[HiKorea Hostel(Guesthouse) in Haeundae, Busan] Democratic Park

 A sudden outing decided by the word, “want to go to play” while chatting with friends that I haven’t seen in a long time. The destination was Joongang Park. With the title of it being the day after the 60^th anniversary of the 6.25 war, and that June with the ‘June strife’ is coming to an end, we went off.

 The Joongang Park is located in the Daecheong Mountain, so it had the name Daecheong Park, but it has been changed to Joongang Park now. Since it is located high on the mountain, it shows off its views of the sea, Busan harbor and the Gwangan Bridge faraway. But you don’t need to worry about an arduous hiking. The intra-city bus no. 38 and 43 go up to the entrance of the park, so you can enjoy this place more comfortably.

The loyal dead tower which was organized neatly stood turning its back to the blue sky. The Taegeukgi(Korean flag) flying besides is somehow impressive. In the empty lot before climbing the loyal dead tower, there are photos of the 6.25 war displayed. There are two ways to go up the loyal dead tower. You can climb the stone stairs devoutly and quietly, and you can also take the ‘elevator’ that is on the left. ‘What is this, a cable car?’ I went with the resolution to pay, but it was not a cable car but an elevator. How is feels to watch the sea in a slow moving elevator without the need to buy a ticket. You have to go up with a devout mind but it’s hard to keep down from being excited like a child. After enjoying a slight thrill and scenery, I got closer to the loyal dead tower and found chrysanthemums placed. I think somebody put it there yesterday(25 June). I payed a silent tribute and walked slowly. There aren’t almost any people since it is in the weekday. The place is filled with peace from the green grass and blue sky, quiet mood and the sea faraway. Is it because the spirits of the patriots that have become the bronze statues before the loyal dead tower fill this place? Are their hands that have been stretched out eagerly for grasping the peace like these days? It seems as if they are looking down Busan that has overcome the tragedy of the war from above the sky.

 If you walk straight down to the opposite side of the loyal dead tower, the Democratic Park shows its form starting with the 4.19 memorial. The torch praising the will shines the way. We, who were tired of the hot weather got slightly shaken at the hill that seems to be a little steep, but don’t we need to look thoroughly once we’ve came here? We walk along the path. Many yards of the Democratic Park are given pretty pure Korean names. Neokgirim yard(praising the soul), Garisari yard, Eoryeopsari yard, and the Baram yard. This place that has the meaning more than a park keeps another deep meaning in each and every space.


 Just in time, there was an exhibit being held at the Jabeunpyeolcheoboim room in the Democratic Strife Memorial Hall. The special exhibition of people’s art being held in the remembrance of the 26^th anniversary of the June Democratic strife, <Rabbit Inside the Submarine>. Actually I don’t know much about arts. Same on history. I just know what kinds of events had happened, and don’t know deeply about them. The <Rabbit Inside the Submarine> nevertheless came deeply into my heart. The picture of our grandparents drawn on rice sacks instead of the canvas, our fathers wearing safety helmets, our sisters working at the factories… and the engravings. I admired the picture that looked like the photo of our old society which filled one side of the wall completely for a very long time. The big picture where you can’t pick out the main character says in other words, everyone is the character. Everyone was the leader of the economic development, and everyone was the starting point of the democratic strife, and the picture was like of everyone’s, that has made this society more violently. The title of the exhibition is odd, the <Rabbit Inside the Submarine>. I found out what that meant, and they said that it derived from the writer called ‘Georgyu.’ He was a seaman that road on the submarine when he was young, and during those days there wasn’t any equipment to measure oxygen, so they would carry a rabbit that was more sensitive than human beings. If the rabbit did not seem well they filled in the oxygen above the surface of the water and submerged in again. ‘Georgyu’ said, ‘poets are like the rabbits inside the submarine.’ In other words, writers are those who realize the situation of the society first and notify them. This exhibition that kept the 80’s itself was the trace of those who became the rabbit through artworks such as writings and pictures. The <Rabbit Inside the Submarine> was held from 4 June to 7 July, and it was not only held at the Democratic Park but also at the Bosu-dong Bookstore Alley Culture Center, the Catholic Center and the Totatoga Space Anchor.

 After taking a break for a while at the cafeteria inside the building, I went up to the place to have a view, and the place was better than any other observatory. I could see the container piles at the Busan harbor through the telescope. I could also see the high and shining buildings at the Haeundae. I could feel yet again that the place called Busan has such various images. I felt the same on my way to Joongang Park, which was crooked and narrow. Looking at the shantytown with houses so closely together I felt as if time has passed backwards. The scenery is affectionate but also a little bitter. I guess it’s because the stories of the people there won’t be so cheerful. Looking at the skyscrapers and the place that seems to be still in the 1990’s at the same time, at the Democratic Park, it feels pretty strange. The place is called ‘place to watch’ so I just stand and watch. It seems as if the stories of the people living intensely there are pouring out. Even the apartments, the Busan harbor, the Haeundae and Gwanganri. People who struggled in order to live in front of the basic question called ‘life,’ people who came out to the streets to live a better life, people who threw their bodies to live well together. Do they also watch at the ‘place to watch?’ What would they be thinking of? I just took a look at the Democratic Park, but I have so many questions to ask. 

 On the way out, there is something called the ‘touch fun Busan.’ It gives tourist information in various languages, and it shows the map and provides tourism interpretations. The photo zone function was the most popular among all. If you press the button and smile looking at the camera above the machine, that’s it. You can change the background and decorate the photo like the sticker photo. I couldn’t just pass by so I made a V with my friends. We made such a fuss in front of that for a long time, and sent the photo by e-mail and then left the spot.

 There are lots of beautiful places in Busan. There are so many spectacles. But if I had to take a foreign friend for a guide, the first place that I would like to show would be this place. I want that friend to feel by heart this place that is very meaningful with the Korean history and spirit kept as it is. Being more than a clean shelter, everything that has made all of us from Busan to Seoul is over here. I came here with a light step, but on the way home I had a hard time calming down my overwhelming heart.

[HiKorea Hostel(Guesthouse) in Haeundae, Busan] When the Shouts of Busan Echo Around, the Sajik Baseball Stadium

 Starting last 30 March, people exhaustively gather to the Sajik. The excitement is hot already. The Korean professional baseball season has come again this year without fail. On Saturday, when the spring rain was falling violently, I was worried about the rain continuing until late night, but in the morning, the sky was blue as if it were a lie. The people of Busan, pack their snacks on a sunny Sunday, and head for Sajik. To watch, ‘Lotte.’

 The game starts at 2 PM. But near the baseball stadium is noisy from the morning. The nice smells of chicken, pizza, gimbap, pig trotters and roasted filefish fillet sting your nose, and people hand out cheering tools at one side. You can see people wearing the uniforms of the players. There are little kids that wear uniforms that are too long for them, hanging to their legs. In other name, the ‘little seagull’ that the parents have brought here. When the homerun balls or the foul balls come over to the seats the ‘Azura!’ for these little seagulls start. It means ‘give to the children’ in Busan dialect. They give them the ball to make them come back to Sajik to cheer again, and this might be a good memory for the children, but the lucky guy that has caught the ball may be sorry. These children grow up to be parents, and they come again with their children hand in hand to watch baseball. This is a perfect course for a date for lovers. They hold a kiss event on the electronic display for those lovers. There’s no need to add about with friends. Your stress will go away if you cheer together and enjoy the fun.

