South Korea: We're staying at a love hotel in Busan?!

Our cabin on the ferry.

A very nice group of Koreans we met on the ferry.

Good bye Japan.

So we arrived in Busan today via a rather nice ferry from Hakata port.  The accommodations on the ferry were very simple and consisted of a large room with a tatami mat but no chairs.  So me and the wifey grabbed a piece of floor and did our best to enjoy the 6 hour boat ride to South Korea.  On the bright side we did meet a group of older Koreans who were eager to practice their English on us.  They were very nice and tried to teach us how to pronounce a few words which I’m sure we butchered. 

Our first meal of Korean BBQ.  Oh man it was good.

Some sort of pupae that is baked into the center of a little pastry.  

Busan Station.

Chantra on the 40 steps.

Upon arriving in Busan, South Korea’s second largest city, I discovered that the “motel” that Chantra booked for us was actually Korea’s version of a Love Hotel.  Where rooms can be rented out by the hour for “brief rests” and that the clientele are usually young couples who can’t get any privacy at home.  No wonder it was so cheap.  The room, however, was surprisingly nice.  It was much larger than what you would get in Japan for the comparable price and it came complete with all the amenities including gaudy decorations, a themed roof, and a huge TV replete with free pornography.  J  But hey, at 35 bucks a night, I’m not complaining.

The roof of our room.

Statues of the ram and the monkey zodiac signs at Yonggung-sa temple.

A woman bent in prayer.

A street food stall.

Piff square.

Mandu.  Korean dumplings.

Bibimbap.

Spicy soup.  Don't know the name but it was good.

4 bucks a person for this meal.  Not bad right?

Yangdusan Park.

 So as for our first impression of South Korea, I’d have to say I’m very surprised; a little shocked even at the cultural differences between South Korea and Japan.  The people here are much louder and more aggressive then the Japanese.  People bump into you on the subways and don't say excuse me and nobody let's you off the train before they start rushing in.  I helped carry a couple of bags for an old lady down some stairs and when it was over she didn't even thank me.  Oh and trust me I know how to say thank you in Korean.  The streets of Busan are much dirtier, smellier, and grittier than those in Japan.  Now I'm not saying Koreans are rude or unfriendly because we also met our fair share of locals who were very kind, but the Japanese are definitely unique when it comes to courtesy.  Oh and by the way, Korean food is waaaaay better than Japanese food and cheaper.  Well until next time friends.

Hundres of tiny statues of Buddha.

A priestess maybe?

Local school girl performing a song at Yangdusan Park.

Yonggungsa Temple.

Some details of the temple gate at Yonggung-Sa.

Prayers maybe?

Chantra bathing a statue of the Buddha as a child.

A Korean Buddhist monk giving out blessings.

Some bamboo.

Prayers written on tiles that will be used for restoration of the temple.

Check out those eyes!