What I did in Busan
This year for my summer vacation I took a trip to Busan, South Korea. Instead of air travel, my friend and I wanted to be adventurous, so we took a Panstar cruise from Osaka to Busan. Was it luxurious? Probably not to most people, but it was comfortable and so much better than being crammed into an airplane. The best part (besides the complimentary dinner buffet) was that it was affordable. If you're tired of taking planes everywhere and want a change of pace, I would definitely recommend looking into a cruise.
About two years ago I visited Seoul, and I think I prefer Busan to the capital city. To me, Busan was a perfect balance of city and nature. It supports the beach-bum and surfer lifestyle, offers delectable seafood, and is (of course) a shopping paradise. My friend and I also stayed in an airbnb with a host that was very accommodating and helpful whenever we had questions. So it was a lovely trip overall, and I can't recommend this city enough to anyone who wants to visit South Korea. And without further ado, here is what I did in Busan.
I'll start by saying that this was probably my favorite experience in Busan. These are actually peoples' houses, painted in bright colors to attract tourists. You can weave through alleyways and get lost (like us) as you wind through the residents' property. Small museums, restaurants, and cafes exist in certain areas to fuel you after so much walking. There is a map to help guide those who want to take the road more traveled, and in this case I would recommend it for a time if you want to see some beautiful street art and buy souvenirs. Of course, getting lost amongst the whimsical buildings is also pretty charming.
There are several beaches to choose from, but I am pretty sure Haeundae beach is the most popular. The skyline to beach ratio churns out some pretty stunning photos, and the lifeguards make sure to churn out some decent waves from their jet skis. While a bit crowded, this beach is exceptionally clean. You can also rent inner-tubes or a beach umbrella/lounge chair combo. The umbrella/chair combo was around 24000 KRW (about $21) for however long you decided to stay at the beach. After swimming and some much needed sun, we got tacos, nachos, and cocktails at The Fuzzy Navel. ;)
I always try to visit an art museum when I travel. Unfortunately, this one was a bit underwhelming in my opinion, albeit, a wonderful dedication to a single artist. There was only one exhibit going on for a modern artist named Kim Jongsik (1918-1988). I have never heard of him, but his paintings were very abstract or impressionist pieces that mostly illustrated nature. I liked his works overall, and a few especially stood out to me because of his color choice and interesting use of mark. His sketches were also lovely, and I was especially fond of his figure drawings.
The admission to this museum is free, which is a bonus. Also, a giant polka dot pumpkin sculpture by Yayoi Kusama greeted us on the first floor.
Wow this Buddhist temple was spectacular. The bright colors of the buildings pop against the backdrop of sea. There are pathways winding up and down, leading to statues of Bodhisattvas. As you walk across the bridge you can try throwing coins into the giant pots below. I gathered that if your coin made it into the pot then it would bring good fortune, or answer a prayer. But I don't think my coin even hit the water...
Don't miss out on Haedong Yonggungsa. And definitely don't miss out on eating ssiat hotteok. They are fried pockets of heaven filled with cinnamon, brown sugar, and assorted nuts/seeds. But mostly heaven. You can find them at many of the vendors lined up along the pathway leading towards the temple.
We went straight for Gwangali Beach our first night in Busan, and the city lights did not disappoint. The daytime view is also not too bad, and has similar offerings as Haeundae beach. I found this beach to be a little less crowded, but maybe it was because we visited on a weekday. The restaurants in this area are diverse, but many offer sashimi. We got an amazing five course meal for only around 30000 KRW ($27). Millak is apparently known to serve copious amounts of fresh fish, and is walking distance from the beach.
Between the two beaches I visited, I enjoyed both, but maybe preferred Gwangali. There are also Songjeong and Songdo to check out as well.
Shopping, Cafes, and Food
Shopping:
-There is a nice outlet mall near Haedong Yonggungsa.
-I really like Korean cosmetics, so I went to Seomyeon metro station to shop my little heart out. The underground mall has hundreds of different shops, plus there is a LOTTE mall connected to the station if you'd prefer that. My favorite cosmetic store is "Too Cool for School". I really like the name and the brand, but the face lotion and body butter are the best! Here are some of my other favorites from different shops.
1. Too Cool For School: The small white tube is a shimmery brown liquid eyeshadow. Very nice. I'm trying out the hair oil for the first time and it smells really good.
2. Etude House: A pore refining toner and lipstick. I love the color of the lipstick, (BR401) which is a pinkish-nude.
3. Innisfree: Hyaluronic acid makeup wipes and red lipstick.
4. Tony Moly: I haven't worn actual foundation in a really long time, but I use BB or CC cream instead. They are lighter on the skin, and contain other benefits such as SPF. The cute little octopus is a blackhead scrub.
5. Skin Food: The face scrub is not too abrasive, and the cheek tint has some modest shimmer to it. Both smell very pleasant as well.
Food:
-Busan is near the sea, so of course there is plenty of fish. Check out Millak, Gwangan, and Jagalchi night market for some sashimi! At Jagalchi there are restaurants that keep tanks of fish to slice up when you order. Can't get any fresher than that!
-Korean side dishes are plentiful, so be forewarned when ordering food. Most places give out pickled vegetables or kimchi before your main dish.
-Be sure to drink freshly made juice from numerous juice bars located throughout the city.
-Okay, I really love sashimi, but I think my favorite meal was the fried chicken we ate in Gamcheon Culture Village. Korean fried chicken is SO GOOD. Pair it with a beer and I don't know what more you could want.
Cafes:
-I'm always on the hunt for great local cafes in other cities. Lucky for me, there is an entire street in Busan lined with cafes. Jeonpo cafe street has plenty to offer, but we settled for a two story number called Landmark 9. The interior was beautiful and covered in windows, creating plenty of natural light to make your Instagram photos look good. I ate eggs benedict because it's my favorite brunch food, and carrot cake because I haven't eaten it in forever. I would recommend both, but the cake was a little drier than I prefer.
What are you waiting for? Why not book your next trip to Busan? :) Happy traveling!