[Part 1] 111. Places to visit in Busan

While I love the cold weather now, I actually can’t wait for spring because there are so many places that I want to visit during spring!!!

Today, we digressed during class again and ended up talking about a 건강 (health) course in Busan. By “course”, I’m referring to a hiking trail. According to my teacher, 건강 course = going to 온천장역 (Oncheonjang Station on Line 1) where there is a hiking trail up to 금정산 (Mountain Geumjeong), hiking up the mountain (or taking the cable car), eating the famous 동래파전 Dongnae pancake and drinking 막걸리 makkori before going down the mountain to a 목욕탕 (Korea’s version of onsen; public bathing house) at the base. There’s an outdoor bath 야외 목욕탕 too and it’s called 노천탕. I might be going there with my class in spring :) Can’t wait!!! I’m glad that my teacher explained more about the 목욕 culture in Korea today because lately, I have been going there alone and feeling quite lost as to what to do. The ajummas and younger Korean women seem to have some form of a fixed routine whenever they are there but I know nuts -.- My teacher said that all Koreans use an 이태리 타월 exfoliating towel when they go to the 목욕탕 and I didn’t know that. Ahhh, I wish to go with a female friend next time, but then it’ll be quite awkward too having to see each other in our birthday suits. Oh yes, according to my teacher too, people with body tattoos are not allowed to enter the 목욕탕 these days because they are too intimidating for the other patrons there.

Before I go up to Seoul next year for my Masters, I need to explore more of Busan! I have to go to Spaland in Centum City, 태종대 Taejongdae, the beaches (해운대 Haeundae and 광안 Gwangan), 달맞이 Dalmaji Hill (Busan’s version of Seoul’s Samcheongdong and I heard the place is very pretty during spring because of the cherry blossoms), 해동 용궁사 Haedong Yonggungsa Temple (by the sea), go on a yacht tour, go to 외도 Oedo Island (which was a film site for Winter Sonata) and 진해 Jinhae for cherry blossoms. Apparently, my university campus is a tourist attraction during spring too because of the numerous cherry blossoms on campus.

I was hoping to spend the afternoon finishing up my homework for TOPIK class tomorrow but ended up having to spend 2.5 hours in class practising for my class’ play. And I have to dance. Why oh WHY?! You know, I used to be in my primary school’s Chinese Dance Club and I could dance then. But now, I can’t dance at all, other than belly dancing. Kpop dance with all the fast hand movements? No thanks. I just can’t follow. We’ll be dancing a small part of SNSD’s Twinkle song and after I kind of mastered that part, my classmates wanted to add in another part to extend the dance to which I objected. The practice session was dragging out longer than expected and it already took me so long to master just a small part of the dance and they wanted to add on another part with all the hand movements that I couldn’t catch. I think the only thing that I’ll excel in for our play is singing the 1st verse for a song from Dream High. My classmates complain that I seem more like an announcer (news anchor) than a 도깨비 monster for my part.

Anyway, it’s the exam period for the Korean students and there was free chicken porridge served at 9pm today for all to provide everyone with the energy to study.