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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 #8: Medellin, Colombia 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 ? #8 Medellin, Colombia. Total Score: 91 / 100 -Food: 6 / 10: My sincerest apologies to any Colombians or lovers of Colombian food out there. I must admit, I'm not the biggest fan of the local cuisine. While nothing I had in Medellin was offensively bad, I also didn't really have any meals that were memorable. For the most part I found Colombian food to be a bit bland without many spices or seasoning. When ordering the traditional Colombian food platter 'Bandeja Paisa' (typically consisting of pork, beans, plantains, and fried egg), I found the side dishes tended to lack in flavor and the pork was often too dry. At first I assumed this may have been a result of trying not to break the bank on meals. So myself and my friend Jordan went out of our way to do a bit of research and indulge in a few splurge meals. Unfortunately, we found not only was the food bland at budget restaurants, but also at highly reviewed, pricier restaurants as well. Moreover, Colombia's famous savory pastries; arepas were good. Yet, I found them to be very inconsistent across the city, with some being down right delicious and others being borderline inedible. The best arepa I had across Medellin (and one of the best savory pastries I had across all of Latin America) was during my time exploring the city's infamous communa 13 neighborhood. Approached by a boy and his mother selling arepas wrapped in tin foil out of their backpack and largely won over by the boy's persistent but charming salesman tactics. I decided to roll the dice and buy an arepa for myself and Jordan. Unlike many of the arepas we had from street vendors and restaurants. Which were commonly too dry. These arepas were absolutely succulent and packed full of flavor. Certainly a highlight of my culinary experience in the city. Aside from Colombian food Medellin is quite a large city with various options for international cuisine. Yet, when compared to cities around the world of similar size I found the international cuisine in Medellin to be average to below average. However, I would be remised if I did not mention the tacos at Criminal Taquieria in Provenza. The tacos here were absolutely bursting with flavor and not far behind with what I had in Mexico City. What really boosts Medellin's score in the culinary category is it's excellent cafe scene. Colombia is world renowned for its delicious arabica coffee beans harvested in the regions between Medellin and Cali. While a large percentage of these premium beans are shipped to countries abroad to be enjoyed by coffee aficionados around the globe. Thousands of kilograms of these beans are also loaded into trucks and brought to cafes across Medellin as well. Best of all is that while a cup of Colombia's finest coffee might hit you for a cool fifteen to twenty dollars at a bistro in New York City, London, or Tokyo. In Medellin ? You will be able to find these same fine coffees for an absolute fraction of the price, think two to five dollars for a cup of some of the best coffee in the world. If you are a fan of light roast Colombian arabica, packed full of creamy and floral flavors you'll find no shortage of coffee options that'll suit your palate in Medellin. In particular I would recommend checking out Cafe Pergamino in El Poblado as well as Tribu Cafe in Laureles. -Safety: 5 / 10: Once infamous for being amongst the most dangerous cities in the world, in recent times Medellin has significantly improved its reputation. While the city now welcomes in flocks of tourists from around the world, it would be dishonest to say that Medellin is not more dangerous than your typical tourism destination. While the powerful cartels and guerrilla militias which once ruled the city have lost their stranglehold. Violent crime as well as petty crime still frequently take place, with some areas in and around the city remaining as no-go zones for tourists as well. We stayed in El-Poblado which was full of parks, gyms, restaurants, and trendy cafes. While you should still be aware of your surroundings pretty much anywhere in Medellin, El-Poblado was a very lively area with a high security presence. We walked from bar to bar and through parks even once the sun had gone down and there was never a feeling of impending danger lurking around the corner. In addition to El-Poblado, Laureles was a very relaxed residential but hip neighborhood. With plenty of carefully manicured greenery lining the streets and specialty coffee breweries dotting the spaces between higher-end apartment blocks. The area felt quite calm and welcoming. Generally, a rule of thumb in Medellin is the further north or south you venture into the city the more dangerous it gets. Whereas the central areas of the city typically tend to be safer. If you're sticking to these areas and only exploring around town during the day time it is unlikely that anything bad would happen to you. However, there is so much more to see in Medellin than what it has to offer in its central tourists areas. If you are coming to Medellin you should experience the city's legendary night life, as well as, visit the city's famous mountain side communas (such as communa 13). You should just keep in mind that there are inherent risks here to be aware of. When visiting certain parts of the city (such as a commua) definitely consider