During my trip to Asia in 2024, I started my journey in Seoul. I did not have many expectations going into it and did not really know what the city would be like. It did not take long for me to realize that it would turn into one of the most memorable weeks of my life.

My first full day started early. Jet lag woke me up at 1:30 a.m., and instead of fighting it, I decided to get up and go explore. By 2:00 a.m., I was ready with my camera and heading out into the city without any real plan. I just wanted to walk around and see what I could find.

The streets were almost empty at that hour, which made everything feel calm and different. I called my sister since it was around 11:00 a.m. for her, and I FaceTimed her while grabbing banana milk and a small snack. As the day went on, I kept walking and taking photos wherever I ended up. I covered a lot of ground and probably called half the people in my phone while I was out there.

Around noon, I stopped and realized how far I had gone. I decided it was time to head back to my Airbnb, but getting back took a little over two hours. By the time I made it, I had walked 27.6 miles.

Even though I was exhausted, it was one of the best days I have ever had. There was something really special about being in a completely new place with no plan, just taking everything in as it came.

The rest of the trip went by fast. Looking back, my only regret is not staying longer. Seoul felt different from any city I had been to before, and it stuck with me long after I left.