Busan, South Korea

Thursday, Oct 6, 2011 Busan, South Korea
I was not prepared for the size and scope of Busan (formerly Pusan). Perhaps because South Korea is dwarfed by its neighbor China, it is underestimated. Second in size only to Seoul, Busan is home to millions of people. The city stretched as far as the eye could see. Throughout the skyline you could see massive high rises that tower more than 120 stories into the skyline.
As with every port, we were welcomed with open arms. We found the people to be very friendly and helpful and the city very clean and safe. We chose a tour that took us north of the city to Haedong Yonggungsa Temple. Filled with lanterns, and statues of Buddha including a large Gold Buddha towering more than 30’ into the hillside skyline, this temple dates back hundreds of years. Its location right on the cliffs of the ocean make for a dramatic view, enough to make anyone stop and contemplate a greater power.
The tour then took us to the APEC house built for the 2005 Economic Leader’s meeting attended by Bush and leaders from around the globe. After enjoying the breathtaking view, tt was the method of lawn maintenance that I found most interesting for this Dongbaekseom Island location. There are very tame domestic rabbits throughout the grounds cheerfully chewing on the grass. They were so tame you could pet them.
The final stop on the tour was downtown at the International Shopping and Fish Market. The Busan Film Festival had just begun, so the market was extremely crowded and busy with many tourists but still a fascinating place to wander.
Back at the pier we were treated to performances by local singers, dancers and musicians. Students from Busan had signs that bid us farewell as we sailed away headed to China.