Busan is Korea’s second largest city. My half day tour in Busan included stops at Yongdusan Park,
the observatory of Busan Tower, the world famous Jagalchi Fish Market, and the Gukje International Market.
Yongdusan Park, a 69,000 square meter area, is a favorite attractions for natives and tourists. The name of the park has a distinct meaning. “Yongdu” means dragon’s head, and “san” means mountain. Many people feel that this mountain park resembles a dragon’s head emerging from the sea.
Busan Tower rises 120-meter and is the host of an amazing view of Busan’s picturesque coastline.
The top houses a pagoda styled observatory that provides 360 degree viewing.
Clear skies are never guaranteed. I was lucky. My camera had no trouble capturing a magnificent view of the harbor.
Our bus was parked near a statue for Admiral Yi Sun-sin. He was a noteworthy naval commander who is remembered for this leadership during battles against the invading Japanese in the 16th century.
After a short bus ride, we stopped at the Gukje International Market. The area was connected by narrow passageways. Vendors both inside and outside were selling a wide variety of items.
The food vendors were fascinating to watch. They were preparing ready to eat foods in the middle of the sidewalk. It was common to see people sitting down to eat adjacent to the server.
Other merchants had moveable carts that transported different types of foods. This reminded me of my life as an expat international teacher in India.
Our last stop was the Jagalchi Fish Market, Korea’s largest seafood market. We were able to observe massive amounts of freshly caught fish being sold by a multitude of vendors.
Some of the fish was displayed neatly on tables.
A sizable amount was sold off of the ground.
Some adventurous travelers do not give it a second thought to eat from miscellaneous street vendors. I would prefer to play it safe. It should be noted that the food safety precautions aboard my Celebrity Cruise ship increased over time. A significant number of the passengers were experiencing GI distress by the mid point of our journey. One way to avoid this problem is to be mindful of food choices or steer clear of half day tours that stop at food markets.
If you are more carefree consider a taste here or there. This half day tour in Busan would be a great start. However, be prepared since only a handful of these vendors speak English and the signs are in Korean.
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Sandra’s Bio
Sandra Bornstein is the author of MAY THIS BE THE BEST YEAR OF YOUR LIFE. It is available on Amazon. Sandra’s memoir highlights her living and teaching adventure in Bangalore, India. She is a licensed Colorado teacher who has taught K-12 students in the United States and abroad as well as college level courses. Sandra is married and has four adult sons. The memoir was a finalist in the Travel category for the 2013 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, the 2013 International Book Awards, the 2013 National Indie Book Excellence Awards, the 2013 USA Best Book Awards, and received an Honorable Mention award in the Multicultural Non-Fiction category for the 2013 Global ebook Awards.
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