I started walking towards Busan Station along the harbour. These statues are emblematic of the many Korean refugees who fled to Busan during the Korean War when the troops of the North surrounded the allied forces on a 230km perimeter surrounding Busan.
It's hard to imagine it now, but the country was in ruins at the end of the war in 1953. Technically, it's not over, as no peace treaty was signed, only a ceasefire.
Several bridges join the island of Yeongdo with the main peninsula but must allow boats to enter the harbour.
The second bridge.
At this point I spent more than an hour shopping in the Lotte building so the next shot is in the vicinity of the station.
This is the impressive façade of the station.
There is a fountain in front. I think the discs are giant replicas of the Korean coins.
It being Saturday, people were taking their ease in the pleasant day.
The hills of Busan can be seen in the background.
The other side of the station is less scenic, consisting of tracks and undeveloped harbour front. There is not much further south as Busan is the terminus of the main high-speed KTX Gyeongbu Line.
Probably they had some plans for the empty land.
In the distance was what seemed to some kind of exhibition centre, with ocean liners for backdrop.
The station itself was spacious. I bought my train tickets to Jeonju for Monday.
Back to the front of the station, the fountains were finally working.
Maybe I should have come back at night to see it.
Jagalchi is a huge multistorey fish market. By fish of course the Koreans include all kinds of edible sea denizen, including some that other cultures might hesitate to eat.
This is just one aisle, on the ground floor only mind you.
And another.
There is an outside section too.
A semi-covered section.
Piles of shellfish in this section.
Octopuses. I thought the 국산 on the sign means octopus but a translator tells me it just means domestic. As opposed to imported, I suppose.
Looks like they are ordered by tentacle length.
Bigger ones.
I couldn't resist dropping in on a restaurant to have another serve of jeonbokjuk (abalone porridge). As usual, lots of side dishes accompanied.
I have a feeling the flat strips closest to the camera are seaweed. I should have taken notes.
Another look indoors.
The harbour view outside the market.
And a wire sculpture emblematic of the market.
I started walking back towards central station, and the story continues in the next post.
