Change of hiking policy

(pictures will be updated later...)
Today was the first day for the Pusan International Film Festival. I wanted to get up early in the morning but eventually I opened my eyes not earlier than 9am, because I fell asleep very late at night, because I was not sure what I was going to do today. And reading in my Lonely Planet guide as well. And a little bit scared in my room, so I slept with the light on, because I suddenly was thinking about those scary Korean - and Japanese - horror movies when I heard some noise under my room... BWEEEK.
I wanted to try to get to the ticketboot at Haeundae Beach where you have one of Korea's finest beaches. Actually coming unprepared for the film festival is not really smart, but as nothing was really planned with this trip, it's once more an exciting adventure when hopping from one place to another. Especially with nice weather like today, the ocean colored tropical blue, like the ones you have when you see pictures of a tropical paradise with palm trees. I wonder if the weather in Busan is a bit nicer than in Seoul, because it's located more southwards...

Haeundae is actually a nice place to hang out, with the gold colored sandy beach, the nice promenade, the yacht harbor, ... people where playing on the beach, suntanning - the foreigners of course, not the Koreans ;p. I arrived at the information stand of the PIFF at the beach, but they told me to go to another ticket booth at about 30 minutes by foot to the yacht harbor. So in the heat of the noon - I did loose a lot of time because I got a bit lost again - I finally found the right ticket booth and people were already in line waiting till it opened. Today's opening film would be the world premiere of 'The gift to Stalin', but you had to reservate the ticket in advance, somewhere in September; there were only 300 seats left for today's premiere, but I did not feel to stand in line for that. So I just went up to the information counter next to the ticket booth, to ask if I just can buy some 5+1 combo ticket for the normal 'screening' in the next few days, but the people told me there that I had to come back within 2 hours, because they were not really open yet. With very sad puppy eyes I looked at the youngster and told them that I will not be back by evening because I wanted to go hiking today. A friendly youngster gave her boss a call to ask if she could make an exeption for me - because I am foreigner - to buy the combo ticket before opening time. Luckily I had enough cash too, so I was set :)). And of I went to my next destination of the day : Beomeosa Temple and Geumjeong Mountain in the north of Busan.

It was a long ride by subway to the surroundings of the temple, because it's located somewhere in the mountains. Bought 3 rolls of kimbab on my way and was running to the local bus to the temple that was about to drive off the parking lot. Lucky me :).

Beomeosa is a Buddhist Temple complex up hill to Geumjeong Mountain. Surrounded by nature, it's a very popular place to visit, especially during weekends. I was lucky as well there was some kind of festival going on there, with life traditional music and sing performances. It's the biggest temple complex I have seen up to know in Korea. And most beautiful one too up to now.
As an outsider it's possible to stay in the temple as well, experiencing the daily life of the monks living here, cleansing your soul or just to medidate and reflect about your life. Too bad that's it's only in the weekends and you have to make a reservation in advance as well.
I don't know what it really is, I always find the atmosphere around a buddhist temple very serene and inspiring. I also like the colorful lanterns and lillies as well, hanging cheerfully along the way towards the temple complex gate.
As I am not a practising buddhist, but my mum is, I don't always bow in front of Buddha's statue. My mother would kille me if she found out. I just don't always feel comfortable doing it. Sometimes it doesn't make sense. I think, you have to feel it, to believe or to surrender.
But last time that I was at a buddhist temple in Korea, during a road trip with friends to Andong, Donghae and Seoraksan National Park, somewhere along we visited a temple complex too. I remembered, that time, I felt a bit lonely and sad. Maybe because I have been gone so long, that far from LJ and my family. Although I was surrounded with friends, I just really needed a little space and time on my own, so I just entered the temple, to be quiet. And reflect. I got all emotional up there, feeling that I was complety transparent towards the 'one' that is all mightier than all of us and can see everything, who ever that might be or what name he or she is called. God, Buddha, Allah, THE FORCE ;p. At that very moment, I just felt very tired and I just wanted to let it all go. Don't ask me why. Some ghosts from the past maybe, hahaha.

Today I felt okay. And I had another destination too : to go up to the mountain top :). The trail led towards the northern gate of a fortress wall, a medium streneous hike in my opinion, not as hard as Dobongsan or Bukhansan in Seoul. But 'damn' I always get out of breath during the first 20 minutes, wondering again why I am challenging myself always like this.
Actually it was quite late - passed 3 afternoon - as well when I started to go up, due to my inefficient use of time at Haeundae Beach. Arriving at the northern gate it was already passed 4 pm, wondering if I still should climb up to make sure I would not end up in the dark on my way back. Eventually I did go and actually I am glad I did.

There were not many people at that time to go up, so I was kind of on my own. Most people were going down, giving me those 'faces' again : 'why is that agasshi - young lady - going up all by herself?'... I do get that impression a lot, and even some people ask me if I am travelling on my own. To be honest, I really don't like those faces, because it feels like they are pitying me that I own my own, having no friends, hahaha... But actually, yeah I AM alone now. Getting more and more used to it, I am afraid.

I arrived at the top when the sun was setting. WaaaaAAAW, I am always amazed every time I am standing somewhere on a summit, with view on all the surroundings : beautiful nature, a city in miniature, the sun setting. It sight of today could not be more perfect.
At the top, there was only a very friendly middle aged old man, whom I asked to take a picture of me. I asked him if it was wise to continue my hike towards the eastern and southern gate of the fortress wall, but he advised me not to because it would take me too long and I would end up in dark by the end. He even proposed to go together with me if I wanted to, because that would be much safer than alone. For once I let my ambition for what it was and chose for the 'safer' way. Just the same road back down.

Because I had some time left, I stayed at the top for about 30 or 45 minutes, enjoying one of the most magnificent views I have ever experienced : sitting at a top, my face towards the west, looking the sun setting, nobody around, enjoying my lunch-dinner rolls of kimbab... I changed my policy of hiking from 'banana-chocolate-bread' to 'kimbab' at a mountain top, at least in Korea ;p. Took a lot of pictures; while the sun was setting, the granite rocks texture and color palet changed from bright to deep dark gold.
I had the feeling, just for that moment, that beautiful piece of nature, the surroundings, the views belonged to me :). Could not enough of it. I would stay forever like that if I could.

Every dream has its ending so eventually I had to go down. On my way down I met another man, who told me to go down slowly because I might fall. I was rushing, because half my way down, the sun was already behind the mountain and from that moment one, it would get dark quickly. As some know, I am night blind... something I have experienced not so long time ago during an unbelievably EXCITING AND ADVENTUROUS hike on our way down somewhere in Yosemite National Park, with my friends from Belgium.

Today, I came back safe and sound, before everything turned black in my eyes. Satisfied and still impressed, I took the bus and subway back to my motel to freshen up myself and bought myself a delicious 'black bean' Jajang cup noodle. Today I did not feel to eat by myself. Around 9 pm I got out again to another area of Busan - Seomyeon. The eternally flashing neon signs, the crowdy atmosphere was giving me the impression again that the city is nothing but shops. It could have been Seoul or anywhere else in Korea. Completely incontrast with the serene mountain atmosphere I experienced earlier today.

Anyway, I got myself a nice kiwi smoothie and headed back home after one hour, now, sitting here at the 'pc-hub' again, still having 23 minutes left before my credit is used.

Don't know where I am heading to tomorrow, nor if I am going to stay the whole weekend here in the South... I really would like to, but I kind of want to go back to. I just packed for 3 days of clothes, socks and undies... We will see. Tomorrow is a new day. I am looking forward to it :)).