Day 7 – Korean Adventures, a Medical Scare and Choppy Seas!

Today we arrived in Sokcho, South Korea, at 8am, ready for another new adventure and the opportunity to explore a country that neither Gaby nor I wanted to miss experiencing.

Thankfully, the immigration arrangements were fairly straightforward. Only those passengers wishing to go ashore needed to complete the immigration checks, which was a relief as Joe was still not feeling well and certainly wasn't up to leaving the ship.

After making sure he was comfortable and had everything he needed, Gaby and I headed off to explore Sokcho.

We caught the shuttle bus from the port into town, where we were dropped off at the local market. I always enjoy visiting markets when travelling, as they offer such an interesting glimpse into everyday life, the local food, culture and traditions.

We wandered around the market before deciding to explore a little more of the town itself.

As it was a Sunday, Sokcho was relatively quiet, with quite a few shops and businesses closed. Nevertheless, it was lovely to stretch our legs and get a little taste of South Korea.

Unfortunately, the weather had other ideas, and it started to rain lightly. Rather than get caught in a heavier downpour, we decided to make our way back to the ship.

However, our adventures weren't quite over!

At the port terminal, there were lots of little shops and activities for visitors to enjoy, so naturally, Gaby and I decided to have a look around.

One of the highlights was watching Gaby dress up in a beautiful traditional Korean outfit. It was lovely to see her embracing the local culture and having fun with the experience.



We also had some beautiful fans hand-painted with our names written in Korean. What a lovely keepsake from our visit! I always think these little personalised souvenirs are so much more meaningful than simply buying something from a shop.

After our little Korean adventure, it was time to head back aboard and check on Joe.

Unfortunately, he was still feeling very unwell, and I was becoming increasingly concerned about him. His back was continuing to cause him pain, and he simply wasn't improving as we had hoped.

I decided it was time to take him to the ship's medical centre.

There we met the most amazing medical team, who were incredibly caring, professional and reassuring. Little did we know that this wouldn't be our only visit to see them!

There was quite a lot of discussion about Joe's condition, and the doctor quite rightly explained that because we had a sea day ahead of us, if Joe continued to deteriorate, they might have no choice but to medically disembark him in Sokcho so that he could receive treatment at a hospital.

That was certainly not something any of us wanted to hear.

After travelling all this way and only just beginning our cruise, the thought of Joe having to leave the ship and potentially be admitted to hospital in South Korea was rather frightening.

But, of course, his health had to come first.

Thankfully, the medical team decided to give him intravenous fluids and medication to see whether they could improve how he was feeling.



And what a relief — the treatment seemed to have the desired effect!

Slowly but surely, Joe began to perk up a little. It was wonderful to see some improvement after several days of watching him struggle.

In fact, by the evening, he was feeling sufficiently better to venture out for dinner.

And where did he want to go?

The Sushi Restaurant, of course! 🍣

I think it is safe to say that this has officially become Mr C's favourite restaurant on the Seabourn Encore. If he is feeling well enough to go for sushi, then hopefully we are moving in the right direction!

Meanwhile, our little social butterfly Gaby had received yet another invitation for drinks, but even she was beginning to feel the effects of our busy days and travelling. She decided to give the invitation a miss and enjoy a quiet dinner in her room instead.

I was pleased to see Joe feeling a little better, and later in the evening, I popped along to watch the Seabourn Six perform once again.

They really are excellent entertainers, and it was lovely to relax and enjoy another wonderful show after what had been quite an emotional day.

As the evening progressed, the seas became rather choppy, and we could definitely feel the ship moving overnight.

There is something quite different about being rocked to sleep by the ocean when the seas are rougher than usual!

As I settled down for the night, I couldn't help but reflect on how quickly things can change when travelling. One minute you're exploring a new country and enjoying beautiful cultural experiences, and the next you're sitting in a medical centre wondering whether your husband will need to be taken to hospital.

It certainly puts everything into perspective.

I am so grateful for the wonderful medical team on board and for the care they have shown Joe. Most importantly, I am relieved that he seems to be responding to the treatment.

Hopefully, tomorrow's sea day will give him another opportunity to rest and recover before we continue our adventures in Japan.

Here's to calmer seas, better health and brighter days ahead! ❤️

🌿 Daily Reflection

Life reminds us how precious our health is and how important it is to appreciate the kindness and care of others, especially when things don't go to plan.

✨ Highlight of the Day

Seeing Joe begin to improve after his treatment, alongside the lovely memories Gaby and I made exploring Sokcho and experiencing Korean traditions.

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