going as part of a guided tour. Also, you should be aware of areas that are typically safe during the day, but should not linger around after sundown. Moreover, if you are going to party it is a good idea to make friends with locals in your hostel or in the tourist-friendly parts of town before heading out, especially if you want to get out of El-Poblado and party where the locals do. To be fully transparent, Medellin is a city where many of the vices of human society are quite visible; people may approach you inquiring if you are looking for drugs, there is very visible prostitution, and violence certainly does happen in pockets of the city. With that all being said, the same could be said for cities like Los Angeles or New York. The common denominator being, if you visit these cities naive or looking trouble - trouble will likely find you. If you practice some street smarts you should be fine, just as we were during our visit. -Activities & Things to do: 10 / 10 Action packed, wild, energetic are the first adjectives that come to mind when asked to describe my time in Medellin. No matter what kind of trip you are looking for you are sure to find it in Medellin. We spent a week in the city with each day following a similar pattern: Wake up hung over from the previous night. Track down breakfast and an absolutely delicious coffee from one of the city’s many specialty roasteries. Spend a hour or two relaxing and enjoying panoramic views of Medellin in the late morning/early afternoon sun at a roof top pool. Meet up with friends and head to the activity of the day. After a day of exploration heading to dinner and drinks. Ending it all off by crushing an increasingly blurry number of club colombias and aguia lights in energetic bars across the city.   A standout moment for me was going to watch an Athletico Nacional football match against their rivals from Bogota. Truth be told, even calling this a ‘standout moment’ does not quite do it justice. Going to the game was akin to a religious experience. The energy and passion brought forth form the raucous die-hard fans around us was so intense that both Jordan and I found ourselves fighting to hold back tears. I can’t quite pin-point the exact reason for this emotional response, but between fans hanging off the upper deck with nothing holding them back other than their fellow fan’s arms, blinding green smoke, blaring noise makers, and so many thousands of people jumping with such unchained energy and fervor not only could you feel the stadium shaking, you could see the upper levels of the concrete stadium swaying. Somehow this combination of extreme stimulation to the senses unlocked an emotional response in me that quite literally brought me to tears. Judging the scene without any context you would think Jesus Christ himself was about to come down from the heavens. Much less a football squad entering the pitch. While I still can’t quite put the precise description of my feelings into words, I certainly can’t recall many moments where I have been more awestruck in my life. What I am sure of is that in that moment I was thinking something along the lines of: “Holy shit is this incredible. How the f- did I end up here”.   If this sounds a little intense for your taste then an option would be to attend a game as part of a tour. Pretty much every hostel in town offers a tour service to the game for any interested gringos. In taking this option, you also have your transportation to and from the game covered so you won’t need to worry about navigating public transport after the game. Aside from attending a football match, visiting the infamous communa 13 was also a great experience. While it does have a very mild tinge of distastefulness, considering the neighborhood’s history and the current disneylandification of the community. Overall, I had a great time here. Learning about the history of the neighborhood and taking in the stunning panoramas of Medellin from high up in the communa are going to be staples in the cool dad lore library. Other highlights include: cafe hopping through the city's many neighborhoods that are lush with tropical greenery, partying until sunrise, and enjoying the legendary albeit infamous nightlife scene. Another great option for anyone looking for an easy day trip would be to head out to Guatape to take in the stunning nature views there. Cost: 9 / 10 While Medellin is a budget friendly city, it is undeniably a city with an aura of luxury and a sense of suaveness to it. Like many cities across Latin America beers are cheap, and you’ve got your street vendors selling churros, arepas, along with an array of other delicacies. While all of that is great what I really loved about Medellin was that it also feels like a mountainside Miami. With streets lined with lush tropical vegetation and a skyline that is punctuated by high-rise apartment buildings complete with rooftop pools, lounge bars, and outdoor gyms. From the second I stepped into Medellin this sense of comfort was evident. To start, the hostels that I stayed in and visited in the city were some of the nicest across all of my travels in Latin America. During my time in Medellin I stayed at the Rango Hostel which for the price of twenty dollars a night came with a roof top pool, full-service bar, and an in-house bakery serving superb breakfasts every morning. I also partied the Masaya hostel, Los Patios hostel, and the Viajero hostel. All three ranging between fifteen to thirty dollars a night and