Bianca In South Korea: Land Of Morning Calm

Just one last peaceful stroll towards Gwangalli Beach this Thursday morning, before our Uber would arrive at noon to take us to Gimhae Airport. The sun shimmered on the waterline as we walked and that’s when we noticed something we had somehow missed all this time; two huge rocks resting on the stairs along the beach. A metal plaque revealed its story: “This rock was carried by ocean waves when Typhoon Maemi swept. Date and time: September 12, 2003 (Fri) around 19:30. Typhoon name: Maemi (No. 14 in 2003). Wind speed: about 41m/sec.” It’s funny how the mind works. How certain things only catch your eye at the very end, even after you’ve walked by them countless times. Another one of those “last-morning discoveries” stood right behind us: a tall, square building with a big blue P sign, rising beside the indoor fish market: a car park tower. And just beyond it, a building proudly named ‘Tower the  Most’. As we later learned, the ground beneath Busan is mostly rocky terrain...

A Rainy Day in Busan… Spa Bliss, Sweet Treats & Seaside Stories Before my summer break, I wrote my last story, but my adventure in Korea didn’t end there! There’s still so much to tell, especially about those unforgettable days in Busan, where rainy skies, warm spa steam, and seaside legends made it all feel a little bit magical. So, let’s pick up where I left off… A Rainy Start The weather forecast for May 6th didn’t look promising, a full day of rain. So, we decided to spend the day indoors. After a small breakfast (our convenient-store classics: cereals, milk and yoghurt), we set off on foot before the rain started, heading toward Shinsegae Department Store , one of the largest indoor malls in the world, just a 30-minute walk from our hotel. We followed the Suyeonggang River, crossed the Suyeong Bridge, and soon found ourselves surrounded by the world’s most luxurious names: Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Dior, Chaumet… and yes, Shinsegae really is as grand as everyone says. Sweet ...