A Weekend of Colour

Oh my word, Busan is BEAUTIFUL!! This weekend, we decided to head across to Busan for the Indian Holi Hai Festival on Haeundae beach. The festival is all about celebrating life, love, peace and all that jazz. For me, it was a chance to get back to my beautiful sea and toss colours up into the sky surrounded by hundreds of my "closest friends";)

Awesome coffee sculpture in Haeundae

Krissi and I decided to make the most of the weekend and head over to Busan on Saturday and spend the day exploring Busan before the festival on Sunday. What a great plan! We met up with our other training buddy, Hailey (who is from Busan) at the train station. Hailey is a lifesaver when it comes to helping us Waegooks find our way around and ensure that we see the best things to see in Busan.

Busan City

So, first, we headed off to our hostel (The New Day, about 5 minutes from Haeundae beach) to drop off our bags. New Day was the perfect place for us!! It was right at the subway and right near the beach. It was also beautiful, clean and had a rooftop garden. However, as tempting as it was to hang out at the hostel and admire the beauty, we decided to head out and discover Busan.

New Day hostel :)

Rooftop Garden

First, Hailey took us for lunch at a lovely chicken restaurant where we had fried rice (they cook it at the table)... Then we headed off to the beautiful Yongkung Temple. This temple is literally the most beautiful temple I have ever seen. It is right at the sea, and being built in the 1300's, it is an artwork. The bus ride to the temple was interesting- we literally had to wrap ourselves around the poles to keep from being flung around (these guys drive more haphazardly than our dear Jammie drivers!!!). Once there, it was a short walk up to the temple along a beautiful road surrounded by cherry blossoms, little lanterns and amazing street lamps.

Walk up to the temple

At the main area (before walking down to the temple) there were so many beautiful sculptures, some of the Chinese Zodiacs, and some just beautiful works of art. And, of course, many Buddha sculptures with various meanings. It was so beautiful and peaceful there- can't think of a better setting for a Temple than right at the sea...

After spending a long time at the temple, we headed off for some more exploring. We went to Gwangnan bridge- a beautiful bridge at the beach that offers the most amazing view of the city at night. Here, we said goodbye to Hailey and then Krissi and I continued exploring along the beach front before we found a good place for dinner. In Korea, I swear the days are shorter as time just speeds by. Before we knew it, it was close to midnight and the real part was still to come. So we headed back to New Day and had some tea before bed.

Gwangan Beach

Sunday morning we woke up, had coffee and some breakfast at the hostel (all provided, self service included) before heading over to the beach for the festival.

Words cannot describe the amazingness of this festival! It was so much fun! First, we registered, received our hats, paint powder (which smelled like inscence), free samoosas and beer (the free beer continued throughout the whole party, later including free Soju and coke. Not bad for only $10 for the whole festival). Then, at 11am the official party started. This, like the one in Cape Town, included tossing up the powder in the air. Or at each other... Then, unlike the Cape Town one, the next step had people covering themselves in actual paint. People would walk past, smear paint on your face and say "Happy Holi"...

While all us foreigners were dancing around the beach covering ourselves in paint, the locals were gathering on the sidelines videoing all the crazy foreigners :) Some locals even joined in, including the coolest old lady ever! Before I knew it, it was time to leave, so Krissi and I washed the paint off our face and carried on exploring. Then, it was a mere train ride away before arriving back in my lovely Gumi where my hot shower waited and I washed the pink paint out of my hair.

Such an amazing weekend! Still getting over the awesomeness of it!:P

Haeundae Beach