Is it your first time at Sajik? Or, is it your first time to watch baseball games? But there’s no need to worry. You will be able to catch the rules at about the 3^rd inning at Sajik, and at about the 5^th inning you will be able to follow the cheers little by little. At the 8^th inning they hand out orange colored plastic bags to gather the trash, and if you put air in those and tie them to wear it on your head, it becomes a perfect cheering tool. At the 9^th inning you can learn thoroughly how to enjoy baseball in Busan. If your hands feel empty, you can tear newpapers horizontally and make a cheering too. If you can’t do it well, you can ask for help to other people. They will willingly help you out. If you are lucky, some people share snacks with you also. The people of Busan become one inside the Sajik.

It’s normal to cheer for the ‘Lotte Giants’ in Busan. The cheer of the people of Busan is famous all over the country. They are sometimes criticized for their violent behaviors, but normally, cheering cheerfully and passionately is all, so you don’t need to worry about that. People cheer calling each player’s name as they come out to play, and sometimes people stand up together and put arms around each other’s shoulders to sing the ‘Busan Seagull.’ ‘Come back to the Busan harbor’ is one of the cheering songs that can’t be missed. Also you can’t miss the surfing cheer. If the opponent’s team throws a check ball they shout ‘Ma!(Hey dude)’ out loud, and if the other team gets three strike out they sing ‘One day~’ to the notes of ‘She has come out.’ The electronic display event that is held at inning change time is also very fun. It is the time you become the hero of this place, solving puzzles and dancing along. At first this atmosphere may be very unfamiliar and awkward, but if you just participate once to cheer you cannot forget this thrill. This is the first reason the people of Busan come to the baseball stadium, the festival mood. If they win, they feel much better, but it doesn’t matter if they lose either. You don’t have to know about baseball, and you don’t need to catch the ball that has come over to the seats. Enjoying, that is all.

At the match of the Lottel Giants and the Kia Tigers that was held at 7 April, Lotte lost by 3:1. We were sorry because they missed all crucial moments, but who cares? We had delicious chicken, cool beer, and cheered to our hearts’ content and got rid of out stress. The Sajik baseball only needs that. If you had fun, you have enjoyed the Sajik baseball stadium properly.

[HiKorea Hostel(Guesthouse) in Haeundae, Busan] The Cherry Blossom Shines With the Night Sea

 Busan is warm. The cherry blossoms have already burst into bloom and the green leaves already make appearances. While the petals were fluttering at the full, I went on a belated flower-viewing to Gwanganri. The sea breeze was still chilly. Gwanganri was showing off its splendid night view as ever. The dogs seemed to be excited walking along the well-organized paths. There are people who just stare at the sea sitting on the sand, and there is someone who is shouting out, making me curious what made him feel so heavy. I could see the romantic lovers who were in dead on the fireworks. The flashing neon signs grasp your sights, but actually only the sounds of the waves fill up the place. The sea and the sky have lost their border lines due to the darkness. It’s scaring as if it would swallow me up, but at the same time cozy as if it would wrap me up. I think this is why many people always visit Gwanganri all the time. The Gwangan Bridge stands motionlessly to watch these sights.

There are famous restaurants lined up following the beach at Gwanganri. I went in the restaurant called the ‘Daegwol Ssambab(rice wrapped in greens of the palace)’ located in an alley to satisfy my hunger just in time. It was a very famous Ssambab restaurant in town. An abundant table is from 8,000won to 10,000won. From a generous heart stuffing the food, full hearted side dishes, fresh vegetables lined up on the left side of the table, beef bulgogi, duck meat and to the main dish. It is a fabulous, flawless dinner table. As I keep on saying ‘delicious’ and using my chopsticks briskly, I find my stomach full. I freshen my mouth with a glass of cool sujeonggwa(persimmon punch), and leave the place to find the cherry blossom in earnest.

As you walk straight until the beach comes to an end, you can see the ‘Samik Beach Town Apartment’ complex. It might be unfamiliar to the fact that the apartment complex is the attraction for cherry blossoms. But if you see the ‘cherry blossom tunnel’ here you might nod your head. Indeed the cherry blossoms are in full glory. The black asphalt is covered with white petals, and as the wind blows once the scenery that you may have seen only in movies spreads in front of you. Standing between so much cherry blossoms, it feels like I’m in a world of cartoons. Take a look at the sky under the cherry tree. The white flowers fill your sight. The Gwangan Bridge far away adds beauty to it. Couples, families and friends are out to enjoy the air of spring. The Samik apartment is an old apartment that had residents move in from 1980, and has kept its place for almost 30 years. The cherry blossoms here must have spent the time together until now. They are the cherry blossoms of the Samik apartment, that have spent their time together for 30 years on this place full of people, and blooming every spring as ever. Why does it feel so affectionate? I thought it was a flower just like a pure little girl, but the cherry blossom at night is somehow vague.

Oh, I think I know it now. The cherry blossoms that had bloomed like that every year must remember the unforgettable memories of us. When the night falls, the memories that we made when the cherry blossoms fluttered around arise, and maybe that’s why this white faces are so affectionate and vague. Maybe this is why they shine like that, and our hearts ache when the petals start to fall down one by one. Someone might be making a pretty memory under this cherry blossom tonight also. Looking again, the cherry blossoms that shine brightly are full of yearning. 

Spring is such a beautiful season. It is somehow lonely, pathetic, but fluttering without reason. Even adults sink into moods like adolescent girls due to riddling yearnings when spring comes. The spring sea of Busan surges holding that mood of spring. The fluttering petals will remember all those hearts. And when the warm spring comes they will bloom beautifully again. The white cherry blossoms with the night sea and the white petals that have put peoples’ hearts in the night sea are dazzlingly beautiful.

[HiKorea Hostel(Guesthouse) in Haeundae, Busan] Bosu-dong and Nampo-dong Area, With Trivial but Splendid Stories

 Where there is a smell of books subtly coming out, this is the Bosu-dong bookstore alley. If you find the sign with books piled up together and come inside the alley, the scenery that you would see in the Harry Potter movies are spread in front of you. This place which has been started since the 6.25 war in 1950 when Busan became the temporary capital, has the newest books to old books that we can’t find now, and there is indeed everything about ‘books’ here. The wisdom that has been piled up from the old times in this alley that has stacked the books to the ceiling along with a ladder waits for the owner quietly. From the old times students would get money to buy new reference books and buy secondhand reference books here, and use the leftover money to buy junk food or buy comic books. In the bookstore full of reference books, there are still the naughty laughs of the students. There is a bookstore that has made a wall of books, and there is a bookstore that has made a café inside. There is a place where someone drew a mural with the pictures of children’s stories on the part connected highly to the stairs, and trying to find this is quite fun. A festival is held in September.

