[Travelogue] South Korea: Busan, Day 3 | Lotteria, Busan's Airbnb, Tangsuyuk, Haedong Yonggung Temple, Shinsegae Mall, Yoogane and Gwangan Bridge
By Lasmarya Hadi Purwanto - May 26, 2017
24th March 2017
Bidding goodbye to Jeju and Yeha guesthouse by leaving a newly printed Rupiah bill with our names written on the "Money from Your Homeland" wall.
We took a taxi (fare: 4000 KRW / 2 people from Yeha) to the airport to catch the early flight to Busan by AirBusan. Our flight was at 8:40 am so we had to set out early and skipped our breakfast.
Once we arrived at the airport, after check-in at the counter, the first thing that we looked for was, of course, something to eat, and this golden-letter LOTTERIA sign was successful in luring us in. Haha We're youngsters anyway, what else can entice us except a good fast food?? And hey, it's Lotteria, it's like the Korean version of McDonald, so we're still tasting a Korean local product, right? *excuses spotted XD
I ordered Bulgogi Burger for 3400 KRW, and it tasted so so so good! The meat was tender, the spice were perfect, the bread was soft, perfect! They said that you won't find any Lotteria in other country that serves the same taste as the authentic Korean one. Although they belong to the same franchise, there's always something missing, it just tastes different, according to them. So, while you are in Korea, it's a great idea to try their Lotteria, it's like tasting the real Bulgogi, right from where it comes from, in the form of a burger. Recommended! Especially when it is still warm, and you're craving for fast food, this is the one!
This one below belonged to Fiona, who ordered a Hash Brown with Mozarella burger.
And so, we left Jeju...
ⒸErlyna Koesman
ⒸErlyna Koesman
and arrived in Busan airport after some 40 minute flight, at around 10 something a.m.
From the airport, we bought the Airport Limousine Bus ticket (@6,000 KRW) heading to the Busan Station, where we would meet our Busan's Airbnb's owner. Btw, we're not riding a limousine, haha, it's just the name of the bus, I don't know why they named it that way, but the bus was exactly the same as any other bus. So, yeah. (no, I definitely didn't sound disappointed, or did I sound like I did?)
Loving this pic by Erlyna Koesman, so I borrow it from her. XD
Why this pic below?
We were in South Korea during the ending of winter and the supposedly beginning of spring, so we're hoping to see some cherry blossoms, although we realized that we had to depend a lot on the odds. Remember that I have ever mentioned in the first day travel diary in Jeju before, that Jeju's temperature was warmer than Seoul, as it is located in the south of Korea, so the logic is, if the season has started changing and the flowers have started blooming in Jeju, then the other area will soon get warmer and begin to blossom too. Soo, we'd been praying extremely hard, but when we arrived in Jeju, the chilly wind kinda blew our hope away.
But!
I don't know whether we're just too naive or we're just silly, oops, maybe only me, but we still tried to fool ourselves, that we might still have some chance. And the thing about Busan is, it is located near Jinhae, where the most popular cherry blossoms festival in Korea will be held every year, and this might mean, if we're lucky, (yes, we're still hoping after the wind finished blowing) (and yes, too, maybe we just couldn't get enough of fooling ourselves) we'd get to see the pink blossoms. Well, we initially included visiting Jinhae in our itinerary, but we're quite discouraged when we found out that due to the global warming, the spring was coming a bit later, and the festival would start from 1st of April, when we're not in Korea anymore. So, we had been frantically looking for some luck, hoping that we'd encounter at least one tree with blossoming flowers.
And!
Here it was, while we're on the "Limousine", on the way to Busan Station, we spotted some trees on both sides of the street, and we became really ECSTATIC every time we found a tree with petals opening like this, though they're not much, and hadn't fully blossomed yet, but they're still cherry blossoms, anyway, right?
Told ya, we had some luck in our hand! :P
Playing: Don't stop believing~♪♪♪
We got down in Busan Station and walked across the street to meet the airbnb's owner, but we got there a bit earlier, and he asked us to wait for 10-20 minutes. Since it was lunch time, we walked around to look for some snacks to fill our tummy, and we came across this menu below. Nasi Goreng, my friends! Indonesian menu in the land of Korea! Should I be proud? Haha
We got into a chicken restaurant next to the cafe serving the Nasi Goreng above, lured by the standing banner in front of the store that looked exactly like the leaflet below. We thought that we could get the two menus, for only 1,500 KRW each.
Unfortunately, it's not. These two cost us 5,000 KRW, haha
This is a lesson called, "Ask first clearly, before you make a purchase." XD
One was chicken fritter with potato, and the other one is chicken fritter in spicy sauce.
