Cameron's Visit - Busan's Fish Market

I didn't make a formal plan of sites to see before Cameron came to visit because I was not for sure how she would feel after such a long flight once she arrived here.  Pregnancy didn't slow her down one bit. After walking the entire Hwaseong Fortress and galavanting through Seoul the first couple of days, we were onto our next adventure - BUSAN!

Initially I had thought about driving down to Busan and making a stop on our way to see the Bul-guk-sa Temple.  Steve's back went out on him a couple of days prior to Cameron arriving so I knew that he needed to the car and we would have to take the train to get down there.  This was a score because Cameron was actually looking forward to riding the KTX train - Korea's bullet train.

Busan is where I was born.  I came here in the fall with my mother to check it out and it just seemed so surreal to be back here.  I have to say, my entire life I thought it was spelled "Pusan" because that is what my birth certificate has on it and my Naturalized Citizenship papers too.  Had no idea until I moved here that it was spelled "Busan" with the pronunciation of "Pusan".  I also just recently found out that Busan is where my mother's entire family fled to from Seoul during the Korean War.  Only my mother's immediate family returned to Seoul after the war.

Once we arrived to Busan the first thing we did was make our return reservations back to Pyeongtaek and also decided to stay a day longer and make an impromptu trip to Jeju Island.  We tried to figure out the most efficient and inexpensive way to get there...finally we decided to fly from Busan.  

After all reservations were made, the next thing on our list was to find a hotel.  The Tourist Information guide suggested a hotel that was right next to the train station.  It was pretty easy to get a room since it was in the middle of the week and it was not a holiday.  I wish I would have taken a picture of the room....clean, compact and had everything we needed but the beds were as hard as a ROCK! Our pillows also had some funky texture on one side...almost felt like box springs turned sideways.  After the first night and both of us waking up with each turn during the night, we asked the front desk if they had any softer beds to offer and something to put on our beds and they offered us "1" blanket.  Well, we had two beds so immediately I told Cameron to take the blanket but of course she refused since they didn't have one for each of us and said we'll just deal with it one more night.

Our first night in Busan Cameron and I decided to hit the night fish market.  Wow!  What a sight to see. We both agreed that the night setting made our experience in the market that much better - the bright lights, people just getting off from work and enjoying fresh cooked seafood and the spotlights on some of the days catch.

Thank goodness right as we were entering the market area, Cameron advised me to roll up my pants because there was nasty seafood puddles all over and we both only brought the pants that we were wearing.  As I rolled up my pants, I realized that I was wearing circus style pin striped socks with my Keen shoes!  I truly looked like a clown.

I think it was because it was a very cool evening because even though you smelled a fishy aroma it wasn't over powering as one would think it would be.  Also, it could be because the seafood was so fresh.  All I know is that I would not want to be walking through that market area during the middle of summer with the heat.

One scene that really grossed us out was one section of the market that must have specialized in eels. What we saw as skinned eels still wiggling on countertops and also cooking on the grill.  It creeped the both of us out really bad.  I asked Cameron if I should take a video and immediately she said no, lets just get out of here.  Maybe I will the next time I visit.

In my life I have NEVER seen such huge crabs before.  These were Russian crabs.  When my mom were here in the fall, she asked one of the vendors how much one would cost...$200!  I'm sure it had lots of meat in it but definitely too much for just two people.  

One of many great things about Korea is that when I am walking around Korea in the middle of the night, whether it is in the big city, small city and any alley,  I never feel scared or threatened.  Besides a business owner trying to get you into their store or restaurant, no one bothers you - I have heard this from MANY expats here in Korea.  Very thankful for that. 

As we walked through some dimly lit streets, we captured some pretty cool pictures.

We found this cute coffee/tea shop in Busan and after sitting for a while and catching up on each others happenings, we decided that it was time to head back to the hotel for the night.

Cameron's Visit - Pyeongtaek, Suwon and Seoul

Wow!  I don't think that anyone could have scheduled and captured all that Cameron and I did in one week in Korea.  Subways, trains, car, KTX train, buses, taxi and plane - yes, we used all of them to travel throughout Korea.

Our first stop was the Tong Buk Market in Pyeongtaek.  Had to pick up some produce and knew that Cameron would enjoy seeing a place like this.

We couldn't have picked a more perfect time and day to go.  There were hardly any people there yet and it was a chilly day so the smell of the fish was not strong at all. 

The next day we decided to check out the Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon.  I had never been there so I really didn't know what to expect.  I thought possibly you would see the main gate of the fortress and there would probably be a museum or two.  Oh No!  The fortress was still in place and it was HUGE! We initially thought it would be great to walk the entire fortress - why not, right?  As we were walking along we realized that we could not see the circumference but then we saw that looked like it was possibly part of the fortress high on top of a mountain that looked pretty far way.  I looked at Cameron and said, if that is part of the fortress, there is no way that we will be able to walk the entire fortress. She shrugged it off and said think positive Carmen, sure we will.  

