Busy Busan

From Seoul, it takes a comfortable train ride on the high-speed train to Busan. Busan is the second largest city in South Korea after Seoul, and it is located in the southern part of the country, along the coast. The two cities are about 320km apart. With the high-speed train, we can get there in just under 3 hours. But first, we have to fight our way into the semi-crowded subway after arrival. At first glance, Busan seems to be populated mostly by older people, at least that's what you might think after taking the subway. Of course, that's not true, we just happened to be traveling at a time when many older people are out and about. What fascinates us (and annoys us a little) is the seat-switching ritual of the older generations. First of all, it must be said that you should never sit in a seat designated for older people, pregnant women, people with small children, or people with disabilities. Not even if there are plenty of other seats available! The questioning-angry look from two older ladies that they gave me in the Seoul subway when I dared to sit in a completely empty row of seats was lesson enough for me. But even if the subway or bus is packed, no one actually sits in those seats. So much for respect for the elderly, which in my opinion goes way too far in this matter. This even went so far in the Busan subway that older people would constantly get up from their privileged seats to let someone sit who is even older or looks more fragile or is female. Phew, it was pretty tiring to be constantly pushed around by older people with an 18kg suitcase who urgently needed to stand up during the bumpy ride. Of course, they were constantly in their own way and I was constantly afraid that someone would fall.

Since we arrived in the evening, we didn't have much time for sightseeing. We decided to take a look at Busan from above and went to the Busan Tower, which is located in Yongdusan Park. It was a nice little walk in the emerging dusk. The tower is about 120m high and located on a small hill. Upon entry, you can purchase a package with beer and popcorn; can they read my mind? Mhmm.

If you don't have much time and can't experience the geography of Busan through the (undoubtedly very beautiful) hikes around Busan, you should visit the Busan Tower. The city lights at night are like a sea of stars. The bridges are illuminated in different ways or even have small light shows that run continuously. But it's not overwhelming, it gives you a cozy feeling. From above, you can clearly see that Busan is built around a natural harbor and is surrounded by several mountain ranges. What a beautiful landscape: mountains and sea, all dressed in sparkling colors.

In the evening, we wander around the neighborhood of the Busan Tower: shopping streets, restaurants, and food stands as far as the eye can see. I'm starting to wonder where all the money comes from that the Koreans seem to spend so freely.

We process our impressions with cool beer and spicy chicken.