Blogs from Busan, South Korea, Asia - page 8

This may well be very short (let’s hope so). Had to leave the Hakata hotel to get down to the ferry terminal by around 9am (accdg to them) to collect ticket etc – I had used the phone at the hotel and rung them directly to confirm a booking – seemed the best thing as the boat was pretty chockers as it happens. Had spent the previous evening locating the right bus stand (eventually) so just had to turn up at 8.40am and get the morning commuter jam still a bit. However I was the last person still on the bus after all the workers had jumped off. Checking in was pretty easy, just had to ay – with a fuel surcharge it cost about $150 for virtually a 3 hr trip by jetfoil. I had ... read more

Day 22 At Sea. Day 23, 28-04-2013. Pusan or, more correctly, Busan, South Korea. The Korean people are the descendants of cold adapted people who migrated down the peninsular. They had high cheek bones and insulating eye lids. Human remains of a 7 year old boy from 4,000 years ago was found in a cave . Busan has a population of 3.7 million. We travelled with a wonderful guide on an excellent bus to Gyeong-ju to visit some 20 Burial Mounds created during 668 to 936 AD. They were for royalty and were designed to collapse and crush the human remains and make it difficult for grave robbers. 3 tombs were excavated in 1973 with one set up as a display; unfortunately no photographs were permitted and the contents were copies of the original articles so ... read more

Back at the start of December; Conor, Deborah and myself took ourselves off to visit Haedong Yonggungsa - Busan's famous Temple-by-the-Sea. Most Buddhist temples in Korea are located in the mountains, so this temple is a rare sight hugging the rocky coastline north of Busan. The temple was first established during the Goreyo dynasty in 1376 and more recently re-constructed in 1970. We walked the gauntlet of street vendors hawking their wares and past tall stone statues depicting the animal signs of the zodiac. Dozens of stone lanterns led the way down 108 stairs symbolizing the 108 agonies and earthly desires of Buddhism. On our way down we spotted various statues of Buddha dedicated for everything from 'academic achievement' to 'granting a son'. Across the bridge we could see the main temple next to an enormous ... read more

Today I am going to relax by going to Haeundae Beach in Busan. It is the most beautiful in Busan and I will be able to see Koreans' enjoying beach. I will also be able to see what kind of games they have in South Korea that we don't have in America. There is no admissions fee. ... read more

1st Mar: Feel sick still thinking about this day. hangover from hell! I woke up to my phone ringing just before 8. It was Andi saying that she had just got on the train and could I bring her a bikini, as she had forgot to pack one. I was so confused and still vey drunk. I had set my alarm to go off really early but must of changed it in my drunken state the night before. Hopped in the shower, vommed, and then crawled back into bed for a bit more sleep. However I couldn't sleep and just lay there feeling like shite. My alarm went off again, and I shoved some clothes on, I couldn't even face putting make up on (I never leave the house without me slap on) and trotted off ... read more