Busan for Chuseok and Momma's 50th Birthday!

The trip that was months in the planning ended up being something a little more local than originally anticipated. My mom came to visit for her 50th birthday, and since JM and I had 5 days off (yes, Chuseok holiday fell right on my mom's birthday!) we had planned to do something exciting. Since 20 million people displace themselves from Seoul to get to the hometowns of their ancestors, traveling around this holiday is insanity. Think Christmas, times 100.

I had been fortunate enough to snag us some seats on the KTX to Busan, a coastal town with nice beaches, culture, and mountains to climb. It suited us as the perfect local place to go and get out of Cheonan. I also found a great online deal for the Novotel Ambassador hotel, right on Haeundae beach. We had ocean view rooms, king size beds, and gorgeous weather.

      

View from the rooms!

 

 

Thursday we relaxed on the beach. We wanted to have a bummy beach day, so we took a picnic with cheese, meat, crackers and fruit and lounged the afternoon away. The waves were so much fun to play in. They were huge and you didn't have to wait long to get knocked over and tons of sand in your bathing suit. Unfortunately, late in the season the ocean gets some "bugs" as Korean call them and they are a little picky, sort of like small jelly fish stings. Luckily, they didn't affect us too badly and we body surfed in the strong current.

Enjoying the waves!

Friday was my mom's birthday and she really wanted to go for a hike. So we woke up, ate cupcakes for breakfast (Sarah and I surprised my mom with cupcakes we baked before the train - we still don't know how she didn't smell them), and headed off to Jangsan, a mountain that was within walking distance from the hotel. We took the longest, most convoluted way to the top possible, but the hike was really pleasant. Not over crowded like most Korean mountains, or too steep, and there was a guy selling popsicles at the top! I've never been so happy to see a man with a melon popsicle.

Mom went for a morning walk on the beach

Sarah making cupcakes - well .. eating the batter

Sarah and JM - hula competition! This was in a small exercise park at the start of the hike.

 Back stretch! We also had quite a few rock slides to climb over.

 

Popsicles at the top!

That night we went out for a Brazilian barbeque dinner, some Baskin Robbins ice cream, and to top it off, a norebang jam session. For those who don't know, norebang is the Korean karaoke. We rented a private room and had our choice of what songs to sing. I think my mom enjoyed her 50th celebration!

 The things you can get your mom to do if you promise her ice cream ... he he.

Saturday was a bit of a bust. We went to a temple that was recommended on TripAdvisor as a must see, and sadly, it was not. Much too crowded and touristy, exactly the type of attraction I hate to be caught at as a claustrophobe. But we made up for it Sunday morning with another beach day and then some Busan culture in the afternoon. All in all, a great trip!

Beautiful scenery, but ...

Look at those crowds!!

In love with Busan