Buddha sand sculpture. The talented sculptor is wearing the red wig in front.
Friday, May 21st was Buddha's birthday and a paid holiday for most people in South Korea. So for the three day weekend, a great group of gals and myself went to Busan, the second largest city in South Korea and the largest port city in Korea. Busan is such a sweet place complete with mountains, the Nakdong river, and a beautiful coast. On a clear day on Haeundae beach you can see Japan! We had a blast navigating with the subway, spending an evening on Haeundae beach, enjoying a boat tour, visiting an aquarium, exploring the famous Talgalchi fish market, and swimming through the rain at Haedong Yonkungsa Temple. There is sooo much to do and see in Busan!
Great traveling buddies!
Erin from Canada, Anne-Mari from South Africa, Alva from New York, Jenni from Indiana
Sharing a seat on Anne-Mari's first subway ride!
Coffee makes Jenni SING!
Mexican food! What a treat!
Haeundae Beach... a bit packed because of the holiday.
Smoothie/Coffee break!
Busan Boat Tour
Quite romantic for the young couples!
Glowing "Gwangan Bridge"
These lovely gals asked their dad to take a picture with us.
Kimchi x5!
Our boat!
BUSAN AQUARIUM, a bit packed as well, because of the holiday. I don't know what was more fun, seeing the fish or watching people!
"Unda da Sea.... Unda da sea...."
Monster crabs! I couldn't believe how huge there were!!
"Finding Nemo" gang
Shark Exhibit. It was awesome seeing the sharks, but observing the shark's audience was priceless!
I'm not sure who was more intrigued!
Jenni has the same dolphin head band at home.
TAGALCHI FISH MARKET. There was such a huge variety of fish, alive and dead. Many people had their stands of fish in front and dining tables in the back. All you had to do is pick out your meal and they would cook it up for you right there.
It rained so much! While walking around it was easy to get tangled up with everyone's umbrellas on the narrow streets.
This lady was straightening out her fish.
Check out the sting rays!
A Customer ordered this live octopus.
We watched this lady twist and tug on this squirming octopus until it stopped moving to then put in a plastic bag and sent home with it's buyer. Eeeek!!
A specialty here is Octopus. Not only dead octopus, but sometime people will order it alive! The seller takes the octopus (usually a smaller one) and chops it up into pieces. While the pieces are still squirming, they are put on a plate and eaten with sesame sauce so that the pieces don't suction to you cheek or throat! Imagine trying to eat squirming pieces of octopus with your chopsticks!
A variety of mysterious sea creatures! On the right side are wriggling skinned eels ready for cooking.
The wet and empty streets near our hotel.
HAEDONG YONKUNGSA TEMPLE
A line of the twelve Chinese zodiac symbols in statue form.
Year of the TIGER!
Haedong Yongkungsa Temple is not only so enchanting to see, but it's very special, as well. Most Buddhist temples in South Korea are up in the mountains or in the country side; this temple is one of the very few right on the coast. For Buddha's birthday weekend, the temple was decorated with hundreds of colorful lanterns.
The soft, but constant rain added a neat dynamic to our visit at the temple. Even with the rain, the weather was still warm and refreshing.
Erin taking it all in.
Who let this little one in?! :-)
The Golden Buddha.
The Buddha of fertility.
