Busan lures visitors with beaches, seafood and nature

The Korean Peninsula is known as "the land of the morning calm" due to its beautiful hills that directly overlook the open sea.

South Korea's biggest port city, Busan, is one of the cities that is being developed as a major business and industrial center while at the same time preserving nature.

Busan just finished hosting the 14th Asian Games in October, the second major sporting event after the Olympics.

The city has proven itself to be a true metropolis with all its modern facilities and a proven ability to manage such a grand sporting event.

It's not just that modernity is being sold as the major attraction for tourists.

Haeundae Beach is Busan's most popular beach and it can easily be reached by city bus or subway.

The beach may not be as beautiful as those in Indonesia, but it is still a favorite place for residents of Busan to spend their time, especially in summer, as it is the best beach in the country.

If you visit Busan in January, you may witness or even participate in the Polar Bear swim in late winter.

As a port, Busan has a lot of seafood restaurants selling everything from sushi to fried fish or seafood soup. You name it, they sell it. However, various dishes of fish are more expensive than if you buy dishes containing chicken or beef.

While you are in Busan, you may want to try some fresh seafood and the best place to do so is at Jagalchi market where you can pick the fish, octopus or lobster yourself and have it cooked as you like.

It is especially enjoyable to have a freshly fried fish accompanied with spicy thick fish-bone soup while enjoying Busan's scenery, especially in the evening.

Jagalchi market is the biggest fish market in the city although there are others like Millak, Cheongsapo and Dadaepo markets.

Located in Nampo district, Jagalchi market complex also sells various dried sea products, such as seaweed and squid. It reminded me of home, especially ikan asin (salted dried fish).

Not so far from Jagalchi is Kukje Market, a shopping complex similar to Blok M in South Jakarta with rows of shops creating an enjoyable labyrinth of stores selling clothes, souvenirs and other items, including jewelry. You can also find hanbok or traditional Korean clothes there.

Along the sides of alleys street vendors sell various traditional snacks to fill your empty stomach.

For shopaholics, Kukje Market is the place to go although there are other interesting places, such as underground malls in Nampo-dong and downtown Seomyeon.

These underground shopping malls also serve as the main path for pedestrians especially during cold winters. An underground shopping mall usually runs between several subway stations.

Although Busan is developing itself into an even stronger industrial hub, it is still proud of its environmental legacies.

Of the most famous nature-related tourism spots is Taejongdae, a 250-meter cliff composed of extraordinary rocks and a thick forest, which is home to some 200 species of trees. What makes this cliff most interesting is the presence of a seafood market near the sea.

But you need a strong pair of legs just to climb down, let alone ascend.

Many older South Koreans, however, are not deterred by the difficult climb, and they have no trouble in going up and down the steps, armed with their walking sticks.

No wonder South Korean athletes do so well in international events.

Another place for nature lovers is Mount Geumjeong in the northern part of Busan.

The mountain, with a peak of 801.5 meters above sea level, is the home of Geumgang Park and Mount Geumjeong Fortress, the largest fortress in Korea with its 17.3-kilometer perimeter.

Another feature of Mount Geumjeong is Beomeo-sa (temple) which is located on the eastern tip of the mountain.

It is one of the top five temples in Korea and was built by a Buddha teacher, Euisang, during the Silla Kingdom period in 678.

Another fact to remember is that Busan is the last major city withstanding the attack launched by Communist North Korea during the Korean War.

It served as a temporary South Korean capital and the place for allied forces to launch counterattacks driving away the North Korean soldiers.

Busan also houses the only United Nations cemetery in the world which honors the fallen soldiers who were fighting under the blue UN flag.

-- Novan Iman Santosa