Busan or Bust

As our summer was quickly creeping away; three friends and I decided that we needed one last summer getaway before it was no longer an option! Our obvious destination was Busan, South Korea. Although Busan is the second largest city in Korea, it sits on the coast and has only 2 million residents. It is a popular destination for both locals and tourists and is a must-see for all of those who have lived in Korea.

One Friday after work, I rushed through the subway station to the KTX train terminal, where I was meeting my friends. We boarded the high-speed train at 8:00 and set off for Busan. We drank soju and played cards as our train moved towards Busan at a steady pace of 275 KPH (about 170 MPH). The three hour trip went quickly and we arrived in Busan at 11:00. We checked into a pension, freshened up, and hit the town.




Busan did have a lot of bright lights and a lot of bars-but it was clear that there weren’t nearly as many people! We bar hopped from place to place and ended our night with budechigae. (a famous Korean/US soup)



On Saturday, we relaxed on Haeundae beach (which has recently become popular since a Korean action film took place there). We drank soju, had fried chicken delivered, and people watched all day long.



That evening, we also hung out near the beach, drinking soju and laughing even more!



Sunday, we visited the local fish market. We browsed the rows and rows of live shell fish, crab. Octopus, squid, and numerous other sea creatures. Eventually we decided to purchase whole shrimp and clams. A few steps through the market late we also decided to buy a whole crab-which I got to hold before we ate it! The live goods were handed to a local restaurant owner who cooked them for us-the meal was delicious, and quite and experience!





We then boarded the train back to Seoul! It was a quick weekend, but it was well worth it! It was great to see a more relaxed Korean lifestyle, breathe in some fresh air, and get to know another popular city. Busan was a great break from Seoul as well as a nice slice of summer fun!