As usual, we had our breakfast at the hotel before proceeding to our first stop --- Taejongdae Resort Park (태종대 유원지).
Designated as a Busan monument, along with Oryukdo Island, Taejongdae (태종대) represents Busan, and is especially famous for its rock beach. Taejongdae was named after the 29th king of Silla Kingdom BC57-AD 935), King TaeJong Mu-Yeol (604-661). King TaeJong had traveled to many places but this was the place he enjoyed shooting arrows.
Taejongdae is also famous for the ritual of praying for rain, performed when there are droughts, and rain on the 10th of lunar May is called the 'Taejong Rain'.
To go to here, from Busan Station, take Bus 88 or 101 and get off at Taejongdae (태종대). Admission to the park is free. However, you can take the Danubi Train Course(Adults-1,500 won; Children-600 won) to explore the whole park. The course includes places like Taejongsa Temple, Yeongdo Lighthouse, Observatory, Gumyeongsa Temple and Taewon Jagal Madang. You can get off the train when you reach certain destinations and you can board the next train after you finished visiting them.
The Yeongdo Lighthouse
Our next stop --- Gamcheon Culture Village aka Korea's Santorini! This has to be my most favourite place in Busan because the village is so beautiful!
This village is also known as Taegeukdo Village. Taegeukdo Village’s unusual name reveals the community’s unique origins. During the Korean War, some 4,000 followers of the Taegeukdo religion, refugees from other parts of the war torn land, settled in this neighborhood of Busan, erecting as their homes some 800 wooden shacks.
One of the wall paintings in the village greeted us at the entrance.
This giant fish is found at the entrance of the village.
If you love to take pictures, I think you should, no, you must visit here!
There are so many stairs in the village. Remember to wear a pair of comfortable shoes yah!
The colouful panorama of the village from one of the rooftops.
There's also a stamp scavenger hunt game to make exploring the village so much fun! But before that, you need to buy this guide map at a minimal fee.
Admission to the village is however free.
Directions:
1. Take Subway Line 1 to Toseong Station. Exit 6.
2. You will be facing an intersection. Turn right at the corner and walk straight. You will see a hospital on your right. The bus stop is right in front of the hospital.
3. Take either Bus 2 or 2-2.
A Starbucks drink a day keeps my stress away! This is Mango Banana Frappuccino.
Here is another Starbucks card I got from Korea!
Shopping tip for you guys. If you want to shop for affordable clothing, I would suggest you to come over to Busan National University station(Line 1). Get out of the station by following the crowd and you shall see lot of small fashion shops along the street there! And there are many youngsters and university students shopping around that area too. No photos because I was busy shopping :P
