Seoul to Seoul (Hopefully not Couldn't Stand the Weather)

[OZDUCK]

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It's always nice to get a reminder of home when you're traveling, so this was a pleasant suprise as I was on my way to the ferry terminal.
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Turns out Perth is a sister city to Kagoshima
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Australian theme continues along the footpath
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Assuming a warning about the ash from Sakurajima, which is the most active volcano in Japan
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Strange looking swan
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The park in Burswood alongside the casino is named Kagoshima Park in honour of the sister city.

 

[Matt_01]

For anyone interested Himeji is the sister city to Adelaide.

 

[frodo]

I took the ferry from Kagoshima to Sakurajima earlier this year, I think there's departures every 15-30 min depending on the time of day.
It's a nice day trip if the weather is good.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

No luck with the view next morning


On foot down to the ferry to Sakurajima





Detour up to the lookout at Shiroyama Park




This should frame a beautiful view of Sakurajima

 

[Black Duck]

Just catching up on your report after being away. Thank you -it's very interesting.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Quite muggy and hot as I continued on

Finally got to the ferry terminal




About a 5 minute wait before was able to board.
Always on the lookout for some examples of Engrish


Looking back to Kagoshima


Bit of low lying haze ahead


Back again to Kagoshima


Ferry going back the other way


It was about a 10 minute ride, and pay the 2 or 300 yen fee when you get off at Sakurajima



I had a 5 to 10 minute walk to the visitor centre to pick up a rental bike. Thought it was about time to get back in the saddle. The ride around the perimeter of the island would be a touch under 40km, nice one to get the legs moving.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

The visitor centre, paid for my rental and was given too much change back. Told the lady, and replied that there was a discount for some reason. Assuming it was the devilishly handsome discount.


Nice riding conditions, warm, little wind and barely any traffic.




Volcano shelters are abundant


Quite a scenic ride






Lave field observation stop

 

[Noel Mugavin]

'Black God submerged shrine gate', left from the 1914 eruption by the village elder as a testament to the eruption's menace




Another shelter across from the shrine. Bus behind pulled up and I was able to have a broken English/Japanese conversation with a couple of University students and their 2 lecturers.





A little after leaving the shrine I caught up to a touring cyclist struggling up a hill. Decided to get off and walk and chat with him, turned out to be a fella from Queensland doing a ride through Kyushu. We rode/walked for about the next 20 minutes, until he turned left and over the bridge, I went right and continued on back toward the ferry port.


Riding through the piece of land created in 1914 that joine Sakurajima to the mainland

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Had to get off the road and on to the footpath from here on in; great deal more traffic coming in from the mainland road, and a hell of a lot of trucks.


Bit further on and a bath house that had seen better days







Bit of a downhill which is always nice on a treadly


Nearly back at the visitor centre




Dropped the bike off and a short walk to a series of foot baths. Caught up again with my uni supervisor friend, nice feeling when they referred to me as sensei.



Nice and relaxing looking over the water back to Kagoshima.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Back on the ferry and off to Kagoshima. This end you pay before you get on.

Long walk back to the hotel. Through Tenmonkan which is probably the liveliest area of Kagoshima


At the hotel and definitely needed a nap. Before the nap snap.


And after. Quick 20 minute nod off and the cloud had lifted enough for a decent view.



Bit of a wander around the station area, don't remember what I had to eat.
Real struggle at the moment with this report, laptop on its last legs doing some strange things, few of the keys not responding. Probably should do the smart thing and transfer the photos to the new laptop.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

My last day in Japan, and te obligatory morning view of Sakurajima

My destination to eat up some time - Museum of the Meiji Restoration. 3 minute or so walk from the hotel.


Strange sort of place, starts with some information panels in English as well as Japanese, then part way in it's as if they said 'stuff this' and no more English.












Back to the hotel to check out, and one last look from the window

 

[OZDUCK]

My last day in Japan, and te obligatory morning view of Sakurajima
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My destination to eat up some time - Museum of the Meiji Restoration. 3 minute or so walk from the hotel.
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Strange sort of place, starts with some information panels in English as well as Japanese, then part way in it's as if they said 'stuff this' and no more English.
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Back to the hotel to check out, and one last look from the window
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Still very much enjoying your TR.