If you enter the entrance there is the <Bosu-dong Bookstore Alley Culture Center>. There is a gallery where you can see the history of this place in one view, and they show a movie on Sundays, once in 2 weeks. Currently there are the originals of Kim Jong Do’s ‘Doongrung Deng Doongrung Deng’ displayed following the stairs, and at the other gallery you can take a look at the old textbooks that our parents might have used. And as I take a look at the gallery a great phrase catches my eyes.

<Bosu-dong Bookstore Culture Alley>

If you walk along the alley filled with the fragrance of books, it feels like there are life forces of memory wriggling. I open between the old bookmarks at the street corner that keeps its story inside the familiar scenery.//Throw the seed of books on the rough land of war/share books and look at the world together/change the reference book into a comic book/the veining of time opening and untying the package of books with a digital camera has been piled.//We, who come to find the old debt, keep on walking on the street.

At the book café ‘Nylgda’ located on the 6^th floor, there are many books with tasty juice prepared. The cost is about 2,500won, so not too much. Outside the window there is the observatory of the Yongdusan Tower standing straight up. As I read a book while sipping a glass of juice on a fine day, the time flies by.

Since I’m getting slightly hungry, let’s go to the International Market.

 It is filled with the smell of people. The International Market that shows the essence of the traditional market that has disappeared a lot these days. From old clothes, accessories and shoes, medicinal herbs, spoons, plates to various daily necessities, the name ‘street of all things’ didn’t get its name for free. The International Market is connected to the Can Market, so you can also buy the sweet imported cookies cheaply. By the way the rough sign that says ‘Giant Chicken’ catches my eyes. It is said to be a famous restaurant. I couldn’t just pass it because I was hungry, so I took a seat on a table.

 There are only the menus, fried, seasoned, half&half and whole roast at the Giant Chicken. The price was from 15,000won to 16,000won, so I thought it would be similar to regular chicken, but 5 female gathered and barely ate the half&half. The amount is enormous. But that doesn’t mean it is not tasty. You should try it. Even after you have had until your stomach is full, the taste stays on your tongue when you leave the store. It is not greasy but nutty and clean, and even the chicken-fries are tasty also. Adding a glass of beer, nowhere else could be heaven. I was lucky to go into the store slightly before meal time, and when I came out there was a long line in spite of the cold weather. I satisfied my appetite feeling good and went out to the BIFF street.

 We think the BIFF street might have a lot of spectacles related to movies, but the place many people visit the most usually is the ‘Ssiat Hotteok(Seed Chinese pancake).’ After being introduced by broadcasting, there are people in line day and night. Not only the ssiat hotteok but all kinds of junk food catch your feet at the BIFF street. Starting from odeng(fish cake) and ttekbokki(rice cakes in hot sauce), tornado potato, chicken on skewer, sausages, takoyaki to plucking, the snack vendors with red roof fill the whole street. The copper plates of the handprints and signs of actors/actresses from all over the world are used to decorate the floor. You can also see the copper plate that has carved the participating works. If you visit there at daytime on weekdays you may be able to enjoy these copper plates slowly. This street shines the brightest when the Busan Film Festival is held in October. It becomes the main stage of the festival. Since there are many first-run theaters concentrated on one spot, so this place is always crowded with people you love movies.

 As you walk more the street gets connected to the Gwangbokro. Gwangbokro starts the tree festival when the Christmas season comes, and with the big tree that has a star on top and hangs blue lights in the center, the whole street sparkles. At the Gwangbokro where the demonstration project of public design is being carried on, making it wide and clean, funny statues give you much fun. There are the stairs to the Yongdusan Park, and the Lotte Department Store Gwangbok branch stands at the end of the Gwangbokro.

How about watching the aqua show of the Lotte Department Store that begins every hour on the hour to soothe your tired legs? The fountain that goes up to 4 story heights present interesting spectacles with great lighting and music mixed together. In some ways, it is a pretty trivial place. Reading books, eating junk food, watch here and there, it is just an ordinary daily life of us. But the happiness inside there is not small at all. Feel the true values of these simple and honest streets when the festival begins. The unforgettable memory that you cannot forget makes this street special once again.

[HiKorea Hostel(Guesthouse) in Haeundae, Busan] Geumgang Park, the Flower of Life Blooming at the Mountain Tail

The Geumgang Park which is located at the southeast bottom of the Geumjeong Mountain was called the ‘Sogeum River’ because the sceneries are beautiful as Geumgang Mountain, but it was later named the Geumgang Park in 1965. Since it is connected to the hiking path, you can see mountain climbers with big backpacks on clear days, and there are people who take pictures with pretty flowers of the botanical garden as backgrounds. There is the Marine Natural History Museum so little children play running at the yard, and there are cultural assets of the Busan region so it becomes an educational venue of history. It’s not so great compared to big amusement parks in Seoul, but you can also enjoy a small amusement park that has all kinds of attractions such as the Viking(pirate ship), the roller coaster, the chipmunk treadmill and the duck boat.

If you go up headed for the park, you can see the Mangmiru faraway. The Mangmiru which has kept its place since the Joseon Dynasty in 1742, is designated as the tangible cultural asset no. 4 of the Busan region. At the front there is a signboard that says ‘Dongraedogoamun’ and at the back there is a tablet that says ‘Mangmiru’ hanging. You could guess the history looking at the drooping big pine tree. If you pass here and the taverns that sell Dongrae pajeon(green onion pancake) and the dongdongju(garnish Korean wine), you arrive at the crosswalk for the Geumgang Park.

The cable car at the Geumgang Park operated back and forth the ridges of the Geumjeong Mountain, and it is an unusual attraction because you can not only see the whole area of the park but also the city. However there was an accident during run last January, so it has been stopped since then until now.

Going in the entrance, bronze statues that seem to come out in the story of Snow White and the seven Dwarfs greet the visitors. The faces of the statues that are quite funny look like jangseung(Korean traditional totem pole at the village entrance). The statue with the word ‘heart’ written on it has a hole in the middle to make a strange mood. The empty lot that shines is suitable for families, lovers and friends to have a seat on the mat and enjoy their packed lunch. Nearby, the cherry blossoms have started to bloom one by one before the magnolia has bloomed.

There are a lot of Buddhist temples at the foot of the Geumjeong Mountain, and the Geumjeong Temple located inside the Geumgang Park is one of them. The surroundings are arranged neatly. The green leaves add the freshness to spring. There is the Imjindongrae-eichong to the right of Geumjeong temple. It is the grave that has enshrined the body of loyalties that were killed at the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592. There are many other monuments in commemoration such as the Nature Conservation Charter Monument and the Japanese Brutality Victim Monument in the park. The tombstones and tombstones of literature of many writers come into sight. The Choi Gye Rak tombstone records children’s poem called the <Flower Seeds> that fits the warm spring season. The contents are like below.

‘Inside the flower seed/blue leaves sway//Inside the flower seed/red flowers bloom//Inside the flower seed/yellow butterflies hide in.’ (Full text of the ‘Flower Seed.’)

