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Over the last 8 years I have had the privilege to travel to over 80 cities, 30 countries, and 5 continents. I have made new friends, ate incredible foods, had some crazy nights out, navigated sketchy situations, and much much more ! With this in mind, I decided it would be a good idea to really sit down and put my thoughts to paper deciding what cities stand tall beyond the rest. This week #10: Seoul, South Korea THE GRADING CRITERIA -Category 1, "Food" 10 PTS -Category 2, "Safety" 10 PTS -Category 3, "Activities / Things to do" 10 PTS -Category 4, "Cost" 10 PTS -Category 5, "Energy / Excitement / Good Vibes" 10 PTSd -Category 6, "My experience (I.e. How much fun did I have)" 50 PTS  Subjective ? Yes ! However, I am not ranking these cities by how comfortable I think they are or what would be the best city to live in. Rather, the main factor really just is: Did I have fun and make some life-long memories while here ? No.10 SEOUL - SOUTH KOREA // Total Score: 89 out of 100 Women dressed in traditional Korean dresses at Gyeongbokgung Palace. -Food: 8 / 10: If you are a big fan of Korean food fan (as I am) you will love the food scene of Seoul. Being an ultra-modern mega-city you can find gastronomic options from all ends of the spectrum. From eating bindaetteok dumplings shoulder to shoulder with businessmen on their lunch break in Gwangjang covered market to enjoying gourmet Korean cuisine in a quaint traditional wooden hanok house in Bukchon Hanok village and everything else in between. The flavors of Korean cuisine are distinct, delicious, and over the past few decades have brought flocks of food lovers from around the world wishing to indulge to the city. With a diverse range of dishes at just about every price point Seoul is truly a paradise for Korean food lovers. I did find outside of Korean food Seoul lacked just a touch in regard to it's international food offerings at least when compared to cities of the same size and scale. That being said while I have been to Seoul three times, each time was not for very long. I might just need to spend more time in the city to experience the range of food on offer to a fuller extent. Some of my recommendations are: - Hanmechon , Located in Bukchon Hanok Village this quaint restaurant offers guests an array of excellent traditional korea food, primarily in the form of small dishes you can either order individually or as part of a set menu. The setting here is also a highlight as the restaurant is in a traditional hanok house, adding to the cozy feeling of eating a home cooked meal. -Okdongsik Seogyo, A seven time michelin recognized establishment. Located just outside of the Hongdae nightlife district you will find the welcoming, but busy Okodonsik Seogyo. This counter service only restaurant (albeit in a refined way) puts you right up and close to the action as you can watch the restaurants busy staff prepare soup, and cook dumplings. Famous for their delicious (and affordable) pork gomtang and kimchi dumplings, this is one you should not miss. Just a word of warning you should be prepared to wait in line regardless of if you are going for lunch or dinner. I would recommend a week day. -Gwangjang covered market, Arguably Seoul's most famous food market, at least once during your visit to Seoul you need to make a stop here for lunch. Featured as part of the Netflix program "Street Food: Asia", you can find everything from steaming Mandu dumplings, fresh gohyang kalgusku (knife cut noodles), hot stone bibimbap, and perhaps most importantly fried twisted cinnamon donuts. While all of the options here can feel daunting, rest assured that whatever you go with you can't go wrong. Various spices and soups for sale at Gwangjang market. A late afternoon lunch in the market. A couple enjoying afternoon tea in a cafe near bukchon hanok village -Safety: 10 / 10: There is not a ton to say here. It should be no surprise Seoul gets full marks in the safety category as it is one of the safest cities in the world. Violent crime is extremely rare and unless you're sticking your head where you shouldn't other forms of crime are very unlikely to find you as well. The public transport in Seoul is excellent, and the streets are clean and well maintained across neighborhoods of all economic backgrounds. Seoul is a city you can freely roam and explore with confidence and without stress. - Activies & Things to do: 9 / 10: Seoul is a sprawling modern mega city with no shortage a fun activities to get into. From the ultra-modern star field shopping mall, equipped with an aquarium and massive library that looks like it was taken straight from the set of a sci-fi movie to the historical grounds of Gyeongbokgung Palace. Seoul offers travelers with a myriad of options for unique experiences. You can't miss the street markets which extend far beyond being only food markets. As you wander the streets you'll discover