■ KOREA, SEOUL: It's been a year since I visited a country I've never been to before so I figured I couldn't end the year without going somewhere new. I truly love going to countries I know are awesome over and over again. But going somewhere entirely new where the language, culture, food and architecture is fresh is always an adventure.

That's the backdrop for why I decided to visit South Korea. What ultimately sealed the deal for me was the climate which is similar to Northern Europe. I hate leaving Europe during winters as there's nothing better than fresh ice cold air and snow covered city landscapes.

South Korea also have that. When I landed it was -4. As usual I didn't prepare much other than a hotel. Browsing Booking.com I came a couple of days before departure I came across a boutique hotel name L'Escape Hotel boasting a French renaissance decor throughout the premises. This I had to see and experience for myself.

A hotel though is usually just the icing on the cake. What makes a country cool is the people who reside there. So out I went on a street food hunt and shopping spree to figure out what Seoul, the capital of Korea, is truly like.

■ Updates from the road:   / thenorthmanreturns  

■ Luxury India Experience:    • $150 Luxury India Hotel Experience 🇮🇳