As I have been residing in this curious peninsula for nearly the last two years, I have been sharing some of my interesting experiences with you as well as making note of all the convivial places I have had the good fortune of visiting. There are many places to visit here as well as fascinating places to see. What is ironic about this is the fact that I have waited so long to see one of the best places in Korea. This place is Busan; more importantly Hayundai Beach!
Busan is about two hours by bus north of Suncheon, with a lively population pushing four million. It hosts one of the largest ports in the world, as well as being the pre-eminent beach to visit for all young Koreans during the month of August, where close to half a million swimming suit and rubber raft clad summer beach goers visit. There is also a famous aquarium housing a variety of displays from giant fish tanks, toothy sharks, penguins and even a pool of cute otters. Thankfully it was only February, and since I managed to escape town on a sunny Saturday, I decided to make the short journey to Busan to see the beach and the aquarium for the day.
Leaving Suncehon at nine am gave me ample time to cruise into the bus station(which is quite far from the beach.) After a punishing fifteen or twenty subway stops, I managed to stagger out of the station on the quiet road that leads directly to Hayundai beach. Just five minutes down the road is the beach, which was a breathtaking sunny day with families, students, and foreigners alike strolling along the sand while welcoming the soon approaching spring. There wasn't too many people, but just enough to give me the notion that I wasn't the only one to make it a beach weekend. I felt like I was back home in California walking along Santa Cruz Beach for the first time after a wet winter. I was so excited I felt obliged grab my camera and fire off a few snap shots. Sadly after coming up empty reaching for my camera in my backpack, I was forced to purchase a low quality box camera from a souvenir stand on the beach (you will see from my slide show at the end of this little anecdote just how low quality the photos came out.)
Anyway, after soaking up a few rays, I walked back up the road and negotiate accommodation at one of the spartan motels in the area. Since it was early, I decided to shower and clean myself up a bit to look more presentable when I visited the aquarium on the beach. The aquarium was curiously crowded, until it dawned on me that it was Saturday afternoon, and since Saturday afternoon is family day in Korea, I realized that it was going to be a cozy aquarium visit on this day. Pushing my way downstairs to the first level I found some lively penguins swimming and hanging out, which was quite entertaining despite having to push through the mass population of kids wanting to touch everything. Further along, the otter pool was even more crowded since it was feeding time and all the visitors were clamouring to see the cute little furry guys feeding. I took this overcrowded feeding time as an opportunity to see the giant shark tank, where the intimidating sharks swim right up to the window, where you can actually stare them down, which I did. I was just lucky the glass was unbreakable.
After about an hour or so of aquarium exploring, I headed back out into the sun and walked along the beach and up through some fish markets and took in the fishy, beach aroma that is typical of the sea. Down along the beach is a small temple and a interesting mermaid stature. As dusk approached I hiked around the bend further where a small quiet cove with fishing boats and a small lookout where you can see a beautiful bridge that looks quite breathtaking at night. I can only relate it to seeing the San Francisco Bay Bridge at night. Unfortunately my wonderful low quality box camera wasn't able to develop anything at night, so I have no pictures to prove how breathtaking the view was.
After my little day at the beach, I decided to try out an Indian restaurant that everyone in Suncheon unanimously regarded(despite the high prices,) as the best place to dine. In my opinion it wasn't just the best meal I had ever had in Busan, but the best non-Korean meal I had ever had in Korea. If you go, don't be stingy and get the Samosa appetizers with your meal, because you won't be disappointed. Anyway; there are no butts about it, if you want a enjoyable beach experience for a day make no haste and come to Busan.
Busan is about two hours by bus north of Suncheon, with a lively population pushing four million. It hosts one of the largest ports in the world, as well as being the pre-eminent beach to visit for all young Koreans during the month of August, where close to half a million swimming suit and rubber raft clad summer beach goers visit. There is also a famous aquarium housing a variety of displays from giant fish tanks, toothy sharks, penguins and even a pool of cute otters. Thankfully it was only February, and since I managed to escape town on a sunny Saturday, I decided to make the short journey to Busan to see the beach and the aquarium for the day.
Leaving Suncehon at nine am gave me ample time to cruise into the bus station(which is quite far from the beach.) After a punishing fifteen or twenty subway stops, I managed to stagger out of the station on the quiet road that leads directly to Hayundai beach. Just five minutes down the road is the beach, which was a breathtaking sunny day with families, students, and foreigners alike strolling along the sand while welcoming the soon approaching spring. There wasn't too many people, but just enough to give me the notion that I wasn't the only one to make it a beach weekend. I felt like I was back home in California walking along Santa Cruz Beach for the first time after a wet winter. I was so excited I felt obliged grab my camera and fire off a few snap shots. Sadly after coming up empty reaching for my camera in my backpack, I was forced to purchase a low quality box camera from a souvenir stand on the beach (you will see from my slide show at the end of this little anecdote just how low quality the photos came out.)
Anyway, after soaking up a few rays, I walked back up the road and negotiate accommodation at one of the spartan motels in the area. Since it was early, I decided to shower and clean myself up a bit to look more presentable when I visited the aquarium on the beach. The aquarium was curiously crowded, until it dawned on me that it was Saturday afternoon, and since Saturday afternoon is family day in Korea, I realized that it was going to be a cozy aquarium visit on this day. Pushing my way downstairs to the first level I found some lively penguins swimming and hanging out, which was quite entertaining despite having to push through the mass population of kids wanting to touch everything. Further along, the otter pool was even more crowded since it was feeding time and all the visitors were clamouring to see the cute little furry guys feeding. I took this overcrowded feeding time as an opportunity to see the giant shark tank, where the intimidating sharks swim right up to the window, where you can actually stare them down, which I did. I was just lucky the glass was unbreakable.
After about an hour or so of aquarium exploring, I headed back out into the sun and walked along the beach and up through some fish markets and took in the fishy, beach aroma that is typical of the sea. Down along the beach is a small temple and a interesting mermaid stature. As dusk approached I hiked around the bend further where a small quiet cove with fishing boats and a small lookout where you can see a beautiful bridge that looks quite breathtaking at night. I can only relate it to seeing the San Francisco Bay Bridge at night. Unfortunately my wonderful low quality box camera wasn't able to develop anything at night, so I have no pictures to prove how breathtaking the view was.
After my little day at the beach, I decided to try out an Indian restaurant that everyone in Suncheon unanimously regarded(despite the high prices,) as the best place to dine. In my opinion it wasn't just the best meal I had ever had in Busan, but the best non-Korean meal I had ever had in Korea. If you go, don't be stingy and get the Samosa appetizers with your meal, because you won't be disappointed. Anyway; there are no butts about it, if you want a enjoyable beach experience for a day make no haste and come to Busan.
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