Day 7- 부산 *Part 2*- 회 센터 (Sashimi Center), 비프 광장, 자갈치 (Jagalchi) and 영화!

Continue on the previous post.
Decided to break it up into 2 posts as I find that one post on 해운대 is already very long.

After the boat ride, 사헤 씨 and I went to eat something as she has not eaten anything since morning and I only had ate some bread for breakfast.
사헤 씨 wanted to eat the famous 비빔면(Bibimyeon), something that I never heard of.
I presumed that its those unknown secret that foreigners will not know.
Lol.
So, we started our quest to look for these noodles.
사헤 씨 went to ask so many passerbys on where we can get 비빔면.
However, strangely most people she asked are not from 부산.
Haha.
Hence, she made a decision.
We boarded a cab and asked the taxi driver.
One thing leads to another.
The taxi driver did not bring us to the nicest 비빔면 식당(restaurant).
But he recommended something else.
회 (Sashimi)!!!!
And the taxi driver brought us to this 회 센터 (Sashimi Center) which is cheaper than those that is right next to 해운대.

I didn't take any pictures of that place.
But it is one of those that sell live seafood at the first floor and has 식당 upstairs.
Since 사헤 씨 and I has no experience or knowledge on choosing the seafood, we went straight upstairs to a 식당 recommended by one of the vendors at the first floor.

Our 반찬 (side dishes).

Scallops, corn and 파전.

Our table full of food!
It's made for 2 but I have no idea how 2 people can finish the whole table of food.
But the 회 is seriously very fresh.
For those who know me personally, I am not one who eats 회.
However, those there is so fresh that I actually dare to eat and love it!
정말 맛있었어요!!!
And I need to thank 사헤 씨 for the treat.
사헤 씨, 진짜 고마워요.
나중에, 언니가 밥을 사줄 거예요.
빨리 싱가포르에 와요!
언니가 기다려요 ^^

After the 회 feast, we took a cab to the 비프 광장 (BIFF square).


BIFF actually stands for Busan International Film Festival.
부산 국제 영화제.


Some random famous person's handprint.

The only handprint I can recognize.
侯孝贤(Hou Hsiao Hsien), a famous director in Taiwan.

We also ate one snack that I don't know of.

Must be famous because it was featured in 1박2일(1N2D)- the variety show.

Please ignore the bad quality of the picture.
I don't know how come the photo ended up focusing on my hand instead of the snack.
It is actually quite nice with a lot of ingredients in between the dough that is deep fried.
There is like sugar, peanuts etc.
Full of calories but delicious!

There is actually not much to see there in my point of view.
Various shops that sells accessories and clothing.
Similar but unable to compare to 서올.
Hence, 사헤 씨 and I went back to searching for the mysterious 비빔면.
With the help of the almighty internet from 사헤 씨's 핸드폰(handphone).
We finally found the shop!

Hehe.
We found the shop that was hidden away in a small alley!

Only 3 items in their menu.

The 아줌마들 busy cooking away in the kitchen.

A kettle on every table.
Contain something that is more than the plain water!

아줌마 scooping "thing" into the kettle.
I immediately asked 사헤 씨 what is it after she returned from the 화장실 (toilet).
It is apparently some kind of soup provided for the customers to drink.
Took a sip and its not my cup of "tea".
Too salty for my liking.
Lol.

Our food.
The dry one is the 비빔면 and the soup one is 밀면.
Both also very nice.
It is a kind of 냉면.
So, after I realized we had some difficulty the noodles as they are too long, I decided to cut it with the scissors provided.
Which in turn made 사헤 씨 very impressed again because she wonder how come I will know.
Haha.
I told her I learnt all this from TV.

A beautifully painted wall outside the 비빔면 식당.
A bit wasted to be hidden in a small alley that doesn't have much people passing by.

After fulling our bellies, 사헤 씨 and I was wondering what to do.
I left all the decision for her because I had no plan on what to do in 부산.
So, 사헤 씨 decided that we should go catch a 영화(Movie) since we are in place that is related to films.

We went to Megabox for 영화.

The 영화 we chose- "공모자들" ("Co-conspirators"- translated from google translate. Haha)
First time watching 한국어 영화(Korean movie) without subtitles.
Lol.
Poor 사헤 씨 kept worrying throughout the movie whether I can understand it at all.
Somehow I managed to finish the whole movie and even understand what the movie is about.
Haha.
I don't think I will ever watch a 한국어 영화 alone if not for 사헤 씨.

Actually, before the movie starts, we went to walk around and we ended up at 자갈치 (Jagalchi).
One of the tourist attraction at 부산.
자갈치 is located opposite 비프 광장.
Didn't realized until I was like walking inside.

The entrance of 자갈치.

The 자갈치 시장 that operate till late night.

아줌마 selling crabs.

The place where they conduct the trade between the fishermen and vendors I presume.

