Shantell Hill-Afonso took her first solo trip at the tender age of 13. No longer a little girl, but not yet a woman, the teen was fascinated by the cultural differences and has never looked back. Today, she shares insights into her dream adventure to Korea and Japan.
“Travelling soothes my soul. I love immersing myself in totally new ways of life, seeing popular spots and uncovering unique experiences. It’s about cultural exploration for me.
And I enjoy documenting with photos and videos, so I can relive the moment and inspire others as well,” she told Saturday Living . For five years, her heart was set on visiting Korea to satisfy her insatiable love for K-pop (Korean popular music) and K-drama (Korean drama series). “I’ve been a part of the BTS (Bangstan Boys) Army for seven years, and, as such, I have been wanting to visit for a while,” she shared, adding that this year presented the perfect opportunity to make the Korean dream a reality.
“My husband, Sam, and I budgeted and began planning in January for the May experience. The climate was ideal for travel. Sam wanted to see Japan and I am so happy I went; I wanted to go for the parks but the culture, history, and not to mention the shopping won me over,” she revealed.
In Korea, Hill-Afonso loved visiting Jeju Island and Seoul, especially Insa-dong. While in Japan, she enjoyed seeing Kyoto and Osaka. “Osaka went at a slower pace than Tokyo, but it was just as beautiful,” she added.
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