Korean Job Discussion Forums

[endo]

On a spur of the moment I decided to take the KTX down to Busan from Seoul where I plan to spend the last four days of my summer vacation.


The thing is I'm not really sure what to do when I get there.

I'm sure to check out the beaches, the fish market, the UN cemetary, the aquarium.....


But what else can I do in busan?


Also I wouldn't mind taking a day trip just outside Busan. But I'm not sure where to go either.


Any advice would be helpful. Thanks.

[kat2]

Gyeongju is a good daytrip.

Have a tasty taco at Tacos al Pueblo in haeundae. (Search on hte koreabridge.com forums for directions) This is the best thing to do in Busan that you haven't already mentioned.

You should also check out Beomeosa. Its a really nice temple. Only peaceful in the early mornings before hte summer tourist hordes arrive though.

[sojourner1]

Check out the Busan aquarium at Haeundae beach. Go to Kyeongju if you like historic sites, nature, and museums.

[chris_J2]

Haeundae can be reached by subway from central Busan. Walk 1 km south to the headland. Dongbaek Park has some nice sea views. Busan Tower also has some great views overlooking the city.

http://www.trekearth.com/members/ChrisJ/photos/Asia/South_Korea/South/Busan/

Heosimcheong Spa near near Oncheonjang subway stn is reputedly the largest in Asia, with a capacity of 2000 people. I had no idea there were any hot spas in Korea, similar to the 'Onsen' in Japan (♨). Zero privacy though, & gender segregated.

[endo]

Well I got back from Busan last night and I had a fantastic 4 days.

Here's how it went....


DAY 1

Arrived at Busan Station and put my extra bag into a locker at the station.

I was having a little bit of trouble figuring it out and then all of a sudden one of the most beautiful Korean girls I've ever seen came over to help me out.

She was incredible and so nice too.

I handeled it pretty well (ice cold baby), and started to strike up a conversation with her (completely forgetting the fact that I have my own dime piece of a girl back in Seoul) when her army boyfriend came up to her.

After that I went to Bomeusa temple. Nice place and I wish I had more time to trek the trails nearby.

Later I came back to Busan Station and found a cheap motel to stay at.


I took a nap and the walked down Texas/Shanghai Street just opposite Busan Station. Interesting place and I have to say I'm much more comfortabel around Asians than Russians. Safety wise I mean.

I spent the rest of the evening walking around Nampdong.



DAY 2

Woke up and went to the harbor and took a boat to Heundae beach. It was a nice ride but I wish I had brought my IPOD. The view of Busan from the ocean was great.

Heundae beach was packed and I spent a few hours there just strolling the boardwalk.

I decided I would come back the next day and spend my final night there.

On my way back to Busan Station I visited the UN Cemetary. Interesting place, but what kind of threw me off was when i learned that this was the only UN cemetary that is fully financed by the UN itself.

You'd think that the Koreans would pay to keep the thing running.


When I got back to my hotel I slept for a bit and then went back to Nampodong to watch D-war (horrible movie).


DAY 3

The next morning I went to the Busan fish market. It was my second time there, but it was still fascinating.

After that I took the subway to Heundae beach and found a hotel for 40,000 won. A bit more pricey than the other, but worth it since it was so close to the beach. I spent the rest of the day at the beach and also visited the convention hall nearby where they had the APEC summet a while ago. Very cool place.

Heundae beach overall is very beautiful, but man there were so many people.

Later that night I went to see another movie. 1408 was it's name and it was much better than the previous one.


DAY 4

The day started off nice, but soon the rains from the ocean came in. It was pouring cats and dogs.

So I decided to spend my time inside the aquarium. Not too bad, but I've see better. and all the children there were really annoying.

The rain persisted so I decided to go back to Busan Station early to catch an earlier train back to Seoul.

I did and as my train took off I realized I had left one of my bags in the lockers in the station. Nothing too valuable, but it still sucked.



I really enjoyed my time in Busan and love it's proximity to the ocean. It's the only other city I'd live in next to Seoul in this country.

[amberflannery]

you think it will be crowded for chuseok? i couldnt find any good flights to leave so am thinking the beach there would be wonderful

whats so great about the fish market that i should go?

also- whats the deal with hotels on the beach? since it doesnt look like i'm leaving korea i figure i'll stay somewhere decent.

any other tips on busan would be appreciated. i'm going alone so whats the night life like?

[Treefarmer]

if you are visiting busan for the beach then don't bother with haeundae, it's way too crowded, go to guanalee in a taxi or if you have loads of time get the boat to geoje do, the beaches there are amazing and never that busy

[kat2]

That beach is spelled Gwangalli.
Songjeong beach is also nice.
Goeje-do is quite nice too, but it can be crowded at the more famous beaches sometimes.
There are more than enough lovehotels around haeundae beach. They are all crowded together, so it shouldnt' take you more than 30 minutes tofind one with a vacancy and that is pretty nice. Hotel New Beach is right on the beach and its 60,000 a night. It's not a love hotel, so thats a plus.

The fish market is cool b/c its better than going to an aquarium and its free. I've never seen some of hte stuff they have there. Nice way to spend a morning just gawking and thinking "someone is going to eat that !?!?"

[trubadour]

I went to Haeundae recently. It was during a normal week (not a holiday). I didn't find it too crowded, though it was noisy (some good hip hop noise though). Koreans are cool on the beach if you ask me. Get a rubber ring and try the surf, everybody has a laugh. Ppl deliver food and drink, umbrellas are free. It's cool.

some weird clubs and some better ones - watch out for the special club nites. Otherwise if you ask anyone where's a good club they send you to one under a hotel which is prossie central (i forget the name). Not my prefered way to get down on the dance floor for FUN..too much serious buisiness going on.

Otherwise hang out on the seafront after-dark. That's when people come out of their shells..

[kat2]

go to U2. It's a western bar across from the Novotel. On the weekends, people start dancing there about 1 usually. Pool table, darts, usually a good crowd of teachers and western businessmen/engineers.

[amberflannery]

umm- so looks like i'm taking a bus cause i waited till last minute, should i be reserving a room too? or is it going to be ok to just show up? if i should be reserving a room is there any recommendations?

[kat2]

That is going to be one painful 10 hour bus ride. Chuseok traffic is freaking awful. If youcan, try to get tickets on an overnight bus or a bus at some wierdo time.
There are so many love hotels at haeundae beach i can't imagine that they would all be booked. If you can find something about "hotel new beach' online then you could book with them. They are a more of a second class (but not bad) tourist hotel right on the beach. I think its 60,000 a night.