사헤 씨 and I parted our ways after the 영화.
I went to take the 지하철 back to 영빈관.
Oh, and I bought a 책 from the vending machine while waiting for my train.

The only 책 with a title that I can read.
Haha.
Haven't really got the motivation to start reading yet.
Hopefully I will start soon!

Till then, 안녕~

Day 7- 부산 (Busan) *Part 1*- 해운대 (Haeundae)~!

안녕하세요?
정말 오랜만에!
여러분들이 잘 지내요?

Really have neglected this blog for a long long time.
Had been really busy with work since I came back from Korea.
Makes me miss Korea more!
진짜 보고 싶어요!

Anyway, I went to 부산 (Busan) on the 7th day of my trip.
It was a long decided plan to go there.
But I guess I was a little rather unprepared.



Early morning at 서울역 waiting for my KTX to 부산!

Interior of the ktx.
I find it quite comfortable.
Slept through the whole journey from 서울-부산.

Me on the ktx before I settle myself into deep deep sleep.

The whole journey takes around 2hours plus.
Along the way making stops at a few stations which I unfortunately is sleeping, hence, don't know what are the stations.
But I was aware that the seat next to me changed a few passengers till an army guy sat from one of the stop with me to 부산.


Finally reaching my destination!

Once again, my blurness has gave me another valuable memory that I will never forget in my life time.
I actually couldn't find my guesthouse upon reaching the 부산역.
It is actually within walking distance from the station and I was at the same street of where the guesthouse was located.
However, my "blindness" occurred again and I can't find the signboard of the guesthouse.
So, I went to asked a passerby how to get there.
I am not sure whether it was good or bad move.
Because, well, you will know later.
The passerby that I approached is a taxi driver and he was super friendly.
He read the address from my "mighty booklet" (maybe I shall do a post on it!) and try to see where is it.
And where he failed in helping me after asking other taxi drivers that was around and also checking on his GPS.
He did the following:
He stopped a police car that was passing by!
The 경찰 아저씨 was also extremely helpful.
He even took out his own Galaxy Note to search on his GPS.
But we were taking such a long time, he decided to bring me there in the police car!!!
Yes, I sat in a police car!
But eventually, we did arrived at the guesthouse that I booked.
Haha.
Interesting encounter, right?
And it was like super near where I started off asking people for directions.
=.=

The guesthouse that I booked is cheap and nice.
The SUM guesthouse.
Will do a separate post on it later.
My first time staying in a dormitory with 3 other girls whom I don't know.

Well, after I left my belongings at the guesthouse, I then head to the main destination of this trip.
The 해운대!
Took a bus there as I cannot find where is the 지하철.
*Wonder why I become so stupid*

Anyway, managed to reach the beach safely.

The gorgeous beach!

Went to take this boat ride to see the 오륙도 (Oryukdo).
Apparently, singer 정용화 (Jung Yong Hwa) of CNblue and 서현 (Seo Hyun) of Girls Generation came to take this boat ride before too when they were filming this variety show called 우리 결혼 했어요 (We got married).
Apparently, I have watched that episode before but totally forgotten about it till I saw the screen on top of the ticketing area showing it.
Lol.

The fishing boats next to the boat ride ticketing area.
Can see fishman busy there.


The boat that I took.

Some warning signboard that I took photo of but cannot remember what is it about.

Attempting to take photo of the seagulls fighting for the prawn crackers.
Some random 아줌마 was feeding them with the prawn crackers as "suggested" by the people there.
It is quite a sight as the whole crowd of seagulls flew there to fight for the crackers.



Me at the beginning of the boat ride.

The bunch of seagulls that surrounded our boat and followed us out to sea!

The 태극기 flying freely at the end of the boat.

부산 cityscape.

Me with 부산 cityscape.
Courtesy of my new friend- 사헤, who took the photo for me.

Yup, I made a new friend at 부산.
I was initially enjoying the scenery and breeze at the deck of the boat till I was joined by 사헤 씨.
Frankly speaking, I thought she was a Japanese.
Haha.
But of course I realized that I was wrong very soon as she began chatting with me.
Apparently, she was also travelling alone and thought that I am a Korean.
She only found out that I am not a Korean when I could not answer that I lived in a guesthouse in Korea.
Haha.
We later travelled together for the rest of the day since we are both alone and it was rather impossible to enjoy good food if you are alone.


A panorama view of the cityscape.


The 오륙도.
What I came to see on this boat ride.

Close up on the 오륙도.


사헤 씨 and me.
Not a nice photo but have to make do with it as the wind was blowing our hair back.

Some long long bridge The 광안대교 (Gwangan bridge) in 부산.

People enjoying their day at the 해운대 해수욕장(beach).

My favorite sneak shot of people.
Random 아조씨 emo-ing.
Haha.

