BUSAN, SOUTH KOREA
The Korean Wave has engulfed the world over the last few years, fuelled by K-pop (you would have to be a hermit not to have heard mention of BTS and Blackpink) and K-dramas (there is a lot more to this art form than just Squid Games, people). While pop-culture phenomena might have been your introduction to South Korea, there is so much to discover in this country of 51.7 million: amazing food, an ancient culture and a diverse landscape of mountains and islands. While the capital of Seoul gets a lot of attention, the second city of Busan is worth a look-see. Located on the country’s south-east coast, Busan has a laid-back disposition and an artistic soul. For visitors this translates to beach visits, hiking in mountains that hug the city’s edges, strolling the streets of Gamcheon Culture Village with its rainbow-hued houses, rubbing shoulders with locals in bustling markets such as Gukje and Jagalchi, and exploring the seaside temple of Haedong Yonggungsa. Ifyou visit in October, you might even spot the stars of Korea’s film industry at the Busan International Film Festival. Renew your Netflix subscription and start surfing the wave!
THE MALDIVES
If you ever want to feel the exquisite quiet of being totally alone in the world, as if standing at the edge of forever, the islands of the Maldives are the place to head. These beyond-blissful patches of sand,
