Perfume Overload and South Korea

Hi there Posse. Hope this finds you all safe, well and fed. Having just been on a very short South Korea jaunt I thought you might like to see a few of the pics of our adventures. The real reason is that I’m wearing so many perfumes in my New Idea 2023 series that I’m not really wanting to write about other perfume. Yeah. Perfume Overload can be a bitch.

Perfume Overload and South Korea

South Korea was fabulous. We got some heavily discounted flights with Australia’s mainly domestic budget airline JetStar, which we affectionately call ShitStar. It’s no frills but the staff are nice, lack of leg room is offset by amazing prices and we are not flying snobs. The food is pretty ordinary but we always take our own, sandwiches, snacks etc. I also carry an empty 2ltr plastic bottle through customs and get it filled in the lounge. It means I’m not annoying the hostess more than necessary and I’m able to hydrate all the way.

We had two of our girlfriends join us for 5 nights of our 8. TinaG is an old hand travelling with us and a new adventurer Kerri. TBH I’m always screwed up tighter when we have travel guests and have to constantly remind myself it’s a holiday. Both the girls had some minor health issues and we navigated those really well. Jin is bloody amazing as an itinerary planner and guide. Without him the wheels would have fallen off the bus innumerable times. He is also the best balm to any irritation, without being afraid of confrontation.

Perfume Overload? Not So Much

I only ended up taking three perfumes because the pack of travels I’d made remained on my desk. It was three decants that made the journey. Vintage Hermès Caleche, vintage Givenchy L’Interdit and Miller Harris La Fumee Ottoman! I also bought ZARA Vetiver Pamplemousse and three Neared fragrances from a super cool vintage clothing and handbag store, Neared.

Emptied 5ml each of Caleche and L’Interdit and smelled bloody wonderful. We all wore some La Fumee Ottoman and it is SPLENDID!! More on it next month.

Arrival & Busan

We did a night in Seoul on arrival at the Four Points Sheriton across the road from Seoul Railway Station.

Then caught the train to Busan (yes, the girls are zombie horror freaks. It was big time entertainment).

Somehow Jin had found the most unbelievable deal for a night with breakfast for us at the Westin Josun Busan. It is bloody awesome, make sure you pay the extra for the Haeundae Beach views.

Then Jin and I spent a night at Mum & Dad’s. The girls had a night in Yangsan’s famous Love Motels. They are outlandishly decorated, enormous suites where lovers in South Korea can buy a place to next by the hour. A night in them is around US$40. They are fastidiously clean and comfortable. The girls LOVED them. Each room was bigger than their apartments.

There may have been eating, drinking and sight seeing included.

Seoul

Then we headed back up to Seoul, the Insadong district. It used to be the run down red light district and has been gentrified out of all semblance of itself in the last 10 years. Still slightly seedy it’s home to Gay Town, Food, Clubs and the laneways which are full of really cool high end retail, food, vintage clothing and desserts galore. Jin and I have been going to the same BarBQ place there since our first Seoul visit together in 2013. The staff know us and we often get preferential seating and a queue jump.

Insadong is also walking distance from Palaces, shrines, parklands, the most famous Seoul Food, Vintage Clothing and Fabric Market.
From Wikipedia: Gwangjang Market, previously Dongdaemun Market, is a traditional street market in Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea. The market is one of the oldest and largest traditional markets in South Korea, with more than 5000 shops and 20,000 employees in an area of 42,000 square metres.
If you ever get to Seoul it’s the best place to try all the areas traditional street foods in one place.

We also took some time to wander the Zaha Hadid designed arts and food precinct. So bloody cool.

We also saw Jin’s buddy, who came to stay at ours over World Pride and Mardi Gras this year, Leo. This is our farewell shot.

Jin’s cousin and her family did a huge meal for us all as well. It was banquet proportions and some of the most delicious Korean delicacies. Heaven. we love them so much.

Once Kerri and TinaG went back home we headed back to Busan for a couple of nights and hung out with Ma, Pa and Aunty. Wet snuck off one night so Jin could eat a whole plate of spicy squid. He was so excited.

Wedding Dress

Then our last day was spent ordering Jin’s brother’s fiancé’s wedding dress in traditional South Korean style but all white. Thank everything I have a background in fashion or they would have stonewalled us. I got to have a serious shout before they conveniently remembered that they could get what was needed. It will be ready by September and we will take it with us when we go to Slovakia in November for the nuptials. I can’t show you a pic of what we ordered but here’s the shape and style of dress in pale pink, grey and flesh whites. Imagine it in all white.

Jumped on a plane and headed home.

What’s your next adventure? Do you ever suffer Perfume Overload?
Portia xx