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We were supposed to visit Taiwan, Japan, and Siargao but all plans had been canceled because of COVID19. This year, we tried domestic travel but it was canceled too so for now, I gave up the possibility of leisure travel. I already conditioned my mind that there will be no travel trips for the next two years. I am just hoping that we can still use our passports and Japan visas before they expire.

Tripophobia (n.) the fear of not having any travel trips that are currently booked. 

Even though our travel plans are on pause, it doesn’t mean that I don’t miss traveling. In fact, I find comfort in reminiscing our past trips and I’m thankful that I have pushed those trips even though our budget is limited. I also find joy in watching Korean dramas that were filmed abroad and some Korean travel variety shows. I like watching travel-related shows because they give me a glimpse of the places that I wanted to visit including the places that are not on my bucket list. 

Read: Travel the World by Watching These Korean Drama 

Sharing some Korean travel variety shows that I have watched so far… 

Last year, I watched “Twogether”, it is a travel documentary on Netflix that was released last June 26, 2020, starring two celebrities from South Korea and Taiwan. Lee Seung-gi and Jasper Liu traveled to 3 countries (Indonesia, Thailand, and Nepal) and 6 Asian Cities (Yogyakarta, Bali, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pokhara, and Kathmandu) in order to meet their fans. But before they can meet their fans, they need to complete the missions first that were recommended by their fans. 

I enjoyed this travel series, even though I’m not a fanatic I felt happy for their fans. I like the chemistry between the two celebrities. I only watched Lee Seung-gi in the Korean Odyssey drama series but after watching him at “Twogether, I began to like his cool personality. He is a total package, he can act, sing, and host. 

I'm not familiar with Jasper Liu since Meteor Garden is the only Taiwan drama series that I have watched. But this "Prince Pajama" has a cool personality too and I got curious so I watched one of his dramas which is “Triad Princess” 

Kim Nam Gil was my first Korean actor crush, I fell in love with him when I watched Queen Seon Deok, twelve years ago. Just recently, I finished watching “The Fiery Priest” and because of that I started searching for his other drama series and movies, then I found this travel variety show “Trans-Siberian Pathfinders”. 

Trans-Siberian Pathfinders was aired last September 26, 2019 starring Lee Sun Kyun, Kim Nam Gil, Ko Kyu Pil, Kim Min Sik, and Lee Sang Yeob. These five celebrities traveled from Vladivostok to Moscow Russia via Trans-Siberian Railway. Do you know that TSR is the longest railway line in the world? It has 126 stations with a length of 9,288 kilometers that was built in 1916. 

Honestly, I have no idea about TSR so I really enjoyed watching this show because I learned a lot. I know that Russia is the largest country in the world but I was still surprised when I learned that they have 7 or 8 time zones and as you travel from West to East Russia or vice versa, you will notice that the weather changes too. 

Russia is not part of my bucket list but after watching Trans-Siberian Pathfinders, I wanted to visit Moscow. I’m still contemplating if I want to ride the Trans-Siberian Railway because I am not adventurous, and I don’t think I can endure the 168 hours of travel via train. The longest train travel that I’ve experienced is from Oslo to Trondheim. I experienced sleeping on a bunk bed when we rode DFDS Crown Seaways but we have privacy and our own bathroom.  

The series has only 9 episodes so I felt sad when I already finished it because I like the chemistry of the 5 celebrities, it is nice knowing their personality outside the Korean drama series, especially Kim Nam Gil. How I wish, magkalovelife na siya. Hehehe! 

3. Traveler 2 

Traveler is about backpacking trips of different actors in different countries. I haven’t watched the first season yet but I already finished Traveler 2. Ahn Jae Hong, Kang Hae Neul and Ong Seong Wu traveled to Argentina for two weeks, they visited Buenos Aires, Puerto Iguazu, El Calafate, Fritz Roy, and Ushuaia. 

When I started watching the series, I have very low expectations because all I know about Argentina is Evita Peron, an exporter of beef, and a stopover to Antarctica but as I watched each episode I became fascinated by this country. Wow, I was blown away and  I love their travel adventures in Iguazu Falls, Perito Moreno Glacier, Penguins, and End of the World. In addition, I am a meat lover so I was salivating while watching their food trips, I love steaks and crabs. And because of this, I wanted to include Argentina on my travel bucket list. 

Jung Hae In became a documentary producer and hosted his own version of Backpack Travels. He planned, filmed, and documented his travel in New York with his friends, Eun Jong Gun and Lim Hyun Soo. New York is a very popular city so even I've never been to Big Apple, I'm quite familiar with the tourist spots so I was having second thoughts if I will watch this show. 

