Busan

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Destination: Yonggungsa – the seaside temple (Busan)

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May 20, 2013
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CISK note: I’m slowly working my way through old drafts still looking for the light of day. This one’s been on the backburner for awhile, but remains a wonderful place to see the next time you’re in Busan.

With thousands of temples across the peninsula, you’d be forgiven if they all started to look similar. While they’re all unique, you’d need to have a pretty educated background and finely tuned eye to tell them apart.

Enter Yonggungsa, AKA Haedong Yonggungsa, AKA 해동 용궁사. Legend holds that the Great Goddess Buddha of mercy in the sea lives a solitary live, and can appear on the back of a More >

Question from a reader: Seoul vs. Busan vs. Daegu

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January 18, 2012
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A reader writes in:

Hi! Just found out your blog and really liking it. I thought I would ask you some questions regarding your thoughts of Busan, Daegu and Seoul.

I’ll probably go on a trip to Korea this year to take language courses and I can’t  make up my mind on which city to take.

I know that Seoul is a megacity and it feels like one but how’s the other cities in comparison? How’s the feel and atmosphere to them?

Are there alot of shopping and food districts? Are there much to do in these cities? How’s the foreign population in each city? Do you see foreigners everywhere? Is there much to More >

Destination: Shinsegae Centum City (the largest department store in the world – Busan)

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January 3, 2011
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Ratings (out of 5 taeguks): How do I rate destinations?Ease to arrive:Foreigner-friendly:Convenience facilities:Worth the visit:

Directions to Shinsegae Department Store: Take line 2 of the Busan subway system to the Centum City subway station. Shinsegae is connected to the subway station – just follow the signs. Free admission; department store open until 8pm (9pm on weekends and holidays), other attractions open later.

© Chris Backe – 2011

This post was originally published on my blog,Chris in South Korea. If you are reading this on another website and there is no linkback or credit given, More >

Destination: Beomeosa (Busan)

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January 3, 2011
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Ratings (out of 5 taeguks): How do I rate destinations?Ease to arrive:Foreigner-friendly:Convenience facilities:Worth the visit:

Directions to Beomeosa: Take line 1 of the Busan subway system to the Beomeosa subway station. Take exit 5 or 7 to street level, then take an immediate U-turn. Turn down the road in-between two subway exits, then walk uphill this one-way road for 100 meters. Be aware that you’ll be walking the wrong way up this road. At the fork, get on bus 90 and ride that up the three kilometers to the temple’s entrance. Free admission, hours not specified.

© Chris Backe –

More >

Destination: Geumgang Park / Hyujeongam (Busan)

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August 12, 2010
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Author’s note: As a general rule, I don’t usually write a ‘Destination’ about the same place twice (see my previous post on Geumgang Park). My last visit being two years and two cameras ago, I found some parts of this park that I haven’t previously visited. Hope you enjoy.

Geumgang Park offers a full day of exploration – from a large park to the amusement rides, a cable car to a fortress, there’s plenty to take in. I came here during one of my first visits to Busan by myself; this time, the Lady in Red and I went together to enjoy ourselves.

Located near the bottom of 금정산 (Mt. Geumjeong), More >

Destination: Nakdong Estuary Eco Center (Busan)

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August 9, 2010
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Although it’s not yet considered one of the ‘must-see’ destinations while in Korea’s second-largest city, western Busan holds the Nakdong Estuary Migratory Bird Park and Eco Center (낙동강하구에코센터). With 37.7 square kilometers of the southern coast protected, there’s plenty of room for the birds to roam or migrate. There’s enough room for humans to enjoy a picnic, as well.

When entering, it becomes fairly obvious that the Eco Center may be for the humans, but most of the 2.71 square kilometer park is for the birds. The majority of the park is a restricted area for the public, and street lamps More >

Destination: Busan Aquarium (Busan)

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June 24, 2009
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Note: I actually visited Busan Aquarium during my recent trip to Haeundae Beach, but have been so busy that I hadn’t actually written the post until just yesterday. Without further ado, here’s Busan Aquarium.Right along Haeundae Beach is Busan Aquarium, a multi-story aquarium definitely for the tourist crowd. It’s within walking distance of the beach and subway, and offers English at most every turn.

After paying admission and descending the escalator, your eyes gradually adjust to the dark that comprises the majority of the underground space. It certainly attunes your eyes to the clever and More >

Destination: Haeundae Spa Center (Haeundae Beach, Busan)

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June 23, 2009
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Note: I actually visited the Haeundae Spa Center during my recent trip to Busan, but haven’t had the time to write about the experience until today. Without further ado, here it is!It’s time to clean off the salt, sand, and tanning lotion, but you don’t want to pay for a hotel room just to take a shower. Alternatively, you’ve been out in the sun and want to clean up before getting dressed up for a night on the town, Busan-style. Either are decent reasons to check out one of the local hot springs / jimjilbang around Busan. Enter 해운대 온천 센터 (Haeundae oncheon senteo, or Haeundae Spa Center) as a More >

Destination: Haeundae Sand Festival (Busan)

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June 1, 2009
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As you might expect, a sand festival has a lot to see. Why a sand festival? Why not? It’s about that time of year where the weather gets warm, the beaches get nicer, and the swimsuits / suntan lotion get pulled out of the closet for their first use of the year.

So off we go via KTX from Seoul to Busan. Play “I Get Around” by the Beach Boys to get a sense of the mood. A 2 hour and 56 minute train trip later (not including subway time to Seoul Station and from Busan Station to Haeundae), we had arrived.

Former President Roh, immortalized in sand… for the next few days…

This rather awesome More >

Destination: Hurshimchung / Heosimcheong Hot Springs Spa (Busan)

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January 11, 2009
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Author’s note: the two spellings above may cause confusion. In each case, the spelling and pronunciation is based on the Korean for the place – 허심청. The former is how the place refers to itself, while the latter is the proper Romanization – don’t get confused since they sound pretty similar but are written differently.

Hurshimchung Hot Springs / Spa is referred to as one of the better hot springs in Busan, so naturally I had to check it out. My friend Meghan was game, so off we went. Located near Geumgang Park, it’s a great place to relax your muscles after hiking the mountain (even if you More >

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