Day 57 Thank You Houxiao
Today was great. I don't know how to put it in words, but it just felt like a full circle.
In the afternoon, i met up with a friend whom i deeply regret not spending more time with. She said that she feels as though she has known me for a long time. I think i feel the same way too.
Day 56 Good food + Bauhaus visit with a friend!
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YOO LIKES MEE?! |
Day 55 The Last Chapter
I headed to Hannam for my last futsal session with the team.
Labels: Food, Sports, Thoughts
Day 55 Seodaemun Prison Hall
Seodaemun Prison Hall is the saddest place in Korea.
Seodaemun Prison History Hall is a special museum located at Seodaemun Independence Park. It was built near the end of the Joseon Dynasty (~1910), and was where Japanese soldiers tortured then later executed Korean followers of the Independence Movement. Seodaemun Prison History Hall was built in remembrance of Seodaemun Prison, and to salute the Korean patriots. There you'll find seven jail cells, a historical exhibition hall, an execution room, watchtowers and a basement jail cell where Yu Gwan-sun an historic figure during the independence movement died.
Labels: Hidden Gems
Day 54 The Dark Night Rises at Gangnam!
Today i watched a movie! I seldom watch movies and after Avatar came out, i didn't enter a cinema for about a year. The hunger Games was the last movie that i caught.
Day 53 A Day at Home
We were originally supposed to go swimming but the weather was really quite terrible. I spent my time chatting with Mr and Mrs Kim. Mr Kim also shared about his trip to Las Vegas. He showed me the photo magazines of the Grand Canyon, the Zion Canyon and the Bryce Canyon. He encouraged me to go on a road trip. If there ever is a reason for me to get a driving license, i think this would be it - to rent a car and embark on a road trip to the canyons.
So we stayed indoors. After lunch, i spotted a sunburnt Joo Kyung throwing the baseball against the sliding doors. Being a big-sister-wannabe, i picked up a toy bat and we ended up playing baseball in the living room. Later on, we also played our favourite 1v1 game. I had so much fun laughing, shielding the ball, attempting to dribble past him, getting shoved and watching him fall down on the mat. During that brief hour or so, i felt like a child again, full of youthful innocence and rid of worries and regrets. Life felt really simple.
Day 52 Daejeon: Sports Carnival
In the wee hours of the morning, i hopped onto a chartered bus and headed to a carnival held at Daejeon University. The event turned out to be a really huge one involving members from all over South Korea. To think i thought that there would only be about 50 people from the team. HAHA. We waited for hours for our turn to play some soccer, only to be informed that there were only two female teams participating. We ended up playing only one game. X.X
Day 51 Goodbye Busan: Sunset Bus
At 4pm, i left my host mum's home for the bus terminal. I am very fortunate to have found such a kind and accommodating host mum. Thank you Mrs Kim, for letting me stay in such a comfortable home. I will remember the way you imitated how Koreans walk and how your neighbours think you climb mountains every day HAHAHA. Because of you, i feel so comfortable in Busan. I am really fortunate to have met such a sweet and sincere person like you. I will remember the times that we spent chatting while eating and while watching dramas.
Day 51 Cafe: Mio Cafe (at Busan's Book Alley)
Labels: Cafes
Day 51 Busan: Igidae Park
Labels: Hidden Gems
Day 50 Busan: Bujeon Market
Bujeon Market
Labels: Hidden Gems
Day 50 Cafe: A+ Bubble and Bubble Tea
Stumbled upon a bubble tea cafe while shopping at PNU street! I like what i ordered even though it is a bit pricey.
Labels: Cafes
Day 50 Busan: Pusan National Univ. Street
Retail therapy at the streets in front of PNU.
To get there, come out of exit 3 or Pusan National Univ. station.
Day 50 Busan: Beomosa Temple
'Beomosa Temple was built by the great priest Uisang in 678 during the reign of King MunMu of the Silla Dynasty, as one of the ten HwaEom temples in Korea. It was established to realise the purpose of HwaEom which pursues life full of happiness and generosity.'
Labels: Temples
Day 49 Cafe: Youzin
I went in thinking that it is a cafe, but after checking out their website, i think it is primarily a guesthouse. whoops. I ordered a cup of Haagen Daaz strawberry ice cream and sat down for a while. Should have tried their shaved ice... The friendly lady who attended to me spoke fluent Mandarin.
