Exploring Busan

Skiing in Neighbouring Yangsan!

Edit: This is like, my 3rd attempt to post it due to a weird problem with the app basically saying “Hey, hey, you want to post this? It’s interesting right? Yeah? NO. SCREW YOU, HUMAN! KISS MY DIGITAL RECTUM! SKYNET 4 LYFE!”

Baby’s down for her nap, and my laptop needs recharging (like, 20 mins into the series finale of Rectify) so there’s time for another post!
We went skiing! Or, as I should call it, ‘That Time My Ass Kissed the Icy Floor Over and Over Again.’

More detailed information on the resort and how to get there can be found at the bottom of this post.

We went to the Eden Valley Ski Resort in Yangsan. At night. For the first time. So yea, we got a little lost.

I don’t know man, this looks just a wee bit off than what I expected a ski resort to look like

We finally found the proper route and you can tell it is (you know, besides looking at the signs) by the increasing number of ski/snowboard gear shops the further you go.

We settled on getting equipment from here:

There was a guy in hockey mask and a bloodied machete who was pretty nice and spoke with high-pitched British accent

The place was fine, but just bear in mind that they are an independent shop.

Be very specific about what you need to rent and for how long, and remember that they do not have any say regarding the admission cost. My brother-in-law told me that the guy spoke as if he were connected to the resort. I’m hoping it was a communication issue. Yeah. Communication issue.
Anyway, I’d recommend renting directly at the resort. Easier to drop off the items and stuff.

We finally arrived:

One important thing to bear in mind, especially if you’ve never skiied before: There is no beginner -level slope. I mean, they have one, but you’ll get what I mean further down.

First, the view from the bottom:

The one on the left is supposedly the one for beginners. LIES, ALL LIES

For starters, we had to take a goddamn ski lift to get to the top of the beginner-level slope.

For beginners. That is, for you to begin crapping yourself

Aaaand here’s the view from the top of the slope:

Notice how it looks deceptively flat… that’s because there’s a super-steep decline that connects to the slope on the right

Thought I’d take one last picture of my being alive

Being the genius that I so clearly am, I’d decided to sit in the snow for a moment to rest. In non-waterproof pants. It’s amazing what a freezing ass and the threat of hypothermia can do to motivate you to speed down a death slope.

My last fall was when I’d decided to just go for it… and was speeding downwards when I realized I couldn’t stop. Because of the speed, I actually bounced off the damn ice. Oh yea, and I’d also neglected to wear safety gear. You know, all part of being a goddamn genius.

Luckily I got away only with slight cuts on the elbow which I legit thought was bleeding heavily at the time (shut up).

Would I do it again? With safety equipment, I’d say yes.

Would I recommend it to beginners?

HELL NO ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND??

Overall, an… enlightening experience.

Getting There:

We drove there at night (night skiing is from 9pm-1am), and the road conditions were pretty good.

More details here: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=658160

January 13, 2017 0

Quick Post on Watching Movies in Haeundae

Haven’t yet had the time to make a full post about skiing in Yangsan, since the toddler seems to have a death wish, or keeps trying to give me a freakin’ heart attack.

Anyway… I LOVE WATCHING MOVIES IN KOREA. Haeundae is supposedly an expensive, ‘happening’ area… but the cinemas are always empty! Forget Friday or Saturday night, it was even empty when The Force Awakens first came out.

I usually go to the one at NC:

There are a few cinemas in the area, and I have no idea they stay in business but I LOVE IT.

January 10, 2017 0

Walk Along Old Railway Tracks by the Sea from Haeundae Beach to Songjeong Beach

I have finally recovered, and there’s so much to catch up on!

First up is our walk along old railway tracks by the sea.

Fortunately I don’t think it says ‘Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter’.

It’s actually a really cool shortcut to take to get from Haeundae Beach to the two lighthouses on the other side of the mountain near Songjeong Beach.

Just head to the end of Haeundae Beach, where the seafood restaurants are, and where you can also take a ferry tour. Once you reach there, go up the narrow road.

Forgot to take a day time picture, so um, here you go

The historical information is in Korean, but along the way you’ll encounter an old tunnel and abandoned stone monitoring booths facing the sea which make me think the tracks were used by the military back in ththe 50’s or earlier.

Must’ve sucked for the soldier. Great view though!

