Bustling Busan

In early August, I had travel to Japan to attend the 5th International Partnership Program organized by the Faculty of Science & Engineering, Saga University, Japan. For obtaining the Japanese visa I had to submit the application to the Consulate-General of Japan at Busan. The port city of Busan is South Korea's second largest metropolis, after Seoul. A visit to Busan was hence very much inviting for a travel freak. The necessary homework was carried out. Maps were collected and the train timings verified.

Map of Busan

Busan Subway Map

On the 24th of July the three of us, Dr. Suryakant, Lijo and me boarded the 10.08 KTX from Dong Daegu station for proceeding to Busan.

The Welcome

The Hostess

On either side of the Korea rail road my eyes were treated to a dazzling display by Nature, which had showered its gifts in abundance on these parts of Hankuk. The never ending rows of the lush green mountains, the clouds floating so low as to whisper something into those green giants,

the streams flowing out of the mountains and forming water bodies of various sizes and shapes on the valley, all appending the enchanting calmness of the Korean countryside.
There couldn’t have been a better escape from all the turbulence of the previous weeks. Nature’s peace was flowing into me and I was lost in thoughts when all of a sudden the dream gave way to the reality of the bustling Busan approaching.
We disembarked at the Busan station at about 11.15 AM.

The Busan Station

Dynamic Busan

The Japanese Consulate was at 5 minutes walk from the station, at Choryang- dong. We had no difficulty in locating the place as it was heavily guarded by the police because some demonstrators were waiting to lead a march protesting against Japan’s claim on the Dokdo Island.

We were allowed into the consulate when we showed the documents and were greeted by the photographs of persona non grata on the Japanese soil, the activists of the once dreaded Japanese Red Army.

The lady at the counter was all charm and politeness and guided us graciously through the submission process. She had a minor shock, which she smiled off without looking up, when I told her that I couldn’t recall my full home address in Korea. After making sure that our applications were in order she asked us to come on the next morning as the processing would take one day. She reminded us to bring the token issued along with 7000 WON towards the visa fees.

All the police men guarding the consulate looked very young and their leader, slightly older, wished us and asked us where we were from. He smiled, when we told him that we were from India. Dr. Suryakant had reserved room in a motel nearby and had the map of the locality with him. But we had trouble locating the motel as there were no sign boards in English. So we approached the police ‘chief’ with the map. He asked us to wait there and began running, his assistant on toe. We were wondering what he was up to, when his assistant came running back and led us to the motel. We thanked the chief and his team and proceeded to the Grand Motel.

There was an elderly lady at the reception and she understood not a word of English or our elementary Hangul. So Dr. Suryakant called his lab mate in the University and he talked to the lady. We checked into the motel by paying WON 30,000, which was economical for Korean standards in a city like Busan.

After taking rest for half an hour we set out to explore Busan. I had plans for the park at the Mt. Yong Du where the Busan tower was located and if time permitted the famous Haeundae beach both easily accessible by the Busan Subway. First we procceded to the Yong Du San park for which we had to get down at the Nampo-dong station(111) only 5 minutes from Choryang-dong(114) by the subway.

School Girls as volunteers @ Choryang-dong station helped us to take the tickets :-)

Subway map on the train(In Hangul and English)

At the Nampo-dong station there are clear pointers for tourists. The first timers will have no difficulty in finding their way to the park.

The escalators to the Mt. Yong Du start here

On the way up

Entrance to the Buddhist Temple

Buddha's Birthday :-)

On the way to the temple

The Temple
The Lord

The Jong
Busan Tower on top of the mountain

The map
The Dragon
The Book Cafe
The School Children on picnic with their Teacher
Busan City Tour


The Bus Service to Mt. Yong Du
Busan Tower
Inside the Tower

The Artefacts
Busan!
from the top of the tower
The Ferry Terminal
The 'Taj' inside the tower
Beautiful...


Museum of Musical Instruments
Senior Citizens .......
favorite meeting place
To Haeundae Beach
Out of the Subway @Haeundae
Haeundae Market The Beach


Beach Art


The Mask Dance on the beach

familiar institutions at Choryang-dong
The Question: Back at Busan Station