If you walk following the path the Geumgang Herb Garden attracts us. Sweet herbs such as the rosemary, lavender and green thyme that we commonly know form a comfortable resting area. At the back a big model of a dinosaur leads way to the Marine Natural History Museum. This place, where children twinkle their curiosities have about 20,000 pieces of sample data of sea creatures at the shellfish gallery, crustacean gallery, Actinozoa gallery and the fossil gallery. If you go up to the 5^th floor which is the rooftop there is a pretty garden nicely formed. The garden is named the ‘Ariarang’ taking the name of the mascot of the museum. Over the handrail, you can see the Geumjeong Mountain and the part of the Geumjeong city.

There are almost 50 species of wild flowers blooming at the forest walk leading to the Geumjeong Mountain. You don’t need to worry that you don’t know much about wild flowers. There are signs every now and then introducing those kindly. The entire forest walk is made meticulously so that people can enjoy the mountain comfortably, so you can find out your location betweenwhiles. If you follow the path the Yongso pond, the Yongchoo pond and the Geumgang pond provide spectacles for you who have walked a long distance. There were strange eggs in the pond so I went near it, and gladly it is the Korean salamander. There are one, and two and more Korean salamanders that we can’t see usually. Maybe this is the habitation. The water is pretty deep but due to the clean water, you can see to the bottom.

The Geumgang Park is very quiet. But if you listen carefully you can hear the sounds of the lives that are full in the park. Little animals run out to the path in the spring, and wild flowers bashfully hold out their heads. The Korean salamanders that we can’t easily see these days take a spot in the Geumgang pond at the park. The fragrance of the herbs fills the whole park. Silent but full of energy, the Geumgang Park is a place like that.

[HiKorea Hostel(Guesthouse) in Haeundae, Busan] The ‘Healing Camp’ of Spring Taejongdae, Filled with Magnificent Views and Peace

 The long, long winter started to show its end. Last weekend which was especially warm, I went off for a trip to Taejongdae feeling the spring that has approached suddenly. Taejongdae with a blue sea that spreads endlessly, a rugged cliff that greets the white waves and with a delicious smell of roasted clams. The wide ocean there was greeting the spring with its head and ears.

 Taejongdae is the state-designated cultural property beauty spot no.17, and while the King Muyeol of Silla went around the whole country after achieving the unification of the three nations, it is said that he was fascinated by the scenery here and enjoyed shooting arrows here. Being called the Shinsundae because it was said to be a place where the gods lived, the nice paths, the sea and the seashore cliffs of Taejongdae are the best.

Where the magnolia has started to bloom, the love of families, friends and lovers are full at Taejongdae. Walking slowly with an enjoyable one at this warm weather, happiness comes out automatically.

There are various ways to enjoy Taejongdae. There are people who walk hand in hand, and there are those who take a look at the sea route on a cruise ship. There are ones that take a look at the scenery on a train, and the train is the ‘Danubi’ train. Another specialty of Taejongdae which is the Danubi train starts off at the entrance and ‘crisscrosses’ all attractions of Taejongdae such as the Taewon pebble yard, the observatory and the Youngdo lighthouse. The price is 1,500won for adults, 1,000won for youths and 600won for children, and there is also a discount for families, so you can enjoy it with a cheap price. It runs until 7 PM in the winter season and 8 PM in the summer season, so there is no need to hurry.

The Taewon pebble yard is located not so far away from the entrance. The stone tower which has filled the cliff all the way loads all the wishes of people. You can enjoy the cruise ship ride, and taste the fresh seafood that the haenyeo(female diver) have caught in person. Above all, the beautiful scenery in front of you makes you forget all worries and concerns. Sitting down looking at the sea, you don’t even know the time passing.

If you keep on walking you arrive at the South Port Viewing Point. If you stand here on a clear day and look at the sea you can see Songdo, Dadaepo and also Geojedo. You can use the telescope prepared there as much as you like even without 500won. The dense forest of pine trees adds the greenery to the Taejongdae.

 Let’s go up to the observatory. It takes less than an hour to walk up the observatory from the entrance. The cool sea breeze blowing from every side cools down your sweat and soothes your tired body. At the cafeteria that greets you with a hamburger on its hand, you can enjoy light snack and refreshments looking at the sea. If you satisfy your appetite and go up again the vast sea proves its real worth. The sea, trees and the cliff mingle together to fill your sights making a scenery that the gods might live in. Looking at the magnificent view that holds the history of hundreds, or thousands of years, you can feel the courage and the spirit rising inside of you.

 There is a photo exhibition being held at the observatory, with photos that Choi Ji Woo the actress has taken traveling all around Busan personally. The photos are of the representative tourist attractions of Busan such as Haeundae, the aquarium, Nampo-dong and the city tour buses, so it might be good to learn about Busan while watching the photos.

On the way to the Youngdo lighthouse, there are various spectacles prepared such as the lighthouse observatory, the Mangbuseok Shinseon Rock(a legendary faithful wife who died and was turned to stone waiting for her husband), the Taejong Rock and also the hall of fame of marine technicians. The Youngdo lighthouse that has lit the Busan harbor for the last 100 years since 1906 was born again as a cultural space in 2004. There is the artwork gallery ‘see&sea,’ the museum of natural history displaying the dinosaur fossils commemorating this place which is considered as the dinosaur habitat and the dinosaur footmarks of the Cretaceous period, and the lighthouse provides opportunities to appreciated interesting pieces added to the natural beautiful sceneries.

 I took the Danubi train from the lighthouse and headed to the platform again. The breeze that comes in through the window of the slow moving Danubi train is refreshing. If you go towards the parking lot from the entrance there is a roasted clam village called the Gamji beach. It is a place that you must not miss if you have visited Taejongdae. It has become the talk of the town after being introduced through the broadcast media several times. 3 people can enjoy plentiful various seafood and roasted clams with only 30,000won here. People who don’t enjoy seafood usually get to enjoy it here, where there is the soft sounds of the waves, warm sunshine, and the kind heart of the people at the stores. This is the Taejongdae roasted clam village.

 As the air of spring with magnolias blooming all around, is you want to feel the spring of Busan, Taejongdae will be the best place to enjoy it. If you are tired of the busy daily life and want to enjoy the relaxation and peace, come to Taejongdae. The ‘Healing Camp’ is not faraway.

[HiKorea Hostel(Guesthouse) in Haeundae, Busan] Relaxing Your Everything Here, at ‘Taejongdae’_4

4. A god or a man-about-town

 After eating full and coming out to play with the dog which is the mascot of the café at the pebble yard, I felt being like a god this whole day. As the meaning of the name Taejongdae, I was like a king wandering about in the magnificent view, and enjoyed fresh seafood and drinking after playing a lot, isn’t this a great relaxation like a god’s? I asked my boyfriend, and he answered ‘that is a man-about-town, not a god’ but well, whatever.

[HiKorea Hostel(Guesthouse) in Haeundae, Busan] Relaxing Your Everything Here, at ‘Taejongdae’_3

3. A Good Point for Night, ‘Roasted Clams at Pebble Yard of Taejongdae’

I came down the dark Taejongdae amusement park riding the Danubi. Listening to the announcement, they say the firefly that we can’t see in the city inhabit here. We have to go a little more down from the ticket office in order to go to the pebble yard which is famous as roasted clam town. I was scared because it said almost 1km to go there, but I think actually it was only about 500m.

