2 Days, 2 Countries and 1 Ferry Ride

 Tyler Reporting:

(Continuing my transcription of my journal entries from our three-week trip to South Korea and Japan.)

Two days and one country later.

Day 5: The last full day in Busan was a "beach day" Got up early to hunt for some breakfast with a Starving Stella. Ended up making it to a Starbucks where she could get a bagel, and I could get Sarah an iced coffee. Much joy from Sarah.

(Sorry, distracted. Talking to Otto who just woke up and then getting yelled at by a weepy Stella who wants to sleep later.)

Anyhow, we all went to get abalone porridge for breakfast. That was a bit of a hike in the sun and a meal I wasn't super enthused about, but it's a large group, so you gotta go with the flow sometimes.

Then it was all on the bus to go to a beach, which was a *huge* hit with the kids... though they also ended up getting *really* sunburnt. J and I made a hike up through a winding pedestrian road until we found a place to get friend chicken. That was also a *huge* hit with the kids.

Sarah and J relaxing on the beach. We had also rented a table and umbrella, similar to the ones behind them.

Looking back down through the neighborhood of narrow pedestrian streets J and I navigated looking for fried chicken. I love discovering little neighborhoods like this.

The kids (on the right) play in the bay. To the left you can see that the Korean beach goers were much more diligent about covering up to stay out the sun... and loved floatation devices.

Post-beach, it was bing tsu at A Twosome Place, a walk down a winding pathway that extended out over part of the bay; then we took a gondola ride that extended across the bar. 

The winding pathway that extended over the bay, and in the background you could see the gondola that stretched across it. 

Otto and I riding the gondola across the bay. Great views in every direction, but you have to look at my burnt mug.

To get home, most people jumped on the bus, but J wanted to take a cab, so he called one for the two of us and our daughters. Unfortunately, too late, we realized that he'd put in the wrong address. But, by then, we'd driven across one bridge and were stuck in traffic on a second bridge. So, the Uber ended up taking a lot longer than the bus.

After the beach, everyone was pretty exhausted. So, Sarah and I went out to get our kids more chicken; then the rest of us went to a market street that was exciting, if overwhelming. I ended up getting a pork and cheese dish (Korean's love their cheese!). Then we called it a night. 

Navigating the narrow, covered market street where we got dinner. A crazy variety of food (the signs even declared that vendors had to serve different dishes from each other), but crowded even by South Korean standards.

The next morning, we were all up and out the door early (7am!) to get to the ferry. We got off at the stop marked "ferry terminal" in the subway only to discover that it may be geographically closest, but the highways and train tracks blocked getting to it and we have to effectively walk back to the previous stop to get to the actual station. We *just*made it to the ferry, sweaty and wiped out.

The Queen Beetle Ferry! We made it!

The ferry crossing was fun. It was probably the most "open ocean" I've ever sailed across, but -unlike Sarah and Otto- sea sickness doesn't really affect me. Though, like nearly everyone else, once I was back on land I felt wobbly for pretty much the rest of the day.

Bye Busan! Bye Korea! Hopefully we will be back some day!

With some time to burn on the ferry, better break out the Magic cards!

It was another long, hot trek to the hotel; where the kids were -again- bummed that they had to share a room with us. Then off for more shopping at a giant mall in Fukuoka, including a multi-floored store, called Hands, that Y was eager to shop at. The ramen shop in the shopping malls basement helped improve a lot of our moods though.

The kids enjoying their Shin Shin Ramen. Believe it or not, this is the "good picture" from the numerous I took. It continues to be a joy watching them navigate this trip as a group.

Back at the hotel, a group of us did the hotels baths, though it was a little nervous-making because of the "no tattoos" signs... since all of the adults have multiple tattoos. Then J and I finished the night playing Magic cards and drinking wine in the hotel's lobby.

I'm morning now. We had breakfast in the hotel and are now packing to head on to Yuda Onsen. It should be much more rural and relaxed there; but a longish travel day ahead of us. We'll be there for a couple nights, so that will be good. Onward!