each equipped with their own rooftop pools and bars as well. Regarding transportation, despite the mountainous terrain of the city Medellin is a city that is easy to navigate thanks to its efficient, affordable, and sprawling public transportation system. During my time in the city, the metro system served as an excellent option for moving north to south (or vice-versa) across valley with extremely affordable single ride fares of just about 82cents. When visiting the mountain communities there are options as well with gondola services helping people move throughout the mountain communas. Again, for less than a dollar a ride. For food and drinks I found Medellin to be more expensive than average when compared to cities I visited across Latin America. However, compared to North American or European prices it was still quite affordable. Restaurants and cafes around El Poblado and Provenza were a touch pricey with dinner and a drink typically going for around 10 to 20 dollars. However, at your local roadside bakeries, cafeterias, and sandwich shops you could frequently find cheap eats. Usually nothing special in terms of flavor, but perfect for a backpacker balling on a budget. In addition to food my experience buying alcohol in the city was quite similar as well. While the bars and nightclubs that catered to tourists tended to be quite pricey. Some of the most fun I had drinking in Medellin was at a curb side liquor store selling beer bottles for about 50 cents a pop. Let me tell you, no amount of ambient lighting and professional DJing could beat dancing with a bunch of locals on the side of the road to a blue tooth speaker with a blown out base blasting Colombian dance tunes into the night. Energy, Excitement, and Good Vibes: 10 / 10 Medellin is a city with a palpable vibrancy that is immediately felt from the second you enter the city. Through the taxi window on our way from the airport into the city, I could feel this energy from my first views of the city’s hill-scape skyline. To add to this point, Medellin is a  very unique city from a geographical perspective. Located in the Aburra valley, a naturally formed river basin of the Colombian Andes the city has some of the most striking natural and urban vistas of any city in the world. Going back to that first taxi ride into the city from the airport. We arrived at night, looking out at the city through the cab window in the dark. The city’s mountainous terrain with its lit up vertically built communas created a visual effect that looked as if we were heading straight toward a twinkling tsunami. From the second I stepped out of that taxi I could feel, hear, and see that Medellin was an energetic but suave, chaotic but serene, and stressful but confident city. That was my initial impression at least and everything from my week spent in the city helped reinforce these feelings. During my time in the city, I saw that people danced, drank, ate, and partied on the streets at all hours of the day. Roof top pools, restaurants, top notch gyms, bars, and night clubs were buzzing nearly everywhere you looked. There were lush green tropical gardens, manicured just enough to keep you from thinking the concrete was being reclaimed by mother nature. These parks also happened to frequently be the scene lively markets full of stalls selling fruits or intricately created trinkets. In contrast, the aura of chaos and violence from the city’s past still clings to it in the background. The city has not lost it's edge and despite welcoming more foreign tourists each year you certainly don’t feel catered to as a tourist here. While this may be off putting for some people, I quite enjoy cities with a bit of grit and authenticity to them. Along with Medellin cities such as New Delhi, Berlin, New York City, Mexico City are among my favorites. None of which would win awards for being the most tourist friendly in the world. Yet, each of them get the adrenaline flowing a bit and in the process allow you to feel as though you are truly experiencing somewhere new and different. My Overall Experience: 50 / 50 Medellin is a city that I will never forget. From the friends I made here to the experiences I had there are very few places in the world that match the level of excitement I felt while visiting the city. If New York City is the city that never sleeps of North America then I am proclaiming that Medellin is South America's equivalent. With an atmosphere of partying, somberness, sophistication, and chaos. It is a phoenix that has risen from the ashes of its infamous past, and is now a city is of perfect contrasts. In many ways serving as a microcosm of the human experience itself. From the beauty of the lush green low peaks of the Colombian Andes surrounding the city and the atmosphere of joy that can be felt on many of the city's streets. To the many vices of drugs, and violence which can also be found here. It may sound hyperbolic, but I truly feel as though the city serves as an accurate representation of what choices we have as humans. Should we embrace the wonders of our planet and cherish loving relationships we form with those around us or will we be pulled in by the powerful sway of many of life's unwieldy temptations. With all of this mind, along with the fact that I had a hell of a good time here, there are not many places that have left such a lasting impression on me. For that I am eternally grateful for my visit to Medellin and highly recommend you add it to your bucket list too.