markets specializing in just about anything from shoes, books, and just about any random trinket you can think of. What is cool about these markets is that you can clearly see that the shops here are where Seoul's locals do much of their shopping. Unlike the bazars of Istanbul or the street markets of Bangkok, in Seoul you won't find a myriad of shops selling knock off tourist clothes. Instead you'll see shopping streets full of locals doing their shopping for the day. If it is your first visit to the city I would also recommend heading up to N-Seoul tower to get a panoramic view of the entire city. What makes this view unique is that the tower is situated at the top of large hill (small mountain) right in the middle of the city. Meaning, compared to other city view points N-Seoul tower is much higher. This allows for some incredible views, letting you properly take in the concrete ocean that is Seoul. After my visit to N-Seoul tower I had a new appreciation for the size and scale of the city. In regard to day trips from Seoul, the most famous tour on offer is the day trip from Seoul to the Korean DMZ (border with North Korea). While I have not done this myself I would imagine that this would be a very unique (& presumably somber) experience. A street vendor and his book stall. The side streets of Seoul are bustling and easy to get lost in. -Cost: 7 / 10: Seoul is another one of those cities which is certainly cheap when compared to American standards, but a bit more than what you would find in south east Asia. It is also a city that has gotten much more expensive in the last six years or so. Back in 2019 on my first visit to Seoul it was noticeably less expensive than Tokyo. However, since then I have visited Seoul more recently in 2023 and last year in 2024. From my observations the prices for just about everything are now pretty much on par with what you would find in Tokyo. (Aside from the taxis, which are still much cheaper in Seoul) . For a hostel your probably looking to spend about 20usd per night, fairly standard rates for hostels outside of Europe or North America. For food and drink you really do have the full range of options. Street food is cheap with most dishes going for around 2usd to 7usd. However, if you want to have a proper sit down meal in a restaurant you are probably looking at about 10usd to 15usd, and Korean BBQ or upscale dining options typically going for 30usd or more. What is really cheap is the alcohol, especially if you're sourcing most of your drinks from Seoul's many convenience stores. Moreover, unlike most countries the Korean drink of choice is not beer. Instead many Koreans opt for the infamous soju. Virtually every Korean convenience store carries soju where it is nearly always about one to three dollars for a bottle. With an ABV typically around 15% to 20% Koreans have mastered the art of getting plastered - economically. -Energy, Excitement, and Vibes: 9 / 10: Seoul is an extremely vibrant city that is constantly bustling with energy. Simply walking through the streets of the city or taking the metro and being swept away in the tide of commuters moving throughout the city allows you to immerse yourself in the organized chaos of Seoul's hustle and bustle. However, beyond the crash of thousands of bodies moving throughout the city there are also pockets of peacefulness. Seoul has many gardens and parks where you can find moments of calm. Moreover, with Seoul being quite a hilly city I really enjoyed that you can often find parks or quiet neighborhoods up high. Going here to see and hear the city go by below was quite relaxing. In particular, I really enjoyed Bukchon Hanok village. While this area is known for being touristy, it is actually quite a large area. If you can make it past the crowds and continue deeper into the neighborhood there are more than a few quaint cafes and restaurants to enjoy. It also must be said that Seoul's nightlife is absolutely wild. While I unfortunately missed the heyday of Seoul's Itaewon district, nights out in Hongdae certainly did not disappoint. On the topic of hongdae, while it is not the largest nightlife district I have been to. It is certainly one of the rowdiest, especially when compared to other cities in East-Asia. After partying in Hongdae. Shibuya and Ximending, the famous nightlife districts of Tokyo and Taipei feel noticeably tame. I highly recommend starting the night at the bar "Thursday Party" where it is quite easy to make friends before heading to one of Hongdae's many head banging basement nightclubs. -My Experience: 46 / 50: At the time of writing, I have been to Seoul on three occasions and on each of those visits I have had an excellent time. My first visit to Seoul was back in 2019 together with my mom. While I didn't get into any partying or other social activities on this initial visit. I did have a wonderful time site-seeing many of Seoul's famous sites. We spent our days visiting attractions such as N Seoul tower, star field mall, Gyeongbokgung Palace, and Bukchon Hanok village. To this date, this is the only proper trip I have been able to take with just my mom and for this I have a great appreciation for this visit to Seoul. Since then my two subsequent visits to Seoul have been solo trips. On these trips I hit a excellent balance of site seeing by myself and socializing with other travelers. Destinations where I make good friends typically standout more so than others and Seoul is no exception to this. My days were spent wandering the streets of the city and its many shops and markets. While many of the nights were spent out until sunrise in one of Hongdae's many nightclubs with friends I had made at the hostel.

