Busan, South Korea-From Africa to Peru and Greece

Yesterday, I started the day trying to talk to a couple in the hostel. I asked them if they we're from New England, because of their hat which I was sure was of the New England Patriots. I learned they we're from Toronto, and the cap was from the Blue Jays. So that went nowhere.

After breakfast, I walked outside, and it was cold and rainy. it was a good day for the museum, which I already decided I would go to. I took the metro to the Busan Modern History Museum. It was a small museum, but they had some interesting exhibits. I learned that during the Japanese occupation, the port of Busan was enlarged, and railroads we're developed-as Busan was the access point for Japan to begin conquering the Asian continent. I also learned Busan was the capital of the country while Seoul was under North Korean control. There was talk and an exhibit on all of the Korean solders forced to fight for the Japanese in World War II, and comfort woman-woman who we're used to "comfort" Japanese solders, being taken as sex slaves. The video showed some of them speaking as elderly ladies and it was heartbreaking.

After the museum, It was all of hot and sunny. I then took the metro on to a bus to the Gamcheon Cultural Village. Apparently the village was a slum by the hillside, but was converted into a cultural village by taking money and painting the hillside houses all sorts of bright colors. There are also artist galleries, and works of arts throughout the area.

The area is called the Machu Picchu of Busan-with steep steps, alleyways, and hills-and was quite beautiful. There is also comparisons to Santorini, as many of the roofs are blue. I also found it very touristy and in-your-face with souvenir shops and lots of crowds. I walked up and down the hills, and while it was quite beautiful, I never quite got the history of it.

After a few hours-I got back on the metro. The weather turned sunny buy cold. I wanted to watch the sunset, and wait for the laser show over the Gwangan Bridge, a large suspension bridge connecting two parts of Busan. I walked around the area for a few hours, as it was only around 6:00, and the laser show was due to start at 8:30. The area along the beach had all sorts of bars and restaurants. Folks we're walking their dogs. One woman was being filmed, as she was part of the African convention I saw the day before.

it was a nice scene, and the bridge was pretty-but the laser show advertised in the guide I have never happened. At roughly 9:00. I tried to find my way back to the hostel, but got lost. I found a bus stop, got on the bus, which took me to the metro, and made it back.