Leaving the Rain Behind

  Busan, Korea Rep.
Sunday, July 18, 2004

************************************** Update - November 2007 ***********************************

Check out my latest documented visit to Busan, part of my 5th, September 2007-February 2008, visit to Korea, all part of my ill-fated Honeymoon.

************************************** Update - November 2007 ***********************************

The first condition of understanding a foreign country is to smell it
- Rudyard Kipling

Busan. A Rather Excellent Plan B

01 Busan from the Mt Kumjeong cable car

So with no end in sight to the rain in Seoul we decided to head south to Busan, South Korea's 2nd city, in the hopes of finding sunshine. We weren't disappointed. Handcuffed by the inclement conditions in Seoul (which was unfairly dubbed 'Seoul Hole' on more than one occasion) it was here in Busan where we

02 Jagalchi Fish Market

managed to stay dry without having to stay indoors. Again it was my second visit to the city, having nearly froze to death on Haeundae Beach back in January, so as a rather amateur tour guide I was able to show B around the city, a city that, surprisingly,

03 Yongdusan Park

has quite a few things to do and see. With pictures to prove it (see attached), we headed up Mt. Kumjeong for a view back over the city, paid a visit to the Jagalchi fish market, took a boat ride to the outlying island(s) from

04 Downtown Busan and Port from the Busan Tower

the aforementioned Haeundae beach (Korea's Waikiki), went up the Busan Tower (is it a requirement in this part of the world for every city to have a tower?) and got into the cramped Asian way of it all in Nampodong, the bustling city centre shopping and entertainment district. We found accommodation right by Busan Station (the main train station) in a tastily decorated but spotless, well equipped 'love motel', the sort of place that makes a visit to Korea a unique experience. All in all

05 Haeundae Beach

we effortlessly passed 5 nights in Busan before the

06 Gwangan bridge

attention of our trip turned to our imminent arrival in the northern city of Chun Cheon, the location for Camp Korea, the 4 week English camp we're signed up to be teachers at. Work! Does this mean our holiday is over? Of course not. Didn't I mention it's the handiest number around? Whoops, must have forgot.