Over the last 8 years I have had the privilege to travel to over 80 cities, 30 countries, and 5 continents. I have made new friends, ate incredible foods, had some crazy nights out, navigated sketchy situations, and much much more ! With this in mind, I decided it would be a good idea to really sit down and put my thoughts to paper deciding what cities stand tall beyond the rest. This week #11: Mexico City, Mexico THE GRADING CRITERIA -Category 1, "Food" 10 PTS -Category 2, "Safety" 10 PTS -Category 3, "Activities / Things to do" 10 PTS -Category 4, "Cost" 10 PTS -Category 5, "Energy / Excitement / Good Vibes" 10 PTSd -Category 6, "My experience (I.e. How much fun did I have)" 50 PTS  Subjective ? Yes ! However, I am not ranking these cities by how comfortable I think they are or what would be the best city to live in. Rather, the main factor really just is: Did I have fun and make some life-long memories while here ? No. 11 MEXICO CITY - MEXICO // Total Score: 88 out of 100 Front row at Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes for a Club America match. -Food: 10 / 10: Similar to Cusco I could not find myself leaving Mexico City off this list, again thanks in large part to the spectacular food scene found here. To start, if you think you've had good tacos just wait until you visit Mexico City. As I frequently do, I started my visit by looking through the Michelin guide page for the city. It was no surprise that there were no less than twenty different taquerias around the city listed. This information in mind, on our final day in Mexico City, I mapped out a ten mile route to eleven of these michelin rated taco spots. All told, we spent hours walking through the city and trying tacos across a vast array of neighborhoods. A highlight for me were the famous 'Al pastor' tacos which are a staple of taquerias across Mexico City. I tried these tacos at establishments across the city. From no frills roadside food-stalls to full service sit down restaurants, the frequently pineapple garnished, shawarma style tacos hit the perfect balance of savory with a touch of sweetness no matter the setting. In addition to the staples, many of Mexico City's taquerias also have their own 'house specialties'. With some standouts being 'La 89's' extra large carne asada tacos topped with their own house guacamole. As well as 'Gonzalitos' barbacoa de res tacos; slow cooked and marinated to perfection, the tenderness and flavors found here blew me away. In addition to these two , I also enjoyed, 'Castacan' for their pibil tacos, 'Tacos El Paisa' for their spicy Al pastor tacos, 'Tacos Atarantados' for a classic Al pastor topped with pineapple, and 'Tacos del Valle' for expertly garnished bistec tacos. Massive carne asada tacos served at LA89. Absolutely bursting with filling and flavor Now if you don't like tacos (are you crazy ?) thats okay too. Being the largest city in North America with a population of over twenty-million people you can find just about anything you'd like. In fact, as someone who grew up in Asia, I had some of the best Chinese steamed dumplings of my life in the Centro neighborhood of Mexico City at 'Du Te Chinese Dumplings'. Moreover, the neighborhoods of Roma and Condesa have an insane array of upscale dining options. Here you can find some excellent quality Mexican dishes as well as Italian, French, Japanese, and Korean. All of this along with metropolitan staples such as burger joints and pizzerias. This is to say, the food scene here is amazing and very eclectic. For those who have visited New York City it hits in a very similar way. Hand crafted dumplings, steamed to perfection. -Safety: 4 / 10: Mexico City is a city of contrasts when it comes to safety. Roma and Condesa feel perfectly safe to walk around, as does Bosque de Chapultepec park and most of the western side of the city close to Ave de. La Reforma. However, I found the vibe can turn quickly from neighborhood to neighborhood and even street to street. For example, directly neighboring the eastern side of the Roma neighborhood is Doctores, which is known in part for its higher rates of violent crime. We actually made a wrong turn on the way home from dinner one night and accidentally