travelAn around-the-world journey the coronavirus can’t spoil: YouTubers’ information to South Korea

Like many different South Korean newlyweds, YouTubers Hong Seuk-nam and Kim Hyun-young headed to Southeast Asia for his or her honeymoon. However somewhat than lounge on a Thai seashore for every week or two, the pair launched into a year-long journey that spanned 27 international locations and 5 continents earlier than ending in Mexico.

It was a becoming celebration for veteran tv journey reporter Kim and her husband Hong, who had lengthy dreamed of seeing the world. Certainly, it was throughout a month-long journey to the USA whereas they had been nonetheless courting that Kim knew she had met her future husband.

“I knew I might spend the remainder of my life with somebody who additionally wished to enterprise to new locations day-after-day,” says Kim, 31, who works for the Korean Broadcasting System.

Drawing on her expertise working for the nationwide broadcaster, the pair documented their journey, which included months of volunteering in colleges and neighborhood centres, on their YouTube channel doitbubu (“do it couple”) – gaining near 12,000 subscribers and hundreds of thousands of views and changing into mini-celebrities.

Whereas the Covid-19 pandemic has clipped the pair’s journey wings, they level out there are many wonders inside South Korea similar to something they noticed on their journey.

“If the grandeur and scale of a few of these locations overseas made us gasp with amazement, locations in South Korea have a sure allure and sense of jung, or affection, that makes us wish to go to them once more,” Kim says. “You are feeling it each time somebody offers you meals or presents to take residence when visiting a spot.”

Listed below are the couple’s 5 most memorable stops on their honeymoon, and 5 comparable locations inside South Korea.

Faro, Portugal

Hong: “Within the southernmost a part of Portugal, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, the view of the water was surreal on high of picturesque cliffs excessive off the bottom. It’s simple to take a stroll on a well-designed trekking path atop the cliffs whereas taking in a view of the environment for hours.”

And its Korean various: Baengnyeongdo Island

Kim: “I went right here to shoot one in all my journey tv programmes, and I bear in mind being caught on the island for 5 days. It’s not a well-travelled place, as you possibly can solely go to when the climate permits boats to journey. Consequently, the island boasts not lots of people however lots of nature. I nonetheless bear in mind the cliffs alongside the coast of the island.”

Serengeti Nationwide Park, Tanzania

Kim: “We visited the nationwide park after watching the newly launched Lion King film final yr. I couldn’t assist however sing Circle of Life as I noticed hills and fields that had been the inspiration for scenes within the film. And, throughout dawn, I held again tears as I noticed 1000’s of wildebeests operating via the fields of their herd migration.

“You actually get the sense that you’re proper within the mixture of nature – as one in all our pals from Spain was startled after locking eyes with a lion whereas taking a midnight rest room break.”

And its Korean various: Darangswi Oreium, Jeju Island

Hong: “An oreum, within the Jeju dialect, refers to a cone-shaped hill that’s truly a defunct volcano. Referred to as the “queen of oreums”, Darangswi Oreum has a crater within the form of a full moon – and, not like different oreums, this one has lots of horses which might be freely roaming the fields and feeding on grass.”

Mount Fitz Roy, Argentina

Kim: “In the course of the 5 hours that it took to achieve the highest, we loved a scenic path that was principally flat and had view of the height all through a lot of the hike, so the hike didn’t really feel boring or exhausting. A pool of water from the melted glaciers makes an sufficient swimming pool for individuals who introduced their swimsuits.”

And its Korean various: Halla Mountain, Jeju Island

Hong: “Taking an identical five-hour hike up the mountain on the centre of the island in March, I felt like I used to be in a white kingdom full of snow and pine timber. There may be additionally a pool of water on the high, Baekrokdam, that you just solely get to see if it rains or snows the day earlier than your hike.”

Surin Islands, Thailand

Kim: “We felt like we had been staying on a abandoned island, with nature as our solely companion. There aren’t any accommodations, so you’ll want to lease one of many few tents out there for the restricted variety of friends, and meals is discovered solely within the island’s restaurant. We spent all day snorkelling in crystal clear water and sleeping in our tent, which made it really feel like we had been within the wild.”

And its Korean various: Marado

Hong: “Being South Korea’s southernmost level, the small island is 8km off the south coast of Jeju Island. It’s a spot you could solely see when the climate is obvious. It’s a pure reserve that solely permits electrical automobiles, so many residents drive go-karts. There are only some companies and eating places on the island because it’s one of the crucial preserved areas within the nation.”

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Kim: “Trying down on town from the hillside, you see homes with the identical golden rooftops, whereas the ocean and the sky appear to be they’re linked, making it really feel such as you’re in heaven. The ocean, which has a purple glow in the direction of the night hours, is the proper place to swim because it’s not too salty.

“I additionally bear in mind listening to a couple of quote from the well-known Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw, who stated, ‘Those that search paradise on earth ought to come to see Dubrovnik’.”

And its Korean various: Daraengi Village, Namhae

Hong: “Recognized for its terraced rice paddies on a steep hill, farmers right here made a area going 108 steps up as an alternative of flat on the bottom. So, if you end up trying from the highest of the rice paddies, you get an overlook of the inexperienced fields and a picturesque farm village simply off the coast of the ocean. There’s nothing prefer it in our nation.”

This text was first revealed in South China Morning Submit.