Asia Senior Sales Agent Enjoys Rest and Relaxation in South Korea
Negin Shaker, one of Goway Asia’s Senior Sales Agents, recently visited South Korea on a wellness trip. Here, Negin shares some insights into this amazing country and her experiences travelling through it on a wellness vacation.
What was your favourite place you visited while in South Korea and why?
I loved my stay on Jeju Island at the WE Hotel, which is a wellness resort. The hydrotherapy and the Dorae Forest therapy on offer at the resort were both great. The hike through Dorae Forest was through pine and sun trees and on it you spotted many beautiful flowers you will only find on Jeju Island. It was a very meditative and peaceful experience—Koreans believe it offers natural healing as you walk the path. The hydrotherapy consisted of three treatments: Watsu, Aqua Gym, and Water Stone. I found the Watsu treatment an amazing experience; it’s a gentle form of body therapy performed in warm water. It combines elements of massage, joint mobilization, shiatsu, muscle stretching, and dance. During a treatment, you are continuously supported while being floated, cradled, rocked, and stretched.
What was something new you learned while there?
These are a few interesting facts I learned during my visit to Korea:
- Jeju Island became a part of Korea in the 12th century.
- Koreans prefer coffee over tea.
- Most of the major Buddhist temples are located in the mountains of Korea. The most important one in the cities is Jogyesa, which is located in the city centre of Seoul.
- The city of Seoul is divided between north and south, the north being more historical and traditional and the south being more modern.
- Koreans say “Did you have breakfast?” instead of saying “How are you?” in their greetings. This is due to fact that during the Korean War, people were poor and the first question was “Did you have breakfast?” to determine how the other person was doing physically.
What are your “Top Tips” for agents selling South Korea to their clients?
I would suggest Korea as a great stopover for clients who are traveling to most parts of Asia. Also, I strongly recommend having an English speaking guide with a good command of English present on Korea tours.
From a wellness perspective, a visit to Herb Lab Bom Dong in Seoul, in addition to other wellness or rejuvenation experiences, really enhanced my trip and made it different from traditional sightseeing tours. Herb Lab Bom Dong was created by a group of young herbal medicine doctors who provide medicinal teas to relieve stress and fatigue. It’s more proof of how South Korea can be a destination where you relax both your body and soul.
If you could go back to South Korea, what would you like to see/do next?
As this trip was concentrated around wellness, I would love to return to experience more of the cultural side of Korea, which includes visiting the temples located in the mountains.
At Goway, we will be adding a wellness program to our portfolio in the next few months, so please be on the lookout for that program. In the meantime, if you have any clients interested in a first trip to South Korea, we recommend the following:
