Gyeongju behind.
Once we arrived at Seoul Express Bus Terminal, we made our way to the subway station to head to Dongmyo Station. Once we exited the station, I just had to take this classic tourist pose photo outside the subway station—with our luggage, of course. Hahaha!
Lugging our luggage past Dongmyo Flea Market, we caught glimpses of vintage treasures and bargain hunters digging through piles of clothes and knick-knacks. Finally, we arrived at Seoul N Hotel, checkedin, dropped our bags, and took a short rest to recharge for our last day in the city.
Strolling Along the Cheonggyecheon Stream
After a refreshing break, we decided to spend the rest of the day at one of Seoul’s most beloved spots—the Cheonggyecheon Stream. It was the perfect choice for our final day: no rushing around, just a relaxing walk to soak in the atmosphere of the city.
The stream was beautiful in the late afternoon sunlight, with gentle ripples sparkling in the light. We even spotted many pairs of mandarin ducks gracefully gliding along the water. Fun fact: mandarin ducks are a traditional symbol of love and fidelity in Korea, so it felt like a sweet little blessing to see these beautiful creatures!
As the sun set, the sky transformed into warm hues of orange and pink, casting a romantic glow over the stream. And when night fell, the stream became even more enchanting with the soft lights illuminating the pathways and bridges. We really took our time, just strolling and appreciating our final moments in Seoul.
Dinner at Gukdae Tteokbokki
For dinner, we wanted something simple and comforting, so we found our way to Gukdae Tteokbokki, a casual eatery that served street food in a cosy cafe setting.
We ordered a mix of our favorite comfort foods: soupy udon noodles, fried mandu (dumplings), sundae (Korean blood sausage), and even a plate of spaghetti for a quirky twist. 🍜🍝 Everything was hearty and satisfying—the kind of food that warms you up from the inside out. It felt like the perfect way to wrap up our last night in Seoul.
Early Night In
Since we had an early morning flight to Macau the next day, we decided to head back to the hotel and rest early. As I packed my suitcase that night, I felt a wave of emotions—grateful for all the memories we’d made in Seoul and Gyeongju, and excited for the next chapter of our journey. As our last night in Seoul came to a close, our hearts were full of gratitude for the incredible experiences so far, and with excitement and anticipation, we were ready to take off for the next adventure—Macau, here we come! ✈️
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