Busan Day 1

March 19, 2012

DREAM Ferry

The morning started off nice and we were ready to start our Spring Break vacation to Busan, South Korea. I went out to run a few quick errands and we were ready to go. As we get in to the subway heading to the Hakata International Port, we see George, Corina and Irene. We are all heading to the same spot. Finding out where to go and getting around here in Fukuoka is not a problem for us. We check in and grab some food. We get ready to board and the excitement was still there. We are on board the DREAM Ferry to Busan. This is a 3hr 25mins ride. 15 minutes of rolling in the water and our little one loses her cookies. Literally, bye bye Oreos. I walked her down to the toilet, but it's down the stairs of the stupid rocking boat! Of course, you put me and stairs together I am bound to fumble. And I did. I fell down the friggin' stairs and they were steep stairs too! The look on the service attendants face was priceless tho. Kaitlyn said she had the fear on her face that read "emergency". I got up and asked toilet? She directed me and KK and we ran into the stalls. Here we go! The 1st floor is far worst too! We spent close to two hours in the toilet puking our guts out. I know TMI! I finally worked up the strength to crawl back to my seat. KK joins me a bit after Kevin finds her in the men's toilet stall. It's ok because all the toilets are in the same spot so it's kinda like a huge unisex bathroom. She comes back and sits next to me, I'm breaking in cold sweat feeling like I was going to die, she pukes again!!! It made me sick, so both our faces are in seasick puke bags. Kevin buys a 7up to calm our tummies and moves a couple aisles away from our area. Sorry TMI, no one wants to read about our seasick experience. I will tell you that I am already dreading the stupid ride back. I will dose up on seasick pills. I will never go on boat travels even if you paid me! It's ok if you have your sea legs, but half the ferry passengers were in the toilet stalls with us. LOL!!!

Ok, yay! We arrive in the Busan International Port. There were not really any English signs anywhere. We just followed the people up the stairs which led us to immigration. Not too bad and we encountered no problems. They were pretty laxed. I would walk thru metal detectors beeping and I get the it's ok keep going wave. Go, go.

As we get thru customs you see Kevin running out to secure a spot in the taxi line. It was weird how this man was talking to us and asking us about location. We thought, ok he must be calling us a taxi? No, he was the taxi driver!!! He was going to have two taxis take us since there were 6ppl. He saw me shivering and cold, so I guess he just piled us all in and took us to our location. I saw that he didn't have his meter on. I read that taxi drivers will rip tourists off and it was easy to spot us with half our party was not Asian. Lol!! I read that the usual base is 2200won and 200-400won per so so meters and time depending on traffic. It was rush hour too. We paid 20,000won and I was like we totally got jipppppped! However, our hotel was a bit of a ways. It's like a 30min walk to the nearest metro station. If I wasn't so sick. Ooh! That man. Oh whatever, it was like $15.

Hotel over looking the Hamhang Bridge

We get to the hotel and Kevin was asking about what kinda place did I take him to. LOL! It was funny because it looked so terrible outside. We are next to the harbor so it smells like fish! When we finally get to our room, it was really nice. The hotel is really nice inside, but ugly on the outside. We have a great view of the harbor and bridge tho. Downsides, staff speaks no English, I requested two beds and they gave us one, we have burnt marks on the ground but they are heated floors. Internet is super slow too. Everything is written in Korean and KK couldn't figure out the tv. Oh and btw, NO shower towels? Many hand towels. No full body shower towels? Wth? Asian people are not that small! Come on now! We think it is a "Love Hotel" because they keep leaving us the "live products" if you know what I mean. The little one thought it was soap with a heart on the package. She was confused why I keep hiding the soap in the desk. Oh, child. Haha!!

We roam the streets on our first night here in search for food. There are many bright lights and buildings. One thing I am put off by coming from Japan is how dirty it is. Well it's normal for the outside world compared to Japan and probably Singapore. There were plenty of shops, markets and food stalls! Oh many snacks and stuff everywhere!

We settled for Pizza Hut. Yes, of all things Pizza Hut. The rest of our vacation will strictly be local/Korean food tho. Specialty foods are expensive. I can get the at normal price when I fly home over the summer. It was so good.
As we walk out, I check out all the snack stalls. There was one in particular that was super popular, so I will have to try it tomorrow. There was a sweet smell and I see waffles! Yes, waffles! Kevin says he knows what he wants for breakfast. Lol!!!!
We all still feel queeeeesy, so I didn't feel like anything. Grab me a powerade and give me some sleep!
Let's call it a night. The stupid ferry ride took a lot out of me. Good night Busan!