Busan - Best Sashimi ever!

We flew Air Busan to Busan's Gimhae International Airport (김해공항/金海机场), which took us slightly less than 1 hour for the flight. The ticket was really cheap too! About S$44!

As we planned to go to Gyeongju the next day, we decided on a place which is on the Line 1 (Nampo), instead of staying at Haeundae (해운대/海云台) with its popular beach and jjimjilbang (sauna /spa/찜질방/蒸氣房). It was also nearer to Busan station where we will be taking the KTX to Seoul. Plus, it was one stop away from Jagalchi (札嘎其/자갈치), AND AND, we realised that day that it was just 5-min walk from the shopping streets!!! It was then I stopped complaining about why we didn't choose a place near to Haeundae, because I wanted to go to the jjimjilbang :D

Booked Elysee Motel on hostelworld, costed us about $33/pax/night. Of course there's the cheaper option of staying at the jjimjilbang for $8 per night, but bf was not very keen on sleeping on the floor.

The manager of the motel is really responsive to my queries, and really honest too. We checked in early, and I didn't realise it's the wrong room type that was given to us :X Ours was supposed to be the deluxe room that comes with a jacuzzi! I guess I was too anxious to go sightseeing, since we only had one day in Busan!!! Anyway, we went out straight after dropping our bags, and when we came back, we got a shock to see other people's stuff in our room! What happened was the motel staff had moved our stuff to the deluxe room.

Anyway, after that shock, we got an even bigger shock! The jacuzzi, steambath, huge tv, personal PC, even a watercooler!! WAH~ I've never stayed in any accommodation with personal PC in the room!! Really impressed! Plus the location was really good, next to Yongdusan Park Busan Tower (용두산공원 부산타워/龙头山公园釜山塔) and the shopping streets! Recommended if you don't mind that it's a motel.. We didn't see any strange people when we were there :D

The Joseon Tongsinsa Busan Festival was happening when we were there. Love the traditional Korean costumes and performances! Simply vibrant!

Along the shopping street

We asked for some recommendations for food, and was introduced to this sashimi place outside Jagalchi Fish Market.

양씨상회 (부산 중구 남포동4가 41, Tel: 051-245-2280)

부산 중구 남포동4가 41 051-245-2280

We chose the special set for KRW20,000 each.

It was the best money spent! The meal was delicious!! Just look at the side dishes we got!

For a typical meal with sashimi, the remaining of the fish is used for the soup. It's the most delicious soup ever! Bf was amazed at the amount of soup I had, since I'm not really a soup person :D What you see on the bottom right of the photo (beside the soup), that's a kind of shellfish called 키조개 kijogae or pen shell. Really chewy!

The next stop after lunch was Jagalchi Market, the largest seafood market in Korea!

(자갈치시장)

On the first floor there's many stalls selling fresh seafood! And on the second floor, there's several restaurants and stalls selling dry seafood~ We were really full by then, so it was just a sightseeing visit.

Our schedule was slightly delayed, so we didn't get to go to Haedong Yonggunsa Temple (해동용궁사), which is on the east of Busan. We headed straight to Haeundae beach instead. 

With a box of strawberries we bought from a roadside stall. Always always choose the more expensive ones.. (around KRW10,000 - 12,000) for such a big box. The one we got wasn't that fresh.. 

The famous Haeundae beach! 

The first time I knew about this was from watching Goguma couple (Jung Yong Hwa (C.N. Blue) and Seohyun (SNSD)) from the reality TV show We Got Married). Looked like a nice place for couples, and since it's already Spring, why not? 

The beach was quite crowded with families and lots of jet skiers!  

 The ferry terminal where the Goguma couple took the ferry ride. I don't know what got into me but I decided not to take the ride and spend the money on shopping instead.. 

The amount of time we had in Busan was really not well planned out, not enough time to do much, but too much time to not do anything.. 

Went to Shinsegae (Centum City Station on Line 2) to grab dinner and do some shopping! Shopping malls are not really my kind of shopping place, but I didn't research enough, hence the lack of options. 

Delicious Manoffin we bought for supper and breakfast! 

Streets of Busan, neon lights and street food stalls

Our KTX to Seoul was at 12noon, hence we walked around the area for some last min shopping! Really fruitful shopping!! :D 

Yongdusan Park and Busan Tower

Backdrop near the markets..

Gukje Market (남포동 국제시장/南浦洞国际市场) and Bupyeong Market selling the daily necessities~  

The last part of my Busan trip was without any photos, because I was busy shopping. I realised that it was better to shop at anywhere else but Myeongdong, cos the discounts are better and the service is much better!! Even though the staff may not speak good English or any English at all, they try their best to explain their products to you, and are generally nicer and more honest (like they will explain which is NOT recommended for my skin, not so good to use, and not just make you buy anything just for the sake of sales)

Next up, Seoul!