Frugal Bastard

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Korea Holiday 2013 - Day Nine

Bit of a late start after yesterday discovering that breakfast isn't served in this area until 10:30 as it is more of a nightlife area. Found a quite nice little restaurant. It was just on 10:20 when some Japanese came in and grabbed some beer with their breakfast - the owner spoke to them in Japanese. We also looked around for some late lunch/early dinner but I wasn't expecting to be back too early.

The missus went off to go shopping for the day. The Boy and I went to Jungang Station to buy a one day pass for W4,000 each. A kind, elderly gentleman showed me how to use the bill exchanger otherwise I would have lost my change. Took the subway to Busan Station then grabbed bus no. 184, on which our one day pass didn't work, to the UN Memorial Cemetery in Korea. Missed the stop and got off a couple of stops later. No biggie.

Nice breakfast and The Boy was served extra because he looked skinny

UN Memorial Cemetery in Korea

The cemetery is well maintained. I would like to have seen more stories about the individual soldiers who are buried there as the stories that were told were very interesting. High quality "tourist" attraction. A couple of oldies paying their respects really wanted to speak to The Boy.

Outside I asked a couple of young guys where the Kyoungsung Uni was and was told that it was too far to walk. Catch a no. 51 bus and go three stops. Before heading off we had lunch at a kimbap (sushi) shop. At least the menu isn't difficult to read and you know what you are getting. Duly caught the bus and proceeded to go way past our stop even though I tried pushing the button to alert the driver that I wanted to stop. Should've walked from the start.

Took the subway from Daeyeon Station to Geumgok Station, as instructed by my guide book. We were headed for Geumjeongsanseong Fortress. Couldn't see any obvious signs for this tourist attraction. A lady walking by on the main road said that we needed to walk to the next station (one back). Tried asking an old guy, who didn't want to try to understand me even though I spoke to him in Korean, so I just grabbed a taxi. The ride took nearly 20 minutes, went back three stations and nearly 15 minutes of the drive was uphill. Cost was W8,000. A 40 minutes walk from the subway station - my arse. Stupid guide book.

Geumjeongsanseong

Not as impressive as I had hoped but impressive just the same

Reasonably rugged climbing

The East Gate

We did 30-40 minutes of hiking and found the East Gate. Fairly humid so it was tough going. Caught a bus at the mountain pass, no. 203, which cost W3,500 (more than a regular bus and once again not using our day pass), to the bottom as I noticed that it went to a subway station. Got there just as the next train arrived and were only 10 minutes later arriving back at the hotel than planned.

The Missus and MJ went to the opera - something they had planned a long time ago. The Boy and I watched the movie Shooter then went out for a dinner of pizza. I grabbed my camera and went up Yongdusan Tower. Took a few photos. Just as I was going to head down they turned the lights outside the observation deck and so photos were much easier to take. Only W4,000 for the view. Few nice shots of the tower and Yongdusan Park as well.

Granite peaks

Pizza wasn't bad

Yongdusan Park

View from Yongdusan Tower

Statue of Yi Sun-sin

Notice the homeless guy having a sleep?

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Korea Holiday 2013 - Day Eight

This morning we wandered around for quite a while searching for something agreeable for breakfast. More difficult than actually necessary. Doenjang guk (Chinese cabbage and soy bean paste soup) was good and only W6,000.

Found out from reception that bus no. 8, and the location to catch it, for Taejongdae for The Boy and myself. The missus had other plans and left us to it. I remember that there was an amusement park when I visited 15 years ago. Took a while to locate the actual place to catch the bus, good thing I could read Korean, as it wasn't marked for the tourist. About 25-30 minutes ride from Lotte Department Store and we were there. The lady at the Info Centre was very helpful and advised us to walk around the island in the opposite direction from the Danubi tram. Good advice, as it turned out, as the most difficult section, i.e. uphill, was first in this case.

Not too many tourists at this end of the island early in the day

Memorial to the Korean War

Busts of famous mariners from Busan

Supposed to be a compass overlooking Mangbuseok

Mangbuseok - Waiting for Husband Rock

Fantastic bit of coastline

Stop waiting as hubby is here

View from above the Taejongdae Lighthouse

Saengdo - Tea Kettle Island

Taejongdae Lighthouse

Shimmering sea through the trees

Panorama of Busan from the lookout

Spot the tourist at South Port View Point

And the city isn't too far away from this spot of tranquility

Trying to be arty

Visited the Memorial to the Korean War, Sinseon Rock, Mangbuseok Rock, had a milkshake at the observation deck and had our photo taken at the South Port View Point. Headed back to the info centre to find out about the amusement park - obviously not in existence anymore.

Back to the hotel to meet up with the missus, had lunch at Lotte Department Store, and went to the observation deck and zoo whilst waiting for MJ to join us. Can't believe the number of animals that they had for the children to enjoy playing with. And the views were quite spectacular too.

Friendly chap - and so is the deer

Close to my all-time favourite toilet sign

Prairie dog? Up here?

Looking north (I reckon)

Must be looking south judging by the sunshine

Caught a taxi to Gamcheon Cultural Village for W4,100. The taxi driver couldn't understand why so many people asked for that destination. Slightly interesting, nice concept. Arty, regenerating. It's a formerly rundown section of town that had a number of abandoned homes and the locals didn't want it to die. So it was renewed and artists spruced the place up and it's quite a tourist attraction now. Try the House of Darkness.

Nicely redecorated

More spot the tourists

Very Beatles-esque

Not a lot of space between buildings

You can even go on top of one of the houses

Great view of Gamcheon

MJ knew of a shabu shabu restaurant and we caught a taxi there next. Fantastic food and only W44,000 for four people. Grabbed coffees and ice cream afterwards. I had trouble explaining that my son's ice cream at Baskin Robbins couldn't have nuts, but I tried. No free wifi at Starbucks unless you had an Olleh account - bit pointless really. One girl fell down the stairs whilst we were there but wasn't overly hurt. The Boy and I caught the subway home early to let the girls talk. Of course I chose the wrong exit and had to go back and then up stairs again. Bit of a walk back to the hotel but at least we know where we are by now.