The doors close on
the Airport Express at 12:30pm on Friday 28 June 2024. I am off to Busan (via
Seoul) for the long weekend, before returning to Seoul for 2.5 days for work.
It’s been just over 3 months since I was last
away. Correction - away on a flight…. I did go to China (by train and ferry) 2
months ago.
There is no line when I arrive at the Cathay
Pacific counters and within minutes I have my boarding pass.
Ooh my! The security line is out the door. I
have never ever seen this so bad before. And to make matters more fun the air
conditioning doesn’t seem to be working very well.
Finally it’s my turn to go through and within
minutes I’m walking into the restaurant in the first class lounge. Food is
needed and quickly. For whatever reason I didn’t eat breakfast this morning.
Feeling refreshed and refuelled it’s time to log
into work and get on a few calls.
I was supposed to have a work call at 2.30pm. After waiting on the zoom for over 10 minutes I give up. Honestly people - be on time!!!
Finally the gate is announced, no surprises but it’s at the other end of the airport. Time to pack up and head to a lounge closer.
Walking to the gate is very close to being in a sauna. I don’t recall HK airport being this hot before. It’s far from pleasant.
After what seems like forever just sitting here we pull back from the gate 20 minutes later than our departure time. Let’s hope we can make up time in the air.
As we start our descent the pilot announces its 23 degrees in Seoul. Shivers I hope I don’t freeze! HK has been over 32 degrees recently.
We thud loudly into Incheon International airport at 9pm local time. Within milliseconds there are people getting up and walking around. What on earth is wrong with people???!!! Sit down!
I recall the first time I came to Seoul our parking bay was miles away from the terminal. Thankfully today is nowhere near like that.
As soon as I get close to the immigration area my eyes start scanning for APEC / Diplomatic line. Bingo - off I go.
There is one person being served when I arrive. Thank you APEC card! Super easy and quick to enter Korea.
I have carry on bags so no need to wait around for luggage. I follow the signs to the train and pick up the pace. Really hope to be able to get on a train before 10pm.
I have a few minutes wait before the 9.44pm fast train to Seoul Station arrives. All going well I should be at the hotel by 11pm.
When the conductor asks for my ticket I notice there is a seat and car listed on there - whoops I hadn’t seen that before. I’m assured all is fine and no one has a ticket for the seat I’m sitting in. Phew.
The 43 minute journey passes by quickly. I had purposely booked a hotel at Seoul Station as I’m leaving tomorrow morning on the 9.58am train to Busan.
The instructions from the hotel were LONG and not easy for someone who hasn’t made this trip before. I ended up stopping at two information desks along the way. About 20 minutes later I arrive at the hotel. I’m glad it’s not 34 degrees!
Check-in is easy and thankfully no issue with changing my credit card. Some nasty individual stole my credit card number during the week and shopped up a storm (close to EUR 4,700). More super painful than anything else having to update all my auto payments to another payment method. Thank goodness I have two credit cards!!!! Different banks so no issue there.
I jump into bed basically 2 hours after we parked at the gate - pretty good considering how far away the airport is from Seoul central.
My alarm wakes me at 7.15am on Saturday 29 June. More sleep is absolutely needed as I was still wide awake at 12.15am.
The view is breakfast goes for miles and miles. Reminds me a bit of Tokyo.
The coffee helps wake me up.
Check-out is very efficient. I then do the reverse walk I did last night. There are a lot more people around now but it’s still early so I’m sure it will get a lot busier later.
I continue walking through to the train station, eyes scanning for the departure board to see what platform I’m departing from.
Walking down to the platform I see my train is there, great.
Carriage and seat are located. Fingers crossed we are going in the direction the seat is facing! I am surprised how many other people are on this train. All the seats around me are occupied.
We depart Seoul Station right on time at 9.58am. Busan here I come!
We pull into Busan Station right on time, 12.45pm (2 hours 45 minutes after leaving Seoul). The journey passed by quickly, helps to have something downloaded on Netflix to watch.
I had previously researched how to get to the hotel from Busan station, so follow the signs to the Metro.
I hadn’t planned on rain though. Ooh no.
Luck is on my side, my subway card I purchased when I visited Seoul over 9 years ago still has money on it and more importantly still works. Ye ha! I can worry about getting cash out another day.
