May 1 - 25 (Part 11) Saying Goodbye to Jeju Island, Hello Busan

May 12th

We woke up early, not because we had to rush, but because we simply didn’t want to waste a single moment of our last morning on Jeju.

In our hotel room we made breakfast: simple cereals and coffee, quietly enjoying the calm start of the day. Our bags had already been packed the night before, which made everything feel unhurried. There was space to just ‘be’.

Arthur went for one final morning swim in the pool, while I sat outside at a table of the hotel restaurant, writing and watching him glide through the water. The sea shimmered in the background. 

Before heading to the airport, we had an early lunch outside, soaking it all in one last time. The weather was beautiful, soft sunshine, blue skies, a gentle breeze. 

I will truly miss this place. The sea view. The peaceful rhythm. The beautiful memories we created here. Moments I know I will carry with me forever.

A Little Tangerine That Stayed Behind 🍊

During one of our final hikes in Seogwipo, I had bought a tiny souvenir, a crocheted tangerine, the island’s iconic fruit. I fastened it to my little backpack, just like many Koreans do. It felt playful and perfect, a small orange reminder of Jeju.

But while driving to our hotel in Busan later that day, I suddenly realized it was gone.

I’m almost certain I lost it on the plane. My backpack had been on the floor in front of me and when I picked it up to leave, it must have slipped off without me noticing.

For a moment I felt genuinely sad. Such a tiny object, yet filled with memory.

And then I smiled.

Maybe it simply didn’t want to travel to the mainland. Maybe it chose to stay in Jeju.

From Island Air to Mainland Roads

At 2 p.m. we returned our rental car at the airport, giving ourselves about two relaxed hours before boarding. At 4 p.m. we stepped onto our Jin Air Boeing 737, ready to leave Jeju behind and fly toward Busan.

As we sat on the runway waiting for takeoff, the sky was still brilliantly blue. About thirty minutes after departure, the Korean mainland already appeared beneath us. And at around 5:10 p.m. we landed at Gimhae International Airport.

Our next adventure? Picking up a rental car from Lotte Rental.

Well… that turned out to be slightly more adventurous than expected.

When we arrived at the rental counter, there was no one there. A sign directed us to a parking lot where we were supposed to wait for five minutes. Slightly confused but trusting the process, we waited. And waited. Then we realized: how would anyone know we were standing there?

Thankfully, we were able to make a phone call. After a bit of back and forth, someone finally understood where we were and a car was sent to pick us up. Long story short: after some unexpected delays, we finally received our rental car and hit the road.

Hello Busan: here we are again!

Our First Mainland Drive and a Pink Bridge Welcome

This was our first time driving ourselves on the mainland of South Korea. It felt exciting and slightly surreal. The drive to our hotel took about an hour.

For this short stay, we chose the beautiful Grand Josun Busan near Haeundae (해운대) Beach. We had already explored the southern part of Busan before, so this time we wanted to stay near another iconic beach in the northern part of the city, especially since we would continue traveling further north the next day.

We deliberately chose to drive across the stunning Gwangandaegyo (광안대교) Bridge. From there, we could see Gwangalli (광안리) Beach stretching along the coastline and even passed by our previous Busan Hotel, AG405.

The sun was already setting and the bridge was lit up in pink as we drove over that part. Of course I took photos. Many photos.

It felt like Busan was welcoming us back in color.

A Heavenly Pool Under a Full Moon

We arrived at the hotel around 8 p.m. The Grand Josun offers both an indoor and an outdoor pool and not just any pool. A ‘Heavenly’ one.

Since the outdoor pool would close at 9 p.m., we rushed upstairs immediately after check-in. Dinner could wait (and yes, that says a lot 😃).

And it was absolutely worth it.

The full moon shimmered over the ocean in the background, reflecting silver light on the water. The atmosphere was magical. We weren’t the only ones who had the same idea. Several other guests were quietly soaking in the view, the night air and the peaceful luxury of the moment.

Our room didn’t have a sea view this time, but honestly? It didn’t matter. That outdoor pool overlooking the ocean was more than enough.

Daegu Jiritang & a Moonlit Walk

One of the luxuries of staying in such a grand hotel is that room service is available until midnight. So after our swim, we ordered dinner to our room.

We chose a delicious Korean dish, Daegu Jiritang, a light Korean codfish soup. “Daegu” means codfish and “jiri” refers to a clear, non-spicy broth. Unlinke many Korean soups that are red and fiery, this dish is gentle and clean-tasting. And of course we also got a lot of side dishes, including kimchi, rice, bulgogi, grilled abalone and seasonal vegetables.

The soup is typically prepared with radish, tofu, green onions and garlic, sometimes with a hint of chili for mild heat. The broth is simply seasoned with salt or soy sauce to highlight the natural flavor of the cod. It’s considered a healthy and comforting dish, nourishing and perfect when you want something soothing and light.

After dinner, we decided to take a night walk along Haeundae Beach. We didn’t walk barefoot through the sand, but followed the promenade instead. Large sections of the beach were closed off with fenches and piles of sand were clearly being prepared for the upcoming 20th anniversary of the Haeundae Sand Festival. There were no sculptures visible yet, just the quiet signs of transformation waiting to happen. It felt like witnessing a stage before the curtain rises: unfinished, expectant, full of potential. The beach was calm, the night soft and somehow that sense of anticipation made our walk just as special as seeing the finished artwork might have been. 

As we continued our night walk along Haeundae Beach, we saw the illuminated Haeundae Red Lady glowing softly in the dark water. In the distance, the lights of the Gwangandaegyo Bridge shimmered in changing colors, the very bridge we had driven over just hours earlier. From this perspective, it felt almost surreal to see it again. The statue of The Leaping Man was much farther away, barely visible, just a tiny silhouette on the right side of my photo, but still part of the scene. Not everything needs to be close or perfectly clear to leave an impression. The combination of light, distance and quiet movement gave the evening a cinematic stillness I won’t easily forget.

Between Goodbye and Becoming

As this day came to an end, I found myself thinking about perspective. 

Some things glow brightly before you, like The Red Lady in the water. Others are distant, like the bridge lights. And some are tiny and easily lost, like a crocheted tangerine slipping quietly from a backpack.

Travel is filled with these quiet releases. We leave islands, hotel rooms, sea views and sometimes small orange reminders behind. Yet nothing is truly lost. 

The places we visit and even the things we let go of, shape us in ways far deeper than what we can hold in our hands. Jeju may be behind us now and Busan already unfolding ahead, but both are woven gently into who I am becoming.