Very Hot

It isn't even June yet and Daegu is already in to the 30s.

Not that I mind that much (I'll take 30 over -10 winter here any day of the week) but the humidity is already intense. Last year it wasn't like this til July, though we did have a very mild winter so that may explain it.

Anyway, I am sweating as I type so I'll cut this one short. Summer is here.

North Korean Films

I was recently shown this 1986 film from North Korea, about the Korean War, sacrificing for the motherland and the party, glory of the DPRK etc etc etc. While it is comically ridiculous (and feels more like 1966 than 1986), wit over the top kung fu and super soldiers (if a North Korean soldier can kill 20 South Koreans by himself then why weren't they more successful?).

Anyway, interesting as propaganda and an insight in to how the North still is. Enjoy (or humour me and watch the first 20 minutes).

The film is called Order 027.

Igok Rose Garden and Godzilla

Last weekend we decided to head out to my old neighbourhood near Keimyung University.

We actually did the trip twice.

On Saturday we met and went with a friend of Yen's to a Filipino place that had excellent food and real San Miguel (not the stuff brewed here, it was even 24 pesos). Great food in a place called Pinoy Pride, I'll certainly go back.

On Sunday we got up and went back to visit the Igok Rose Garden.

One of our less talked about monarchs

It was nice, if a bit crowded. It has been nice this year to see so much more green in the area. The city council has been on a planting spree and it has made for a much nicer spring, with far less noticeable air pollution. Actually it amazes me just how much Seongseo has that I missed the year I lived there. Good thing it is only a 20 minute bus ride away.

After that it was off to see Godzilla, the title which would lead you to believe that Godzilla was actually in the film for more than five minutes. A second disappointing attempt at a Japanese classic.

A quieter weekend with beautiful weather.

Buddha's Birthday, Children's Day

For everyone that didn't have wed-fri off, it was still a four day weekend as Children's Day and Buddha's birthday fell on Mon and Tues respectively. Being a Moonkkanger I had work but I did manage to get out to the arboretum and relax a bit.

I was happy to see so many kids didn't come on those days though. The weather was great and many of them took to travelling around Korea with their parents. Children's day is a largely state created red day, but the kids still love it.

Buddha's birthday is important to Korean Buddhists but since it is not a uniform holiday (Christians all celebrate Christ's birth on Dec 25th, regardless of the fact that that was probably not his actual birthday) and Buddha has numerous birthdays in various buddhist countries. Still, the temples were all decked out and a few kids went to go see them (though far more students were in school Tuesday than were on Monday.

Finally, this song seems appropriate for the occasion.

Anyway, I don't have another long weekend til June, which is too bad as the weather is great.

Busan Week

This week, being a vacation week around much of Asia, saw many people travelling and enjoying the warm weather. My friend Stephanie, who I have known since my days at SFU and who has been teaching in Dalian, China for the last four years, was on holiday in Korea. Last time she was here, in 2011, I was in Taiwan and so missed her. We did catch up in Vancouver that year but only facebook and skype since.

I was planning to meet Mike on Thursday in Busan, so suggested that she come to Daegu/Busan on Wednesday. We ended up going straight to Busan and did much of the obligatory tourist stuff (Busan Tower/Yongdusan Park, Jagalchi market and Nampo). We started off in Chinatown and then walked to Nampo, grabbed a coffee and went for a sashimi lunch and quick fish market tour, then it was off to Yongdusan to enjoy the sea view and go up Busan tower, one of the few "towers" built that is really worth going up. Then she went off to see friends and I went back to Daegu.

A Few pics:

Busan Station

Chinatown

Crabs in the market

Lotte Department Store

Yongdusan Park

Busan Tower

looking south from Busan Tower

On Thursday I went back down to Busan to meet Mike and relax. We opted to get a motel and cab to Gwangalli beach. We ended up sitting on a patio enjoying a few beers and food until around 10pm. Then it was a quick dinner in Nampo and bed.

Pics:

The beach around 430.

Happy Monk

The bridge, same time

Towards sunset

again

Unfortunately, we were both hit with a bit of a stomach issue. I think something was wrong with the food, poorly handled fish etc. I didn't get much sleep and although Mike did, he was feeling rough the next morning. I still managed to get up and meet Steph at Nampo Starbucks for breakfast. Mike joined us and we went up Lotte Department Store to the rooftop garden to see the city until she had to go get the train to Seoul.

view from Lotte Department Store looking south

Looking north

After Steph left Mike and I decided to tough out our rough stomachs and go to Busan's famed Sea Temple Haedong Yonggugsa. The official website has some great info in Konglish here.

I had previously been in 2012 but it is a top sight in Korea and well worth the trek out there. The weekend before Buddha's birthday it was packed but still well worth it:

Oh Hai Siddhartha

The pagoda......

.......of traffic safety

Sea Temple

again

Buddha

Sea Temple

Guanyin (Goddess of Mercy)

from across the channel

out to sea

The temple is amazing and the surrounding areas are well worth taking an hour or so to explore. After that we headed back to Haeundae, an area which I normally despise. It is a small beach which the local insist on covering with umbrella's. The area is also surrounded by upscale restaurants and coffee shops. The entire thing was built twenty years ago as a tourist trap. Other beaches (including much more accessible Gwangalli), are much nicer and actually relaxing. However, I had never been during the week before. With the umbrellas put away and the shops not blasting K-pop it was actually very nice. I decided then and there I will never go back, as this is a great way to remember Haeundae.

This is how Haeundae usually looks on a normal weekend:

very relaxing

This is how it looks midweek:

After Haeundae we went back to Nampo. We wanted to try the new brewery (they've been popping up in Seoul and Busan since the brewing laws were liberalised last year) but being that neither of us were feeling amazing stomachewise we opted for a fruit platter with and IPA and a Pilsner. Both were quite good and we sat outside chatting until it got too cold. 

Out Front of Three Monkeys

Friday night

The IPA was great and not too strong

the Pilsner was alright too.

By 11 we were both feeling tired so called it very early and went back to Ace Motel to crash (at $55USD for two rooms in Nampo you can imagine how classy it was). The next morning I got up and went to grab a quick breakfast before we hopped on the KTX to Daegu/Seoul.

I always love Busan, in fact I like it more than Seoul. Another great weekend.