wandered into this neighborhood. While we were totally fine and I assume most of the time you would be okay. The contrast between the two neighboring neighborhoods was clear. In Roma there were carefully manicured gardens, lively restaurants, bars, cafes, and night clubs. Whereas in Doctores, many of the streets were not well lit and there were many derelict buildings lining the streets. Much like what you see in LA, NYC, or other cities in North America, I thought there was a clear contrast in the economic investment of many of the neighborhoods across Mexico City. Yet despite this, you should want to leave the more touristy and gentrified neighborhoods of Mexico City. Yes Roma and Condesa are nice, but you're also missing out on much of what Mexico City has to offer. As many of the city's best restaurants, markets, and other notable sites are situated outside of the safest zones of the city; you should not skip out on these experiences out of fear. However, it is good to know to really experience Mexico City to the fullest you're a bit less insulated from the rougher areas as compared to some other cities. -Activities & Things to do: 10 / 10: Mexico City is a city of endless possibilities. If you want to stay within the city there are tons of different activities to choose from. While we were there we went to a Club America football match which was an amazing experience. Tickets were cheap and easy to buy. The stadium is easily accessible via the metro system with it also feeling safe in and around the stadium. That said, if football isn't your thing there are ton of other live events frequently happening around the city, one famous example being the live nacho liebre wrestling series. However, just strolling the city will present you with a bounty of things to do. We strolled the streets, ate at the markets, picnicked in Bosque de Chapultepec park and I went for a few runs around the city. All of which were excellent ways to spend the mornings and afternoons. Pre-game at Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes Moreover, just outside of the city are the pyramids of Teotihuacan. A highlight of my entire trip across Latin-America, I would highly recommend taking the trip out to see them. Located about fifty minutes outside of downtown Mexico City the pyramids can be easily accessed via a local bus from the North-Central bus station. However, as many people opt to see the pyramids via a hot air ballon ride, most ballon companies will offer hotel pick up from Mexico City directly to the pyramids. Just know that you will be paying a premium if you decide to get there this way. While we decided to save some money and took the bus, without a doubt the best way to see the pyramids was with a sunrise hot air balloon ride. Floating over the pyramids in a hot air balloon, surrounded by other balloons flying by as the sun rose is a morning I will never forget. Looking down at the pyramids of Teotihuacan from up above in a hot air ballon. -Cost: 8 / 10: Being a megacity Mexico City truly gives you a bounty of options at every price point for food, accommodation, transportation, and activities. I actually went for an air bnb during my stay so I spent a bit more than I normally do. However, if I had gone with a hostel the prices were pretty average for hostels across Latin America, roughly 10usd to 20usd per night. In other words cheap compared to Europe, but expensive compared to South-Asia. In terms of getting around the city, the metro system here is cheap and easy to use. If my memory doesn't fail me, it was roughly 50 cents per ride meaning you can have a very cost efficient way to move around the city. For longer journeys deeper into the city we did find ourselves frequently using uber, but that was still reasonably cheap and efficient as well. Moreover, food is where Mexico City really shines in the budget department as you can find endless street food and market food offerings. Many of these stalls were dishing out tacos for about 25 cents a piece and packed with locals. Truth be told Mexico City probably could score higher in this category if you commit to living like a local on your visit. However, most tourists - myself included won't be doing this. On one hand I ate street food, and rode local busses as well as the metro to get around. On the other hand, I also stayed in an air bnb in Roma, ate at a few fine dining restaurants, drank at trendy bars, and ubered when public transport was inconvenient. Again, Mexico City is a city of contrasts. It is a cheap city, but to properly experience everything it has to offer you shouldn't be surprised to pay a bit more in certain spots. -Energy, Excitement, and Vibes: 10 / 10: Man this city feels alive. What I really appreciated the most about Mexico City is that it feels like a city where people live and go about their business through and through. During many of my adventures around the city I felt like a fly on the wall watching a