To Busan
We left Seoul this morning to head to Busan, which is in the south of the country in the Gyeongsangnam Province.
We took the KTX fast train into Busan, and the trip took about 2 and a half hours. The time went really quickly, the train was very comfortable and smooth. I would totally recommend anyone travelling across Korea to use the KTX for long trips. Totes worth it.
Mum was funny this morning when we were leaving the hotel in Seoul... There were 3 stations between Seoul Station and Chungmoro (where the hotel was near) but she wanted to take a taxi as we had heavy bags. There were NO taxis around at all because of Chuseok, so eventually I talked her into the subway. It was super easy, although we did get a little lost on the platform. Lets just say that Seoul Station is freaking huge and we had no idea where we were going... And the signage is not awesome so we were really confused. But we made it in the end. There were plenty of super helpful people around, from the bag porter to the police officer, to the local citizen who had decent English.
We got of the KTX at Busan Station and asked around for the subway, as the next hotel was apparently very close to Bujeom Station. But no, mum STILL wanted a taxi, so we went and found a taxi. We jumped in, and to mum utter shock and horror the driver spoke no English. By then the bags were already in and he was driving away so we were kinda stuck in the car. My teachers at school would be so impressed - with my VERY limited Hanguel knowledge I managed to write a garbled Korean version of the station we were after and we got there ok. Mum was panicking, neither of us knew for sure where the driver was taking us so we were not relieved when we saw the station we were looking for. We thanked him and off he went. So here is a tip for anyone travelling to Korea - the taxi drivers do not really speak English. So get your hotel to write down where you are staying so that you can pass it to cab drivers. Or better yet, have it prepared before you head off...
We then dragged our bags a few hundred meters down the road to the hotel - there was no way I was going to try and write the name of the hotel down. When we got there, I looked across the street and gestured to mum... We were literally across the road from the subway enterance. It would have taken us 5 minutes or so on the subway and brought us to right in front of the hotel.
We then dragged our bags a few hundred meters down the road to the hotel - there was no way I was going to try and write the name of the hotel down. When we got there, I looked across the street and gestured to mum... We were literally across the road from the subway enterance. It would have taken us 5 minutes or so on the subway and brought us to right in front of the hotel.
Let this be a lesson to you - if anything is near the subway station, IT IS EASIER TO CATCH THE SUBWAY. I know at home taxi is easier, but honestly, unless you have some degree of Korean then its just not fun trying to get a taxi.
We stayed at the Ibis Ambassador Hotel Busan. I would totally recommend this hotel to anyone wanting to visit Busan. Apart from the fact that is was so close to a good subway line, the staff also speak pretty good English and are super helpful. The food wasn't amazing for dinner but the breakfast was good.
ANOTHER TIP - Don't bother to pay for the breakfasts at the hotel... Seriously just find a Paris Baguette, they are the biggest bakery chain in Korea and the stuff is tasty. And will cost you under 5000won for breakfast rather than the 15-30,000won it will cost at the hotel. Its totally not real bacon.
We stayed at the Ibis Ambassador Hotel Busan. I would totally recommend this hotel to anyone wanting to visit Busan. Apart from the fact that is was so close to a good subway line, the staff also speak pretty good English and are super helpful. The food wasn't amazing for dinner but the breakfast was good.
ANOTHER TIP - Don't bother to pay for the breakfasts at the hotel... Seriously just find a Paris Baguette, they are the biggest bakery chain in Korea and the stuff is tasty. And will cost you under 5000won for breakfast rather than the 15-30,000won it will cost at the hotel. Its totally not real bacon.
Haeundae and the aquarium
We were both kinda grumpy by then, and I needed a nap so mum went for a walk and I had a short kip. Then we rallied ourselves for the afternoon. It was probably about wish when we went to the subway (win for me) and ran into some people from the hotel that mum had met earlier. They were an American couple, but the wife was actually born in Korea so she spoke the language but hadn't been back in years. We ended up joining forces and went together to Haeundae Beach for a look, and then to the Busan Aquarium. I LOVE aquariums, and I thought this one was pretty good. They had decent sized sharks, no seals but they did have otters and some finless porpoises which were kinda like dolphins but smaller and without fins (hence the name I guess). Entry was something like 18,000won and they were open from 10am till 10pm or something. Basically you go to Haeundae Station and walk towards the beach and go right. The aquarium is right there... If you ever go to Busan check it out.
After that we wandered around and got some dinner, we had chicken and salad and both mum and I thought it was pretty delicious. It cost about 17,000won for the 2 of us, and we got some beers as well so all up dinner was 23,000won for 3 massive plates of chicken and 2 beers. So I thought that was pretty good.
We then got back on the subway and came back to the hotel, skipped Georgia and here we are. I am hella tired, I feel like I have been non stop since last weekend so tomorrow is going to be a sleep in day.
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| View from the room |
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| Haeundae Beach |
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| Haeundae Beach |
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| Because keeping off this bit of grass will totally help the porpoise :s |
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| Giant crab!!! |
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| Some of the cool sharks - mainly grey nurse sharks |
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| Tourist shot! |
Something different? Or not?
While we were at the aquarium we were acting the tourist and taking a heap of cheesy photos, as was everyone else. There were 2 young guys that were there having a day out and were taking pics of each other, so mum offered to take their pic together with some sharks in the background. They were super pleased and thanked her a heap. One of the guys then asked if he could have photo with me... I said yes but felt like a big dickhead, like some sort of try hard celebrity. The friend was super jealous so he had to have a photo with me too... I really hope they turned out ok, I would hate for them to be showing ugly pics of me to their pals.
Then when we were on the subway an older Korean guy started talking to me, I said the usual 'hello' and he asked where we were from. I now know enough Korean to understand what he was asking and I was even able to answer him, but the rest of the conversation went straight over my head. Lucky our new American friends were still with us and the wife had a chat to he old bloke and just continued the conversation for us. He ended up not he same train and we chatted on and off through out the trip home. Before we got off the train, the old guy said something else to me in Korea - I have no idea what - and gave me an apple. It was a perfectly good apple, so I will probably eat it tomorrow :)
Anyway, thats about it for tonight. Again, this post will go up after the fact, as I want to add the pics so all this has happened today (being Sunday).
Oh, and Happy Chuseok!!!
xoxoxox
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