On arrival at the hotel I’m able to check in immediately. Great. My room is definitely bigger than I expected. Great views down to the street.
Just as I’m about to head out to go wondering the heavens open. Right, that means I’m staying put.
Hunger finally takes over and I have to go outside. This weather is NOT wanted. The front desk gives me a couple of recommendations for BBQ. Great!
As I get downstairs the rain increases. Bloody hell! Plan B is to go into the station area to see what food I can find.
One of the first signs I see is for Seomyeon Station, which is close to the restaurant recommendation. Great. I’ll be able to walk inside for a lot of the journey.
As I exit the Lotte shopping mall I notice everyone has umbrellas, never a good sign. And especially when I don’t have an umbrella.
In the end I decide I need to run across the road, at least this way I’m slightly closer to the restaurant.
Standing here undercover I really don’t know what to do. Make a run for the restaurant (and get drenched!) or head back to Lotte department store and see what I can find there.
Aaah the rain is getting heavier and heavier and the number of people around increases tenfold. Right that’s it I’m heading back to Lotte, once the rain eases off slightly. This is far from fun…..
For those of you who have been hungry and can’t decide what to eat will know how I’m feeling. I’m walking around the food court (much fancier than it sounds!) trying to decide what to eat. There seems to be tables free at all the non-Korean restaurants. Nope, not today!!
Right a decision has been made - pork belly BBQ and a beer. Amazing!
I trace my earlier steps back to the hotel, super grateful to be able to walk underground.
When I get to the top of the stairs it’s beyond pouring. The hotel is less than 10 meters away but I would be completely soaked if I went out in this rain!!
There are two people standing very close by with umbrellas. They appear to notice me waiting and hold up their umbrella to offer me a cover up. So lovely!!!
I wake to rain on Sunday 30 June 2024. Aah not what I had planned for. Hey ho, I have to go out exploring Busan rain or no rain.
Breakfast is a lot busier than I thought it would be when I arrive just before 8.30am.
I grab an umbrella from the front desk before heading out. Jagalchi Fish Market, here I come.
It is clearly not my day with ATM’s. After trying two different machines I call HSBC. Everything is ok with my card. Right time to find another machine. I recall last night seeing one at Lotte department store so head off there.
Aaah it doesn’t open until 10.30am (for another 15 minutes). The friendly security guard informs me there is an atm in the Lotte Hotel. Off I go.
Machine located, card accepted, transaction declined. Aaah. Take two. Same outcome. FFS. Right Uber it is. I MUST get Japanese yen in Hong Kong before I head to Tokyo. Don’t need to repeat this “fun”.
Just when I’m about to give up and head back to the hotel a driver accepts me. Woo hoo!!!
As I’m walking into Jagalchi Fish Market, I spy an ATM try. Ooh please work. No. Aaah.
There aren’t that many people here which is nice, means I can slowly wander and look at the many different types of sea creatures on offer.
A couple of the stalls ask if I would like to buy, no thank you. Perhaps I would have if I had money…..
I continue my wandering before heading upstairs. As soon as I open the door I’m hit with the dried seafood smell. I won’t be up here for long!
I’m very pleased to see no rain drops when I walk outside. Time for me to get wandering.
I continue to wander around the shore line until I’m forced to go inland.
This does mean I get to see the local neighbourhood’s though, so that’s a positive. It’s nice to be out walking.
I continue walking to Busan Station. First stop is the bathroom followed by topping up my transport card. I have a grand total of KRW 1,250 on me which won’t even get me a one way ride. But add that to the money I have on my card I’ll be aok.
Aaaaaahh it’s really not my day! The 1,000 note is taken nice and easily, the coins not at all. In the end I go to the station information desk. They inform me the minimum to add on a card is 600 and that I should have added the coins before the note. Of course!!!
Time to continue walking.
In need of a drink I stop at one of the local places. It’s sooo annoying not having money! Thankfully the convenience store takes credit card.
Outside is a picnic table which I sit down at. The light breeze is nice. I really hope the rain will stay away. Not sure I’m up to walk for another hour plus given the walking I’ve already done. Time will tell.
