Beach Life

Well, folks, I have arrived. At the beach, that is. All my possessions are now safely stowed in a small one-room apartment just up the coast from one of the best places on earth: Busan's Haeundae and Songjeong Beaches! My town is called Gijang, and is actually in the province north of Busan city. Known as the Sunshine City or the City of Beautiful Mornings, it's quiet and cheap to live there. Gijang is truly a small town: the old man and wife at the mart near my house already know me. Not to mention that there are endless Korean BBQ and chicken restaurants to be had. It's scenic and hilly, clean, quiet (oh, I said that). But the best is that it's just a bus ride from the best beaches in the country. Read on...


This is the busiest you'd ever see Haeundae. It is well-known throughout Korea as the busiest beach in the country. There are loads of foreign restaurants and shopping to be had here as well. My new house is connected by bus to this area: Twenty minutes and a dollar - that's all it takes!


<-- Haeundae Beach



The picture at the right is Songjeong Beach. This is even closer to my house, only 15 minutes on the same bus route. This beach is much quieter and calmer, with far fewer commercial offerings. What it lacks in Starbucks and chain restaurants, it gains in cleanliness and convenience. From your parasol on the beach, it's only a minute up to the street where many mom-and-pop marts are ready to sell you cold beer.

Songjeong Beach -->

There's a surf shop at Songjeong Beach and even a newly opened foreigner bar called Blowfish, serving Mexican and hamburgers.

<-- Blowfish bar at Songjeong and, I now notice, a brand-new Angel-In-Us coffee! Maybe they have wireless...?

Songjeong Beach mid-week during vacation period / DK in the water at Songjeong Beach

Sunset on Songjeong Beach
(This photo and the first two on this page were not taken by me)

There's even a third beach in the city (Gwangali) and a fourth that's 10 minutes north of my house (Ilgwang). I've been to both and will post pictures soon. Ilgwang is another favorite of mine after only one visit. It's much more of a family, country atmosphere and seems like the Korean, ocean version of a MN day-at-the-lake.

My house is still a mess from moving in and unpacking, but I promise pictures are soon to come. Tomorrow morning, I'll be off to Japan for a 1-night-2-day (as the Koreans say) to get a new visa. I've just spent the day at Haeundae Beach but now I'm freezing cold in the Starbucks air-conditioning (using their wireless as I don't have internet at my house yet). I'm going home now!
Sending summer sun to you all!