15 March 2015
Pirate cove
The hike around the Ocean at Songdo
As I type this I am doing my washing and watching the grand prix, which has about 3 cars going around at half pace waiting to blow up.
Because of my need to do washing, I had to be back to the hotel early, so I decided to go on a stroll around a seaside park.
This turned out to be longer than expected, and in the end I had to jog to get back to my hotel in time.
I got up early, and left early, thinking I would get a coffee once I was at Busan beach number 3 in all Busan, Songdo.
Songdo beach is not on the subway line, so you either take a bus or a taxi, or walk for an hour. I walked.
This was quite an interesting walk, past people selling cabbage, bean shoots, seaweed and coagulated pigs blood on the pavement, but I was ready for a coffee.
There are about 46 cafes at Songdo, but on Sunday none open until 10am. This is something I cant understand.
So I bought a can of coffee from the pie warmer at the convenience store, burnt myself on it, juggled it from hand to hand until I could get it in my coat pocket, and a bag of kimchi flavoured bagel crisps and set off.
First there was a walk along the beach, which features things in the ocean to climb up and jump off, or perhaps hit your head on, things such as a giant whale.
Then there is a nice ocean walk, along jagged rocks one might get washed off of, I think there were plenty of signs warning people, but a few brave souls decided it was worth the risk to collect some molluscs to turn into face cream.
Then finally you get to Amnam park, which has some spectacular views, lots of gun battery mounting points, and is an excellent place to visit.
This is the frontline on the war against Japan, on my way back I tried to go over various mountains, but they were all closed off for use by the military, and all along the walk there were spots to mount big guns, pointing at Japan.
There is also a big radar on top of one of these hills, pointing at Japan, in case Japan and Korea both decide to launch some U.S. made missiles at each other.
In short Japan and Korea despise each other, and Shinzo Abe is making Koreans very nervous.
Along my walk to the beach, there were numerous markets selling partially living creatures, and mandarins. Lots of mandarins.
I dont know if this is poor people housing, rich people housing, or holiday homes. They are however destined to one day slip into the ocean in a landslide.
This is a different bridge to the other day. Busan loves to build bridges that save you about 19 seconds on your commute. Theres a huge amount of very noisy ships in the bay, burning their fuel oil and collectively producing more co2 emissions than all the cars in the world (look it up!)
Songdo beach, comes in at #3 presumably because of the lack of subway proximity. Very nice beach though.
Magic mountain! I found it! Adelaide sold off magic mountain and it has been moved here to be a fake waterfall.
Adelaide replaced its magic mountain with a smaller, less magic version of the same thing in the same place, and wondered why even less people visited.
Just another view of the beach and the thousands of happy people building sand castles and splashing in the cool South China sea.
Now I am on the ocean side boardwalk, made of steel plate.
Ocean boardwalk affords a great view of the local oyster farms. Their delicate flavour is accentuated by the shipping frequenting the worlds second busiest port.
My perilous journey involved a swing bridge with glass bottom, will I plummet to my grisly death? Only the appearance of another photo below this one will confirm my survival.
Eventually you get to an area with lots of recreational fisherman. Jokes aside, the water looked very very clean. No algae, no rubbish, very clear.
I dont really understand how. Lasers perhaps.
Safe at last.
Pirate cove in the distance. Now on high alert for invading kawaii army.
There were people on this island, but there is a police boat with loud speakers yelling things. So I decided to not walk all the way down there to see if I could get arrested.
In hindsight, probably should have tried it on.
According to my map, this is the overseas fishing harbour. Different harbour from last night, this one has all kinds of customs facilities, jails, police, very noisy place.
Todays best photo. The walk over, around, along and under the cliffs was very picturesque. Probably about 90 minutes to complete the loop. Most people could make this one without too much effort, theres a few public toilets and vending machines along the way.
You can also stop and do your exercises, I like the big steering wheels.
I decided to try and go over some small mountains on the way back because I just cant help myself. This gave another view of the rumbling ships.
However, thwarted, South Korean Army says no to my plans to go over the top of this mound / hill / mountain.
Oh well, have to descend back down to the beach and get back to my room in time for the grand prix.
I did however spot some mountains for tomorrow!
Bonus photo of some more colorful houses going up a hill, the furthest peak here, I might be there tomorrow.
Right now I am doing my washing which is costing me the grand sum of $2.
Since I am washing ALL my clothes, I am sitting here in my running tights, a pair of hotel slippers and a neoprene high technology singlet with ventilation mesh on the back.
This had the desired effect, as one lady walked into the washing room, took one look at me, and performed a perfect 180 degree pivot and left.