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 #9: Siem Reap, Cambodia 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. 9 SIEM REAP - CAMBODIA // Total Score: 91 out of 100 A monk standing outside the main gate of Angkor Wat -Food: 5 / 10: Road side noodles and beer with our tuk tuk driver. Not the worst cuisine I have had by any means, the Cambodian food I had need Siem Reap was decent, but largely unremarkable. Unlike most of my other favorite cities the culinary culture didn't qualify as one of the highlights here. However, I did manage to have some memorable meals in Siem Reap. Being a city of locals that feels far more akin to a large village than what truly constitutes a city in most people's eyes. Many nights were spent sitting on tiny plastic chairs on the side of the road, eating fried noodles and drinking Beer Cambodia with inquisitive and tremendously friendly locals. Even when stepping away from the street food and focusing on the restaurant scene, there are virtually zero western or asian chains operating in Siem Reap. During my time stay all the restaurants I visited were small family owned affairs. Often with a small dining room and kitchen in the back with the husband or kids taking orders and then helping the wife with the cooking once the orders were placed. For the most part the food in Siem Reap consisted of fairly simple rice or noodle dishes. Yet, the care it was made with unquestionable. About 50 cents worth of Beer Cambodia In particular, I highly recommend paying a visit to Taprohm 189 for an excellent home cooked traditional Cambodian meal. Highlight dishes included Amok and Lok Lak which were bursting with flavor and crafted to perfection. Moreover, if you want to try something authentic, but certainly unfamiliar to the western pallet you can go for the Cambodian fermented fish dish known as 'Prahok'. Not that it cracked my list of all time favorite dishes, but it was certainly a cultural experience. One final note, Taprohm 189 honors the '1 free beer' pull tabs found in cans of Beer Cambodia... if you know, you know ! -Safety: 7 / 10: Before traveling to Siem Reap I heard mixed reviews regarding safety in Cambodia. After traveling to Siem Reap myself I am happy to report that it felt quite safe. While in town I went for runs, walked by myself, and was out late at night after ingesting a few (or more than a few) adult beverages, through all of this I never felt sketched or in danger. The city center and surrounding streets stay moderately lively throughout the day and late into the night. Day time safety felt completely safe and at night as long as you are with a friend and aware of your surroundings I would image nothing bad would happen as well. Pagodas just outside of the Siem Reap city center. Buddhist paintings in a shrine near the city center. However, I would recommend is to picking an accommodation close to the city center. You will notice on the drive into town from the airport that the areas surrounding Siem Reap are quite underdeveloped. While I still think your chances of being a victim of violent crime are still low, many of these areas do not have street lighting. This, combined with the fact that there is virtually no public transport in Siem Reap and many dangerous wild animals living around the city like king cobras, vipers, and venomous scorpions you don't want to be wandering around the outskirts of Siem Reap after dark. Staying in the town center will certainly give you peace of mind and make your time in Siem Reap easier. - Activies & Things to do: 10 / 10: Despite being the smallest city on this list with a population of just under 140,000 people and feeling far more akin to a frontier town rather than a sprawling metropolis there is still so much to do here. Siem Reap truly punches above it's weight as my days here were action packed. In many cases even more so than compared to much larger cities. Many people (myself included) come to Siem Reap to visit the world famous ancient ruins of Angkor Wat, which should not be missed. Originally when planning my trip to South East Asia Siem Reap was not included on my itinerary at all, but the day before flying to Bangkok a random instagram reel showcasing Angkor Wat popped up which led me to book a last second flight from Bangkok to Siem Reap for the day after I arrived in Thailand. Upon arriving, I really had know idea of the true scale of the site. I've been to other famous landmarks like the Roman Colosseum and the Taj Mahal, I anticipated Angkor Wat would be a similar experience. I was mistaken. While the main and most famous / most photographed area of the Angkor Wat temple complex was a similar experience to visiting other famous landmarks. What I did not know was that this area was only the tip of the iceburg and that the entire Angkor Wat complex is roughly fifty square kilometers with hundreds of temples, many of which were hidden in the jungle - adding to the undeniable tomb raider atmosphere of the place. Yet, while Angkor Wat was amazing, this is just scratching the surface of what you can do in Siem Reap. In fact, perhaps even more so than Angkor Wat, I really enjoyed visiting the 'floating' villages found in the Tonle Sap lake. These little fishing communities consisted of huts built on bamboo stilts out on the water, allowing travelers to visit their community, see their ways of life, and even stay overnight. Our visit was the village was capped by one of the most perfect orange and red south asian sunsets I have been able to witness. Immediately going down into the 'core memory bank' Crocodile farm located on the Tonle Sap lake. Other highlights including getting a traditional bamboo tattoo from a buddhist monk, riding a tuktuk to the top of a mountain to catch sunset, drinking endless 'free' Beer Cambodias, and late nights partying on Siem Reap's pub street (which I found to be one of the best in all of South East Asia). Preparing for a traditional bamboo and hammer tattoo. -Cost: 10 / 10: Siem Reap provides some of the best bang for your buck of any city in the world. Outside of India, Nepal, and Thailand, the city just might be the best budget city I have ever travelled to. In this category, Siem Reap truly shines with the options you have for accommodation. I found that most hostels in town were between 5usd to 7usd. While this is a good price point for hostels, in many cities across south east Asia you can find options at this price point. This difference here is the quality of accommodation you can find for such a low price. Many of the hostels in town here feel more like communal resorts rather than your standard hostel. In fact, the Lub D hostel I stayed at here for 5usd a night might be the nicest hostel I have visited across all of my travels. However, food here is not the cheapest. I think this is in part due to the fact that Cambodians use USD for many of their purchases rather than their own currency, driving up the price for a meal. On average I was spending about 7 or 8 dollars per meal, which is still very affordable, but about double of what I was spending for a meal in India, Nepal, and Thailand. On the other hand beer here is mind-blowingly cheap so like life itself, balance is achieved. -Energy, Excitement, and Vibes: 9 / 10: An A+ sunset from the tonle sap floating village. Siem Reap is action packed, wild, adventurous, calm, and serene all in one. The best way I can put it is that the city feels the south east Asian version of a wild west frontier town. I can't deny that there is an aura of lawless you feel in the city, but not necessarily in a dangerous way. It just feels like one of those towns Indiana Jones would find himself in before embarking off on some grand adventure. On the flip-side there is a sense of peacefulness and 'zen' which I felt here. A local artisan, creating carvings. While Siem Reap can feel like you're standing on the edge of the frontier, it also feels incredibly welcoming and I would be remised if I did not mention that the Cambodian people of Siem Reap are perhaps the friendliest people I have had the pleasure of meeting anywhere in the world. Sitting on a hill top and watching the sunset behind the shadow of distant rainstorm, or having a beer sitting on plastics stools, looking off at rice fields as far as the eye can see were truly cathartic experiences. In contrast, many of the nights were spent partying until the wee hours on Siem Reaps excellent pub street. Props here are due, as compared to the pub streets in Thailand the drugs and prostitutes were noticeably less in-your-face which made the experience all the more enjoyable. -My Experience: 50 / 50: River cruise to get to the floating village. My summer 2024 south east Asia & India trip started in Siem Reap and I really visited the city on a whim, making it a very last second addition to the itinerary. I can't say it enough how happy I am I decided to book that last second city hopper from Bangkok to Siem Reap the night before starting my trip. I came to the city with no expectations other than wanting to see Angkor Wat. Yet, by the end, my week spent in Siem Reap was some of the most fun I have had across all of my travels. When sitting down and putting thoughts into what my favorite cities are - the area I put the most credence into is 'where did I have the most fun'. Judged purely off this metric Siem Reap is one of the best of the best. Moreover, the people I met and made friends with here were amazing and at the core I believe is what tied the whole experience together. In fact one of friends I made here, an Irish lad named Ben, ended up traveling with me for about three months after we met in Sieam Reap and is now someone I would consider one of my best friends. All in all, my experience in this city was absolutely remarkable.

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.