Busan, a large port city in South Korea, is known for its beaches, mountains and temples. Three of us went to get some sun after a long winter to visit their famous fish market and spend time with our feet in the sand.
A four hour round trip ticket is only $70 and the train is clean, quiet, fast and comfortable. Korean engineers are experts at designing transportation systems and the people are either sleeping or on their cell phones so it's always a restful experience.
Even the bathroom is good sized and nice.
Too bad it was pouring rain when we arrived and the taxi driver had no idea where our love motel was located! After several drivers turned us down, we finally got in a cab and refused to get out until he plugged in the address on the GPS. Turns out our place was about 5 blocks from the station. It was raining so hard that when the driver cracked his window down just a couple of inches and the car next to us sped through a puddle, a wave of water came through the window!
So here we are at Hotel Ya Ja. Nice hotels start at about $250 in Korea so I am always happy to book a love motel for $60 night. They are super clean and yes, the name implies what they are often used for, but many travellers stay there too. It's an upgrade from a hostel--although the hostels here can be very nice too.
The lobby is not bad and these places always have free espresso machines and juice.
The rooms have big TVs, refers, computers, robes, lots of bath/hair products and delivery menus. A perfect place to spend two hours or overnight! Remember, singles don't move out from mom/dad/Grandma's place until they marry around 28, so if they want to play doctor and nurse, they need a private place to go!
Always a jacuzzi and a bidet. Thank you!
We started with American type food and draft beer at Thursday Party.
It only rained the first day. Jim Burwell, a high school English, is from Tacoma and Lorna hails from New Mexico. Jim spends time with is family in Seattle, but has a home in Guatemala and has taught internationally for many years.
We took a city bus to this cool temple jutting out on the coast of the Pacific.
Next to my zodiac sign, the Ox.
The gold Buddha sits in peace at the water's edge. And to the right is a big red mailbox to mail a postcard!
One should visit a Buddhist temple with a proper and pious mind. Temples are places where one engages in spiritual practice. Temples are also places where Buddhists can cultivate more merit:
- Always be respectful of others,
- Try to be aware of stereotypes
- Reflect on the Buddha’s teachings
- Remain quiet when visiting temples.
- What are the Four Noble Mannerisms? Walk like the wind, stand like a pine tree, sit like a temple bell, and lie down like a bow.
- When entering the shrine room, a Buddhist practitioner may do three prostrations facing the shrine, or make a short bow with hands folded. This is done as a symbol of the surrender of oneself and the desire to benefit all beings.
- Revealing clothing, such as tank tops, short skirts, shorts and the like may be inappropriate attire in some temple or shrine room settings. Shoes are removed before entering the shrine room and hats are not worn.
Incense for sale.
Walk down into this cave and you will find a spring to drink a bit of holy water.
Our love motel was just two blocks from the beach and a long corridor of street food.
Smoked eggs are very popular; a favorite snack. I've never seen a white egg in Korea, they're all brown. These have been smoked for a very long time to achieve the black color.
Fried chicken and chunks of fried sweet potatoes are everywhere. I call it shellacked chicken because after it's fried it gets tossed in corn syrup with red pepper sauce.
Tempura veggies, squid, prawns, sushi.
Handmade steamed humbow filled with kimchi or pork and vegetables.
Fruit galore, but as always it's an extravagance. Ten bucks for just a few pieces. $15 for a handful of cherries!
It was about 65 degrees on the beach this afternoon and a crowd gathered for a performer. Even when it is warmer, Koreans will be dressed from head to toe to avoid the sun.
He juggled chainsaws!
The outside of the aquarium.
I love these outdoor cafes where you have a BBQ at each table and cook your own!
Here's a great little mobile cocktail cart. Step right up and order your black Russian!
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