Happy Chuseok!

The Korean holiday Chuseok is often called the Korean 'Thanksgiving.'
Korean families gather together, eat huge feasts of traditional Korean food, and those who follow tradition give thanks/pay homage to their ancestors for the good harvest that they are about to reap.

We, on the other hand, took it as an opportunity to head south to the port city of Busan, the second largest city in South Korea. (It is an interesting note that Busan is one of only 3 cities that was not overtaken during the Korean War.)


Songjeong Beach (much quieter than Haeundae Beach)

We explored Haeundae Beach, visited the Busan Aquarium, swam in the sea, and managed one last sunburn for the summer! One night, we camped on the beach . . . it was a wonderful sound to sleep to, but I have to admit I got a little nervous in the wee hours of the morning as it sounded like the tide was rising!


(Camping just south of Songjeong Beach)


View from the cliffs along Taejongdae Resort

We also did some hiking around Taejongdae Resort and made a few stops on the Busan City Tour Bus. We wandered around a fish market (we didn't last long against the smell) and spent a night at the coolest hotel I think I've ever stayed at in my life. It was the only hotel I think I've ever seen that was built to look traditionally Korean AND 16 stories tall! It was beautiful inside and out!


Hotel Commodore, Busan


Port view from our room on the 10th floor

Our last stop was a city a little further inland called Changwon. One of Cory's high school buddies, Andy, has recently moved there to teach English. Although it had been since high school that they had seen each other, they easily caught up over a Kansas City football game!

Cory and Andy watching KC Chiefs