Tag Archives: cruise

Busan, South Korea

Sunday, 21 August saw us back in Busan, having been there previously last March.  It was starting to look quite familiar!

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We began the day with a trip through the magnificent countryside to the serene Beomeosa Temple, one of South Korea’s largest temples, which dates back to 678 A.D.

Then on to the Jagalchi Fish Market, established by women peddlers during the Korean War when there weren’t a lot of men around to take care of business.  I was in two minds about this;  on one hand I was curious to see this world famous fish market and the array of seafood.  On the other hand, seeing lots of tanks probably overcrowded with fish just keeping them alive and fresh really wasn’t something that I was looking forward to seeing.

I have to say that when we arrived at the building, which housed all the tanks and restaurants,  to find that it was closed to the public that day, I did feel a bit relieved.  However, there were stalls set up next to the building and we went there instead, wandering up and down many alleys of market stalls covered with umbrellas, with every flat surface packed with fish of every type and colourful baskets of shellfish.

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We were so engrossed in taking photos and looking at the sights that we suddenly realised we were lost and it took us several minutes before we got our bearings and found our way out to the main road.

There we discovered the International Market (Gukje Market) across the road.  Interesting, lots of street food and small souvenirs.  So we were able to spend a little while away from the crowded fish market enjoying a stroll around the block before boarding our coach once more to take us back to the ship.  Nice day.

Kagoshima

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Saturday, 20 August – Arimura Lava Lookout was our destination and the ferry took our coach on the 15 minute ride to the island.  Very nice views of Sakurajima, one of Japan’s  most active volcanoes.

 

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Interesting sculptural shapes formed in the rocks

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People on the island have built lava shelters and we were told that bags of volcanic dust are collected from the residents twice a week and made into a type of stone used in souvenirs.  Because of the dust, laundry cannot be hung outside so special drying rooms are set up in the houses.  Nice to visit but I don’t think I would like to live there!

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Then we visited Senganen Garden (Iso Garden)  which was constructed in 1658.  Such a variety of plants and trees interspersed with small ponds, streams, shrines and a bamboo grove. Very peaceful.

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As we were making our way to the Shoko Shuseikan Museum we came across a demonstration of swordsmanship skills, reflecting the feudal history of the area.  Very impressive!

 

 

 

 

 

Beppu

Friday, 19 August – We boarded the coach for a drive to Usa City where we visited the Usa Jingu Shrine, a Japanese National Treasure.  Very lovely architecture and gardens, but it was also very hot that day as we made our way up the many steps that Shinto shrines always seem to find necessary.  We were pleased we packed plenty of water!

Then back to Beppu for a visit to the main attraction, Jigoku Meguri, the “Boiling Hell” hot springs.  They are named that way because each spring seems to depict an image from hell.  We expolored two of them, Chinoike (Blood) Jigoku with its deep crimson colour and Onlishibozu Jigoku – mud bubbles, which emerge from boiling mud pools and look like the shaven heads of monks.

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This was fun – no one told me that the water in the spring was about 40oC!!! It took me several minutes, but I did it! ( Obviously not looking too relaxed, because it was HOT!!!)