As soon as I finish my rice triangle (I’m sure there is a proper name….) the rains begins.
I walk to the main road before ordering an Uber, which thankfully doesn’t take too long to arrive. As soon as I get in the heavens well and truly open. Talk about timing.
I recall I have some HKD and the hotel has a currency machine. Fingers crossed this works. Excellent, the machine takes HKD. Not so good is I need my passport. Back to the room I go.
Right, have money. Can travel. FINALLY!!!
I head down to the metro station to load money onto my transport card. Crazy how out of it you feel with no money.
I have a couple of hours relaxing in the room.
I got some restaurant recommendations from a friend of a friend before I came to Seoul. Now that I can travel freely (i.e. have money….) I’m going to try one out.
Google maps inform me the bus stop is a few minutes walk from the hotel, bingo! However the stop it has me at isn’t a bus stop…… I ask someone for help and she kindly walks me to the bus stop.
As I waiting for the lights to change I notice a 141 bus coming. Excelling timing.
The bus journey passes by quickly, always something to look at.
Once I get my bearings the restaurant is less than 50 meters from the bus stop. Perfect. I’m told it’s a small wait for the table, no problem.
Then the fun begins. I order a beer super easily. The meat part not so easy. I’m told I need to order two, but I only want one. In the end I decide to leave - I know not good, but if I had stayed and ordered two items the bill would have been over USD 130. Perhaps next time…
I walk towards the Haeundae Beach, as I get closer the number of people around increases tenfold! The sea is very angry! A surfers paradise.
I continue wandering, coming to the pedestrian street. Sooo many good places to eat/drink but they all appear to be non Korean food. No thanks.
In the end I decide just to head back to the hotel. I’ll work out dinner once I get there.
Absolutely must research dinner places for tomorrow night in Seoul - can’t have this happening again.
Epic failure on dinner - it’s beer, rice triangle and chips. Must do better next trip.
The traffic wakes me on Monday 1 July just after 6.30am. There is no rain - ye ha! Let’s hope it stays that way!!!
After packing up a bit more I head to breakfast. Coffee is needed.
The heat and humidity hits me as I walk out of the door of the hotel. Finally! Although I’m sure later I’ll be finding it too much.
I have a short wait before the train arrives. I’m heading to Gamcheon Culture Village.
I’m standing at a bus stop trying to work out where the bus stop for the village is when a smaller bus appears and motions me over. Ummm ok, I guess. He holds up a sign that says 1 - 2 - 1. Who knows. But I get on and get the last seat. Lots of people get on after me so fingers crossed I’m on the right bus.
As the bus begins to drive uphill I’m super thankfully I decided not to walk the 1.3 km to the Gamcheon Culture Village. A shower would have been needed at the top!!
Gamcheon Culture village is known for its layered streets and brightly painted houses. Built on a steep mountain slope, with its twisted labyrinth-like alleys (thanks Wikipedia) it’s a good workout wandering around.
I have a good hour wandering around Gamcheon Culture village before taking the bus back to Toseong Station, then metro to Bujeon station. I’m actually glad I didn’t come yesterday as it think it would have been packed with tourists.
It’s nice to sit down and be in air conditioning again.
On arrival at Bujeon Station I head straight to Bujeon Market. I definitely feel like the tourist here as basically everyone is either pushing a shopping cart or carrying bags.
The fresh fruit and vegetables look amazing. You could purchase basically everything in this market.
Just when I think I’ve come to the end another alleyway appears. This place is huge!
After collecting my bags I decide to head to the train station earlier than needed. In the hope I can get on an earlier train. Of course because I’m not rushing everything goes smoothly.
On arrival at the train station I’m told all the trains after full today apart from one that leaves 20 minutes before mine but only arrives 8 minutes earlier. The lady kindly informs me my train is the better train. Ok, I’ll wait.
I head upstairs to the food court to get lunch. So much selection. I decide on Kimbap - the Korean sushi. I find a table then wait for my number to be called.
It doesn’t disappoint!
I enjoy sitting watching the world go by before boarding my train.
We pull out of Busan Station right on time at 2.20pm. Thankfully my seat is forward facing. Seoul here I come!
Goodbye Busan, it’s been nice to be here. I would like to return when it’s not raining so much!
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