My last day in Korea started out with a trip to the post office and laundromat. Getting myself sorted before leaving for Tokyo tomorrow.

I walked down the street of my hotel, heavy suitcase clacking behind me. I came across a Korea Post Office (navigation is tough: Google Maps doesn’t know and Naver Maps doesn’t know what I mean).

Huge thanks to the Post Officer who took charge and basically did the whole process of (letting me skip the queue? Sorry not sorry ajummas), boxing up my souvenirs and filling in half the form.

A not very quick users guide to the Korea Post Office:

Step 1. Be found by an overly officious, but very helpful Post Officer. Done*.

*In the event you are not that lucky move to Step 2.

2. Pick a box you think will fit your massive amount of souvenirs (ie kilos of skincare products, BTS merch and gorgeous – albeit unintelligible – Korean books. Hypothetically of course).

Note: No liquids or batteries are allowed. And for my fellow Australians, zero food is allowed. Getting into our country’s strict and nuanced bio-security laws with a postal worker, when neither of you are fluent in a mutual language is not advisable.

3. Choose a form for your preferred shipping method.

Options are surface (sea: cheaper but takes around 3 months … and you want to use that BTS face mask as soon as you get back to Australia darn it – again hypothetically) or EMS (more expensive via air but takes 3-5 days).

4. Fill out form with return address (I just put my hotel address, if you don’t know anyone in Korea). Fill in the “send to address” part on the right side and then an itemised list of contents with prices. And sign it.

5. Get a number from the ticketing machine and when you’re call up, take your package to the desk for weighing and payment.

Bonyage package! Safe travels.

Next I had an embarrassing experience at a small laundromat, run by a very forgiving ajumma with her adorable, little dog (we were besties right away).

I misunderstood her instructions and started washing my clothes by hand in her sink (I am so sorry!).

After a few minutes, ajumma saw what I was doing and I realised I’d been a major pabo (Korean for idiot). She helped me transfers my clothes to a washing machine *face palm*.

We bonded over our mutual love of Kdramas, yogurt gummies and her little dog.

I left with freshly laundered clothes and feeling very grateful and embarrassed.

After dropping off my suitcase at my hotel, I went for lunch at Lotte Mall.

I had a great catch up with some friends from Australia, also visiting Busan (crazy coincidence).

After saying goodbye, I went up to the top floor of the shopping centre to capture the evening views.

If you brave the chill and stick around for the sky scene, Busan comes alive at night.

I grabbed a delicious apple chamomile tea at the rooftop cafe, Angels In Us Coffee to warm up.

Then when down the lower floor to grab a burger meal at Lotteria for dinner.

And that was my last full day in Korea.

So sad to leave such an amazing country, but more adventures in Tokyo to come.