All the fish in the world
It was time for some genuine ‘down-time’ with my fellow interns; away from the workplace, away from our covertly non-private home life, and away from the hustle and bustle of Seoul. Destination – Busan!
If you like fish and you like it raw then head on down to Busan’s Jagalchi Raw Fish Market; the largest fish market in Korea. In fact, just head to Busan full stop. There are fish markets literally within a 50 metre radius of everything else that one might forget to consider when visiting the port side city. Home to the largest sea port in Asia and just a stones throw from Japan, separated only by the Korea Strait, this city is a fishmonger’s paradise. I’m almost certain that the Koreans have scoured every seabed to muster the most unusual seafood ‘delicacies’ solely for the amusement of western tourists. Or do they actually eat this stuff? Anything that looks edible and even not so edible, well, they’ve tried it and it’s currently in stock here by the boat load.
These other sights I mentioned that one may want to consider checking out will reveal a traditional culture that’s been preserved for centuries and often forgotten about in Seoul amidst the conrete skyscrappers of modern capitalism. Okay, so it’s not like these are non-existent in Busan but there’s something about this city that makes it feel a small step closer to the traditional, untainted Korea.
The Beomeosa buddhist temple lies in the mountains north of central Busan. Only a short bus ride and you feel a world away. The colourful lanterns swaying in the breeze, the chanting buddhist monk and the rustic charm of the pagodas creates a serene setting. Throw in some overcast weather and take out the usual masses of tourists one experiences in the palace areas of Seoul and it becomes slightly more mysterious.
Beyond this, one can venture up the mountain to explore the grand Geumjeong fortress, however, be warned; the countless parties of old people trekking up the rocky path are wearing hiking gear for a reason. For those short on time & ill-prepared as I, sporting my new yet impractical knee-high leather boots, one may find it to be a hollow attempt to hike to the top. My fellow crew and I only made it half-way before turning back.
This did, however, allow us time to hike up another hill after a little detour on a stray bus (so according to us!) and witness the breathtaking view of Busan from the south end of the fortress.
The Haeundae beach is a must see sight for those who would like to experience an surprising touch of a tropical paradise. I was more than impressed by the clean stretch of beach, turquoise blue water, green flora and clear blue sky. The boardwalk along the rocky cliffs leads you to a statue of a little mermaid sitting on a rock. It appeared to me to be a larger rendition (and what one might consider a breach of copyright if such exists for this sort of thing) of the famous ‘ lille havfrue’ bronze statue in Copenhagen.
The youth culture in Busan is lively and ‘happening’. Lining the streets around Busan National University are endless fashion stores, restaurants, bars and clubs. At one bar, we were treated like celebrities with reserved seating by the window overlooking passer-byers, free bar snacks and at-call music requests. All we did was buy a $4 pint of beer each! Nampodong is Busan’s version of Seoul’s Myeong Dong; a shopping and tourist district for all sorts. Naturally, I was impressed by the flashing neon lights and countless street vendors that help to create the bustling atmosphere but without the bustling Seoul pedestrians.
We dined on Kalbi (Korean BBQ), drank beer and kahlua (together!), sang Karaoke and more than anything… relaxed! It was a weekend away like no other and one much needed to let loose our inhibitions, vent about th cultural challenges and be our good ol’ Aussie-selves once more.
