Gamcheon: Santorini of South Korea

Gamcheon used to be a poor community but has now been transformed into an arts and culture village.There are a number of art and souvenir shops, and restaurants in Gamcheon. Houses are painted in eye catching colors and built along mountain slopes similar to Santorini in Greece. Dwellings are constructed following a strict code of not blocking adjacent housings.

Best to take a leisurely stroll through the village to enjoy the scenic views and to savor the art vibe of the community.

Fresh Fish in the City

Not to be missed in Busan, is the experience of dining in its fresh seafood market in Jagalchi.  The place is clean and there are many women vendors who will entice you to eat in their assigned stalls.

This where I ate my best sashimi meal.  In the Philippines, sashimi is a side dish so I was surprised that in Korea it is considered a main course that serves as a complete meal.  The woman vendor will ask you to pick live fish that you like from their aquarium and then proceed to clean and cut it into thiny slices, sashimi style.  The sashimi is served with a generous amount of vegetable leaves and assorted condiments.

Sashimi meal cost US $ 20 and may actually cost more depending on the kind of fish that you pick.

Busan's Beaches

Just like in Sydney, Rio de Jainero and Miami, Busan's popular beaches are in the heart of the city which  why is it is dotted with tall buildings housing mostly restaurants, hotels, bars, and souvenir shops. 

I went to Gwangali Beach at night to see the famous Gwangan bridge.  This is colorfully lighted with 16,000 Led lights accompanied by  wonderful music sound which comes together at landscape lighting.  It is Busan's tourism icon.  Unfortunately during the night I was there, the bridge was lighted but without the light and sound show.

At daytime I visited Haeundae Beach, Busan's No. 1 beach.  This is also where you will find Korea's largest aquarium. The sand is clean and water calm, and is good for a cool and relaxing swim.

Temple by the Sea

Perched on rocks and stones and by the sea is the Haedong Yonggungsa Temple. It is the most visited temple in Busan.  The place provides spectacular views of the oceans and a visit is made refreshing with breeze coming from sea.

It is also famous for its glorious sunrise and is crowded early in the morning with people waiting to enjoy the beautiful sight.

Beomeosa: Temple in the Mountains

Tucked away in the mountains is the Beomeosa Temple of Busan.  This is refreshing sight with cool mountain air and the trees surrounding the temple.   There are  various cultural properties and relics such as the Three Storied Stone Pagoda and the Hall of Shakyamuni. The temple accepts home stay with the monks.

Beomeosa Temple is accessible by bus from Busan City.