Busan, South Korea

Busan, South Korea

Korea's 2nd largest city, Busan
is well known among foreigners who visit Korea. Yet, as Korean myself, I haven't had the chance earlier to visit, until now. After about six hours from our home at Incheon, I was shocked by the busy city scene of Busan.

Most people often regard Busan just to be a south-sea-city, but a little better developed than other southern-sea-cities in Korea. But the Busan I encountered this day was not just more, it was BIG.


The city, of course, had one of the beautiful seashores in Korea, as you see below. This place called Hae-eun-dae (해운대) became more famous after its recent movie release in August, 2009. During busy days, you can't see the sand part of this scene because its full of the umbrella spots saved for people enjoying the summer sea!

But other than this beautiful seashore, the city is also full of tall buildings. In fact, Busan has Korea's largest department store! Shinsaegae Department store is one of Korea's best and biggest department store. But coming to the one in Busan, comparing the others was like comparing a tiger to a puppy. Hm, doesn't seem the common picture, yet here it was.

Also, Busan is where the international film festival and international conferences such as the UN meeting is held. So the city is ready to receive both local and international community in large volumes. The Shinsaegae and Lotte Department store is only a start.

And driving along the long and strongly built bridge. We imagined ourselves what it must have been like to be stuck here as the main characters have been in the movie, Hae-eun-Dae. Maybe, just maybe, I can consider this to be Korea's Red Golden bridge at San Francisco. Or am I being too ambitious?

Starting Breakfast at Choseon Hotel at Busan with the Hae eun dae next to me..after our morning jog along the sea and hillside of Busan city...Yum. And the best part is that we saw during our jog that the whole community had already busily starting their day -either jogging around the hill behind their apartment, getting ready to jump in for a morning sea swim, sweeping the commune street full of last nights trash, gathering around to start their morning fish sells, and some even still staggering to wake up from their late morning drinks.. Everyone full of energy and excited to start their colorful day. And this was only at 6am in the morning. You wouldn't see anyone out like this if I was jogging in Boston at this time.

The night scene of Busan, Hae eun dae.

With the cool fall sea breeze hitting my face, and my feet sinking into that warm sandy shore along the cold seawater. Hm, so this is what it must be..to feel so relaxed and free. I stretch out my hand to see if I could grasp this moment. No, it only lingers when I close my eyes. like this..