Kiwi in Korea 6 - Busan

Hi all

It was a long weekend here so K and I finally braved the buses and trains and went to Busan.  We stayed at Haeundae Beach, which is apparently famous, well it's famous in Korea and my supervisor used to have this picture on his office wall (because it contrasted starkly people wise with our local beaches in Nelson - you should know this is my idea of hell, however the beach is only like this in the summer holidays here in Korea - I intend to avoid at that time).  I am taking K to Japan in August for my week holiday.

This weekend was a long weekend and the 21st sand sculpture contest at the beach so it was still busy (this is the road to the beach and our hotel).

We went shopping in the days - it was great and I only went to the beach in the morning between 7 and 8.  It was great I love walking with my feet in the water and the ocean smells just like the ocean at home (funny that , just like the subway smelt like Syndey subway - some smells are just universal). this end of the beach reminded me of Wellington and the other end reminded me of the Gold Coast *shrugs* (in case you are wondering those are binoculars (I think) at the top right)

Protest at importing meat from countries with Mad Cow's disease 

and for the Kiwis - Maui fishes up Te Ika A Maui (the North Island)

First day's shopping was all done at the megabox in Haeundae the only thing I bought was the green bag (it was hand made), and then we went to the movies - Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull and Kung Fu Panda - bloody great getting to watch movies in English

hehe, can't go shopping in Korea and not buy a t-shirt without bad English

On Saturday we went to Lotte and I bought K a new mp4 player (it was really expensive but what the hey) - saw these t-shirts and immediately thought of Butter.

We then went to Foreigners St (also known as Texas st) but it was really diasppointing, the range of goods wasn't very good and the street smelt like urine and some of the shops smelt like wet dog =/  Afterwards we went to Gukje markets but we were both tired and ratty and just wanted to go back to the motel and watch telly by that stage - woot NCIS was on, yay for Magee.

 at Gukje markets - sheesh, I'm trying, I'm trying.

 Magee Rocks

Generally everbody was very helpful and patient with the dumb waeguk (who struggled with the ticketing machines - they would often spit my money back out).  The only nuisance was this man on our way home, we weren't sure of the bus to get on and this old man was helping me, this other man thought he would help too by hitting me on the arm (hard) and pointing (the same way the old guy took me) and then he kept asking for 100 won.  I was like wtf.  I gave it to him, it is like 10cents and it got rid of him.  I joked to K that I just got mugged for 10cents.  lol

Hope you all had a good  weekend =)  Any stories to share?