whirlwind of life in action around me. The city has that perfect blend of romance and grit that can only be found in a few other cities around the world. In fact this feeling of balance is something I hold in high regard when reflecting on which cities most resonate with me. If a city is too romantic or too perfect it can end up feeling artificial, akin to the feeling you get when you visit Disney World. On the other hand, if somewhere is too gritty it could end up entirely unenjoyable. Mexico City was just right, strolling through the streets of Roma and Condesa lush with gardens and lined with art deco style buildings took me back to the feeling of watching 'Before Sunrise' for the first time. On the other hand when visiting the Centro neighborhood and the many nearby markets you can get a slice of the grittier side of the city. -My Experience: 46 / 50:   Mexico City was my last stop of my Latin America trip this summer and it could not have worked out more perfectly ending on such a high note. A few moments really stand out to me. On our last day, during our taco hike around the city we stopped at a park in Condesa to watch a street musician perform. We were some the first to stop and listen right at the beginning of the set, but in a matter of minutes there was a crowd of 60 to 70 people listening along with us. Scanning the crowd of listeners people were dancing and singing along to each of the songs. Couples were dancing together, on-lookers were laughing and smiling, and the weather was perfect. In that moment there was such an atmosphere of happiness I found myself choked up for a second. Across Mexico City I found every corner of the city to have something of interest. Whether walking through a lively market, past street performers, or even by a group of protesters blocking a street the entire city feels utterly authentic and teeming with life.

Over the last 8 years I have had the privilege to travel to over 80 cities, 30 countries, and 5 continents. I have made new friends, ate incredible foods, had some crazy nights out, navigated sketchy situations, and much much more ! With this in mind, I decided it would be a good idea to really sit down and put my thoughts to paper deciding what cities stand tall beyond the rest. First up, number 12: Cusco - Peru THE GRADING CRITERIA -Category 1, "Food" 10 PTS -Category 2, "Safety" 10 PTS -Category 3, "Activities / Things to do" 10 PTS -Category 4, "Cost" 10 PTS -Category 5, "Energy / Excitement / Good Vibes" 10 PTSd -Category 6, "My experience (I.e. How much fun did I have)" 50 PTS  Subjective ? Yes ! However, I am not ranking these cities by how comfortable I think they are or what would be the best city to live in. Rather, the main factor really just is: Did I have fun and make some life-long memories while here ? N0. 12 CUSCO - PERU // Total Score: 82 out of 100 City skyline of Cusco, taken from the wild rover hostel balcony. -Food: 10 / 10: Full disclaimer this was going to just be "my top 10* favorite cities *, however there were two cities I felt I just could not leave off... Cusco being one of them. The overwhelming reason for Cusco's inclusion on this list being thanks to its otherworldly food scene. Wandering the streets of Cusco you have everything from a litany of street food options prepared by a stall of hard working abuelas, to word-class Michelin rated fine dining. I had the pleasure of trying offerings on both ends of the spectrum and everything in between. The food here is unique, fresh, and most importantly immensely flavorful. From dishes such as lomo saltado, barbecue ribs, steaks cooked using volcanic stones, and alpaca meat burgers I left satisfied after every meal. However, the absolute highlight was the ceviche. Simple in ingredients and complex flavor, every ceviche dish I had in Cusco was masterfully prepared with only the freshest ingredients. In the same way that every person on the planet has a unique fingerprint, every restaurant in Cusco has a unique ceviche. With some being sweet, some being tangy, others being sour every ceviche I had in Cusco brought its own spin on the famous dish. The thing each had in common ? Every last ceviche I ate absolutely packed a punch in the flavor department. One in particular I would highlight was the ceviche I had at the 'Nuna Raymi' restaurant. Both myself and Jordan were brought to tears by how delicious it was. Other than Nuna Raymi, my other favorites were: "Yaku Restaurant" for Civiche and Alpaca meat dishes. "Uchu Peruvian Steak House" for volcanic cooked steaks and barbecue ribs. "Mercado San Blas" for lomo saltado (as well as just about any other Peruvian dish) . For coffee drinkers you should visit: Brew Brother Specialty Coffee (also located in Mercado 'San Blas) for an excellent iced coffee. As well as, Florencia y Fortunata for some high quality beans. Three Monkeys was also good and highly reviewed, but it was quite expensive and not substantially better