Except for the headlight of cars and the streetlight, all light come from the signs of the roasted clam town. The view of quite a shock as getting surprised after looking at the magnificent view of Taejongdae gets carried on.

 Dozens of roasted clam restaurants in street vendor shapes are stuck together and do tout on the street, and if you visit here for the first time, don’t be afraid(?) and just rush into any restaurant. Since they are always competing with each other, so the price is all the same and the service must be similar so if you hesitate you might become the sacrifice of the tout. There are a few really famous restaurants introduced on the internet, so if you are not confident it might be better for you to find out in advance in the internet and go later.

 The place I went to is called ‘My Aunt’s’ and I got to know later that it is a place quite famous in the internet. My boyfriend who was with me has been there several times so I didn’t worry so much and it was pretty satisfying. For the price, the roasted clam is from 30000won and broiled eels are from 40000won. We order the 40000won roasted clam and fried rice on it and ate until we were full to the neck. The restaurants are just besides the sea so you feel as you are eating seafood above the sea. I was grumbling about the darkness, but the roasted clam and a cup of soju we had besides the night sea was just fascinating. It would have been difficult to enjoy such a mood if we came in the afternoon, so we, who love to drink(we write like this and read as drunkards) were just so happy.

[HiKorea Hostel(Guesthouse) in Haeundae, Busan] Relaxing Your Everything Here, at ‘Taejongdae’_2

2. Riding the ‘Danubi’

 As it got dark, I got off stretching my arms and found a large road and Korean restaurants lined up packed together at one side. As I walked a little a sign that says ‘circulation train platform’ guides the way. Following the arrow I went up and there was a tourist information center, and under my feet on the road there was a phrase that says there is a train platform 100m upwards. Just in time there was a cute looking train circling, headed for the platform.

 The residents just walk for exercise, but since it was getting dark and looking at the map it was quite a distance to take a look at everything, so I decided to take the train. The train is very cute looking. The name of the train is ‘Danubi’ which means it crisscrosses the entire place. (the name is so cute also) The ticket is 1,500won for an adult, and it runs with an interval of 30 minutes. The route is shown behind the ticket, and it circles like this: [Ticket booth → Taewon Pebble Yard → Gumyeong Temple → Observatory → Youngdo Lighthouse → Taejong Temple → Ticket Booth]. You must have your ticket in order to ride back after getting off to look around, so you must hold your ticket. There weren’t that much people since it was in the weekdays, but in the weekends there are so many people that the Danubi which can board up to 96 people is full and short of seats.

 It will be nice to get off at every station to look around, but the places that most people get off are the ‘observatory’ and the ‘Youngdo lighthouse.’ The ‘Taewon pebble yard’ is also visited by many people, but since it is not that far from the station, people don’t usually take the train to go there. For information, the ‘Youngdo lighthouse’ is also very near from the ‘observatory’ so after you take a look at the ‘observatory’ you can take a walk to the ‘Youngdo lighthouse.’ If you are in a hurry you can get off straight at the ‘Youngdo lighthouse.’ No problem.

 I didn’t know that the ‘Taewon pebble yard’ was so close from the station, so I waited a long time for the train and got off at the ‘Taewon pebble yard.’ The clear view of the sea puts me into awe automatically. If you go down the stairs there is the ‘pebble yard’ spread out as its name, and everyone would touch the round pebbles of various colors once. Actually there were people who came to collect pebbles. At one side people sold seafood that they caught at the very spot (maybe) but sorry to say, they couldn’t sell them that day. To the opposite side there is a small path that leads to the dock for the cruise ship. The little pebble yard which has a different feeling from the sandy beach has its original form of cliffs and rocks that have been sharpened through erosion, so it looks as the sea that one has found accidentally while wandering around in the nature.

 The sun was setting slowly and I took the Danubi that arrived next and went straight to the ‘obvservatory.’ It was quite a distance from the ‘Taewon pebble yard’ to the ‘observatory’ so I could ride on the Danubi for a long time, but it wasn’t boring because the announcement introducing Taejongdae and matters to be attended to were being announced constantly, and because I could enjoy the scenery of Taejongdae outside the windows. As I got of the ‘observatory’ station, the first thing that greeted me was the sculpture of mother and son which is so famous. Actually I couldn’t feel that much inspiration as the name itself had, so I wondered why it was so famous, and found out that this place was the rock of suicide at Taejongdae. There were so many people that commit suicide at this cliff so people made the sculpture of mother and son here in order to prevent suicide. It was pretty plausible after listening to the story, but it wasn’t that moving.

Well you can look at the sea with nothing disturbing your view, and if the weather is good the ‘Tsushima Island’ of Japan can be seen faintly. It was a little foggy and the time was when the sun was going down slowly, so I couldn’t find anything like it. However I could see a small island located there, and the name of it was the ‘kettle island.’ I think it will be a very pretty island suiting its name if you take a look at a clear day.

As to show that Youngdo is a city where industry and shipbuilding industry has developed, I could see ships for trade and big and small ships every now and then. I didn’t go there, but there is a café where you can enjoy tea or meals while looking at the view of the sea. There was a photo exhibition of the actress Choi Ji Woo (she is the honorary ambassador of Busan) being held here now so I wanted to take a look, but it wasn’t opened that day. I think it was the day off at Taejongdae generally. (or is every Monday…..?)

I walked to ‘Youngdo lighthouse’ from the ‘observatory.’ It was almost evening then. This place is the highlight of Taejongdae, so the path leading down and the simple parks were formed nicely. But at dark evenings the way down doesn’t show well so you must be careful. Even though it is marked with fluorescence colored lines, but it also didn’t show well so I, who is timid went down very carefully. Elders and children must be aware!

 As evening came I could see the lighthouse that has lit up. You have to walk quite many stairs down to the lighthouse, but since it got dark it was very dangerous that I couldn’t go down hastily. I also passed the rock of gods that is said to have the most beautiful view at Taejongdae. You have to walk down a much more dangerous path than the lighthouse, and at night you can’t go there because it is too dangerous. Somehow, in order to preserve the original form of nature there must be some dangerous elements left for human beings, so I decided to come here again earlier next time and turned back.

