13 March 2015
Both beaches
Waling around Haeundae in Busan
It was a bit cloudy, hazy and polluted today, so as a special treat, no mountain! I am already wishing however that I did a mountain.
Instead I went to both beaches in Busan, apparently number 1 and 2 in all Korea!
What better time to go to the beach than in winter on a cloudy and windy day.
In summer you cannot see the sand at either beach, the entire length is taken up with lounge chairs and umbrellas you can rent, and then the sea is filled with people on identical inflatable things, I presume most people cant swim.
The best way to demonstrate this is to google image search 'haeundae beach' I am not doing it for you.
On the beaches today were just a few people and their tiny dogs going crazy. Every now and then, a sandstorm would ensue. Some of this was just the wind on its own, which would blow small dogs out to sea, and some of this was machines moving the sand from one end of the beach to the other, combating longshore drift (wikipedia that, I did my year 12 geography study on it, so I am an expert).
At the end of number 1 beach, is an island, which is now joined to the mainland, because rising sea levels caused by global warming have meant new islands have popped out the water, and other islands are now joined onto the mainland. Wait, thats not right.
Then after the former island, you arrive in future city, which as it turns out is nearly all residential, and hence a ghost town during the working day, and most of it is owned by Donald Trump, or someone thats stolen his name.
Update: I googled it, Donald Trump owns most of Busan.
Then its an hour or so walk along the various sailing club areas past the pointless ENORMOUS DOUBLE DECKER bridge that cuts across the bay until you get to number 2 beach in all Korea.
This was much like the first, except you look at the bridge, and the sand was much harder under foot, probably natural, I tested its viscoscity, 7.3.
One amusing thing here was a guy pretending to fly a kite. He had a big wooden reel with some string on it he was pretending to pull like a mime whilst staring upwards.
Every now and then he would run a bit then point upwards.
This had a few people trying to see the kite, but I am almost certain there was no kite! Nearby there were people laughing at the entire spectacle.
Anyway, after searching the sky for phantom kites for a while, I realized I could see a big mountain with sheer cliff faces, and wanted to be there, maybe tomorrow!
Haeundae beach is the area most people associate with Busan, lots of backpacker places, but the wrong time of year for tourists, thankfully.
I suspect lots of dudes with no shirts like to hang around here in summer and drink convenience store beer.
Anyway, theres lots of touristy things like this that exist for no point at all. This is out front of a pub.
Looking along the beach back towards another part of Busan. Yesterday when I was looking down at the city on my many ridges ridge walk, I could not see this entire area, as its behind another mountain entirely.
There is no smoking on any beach. Is this the case in Australia? I dont know. There is usually no smoking anywhere outside in Korea other than the designated shame huts for smokers.
I stopped for second coffee. I fear Australians might frequent this area.
And looking back in the other direction, from the island thats not an island. The ships are doing stuff with the sand.
Those tall buildings on the cliff at the other end are all apartments.
The little colorful houses (usually colorful, today hazey) going up the hill make it look a lot like bondi.
There was some sort of elaborate tragic story about this mermaid, involving pirates, the moon, attempted rape and mass drowning.
Boardwalk around the island was pleasant. Old person friendly.
I dont think this is functional. Japan is only 2 hours boat ride from here. I read that on a very clear day you can see Japan from the top of the mountain. I find this a little hard to believe.
First glimpse of the pointless bridge. Also that big building was constructed for the ASEAN summit attended by President Bush and others.
Now we start getting into Donald Trump Town.
Its guarded by a chrome robot.
Now a better view of the Gwangan bridge, its 7420 metres long, which is roughly 7x longer than the Sydney harbour bridge.
Its only purpose is to bypass the ocean boulevarde filled with pedestrians and cyclists visiting the cafes along the sea front.
It is one of my great rants that Adelaide does not have a continual road all the way along our coast, with a 40kmph speed limit, I think it would transform our city, it would become one long retail strip on one side, with beach views for all to enjoy uninterupted on the other.
Instead we have a few people with beach shacks hogging the view, and the road is diverted in land and around sewage treatment works and caravan parks....ok I am on a rant.
Impressive buildings. Theres a great promo video on youtube of a helicopter flying around in between them.
I had already spent too much on coffee, so I couldnt appreciate the Audrey Hepburn Cafe. Maybe tomorrow.
Instead I yelled at this sign for a while to see if I could make my voice be heard. Couldnt.
This is the local massive catholic church, in a wealthy area as we are by the beach and the yacht club.
It is much bigger than the picture suggests, The blue truck going past is a long way from the Church. I estimate it to be 10 storeys.
And this is the new car belonging to one of the catholic priests who collect money for that church. Not even joking. Hes even Italian if the mirrors are anything to go by.
Note the rolls royce behind the glass too.
And now here we are at the other beach.
Todays panorama, featuring the huge bridge. It extends far to the left and right of this image.
Final photo from today, thats future city on the right edge, which was about the half way point of my walk. I think today was only about a 5 hour walk, but my legs are sorer than after mountain walks.
Better head back to the mountains tomorrow, unless its raining!