Getting to Busan is easier than you might think—much like the famous film Train to Busan suggests, there isn’t just one way to make the journey. Multiple trains run daily from the vibrant, fast-paced metropolis of Seoul to Busan, a breezy coastal city known for its relaxed charm. The trains are a lot like the latest buzzword in the Indian Railways – the Vande Bharat. The shared technology ensures the cabins and the train rather is exactly the same but with a whisk of the wand and colours that are a lot more sober and neutral, if not way cleaner, the internal compartments of the trains are very pleasant.
In contrast to Seoul’s high-energy atmosphere and its ever-evolving beauty scene, Busan offers a refreshing change of pace. With its scenic beaches, warm coastal air, and an abundance of experiences waiting to be discovered, the city invites you to slow down, explore, and simply enjoy. The city is quite huge and offers a lot to do, including the stunning observatories that allow one to fly one into the sea with beautiful and soulful views and a sky capsule inching it’s way along the hilly shores.
The Haedong Yongungsa Temple perched on the rocky cliffs of Northern Busan is a spiritual centre housing the Buddha, and is popular to grant a son for the one who rubs the belly of the deity, a fact that fills up this gorgeous temple replete with the crashing waves with hoards of tourists and visitors across the world and also from Korea. The prayer wishes are tied as lanterns and hung in the air in lined bunches so the wind can carry the prayers into being. The entry way to the temple has statues of the 12 symbols of the Chinese zodiac who are revered to as personality and all giving deities to those born in the year of the specific zodiac animal.
Apart from the Cheongsapo Daridol Observatory, the Haeundae Sky Capsule, Dalmaji gil Road for the pink cherry blossoms, which are quite robust and taller than their Seoul cousins, the Gwangan Bridge, Somang Square, Huinnyeol Cultural Village which are dotted with pretty scenic cafés and shops of the latest fashion, the Hwangryeongsan Observatory, Oryukdo Skywalk, Arte Museum, the BIFF Square, there is one place that absolutely cannot be missed in Busan.
And that is the resplendent Shinsagae Mall and its massive 13 themes of spas, the Spa Land with it’s Turkish, salt, yellow ochre, cedar wood, ice bath, Bali, Greco-Roman, electron, make for an excellent experience followed by the onsen type of the heat bath experience. If there was one thing that India could adopt from South Korea, I would say it would be the Spa experiences and if there were two things that India could embody from South Korea it would be the habit of having warm water or herbal teas as a daily habit done multiple times a day! The gadgets and the automobiles are anyway, loaned from South Korea, in terms of technology or the know-how.
As a culture, South Koreans are a lot like Indians except a bit more obsessed on skin while Indians seem to be more obsessed on hair! The beauty standards of not incomparable, the safety and cleanliness standards are a clear win. Busan is known for the chill vibes and as a seaside location it is but for natural to have a place as lovely and comparatively scenic with a vibe of art and culture on the high. The Busan International Film Festival that is held here is a hotbed of the latest in the world of cinema, Korean storytelling and ofcourse the omnipresent K-Pop!
And with that am signing off on the South Korean notes on the site but with one last run of Swim by BTS!!
Vedasri Siddamsetty 