Site Search:
 
Speak Korean Now!
Teach English Abroad and Get Paid to see the World!
Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

What's Busan really like? Not very international?
Goto page 1, 2, 3, 4  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> General Discussion Forum
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Weigookin74



Joined: 26 Oct 2009

PostPosted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 11:33 pm    Post subject: What's Busan really like? Not very international? Reply with quote

See, I always thought it was. But if you strip away Haeundae and Gwangalli, I wondered if it's just another Korean city. I don't know it very well at all. Only been there twice and mostly around Haeundae with a brief touring of a couple of other spots. I'm going to go there in a couple of weeks and I really want to explore the place. Seoul, I know quite well. But not as many restaurants. No subway. Did a search for Subway restaurants and not a one. Surprising. Seoul has so many of them and other restaurants on every corner. Homemade hamburger places there, but Busan? Mexican food? Indian food? Foriegn markets there, like Namdaemun in Seoul? What are the hot spots in the city besides Haeundae?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
robinsoncrusoe



Joined: 22 Jan 2010

PostPosted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 1:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

so a city doesn't qualify as "international" to you unless it has a Subways?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Benicio



Joined: 25 May 2006
Location: Down South- where it's hot & wet

PostPosted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 5:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Check out Busan Haps: http://www.busanhaps.com
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
some waygug-in



Joined: 25 Jan 2003

PostPosted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 5:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I used to like wandering around Guk-jae market, just up from Ja-gal-chi subway stop. It's not like Seoul, but it's where I could find lots of imported stuff. Also, I liked Nampo-dong.

As far as international goes, I suppose there's always Texas Street. I used to enjoy going to a certain Russian restaurant, the borscht was excellent.


Hope this helps.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Mpark



Joined: 08 Jun 2009

PostPosted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 8:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think Busan is one of those great to live in but shite to visit sort of places. The nightlife is good but I imagine not a patch on Seoul's which I've only experienced a handful of times. I enjoy living here but I couldn't recommend anyone to visit for more than a day or two. There're the 5 beaches, the Nampo area is pretty cool and some walking around the end of Yeonghdo Island but after that nothing really stands out that you wouldn't get in Seoul. I just enjoy the less crowded way of life!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
FDNY



Joined: 27 Sep 2010

PostPosted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 9:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

EVERYONE should read and memorize this. Seoul is EVERYTHING in Korea.

Remember "Cohiba's Rule" (Now better than ever!):

Think twice before you live outside of Seoul. "In Seoul" and
"outside of Seoul" are like two different countries. Seoul
is an interesting place with variety and venues for most
tastes. Outside of Seoul you will find a homogeneous Korean
culture. I don't mean this in a bad way, but you will never
find things like: French, Greek, Indian or any other ethnic
foods. Markets that sell sherry, pate, pastrami, ricotta cheese.
Specialty shops that sell Cuban cigars, European pies, cold
cuts or rye breads. Just to name a few things. Also clubs such
as photography, drama, public speaking, sailing are 99% in
the capital city. If you want to experiment with a very Korean
culture, which unfortunately means "closed", then choose the
countryside. If you want to make money and have the lifestyle
choices similar to a western country, then there is no other
choice than Seoul.

The FFF RULE: FFF=Fun For Foreigners.

If FFF in Seoul = 100, then FFF decreases at
1/distance. So 2km from Seoul FFF=1/2(100)=50;
10km from Seoul FFF=1/10(100)=10. This rule is
a rule for nightlife, food and foreign products only.
Nature etc. is on a different scale altogether.

This means you will be wasting a lot of time commuting
to Seoul. This is especially a drag if you have been
boozing on a Friday night and there are no buses or
trains.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Weigookin74



Joined: 26 Oct 2009

PostPosted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 10:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

robinsoncrusoe wrote:
so a city doesn't qualify as "international" to you unless it has a Subways?


Well Seoul has many; Busan has none. I googled only 2 Quiznos. Asking what other restaurants there are. Indian food, Mexican food? I really don't know it well. Gukje - can you get foriegn foods like the underground markets in Seoul? I'm going to go there and explore the place. Just wanted to get a heads up on the place. Asides from Haeundae, a coastal tour I was taken on, and brief trip to China town I don't know the place. That's why I want to explore it more. But I usually go to Seoul when I want to go to a big city.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Pa Jan Jo A Hamnida



Joined: 27 Oct 2006
Location: Not Korea

PostPosted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 10:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Weigookin74 wrote:
robinsoncrusoe wrote:
so a city doesn't qualify as "international" to you unless it has a Subways?


Well Seoul has many; Busan has none. I googled only 2 Quiznos. Asking what other restaurants there are. Indian food, Mexican food? I really don't know it well. Gukje - can you get foriegn foods like the underground markets in Seoul? I'm going to go there and explore the place. Just wanted to get a heads up on the place. Asides from Haeundae, a coastal tour I was taken on, and brief trip to China town I don't know the place. That's why I want to explore it more. But I usually go to Seoul when I want to go to a big city.


There isn't one in Somyeon? Anyway, there was at least 1 Subway restaurant in Daegu.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
yellowdove



Joined: 19 Aug 2009

PostPosted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 12:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cohiba's Rule is horrible. It's pointless and has been around for far too long. It is simply not the case anymore. I'm not going to reply anymore to this thread, because I feel it's not worth my time and energy to fight anyone. I'm saying that no matter where you live, you'll have a good time in Korea if you truly want it.

And FDNY, stop posting that nonsense!!!!

