So spring is in full force, the sun is shining, and my spirits are high. This past weekend I took two fantastic trips to the nearby countryside to see the sights and enjoy the flowers in bloom.
On Saturday, a group of us headed to Gyeongju, a two-hour ride on the slow train north of Busan, to rent bikes and ride around the lake. The train went along the coast and was a beautiful start to the day. Although the day didn't go as smoothly as planned, we had a wonderful time. We grabbed some lunch, and then spent about 20-30 minutes just crossing the four-lane street because we couldn't decide where to go first and didn't know which side to catch the bus.
We finally settled on taxis, and it's a good thing we did since the traffic was terrible and it took us 45minutes to get to the lake, which would normally be a 15-20min drive. Once at the lake we rented our bikes (5,000w each for 2 hours), and went on our way...until we were stopped by traffic cops.
Apparently the path around the lake was for pedestrians only, no bikes allowed.
So, our 2 hours of biking ended up being about 15min of biking, parking our bikes, taking pictures and relaxing by the lake, then a 15min bike ride back. Though not quite what we'd planned, even the short bit of biking was lovely, and it was fun to take in the sights. We grabbed a taxi back, leaving 45 min to get to the station to catch the train...and this time it took 15-20min to get back, leaving us time to rest at the station before heading home.
Once in Busan, a few of us went to JK Factory, a new bar that was opening overlooking Gwangan-li Beach.
They were offering free quesadillas, and when they brought beef, they were kind enough to make me an additional, also free, cheese and veggie one! We played some darts, had a couple drinks, and then called it a night early, around 10pm, when most people were arriving. We took some pics and a break on the beach, and then caught the bus. It was a full, beautiful day, and I slept soundly for the first time in a week.
On Sunday I headed to Ulsan via the KTX to meet another group of friends for a day trip to Yangsan, just north of Busan. The KTX line has made it faster for me to go to Ulsan than to go across the city.
High speed rail is genius. 8,000w for a 20 min trip that would take 2-2 1/2 hours by subway/bus. I got there faster than my friends from Ulsan. Ok, so anyway, we met there and then took the #13 local bus to my friend's cafe in Yangsan. It's called Lakeside Cafe Somok, and he's also building a gallery to showcase indpendent artists' work, and hoping to do some independent films screening there as well in the future. The location is stunning, and I highly recommend visiting if you're taking a trip to Tongdosa, which is about 10min away by car or bus from his cafe.
For the cafe get off the 12 or 13 bus at Bang-gi Cho-dong Hak-gyo/ Bang-gi Elementary School. We lazed around there eating and sipping coffee and wine, and having great conversation. It was a relaxed afternoon in the sun, with the cherry blossoms and mountains providing a great backdrop to the good company and food. As the sun started to head for the mountains, we headed to Tongdosa (Tongdo Temple). The drive was beautiful, as we passed a cherry blossom festival and streets lined with the full trees.
The road to the temple was hung with the first round of lanterns in preparation for Buddha's birthday in a few weeks. The temple grounds were stunning, with multiple temples dotting the landscape. Buddha's remains are in a special courtyard, instead of the usual statue. It's good luck to walk around 7 times, and you make a wish, which I spontaneously decided was exactly what I needed right now, and promptly joined behind two other women. It was a peaceful experience, and I went away feeling lighter and more calm. As the sun set, the buildings gained an added beauty, and the calm that was settling over the whole place was mesmerizing. I could have stayed for hours, but the light was going and we had to get back.
Weekends like these make me so grateful to be here.
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