Destination: Haeundae Sand Festival (Busan)
As you might expect, a sand festival has a lot to see. Why a sand festival? Why not? It’s about that time of year where the weather gets warm, the beaches get nicer, and the swimsuits / suntan lotion get pulled out of the closet for their first use of the year.
So off we go via KTX from Seoul to Busan. Play “I Get Around” by the Beach Boys to get a sense of the mood. A 2 hour and 56 minute train trip later (not including subway time to Seoul Station and from Busan Station to Haeundae), we had arrived.
Former President Roh, immortalized in sand… for the next few days…
This rather awesome character was just a taste of things to come. Note the student orchestra playing near the top of the picture – this particular work of art was one of the showcased pieces.
Aww, how cute.
Right alongside the professionally done sand castles were the usual assortment of kids and parents helping kids out.
I loved the use of paint on the dying whale.
Political messages in sand? Suuuure, why not… We’re in Korea – weirder things happen all the time…
The dunes used were simply huge – perhaps 3 meters high and 15 meters long.
One of the most impressive looking.
Quite a few foreigners made their way out to Busan – mostly of the out of town category.
Some felt brave enough to enter a contest. From the way I read the signs, pay a registration fee, get a large pile of sand and all the tools you’d need to create your sand sculpture. This amateur turtle was one of the best.
Spaceships on the beach? Once again, suuuuure, why not?
The sand post office – mail off some postcards.
What else do you do with all the extra sand? Why, stick bamboo in it, of course. Note the flying horse.
Another excellent amateur piece – punk rocker. Look carefully for the cavities – very nice details.
One of the last professionals on the row – I’m impressed by both the creativity and execution.
How about a beach concert to cap off the night? Some decent K-pop got the crowd on their feet.
Haeundae at night.
The next afternoon (Sunday) – beach soccer, anyone? A smaller and slightly sandier field, no shoes, but some pretty intense action.
The crowd seemed a bit larger on Sunday, while the weather certainly cooperated by being almost warm enough to get in the water…
Big foot.
A line of kites stretch about halfway up the troposphere.
Quite possibly the highlight of the day – barbecue…
A sand museum – those plastic tubs held bins of sand from all over the world.
Gotta love pirate ships coming close to the coast. OK, so it wasn’t really a pirate ship, but still…
The festival ended today, but Haeundae Beach will still be there for you next weekend. If you manage to forget something at home, remember you’re in Korea – you can buy pretty much anything you’ll need in the touristy zones along the way. Have fun, spread the suntan liberally, and dance the night away.
What else is there to see in Busan / Gyeongsangnam-do? Let’s find out.
Directions to Haeundae Beach: From Seoul Station, take the KTX to Busan (about 3 hours) or the Saemaul train (about 4 1/2 hours). After you arrive, take line 2 of the Busan subway system to the Haeundae station. Take one of two well-signed exits to Haeundae Beach, then walk straight to the beach – about 350-400 meters away.