7 Apr 2013 – 감사합니다 gam-sa-ham-ni-da Audrey

If not for Audrey, this visit would not have been. Appreciations for her kind and gracious hospitality and tkx for being a tour guide to this first timer visitor. The week has gone by quickly and have seen and done much. With the present tension between North and South Korea, one can only pray and hope that diplomatic and peaceful dialogues can continue. Threats of launching missiles of destruction and wars are NO solutions at any time…

Sat: a rainy and perfect day to rest, load, update blog and pix. The energy and focus are still in tact and happy to know that even with 12hrs on the go yesterday, made it back before crashing like a rock…

A delicious dinner at Korea Red Ginseng Samgyetang Galbitang***ginseng herbal chicken soup with Audrey and Jinyoung on this last wet evening in Busan with hopes and thoughts of peace for this country. Cupcakes at Red Velvet***

감사합니다 Jinyoung for the dinner, for showing us places and translating.  It makes such a difference to have a local guide, especially when most only speak their native language.

Observed: Vivaldi’s Four Season-Spring played over the loud speakers before the subway arrives at every station. Most of the subway stations do not have escalators, no wonder obesity is no a common sight! Ajummas (Korean for a married woman or woman old enough to get married, but it has negative connotations when used in everyday life) have tightly permed-hairstyle and wear bright colours.

감사합니다 gam-sa-ham-ni-da/thank you.

Sun: random pix from the past 7 days. Leaving on Eastern China Airlines for a 7hrs flight back to SIN with 3hrs layover in Shanghai.

I want to do to you what spring does with the cherry trees – Pablo  Neruda

6 Apr 2013 – is a Long Fun Day…

Fri: 1hr with subway+bus from Haeundae to Oryukdo Island where Taejongdae 태종대 is a natural park of Busan, South Korea with magnificent cliffs and a lighthouse facing the open sea on the southernmost tip of island of Yeongdo-gu. It is said that its name to have taken from King Taejong Muyeol (604 – 661), the 29th king of Silla Kingdom.

Walked uphill and then down to Pebble Beach, realize that the cherry blossoms are turning green and summer will soon be here. After the lighthouse paid KRW1,500 S$1.70 on the colourful tram back to the entrance due to lack of time after an enjoyable 3hrs hike of ups and downs with many good pix opportunities.

Was concentrating to use my knees so as not to get injured climbing up and down the steps, thus no count of step numbers down to the beach, lighthouse, including the lighthouse tower! Bus back to Busan to –

Jagalchi Fish Market located on the edge of Nampo Port is a must for seafood lovers. This market is Korea largest seafood market and is very colourful and vibrant. Was totally amazed at all the different kinds and sizes of fish (dried and fresh) and shell-fish available.

The giant cockles were tempting, but remembering what happened in one of the KCH trips with shellfish, am more careful about shellfish when travelling. This phallic creature is new to me but thx to nephew Steve who ID it as chinese penis fish and according to Wikipedia – Urechis unicinctus/penis fish/spoon worm is eaten raw with salt and sesame oil in Korea and in parts of Japan!

In Chinese cuisine it is fried with vegetables, or dried and powdered to be used as an umami enhancer. Considered an important ingredient in Shandong cuisine and is used in numerous recipes. Also used for fishing bait – like the bait idea better than eating it… 🙂

Lunched upstairs at one of the restaurants on raw Bastard Halibut, no joke but that is the real name! and Red Sea bream, grilled shrimps and other typical Korean side-dishes. Yummy and KRW60,00 S$66 for 2 persons. Delightful to watch life for a bunch of seniors enjoying the life entertainment by the sea. Am told that the background on the slopes is not a desirable area, ie poverty.

A short walk to the center for a cuppa and dessert at Hollys Coffee 할리스 커피on a trendy street where the escalators to the Busan Tower are also on this street…

At 120m 394ft, Busan Tower KRW 5,000 S$6 (including the entrance to the music instruments museum) located inside Yongdusan Park, remains one of the best spots to see the whole city in 360 degree view.

Ending this fantastic day at the Busan National Gugak Center with traditional Korean music, songs and dances. The elegance of the traditional clothing are pleasing to the eyes even when they can hardly stay open… 🙂 🙂

The  real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having  new eyes – Marcel  Proust

5 Apr 2013 – Dongbaek Island & Busan Aquarium

Thu: breakfast at Bon Juk***good seafood congee. 20mins bus to Busan International Foreign School to collect tickets for tomorrow night’s Heritage of Korea Show.

Haeundae Beach (1.7km), most popular beach in Korea had made the Guinness Book of Records (2008) for the largest number of beach umbrellas. Covered end-to-end with 7,937 multitude parasols, one will certainly not find me here in this crowd of 300,000 in the summer!

Today, a pleasant 2+hrs walk in lovely weather with only a handful of people. Seeing more young men in military uniforms than usual…

Dongbaek Island, Busan officially known as Busan Metropolitan City Memorial was said to be an island in old days. Accumulation of soil and sand over time carried by stream and rivers formed a narrow land bridge between the island and the shore along Haeundae Beach. Still the place is popularly called as an island with dense wood of pretty camellias and pine trees.

Dongbaek Park walkway, an impressive wooden walkway lets one feel the fresh sea breeze and the enchanting sounds of the waves for a pleasant stroll.

Busan Aquarium KRW21,000 S$23, overpriced and have seen better ones but supporting museums and aquariums is important!

