Grand Time
Susanti Tio and friends explore the beauty of South Korea’s landscapes and cultures during her recent Edith Emeralda birthday trip. writes
is really gold, or in this case was Seoul’s famed 63 Building that shone even brighter during the autumnal golden hour—perfectly enjoyed with cocktails followed by a feast from the top of the building at Touch the Sky. In the same instance and at the fine-dining restaurant, ruffles, feathers, glitter, and crystals shimmied and shimmered in pastel and bold shades of pinks, silver, and purples—completely bedecked with diamonds, golds, and everything precious hanging high and low. At the centre of it all was a sight of elegance in the softest lavender where violet beads wove their way through tufts of downs: Susanti Tio, the smiling birthday girl, who was hosting 30 of her closest friends.
Away from the clouds and down to the precious earth that produces some of the world’s best ginseng, the group shopped for the precious roots on the second day before sampling some during lunch at Tosokchon Samgyetang. Beautifully simmering together with jujube and garlic in lustrous youngchicken broth, the special black chicken to be precise, ginseng boosts samgyetang’s warmth and health properties and was much welcomed by the ladies who had planned a full day of traditional Korean-flavoured activities—courtesy of H2 Management.
First, was to don the graceful and vibrant hanbok, complete with the billowy chima, or skirt, for the ladies and the iconic transparent gat, or hat, for the gents. Leading the group in a simple yet sweet combination of pink jeogori, which means blouse, and green chima with a tiny flowered headband that highlights only her best features, Susanti then moved to the
Gyeongbokgung Palace, the main and largest of Korea’s Five Grand Palaces in the metropolis.
Immediately transported back to the Joseon Dynasty, the group toured the vast compound and stopped here and there to pose and capture the memories in front of historical features such as the Geunjeongjeon Hall, where kings of the past carried out formal duties, and Sajeongjeon, the kings’ executive office. And, just like how the yangban, or aristocrats, used to slip away from the day’s flurries for a respite, Susanti, along with five
friends, stepped into an enclosed compound beside the palace where the sloping, tiled roofs gradually grew simpler in a tight huddle. Making their way to a tiny room while admiring the gardens’ clusters of flora, they were greeted by the cordial tea master who explained about four types of local teas and an array of Korean sweets delicately decorated. Still in the bygone era yet well preserved today, the group continued their travel to stop at the Folklore National Museum before fuelling up with hanjeongsik: a traditional Korean multi-course fit for aristocrats, which reflected the principles eumyang, or yin and yang, and ohaeng, or the five elements, in up to 30 varieties of main and side dishes. Now sated, they then journeyed up almost to the clouds by a cable car running along the leafy sides of Namsan, witnessing the beating soul of night-time Seoul high up the mountain at the N Seoul Tower.
After a sweet rest, off they went the next day to a tiny half-moon anchored in the wide Han River that is the famed Namiseom, which takes around an hour of travel outside Seoul perfectly fuelled by lunch of deliciously spicy and savoury dak galbi, or stir-fried chicken, topped with melted cheese. Straight upon arriving and crossing by ferry, the island that was popularised by the drama Winter Sonata showed off its charm especially at the Metasequoia Road and Central Korean Pine Tree Lane, where the seemingly endless march of the redwood trees was decked with golden foliage for photogenic results, as the ladies and gents proved. Back to the mainland, the next destination brought them nearby yet faraway, at the same time, as Petit France is designated as a place to experience the Parisian way of life from its cuisine, dances, arts, and many other aspects that includes the “Little Prince” attractions set among the all the French architecture in the village.
To end the day where traditions and modernity of both the East and the West meet, some chose to feast at Marriott’s
well-known Tavolo 24 buffet, while others preferred more light-hearted servings of fried chicken and beer, or chimaek in today’s Korean colloquial, at Chir Chir. Of course, besides dining, shopping is a must when one travels to Korea, and these all these ladies were happy knowing that the hotel is just round the corner to Myeong-dong and its plethora of shops.
The shops at Garosu-gil was another destination alongside a beauty expo at Ewha Womans University on the last day, but not before a satisfying lunch of all things pork, Jeju Island’s black pork to be precise, at Oh-hyang Jokbal. Lastly, dinner at the Ewha Andong Jjimdak was an affair to remember as the group shared plateful of Andong city’s jjimdak, which is a chicken dish braised in soy sauce with cellophane noodles. Memories of togetherness in the days past, and in days to come, were also shared among Susanti and friends as their trip came to a cordial close.