Our visit to Busan today was attributed to the fact that we were dodging a super typhoon. As it was unexpected, we had no idea what was in store for us. Having wasted enough of our internet minutes re-organising Incheon and Beijing, we decided to opt for a Princess Tour instead of trying to source it privately…. We chose the Haedong Yonggunsa Temple tour which also took us to the Apec site and ended at the international market in town, where we defected instead of heading back to the ship.
It was a lovely sail into Busan – Amongst the mountains and out of each valley, clusters of white high-rise buildings jutted out, standing straight and tall in stark contrast against the dark green background. The sun was shining and the skies were blue and did not share the same smoggy characteristics of Incheon
I must be dumb, as I was not expecting such a modern city, and if I did do my research properly I would have learnt that Busan is the second biggest city in South Korea.
So today we were doing the Princess shuffle, gathering in the Princess theatre branded with our tour number stickers. Actually ran efficiently well, as we were quickly called to exit the ship and meet up with our bus…
Following the coastline, we crossed the Gwangan Bridge, an amazing and the longest suspension bridge in Korea which boasts two levels for cars to travel across and back.
Haedong Yonggungsa Temple is located by the sea, so the views are spectacular no matter where you look. On the walk up to the temple, you first pass markets stalls selling everything from trinkets to delicious looking street food. Then as you get closer you are welcomed by twelve statues representing animals of the Chinese zodiac. Like a guard of honour, they stand lining the path that leads the way. In every nook and cranny, there is another statue or Buddha to ensure you do not lose your way. You are led up and downstairs and over bridges, all with breathtaking views until you reach the Temple. Being left to our own devices to wander and absorb the atmosphere, we wandered back to the bus.
The next stop was Dongbaek Island, where the stunning Apec House is surrounded by beautiful gardens and parks. It was built for the 2005 APEC Economic Leaders Meeting. Once again magnificent views out across the ocean and back towards the city.
Our last stop was the Gukje International Markets, where just like any Asian market you could buy an assortment of souvenirs, clothes, bags, shoes and any type of Street food you could imagine. This is where we left the tour so we could wander around all the stalls and shops that line the lanes that criss-cross each other at our leisure.
Across the road from the international market is the Jagalchi Fish Market. An amazing place housed in a building whose shape from a distance represents a seagull. Everything is carefully laid out with water constantly being pumped through the tanks as most of the sea life is still alive. Tanks of crabs, lobsters, sea urchins and fish of all shapes and sizes. Other unusual creatures, that on first impression, resemble a tray of raw sausages or some other phallic symbol, a little off-putting when they start to squirm around. One vendor approached us and said that we could purchase any fish and on the second floor they would create an amazing meal for you.
It would have been tempting but we had already tried out the street food up in the Gukje Market. I enjoyed a small bowl of dim sum, potstickers or Goyzas (depending on where you are from), and Garry savoured a foot long tender honey soy chicken skewer.
Those of you who have sailed with us before know how much Garry loves his soft-serve ice-cream. Now as part of the Princess user pays policy you are no longer able to enjoy a free ice-cream from the parlour, but instead the new fancy New Zealand brand for a minimum cost of around $5. You can imagine Garry’s excitement when we found a vendor selling 30 cm long soft-serve ice-cream. He was licking his lips as he watched the ice-cream spiral higher and higher on its cone. It was thick and really cold, and Garry slowly savoured every millimetre trying to avoid the consequential brain freeze.
I chose something a little more authentic. Like a doughnut, the batter mixture with a brown sugar filling is shallow fried on a hot plate. Once cooked and still hot, a slit is made and filled with a nut mixture…. OMG it was worth the 15 min wait. The brown sugar melted into a caramel sauce that coated the nuts that was sandwiched in the doughnut casing…. I can still taste the deliciousness even though it is now just a memory.
In Busan, there was a free shuttle from the port to the city. The drop off/pick up was right where we were. Unfortunately, by the time we were ready to go back, so was half the ship and as we waited in the hot sun the line snaked back well and truly into the market. Although we waited quite a while for the next bus, several turned up at the same time so the majority of passengers were accommodated.
Back on the pier there was a concert of both traditional and modern dancing (remember Gangman style originates from Korea). Girls dressed in traditional costume contrasting against the girls with the mini skirts and high heels gyrating to the modern sounds of Korea. As we sailed away you were left with a warm fuzzy feeling whilst they waved signs asking us to come back. Damn it … another place I want to visit again!!
And so it is “Sea La Vie” from the beautiful Sun Princess.
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