Aside from getting you directly to places on a private bus or car, one of the advantages of being in a tour is that you get a sneak peek of what that place has to offer in a short amount of time. And during those brief encounters, I am able to pick among them which ones I'd like to go back to, and giving myself all the time I want there, the next time I return. Let me take you to Songdo Beach, Korea's first public beach that opened in the early 1900s, the new Songdo Skywalk and a pine tree haven in Songrim Park!
Perhaps I was here too early by 9 a.m. - there's not a lot of people and the summer heat was not unbearable at this Songdo Beach 부산 송도해수욕장.
We found kids sweeping and cleaning up the place. Nice exercise for them hehe. I heard this particular beach has had its share of damage from hurricanes (and sand loss) in the previous decades. And it took them 5 years to rehabilitate it to its present state (ideal for water sports). It's the one with the whale statue (our guide told us that you can do whale watching near here) and they hold the Busan Sea Festival and the Hyeonin Singing Festival here. How to get to Songdo Beach here.
Today, there's even a salt-water pool for kids and 2 ocean diving board stations! It's a little bit farther to the city than Haeundae and Gwangalli Beaches but if you want some me time or if you have kids then this might be one of the places you might want to go to.
We walked for a bit towards the skywalk and passed by this photo spot.
We took a detour and crossed the street to go up the pathway to the Songrim Park or Songlim Park 송림림공원 . Did you know that Songdo means Pine Island in Korean (in reference to the "bordering groves of pine trees")? I can read Mandarin and saw the word pine in one of the signs.
So I was in a pine tree hunting mode haha. I didn't have to look very far though. We have a shortage of this in Manila (and have to go all the way to Zambales or Baguio)... I'm glad I've found another cool happy place in sunny Busan. I heard there's a glass library and beautiful coastal walking trail here to Amnam Park 부산 암남공원 . Maybe you can spend at least half a day here and bring some kimbap or sandwiches for your trek. How to go directions here and here.
There's a musical fountain at the bottom near the entrance so it's not easy to miss.
Just cross the street again to enter the newly opened Songdo Skywalk.
Lookin' for love in Busan? Hehe.
I was just taken away by this site. I was wondering how he was able to get there and how long it took. Haha.
If you're lookin for a place that screams where you are then this is the place ;) There's tempered glass where you can see the bottom in this sea walkway like what they have at the Oryukdo Skywalk.
There are seafood restaurants in this place if you want to try some. Check them out here.
Maybe in my next Busan trip, I'll check out the most convenient way to get to Songdo and actually walk the Amnam seaside trail prepared. :)
This trip was made possible by Asiana Airlines Philippines, Korea Tourism Organization Manila, USTravel and the Busan Tourism Organization. Thank you so much for that breath of fresh air! Korea is now MERS-free according to KTO and I just went there this August 2015.
Asiana Airlines flies once daily from Manila to Busan (3:30 a.m. to 8 a.m.) on an aircraft Airbus A321. You can book through your favorite travel agencies or at their site.