[HiKorea Hostel(Guesthouse) in Haeundae, Busan] Relaxing Your Everything Here, at ‘Taejongdae’_1

1. Yeongdo-gu Taejongdae

 I was very ignorant at geography, so of course I couldn’t read maps during my school days, and I would always get the worse grade on the subject called Korean geography. Moreover I have absolutely no sense in direction. In one word, I am the world’s greatest fool on ‘roads.’ I had been living at Haeundae for about ten years as a babe in the woods, and I started going to another borough only after I had started traveling, and this was my first time to Youngdo-gu. I think I have heard the name ‘Youngdo’ sometime ago, but I thought it was an island somewhere faraway, and oh my, I never thought it would be in the same Busan. (Don’t blame me for being idiotic. I know that myself and I’m so embarrassed about it….) Youngdo is a region of islands at the very south of Busan, and they are connected to Busan with the Busan Bridge, Youngdo Bridge and the Namhang Bridge. And the whole island plays its role as a breakwater of the Busan harbor. The specialty of this island which has nice scenery and atmosphere is the Taejongdae! Taejongdae got its name from being the playing field of the King Muyeol, Taejong of Silla, and it is famous for the sea cliff which is formed with dense forest, strange rocks and bizarre stones. The sea cliff is a cliff that is formed at the coast by the erosion of nature. To go there you can take the buses no. 8,30,66,88 starting from Nampo-dong or Joongang-dong headed for Youngdong Brigde, and since it is the last stop you can relax and enjoy your ride. I think it took about 30~40 minutes from Nampo-dong by bus, and it was in the afternoon so I dozed off, but as the sea got closer outside the window and the sequestered view spread out, I suddenly found myself awake.

[HiKorea Hostel(Guesthouse) in Haeundae, Busan] We Show You a Bloody Night View_4

4. A Night for Adults?!

 It is famous as a dating spot, but the ‘night at Hwangryeong Mountain’ really is a place for couples than anywhere else. It’s hard to find people who are not couples. Of course there are friends enjoying the place but eight out of ten are couples. So this place is really ‘a heaven for couples and a hell for singles.’ I also went with my boyfriend so I don’t know how it feels to be there alone, but if you were by yourself you must feel that you want to come again with your partner. So you might fret to anyone besides you, and if that person was one with the opposite sex, you might fall in love with him/her right away(!). This place is so very romantic as this. Even I (even my boyfriend), who has lost the emotion as a girl felt my love burn up towards my boyfriend (embarrassment).

 You might feel sorry because this place is not suitable to come as a whole family with all your kids, but bringing your parents here might be an unusual filial duty for you. Seeing an old couple looking at the same place was quite touching. I could also see one brining an old mother and helping her to see the night view, and I was very moved to see that. Even though each one’s shape of love is different, but the love that they whisper together being as beautiful as the night view of the beautiful Hwangryeong Mountain, here it is filled with romantic adults.

[HiKorea Hostel(Guesthouse) in Haeundae, Busan] We Show You a Bloody Night View_3

3. Can the Bongsudae(Signal-Fire Platform) be Like This?

One of my traveling habits is looking for brief information that I really need before hitting the road, and leaving blindly. This mind of ‘let’s just hit the road for any sake’ makes me miss good spectacles or food, and gives inconvenience by making me wander around finding the way. The merit is that I don’t follow the route that everyone else goes through, so I get to find ‘my own trip.’ So every time I write an article on traveling, I always stand at the crossroads of writing concretely or not, and I want to recommend you to surely go to the Bongsudae if you have come up the Hwangryeong Mountain to see the night view. Surprisingly, there are many people who just go down the mountain around here not knowing about the place. Actually we almost went down also, but following my opinion to ‘not go down by taking a u-turn but go around all the way down following the road that we took upwards,’ we drove our car and found a place where there were cars parked in a row. We felt there must be something here, so we parked our car and got off, and we could see the sign that says ‘Hwangryeong Mountatin Bongsudae.’

 We started to walk upwards thinking we couldn’t take the car, but there were cars parked all over the place. It turned out that cars couldn’t enter the Bongsudae, but could go near to the middle of the road. But the road is quite narrow and there isn’t any parking lot, so if everyone take their cars up it must be inconvenient and you might cause nuisance to people, so I recommend you to just walk up to the place. The slope isn’t that steep and the atmosphere is nice so it is good for a walk.

 Walking up following the road, there is a refined atmosphere that doesn’t really match with the name Bongsudae. Soft street lights add a romantic mood to the place. Before even taking breath, being overwhelmed and getting stiff for a moment by the unhampered view, the pretty staircase on the right makes you go up them. If you follow those stairs there are ardent night views from other angles spread in front of you, and you get to throw away all your worries and concerns that you had down there with the night breeze. But you’re wrong if you think this is the end. This is not the Bongsudae. The opposite side is the Bongsudae at last. Maybe you will catch a glimpse of the Bongsudae. I was very tired being busy the whole day, but I decided to pluck up and go on.

 I must have regretted my whole life if I didn’t come here. Oh my, this place was the real ‘highlight.’ When I went up near to the beacon mound, the scenery was overwhelming as if the whole universe was mine. It’s in the dark night, but the night view dazzles my eyes. The world that I see from the Bongsudae which was used in the past to give signals by lighting fire is bright like this. Does this make sense? Even a flame that blazes furiously would be buried by the light here. I thought of the soldiers of the past, that they would have looked down the village of Busan in one sight before the city was formed here. The form of the fortress which is still left over doesn’t really match this urban scenery, but the world that I look down from the fortress touches me deeply, making me feel as if I am the head that has made the world mine.

[HiKorea Hostel(Guesthouse) in Haeundae, Busan] We Show You a Bloody Night View_2

2. Don’t Envy Starbucks, the Starbus Coffee

After a moment your mouth being dropped down at the night view that comes into your sight, there are people gathered over there admiring about something. If you look around you can see the night view from everywhere, but that point is the place where Haeundae and Gwanganri looks the most beautiful. Any objects and trees don’t bother your view, and the night view comes into your sight in the most wide range, and Haeundae and Gwanganri looks at the most beautiful angle. The Gwangan Bridge also shows brightly. What you need to be aware is that there is a fence but it is not that wide, to if you go too close to look closely your feet may slip and you may tumble down, so you must be aware and aware again. Especially I recommend not bringing your children with you. You can’t see below your feet because of the dark, so it is dangerous for even adults.

I have given some warning for caution’s sake, but the night view that you see while having a cup of coffee and a piece of toast at the lighted truck you like is just fascinating. As you know, as sightseeing cities, Haeundae and Gwanganri are much more ‘urban’ than other boroughs. I have introduced the Busan Tower of Yongdusan Park before, and if you have seen the night view there it will have a completely different impression from here. If the night view at the Busan Tower shows you Busan, the night view at Hwangryeong Mountain shows the Busan that looks like a fancy city of a foreign country. It’s interesting, comparing the two night views. The whole different scenery of Busan from the two places shows another ‘Busan’ by themselves. There is a name that sticks out among the cafes formed by trucks, which is the ‘Starbus’ that has parodied ‘Starbucks.’ It is not a well known café but it sells coffee with only half the price of Starbucks, and makes people enjoy this ‘bloody’ scenery with a cup of warm coffee. Other trucks also sell individual styles of menus, so enjoy the late-night snack with the night view.

[HiKorea Hostel(Guesthouse) in Haeundae, Busan] We Show You a Bloody Night View_1

1. To Find a Way To Go There

 It is said that human beings have the ‘desire for conquest’ by nature, so they like to look down. I think this is why we try to find places with ‘nice scenery and great view.’ The night view of Hwangryeong Mountain is highly reputed in Busan, but it is almost impossible to go up the mountain with public transportation only. So a person like me who doesn’t have a car of my own don’t actually have the chance to visit there. But finally! I got to check the reputation with my own eyes.

