Going to Busan

With last weekend being my last in Korea for a while, I decided to spend it in my favourite Korean city, Busan. I didn't do anything I haven't done before. In fact we spent the whole time in Nampodong. I went down and met Zeke and Julie, and later friends of theirs for drinks and food. We tried a few new places and went to a few old ones. I went to Savoy, a really cool place to hang out, and Three Monkeys ale house, which makes good beer. Also had good bbq, good gin and Irish whiskey.

Busan is the one Korean city that is really worth visiting as a tourist. Seoul is fun, but it is really the centre of the Korean economic boom, with twenty subway lines taking you from your large apartments to your large offices. It lacks any real character. In contrast Busan, despite being an much newer city, has retained a lot of its more traditional feel, and has a less urban sprawl vibe. Each neighbourhood is actually different and has real character. In short, it is one of my favourite cities not only in Korea, but anywhere.

Busan station

Busan station and Chinatown

Admiral Lee Sun Sin statue

at Yongdusan park

View of Lotte department store from Yongdusan

Yongdusan

Dragon statue from above

Yongdusan again

quiet alley near my hotel

Three Monkeys ale house

Pints on the patio

Busan Tower

I finished the weekend off with dinner with friends of Yen, who have become friends of mine, in Daegu. 

good bbq

The baby doesn't get any meat.... poor kid

chef

We had good Daegu makchang and a few beers, but I think everyone (including me) was very tired, so we called it a bit earlier. I said goodbye to everyone, who I hope I will see again soon, and went home to bed. I'll see Zeke again on Thursday and possibly Saturday, so that isn't goodbye. 

I do kinda feel that I have now done everything I wanted to do a last time. I was feeling very sentimental earlier this week but now I just kinda want to get going. I have to teach today, and then I'll be at home working on Wednesday and Thursday. I am just ready to get on that plane.