than what I had elsewhere. -Safety: 8 / 10: Cusco certainly felt like the safest city i visited across Latin America. My endorsement of the safety here would even go so far as to say, Cusco feels safer than nearly every city I have visited in North America and many cities in Europe or Asia. What really stands out is how alive the streets are with pedestrians at all times of the day. In fact, I would say the best way to get around Cusco is by walking. There are parks that are lively at all times of the day, markets full of locals and visitors alike, and many bustling shops, cafes, and restaurants. Moreover, Cusco has to be one of the cleanest cities in the South America and maybe even the world. During my time there I saw hardly any litter and there was noticeably few derelict or abandoned buildings. Of all the cities I visited in South America, Cusco is the city where I felt the most comfortable walking around with my big DSLR camera. While I assume there are some pockets of the city that are a bit sketchy, the old-town area where most tourists would be seems to be quite insulated from any such neighborhoods. Personally, I wandered the city fairly extensively and never encountered any neighborhoods that had a bad feel. All in all, the city has a very relaxed and welcoming vibe to it. - Activities & Things to do: 7 / 10: In terms of day trips from Cusco, it has to be considered one of the top destinations in the world. Most notably are the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu, located about three hours from Cusco via the Peru rail train system. However, many people elect to trek from Cusco to Machu Picchu on the Salkantay trail or Inca trail routes. These treks are very popular and accessible to people from most fitness levels. If traveling to Cusco I would highly recommend not booking any treks online in advance as there are many tour agencies in town offering trekking guide services for a fraction of the price. Other than Machu Picchu you can also visit; Rainbow Mountain, and the Sacred Valley which are both a couple hours from Cusco. If you want to stay close to town there is also plenty to do as well, albeit in more of a laid back variety. What I found to be the best way to spend a day in Cusco was strolling through the cobble stone streets, people watching in plaza de armas, enjoying a specialty coffee in a quaint cafe, and ending the day by having a Michelin rated in dinner in one of the cities many amazing restaurants. Cusco does lose a couple points in this category as most of its famous day trips are over 2 hours away from the city. Machu Picchu - Located about 2.5 hours on the train from Cusco. -Cost: 7 / 10:   Yes, while compared to cities in Europe or North America it is undoubtedly cheap. However, of the cities I visited in Latin America it was one of the more expensive, if not the most expensive. There are cheap options in Cusco, but being one of the best culinary cities in the world you are missing out if you don't indulge a bit. I stayed in a hostel (as always) so my accommodation was cheap. However, I did spend quite a bit more than I normally do for meals on my trips. On average I was spending around 20usd to 30usd for a dinner. That said, it should be kept in mind that these were michelin rated meals for American applebees prices. I also normally went to a specialty coffee shop at least once a day where it was about 5usd per cup. -Energy, Excitement, and Vibes: 7 / 10: Cusco is a lively, but laid back town. While it doesn't have the same raucous energy of some of the cities I have ranked higher, it brings a more mature vibe. If you're looking for an insane party scene or a destination that will spike your adrenaline, Cusco probably should not be at the top of your list. However, if you're looking for a warm and welcoming city you can recharge for a bit in-between trekking through the mountains, this is your spot. Come here to stroll through amazingly preserved historic streets, eat some good food, and appreciate the Preuvian culture, both ancient and current. -My Experience 43 / 50:   This was a peaceful city that I felt welcome in right away. The food was amazing, the town itself was beautiful, and all of the locals were tremendously kind and friendly. We came here immediately after spending nine days in Huaraz prepping for the Huayhuash circuit, then another eight days on the Huayhuash circuit itself. Needless to say we were fairly spent after that leg of our trip. Coming to Cusco the timing could not have been better as we really got to stretch our legs and recharge for a few days. While I wouldn't say I have any truly insane memories from Cusco, (obviously, not counting our side-trip out to Machu Picchu) I have a deep appreciation for this historical city. I will fondly remember the days I spent here relaxing and trying some of the best foods and coffee in the world. On a final note, I should reiterate I was brought to tears by a dish of ceviche.