And the there’s the tunnel:

There a few couples there who’d take pics. And one would set up a tripod to take some romantic selfies. At one point, a guy tried to lift up his girl in her arms… but failed! Buahahahah!! I laughed and laughed…

But I digress. Here’s some more pics:

And finally we arrived on the other side of the mountain, at the end of the tracks:

Songjeong Beach is still a bit further but it was getting dark so we stopped by an Angels-in-Us cafe and got a cab back.

Koreans have quite the thing for phallic signs

I’d say it takes about an 30-40 mins to walk the entire way. Not a very well-known tourist attraction but definitely worth it.

January 8, 2017 0

Happy New Year from Busan!

Been feeling under the weather lately, but I wanted to do a quick post for the New Year’s Eve celebration.

For Russians, it’s one of the major celebrations that involves a MAJOR feast!

Check it out:

It actually looks much better. Again, I suck at photography

There’s only six of us, and we’ll be eating on and off until the clock strikes 12 (the feast began at 9.30pm).

It’s not exactly big here in Korea, but there’s a tradition observed by a lot of the locals here where they will gather at the beach for the first sunrise of the year. Missed it last year, but I hope to make it this year!

Anyway… HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

December 31, 2016 0

Melting Pot in Gimhae

Returned to beautiful Jangyu for my mother-in-law’s haircut, just a stone’s throw away from her old apartment, where I stayed during my first visit to Busan about four years ago.

Excellent candidate for a Silent Hill-like event

After that, it was time for more shopping at Lotte Premium Outlets (Gimhae).

If you really focus, you’ll be able to hear your bank account crying

Now, today being Christmas Day and all, with more and more Koreans observing it… I was hopeful it wouldn’t be too crowded.

This time at least, I captured photographic evidence of steep discounts!

Is… is my bank account crying even louder?

Oh yea and I captured this:

The fourteen year-old in me was giggling uncontrollably

Next on the list: Halal meat. My wife, her brother and mom had already eaten and I was starving. Plus I was saving space for Samsa, a delicious meat-filled Uzbek baked bun/pastry.

Not sure what the area is called, but here’s the street name:

I am NOT attempting to type that on this phone with Autocorrect waiting eagerly, and cracking its knuckles

The nearest LRT station would be either Royal Tomb of King Suro (no, seriously) or Buwon. We drove there and man, it reminded me a little of some really narrow streets in Bangkok where cars mingled with pedestrians.

Here’s the cool thing about the place. It’s a true melting pot. You’ve got everyone from Indonesians to Vietnamese to Thais to Uzbeks and more.

Much more festive, it’s just that my photography skills are still almost non-existent.

We parked near the mosque:

Something weird about this. Can’t quite put my finger on it…

Before heading to the restaurant to get our meat (they also sell frozen meat), we checked out the nearby wet market which reminded me a lot of the old markets in Singapore:

Bank account seemed glad to see this place for some reason.

According to my brother-in-law, the prices here were significantly cheaper than in Busan.

Finally we arrived at the restaurant:

Hand over the Samsas and nobody gets hurt.

I’d show you a picture of the Samsa, but I’ve pretty much eaten all of them. They’re that good. And a hot Samsa in winter? Oh yeah.

At this very moment, I’m typing this on a phone, on a big comfy couch in the hall, with my reflection and its full tummy in the glass window staring at me. I regret nothing.

December 25, 2016 0

Short Trip to Lotte Premium Outlets

Not only is it Christmas Eve, but it’s also my brother-in-law’s birthday! So naturally… we all headed out before he woke up to do some shopping 😂

A short cab ride later and we arrive at Lotte Premium Outlets Busan.

Christmas is getting ever bigger in Korea, but it’s still not as big of a deal here as the Lunar New Year.

The place wasn’t too packed and there were a few good discounts according to my wife and her mom, who happen to be experts in matters like this.

View from inside a cafe that blasted music like it was trying to become a club

Pro tip: There’s more discounts on the weekend. And especially on Christmas Eve.

While the ladies went shopping, I entered the very mouth of madness:

This would be a good place to bury daddy

I don’t know what is it about me and kids, but there’s always one or two kids that seem to go’OMG A FRIENDLY GROWN-UP!’ but since there were more kids than usual… I had to basically reject quite a few.

For the last time… I AM NOT YOUR DADDY.

