Final Busan

Yesterday was the last day in Busan.

It was a beautiful day, and I started the day by going to the United Nations national cemetery here in Busan. It is the only United Nations Cemetery in the world. The cemetery was only about a 20 minute ride on the metro. I went to the Memorial Hall, which showed a lot of pictures of the war, each divided by the various countries that we're involved in the conflict. I also saw a video on the Cemetery which was touching. One woman, who died in old age, was buried along side her long-deceased husband at the cemetery, although they have been married for only 3 weeks before he was sent off to war. I than walked alongside the part of the cemetery with tribute fountains and the graves.

After the cemetery, the Lonely Planet Guide listed too places to go to-one was the best sight in Busan, which was a Buddhist Temple, and the other was a "sight that makes you go wow". I decided on the second one-which entailed a sort of long metro ride (about 45 min I would guess)-but not as long as the other. This sight was a Buddhist Hermitage in the forest. I took the metro to the stop where I would soon catch the cable car, but re-read the Lonely Planet, and learned it was a 2 hour hike from the cable car. I didn't have the time or patience for that. So I got back on the metro to the-second-to-last-station on the line, got on a shuttle bus,and went to the "best sight in Busan" which is called Beomeosa.

The temple consisted of various buildings, set against evergreen trees behind and a beautiful view of the city and sea in front. It was beautiful, but since arriving in Hong Kong I have seen many Buddhist temples, and this one wasn't much different from the others. I walked up the steep hill and checked out the buildings, adorned with colorful lanterns and flags (for Vasek Festival/Buddha day) every May. As I walked down the steep hill, I found I left my jacket somewhere, so I walked back up the hill to a gift shop for the temple, and found I left my jacket there.

i then took the Metro downtown, bought a book at a bookstore with a small English section, and went for dinner at the Jagalchi Fish Market-where fresh fish is caught, and you can eat it there to. That was an option for around $30.00. I didn't want to spend that much-but I found a place serving sushimi for $10.00 (with soup and many sides), and that is where I ate.

i continued to walk around the fish market, looking at the various types of raw fish, and the booths that sold them.

I then took the metro back to the Centrum city mall, and walked around a little, and went back to the hostel.