I am so glad that I made a friend like 사헤 씨.
She is so friendly and helpful which made my trip at 부산 special and meaningful.
I couldn't have experience many things if I was alone.

Day 6 "Part 2"- 작살 치킨(Jaksal Chicken)!

지난 목요일에 임진강하고 작살에 갔어요.
작살 치킨에서 저녁을 먹었어요.
작살 치킨에 음식은 정말 맛있었어요!
닭이 조금 매워요.
거기는 김현중씨 어머니도 만났어요.
김현중씨 어머니는 진짜 예쁘고 친절해요.


Basically, this part 2 of the entry will be dedicated to 작살 치킨 (Jaksal Chicken).
One may wonder what is so special about 작살 치킨.
The special thing about this restaurant is that it is opened by Korean star, 김현중 (Kim Hyun Joong) and his two friends.
Made a special trip to 작살 치킨 일산(Ilsan) branch that day after visiting 임진강.

Reasons being:
1) I like 김현중.
Would not dare self-proclaim that I am a crazy fan because I didn't bother to update myself regarding his news except from my friends.

2) Melissa doesn't want to eat more chicken.
Hence, I went there alone.
Almost didn't go there because I am alone.
Conflicting thoughts. Lol.

3) I am leaving for 부산 (Busan) the next day.
Will be staying there for 1박2일 (2D1N).
Most probably no time to visit 작살 치킨 when I return to 서울.

4) I like chicken.
Haha.
I think this is actually one of the main contributing reason.
Liking chicken is probably an subset of my love for meat.
Lol.
I can do without beef or mutton or whatever, but I need to have chicken or pork.
So, how can I miss a chance to eat solely chicken and its secret recipe by someone I like?
Haha.

But why 일산 branch?
This is because it is managed by 김현중씨 가족(family)!
I actually didn't know this until I was seriously planning the trip and my friends was telling me to visit this branch.
So, if you are a fan and interested to see how his 가족 looks like, just simply go to this outlet!

Anyway,the route there from 문산 is actually quite fast.
However, being as idiotic as I am, I overshot myself on the interchange stations.
Lol.
But upon reaching there, it is quite easy to walk there from the 지하철 (subway).
Not going to post up the map and directions that I found unless anyone request.
It's located at Western Dome.
Well, for someone who can so blind like me to be able to find the shop, I guess anyone else can as well!

And so, I managed to find the shop and was ushered in by one of the staff.
After sitting down next to the display of 김현중 products, I was approached by his 어머니 (mother).
As would any fan encounter with her, she is super friendly and nice.
I think it is quite obvious of me being a fan because I am there alone.
Hence, she went through the menu with me in English despite me speaking to her in Korean.
But the first question she asked me was, "Are you from Thailand?"
I was definitely shocked because I had NEVER been mistaken as a Thai before.
Anyway, I take it as a compliment as Thai girls are seriously pretty.
Hehe.
For me, maybe its just dark skinned.
Lol.


작살 치킨 !

The famous boss!

The 3 bosses who are good friends!

My food!
I actually over-ordered the food.
My intention there was to go and try their signature chicken.
However, I ended up ordering another fish cake soup.
His mother was introducing me to certain food which I presume is those that 김현중 likes.
I find it not very nice to just order a dish, hence, over-ordering.
FML.

My comments about the food there is as followed.
1)The signature chicken.
- Two options available; Bone or Boneless.
- Chicken with bones are supposed to be "Home-grown" (Korean) breed chicken, whereas boneless are not.
- I got the boneless one even though I did not requested for either.
- I wouldn't mind the bone or not issue but of course, boneless made it easier for me to eat it.
- Taste wise is definitely good.
- It is cooked to be spicy, hence, those who cannot take any spicy food, choose another dish that they offer which is the non-spicy version.
- I actually finished up the whole dish myself because it is that good.
- Not overly spicy (according to my palate!) and nicely marinated.

2) The fishcake soup.
- One of the healthier food that I ate in Korea.
- Served in a pot accompanied with stove which keeps it constantly boiling hot.
- Suitable for 2-3 person share.
- Full of ingredients, eg. the fishcake, noodles etc.
- Took 2 mini bowls and the end.
- Not the type of soup that I love, preferred chinese-styled double-boiled soup.

Nothing interesting over the dinner.
And no, 김현중 did not appear before me.
Haha.
But his 어머니 did "saved" me from a moth.
She was like quietly approaching my table suddenly when I am eating and the next thing I know, she killed a moth with those electric bat!
My "heroine".

Didn't take much pictures there, so those who are interested can just google to find the pics.
Peaceful dinner that ended with me losing my way back to the 지하철.
Beginning to realize how impressive it is for me to stay safe in a foreign country alone and return home peacefully.
Haha.
Anyway, after dinner went to a 찜질방 (steambath) to try it out.
Might post out if anyone is interested.
Let me know if you wants to know my 찜질방 experience!
안녕히 주무세요~!