By Korea.net Honorary Reporter Esraa Elzeny from Egypt
Photos = Esraa Elzeny

The four seasons are like dresses worn by the Earth and it's adorned with them and they make the Earth more beautiful, elegant and flowering. The presence of them is what gives life its beautiful color, which renews every three months. The cycle of the four seasons means the beginning of new life and another phase of the Earth. Without them, our lives would look like rigid pieces without color, taste; all bleak and boring. Summer is the season in which the fruits are harvested and the Earth wears a green dress and the water begins to evaporate to be clouds, to come down to the earth in a new round of rain. Summer is the season for going out, for beaches and holidays.

Summer is known for its high temperatures. We thought that summer was very hot in Arab countries and countries near the equator, but due to global warming, for the first time in 111 years, Korea is entering the list of hottest countries this summer. This is the first time I have been in Korea during the summer. Temperatures are very similar to Egypt, but the humidity here increases the feeling of the heat.

I wanted to help travelers to Korea avoid feeling too hot. Summer starts in Korea in about June and lasts until the beginning of September.

First, Korea has very beautiful beaches. Busan, Jeju Island and many coastal cities can be visited to enjoy their summer activities. If you can't do this, there are many summer festivals in Seoul. I enjoyed one of them, a giant communal water gun fight.

There are also many festivals on the banks of the Hangang River that flows through central Seoul. There's Lotte World, the largest indoor theme park in Korea, which offers many discounts during the summer and holidays for non-Koreans. Just show your passport. I spent some of the most beautiful days there and I enjoyed them with many of my friends from five other countries.





Second, when you're in Korea during all the seasons, and not only in the summer, do what the locals do because they always have the right solutions to adapt to their weather. In the summer, people carry umbrellas to avoid direct exposure to the harmful sun. There are also portable, battery-powered fans available in all the markets. There're also creative sunscreen lotions manufactured by cosmetic companies and always under being developed and fine-tuned. Skin care products here have a great international reputation and are reliable, so there's no fear in using them.

Finally, summer food in Korea is delicious. Some of the most famous summer dishes are samgyetang ginseng chicken soup (삼계탕). I've tried it at a halal restaurant and it was very good. It helps you to stay healthy during the summer. There's also kongguksu cold bean noodles (콩국수), although some people feel strange because it's cold. However, when you taste it, you'll like it a lot.

Since summer would never be complete without ice cream, I have to tell you that the most beautiful ice cream in the world is available at the markets and cafés across Seoul. You'll enjoy unparalleled luxuries, not found anywhere else, in the air-conditioned bliss that is a Seoul ice cream parlor on a hot summer day.

That's summer in Korea. Are you ready?

wisdom117@korea.kr

* This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.