On our trip I only had to prepare a small bag with my pajamas and some other necessities to spend the night.

Our trip started early in the morning at the Seoul Express Bus Station. We left at 9:30 a.m. and arrived in Jinju around 2 p.m. Jinju is a city located about an hour from Busan, so we drove all the way south. Also, the city’s mascot, Hamo, is incredibly cute, and you can see it all over town, adorning different spots and grabbing the attention of visitors. When we arrived, I went straight to the Jinju Fortress. Although I've seen many palaces and fortresses, I don’t think any have looked as beautiful in the fall as this one. The trees were at their most colorful, music and traditional games were set up everywhere, and, to my surprise, there were hardly any people around, making it a real pleasure to take in the beauty of the palace. Next, I visited the Jinju Lantern Exhibition Hall near the river. As we were told, they set up lanterns all over the city and even on the Nam river in September, which is a special season for Jinju. If you plan to visit, I would recommend going around that time to experience the beautiful displays. However, if you miss it, you can still see Jinju’s beautiful lanterns up close at other times of the year. To make the most of the evening and the river that runs through the city, I took the Kim Min Ho cruise. I found it super affordable, and it offers unique, beautiful views of Jinju at night. On the second day, I decided to get up early and head out of the city to the arboretum, about an hour away by public bus. It’s a lovely place to relax and enjoy nature. It was full of locals and tourists alike, so if you’re in the south of the country, I highly recommend stopping by, especially during the autumn season. I had been planning to visit Jinju for quite a while, and it did not disappoint. Go whenever you can because it’s absolutely worth it!