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Bookmark & shareA Top Day in Busan
A great day in Busan involves hiking mountains, eating seafood and exfoliating the skin - Korean-style. The day starts with an early morning 9km trek along the ridge of Geumjeong Mountain, a popular hiking destination with moderately challenging trails. With time and energy to spare, I take a four-kilometre diversion to Seokbulsa. Hard to find, difficult to reach and a wonder to behold, it's one of the city's most intriguing temples thanks to the Buddhist imagery carved into 40m-high boulders jutting out from the mountain. The mind is willing but the body is weak, so I cable car down the mountain and walk to Hurshimchung, Asia's largest spa. With more than 20 tubs, pools and sauna rooms plus space for a thousand naked bodies, it's the best place to experience the Korean art of scrubbing away dead skin. Relaxed and refreshed, it's time to hook up with friends in Seomyeon, the central entertainment district packed with restaurants, bars and karaoke rooms. Dinner is most decidedly Korean: barbecued pork washed back with soju, the country's leading cause of morning headaches. We unanimously pass on the chance to sing Sinatra's 'My Way', and head for Gwangan beach to take in the light show illuminating the Gwangan Bridge from Fuzzy Navel, a funky beachfront bar that looks like it was designed by a California body surfer. Not quite ready to call it a night, we taxi further east to Cheongsapo, a rustic, out-of-the-way harbour with a lulling sense of charm. It's the kind of place where people come for an evening tipple to watch the sunset but end up staying for the sunrise. The tent restaurants lining the harbour road serve garibi, a plate of clams smothered in a salsa-like sauce that is barbecued on the tabletop grill. It tastes delightful. It tastes even better at sunrise.
Author: Rob Whyte
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