Tasty dinner at An Ga****Korean BBQ dish that usually consists of grilled marinated meat. Delicious with yummy soups, sauces, salad and side dishes to compliment the pork. Good soju, cheers!

It is not the destination where you end up but the mishaps and memories you create along the way – Penelope Riley

4 Apr 2013 – National and Sex Museums too!

Tue: morning train from Haeundae-Gyeongju (round trip tickets KRW11,200 S$13) 1hr 40mins ride stopping at 6 stations:

1.SongJung, another beach town where Busan International Foreign School is located between and 2.Gijang,

3.Wollae, where a nuclear reactor is located, 4.Namchang, what are the jars about? 5.Ulsan, industrial town with shipyard the cars or the Republic of Hyundae is what the Koreans call this place!

6.Hogye and  finally Gyeongju, yeah here we are at this old Silla kingdom’s capital when the longest dynasty was in power, 57BC-935AD.

Cab (KRW11,000 S$12) from the station to Daemyung Resort*** (KRW84,000 S$95 1 night stay divided by 3, app S$33pp) on Bomoon Lake.

Lunched at Shilla restaurant** on dol sot bibimbap (KRW10,000 S$11)

Bulguksa (KRW4,000 S$5), national temple of Korea and a UNESCO site. The temple’s records state that a small temple was built on this site under King Beopheung in 528. The two famous stone pagodas, Dabotap and Seokgatap are located in the main courtyard. One has been cracked by earthquake and is now under covers for repairs.

Beautiful grounds by the temple where one could have a picnic under the cherry blossom trees! Bus KRW1,200 S$1.30 and a short stroll by the lake to get back to the resort for some snacks and a rest.

Anapgi (KRW4,500 S$5), a ‘pleasure garden‘ (according to the guide-book) constructed in 674AD by King Munmu. A friend and co-worker of Audrey, our local and charming guide, Jinyoung KWON explained that the grounds were ruins of a summer palace and now only partly reconstructed. It was a cold and windy night but one could try to imagine the scenario with a beautiful summer feast on these grounds.

Unexpected to find this museum but where there was a ‘pleasure garden‘ a Sex Museum/Love Castle (KRW12,00 S$14) should not be a surprise! Opened in 2004 with an area the size of two soccer fields, was an interesting experience and the first encounter with a male chastity belt!

Wed: Tumuli Park/Royal Burial Grounds (KRW1,500 S$1.70) – excavated in 1973, Cheonmachong/Heavenly Horse Tomb 12,000+artefacts were discovered…

which are now housed in the Gyeongju Museum (FOC).

Gyeongju town is a colourful place, even with clothes to match with it… goodbye Gyeongju!

Train journey back to Haeundae was quite a drama, a silly man who did not know better than to tell us that we were not supposed to be doing something that he had no idea about. An ajuma (an expression given to these past middle age colourful dressed women!) took one of our seats on the train but refuse to move. Followed by another ajuma who missed her station and create quite a show. The final straw was after we arrived back to Haeundae where an elderly man dressed in a suit started to yelled at Jinyoung for no good reason!

The past 2 days have been full of wonderful experience, tkx to Audrey and Jinyoung. With expences divided by 3, this was affordable. The cab fares for the 2 days app KRW80,000 S$85 and when divided by 3 it worked out to S$28pp. S$130 to cover all expences for 1night+2days pp.

Travel brings wisdom only to the wise. It renders the ignorant more ignorant than ever –  Joe Abercrombie

2 Apr 2013 – Haeundae – Busan/PUS

Sun: after 5hrs 15mins on China Eastern Airlines landed in time from SIN at Shanghai/PVG (above 2 pix uploaded from different sites) with 10hrs layover. Slept on the airport chairs – in spite of the impressive airport, it lacks service and facilities. Paying S$480 SIN-PUS-SIN, one cannot have the best connections! Considering some of the shelters which gave a roof over this tired body over the years, this is luxury 🙂

Mon: breakfast at the PVG airport, one cappuccino and an order of dumplings CNY100 S$20, ouch!!! A full flight on schedule PVG-PUS, 1hr 25mins and tkx to Audrey for meeting me at the airport. 1+hr  on the bus KRW7,000 S$8 to Haeundae.

Busan 부산 area 767.35 km^2/296.28 sq mi, pop 4+mil is located on the SE coast of Korea with a complicated history as far back as 300-400AD. Busan is known as the summer capital of Korea since it attracts tourists from all over the country to its six beaches. Luxury hotels and a carnival boardwalk line the beach at Haeundae, the largest beach in Korea, nearby where Audrey lives on the 31st floor with a panoramic view.

Walked on the streets lined with cherry blossoms was such a feast to the eyes. Red camellias and magnolias are also in bloom. Wow wow wow what a treat.

In the cherry blossom’s shade
There’s no such thing as a stranger  – Kobayashi Issa

Apr birthdays:

2 Apr – Happy Bday Marianne HUSTAD

4 Apr – Happy Bday Richard YUNG

8 Apr – Happy Bday Torill WISTNER

12 Apr – Happy Bday Peggy TAN

15 Apr – Happy Bday Lynne ONG-MICHEALS & Aileen KOH

17 Apr – Happy Bdays Anne STENSETH, Sharon KOH & Sara LAM

21 Apr – Happy Bday Gilbert CHAN

22 Apr – Happy Bday Ike LAM-BOROWSKY

29 Apr – Happy Bday Stanely LAM

30 Apr – Happy Bday JohnWT CHENG