One massive concrete jungle. Seoul has about 10 million citizens. To make it a little easier to imagine how much that is: New York City has about 8 million. Berlin has about 3,5 million. Insane, right?

Let’s take a little look at the density of population and then we know exactly why Seoul looks like shown above. Berlin has a population density of about 4 citizens for each km². Now how about Seoul? An insane 17 citizens for each km²! And that is why you find many areas that are packed with concrete walls and high skyscrapers. It would be impossible for that many people to have a home otherwise.

After only a few days of being surrounded by the urban city life I figured that I required the healing powers of nature. Or in other words: I needed my animal fix. Not only did I miss my dog a lot, I also miss seeing fields of cows or sheep.

I lived on the countryside all my life and moving to Seoul has been a really big change for me. I figured that many people who move to Seoul are struggling from the same problem and that’s why today I’ll give you my list of the top 4 things you can do to keep your sanity within the concrete jungle.

Top 4 things you can do to keep your sanity within the concrete jungle

Number 4 – Cat Cafes

Yeah, I’m not gonna lie but this is only placed on rank 4, because I don’t even like cats. Or actually, saying that I don’t like cats is a bit harsh.. but I really don’t want one at home. So, if you’re a cat lover this should probably be higher on your personal list!

How Cat Cafes work: When you enter you’re usually required to take of your shoes and change into provided slippers. This might not be the case for all places, but it has been so far in every cat cafe I went to. At some places there is no actual entrance fee, but you’re required to buy at least one drink. In those cafes drink prices are usually around 8000 Won, which is about 6,50€. In other cafes, you need to pay an entrance fee of about 10.000 Won, but there’s a free drink included in that already. And then every new drink will be a bit cheaper than that. So no matter what type of cafe you end up going to, you will probably spend about the same amount of money.

After paying you’re all set to go and have a good time. There’s toys that visitors can use to play with the cats, tables that you can sit at and pet a sleeping kitten if you’re lucky and cat trees where you can watch the kittens have a good time.

The reason why I think that those animal cafes are okay is because they’re all animals rescued from the street or kill shelters. If it wasn’t for these cafes, the cats would probably be dead. So not only is it a cute, fun little activity for during the day, but it’s also actually for a good cause.

My favourite cat cafe:

Name: Café Café in Myeongdong

Address: 8-5 Myeongdong 8-gil, Jung-gu

Closest Subway Station: Myeongdong (Line 4)

Number 3 – Dog Cafes 

Of course, when there’s a cat cafe on the list, there also has to be a dog cafe. And the reason that these cafes are ahead of the cat cafes is not only the fact that I prefer dogs over cats. Well, maybe a bit.

If you end up going to one of the many dog cafes you will understand why I say that these places cure all of your problems. No matter what you do, whether you decide to sit on the floor and cuddle with the little fluffballs or if you decide to buy a pack of snacks and suddenly become the most popular kid in town. You will have one hell of a time.

How dog cafes work: Basically they work just like cat cafes. Except for some reason you don’t have to take of your shoes. Also you will have to disinfect your hands before entering. But apart from that, it’s pretty much the same. You pay for a drink and then get to spend a lovely time with some either big or small balls of fur. The choice is yours.

Okay I think that’s enough pictures.. I think I already know where I’m going later today!

My favourite dog cafe:

Name: Bau House Puppy Cafe in Hongdae

Address: 서울특별시 마포구 양화로 64 (Mapo-gu, Yanghwa-ro 64)

Closest Subway Station: Hapjeong Station (Line 2, Line 6)

Number 2 – Blind Alley Raccoon cafe

Okay friends, this is where it gets SUPER EXCITING!! Cat and Dog Cafes are no news, they have been around for what feels like forever and the hype about it is starting to fade away. The new star of the show seem to be raccoons! These friendly, intelligent and not to forget cute little fellows will make sure to keep you entertained. You can feed them, be lucky and have one climb onto your shoulder or just watch them run and toll around the cafe. Every now and then the owner of the cafe, who is a really nice lady by the way, will make sure to entertain the guests like shown above. Unfortunately I lost all my photos I took in the cafe and the video above is all that remains. 🙁

How the raccoon cafe works: Consider this to be just a normal cafe. You go in and can order anything you want. Drinks, shakes and this time even FOOD. Make sure to try some 빙수 (bingsu), which is a Korean shaved ice dessert. Even here there’s no entrance fee. All you need to pay for is your food and/or drinks.

About the Cafe:

Name: Blind Alley Cafe

Address: 서울특별시 용산구 청파로47길 76 (Seoul, Yongsan-gu Cheongpa-ro 47-gil 76)

Closest Subway Station: Sukmyeong Women’s University (Line 4)

Number 1 – Seoul Grand Park (AKA Zoo)

Okay, this place is hands down one of the most relaxing and most beautiful places I’ve seen in Seoul so far. The Seoul Grand Park include hills and hiking trails, the Seoul Grand Park Zoo, a rose garden, the SeoulLand amusement park, and the Seoul Museum of Modern Art. All of those places are beautiful and worth a visit, but for this list I chose the Zoo, because why not.

For a sweet 5000 Won per adult (Which is only about 4€!) you can enter the Zoo and easily spend all day there. Yes, all day. That’s how big it is. By the way, it’s possible to walk from the station to the Zoo, but if you’re lazy or just don’t feel like walking you can also take the Elefant Tram for a cheap 1000 Won, which is a Bus that goes all the way up to the Zoo.