To get there, follow the sign(at the end of the cultural trail) that directs you to the book cafe. It will be about 50m away from the book cafe. It is nearer to the bus stop that i alighted from at the top of the hill but i am not 100% sure of the directions.
Labels: Cafes
Day 49 Busan: Taegeuk-do Village / Gamcheong Culture Village
Labels: Hidden Gems
Day 49 Busan: Somewhere near Taegeuk-do Village
I boarded bus #2 from exit 6 of Toseong station. This place is a couple of stops before the actual terminating stop at the top of the hill that leads to Taegeuk-do Village. I was on another side of the hill.
I alighted initially because i was captivated by the view. The cityscape is a mess, a beautiful mess. I remember standing on a rooftop, looking ahead, skimming through all the cubes and cuboids that extend till the horizon. Hundreds of thousands of lives were within my sight. The vastness of Busan city is overwhelming, but enchanting at the same time.
Labels: Hidden Gems
Day 49 Busan: Haedong Yonggungsa
I got up at 7am today but i went back to sleep after having the yummy ginseng porridge that my host mom cooked. I left home for Haedong Yonggungsa at 10am.
It takes about 6 minutes to get to the temple from the bus stop. When i arrived at the stairs leading down to the temple and got my first glimpse of the main area from afar, i gasped in awe.
It was really crowded. I guess that is the price to pay for being beautiful. The crowds that flock there (unintentionally) disturb the tranquility of the place. It used to be a place of worship for devout buddhists, but now it has to open its doors to tourism. That is why i find the scene of the head monk chanting and the worshippers praying in the main hall a beautiful sight. There were tripods with self-timed cameras on them, couples and families posing in front of the holy statues and people touring around the temple grounds(sadly, i am one of them). Despite the ubiquitous yakking in various languages, the ones who are truly there out of faith and devotion remain oblivious to our presence.
Labels: Temples
Day 48 Busan: Bosu-dong Book Street
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| “It is what you read when you don't have to that determines what you will be when you can't help it.” ― Oscar Wilde |
Labels: Hidden Gems
Day 48 Cafe: Sun Design Coffee
I dropped by this cafe because i needed a place to rest my tired legs.
Labels: Cafes
Day 48 Busan: Gukje Market, Gwangbok-ro Street
I got out from exit 5 of Nampo-dong station and somehow i walked till i found my way to Gwangbok-ro fashion street. From there, i found my way to Gukje Market and BIFF and parts of the adjacent markets. The streets were quite packed but i still enjoyed walking through the crowded streets and browsing through whatever attracts me.
I found myself at Gukje Market and i searched for the food alley. I think bibim tangmyeon might be one of the signature dishes in this market because there are a number of shops selling the same thing. I ordered a bowl without vegetables. I like the that the glass noodles used are soft and easy to chew. They added some kind of sauce(tasted like sesame oil/soy sauce) and hot sauce as well. It is really spicy for me even though i scooped out a small portion of the hot sauce, but delicious nonetheless. I finished everything on my bowl.
Labels: Food, Hidden Gems
Day 48 Busan: Taejongdae
This morning, i boarded bus #101 from the area near Munhyeon to Taejongdae. The bus passes Busan station as well. The weather is hot as hell. It is so hot that i felt like a mermaid on land. I purchased a ticket for the shuttle bus and waited for about 30 minutes before i could get on one. I also tried packet milkshake! It tastes really good and it only costs 2000won.
I alighted at the observatory and walked towards the lighthouse. I haven't seen the sea in a pretty long time, so i relished the time i spent (under the scorching hot sun) at the cliffs that overlook the sea. Standing on the edge of the land did make me feel powerless. A tidal wave could come and sweep me away like how i use a duster to sweep away specks of dust. Humans will always remain at the mercy of Mother Nature. With that said, Nature is beautiful, jaw-droppingly beautiful.
Day 47 Hello Busan! and Goodnight...
This morning i overslept. Again. I set off for Busan at 10.40am, only to reach my host mum's home at about 4pm... She cooked a bowl of my favourite Mul Naengmyeon for me before i decided to take a nap and ended up sleeping all the way till 10pm. This was how i wasted one day in Busan...
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Labels: Homestay
