When traveling to a new place, it’s easy to be instantly overwhelmed and caught up by all the new sights, food, and activities. We see videos of the place we are traveling to and save everything, trying to make a list of places to go to and things to check off. But sometimes, what truly makes a place memorable isn’t just the sights or food – it’s the people. The locals who walk those streets every day, the ones who built the culture you came to explore, are the heartbeat of the city.
Street vendor in Hongdae. One of my first meals in Seoul, these were the best corndogs I had ever tried. I instantly fell in love with the food.
A seafood shop in Gwangjang Market. People-watching is one of my favorite pastimes. Being able to experience their everyday lives that are so drastically different from my own, everywhere I looked was like a movie to me. The food here was also delicious. One of the best food markets I have been to so far!
This was taken at Banpo Bridge by the Han River. Something about bikes and people walking their dogs during sunset by a river is so aesthetic. Traveling definitely allows you to romanticize life a lot more and makes even the smallest things and most ordinary activities seem like they came straight out of a movie.
In Seoul, for example, the city’s bustling energy doesn’t just come from the neon-lit streets or the centuries-old palaces. It’s in the way the elderly gather early in the morning to practice tai chi in the parks, or how vendors at street markets shout to attract passersby, offering a taste of something you may never have tried before. It’s in the way strangers might approach you with curiosity, not out of obligation, but because they want to know your story – and share theirs in return.
These people on the subway may not have thought anything special or cool was happening at this moment but to a traveling artist, every scene is art. Especially to someone coming from Texas, I never get to ride public transportation, so to me, every experience is special.
Taken at a fish market in Busan, this photo shows so much of the life and culture that Korea offers. You would never see a scene like this in America.
You might have come to Seoul for the famous street food or to see the futuristic architecture that the city is known for, but it’s the small, unexpected interactions that make you fall in love with the place: a local café owner who remembers your order after just one visit or an older couple sitting next to you at a food stall, eager to teach you how to eat a dish properly. These moments connect you to the city’s soul, reminding you that it’s not just a backdrop for your adventure but a living, breathing place with people who make it what it is.
Korean celebrities are one group of people that others intentionally travel to Korea to experience. Concerts and fan meetings are such fun ways to see your favorite idols in person. This concert, in particular, was free for my university’s annual school festival, where various artists came to perform, including Lesserafim, 10CM, and Junny.
Another photo taken at Gwangjang Market, there was a huge variety of foods to try here from spicy chicken feet to kimbap and tanghulu.
So, while it’s tempting to rush from one attraction to the next, don’t forget to slow down. Say hello to the person sitting next to you on the subway, ask the barista about their favorite local spot, or take a moment to learn a few phrases in the local language. These encounters, these exchanges of stories and cultures, turn a trip into something more meaningful – something that stays with you long after you’ve returned home.
Because in the end, traveling is not just about seeing a place. It’s about experiencing the people who make it come alive.
This man on the motorcycle reminded me of myself. Though I’m not sure what he was taking a picture of, I could tell by the way he had his camera around his neck as he drove around, that he loved capturing the everyday lives of regular people here.
Walking around random alleyways in Seoul, I’ll stumble across scenes that are perfectly framed like this one and are asking me to capture with my camera. I had felt as though this man was posing for me to capture him at this exact point in time.