July 4, 2019
There are definitely pros to staying in hostel-style accommodations on your travels. It’s definitely a more affordable option, you have the opportunity to talk to other travelers, and have (potentially) more amenities, like a communal kitchen and laundry machines. The cons, on the other hand, include being woken up by a not-so-considerate neighbor packing and leaving very loudly at 4 in the morning… I, being a person that needs a lot of sleep, woke up, internally expressed by frustration, and went back to sleep. My friend did not.
Thus started our half-day of travel. Made it to the Seoul KTX station without much trouble, and I was thoroughly impressed by the breakfast sandwich options at Dunkin’ Donuts – I’m almost positive those options are not available in the U.S.! In the awkward time we had in between, I dragged my friend to Lotteria – a fast-food chain in Korea – for their mozzarella sticks, otherwise known as cheese sticks in Korea. Those cheese sticks were probably my favorite food when I last came to Korea – in seventh grade – and the last meal I chose for myself in the airport going back home to L.A. Korean people really do eat cheese so well.
The KTX train is a bullet train that is a source of great pride for Korea because of its speed and comfort. On the downside for college students, it is rather pricey, but the most efficient mode of transportation from city to city. We boarded the train, settled down in our seats and prepared for a movie to kill the 3-hour ride.
As our sense of humor is absolutely impeccable, we had already decided to watch “Train to Busan” because… we were on a train headed to Busan and we could not resist the irony of the situation. Of course, for some reason, Netflix on my laptop refused to allow for English subtitles, so we ended up watching it on my phone. Now, I’ve watched this movie before and I enjoyed it, but I had not been a part of the incredible hype in response to the movie. Watching it again on an actual train was a very different atmosphere. The stations where major events in the movie were taking place were also being announced on our train. We were sitting in Car 9 which, for those of you who have watched the movie, plays a role in the movie. Everything in the train was eerily similar and added to the tension of the already tense zombie movie. I highly enjoyed it – even the second time – and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a thriller! (It’s on Netflix!)
When we arrived at Busan station, we realized that we needed to kill a few hours before we were able to check into the Airbnb we were staying at. Time was killed very satisfyingly if I say so myself.
This was the only private room that we reserved and I was very glad we did. It had been a little pricier than the shared rooms, but with two introverted people, we really did need a break from forced socialization. While small, the room was very comfortable, with a mini-fridge and kitchen and two comfortable beds. The air conditioning was amazing and, having only the night market on our agenda, we relaxed.
We flipped through the channels on the TV and watched some random channels. It was very interesting to see that there were channels teaching foreign languages – of which English and Chinese were the most prominent. There were also channels featuring foreign shows, including American cartoons and even a Filipino soap opera!
Headed out to Gukje (International) Market! In addition to being one of the largest outdoor markets in Korea, it originated during the Korean War as a means for refugees to make a living. The sheer scale of the market was impressive – especially at night! But the night market was clearly a thriving part of the city and the food options were amazing! There were so many options and the typical ringing of voices from the vendors trying to attract attention. There were so many assortments of skewers with every type of meat and seafood, many of which with rice cakes and cheese. I couldn’t resist one with cheesy rice cakes and pork, and another one with steak. ~ There was also a stall with mini watermelons piled high. The owner instructed me to choose one and went on to scrape out the watermelon, leaving only the “shell”. The watermelon itself was blended into a juice that was poured back into the watermelon as a cute and touristy treat.
Here, in a more southern, less tourist-oriented city like Busan, there was definitely a bigger reaction to my comfortable use of English. The population also felt more elderly, which seemed indicative of the rather judgemental looks we were receiving from having a slightly low-cut v-neck shirt on. It was very blatant in the subways…
But all in all, I couldn’t have been more satisfied with the night market of Busan 🙂