Haeundae Beach Market - Busan

Haeundae Beach in Busan, South Korea is amazing and so is the market that runs parallel to it one block from the sand. It's a narrow alley spanning the width of a city block with everything you could need from restaurants to dumpling stands to clothing stores to disgusting entertainment. One of the things that they are known for there is their eel. This guys skins eels alive for maximum freshness and I'm guessing it's also to attract customers. Take a look:

 Sadly, we didn't sample the eel as the time we were there, it was to settle a craving for Mandu. We are going back in a month so I will try and give the eel a go and get back to you.

Steamed Mandu

Alex kindly offers the Mandu lady a sip of her Cass Light 

Geumjung Mountain Fortress and Seokbulsa Temple

While in Busan, Alex and I headed out to do some hiking. We had read about about the massive Geumjung Mountain Fortress and it's expanse of hiking trails. We sought out Seokbulsa Temple, which we had read had beautiful rock carvings into the mountain where it was nestled. We went on Buddha's birthday which we thought might be an extra special (or busy) time to see the marvel.

Getting to Seokbulsa Temple:

We took the gondola up which apparently saved us 45 minutes to an hour of hiking. It was $7 roundtrip and we enjoyed the view. Once at the top we began hiking to the South Gate. In Koren, South Gate is 남문, so look for signs for 남문. When the path splits without a sign, take the path on the left. It will lead you to the picture featured below:

Once you find yourself and the foot volley courts shown here, follow that girl to get to the Seokbulsa Temple. Then turn left at the next path.

You'll then come to this sign, a kilometer or two from the foot volley courts. Follow this couple down the rock "stairs." When you get to a road, take a right. The road will get crazy steep but you can do it. You'll be at the entrance to the temple in less than 30 minutes.

Seokbulsa Temple in Busa, Korea

The stone carvings were absolutely stunning for their detail. The scale of them and their location made it all the more...spiritual. I really don't understand how they did it. The outdoor prayer area was surrounded by 7 or 8 enormous statues carved into the mountain itself. 

It was hazy, but the view from Seokbulsa Temple was incredible.

The clockwise swastika is apparently a Buddhist symbol for good fortune used long before the Nazi's.

 The South Gate of Geumjung Mountain Fortress:

Defending The Realm

note: All photos were shot with my 50mm lens (hence the lack of better landscapes).