Shopping done and baby exhausted, we headed back and while I was at the gym, they prepared the birthday feast:

Because my wife’s family is Korean-Russian, the entire spread was a kind of hybrid of two distinct cuisines.

Anyway… MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Oh and btw, I’m a Muslim.

Here’s a big-ass Christmas Tree:

December 25, 2016 0

Visit to Oryukdo Skywalk

What is it?

A relatively new seaside attraction that opened up in 2013, located on a cliff on Oryukdo Island. I’ll talk more about whether you should visit further near the bottom of this post.

The drive from Haeundae Beach to Oryukdo took us over Gwangandaegyo, also known as the Diamond Bridge. I never get tired of the view:

As long as you don’t think about possibility plunging to the depths of the sea, you’ll definitely enjoy the view!

One of these days I’ll have to check and see if I can walk up there.

After that was a short journey through one of those quaint, little towns that lies at the entrance to the mountain road that will take you to the cliffs on the other side.

Koreans enjoy livening up their industrial plants with cheerful murals

Made a quick stop on the mountain road to make sure we were headed in the right direction and not to Japan or something.

When we arrived, it was unexpectedly packed! I’m talking a small road filled with cars and tour buses. Turns out it was just our bad luck. Like, an hour later, the roads were clear.

So we parked a little farther out:

A pleasant stroll downhill. Pleasant so long as you don’t think of the journey back up with a cranky baby.

The whole area by the seaside is breathtaking. The views definitely merit that word. It’s like being in a masterpiece of a painting or walking in a dream.

And the air. Holy crap. It’s so fresh. If Mentos grew naturally, this is where you’d find a motherlode. Makes you feel refreshed and relaxed at the same time.

I’d never want to live here, because I’d never want to get tired of seeing such beauty.

Anyway, on to the Skywalk!

From here, it’s just a short walk up to the Skywalk proper:

Admission is free and you’ll have to cover your shoes before entering:

Here we go:

If you have vertigo, probably not the best idea.

The Skywalk itself was OK. Probably because I’ve experienced similar platforms that were much, much higher up like the Euraka Skydeck’s ‘The Edge’ in Melbourne and even the walk in Cloud Forest at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore.

The Littlest Dictator was quiet… for a moment.

Next, we walked down to the bay, where there’s a small market for fresh fish:

The trailer is a little restaurant if you’re in the mood for seafood

Should you visit?

Depends, really. The natural beauty of Okyudo Island is enchanting, surreal even. If nature is your thing, I’d highly recommend it.

If you’re going solely for the Skywalk though, then you might want to give it a pass.

The place is a major pain to get to, and if you took public transport (excluding cabs), it could easily take you more than an hour to reach.

More details here:

http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=1981825

Dear GOD has the baby always been this heavy??

December 22, 2016 0

Beautifully Foggy Day

After it rained, something awesome happened. Well, awesome to me, anyway. There’s fog! Thick, low fog. I love this weather, man. Not too many days like this in Singapore.

Here’s the view on a clear day:

Now with the fog:

So I’ve got the idea to sell some of my pictures via stock photography sites, and one of them recommended bright and sunny days. But I don’t know man, there’s just something about cool, foggy weather, you know?

Reminds me of some shows set in Victoria-era London and Silent Hill. The fog also slows things down… adds mystery.

Perfect for sitting with a warm cup of coffee while reading a book or watching a horror movie or doodling.

Think I’ll go and create something.

December 21, 2016 0

On Minor Earthquakes and Snow in Korea

Looks like a pretty cloudy day today, and it’s projected to snow across most of Korea tomorrow! Most… just not Busan. GODDAMMIT.

However, I do have a plan! Ready or not, I’m hitting Jangsan Mountain early tomorrow morning, possibly before sunrise. I WILL HAVE MY SNOW.

It’ll probably kick my unprepared ass, though

In the past month we’ve been here, I’ve received two or three earthquake (!!) notifications. If you have coverage here, you’ll get an alert on your phone.

Oh yea and the apartment has a scary-as-hell alarm that goes off followed by an announcement.

Apparently quakes happen regularly, and you only get notified if it goes beyond 2.0 on the Richter scale.

Seeing how they’ve had major ones recently, I was a little spooked at first. But yea, it’s nothing to get too worried about. Overall it’s a pretty stable country. Japan however…