Photo Trip Report: South Korea
Photo Trip Report: South Korea
Since we were in Japan, we thought why not visit Korea as its just a short flight away so that's what we did. Thais need a visa for Korea since so many go over there to work illegally. The process was relatively painless, however, with a few forums to fill in and docs to upload online.
Day 1 Osaka to Busan
Today was a transit day with a 6am start to take a train to Kansai airport which is on an artificial island about an hour out of Osaka. The airport transfer was one of the fastest I have done though there was very little in the departure lounge which appeared to cater for just the two budget airlines – Peach and Jeju Air.
The uneventful flight was just over an hour and the transit into South Korea was also very quick and efficient with very little attention paid to visas (for Thais) or QR codes we had to acquire in advance for Covid procedures.
We grabbed a couple of local travel cards (T-Money) and topped them up before taking a train into Busan. The Korean rail network is also very efficient but nowhere near as extensive as Japan’s so it was a bit of a hike from the subway station to the hotel.
The first issue was the hotel which wouldn’t let us check in until 5pm. However, this gave us time to explore Gwangali Beach and the surrounding streets for potential eateries and minimarts for supplies.
Being a tourist area primarily for Chinese and Japanese, there were a lot of pricey seafood and Japanese-style restaurants and bars. Surprisingly, eating and drinking in Korea appears to be more expensive than it was in Japan!
The hotel finally let us in as the sun was going down over the tower block cityscape that fringed the beach. The entire bay and bridge were lit up after dark giving me a chance to test out the new camera.
To follow: Gamcheon, Busan
Day 1 Osaka to Busan
Today was a transit day with a 6am start to take a train to Kansai airport which is on an artificial island about an hour out of Osaka. The airport transfer was one of the fastest I have done though there was very little in the departure lounge which appeared to cater for just the two budget airlines – Peach and Jeju Air.
The uneventful flight was just over an hour and the transit into South Korea was also very quick and efficient with very little attention paid to visas (for Thais) or QR codes we had to acquire in advance for Covid procedures.
We grabbed a couple of local travel cards (T-Money) and topped them up before taking a train into Busan. The Korean rail network is also very efficient but nowhere near as extensive as Japan’s so it was a bit of a hike from the subway station to the hotel.
The first issue was the hotel which wouldn’t let us check in until 5pm. However, this gave us time to explore Gwangali Beach and the surrounding streets for potential eateries and minimarts for supplies.
Being a tourist area primarily for Chinese and Japanese, there were a lot of pricey seafood and Japanese-style restaurants and bars. Surprisingly, eating and drinking in Korea appears to be more expensive than it was in Japan!
The hotel finally let us in as the sun was going down over the tower block cityscape that fringed the beach. The entire bay and bridge were lit up after dark giving me a chance to test out the new camera.
To follow: Gamcheon, Busan
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Re: Photo Trip Report: South Korea
Oh wow, looking at IMG_20231108_115157, that bridge looks as though they've by-passed the town by building the bridge out into the sea. Is that what they've done? What an innovative idea if I'm correct.
Championship Plymouth Argyle 3 - 2 Sunderland
Points 5; Position 16
Points 5; Position 16
Re: Photo Trip Report: South Korea
Yes, it was very impressive, like a bypass road over the ocean. Imagine if Thailand could build something like that to circumvent Bangkok traffic hell ...
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Re: Photo Trip Report: South Korea
Brilliant idea, but such an obvious solution. Well done Korea.
Championship Plymouth Argyle 3 - 2 Sunderland
Points 5; Position 16
Points 5; Position 16
Re: Photo Trip Report: South Korea
Photo 0128 as an example. Do those cameras have a setting to get what's close as well as distant in focus, or do you have to sacrifice one of them?
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Re: Photo Trip Report: South Korea
Yes, all depends on your aperture settings and whether you want that effect or not, the blurry background is called bokeh.
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Re: Photo Trip Report: South Korea
It is also called "depth of field". When I had to know such things I always had a little memory help by thinking: "close up the shutter like a telescope for far away objects, and open up to "soak up" all of a close object.
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Re: Photo Trip Report: South Korea
Pretty sparse bedroom (DSC_0167.jpg) - and a 5pm check-in!!
Seriously though, I was in Busan briefly a fair few years back - from the (cracking) photo's, the place has changed quite a bit. Must admit, I like the idea of a quick hop across from Japan if the LHG and I do manage to make the visit.
Seriously though, I was in Busan briefly a fair few years back - from the (cracking) photo's, the place has changed quite a bit. Must admit, I like the idea of a quick hop across from Japan if the LHG and I do manage to make the visit.
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Re: Photo Trip Report: South Korea
Just from the pictures, South Korea looks a bit more human than those Japanese cities that came over as a bit alien!
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Re: Photo Trip Report: South Korea
Was in Korea earlier in the year. Beautiful place. I hope you ate the live octopus!
Re: Photo Trip Report: South Korea
The hotels were the biggest let-down of the whole trip, stupid check-in times and very expensive, you can get a room for a month in Hua Hin for the same price as a night in Seoul.
HarryVardon wrote: ↑Mon Dec 18, 2023 6:42 am Was in Korea earlier in the year. Beautiful place. I hope you ate the live octopus!
Being a diver and knowing how intelligent octopus are, I declined but the Koreans can't get enough of them!
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Re: Photo Trip Report: South Korea
The first objective of the day was to secure tickets for the bullet train (KTX) to Seoul in a couple of days. However, we were bamboozled by technology yet again with the Korea Rail website telling us everything was full when we tried to book online. As we did in Japan, we headed to Busan Central Station to speak with a nice human who sold us two seats on the KTX to Seoul for around 60,000 won (approx. 1,600 baht) each.
With onward transport secured, we took a bus to the Gamcheon Culture Village. This is a very picturesque hillside township that resembles the South American pueblos pintorescos with its multi-colored houses, tiny alleyways, steep staircases, and wall murals. However, it was very touristy so we ventured off the main walking route into the heart of the labyrinthine community to get lost among the clusters of vibrant houses and shops.
To follow: more from Gamcheon
With onward transport secured, we took a bus to the Gamcheon Culture Village. This is a very picturesque hillside township that resembles the South American pueblos pintorescos with its multi-colored houses, tiny alleyways, steep staircases, and wall murals. However, it was very touristy so we ventured off the main walking route into the heart of the labyrinthine community to get lost among the clusters of vibrant houses and shops.
To follow: more from Gamcheon
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Re: Photo Trip Report: South Korea
More from around Gamcheon, this place was very photogenic ...
To follow: Songdo Beach, Busan
To follow: Songdo Beach, Busan
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Re: Photo Trip Report: South Korea
I was under the impression it was quite cold while you were there, yet some of the flowers look very nice.
They certainly like their colours there.
They certainly like their colours there.
Championship Plymouth Argyle 3 - 2 Sunderland
Points 5; Position 16
Points 5; Position 16
Re: Photo Trip Report: South Korea
Busan had a similar temperature to Japan, 18-20 during the day and down to about 10 at night in November. Seoul was like going to the Arctic!
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson