Namcheon

I spent the day hanging out in Namcheon with Brianna (my plane-ride buddy). Like Haeundae, Namcheon is also located on the coast line, about 5 subway stops from my hotel in Centum City. Today was my first time taking the Korean subway - and I was legitimately surprised that I didn't get lost. Most of the maps and instructions at the metro stations are written in Korean, but if you pay attention there are strategically placed English words on many of the signs. I may have had a bit of help from a nice Korean boy who saw me looking confused, but after he pointed me to the right subway entrance, I totally did the rest on my own.

Except for the part where security had to escort me out of the building at Namcheon station.

Apparently if you don't retrieve your subway ticket from the other side of the carousel when you enter the subway, you're essentially locked inside the station once you get wherever you're going. Which is what happened. So...I was a little late meeting Brianna, but anyway...

Namcheon is really cool. It's a lot different than Haeundae, much more Korean, and fewer foreigners kickin around. Last night I showed Brianna around Haeundae, so today she repaid the favour and took me around Namcheon. I got to see her apartment, and it made me love my place even more. She lives on the fourth floor of a low-rise in the middle of Namcheon. Her place is decent at first glance, but apparently a friend of hers in the building witnessed a cockroach climb up the shower drain (while she was taking a shower) and scuttle around on the bathroom floor the other day. I would have died.

We spent most of the day swimming and lying around at Namcheon beach. This section of the beach is great. If you google Busan, most pictures that pop up are taken from the perspective of Namcheon, because it gives the best view of Busan Bridge (the massive suspension bridge that gets all lit up at night). As I mentioned before, the beach is pretty empty this time of year, despite the amazing weather. A few Koreans were lounging today, but not many.

We were supposed to go to a comedy club tonight, but we nixed those plans to wander around instead. We saw a massive ferris wheel off in the distance, and deciced to make our way over to ride it. For the life of us we couldn't figure out where the entrance to the ferris wheel actually was, so we ended up literally climbing a nearby mountain, convinced that it would take us to the entrance way. It didn't.

On our way home we ducked into a local restaurant for some pho. The key to living cheap in Korea is living like a Korean. I get the impression that many Westerners get here and continue to eat and shop as if they're still in Canada or the States. They seek out American restaurants or brands, and pay a premium for it. It is SO much cheaper to 'buy Korean'. An amazing meal at a Korean place costs around $4, whereas a random burger or salad from a Western-style restaurant will run you around $16. Or...may favourite example...a Snickers bar here is $1.10, but it's Korean equivalent is only $0.45 (and Dad - you can get a pitcher of beer here for about $3. I took a picture of this just for you).

Long day, so I'm off to bed now, but I'll have pictures posted either Wednesday or Thursday this week once I move into may place! No more hotel room living - woot woot!