Each sharp corner in the room,
such as table corners, was fitted with protective shields.
Our baby ran into some corners while running around,
and those helped such encounters be as painless as possible.
The closet had additional beddings,
which I considered a touching indicator of the management’s thoughtful attention to detail.

I also appreciated the thought the management put toward the environment.
The restroom, furnished with modern facilities, did not have any toothbrushes or toothpaste,
which ensured less waste from disposables. In contrast, towels,
which can be washed and reused, were plentiful.
Above all, however, I appreciated the strength of water from the washbasin and showerhead.

Begin your tourist path with a horse pass!
Hanbok experience and walks at Gwanghalluwon Garden


The key card holder for Namwonyechon takes the form of a mapae
(horse pass: a round disc engraved with horses that served as the sign of authorization for officials during the Joseon period).
When you present this pass,
you can gain free access to major tourist sites in Namwon.
It can even be used for discounts in partner cafés or restaurants,
so it certainly takes a load off the difficult question of planning your visit to this beautiful city. 

One thing we really wanted to do in Namwon was to wear a hanbok (traditional Korean clothing).
It can be rented at an affordable fee of KRW 10,000 or below per hour.
When one wears a hanbok and presents the horse pass at Gwanghalluwon Garden,
one can enter the gardens for free, so that’s where we spent our time.
After the rain poured, the sky returned to clear blue,
under which the beautiful view of Gwanghallu Pavilion stood in harmony.

Along with an elegant breakfast,
this place was beautiful from start to finish


Breakfast at Namwonyecheon is served from 7:30 to 9:30.
It can be taken to the room as well,
so there was no concern for contamination from other guests.
We ordered abalone porridge and beef and seaweed soup,
which came in a presentation as elegant as their flavors.
Because the breakfast sat so well with our stomachs,
I even thought about my parents, who couldn’t join us for this trip.

From comfortable rooms to attentive services and an accessible itinerary,
my trip to Namwon earned a thumbs-up in every aspect.
Namwonyechon, which was with me every step,
was a place that gave me the best of memories of the trips I took this year.
I found myself smiling at the memories I made with our baby
and looked forward to the prospect of returning with our parents.

[Gyeongju] A lovely trip through Silla,
A KQ-certified place for the thousand-year capital of Gyeongju,
Hwangnamguan Hanok Hotel


Whenever I return to my daily life from a trip, sometimes,
I find the memories of my experience flash before my eyes.
If I were to name the first scenery that comes to my eyes,
I would choose, without hesitation, the destination’s view from my accommodation.


Accommodations take up a large part of any travel.
It is where one stays the longest in the day
and also a great multiplier to the destination’s charms,
but only when the space is charming, safe,
and comfortable enough to maximize the spot’s qualities.

Indeed, the decision for our accommodation
was what I dedicated the most attention to for my trip to Gyeongju in 2021.
Just like its moniker “millennium capital,” Gyeongju is a place filled with historical heritage,
with Bulguksa Temple, Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond, Woljeonggyo Bridge, Cheomseongdae Observatory,
and Daereungwon Ancient Tomb Complex on the one hand,
and trendy locations such as theme parks or pretty cafés at Hwangnidan Street on the other.


The choice of accommodation was the one that would help maximize the enjoyment of these spots,
so that was the hardest choice to make. After long deliberation,
the place we chose was the KQ-certified Hwangnamguan Hanok Hotel.

After spending a long and busy week in school,
I took the Friday night Mugunghwa-ho Fleet to Gyeongju.
I disembarked at Gyeongju Station, which is no longer operating,
and took a bus to the hotel, located only 3 minutes by foot from the Hwangnam Market Bus Stop.
I settled on Hwangnamguan Hanok Hotel because of its accessibility.


As I wrote, it is easy to reach the place by public transportation,
and I could also get to tourist sites such as Hwangnidan Street,
Cheomseongdae Observatory,
and Daereungwon Ancient Tomb Complex on foot.
There was a parking space,
so visitors who came here by car could also reach the hotel easily.

Despite the relatively late check-in time, the management welcomed me warmly.
They even told me of the hanbok rental option
and the paid breakfast of bulgogi or spicy beef soup available on the property,
which piqued my interest for this trip even further.


Gyeongju is a city that pursues coexistence with tradition in today’s rapidly changing world.
Like the city it is situated in,
Hwangnamguan Hanok Hotel offers an actual metal key rather than electronic cards.
While metal keys aren’t lighter than cards,
they certainly felt more in sync with the spirit of Gyeongju.

Melt into the moonlit night in Silla
Ondol Suite


As if tapping into the romantic image of a moonlit night in Silla,
the hotel, made up of traditional houses, is clad in elegant lighting and pine trees.
The hotel’s view alone was enough to reach my already-high expectations.
When I settled into the scenery of low hanok houses,
away from the concrete forest of skyscrapers,


I realized that I was truly standing in Gyeongju.
These moments when new sights replace the worn senses are perhaps the true starting points of any travel.

Rooms at Hwangnamguan Hanok Hotel are located in two-story houses,
and my room was on the second floor.
There was no bird’s-eye view of skyscrapers,
but the sight of Hwangnidan Street from above was enough to embrace the romantic feeling of a late-night trip to the next level.

I visited Hwangnamguan Hanok Hotel in November when the cold began to linger around the collars.
I was worried that the hanok building would be unable to keep the rapidly cooling winds out,
but I found the warm ondol floor–heated room and the double windows sturdy
enough to guarantee a warm and comfortable night.
I listened to leaves rustling in the wind beyond the window
and imagined how nice it must be to see the blue skies from this spot in June or July.

 

A pleasant scent of freshly sun-dried clean cotton wafted from the quilt bedding,
red and plump like the ones I used to sleep on at my grandmother’s house in the countryside.
The amenities and towels were plenty,
and there were also no issues with access to warm water.
Familiar appliances such as refrigerators, hair dryers, and television made the stay feel as if I were in my own room.

Rather than a staycation,
“stomach-ation” with food in Hwangnidan Street


The cold is more bearable than going to bed with ravenous hunger,
so I strolled along Hwangnidan Street, a street for gourmet food nearby.
I returned with a bundle of a unique variety of food,
such as the deep-fried and braised chicken and ten won bread.
I savored the familiar yet sumptuous flavor of the dishes.
I sat down on the heated floor in comfortable clothes and dug into the snacks and beverages,
and at that moment, not even a “staycation” in a five-star hotel could match the joy I felt.

For me, the great gift of travel doesn’t have to involve lengthy flights to faraway countries.
After all, from the visit to my return,
I was staying in a place that made every moment beautiful.
Hwangnamguan Hanok Hotel gave me the most faithful view of Gyeongju,
and even though we are well into a new year, I still cherish that memory.