Not so long after we sat down and savored the snacks, the owner, John, came and picked us up with his car. He was very friendly and his hospitality was just beyond superb, cause the apartment that we rented was just one or two blocks away from the chicken store, but he still insisted on driving us there, so we arrived in just 2-3 minutes. Haha
Well, let me introduce you to our Airbnb in Busan. The apartment was so convenient, with four beds, one bathroom, a kitchen with full appliances, and the best of all, the location is totally perfect, for travellers. It is located in a building just across the Busan station and there's a metro station exit just several meters away. Next to it, is a big supermarket that opens 24 hours and you can also find Chinatown around the block. Lots of cafes and restaurants can be spotted too in the area. So, location-wise, this apartment is conveniently-perfect! Again, recommended!
Go check John and Sarah's airbnb for more information: J Orange Darak @KTX Station :)
Heading out again to explore Busan, let's go!
Busan Metro Station↑↓
Deli Manjoo again, this time with Corn (2,000 KRW) and Walnut + Red Bean Filling (3,000 KRW)!
Got down at Haeundae Metro Station, and waited for bus to Haedong Yenggung Temple.
by: Fiona Kasim
Since we hadn't got any lunch yet (hence, the snacking, haha), we went to the Chinese restaurant right beside the Hae Dong Yong Gung Temple entrance, yes, the one with the MBS, KBS and SBS advertisement billboard on the picture above which clearly emphasize that the restaurant has been frequented by celebrities and TV programmes. There are surely a lot of cafes and restaurants in Korea with this kind of billboard or banner. Once you're in Korea, you'll definitely see what I mean. :D
Ordered the local specialties, of course, so first:
Black Bean Noodle or Jajangmyeon (7,000 KRW)⇑
Spicy Seafood Soup or Jjampong (8,000 KRW) ⇑
Sweet and Sour Pork with Vegetables or Dwaeji Tangsuyuk (18,000 KRW) ⇑
The food was really good, seasoned well, the texture was good too, and I can really understand why the restaurant is frequented by celebrities. :d Thumbs up!
Recommended for those looking for a decent Chinese restaurant serving the authentic kinda local specialties.
In case you're asking why it looked so empty, it's because we got there way past lunch time.
And to Haedong Yonggung Temple, we go! There's a long way into the temple, around 15-20 minutes. but I kinda like the serene sort of ambiance, with barely anyone around us, just relaxingly walking in felt so good. ssstt, we can also play around (read: taking lots of pictures) without bothering others, or vice versa. XD
How cute is this mini photographer? <3
The rooster girls. :D
Haedong Yonggung Temple or 해동 용궁사 is one of a few seaside temple complexs in Korea, as temples are mostly built on the mountains. Buddhists statues, stone pagoda, and sculptures are found scattered all around the complex. Its unique location gains its popularity and earns the temple "a must-visit in Busan" title.
Meet a family of photographers, even the kids knew how to operate a powerful camera, so cool!
Owed them for this picture above!
Wishing Well ⇑
Check my luck throwing in a coin in the video at the end of the post!
credit to: Fiona Kasim
Going back to the bus station...
Stella: "Hey, there's cherry blossom!"
Fiona, Erlyna and I: "Where? Where?!"
ⒸFiona Kasim
Look at how happy we were, finding a cherry blossom tree, that we didn't care as long as:
selfie with the flowers ✔
by: Fiona Kasim
No one's here! Let's play around! XD
Holding embarrassment kinda face wkwk
Rode the bus to Centum City (fare 1,200 KRW), and window shopping at Shinsegae Mall, which is approved by Guinness World Records as the largest shopping complex in the world.
credit to : Erlyna Koesman
These pictures of the mall below belong to Fiona Kasim:
Found this underground Lotte Trevi Plaza that connects to metro station. So cool!
Dinner of the day : Yoogane!
A portion of Chicken Kalbi, with Mozarella cheese, and additional two bowl of rice, 22,500 KRW
Self-service side dishes!
Yoogane's Chicken Kalbi or Dalk Galbi: definitely a must-try!
The chicken are so tender, perfect seasonings, with cheese, on top of stir-fried rice, everything just melted in our mouths! :dd
Truthfully, Korean serving portion is mostly too big for us, that sometimes their portion for two/three people is enough for four of us, there are times when we could hardly finish everything, but we wiped this one out! Approved! Another recommendation!
Check the video at the end of the post for full coverage of Yoogane!
Guided by Stella, we walked our way to the beach side of this Gwangan Bridge or Gwangandaegyo 광안대교, which is enchantingly lit with bright pink LED lights that illuminated the cool night in Busan. <3
"It is the longest bi-level bridge over the ocean in Korea. Equipped with thousands of LED lights, the bridge showcases a beautiful lighting exhibition at night that changes with the seasons. The bridge offers a majesty beauty when combined with nearby attractions during the day and a romantic atmosphere at night, attracting many residents and tourists." - visitKorea
I'm really loving the night view in Busan <3
again by: Erlyna Koesman
Okay, I know there're a lot of recommendations in one full day post, but all of these are pure honest reviews, and I extremely enjoyed my days in Busan, I like a lot of things about it,
and hey, there's still another fun day in Busan, and I can't wait to share it with you.
So, see you again soon? :)
pss: All the photos of me are taken by either Stella, Fiona or Erlyna. :D
