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?

Korea Holiday 2013 - Day Seven

Breakfast together with S-I-L and niece in our room. Packing, packing and more packing. The missus checked the train timetable and found that not much was available from Gyeongju to Busan. It was a public holiday after all - Hangul Day. We drove to the train station before 11am only to discover that the next train we could get would only having standing "seats" from 2 o'clock for a two hour ride. Not ideal. If we paid a bit extra for the KTX we would have seats at 12:41 on a much quicker ride. Bit of a no-brainer really. Decided to do that. It did mean that we had to drive 15-20 minutes to the KTX station which was a bit out of town and I found the entry to be confusing - I drove through the taxi entry. Bit of a snack before our 28 minutes, 90 km journey. Two hours of standing my arse. And to think that the three tickets still only cost about $26.

Gabled roof even at the petrol station in Gyeongju

Another very fancy automated ticket machine, i.e. cameras

New Gyeongju Station - for KTX only

Our KTX

KTX from Gyeongju to Busan

The landscape is quite striking

Small village

Village and river - great combination

Caught a taxi to the Busan Hotel which only cost W3,300. So, not too far away. Lots of Japanese staying in the hotel. The room that we had booked was for two people so we changed it to a three person room for an extra $30/night. We were only able to book for two people online so it was fortunate that the hotel wasn't really busy. The corridors smell of cigarette smoke, the floor wasn't clean, the light and A/C in our room were on all the time our key was in place for room power but the bathroom was pretty good. Even had a bidet.

Went hunting for lunch and settle on Lotte Department Store - bibimbap. MJ, the missus' best friend, joined us.

What a fantastic name for a shop

Stone pot mixed rice and vegetables - dolseot bibimbap

After lunch everyone else returned to the hotel and I walked to the International Passenger Terminal for some tourist information. A very elderly gentleman assisted me. He is a volunteer translator at the UN Memorial Cemetery in Korea. Very helpful gentleman but my planned visit there was not going to coincide with his attendance. Back to the hotel for some shut-eye. MJ and the missus talked non-stop. Nearing the oh-my-jaw-hurts non-stop talking.

Out for dinner at a place MJ new well - Seoga and Cook. Some of the best food I have ever eaten. The spaghetti was magnificent and chicken and salad excellent. Couldn't believe each plate for two was only W18,000. Spent the later part of the evening at Yongdusan Park. MJ bought us ice creams.

Besties - and fabulous food

Seoga and Cook - you must eat here in Busan

Yongdusan Park in Busan

Earlier in the evening the missus and MJ searched for a laundromat and only found a guest house (hostel-like accommodation) and they were prepared to allow us to use the washing machine. Paid them W2,000 instead of the guest fee of W1,000, which is all they wanted. Talk about great hospitality - especially considering that we weren't their guests.