Busan: temples, beaches, bridges

Korea 2016 Day 4 Activities

HaeDong YongGoong Temple
Haeundae Beach
Gwangalli Bridge

HaeDong YongGoong Temple

HaeDong YongGung Sa Buddhist Temple is a popular tourist attraction due to its free admission and close proximity north-east of the famous Haeundae Beach. It is fairly easy to travel to for tour buses and by taxi as parking is widely available at the entrance. However, it may be a little difficult for individuals making their way as the nearest public transport stops are mostly located 20 minutes' walk from the temple, which sits at the top of a small hill.
Entrance sign of the temple
One key selling point of the temple is its location on the cliffs of a beach, giving expansive sea views from most points on the edge of the ground
The sea view from the temple grounds


A view of the temple from the beachside 
 As expected from any tourist attraction, much of the entrance is lined by street food stalls which sell generally the same products as many street food places in Korea, and shops within the temple grounds sell Buddhist amulets and other religious items. The buildings are well-maintained, and facilities are available for those who go to pray, such as prayer rooms and shrines.
The pathway from the entrance to the temple grounds


Wishing wells. From the bridge to the temple, coins are tossed, and luck is granted if it lands within the bowls held by the statues.


Unfortunately, in terms of an attraction, it is not one I would recommend. I did not enjoy the pushy crowds, the way that the stalls exploited tourists, and that there seemed to be no boundaries between a place of worship and an exotic attraction. There is also an issue with accessibility, as paths from the entrance to the temple buildings are steep and narrow. That is not to say that tourist attractions are not like this normally, but there seemed to be no more serenity in the temple, and no respect for the religious leaders of the temple.

Narrow and steep steps leading from the entrance to the temple grounds.


Steps from the temple back to the entrance.

While I am not looking to discourage anyone from going, I hope this will serve as a word of warning for those who may be on the fence about going. By all means, if this is an interest, go. Despite my qualms, there are a few photographic opportunities for those who are particularly interested (though others may be scrabbling for shots not overwhelmed by people).

Crowds crossing the bridge from the entrance to the main temple grounds

Haeundae Beach

Busan, as a coastal city, is an easy getaway location for locals, who flock to its beaches over the weekend or summer breaks. Haeundae, arguably the most famous beach, and the setting of the famous disaster movie of the same name, is located only a few hundred metres from Haeundae train station, and is a must-visit location if in the area. It's unlike many beaches I've experienced, with pale, find sand that is virtually void of shells, sticks, and driftwood, so perfect it seems artificial.

Haeundae Beach

Locals and tourists enjoying the sun and sand

If the weather is nice, it's easy to spend a few hours relaxing. Despite visiting near the start of winter, there were still people at the beach engaged in various sports or relaxing in general. There are shops near the beach for refreshments, and attractions in the area such as Busan Sea Life Aquarium, and of course plenty of photo opportunities.

Gwangalli Bridge

Equally beautiful but marginally less famous, Gwangalli beach is located just south of Haeundae. It is also home to a bridge which was recommended as a gorgeous night scene. When dark, lights illuminate the bridge and changes colour to suit the season. If the only time you can spare is in the evening or after dark, Gwangalli beach is recommended over Haeundae for this reason.

Gwangalli beach night scene

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Japanese Snacks and Sweets (Haul)

Image
Inevitably when travelling, sampling local food becomes a large part of assimilating with the cultures, giving an insight to both the everyday routine and the overall lifestyle of how the other half lives. Also inevitably, when I live in New Zealand and visit overseas, everything becomes a whole lot more reasonable in price, especially when it comes to that of convenience stores - hardly dense in population even in Auckland, convenience stores become more of a side thought than an actual necessity, located in areas such that neighbourhood inhabitants can avoid driving 10 minutes to the local supermarket, or dorm-residing students can get a quick fix on heavily overpriced goods. But there are too many faults: stock is so minimal, and I haven't managed to express enough how pricy items can be: at $3.50 for a box of Pocky, it becomes the closest definition to legal robbery I've encountered in my short and naive life. Thus: it becomes a world of wonder to encounter so many proces
Read more

Korean Snacks (With Love from Korea)

Image
Having a pen pal to learn a new language is a convenient way of practising it in use, as well as a means to make friends. Diligent Sis#2, endeavouring to master the Korean language, took this to heart, and, through a mutual friend, got in touch with a student in Korea online, and began to exchange texts and emails - and, after some months of correspondence and gradually learning not only the language but also the culture, came to an agreement to mail each other local treats and snacks from their country. Any food exchange, in my opinion, is fantastic. I consider food and meals to be the best way to learn of other cultures and how they live, perhaps less so in the way of snacks, but even cheap, processed food can give insight to pop culture and ideals of convenience. So following a gathering of various Kiwi snackfoods, she shipped the box over, and in return, received a box larger than anticipated. I was excited. Asian snacks have always appealed to me as they are often not too
Read more

Cheap Eats Auckland CBD: No.1 Pancakes

Image
Many know well enough that being a student is not easy; balancing lectures and clubs amidst hours of study (or, at least for the diligent) is a challenge without the added factor of money. Although living at home (read: mooching off parents) removes any problems I may have had with extra bills, I still have to consider what $9-a-day bus fares on a 5-day-a-week schedule will do to my wallet and my already frugal mindset. And yet, social requirements, as well as the foodly temptations of the city has me wondering whether I can spare the extra few dollars for a hearty meal. Thus I present: The Student's Guide to Even Cheaper Eats, as presented by cheapist extraordinaire, yours truly. Aware of the student deals available in the city, I've limited myself to a generous budget of $5 a week as I attempt to satisfy not only my tongue but also my stomach. Any money not spent may be carried on for the next week, and funds not spent by the end of the semester shall nestle happily back in
Read more