Whatevering in Busan
Dear Diary,
It’s been generally quiet, just living and doing…stuff. Visited the top of a mountain a couple of times; the first to scout it, the second time to try running. It was a valiant effort and felt like some runs of old. Until I looked at the pace. Yikes. Old and slow these days. Still, the trail, once I got to it up some stairs and roads, was a pleasant change from pavement. The view was pretty spectab once I got there. Hills and dirt: things I’ve been missing now and then while in the cities of the East.
What’s interesting about this particular hill is that it is a part of the old Bongsudae system of notifications using beacon fires stretching the length of the Korean peninsula. This system was much like the “warning beacons of Gondor” in Lord of the Rings, but for realsies. There were typically five of the structures on each mountaintop, and different situations called for a different number of fires burning. One for all good, five for OMG! WE’RE UNDER ATTACK!
Went to the stadium in hopes of catching an afternoon baseball game. Took the subway, then walked a couple of Ks. Nice area. Would have been great if I hadn’t misread the schedule. No home games for a bit. Oh well. I got a bit more exercise, I guess.
On the more touristic side of the coin, I also recently visited Gamcheon Culture Village. Took the subway, then walked a couple of Ks. This seems to be a pattern. It’s an interesting suburb. Houses and other buildings so close together that the “streets” are barely a meter wide. The only way to get around is on foot through the winding contour-paths and stairways. Lots and lots of stairs. In fact, there are lots and lots of stairs in Busan, once I got away from the coast, and that’s only like 1/2 kilometer. It’s definitely a tourist place, though. An americano, which I can get for 1800 KWN costs 4800 here. That’s a tourist price for sure.
A couple of images from other notables: A group table in a hamburger joint called Viken Hus. Burger, fries and a beer ran me about $10.25. Tasty. I didn’t sit at the big table; I took a seat near the window in the background overlooking the hubbub of people milling about in front of the train station. The table was interesting though and deserving of a photo.
Also interesting is the toothpaste dispenser in my stay. It’s a first for me. I guess it’ll eliminate the “squeeze it from the bottom” vs. “squeeze it from anywhere” debate of any couples who might stay. It also ensures cost-efficiency.
The view from the ABB is decent, too. That big roof is the train station. Despite its proximity, I don’t hear it.
I do love me a nice cloud-lapse.
In other news, I’ve started planning my exfil. One more country before returning to the States for my dentist appointment. And a new passport. This one’s getting too full, and there are only a few blank pages left. I wonder how long it’ll take to get the new one?
Be…blah blah blah.
Slang, out.
I could gracefully fall down the length of those stairs. Plus, interesting and classy graffiti on the building tops.