I studied the Meiji Restoration in high school. But that was so long ago that it was just about current affairs.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Wandered, had a black pork katsu for lunch, bask to the hotel to get my bags, then to the station and the shinkansen back to Hakata.






Chango of trains to the airport line, then an uncomfortable shuttle bus ride from the domestic to the international terminal.

As usual, too early at the airport and check-in hadn't opened. Bit of a wander, then noticed a large group, with lots of bags, beginning to line up at the Air Busan counter. Not wanting to be standing in a line for ages, I grabbed my bag and jumped somewhere in the first third of the hoard lining up. Was obviously a large golfing group as they all had clubs, and struck up a conversation with the lady behind me. South Korean lady, and turns out she had spent about 5 years living in Queensland as her husband was a University lecturer and worked at one of the unis in Brisbane. Said she loved Queensland, her husband worked, she had lots of time to pay golf.

Check-in wasn't too painful, immigration a breeze, then upstairs to the departures hall.



Viewing area

Amount of duty free people were bringing back was astounding. Quick and easy flight, night views coming in to land in Busan were breathtaking. Unfortunately, didn't take photos, but if you get the chance to be on a night flight coming in to Gimhae, do it.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Quickly through immigration and picking up bags, then on the airport light rail and eventually to Seomyeon.
Picked the wrong exit and lugged bags up 4 flights of 14 stairs.
Close to my hotel - Arban

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Saturday morning in Busan, and the rain has set in.


Plan was to head to Gamcheon Culture Village.
Out of the subway and on the road toward the village




Rain was pelting down, footpaths were slippery, and with the large inclines and declines, it wasn't pleasant.
Also some work going on, so not all footpaths were available, and there were some detours needed to be taken to get to the village


After heading up a hill, then finding it ran into a dead end, I had to turn back downhill. Was like being on ice skates and by this time I was pretty fed up and decided to head back to the hotel.
Bit of a rest and didi a quick look to see what time my flight was on the Wednesday night to get home. Surprise. Flight was actually Thursday night, the old confirmation bias had me thinking it was Wednesday. Quick 5 minutes on Booking.com and had a hotel booked for Wednesday night.
Rain was still persisting down, grabbed some lunch then headed to the indoor golf simulator to have a bit of a hit.
Wandered around in the evening for a bit of people-watching and some photography

 

[Noel Mugavin]

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Sunday morning and to Busan Station for the KTX ride to Seoul. Was interested to compare it to the Shinkansen. No contest, not a very comfortable ride, ordinary leg room and seats not as wide.

Can't complain too much, get me safely to my destination


About a 15 minute walk to the hotel, 1st 7 or 8 minutes were fine as it was underground. Within about 20 seconds of me heading into the outdoors, the heavens opened and the rain absolutely bucketed down. Had an umbrella, but it was no match for the volume of water, and certainly no assistance in stopping my shoes and socks from getting saturated. At times I was walking in ankle deep water.
Not late enough to check in, but dropped my bags and then went and sat in a starbucks to dry out a bit.
Eventually walked the short distance to the Lotte department store in Myeondong and grabbed myself a steak salad from a restaurant in the food hall.

Found an underground walk way from Myeondong to City Hall station, then braved the conditions to the hotel to check in.


Hot shower, change of clothes, dry socks and the shoes getting the hair dryer treatment.
Rain had cleared though and a nice view





Early evening and headed out to Myeondong Night Market




Wandered


Found my favourite store, and there were plenty of them - HBAF. Amazing flavoured almonds.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

More wandering

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Woke to a clearish morning


Plan was to head up to the Bukchon Hanok Village, about a half hour walk
Passed city hall and the Itaewon Tragedy memorial

National Folk Museum, off to the side of Gyeonbokgung Palace

No idea what's going on here


Some buildings along the way





Made it

 

[Noel Mugavin]

I had gone fairly early in the hope that I would avoid the crowds and to some extent I did. Was one group here already and boy did they love posing for photos. In my way too many times and a grumpy Noel Mugavin continued marking on in haste.