/rant
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
happiness



Joined: 04 Sep 2010

PostPosted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 2:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

all the subways closed in busan. the last Subway in Daegu closed in April (in front of GyoDae). not enough business.

the local dont like to pay that much for food that they cant bond over and is unfamilairt to them.

and that Cohiba's rule is stupid as hell. maybe in 1995, but not in 2011.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
PatrickGHBusan



Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -

PostPosted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 3:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

1- Cohiba's rule is very narrow and only applicable to someone who cannot see anything beyond Seoul.

2- Cohiba's rule does not take into account the different preferences of different people

3- Cohiba either never ventured outside of Seoul or was blindfolded when he did.

Now, as for Busan, it has some international flavor to it but not as much as Seoul. Then it becomes about what you need and crave.

Busan has a some pretty decent food courts that offer some varied western and international menus (ex: Shinseagea department store in Centum City has heaps of good international dishes).

Haeundae has a decent Indian restaurant as well.

There are some half decent Italian places scattered across Busan too.

Now either you live by that retarded Cohiba's rule or you actually form an opinion of your own....
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
marsavalanche



Joined: 27 Aug 2010
Location: where pretty lies perish

PostPosted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 4:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

FDNY wrote:
EVERYONE should read and memorize this. Seoul is EVERYTHING in Korea.

Remember "Cohiba's Rule" (Now better than ever!):

Think twice before you live outside of Seoul. "In Seoul" and
"outside of Seoul" are like two different countries. Seoul
is an interesting place with variety and venues for most
tastes. Outside of Seoul you will find a homogeneous Korean
culture. I don't mean this in a bad way, but you will never
find things like: French, Greek, Indian or any other ethnic
foods. Markets that sell sherry, pate, pastrami, ricotta cheese.
Specialty shops that sell Cuban cigars, European pies, cold
cuts or rye breads. Just to name a few things. Also clubs such
as photography, drama, public speaking, sailing are 99% in
the capital city. If you want to experiment with a very Korean
culture, which unfortunately means "closed", then choose the
countryside. If you want to make money and have the lifestyle
choices similar to a western country, then there is no other
choice than Seoul.

The FFF RULE: FFF=Fun For Foreigners.

If FFF in Seoul = 100, then FFF decreases at
1/distance. So 2km from Seoul FFF=1/2(100)=50;
10km from Seoul FFF=1/10(100)=10. This rule is
a rule for nightlife, food and foreign products only.
Nature etc. is on a different scale altogether.

This means you will be wasting a lot of time commuting
to Seoul. This is especially a drag if you have been
boozing on a Friday night and there are no buses or
trains.


I made a push to settle for only Seoul when I came here. Haven't looked back since. All of my friends from outside of Seoul visit me in SEOUL, not the other way around.

Any other questions?

lol
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Julius



Joined: 27 Jul 2006

PostPosted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 4:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

After several visits, my impression of Busan is pretty consistent.

The people are even more brash and rude.
The stares are worse.
The level of previous exposure to foreigners is real low.
The giggling middle-school mentality to foreigners is on steroids.


..imagine Seoul 15 years ago... and you have Busan.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
isisaredead



Joined: 18 May 2010

PostPosted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 4:25 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

FDNY wrote:
EVERYONE should read and memorize this. Seoul is EVERYTHING in Korea.

Remember "Cohiba's Rule" (Now better than ever!):

Think twice before you live outside of Seoul. "In Seoul" and
"outside of Seoul" are like two different countries. Seoul
is an interesting place with variety and venues for most
tastes. Outside of Seoul you will find a homogeneous Korean
culture. I don't mean this in a bad way, but you will never
find things like: French, Greek, Indian or any other ethnic
foods. Markets that sell sherry, pate, pastrami, ricotta cheese.
Specialty shops that sell Cuban cigars, European pies, cold
cuts or rye breads. Just to name a few things. Also clubs such
as photography, drama, public speaking, sailing are 99% in
the capital city. If you want to experiment with a very Korean
culture, which unfortunately means "closed", then choose the
countryside. If you want to make money and have the lifestyle
choices similar to a western country, then there is no other
choice than Seoul.

The FFF RULE: FFF=Fun For Foreigners.

If FFF in Seoul = 100, then FFF decreases at
1/distance. So 2km from Seoul FFF=1/2(100)=50;
10km from Seoul FFF=1/10(100)=10. This rule is
a rule for nightlife, food and foreign products only.
Nature etc. is on a different scale altogether.

This means you will be wasting a lot of time commuting
to Seoul. This is especially a drag if you have been
boozing on a Friday night and there are no buses or
trains.


i'm not trying to say anything new here, but i always thought this rule was an epic generalisation, and pretty patronising to foreigners. i mean, you really need a quizno's in your city for it to be "fun"? a cuban cigar and a public speaking club? really?

my city has none of those things, but i and the rest of the community here live a fantastic life. i wouldn't want to live anywhere else, to be honest.

the fact that i rub shoulders with like-minded foreigners who lament not the lack of a taco bell here helps a whole bunch, too.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
isisaredead



Joined: 18 May 2010

PostPosted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 4:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

PatrickGHBusan wrote:
Haeundae has a decent Indian restaurant as well.


oh, god you're right.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> General Discussion Forum All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Goto page 1, 2, 3, 4  Next
Page 1 of 4

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.

Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group

TEFL International Supports Dave's ESL Cafe
TEFL Courses, TESOL Course, English Teaching Jobs - TEFL International