Ferry to Korea
We took the JR Beetle ferry from Fukuoka, Japan to Busan, Korea. The boat is a hydrofoil so it “flies” out of the water on little stilts. It took about 3 hours to cross the Tsushima Strait.
The JR Beetle Ferry to Korea
Jalgachi Fish Market
One of our first stops in Busan was the Jalgachi Fish Market. It’s one of the largest fish markets in the country and there were neverending fish vendors with all kinds of fish, eels, clams, mussels, and some other very unusual looking sea creatures. We bought a fish from one vendor — he immediately crushed it’s neck with the back of a knife and threw it in a bucket. Then he told us to take the (now dead) fish upstairs where someone could cook it for us.
Entrance to Jalgachi Fish Market
Hanging Out at the Fish Market
Various Fish Market Offerings
More Fish Options
...What ARE These?!
They Killed the Fish in Front of Us, then Barbecued It
Fish Head Soup
Vendor Outside Jalgachi Fish Market
Gamcheon Culture Village
Gamcheon Culture Village is located in the hills of Busan. The multicolored houses seem to be hodgepodged together with bits of concrete, steel, and baling wire. Character and artistic wonder ooze from every crack in the sidewalk and walls of Gamcheon.
Hanging Out in Beautiful Gamcheon
Gamcheon Culture Village
The Colorful Houses of Gamcheon
Strolling Through Unique Alleyways
Amongst the Street Art
Big Fish, Little Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
Beomeosa Temple
In the afternoon after Gamcheon, we headed further out of town and up into the mountains to visit Beomeosa Temple. The rain was beginning to fall and the surrounding mountain slopes were shrouded by some beautiful mist. Koreans LOVE to hike and they always seem to be wearing outdoor clothing. On the bus ride down from the mountain, we were crammed like sardines with the locals sporting their North Face, Patagonia, and other brand name gear.
Beomeosa Temple
Beomeosa Temple is High in the Misty Mountains
Lin Amidst the Mist
Beomeosa Temple Altar
Giant Stone Slab at Beomeosa Temple
Ceiling Detail
Wandering Around the Temple Grounds
Those look like Geoduck???
This is captivating! Even the ride on the Beetle sounds like so much fun.
Thrilled to be “tagging” along.
PS I want the ceiling in the Beoseoma Temple!
Thanks for bringing us up to date on your travels. The soup looks delicious. Do the Koreans speak much English?
Great photos and write-up. I was going to say Geoduck to the mystery photo also.
Get any food that was too spicy yet?
Found it on Wikipedia… Penis Fish
Your mystery animal at the fish market is a spoon worm aka fat inn keeper worm. I wouldn’t eat them, and I didn’t know you could. They live in association with other animals, like shrimp. They’ll live in a tunnel below the mud in the intertidal.
I also saw some sea pineapples in there too, those are a type of tunicate.
Beautiful !!!! Looks like you two are having a great time! Gorgeous photos 🙂
Hello from Georgia! I have had a crazy busy week, so I am catching up on your blog this morning and am delighted that there is so much here to see. I absolutely LOVE the misty mountains! We’ll be heading up to South Carolina today to meet up with your mom, dad and K…can’t wait to see them! Wish we were meeting up with you and Lin too.
Love you!
Aunt Anne