South Korea Family Holiday and Perfumes

Hi there Posse. South Korea Family Holiday is a rambling read, you might need to grab a cuppa or a boozy beverage. Jin, my husband, was born, raised and schooled to BAKLit in South Korea. He moved to Australia for love 2006 and became an Australian citizen 2009. His parents are still in South Korea. His only sibling, older brother Jinki, is in Slovakia with his family and works for the Korean car companies over there. When I met Jin in 2011 he was already embarked upon the Electrician apprenticeship journey. Since 2013 we have visited his parents at least once a year and his brother most years. For Jin to not see his family since 2019 has been hard, to put it mildly. So this visit is full of joy.

Jin and my traditional arrival in South Korea’s airport meal is Lotteria. Basically their McDonald’s but SO MUCH BETTER! Look at that happy face.

South Korea Family Holiday

We’d not seen Umma (Mum) and Appa (Dad) in so long we decided to make the whole trip about them. We would arrive in Korea, stay in Seoul one night then bullet train to Busan where his parents would collect us. Big teary open armed hugs on arrival from all of us. We stayed in their apartment in Yangsan for a week. It was very chill. We ate at home and had a few meals out with parents and Jin’s school buddies. Often we walked up to the local Lotte Mart and other stores. We even cooked spaghetti bol and garlic bread for them one night.

Then we grabbed the parents and aunty, chucked them in the back seat of the family 4X4 and took them on a five night South Korea road trip. Two nights in Seoul (where none of them had been for decades). Another two nights in Sokcho (a famous east coast beach town where for decades many of the wealthier South Koreans would spend their honeymoon long weekend, and Jin’s parents had never seen). Lastly one night in Gangneung (another beach town, less famous where there is a nearby street dedicated to coffee and you can legally have fireworks on the beach!).

From Gangneung parents and aunty took the car home. Jin and I grabbed a train back to Seoul for two nights. Spent our time catching up with friends. We even ended up going to a little gay Karaoke Bar one night and the Foreign Quarter gay bars the next night. It was our first time doing anything LGBTQI together in South Korea and quite eye opening.

Food

The whole South Korea trip was extremely food oriented. Every meal was specially curated so Jin could eat as many of his favourite dishes over the break. My palate was extended by about 1000 miles. Secretly though most of the new things I tried need more time for me to become accustomed to them. Fishy flavours, fat or gristle on meat and bone broth as a base for soup are not things I like. I gave them a red hot go. Indifferent results.

Perfumes

I made up a small collection of perfumes, mainly travel sizes, and tried to accomodate late summer warm days and cool nights. This was especially exciting because it’s late winter here. It would be excellent to have a couple of weeks in light and lovely scents. So here’s the line up.

South Korea Perfumes

Divine EdP

An old favourite super glam aldehydic floral. Divine EdP is CHANEL No 5 taken to the farthest reaches, an end game for the genre. Impossible to feel any less than movie star ready when wafting this kitchen sinker. Wearing this in South Korea created a spectacular counterpoint to all the other scents.

Dolce Patchouly by I Profumo di Firenze

A cool, simple patchouli. Bought this bottle of Dolce Patchouly on the 2013 Perfume Posse ScentSation Bus Tour. It’s had a little wear over the years but I recently rediscovered it in the collection and have been wearing it a lot. Dolce Patchouly got the most wear on this trip. It was a beautiful undercurrent to all else happening.

Mohur by Neela Vermeire Creations

Ahhhhh! My one true rose love. Big, jammy, spiced and tapestried Mohur. No other rose perfume moves me so eloquently. A perfect showstopper for nights out and it fit beautifully with the few cooler days we had. A lovely counterpoint to everyone speaking another language, I was easily able to get lost in the scenery and perfume.

Reflection Woman by Amouage

Reflection Woman Travel Set has been in my collection for years but I have no recollection of ever wearing it. That it is a lily and lily of the valley fragrance was such a surprise recently on spritzing. What a beautiful late summer spritz. My only complaint is that after it is a lovely fragrant beauty for two and a bit hours it completely collapsed and needs refreshing.

South Korea Estratto di Colonia by Pineider

Estratto di Colonia by Pineider

My dream was to finish my bottle of Estratto di Colonia on this holiday. It’s a fairly traditional cologne but always feels luxuriously put together. There was about 5-6ml in the bottle on leaving Australia and I wore it in the first three days till I dropped the bottle and smashed it at Ma & Pa’s. BUMMER! Well, I did finish the bottle. Be careful what you wish for eh?

 

That is the last of our holidays booked for 2022. We have a couple of one day getaways booked but we nixed the November 2022 European tour and pushed it back to November 2023. That will be a big one. we are taking Jin’s parent and Aunty to visit his brother’s family in Slovakia! Their first time seeing Europe.

Are you getting out and about in the near or far future? What have you got planned? Do you know what perfumes you’ll be taking already?
Portia xx

  • Kathleen says:

    Loved seeing a bit from your trip to South Korea! Fabulous food and Jin’s family look like so much fun. Glad you and Jin could re-unite with them. Your perfume choices seem perfect, and I really need to get my nose on Divine. xoxo

  • Koyel says:

    How wonderful, Portia, so glad you two were able to go on this trip 🙂 Jin looks adorably happy!

  • cinnamon says:

    What an amazing family visit-road trip-food etc. Amazing pics. So pleased everyone enjoyed things.