STEPS STEPS STEPS!!!! Little did we know this was the first day of many days ahead of us that will require us to take sooooo many steps to our destination.

It took us a few hours but we did it!!!! I can't forget to mention that we were wearing inappropriate shoes for climbing while also caring our purses, coats, and our cameras.  Little did we know that was going to set the pace for our Korean adventure.

During out walk along the fortress, we noticed this amazing gold statue. After we finished walking the entire fortress we hopped in the car and made it our mission to find this amazing gold Buddha. Winding in and out of little side streets with cute little stores and restaurants we finally found the gold Buddha statue we saw from afar.

Next - Seoul!!!!  We caught the train and then a taxi to our first destination - Gyeongbokgung Palace. Wow, it was amazing and yet we knew that it was be so much more beautiful once all of the flowers and trees were in full bloom.

Just as we arrived to the palace, it was time for changing of the guard - perfect timing!  We found what we thought would be the best positions to capture, it was until all the pushing and shoving started.  Cameron and I both just looked at each other and without saying a word, we stood our ground and wouldn't allow people to budge us from our spots.  After the initial entrance of the guards, the crowd started to thin and we no longer had worry about people bumping us and shoving while we were trying to take photographs.

After checking out the palace, it was time to find something to eat!  We found this cute place not far from the palace.  While reading the menu we had to laugh at the edits....too funny!

We had bibimbop and dumpling soup.  It was very good!

Now with a full tummy we were ready for our trek to Insa-dong, one of the art districts of Seoul.  It is one of my favorite areas of Seoul, always cool stuff to check out.  As we were walking towards Insa-dong we passed these statues - they were both in front of one of Seoul's newspaper companies.  One is a representation of a Korean journalist and the other is of a Korean Comfort Slave during the Japanese occupation in Korea.  Till this day, Korea is still requesting that Japan formally apologize to the few remaining "comfort slaves" still alive in Korea and to also offer them some type of compensation to them for their war crimes.

We finally made to Insa-dong!!!

Our Seoul travel was not finished yet - now it was time to check out the Namsan Tower.  We took the subway to towards Myong-dong and from there we hiked our way up to the cable car to take us to the tower.  By the time that we reached the cable car, it was sprinkling on and off and the fog was rolling in.  It didn't stop us - onward and upward we went!

The fog was becoming so thick that we couldn't even see the city lights below so we both decided that it really would be a waste of money to travel to the top of the tower - we wouldn't be able to see anything.  We traveled back down to Myong-dong and tried to find something to eat.  While searching Cameron happened to look towards the tower and could see it perfectly fine - the skies were CLEAR!  Oh good grief!  Oh well, it was cool to see the tower.  I will definitely make my way there again and take pictures of Seoul's skyline for Cameron.

It was a long day and it was finally time to catch the train and head back to Pyeongtaek.

Anticipation

This week has been dragging!  My friend Cameron from NY is flying in on Saturday and it just can't get here fast enough.  I do have a bit of anxiety going on right now - I asked her what she would like to see and do while she is here and she so easily said, I'm going to trust your judgement Carmen (GULP). Cameron is about 20 weeks pregnant so I also want to be mindful to select places that won't require lots of walking, although she has been doing yoga and is a "go go" type of person and I may be the one trying to keep up with her!

The weather has been a bit crazy the last few days - warm weather; snow; rain; wind...it just can't make up its mind.  The forecast is suppose to be nice starting this weekend - SCORE!  I can actually take any of the conditions as long as the pollution stays away.

Last Sunday after my photography class, there was a traditional Korean drumming and singing performance right outside the Osan Air Base main entrance.  It was a really windy and cold day so we weren't for sure if they would still perform.  They did!  I capture some great shots, practicing some of my newly learned skills.

 The colors of their traditional Korean outfits were so bright and colorful.  The crowd was really getting into their music.  One day I will learn some of these traditional songs and will be able to sing along with the rest of the crowd.

 These drumming team consisted of only women.  They were just jamming away!

 This young man was doing a traditional Korean dance.  He was very good. I remember the first time that I saw the Korean male traditional outfit...I thought it looked a bit strange.  Now looking at it, I really appreciate how cool it looks.  The hat is still a little funky but again, I'm sure it was quite functional in its time.

These two young girls were singing traditional Korean songs and one bystander decided that he wanted to join in and just started dancing in front of them.  It was very entertaining, I have no idea how these two girls kept a straight face.

BRAVO!!!!!!

I just received my speedlite the other day in the mail - YEA!!!!  Can't wait to take some awesome indoor shots.  Cameron is also a photographer so I'm sure we will capture some more amazing shots of Korea.  Can't wait!!!!!!