Dynamic Busan

All of the signs on the beach and around the streets said, "Dynamic Busan." I guess they are really trying to promote how great it is!
Busan was BEAUTIFUL!

I met my parent near their hotel in Seoul on Friday night after work at 7PM. They had an awesome time in Japan. With great food, informative tours, and fantastic weather, who wouldn't have a great time? They stayed in Kyoto and toured around and went to different places around that area. Kyoto was my favorite place when I visited Japan, so I told them they had to go there!
I wanted to take a week off from work and join them because the essence of Japan is remarkable. I remember what a great time I had there when I went for Semester At Sea. Maybe I will get a chance to go back while in Asia.

Saturday we took the 9AM KTX (fast) train to Busan out of Seoul Station. Even being on the train was cool because I was able to be with my parents and catch up:)
When we first arrived I was a little unsure of what I thought about Busan. Right out of Busan station was a huge area of just shipping and industrial supplies. I knew Busan had a big shipping industry, but just seeing container after container was crazy!

About twenty-minutes later we approached on the area where I knew everyone who loved Busan was talking about. We crossed over a white bridge that looked exactly like the Golden Gate in San Francisco! I looked to my right and left and was blown away. The view was ridiculous. I was extremely taken back and had to remind myself I was still in South Korea.

The day we arrived was sunny and probably about seventy-five to eighty degrees. The sun was shinning and it made the water glisten and sparkle. The mountains were tall and green and I felt like I could stay forever.
We arrived to the "Westin Chosun" about forty-minutes later and settled down in our room. We opened the blinds and wow there was the beach! Literally twenty-feet from outside the hotel was an expansive beach!!!
I could definitely see myself coming back to Busan in the summer for a little R&R and just to take in some rays :)

I took like twenty-pictures from our hotel room, but those were not the only ones I took. We went outside and explored a little before heading out to the largest department store in the world.
We walked in the store and yeah it definitely was a huge place.
The bottom floor was filled with Chanel, Fendi, Burberry, Louis Vuitton, and some other Korean high end stores. I swear the more floors we went up the less expensive the stores were. They also had some sales going on outside each store.
The place was set up almost like a mall, but is a department store. There was not a shortage of stores like Nike, North face, Adidas, Lacoste, and plenty of Korean stores.

We didn't end of getting anything because we really don't need anything. I only wanted to check out the biggest department store and see what it was all about. I can't imagine what that place looks like near Christmas time. Maybe something like Macy's in New York City or Saks Fifth Avenue on Black Friday....
Later that night we went to a restaurant in the hotel called "O'Kims." It was a take on an Irish pub, but had the name Kim in it because it is a popular last name in Korea and the owner of the hotels last name was Kim.
I do like Korean food, but once in a while it is nice to have some food that reminds me of home :)

Sunday we headed out to the Busan Aquarium! Now nothing can compete with my absolute favorite aquarium.....anyone guess what it is???

You got it!!! At the Atlantis!!
However, this aquarium had some species I have never seen before and I was able to read more about them. We also saw a ton of sharks in one tank. Different kinds of sharks with huge teeth. The penguins were also really cute!!!

Later on we took a taxi to a part of Busan where you can see the ocean really well, along with the beach, bridges, and high rise buildings. We ate some lunch and took in the view and walked down a pretty steep road.

We kind of just hung around the beach and walked around. There was also this walk/run for diabetes going on with plenty of white tents around the beach.
Many people were also in the water swimming around or snorkeling.

Ahh I forgot this one hilarious part of the trip! I think it was Sunday that we looked out our window in the hotel room and saw at least fifty people swimming to the shore like it was a race. It must have been a half-mile they were swimming with their wetsuits and swim caps. I still don't know if it was a race or what it was for.

Later on we saw those same people treading water in a huge circle. They were singing and chanting in Korean.
If you were wondering if I got a picture, I did. In fact I even took a video. I couldn't let that scene slip by. It was great :)

The weather in Busan could not have been more perfect. The weather for my parents couldn't have been more perfect either. It was warmer than expected for them, but they did great.
Now I am sitting at my computer shaking my head because I can't believe it is over and they are going home.
We had some hilarious laughs and I enjoyed taking them around for what I know of Seoul.
If they decide they want to come back, I will know more of where to take them!! Or maybe I would be able to meet them somewhere if my schedule permits.

Yesterday I said goodbye in the middle of the subway station. I think it was harder to say goodbye yesterday than when I left in August. Although it was comforting to hear them tell me they feel good about me living here in Seoul.
I will miss them because of what a unbelievable time we had.

If you come to visit me, I will miss you just as much!!!

School is still going good, some kids are getting a little better and getting into the swing of school. Others still give me a hard time and sometimes it gets exhausting exerting that energy toward one student. I have a positive attitude in the classroom which is what I think helps me deal with those situations.
It is already week eight at school and their tests are coming up to see if they will "level-up" to a higher level.
Should be interesting to see how they do.

Sorry this is so long! I had a lot to write:)
Hope all is well back home or wherever you may me!

Always,

Kristen