    • Portia says:

      Hey Cinnamon,
      Thanks.
      The road trip was a practice run. Next November we are taking the three oldies to Europe with us to see where Jin’s brother and kids live in Slovakia. It will be their first time. We also plan on seeing Vienna, Prague and Budapest. Wish us luck.
      Portia xx

  • Musette says:

    Everything about this screams LOVE!

    and I love Divine! Adore it, even!

    But not as much as I adore you and Jin. BIG LOVE to you both and so glad you enjoyed the family visit!!!

    xoxox

    • Musette says:

      and I’ll bet that bathroom smelled AMAZING!

      xoxoxo

    • Portia says:

      Hey Musette,
      Yeah, it’s amazing how well people with the least knowledge of each others language can still make you feel loved and included.

      HA! Divine is perfectly named. Did you ever try their Sage? It’s pretty bloody good too.

      Yeah, it was a bedroom but it smells so gorgeous, permeated the whole apartment softly.

      Love you right back.
      Portia xx

  • matty1649 says:

    Thank you for sharing your wonderful trip.The food looks amazing.

    • Portia says:

      Heya Matty,
      Welcome.
      The food was amazing. Not much beats sitting around a table with people you love and enjoying a meal, chatter, booze, camaraderie.
      Portia xx

  • March says:

    PORTIA. You made me shed a few happy tears … those photos! That food! The pedicure! What a joy to be able to share in this journey vicariously. I’m so glad you were all able to finally get together for this wonderful reunion, take the trip, do alllll the things, and just … be together and be happy. Hugs.

    • Portia says:

      March, it was all that. We all shed a few happy tears over the stay. It was so good. I really had forgotten how wonderful it is to be immersed in family.
      Portia x

  • cassieflower says:

    Oh yayy, a Portia holiday diary. Thank you for sharing your news and photos. And as always I seem to feel hungry after reading. Your trip was long overdue and everyone looks so happy. I won’t enquire which foods you struggled with as I also am turned off by fat and gristle, among other things – giving the stink eye to mushrooms ?. Sorry for the breakage, had a close one myself in my bathroom recently, how it didn’t smash I just don’t know.

    • Portia says:

      You’re welcome CassieFlower.
      HA! I reckon it’s OK to struggle as long as I give everything a red hot go. The family laughs when it’s not a good fit and my face shows exactly how bad. They also applaud if I go in for a second go, or even like it.
      PHEW on your close call.
      Portia xx

  • Jennifer S says:

    Thank you for sharing! I enjoyed your wonderful photos. The one of the stacked rocks was pretty cool and jeez…the food! Looks like good times were had by all. You are so fortunate to be able to create new memories!

    • Portia says:

      Hey JenniferS,
      Yes, we are so lucky. Jin’s parents are wonderful and yeah, those rock towers are mind bogglingly high.
      THE FOOD! Cannot stress how delicious South Korea is.
      Portia x

  • rosarita says:

    I always enjoy reading your travelogs, Portia! What a great trip! My husband had a disaster relief job for friends in Lake Charles, Louisiana, which took the month of August plus a few days (he thought he could finish in 2 weeks, ouch.) The food in that little corner of the US is unique and fabulous. While he worked, I hung out with my friends and went out to lunch, it was great but I am glad to be home. We are going to try making boudin this weekend.

    • Portia says:

      Thanks Rosarita,
      Your husband is a saint.
      Lucky you getting to see all your mates.
      I’m going to look up boudin now. thanks for the tip.
      Portia xx

  • VerbenaLuvvr says:

    Love to read about your scented travels! I am always amazed at the quantity and variety of food items served to guests, so much effort and love put into that, and different from here where one entree is served. Glad you are able to travel again and see family.

    • Portia says:

      Hey VerbenaLuvvr, always so nice to see you.
      O M G! The work that went into the feast was amazing. I think they’d been organising it for days.
      Oh yes, travel is something we really love. It;’s very nice to get back to it.
      Portia xx

  • Dina C. says:

    What a joyful reunion and delightful trip, Portia! You two really saw, ate, did so much good stuff! I’m impressed with your bravery trying lots of new foods. Loved the perfume selections, too. We recently drove to upstate New York where it is still late summer. So I took a bunch of sample-sized vials of favorites like Cristalle eau Verte, Escale a Portofino, and HdP Vert Pivoine.

    • Portia says:

      Hey DinaC,
      Yes, it was a lovely trip. HA! Yeah, I make sure everyone knows I’m trying new shit too. He He he.
      OOHHH! What beautiful summer destination choices for perfumes. Did you have a good time?
      Portia xx

  • Maya says:

    Lovely pictures. It’s great that you and Jin got to be with family again.

  • Alityke says:

    Hi Portia. What a fabulous trip! You left Jin’s parents a lovely reminder of you in that perfumed room.
    We haven’t got anything planned as DH is going to have chemo & mum is still bouncing in & out of hospital. This time she caught hospital acquired Covid-19! When everything is over fingers crossed DH is fit enough to get a week at our timeshare. Some Canary Island sunshine would be wonderful!

    • Portia says:

      HA! Well, they have vinyl flooring so the fragrance will probably only last a year.
      Good luck juggling the family and their illnesses Alityke. It must be hair raising for you.
      Fingers crossed you guys get some Canary Islands Sunshine soon.
      Portia x

  • Tom says:

    What a great trip you had! Glad of it!

  • Filomena says:

    Nice photos, thanks for posting them. I am on a holiday in Italy and have been to different cities. Only four days left and then back to the USA.