If you fancy something more exquisite you can also take the cable car, which has a stop in the middle and also the very top of the Zoo. I recommend you to take it on your way back though, because the view is way better! Also if you make your way home during sunset, the view gets even more incredible and it will be definitely worth the annoying 10.000 Won for all the way down. Here one of the many videos I took to convince you.

Okay, let’s get down to business. Animals. No matter what type of animal you’re looking for, I’m pretty sure you will find it here. Dolphins, Bears, Birds, Seals, Lions, Tigers.. the list goes on and on. They have it all. Here some pictures of my personal highlights.

About the Park:

Name: Seoul Grand Park

Address: 경기도 과천시 대공원광장로 102 (막계동) (102, Daegongwongwangjang-ro, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do)

Closest Subway Station: Seoul Grand Park Station (duh!) (Line 4)

Okay friends, this is it. My top 4 places to visit to keep your sanity inside the concrete forest of Seoul. Now I’m off to go and visit the dog cafe again!

안녕히 계세요~! (Good bye in Korean!) 

Cindy

First weeks

My first month in Australia is nearly over and there happened so much. First the travel over the beautiful, huge airport in Singapore – guys if you want to have an airport you can spend 7 hours waiting time easily, fly over Singapore – the searching of a room, as I do not live on campus, the start at ICMS with O-Week (Orientation-Week), starting of the term and visits to the city.

First some information about the housing in Sydney. It is easy to apply for the on campus housing, but unfortunately the amount of beds for MHMK students are limited. I decided before that I do not want to apply for on campus housing. There is no possibility to cook, which for me is really important and also I wanted to have my own private room, not shared with others. But if you think this is not that important for you, then on campus housing is a great opportunity to spend a good time here. The rooms are not that big (what is usual for student housing), the toilets and bathrooms are clean and if you are an uncomplicated eater you will be satisfied.

If you want to search a room on your own, the best idea is to start your search after you have arrived. Rooms direct in Manly are more expensive than in Fairlight, Queenscliff and Balgowlah – all districts next to Manly. There are good bus connections but walking is also possible (not more than 15 minutes). I found my room on flatmates.com.au, but searching on gumtree.com.au is also very popular. Short info to my home: living in a flat in Fairlight with 2 ICMS students from London and Hongkong, 7 minutes foot walk down to Manly Beach and The Corso, what is the promenade in Manly. Sydney is a city with much up and downs, you have to get used to especially when you are from a flat city like Berlin.

The term at ICMS starts with O-Week. This is a great week, mostly the topic is to get connected with the other students (unfortunately we are many Germans, which lowers the necessity to speak English…). Every evening is another party.
Weird fact: In Australia it is not allowed to sell alcohol after midnight, shots not after 10 PM. You cannot enter a club when it is 1.30 AM, even if you just have been out to smoke a cigarette. So what is the solution here? All parties start at 7, latest 8 PM and end at 2 AM. Weird world, especially for those, who enter the club in Germany normally at 2 AM.

On Friday we had CampusDay, it was great! BBQ, music and different stands, where you can inform yourself about student travel tours, surfcamps, diving, different sport clubs at ICMS (surfing, netball, soccer…) and you can also create a bank account. But the best thing comes at last – the colorrun. We all got some ICMS-shirts and then it started, we ran through some obstacles and older students threw the colourpowder over us. Holi in Sydney – it was so much FUUUUN!

The Highlight at O-Week was the big welcoming ceremony and the cocktail party. In the ICMS Chapel the director of the college welcomed us, it as great as all the countries the new students are coming from have been named and for every country someone brought in the flag. The cocktail party was funny. Appetizer and wine, beer, champagne for us. This all in front of the beautiful building of ICMS. Great spot and a good and right decision to choose ICMS.

Important fact:

Whatever people say, September is a cold month, at night it could be really really freezing. So to protect you from freezing and a cold take some pullovers, a jacket and enough socks and jeans with you!

But beneath all this, do you also study? YES! There is not only one final exam but group presentations and tests over all term. This means you have something to do for university during the whole term. Someone likes this, someone not. I think it is okay, as the topics are not that heavy to study and there is enough free time to study, chill or work, beside the 12 hours of courses per week.

Heading short to job searching and application. I needed a job and I got one as a bartender, without any experience in this sort of jobs. The only thing you have to do for your application is the RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol), which is a course that everyone who wants to serve alcohol has to absolve. I did it online here. After the completion I went to several cafés, bars, restaurants, handed in my resume and was invited to some trials. It is really easy to find something but also important to be fast, as there are many students searching a job.

Last but not least, I want to take you with me to some Sydney City impressions. Entering the ferry in Manly and after 25 minutes arriving at Darling Harbour- starting point to check out the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, The Rocks with its shopping malls or take another ferry or the train to another beautiful Sydney spot like Bondi Beach.

So, this was my short review of the first weeks in Australia, there would be so much more to tell, but as I have a limited amount of words and am already 200 over it, I reduced it to helpful information for future ICMS students.

I love it here and cannot wait that it is warmer to enjoy the beach and the life here fully.

If you have any questions, feel free to comment or write me an email. You can find my e-mail adress on the student ambassador poster.