 If you are a traveler using public transportation there is a way to get off at the Geumryeonsan station on urban railway, and using a taxi to go up the mountain. But what you need to keep in mind is that you must think of the way to come down the mountain. Even if you go up without a car, it is pretty tough coming down without a car. The mountain trail of Hwangryeong is pretty well made and the mountain isn’t that big itself, but it is pretty dark at night and there is a lot of exhaustion of physical strength, so it is not suitable to walk down.

In my case I used the rented car, and my boyfriend and I rent cars every now and then. Even when we travel inside Busan, after we calculate the time and transportation fees and decide that using a car is more effective, we travel by car. There are discount coupons for car rental on the social commerce sites every now and then, and there are companies that provide discount service using associated cards, so if you prepare in advance you can use it more cheaply. We use the ‘Good Time Rent a Car’ in Seomyeon(Jeonpo-dong), and it is cheaper than other places, and the employees are friendly. To recommend the type of car, I think the small ‘Ray’ of the K company that shows off its cute appearance is just suitable for traveling. The car is energy-efficient and has a wide inner space for a compact car so 3~4 people can ride easily, and you can load a lot of baggage with unstudied ease. However, as any compact car would be, there isn’t any ‘speeding instinct.’

You may wander around a lot if it is the first time you are going to the Hwangryeong mountain, and the route that many road specialists explain is like this. If you head to the Busan KBS Broadcasting Station you can see McDonald’s to your right, and if you turn left there you can go straight up through the alley besides the hospital. As you go up the night view comes into your sight from both sides and trucks that sell beverages and snacks begin to show up.

[HiKorea Hostel(Guesthouse) in Haeundae, Busan] Please, Stay the Same, ‘Eulsukdo!’_2

2. An Island With Agony, ‘Eulsukdo’

Eulsukdo is originally known as the paradise of migratory birds of the Nakdong River. The massive field of reeds was famous for being the habitat of migratory birds, but they say over half of it was damaged as the Nakdong River barrier was completed in 1987. The reputation of being the biggest habitat of migratory birds in Korea also has disappeared, and people have been quitting the developing plans and have been trying their best to preserve the ecology belatedly. Fortunately, it is still the shelter for about 50 species, and about 100 thousand migratory birds but as you can see, Eulsukdo has agony invarious respects. There are so many words going on about developing or not developing the island every time the government changes, and the construction goes on or gets interrupted, and Eulsukdo is getting bothered so much. Especially recently, it has been destroyed much more compared to before due to the four-river project. I heard the story of environment groups and artists of Busan who love Eulsukdo protesting and denouncing, but your heart feels sad if you go there personally. You are sad not because the destroyed image is a pity, but you are sad because it is still beautiful even after the destruction. I feel satisfied and at the same time sorry at it for having to endure the past times like this. I don’t really know if the development is actually more useful or not. But I guess telling what is right and wrong about this has to be done above all. No, maybe much more before this, we must think about the limit of the qualification of human beings.

 It has lost its magnificent view of the past a lot, but I hope Eulsukdo will remain even like this. I hope there is no more agony, and I hope I will never see the great view of migratory birds flying here in a history book. My wish is to take my child here to see the migratory birds flying in, someday. If you are a citizen of Busan, I recommend you to feel how proud and lucky you are to have an island like this with such a magnificent view. Eulsukdo(乙淑島) which means and island with many birds and clean water. The name is also beautiful as itself.

[HiKorea Hostel(Guesthouse) in Haeundae, Busan] Please, Stay the Same, ‘Eulsukdo!’_1

1. The Water of Busan, the ‘Nakdong River’

Eulsukdo is an island located in the mouth of Nakdong River, at Hadan-dong, Saha-gu. You can come out of exit no.1 of the Hadan station and take the 58-2 bus and get off at Eulsukdo station.

Maybe it was last autumn. The weather was so nice that I took my bicycle out for a ride, and that was the first time I visited Eulsukdo. The first feeling was that, it seemed like a ‘gigantic playground’ for Saha-gu district inhabitants. It was interesting that all kinds of things were all gathered there starting from the cultural center where performances and events are held, to outdoor stage, soccer field and an exclusive theater for cars. If I lived in Saha-gu I would have visited here every now and then. The street vendors that sell snacks such as cotton candy and hotdogs were affectionate, and I could see a few rides for children. Especially I was glad to see the trampoline which people call the ‘pong-pong’ in Busan, because it is hard to see it these days. It’s a pretty embarrassing story, but last year, I asked the owner for permission and went on for a ride. I think I’m still a little bit young, because when I see those things, I just can’t pass by. The owner said many adults take a ride also, but actually I was afraid that little children would get hurt. Of course, after bouncing once to the sky I never wanted to come down again, so I ran about sweating like crazy and had much more fun than children there. That was after I had been riding the bicycle being lost in the scenery of Eulsukdo, so I remember my strength being below zero at that point. Well this year I decided to head to a place I haven’t been to last year, without a bike. Last year I appreciated the scenery by riding a bike with fresh breeze from the river passing by, and it’s a pity that I don’t have any photo of that time. The scenery riding a bike with the breeze passing next to you is like a scene from a movie. Writing this, the memories come up again and my body itches wanting to go there again. I had better go there again to ride my bike.

Oh, a tip for renting a bicycle! For children’s bicycles you have to use the charged bicycle rental center, but for adults’ bicycles you can use the Saha-gu bicycle rental center for free. The center is just besides the charged bicycle rental center, so if you are not looking for a couple bike or a bike with a pretty design, you can leave your identification card here and rent it for 2~3 hours, for free. It’s quite depressing to rent a bike paying for the rental fee, not knowing about the free one.

 Today I decided not to take a bike, and decided to look over the facilities that I haven’t seen last year. The first thing that shows is the ‘cross-country cycle routes of the four major rivers’ directional sign. There is information on the cycle routes of the four major rivers and at the same time, it says that this part is one of the cycle routes. You can get a stamp for authentication at a place like a telephone booth nearby. I heard that you can ride along the four major rivers of this country with a bike, and I think this is it. This is one of the ‘Galmaetgil’ that I have mentioned a few times above. The Galmaetgil is the good road for walking that the city of Busan has designated. There are various trails in Eulsukdo, and to my opinion, I think it’s better to take a bike since it is quite large. Actually there are many people who enjoy ‘riding.’ The mood of the scenery is quite romantic so it is very nice as a date course for couples.

 Climbing up the stairs of the Nakdong River Integrated Water Management Center building and looking at the scenery of the mouth of the Nakdong River, feeling the breeze with my face and hair, I went on to the Nakdong Culture Center on the opposite side. The Nakdong Culture Center is an exhibition facility made for children so that they can have an easy understanding on the Nakdong River. They give multi-purpose spaces such as meeting rooms for rent to local residents and regular citizens. Undoubtedly, my mental was so young that I didn’t feel time flying by while taking a look and experiencing many things. The exhibits that help us understand about the four-river project are so brilliant that they steal our sights. The four-river project is much-troubled, but the art works and exhibits, playing facilities that children could experience variously were enough for children to enjoy. The rest zones are well facilitated so it’s nice to take a break.

