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Published: June 14th 2013
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This was mostly written in the Yeosu bus terminal so I am on my way outa here (to where? You will have to wait and see).
Spent two nights in Yeosu cos getting here was such a trial – what could go wrong did go wrong (the trials of travel – one of worst ever but you have to just grin and bear it sometimes).
Had got some info at main Busan station just up the road from hotel but I think only the fast KTX services. Was directed by station staff there to go to Bujeon train station (10 mins away on same subway line) for train to Suncheon, change to Yeosu. So far so good there. I got there and had about 8 mins to get a ticket but the old pensioner dear in front of me was trying (without success) to use multiple cards to buy a ticket and obviously could not remember her PIN. Could have strangled her as train was at 10.40 and by the time she had "finished" you can guess what!-yes it was 10.40 and the next one not til 1.10pm. They are slow and go over to Suncheon, then you have
Yeosu Dolsando (island) bridge
with lights that run across it to change anyway (wait 45 mins) to go to Yeosu. So decided to abandon trains and change plans entirely and get a bus to Suncheon. So 20 mins on subway inc. a line change to get to Sasang bus terminal. About 40mins wait for next one (they are often cheaper and more frequent than trains, other than hi-speed KTX trains on the Seoul-Busan run). So got myself some beef and rice for lunch from a place that was not Maccas or Pizza Hut –its obviously a big shopping centre there. On the way to Suncheon enjoyed a Korean highway bus break and had the worst hazelnut coffee imaginable – I should have known really, but just thought I would try. Unfort. I did not spot (all Korean script and did not catch announcement) the big bus station which was obv. Suncheon so continued on to an almost village (Boseong?) - bus stopped in the main st as no "station". Decided that was well far enough clearly in the wrong direction/too far. There was a railway station but no train til 6.10pm so problem was how/where to get back to Suncheon for bus to connect to Yeosu. Fortunately a Korean guy
who spoke no English indicated in sign language that the "bus stop" was on the other side of the street from where stopped originally (naturally) and the shop right where it stopped sold tickets. Fortunately only a short wait to head BACK to Suncheon and a bus to Yeosu.
Unfortunately there I knew the terminal was about 4km to NW from downtown so to speak. Tried to work out the buses – as it turned out potentially heading in the wrong direction as stop actually was on other side of the road (the compass was ambiguous as to direction). So finally got a cab for $5 odd - when you see 5500 Krw ($5 odd) on the meter it freaks you out a bit! (going back it was only 3500 Krw).
So found myself a motel with internet – no view but she said ones on the ocean side had no Net. So it was spacious and had a desk and a large bathroom – for about $75 for 2 nights what else do you want? Headed out and went to a clearly fish restaurant and pointed at words for “fried fish” (Lonely Planet script and recommendation). I
was aware from wall signs there that dishes went from $10 to $25. Anyway it ended up very cheap - $10 for 2 whole flattened barracuda like fish – more than I could eat – and all the usual side dishes of course.
I went off after and did some night photographs of the Jinnangwan – the oldest timber building in Korea they say. Its really only an open covered hall really but was the HQ of naval hero Admiral Yi who defeated those pesky Japanese on a number of occasions with his specially clad armoured “turtle” ships at the end of the 16
th century.
Yeosu is said (by someone) to be in the Top4 harbour cities in the world – hopefully Sydney is on that list – can you nominate/guess the other 2? I certainly found it a nice place and excellent spot for Expo in 2012, when I did not quite get here – likely crazy busy then so likely not a bad thing.
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