On The Way Home - Korea day 5

Friday, August 19, we got up early, finished packing, checked out, and caught the 6:30 bus to the airport.

We got checked in, went through security, and bought some snacks for breakfast, and parted ways, as Rachel and Andrew flew through Narita, and the rest of us went through Incheon (Seoul).

Lisa found a piano to play.

I didn't get a photo of the "welcome" sign on the way into Korea, so here it is on the way out.

We had several hours in Incheon, so we ate lunch and wandered around. All of a sudden we ran into a royal procession.

The royal couple deigned to take some photos with us.

After that, we found a little tourist office that did a variety of cultural demonstrations. We were in time to get a nearly private recital of traditional Korean music.

It was a nice way to end our stay before getting on the plane back to the U.S.

Ivory Tower - Busan day 4 (part 5)

We left the Lotte Mall and headed toward a nearby park.

The park is on a plateau that is probably a hundred feet above the surrounding area. The path getting up is fairly steep, and there was a series of six or eight escalators (!) going up the slope.

Partway up there was a small park wit some exercise equipment.

Finally, up a last set of steps to the top.

Looking back at Lotte Mall.

There was a large bell hanging in the plaza.

Everyone seems to be paying no attention to the bell, but skirting the enclosure looking at something else. What could it be?

After the kittens had been sufficiently admired, we headed toward Busan Tower.

 

There was a cool dragon statue in front.

But most people were more interested in another cat that was also there in front of the tower.

 

Busan Tower is 118 meters tall, or about 350 feet. It was built in 1973.

Looking back down at the plaza we just crossed.

Lotte Mall with Yeong-do behind it. If the hill on Yeong-do weren't so high (and if the weather were clear) you should be able to see the closest Japanese island from here. It would be fun to go out to Yeong-do and climb the hill and see Japan from Korea, but we didn't have time.

The fish market we visited earlier in the day.

Moving around the tower in a clockwise direction.

Now facing nearly north. Busan Station and our hotel are near the green empty area at the upper right.

The monument thing that I saw on my walk earlier in the day.

The entrance to what looks like a huge shopping arcade.

A Buddhist temple.

Moonrise over Busan.

 

Heading back the way we came, looking for dinner.

We walked through a fairly upscale shopping area.

One store had these robot arms in the window performing various activities.

But most people were more interested in more cats we came across.

When we got back to the station, the fountain was doing a water show on a larger scale than we'd seen before, with lights and lasers and water shooting really high. It was a fitting end to our Busan adventure.