I can't believe they were able to squeeze in all these in our itinerary in Busan! Do you like to shop quality stuff, eat local food, visiting historical places or participating in cultural experiences more? This post covers 7 completely different places you might want to consider for your next Busan trip. Many thanks to the Korea Tourism Organization Manila Office and Asiana Airlines Philippines for taking me to these places!
If you're game for some shopping then you might want to check out the Lotte Dongbusan Premium Outlets. It just opened this December 2014 with more than 500 international and local outlet store brands. There's also a cinema, Lotte Mart and Hi-Mart already in the complex. I hope they open the Lotte World soon!! :)
You can have lunch on the 2nd floor of the Jagalchi Market building if you want to experience one of Busan's specialties. I've tried this once. We choose our seafood (flounder, squiggling live baby squid and scallops) and had them cooked for you or sliced as hue or hoe (eaten raw, thinly sliced like sashimi, can be wrapped in leaves and dipped in gojuchang). For seating options, there are nicer ones near the windows, some on the floor and others with chairs. They charge per person for the cooking charge, the utensils and the banchan (appetizers). The view is free with your meal hehe.
You can visit this tteokpokki place at the Gukje traditional market while you're there in the Nampo-dong shopping area.
You have to be in even numbers and on time when you go learn more about the Korean tea ceremony at the Busan Museum. I knew enough to sit on the "assistant" corner hehe. What followed was a pretty strict and solemn experience, including very particular instructions needing left and right hand coordination and some meditation time. I was still sleep-deprived so I was perfectly content with observing, sipping my green tea and falling in line to wash the teapot. Haha. Having tea was so intricate this way but I was able to appreciate the art and tranquility that came with it even for just an hour.
If you're a war and history buff then you might want to include the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in your places to go. So many countries sent troops during the Korean War and a lot gave up their lives defending this country including the Philippines. This was where they were laid to rest for eternity. It's a place to remember loved ones and to think long and hard about the consequences of war.
For dinner, we had the most wonderful time at this galbi (ribs) place Ilheok Galbi 일해옥 갈비. You can sit on the floor if you're more comfortable with that. The meat was tender and the marinade had the right amount of sweetness. They had raw crab as banchan, duenjangjigae (miso soup) and my fav yangnyeom sauce for the galbi :)
I thought we would do some yachting at The Bay 101. I never thought it'll feel like I was back at Clark Quay in Singapore! This is one of my favorite moments in this Korea trip minus the crowd! Dining under the stars with the lights and beside the water would be something I'd plan with J hehe. If you choose well, there are al fresco restaurants in the building with the same view. Fish, chips and beer aren't my thing though so I would go here after dinner or choose other restaurants to dine in.
I've saved the best for last and for another blog post ;) I'll tell you a lot more about the Happy Village next! They weren't kidding when the named the place. It's so homey and the people there welcomed us with open arms. In that short moment we spent there, they've managed to pique my interest and make me want to come back! It's a pilot project in Busan that has potential for tourism so better go there while people still don't know about it.. Hehe. Here's a view from their garden rooftop :)
This trip was made possible by Asiana Airlines Philippines, Korea Tourism Organization Manila, USTravel and the Busan Tourism Organization. Korea is now MERS-free according to KTO and I just went there this August 2015.
Asiana Airlines flies once daily from Manila to Busan (3:30 a.m. to 8 a.m.) on an aircraft Airbus A321. You can book through your favorite travel agencies or at their site.
7 Other Interesting Things to Do in Busan - Check Out the Happy Village, The Bay 101, Lotte Dongbusan Premium Outlets, UN Memorial Cemetery, Tea Ceremony Experience at the Busan Museum, Jagalchi Sashimi Restaurant and a Great Galbi Restaurant in Korea!
Tell me below: What kind of traveller are you and which among the places above would you go to? If it's not there, what kind of place would you want to go to?
Tell me below: What kind of traveller are you and which among the places above would you go to? If it's not there, what kind of place would you want to go to?
