Let's Hear it for Busan!

This is me, a little wet, a lot tired, returning from Busan. I've got fireworks, and my first hot-towel shave on my face. I take a lot of pictures in the elevator cause it's the best place to take pictures in a mirror (aside from the bathroom, been there myspaced that).

Busan was something else.

We departed Thursday night, shortly after work. In terms of last-minute packing, I didn't do too bad (I didn't bring trunks to Korea at all, I guess I planned on buying some, and not bringing shorts would've been a bigger mistake had it not rained 60% of our time in Busan). Had one of my most American meals at T.G.I.Friday (on a Friday-esque Thursday). Got on a train and began drinking (me on Makgoli, everyone else on beer, and o soju, soj-a-mistake).

Arrived in Busan at unhealthy hour of the morning. Took 2 insanely fast cabs to the happening beach. I jumped for joy at the fireworks I saw and quickly bought 20 bux worth of Roman candles. We went a little crazy with them, unfortunately I wouldn't see the really cool mortar-type ones we reserve for crazies and fireworks shows until late the next night.

Sleeping on the beach was a little difficult, mostly do to our drunken antics and close proximity. Woke up with an awful crick in my neck. Drinking continues, but I pace myself. Despite ample warning, we watch the sun rise and burn our bodies, even Rich's fairly dark one.

Alex returns from Jimjibang, looking fresh, making me seriously question my judgement to stay with these crazy cats out on the beach. Finally check in time starts to roll around, and we opt to walk a city we don't know looking for our "youth hostel". Well it took our minute amount of directions, all of my Korean, 5 or so people attempting to direct us, till we finally found kind people to get us there. At this point I'm moving pretty slow in flip flops. We stumble through a church that looked a lot more like a community center, to our pleasant surprise. Our hostel was insane, and one significant part an upscale-ish hotel. A good steal at 50 bucks a person for 2 nights (would've been less had we filled all 8 beds).

Aggravation, grumpiness and testy attitudes start to set in. We get a bad feeling about the "Fuzzy Navel" when they warn us that they won't be able to serve us food for an hour and generally ignore us (look out for our scathing reviews of the Fuzzy Navel at Haeundae Beach). We eat seafood across the street. I meet Dave's infamous friend Tiddy. I light off the last of my fireworks that had been with me for far too long. Drunkeness starts again. We end up heading towards my friend Tommy who is at U2, a pretty popping and awesome club. I depart there last with Tommy to go jam uke on the beach. I run into Larry a librarian (or library Assistant) from CSULB who I have UNintentionally run into for the 3rd time in Korea. This reminds me, I must find him as a friend on facebook, after I am done uploading these pictures. Come to the conclusion that it is ultimately a small world, particularly in the hermit kingdom/land of morning calm. Barter to buy more fireworks, 6 roman candles for Man-won, which comes out to a little less than 10 bucks. Don't feel like waiting in line for Burger King, make my way back to the hostel (10 minute drive costs me a little over 3 bucks, I LOVE that, but hate other things about the cabs (like lost wallets)). Surprised to find I am not the last occupant of our room to arrive. Happy to meet up with a bed.

Saturday the rain sets in. As does the sting of our burns. Some burn on my feet persists even now. We decide to take an open top double decker bus tour of Busan. We get awesome ponchos and an all-day ride for Man-won (Mahn means 10,000). I slept for the latter, supposedly better portion of the ride.

This recap is getting almost as tiresome as Busan was.


I'm back and passed on working out so I could watch Korea beat Japan 2-0, and this, of course.

Goodnight.
Peace and Love