But because the star is Jung Hae-In, I gave it a chance. It is nice to know more about him through this show, he loves burgers, oysters, spicy foods, and beers. He is so kind, caring, and generous to his friends and families. I really like his smile. The highlight of this show is their trip to Niagara Falls, I have no idea that there are so many ways to enjoy these falls, no doubt that it is one of the world's best falls. 

For the past few years, I have watched several episodes of Youn’s Kitchen where they went to Bali, Indonesia, and Tenerife, Spain but this time because of COVID19, no travel outside of the country. So for the third season, it is now Youn Stay where they invited foreigners who are appointed in Korea because of business or school. Foreigners will experience staying in hanok and eating Korean cuisine.

Still travel-related, although this is more of a staycation where you eat, sleep and enjoy the facilities and amenities of the homestay in Gurye Country, South Jeolla. I miss doing staycation too, nakakasawa na rin yung bahay lang namin ang nakikita namain for the last 15 months. Hehehe! I love all the casts here especially Jung Yu Mi and Park Seo Joon, bilib lang ako sa pagprepare and pagluluto nila. Parang ako nga ang pagod na pagod sa kanila.

When we went to Europe, I've seen a lot of RV so traveling in a recreational vehicle is part of my bucket list. I got curious so I watched this show to give me an idea of staying in a wheeled house. It is not easy so I guess, I can only do this for a few days. 

House on Wheels is a Korean travel variety show featuring Sung Dong Il, Kim Hee Won, and Yeo Jin Goo. The three celebrities travel to different parts of South Korea in a wheeled house. They visited Ganwon, Jeju Island, Damyang, Gochang, Mungyeong, Gyeonggi, Gangwon, and Geojedo. They invited their own friends to stay in their House on Wheels for one or two nights. 

You will also learn about the popular tourist spots and foods in each place. It is nice to know more about the different celebrities that I usually watched in Korean Dramas, especially Ha Ji Won and Lee Sung Kyung. 

A few days before the end of Christmas Break, I decided to check The Hungry and The Hairy, I have no expectations because I’m not familiar with these two celebrities. I know that Rain is really popular but I haven’t watched any of his shows or series even the famous “Full House” but after watching this travel reality show, I understood why he is indeed popular. Aside from his talent, he has a good personality and is a good cook too. 

The Hungry and The Hairy is a travel reality show where Jung Ji Hoon “Rain” and Ro Hong Chul travel to different parts of South Korea on their motorcycles. They use different brands of motorcycles in Jeju Island, Gochang, Busan, Gangwon, Gyeongju, and Namhae. The two celebrities have opposite personalities but surprisingly, they became close. I enjoyed this travel and food trip series and my favorite place is Namhae.

It's been a while since the last time I watched a travel variety show. I missed traveling so I'm happy to stumble on this travel show "Europe Outside Your Tent". Four actors went to Europe for a camping trip, they traveled from Switzerland to Italy, visiting different campsites. I enjoyed this show because of the amazing scenery as they explore different places. I learned a lot of things about Parmesan Cheese and Balsamic Vinegar. I also felt hungry when they ate T-Bone Steak, Pizza and Lasagna. 

A few years ago, I watched the second season of Traveler so this year, I tried my best to look for Season 1. Unlike Season 2, there are only two actors here; Lee Je Hoon and Ryu Jun Yeol traveled to different places in Cuba like Havana, Vinales, Trinidad, Playa Giron, and Varadero. I've seen Cuba when I watched the "Encounter" drama series but this travel documentary gives me more insights about Cuba. 

Cuba is not on my bucket list but I watched the show because I want to know more about the two actors outside the drama series. This travel series shows their struggle in looking for accommodation, looking for wifi or phone signal, and communicating with people. It also shows how they learn to haggle and say few Spanish words. Food is a hit-and-miss too. 

Africa is part of my travel bucket list but I’m not sure if I can fulfill this dream because it is so expensive so I just enjoyed Africa by watching Youth Over Flowers: Africa. Reply 1988’s actors traveled to Namibia to start their 10 days road trip in Africa. Ahn Jae Hyong, Ryu Jun Yeol, Go Kyung Pyo and Park Bo Gum goal is to find Victoria Falls.

Jung Sang-hoon, Jung Woo, Jo Jung-suk and Kang Ha-neul traveled to Iceland to see Aurora Borealis. It is one of their dreams to see Northern Lights and Iceland did not fail them. It is also my dream to see Northern Lights and I experienced that during our trip to Norway. 

I’ve been to Iceland so somehow nakakarelate ako sa feelings nila when they saw the Geyser and Gullfoss. Just like them, amaze na amaze ako noong nakita ko. We only stayed in Iceland for four days so there are so many tourist spots that we were not able to visit so I really love this variety show kasi nakita ko rin yung mga namiss namin so parang nakapunta na rin kami. But I am crossing my fingers that I can revisit this country. 

I like the camaraderie of the four actors and we are all the same, we like traveling on a budget.