 Coming out of the building and walking out a little, you can see a well made soccer field. They give rent to organizations that need it with charge. If you pass the soccer field a little there is the Eulsukdo Sculpture Park, and behind there is the culture center. To the opposite of the exhibits of the sculpture park is the little outdoor stage. There are various performances at the culture center, so I think it will be nice to come here after setting a date for a performance. (Website, http://www.eulsukdo.saha.go.kr)

Other than that, at the Mouth of the Nakdong River Eco Center, the types of migratory birds that come to Eulsukdo are displayed and introduced. Eulsukdo itself is quite large, so it feels that the facilities are also set apart extensively. If you take time and look around every inch with a feeling of riding or walking, then there will be plenty of spectacles and things to enjoy. Especially children will like it so much!

For your information, the eco-park wasn’t opened 100% when I went there last time, but it is said that it has been opened all the way at this point I am writing this (30 March, 2013). Today there will be a walkathon in commemoration of the opening.

[HiKorea Hostel(Guesthouse) in Haeundae, Busan] Not a Foreign Scenery on the Postcard! ‘Cheongsapo’_4

4. Birthday Party

 It is funny and a bit bitter that the beauty in my surroundings I didn’t even know after living over 10 years are now felt through a plausible excuse called a ‘trip.’ How come I cannot see beyond the end of my nose and pass by the sceneries if I don’t make up my mind firmly and carry my camera? The friends of my teenage will laugh at me saying why do you travel to your own front yard if I say I traveled to Cheongsapo, but with no lies, it was a very happy birthday. Having a birthday party in a beautiful front yard, I don’t envy even a princess. 

[HiKorea Hostel(Guesthouse) in Haeundae, Busan] Not a Foreign Scenery on the Postcard! ‘Cheongsapo’_3

3. The ‘Taste’ of Cheongsapo

The next thing that came into my eyes after the lighthouse and the railroad, which are said to be specialties of Cheongsapo is none other than the town map of sashimi and roasted clam. I could see there are so many just taking a glance at the map. Of course there are teahouses where you can enjoy your spare time looking at the scenery of Cheongsapo, and wedding studios lined up because any picture you take becomes a pictorial due to the beautiful scenery, but on weekends every single restaurant is overcrowded with people. I will be introducing shortly, but if there were various kinds of restaurants with good moods at Dalmaji hill, there are seafood restaurants concentrated here.

 I went in to ‘Soomin’s,’ famous for broiled eels and roasted clams and ordered broiled eels and shrimp. It is a very famous place but people have likes and dislikes about this place according to their taste, and to my opinion I think it’s a better place to eat broiled eels rather than roasted clams. To introduce something interesting, there is a vegetable leaf called the ‘banga,’ and it has its unique strong scent. This is the place where I got to know the ‘banga’ leaf for the first time. People have likes and dislike about this due to its strong scent, but if you place a sheet of banga on top of the eel the flavor of the eel and the scent of banga mix together peculiarly and tosses about inside your mouth. There are quite a few postscripts that say ‘Soomin’s’ isn’t very friendly, but since my boyfriend and I both are quite talkative and amiable, we told jokes with the employee there and enjoyed our time there. I wasn’t disappointed at anything, but since it is a busy place all the time, it would be hard to expect a fine service.

[HiKorea Hostel(Guesthouse) in Haeundae, Busan] Not a Foreign Scenery on the Postcard! ‘Cheongsapo’_2

2. Went to Eat Eels, but…

As you could guess from the name Cheongsapo, it is a small port village so there isn’t any public transportation going straight to that place. If you head to Songjeong from the Dalmaji hill of Haeundae the place to the right is Cheongsapo, and it is easy if you get off the subway at the Joongdong station or the Jangsan station and take a taxi. If you reach the Dalmaji hill there are lots of traffic signs and if you ask people they will show you the right direction kindly so it won’t be so difficult, but it may be quite a distance to walk. When I took a taxi after getting off at the Joongdong station in front of the E-mart, it cost about 3,000won to the front of the Cheongsapo lighthouse. (year 2013 current) For information, call 051-749-4000.

Cheongsapo is famous for seaweed with good quality, so you can quite often see people drying down seaweed on sunny days. Also the sunrise here has great reputation for its beauty, and the rocks on the seashore near the Cheongsapo coast as always crowded with anglers who have come to enjoy fishing, and more people come to visit in autumn when the mackerels are in season.

If you are sharp-sighted your eyes will go to the small railroad. According to explanation, the Donghae Nambu Line (Railroad) is extended long besides the coast, and the train that runs honking sometimes redound to the tranquil and quiet scenery of a country village, and it is said that this railroad is one of the two coastline railroads in this whole country. It is known as the place of filming of the movie ‘High-Sea Watch’ and the drama ‘Haeundae Lovers.’

 However, the thing that first came to sight was also, the two lighthouses. The things that brought fame to Cheongsapo are these lighthouses. The red lighthouse and the white lighthouse mingle together exquisitely to create an exotic scenery, so I don’t need to envy the overseas sceneries that I can see on postcards. This day the weather got gloomy from late afternoon, and when I arrived at Cheongsapo it seemed that it would rain right away. So I felt sorry that I couldn’t see dazzling clean sceneries that I could see on the internet. But the hazy weather made a tasteful mood in its way. I wanted to take a glance and eat broiled eels, but I almost forgot about the eels.

[HiKorea Hostel(Guesthouse) in Haeundae, Busan] Not a Foreign Scenery on the Postcard! ‘Cheongsapo’_1

1. How Did My Front Yard Look?

 Actually, the hidden intention of this trip was to eat broiled eels with my birthday as an excuse. The food called the broiled eels is not only expensive in cost, but people say you must eat it at a ‘delicious place.’ People ‘who have taste on seafood’ in Busan must have famous restaurants of their own style on particular food. So I wanted to find the no.1 restaurant for broiled eels in Busan (in my opinion) that needs to go further inside from ‘Gijang’ with a taxi or my own car for quite some time, but the sky turned gloomy and dark so I decided to just go to Cheongsapo which is nearby.

 If you are a citizen of Busan who lives in Haeundae, the name ‘Cheongsapo’ might be a friendly name like your front yard. I spent all my school days near Cheongsapo Haeundae, so it was interesting to see foreigners come on trips to this place when I was young. Since Cheongsapo is so familiar as a common place for a school trip during my elementary school days. After leaving Haeundae as I grew up, when I talk about those days recalling my memories most people say ‘then you must have eaten a lot of eels, roasted clam and sashimi often’ with half surprise and half envy. But oh my, I don’t have any memory enjoying the ‘taste of sea’ at Cheongsapo. The only memory that I have of Cheongsapo is the one collecting rubbish during a field study program during my ‘child elementary’ days. Not having to visit the ‘famous restaurants of Cheongsapo’ for over 10 years living there, I feel not only unfair but also embarrassed. Coming to think of it, I don’t even remember how Cheongsapo, which I used to boast to say that ‘it is my front yard’ looks, yikes! Now since I’ve come to this point I felt something like sense of duty raise in my heart. I have to eat broiled eels on my old front yard.