April 15 and 16, 2017

We have decided to take two rest days In Busan, not because it is a particularly beautiful city as it is not, because it is easier for us to organize ourselves in a smaller city.

Yesterday we got started a little late (10:30) before heading out into downtown Busan and taking the Hop on Hop off City Tour.

We took the subway from Saosang, where we are staying, into the downtown. At first we stood looking at the subway map like deers in headlights. A very nice lady came to us and asked if we needed help. She showed us how to use the map, how to buy the tickets and where the platforms were. Of course she asked where we were from and then asked if we knew about Jehovah’s Witness. We said we knew about them and we were leaving for Seoul shortly. She smiled and wished us a safe journey and we were on our way.

We found the area where we took the Hop on Hop off and noticed a display with photographs of school children and yellow ribbons. Surely, all of these children could not have died from cancer. There was a small performance area, where a young woman was doing an interpretive dance. Obviously representing death or dying.

I asked a young man what the displays were all about. He struggled a little with his English, but indicated that it was a ferry disaster.

I recalled hearing something about a ferry disaster a few years ago, and more recently the raising of the ferry. I recalled it being a ferry from Busan to Japan, but later when I checked it out, it was a ferry going to Jeju Island – a school trip. The Sewol Ferry sank on April 16, 2014 with a loss of 304 lives. Most of the deaths were the school children from one school. They were told to stay in their cabins.

Charges were laid against the Captain and some of the crew; homicide for fleeing and abandoning the ship and negligence. The owner of the ship was found dead in a field three months after the sinking. The Vice-Principle of the school committed suicide one year later, he blamed himself for organizing the school trip and the loss of so many of the students.

In the eyes of many of the citizens, the President, who was finally impeached earlier this year, mishandled the disaster. Her unexplained disappearance for seven hours while the tragedy unfolded ultimately contributed to her downfall.

When we returned from our hop on hop off tour, there was a quiet demonstration happening in the square.

I asked a young policewoman what the demonstration was about, again it related to the ferry disaster and that the people are not happy with the compensation and retribution for the negligence of the shipping company and government including the Coast Guard and the agencies who permitted the ferry to sail, when it was overloaded with cargo and without sufficient ballast. The ferry was raised from the ocean on March 23, 2017.

We have never taken one of these hop on tours before as they are usually too expensive. This was less than $20.00 each, and well worth the money.

The tour took you through all the districts of Busan including the huge container terminal, some very scenic lookout spots and walking areas, and of course the markets and shopping areas.

We hopped off at Oryukdo lslands, a very nice area to walk and see the surrounding coastline. One of the walking paths linked with the coastal walking paths, a long distance path.  The Koreans certainly want to encourage fitness, whether it be walking, cycling or using the various exercise equipment available in most parks.

There was one glass bottomed outlook, where everyone lined up to walk out over the rocks.  We were all given booties to put on, to keep the glass clean!

We stopped at Pyeonghwa Park – United Nations Memorial, a beautiful park commemorating the assistance of all the Nations during the Korean War. It was very popular with families having picnics and the gardens were well laid out.

It was getting late, and we had enough time to stop at the Jagalchi Market – the largest fish market in South Korea. You can get any kind of seafood that you can possibly buy and all of it live. You can get the fish gutted and then take it to the restaurants across the road who will cook it up for you.

Celeste scroll by the next few pictures.

We have no idea what these strange things were.  I tried to up load a movie but it didn\’t work.  The expanded as they appeared to be drawing in air and then deflated again.  I have no idea how you eat them, nor do I want to find out!

We arrived back in Saseong at 7:15 and ate dinner, then back to the looooove motel.

April 16, 2017

Today we are doing the boring stuff, washing, booking a hotel in Seoul and planning what we want to see when we get there. Unless of course the balloon goes up and we have to get out of the country fast!!

The hotel is booked, the bus to Seoul is booked and we spent the rest of the day wandering around the neighbourhood. 

The city are in the process of beautifying the area.  I wanted to give them a helping hand.  They must have a huge greenhouse to produce all these plants.

Today is Easter Sunday, I think maybe this lady decided to have Happy Water instead of Easter Eggs.