Busan is to Seoul, as Cebu is to Manila. Refusing to pale in comparison to its more metropolitan sister, Busan, though a lot more laid-back, has its own charm. If you are tired of how busy Seoul is, but still want to experience Urban Korea, Busan is the place for you. Never miss these top attractions, all within minutes away from each other.
1. Shinesegae Department Store, Centum City
Connected to the Centum City subway station, the world's largest department store, is just three train stops away from Haeundae. The humongous building has at least 14 floors of shopping, which include four floors of golf driving range, multiple floors of restaurants and cinemas, and luxury boutique stores. Men's wear is on the fifth floor and ladies' wear, well, is everywhere else.There is a dedicated wall near the cinema that looks like one giant tablet. You can play with the touch screen, so you take a photo, and see your picture floating with others’, minutes after.
2. Rodeo Outlet, Haeundae
There is very limited information online about this shopping complex near Haeundae Beach. In fact, you may even miss it if you just stay in the areas around thebeach. Take the subway's green line, get off at Jung-dong Station. The outlets are a five-minute walk from E-Mart, a giant 24-hour supermarket. Just follow the bike path towards the beach. It's a great shopping alternative to Gwangbokro, Nampo-dong’s crowds (Busan's equivalent of Myeongdong), with rows of outlet stores from Calvin Klein to DKNY, to a popular local clothingbrand Basic House, which could just probably be South Korea's Giordano or Bench. Outlets mean rock-bottom prices, with Basic House ladies' tops starting at W5,000/P200 and men's button down shirts from W10,000/P400. Patience is necessary as you rummage through a pile of surplus clothing.
3. Jagalchi Fish Market
Ajummas (older, usually married women) dolled up in purple eye shadows sell today's catch from the sea, fromwhale meat to 10-inch giant prawns (W10,000/P400), in South Korea's largest seafood market. It's their local version of Dampa and you can bring your latest purchase upstairs to have it cooked, your style.
4. BIFF
Not too far from Jagalchi is the BIFF Square (Busan International Film Festival). The film fest is usually held during Fall, but there's a lot to do here all year round, in case you miss this annual event.
BIFF Square has its own version of the Walk of Fame.There is also an outlet store selling Zara overruns near the entrance (men's shirts start from W5,000/P200).
Don't forget to try Korean street food too, especially Ssiat Hotteok, a popular pancake filled with sunflowerseeds.
5. Haeundae Beach
Busan's massive beach, Haeundae, is actually South Korea's largest.
Accommodation range from beachside hotels (Haeundae Centum Hotel W400,000/P16,000) to motels behind the main roads (Sugar Motel W50,000/P2,000). If you are not particular with big windows and sea views, you can just walk into the alleys behind the more expensive hotels and choose from several love motels, which include facilities at par with hotels, like a big flat screen TV, water dispenser, PC with ultra-fast internet, and a whirlpool bath.
Haeundae gets crowded in summer with tourists competing for personal space by the sea, since Busan is considered as South Korea’s summer capital.
If you are missing Western Food, head to Friday's TGIF), which offers fantastic views of the beach across the street. The staff will happily sing Korean songs, complete with musical instruments, if it's your birthday. If it’s not, you can always pretend that it is.
6. Dwaeji Gukbap
Dwaeji Gukbap or Pork Soup Rice is actually a historical dish. During the Korean War, galbi or beef was too expensive, so refugees had to substitute it with pork. The result was Dwaeji Gukbap, the Korean version ofgoto, which you eat with side dishes and Saeujeot, fermented baby shrimp sauce, which tastes like patis.
If you happen to land in Busan on a cold night, head to the Gukbap Alley near Seomyeon Station in the Green Subway Line for an authentic Busan gastronomic experience! •
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