12 April 2023
Further than I thought
From Nanpo to Seomyeon
Busan is big enough to have multiple city centres. I am staying in the more touristy fishing port area of Nanpo. On the map, it does not look too far the the neon lit youth area of Seomyeon. Of course I have been to both areas before, but this evening I decided to walk. It was further than I thought. Probably 10km apart.
My path followed the subway line, which is useful for the bathrooms at every station and many of them are also joined together by underground shopping streets. I can remember the last time I was here I walked the full length of the underground street network up and back one night while it was raining. Who knows, that might happen again on Tuesday, the only day of rain on the forecast.
As for the election results, I am now firmly in the red right wing part of Korea, it seems it is almost a complete Northwest (blue) vs Southeast (red) divide of the lower house seats. But do not be fooled, both sides love Donald Trump, and much of the election is a competition to see who can demonstrate they are more Trump like! This is also the case in Taiwan. Very strange.
Starting in Nanpo, I headed down to the docks to inspect the catch. I thought it was a public area, it was not. I walked quite a distance along the wharf getting strange looks from smoking fishermen before I realised I was trapped and would have to double back while they laughed at me.
I do not think this lighthouse is real.
Nearby is the giant Lotte department store. It is small compared to some in other parts of the city, but still quite large as you can see. At some point I am sure I will head up to the roof garden.
The immigration detention area of the port features a strange grass area.
Busan port authority has decided to Japanify themselves with a cute logo.
This hotel actually came up in my searches when I was booking my accommodation here. If only I knew it looked like this, I would be enjoying its ridiculousness from within right now.
Nearby is Busan Chinatown, or more accurately, Shanghai street as they call it.
The Busan station was not even half way to my destination. For whatever reason I thought it was only one more stop to the main area, very wrong.
One street over from Shanghai street, Texas street. Comparatively cheap sign.
Finally I arrived at Seomyeon, the big smoke, with cool cloud at sunset.
Time to go enjoy some neon. There is a lot of neon around here, and a huge number of suitable places for dinner, I am sure I will be back a couple more times.. although I will take the subway on future visits.
I was really starving by now, so Japanese ramen it was, with extra green onions. Finally something with a bit of flavour! Very good quality ramen.
OK, another neon shot for this evening before I head down to the subway.
And inside the subway - a plastic forest.
Yeah yeah yeah, tomorrow is a hiking day, probably not an overly long hike, I want to do one I have not done previously before I get into repeats.