This one should suffice anyways. It's about me and Jaeeun's trip to Busan and Gyeongju
for New Year's. Enjoy!
I like Jaeeun. She is full of great ideas. One of her great ideas was our special trip to Gyeongju and Busan. It turned to be my most fun filled experience in Korea. The sights we saw and our time together created new stories and memories for us.
Phase 1: Planning
Me and Jaeeun decided to go to Busan and Gyeongju maybe three weeks prior to our trip. We had an interesting time trying to prepare for the trip. Me with my limited Korean and Jaeeun with her limited English. We planned and planned and planned...
However, our plans weren't cemented until 8 hours before we left. As stressful and as humorous as it was we got the job done! Oh but don't worry! We had more surprises and difficulties ahead!
Phase 2: Getting There
We left early on the morning with our Nailro Passes, We bought five day passes to use the Korail trains for only about 50,000 Won ($45), a wonderful deal! However, the logistics of getting to Busan from Mokpo...not so wonderful. We first had to head North, yes North to reach Busan. (Mokpo is in the Southwest corner of Korea while Busan is in the Southeast). So we endured a long train ride up north lasting for several hours to the tourist hotspot of Sintanjin Station (terrible place...absolutely nothing).
Sintanjin Station
After Sintanjin we made the last leg of the trip to Busan in a train with no seats available. We had to tough it in the train cafe. The little cafe also had little Noraebangs (singing rooms) included. The last hour we enjoyed the sounds and melodies of a very overconfident Korean male singing his heart and soul out. Through the grimaces and laughter we made it to Busan!
Enduring the sounds of train Noraebang
Phase 3: The Trip
Day 1: Busan
We finally made it to Busan. I never wanted to see another train again in my life or be within earshot of another Noraebang. My first impressions from Busan? Different! This is a city unlike any other city in Korea. It seems more spread out than Seoul, it is warmer, it is next to the ocean and also has a lot of influence from Japanese culture.
Busan Station
Our first stop was Namdo. An area known for hosting the BIFF (Busan International Film Festival), the biggest of it's kind in Asia. We weren't here for the BIFF, we were here for street food! Hodeok, a donut filled with nuts and other things was our target. It was also the target of about 100 other people too. The wait was long but we finally got our prize!
Hodeok!
After Namdo is was off to Jagalchi Fish Market. It is Korea's largest fish market and incredibly massive! On the way in we found whale meat, Jaeeun didn't approve. Inside are hundreds of stalls in the multi story complex that sell hundreds of different kinds of seafood. It was impressive and busy and full of thousands of unfortunate fish.
Jagalchi Fish Market
Outside Jagalchi
After Jagalchi we walked back to Namdo and ate some amazing pork. If there is a pork heaven, Korea is the place. This pork was heaped onto our table. It was a beautiful thing. Thank you Jaeeun for taking me here :)
Mounds of pork...
Reason 384 to come to Korea
Our stomachs were full and we were a little tired. It was time to head to Haeundae to find our hostel, the Pobi Guesthouse. If you know Busan you know that Haeundae is the most famous location. It boasts one of the best beaches in all of Korea. Our Guesthouse was a five minute walk from the beach (too bad it was winter). We shared a room with 3 Korean guys about our age. For it's price it was great! Especially given it's location! After settling down we went back to Namdo again. This time to Arirang Goli or Arirang Street. Arirang Street was completely decorated for Christmas with lights everywhere! Jaeeun definitely fell under the spell of Arirang Street. This was easily one of our favorite parts of Busan.
Arirang Street
Arirang Street and Jaeeun
We love penguins!
Arirang Street
A Christmas Angel
After Arirang Street it was back to Haeundae. We did a little exploring, went to an Irish pub and I become hungry. I needed to find some Japanese Ramen. Our mission was to find food for me, Jaeeun insisted she wasn't hungry. We found it, Jaeeun ate it too. After that it was off to Pobi. Day 1 was a smashing success.
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