SK Trip Diary: Lost in Beomeosa Temple and Finding a New Friend

The second day of Busan City tour brought us to the historic Bokcheon Museum, Geumgang Park and the last stop is Beomeosa Temple. The trip was memorable because I met a new friend, Ms. Erica who's whole family is Korean but they resides in QC. Cool noh?!

According to Erica, most of the temple in Korea are located near the sea or up in the mountain para daw di sila maistorbo on their prayer time =D.

OK so sila na ang mahilig sa peace and quiet. 

Serenity by the river

While walking around Beomeosa, Ms. Erica serves as my personal tourist Guide. Swerte much! The gate to the temple are decorated with very colorful lanterns (as seen below), and it turns out that Buddha's birthday is upcoming (during the month of May daw). Well for me seeing this colorful lanterns is a feast int he eyes.


Makulay ang buhay! 

Pick you color =)

The temple is located far from the main gate so it was a relief to finally arrived at the temple ceremonial gate. Kapagod maglakad ng paakyat na lugar kaya!
(nagrereklamo lang kasi pagod na at gutom pa)

Again, details details details!!!

Since the place is located halfway in the mountain lot's of birds and animals abound the temple. Parang park lang peg. Soshal!

While me and Erica are discussing the history of the temple, we just let her husband and boys to go ahead and roam the temple. Erica told me that most of the people go to this temple since it is one of the veneered temple and not commercialized unlike Haedongyonggungsa Temple.

This temple house the century old drum and ceremonial bell. They rang this bell during New year celebration according to Erica.

I had good time listening to Erica's story and that's why we we're separated from our tour group. Yikes! Thank God the complex is not that huge and it's easy to navigate. We found our way back in no time (and finding her family as well).

Since the place is a temple, the people go here to pray. It's like a pilgrimage in the Philippines. I got a chance to see what's inside the prayer room but out of respect I didn't take any picture nor took picture of the people who pray inside. But the place is well decorated and well designed and very cozy for praying. 

House of prayer, bawal magpcituran sa loob =P

Oh, here's our official tourist guide, whom I mistook as another tourist passenger of the bus. Very courteous lady and very funny as well. We just love her.

It's one of the most memorable trip in Busan. Meeting new friends, the serenity of the place, the exciting culture and how the people are also as religious as ours. It was magical. And the colorful lanterns makes me reminisce the banderitas during fiesta here in our country. Makulay na makulay ang buhay!

The lantern reminds us that even though we are are bright and beautiful on the outside, if we never lit a single fire inside we will never really serve our purpose in life. Kaya we should be beautiful both the inside and the outside =).

SK Trip Diary: Toyoko-Inn Busan Station 1 Review

It was my first time to book a hotel on my own. Most of the time when I travel it's my friends who do the booking stuff. But this time since I'm traveling alone I have to do it by myself. 

Thank God there's Trip Advisor, choosing the best budget hotel (plus with reviews from previous guests) has never been this easy.

And it's no brainer to choose the number 1 Budget hotel in Busan...the Toyoko-Inn!

Welcome to Room 1517

The hotel is conveniently located in the heart of Busan. It's a stone throw away from Busan KTX station, the subway and the airport limousine has a bus stop near the hotel. Cool noh?!

I'm a sucker for excellent service and when I arrive at 11:45 PM (my reservation last only till 11:30PM) exhausted, hungry, cold and cranky (thank you Cebu Pac for the 2 hour delayed flight) the Receptionist sensed that I'm in not in the mood she gave me her best smile and welcome me with warm and gusto! 

Very very very much appreciated!

Oh and they gave me a 3000 Won discount since I avail their membership card as well. Ayos!!

They actually left the receptionist area when I asked them I'll take a picture of it!

While it's freaking 10 deg C outside the building, my room is conditioned at 25 deg C. A little bit warm but it's comforting naman.

Lamp ala IKEA lang?!

I know for someone getting a fluffy pillows and bed is a big deal so it was a big surprise when they have both at Toyoko-Inn! I had a comfy sleep and totally relaxed feeling after the grueling flight form Manila.

They don't have closets for your clothes unfortunately but they do provide clothes hanger and hanger (shempre!) naman. And since I'm soooooooo tamad unpacking my things I just let them inside the luggage and put out only the winter clothes and scarf since I'll be using them most of the time I'm in Busan.

Hello Paddington jacket, it's been a while!

While I was awed by the set-up of the room the Internet connection just blew me away. It was the FASTEST internet connection I ever had in all my life. And I thought the internet connection in Saudi Arabia was the fastest. Imagine loading farmville in just 30 seconds, maygasabelgas, I was speechless! 

LoL!!!

(sorry i'm a mababaw that way)

Farmville lang katapat ko!

The television channels are purely Korean channels except for some International news channel like CNN and BBC. But if you're in a vacation mode who needs television diba??!

Here's the view from my room (taken using Instagram), overlooking the Busan KTX station and plaza. It was marvelous!!!

As a common set-up with other budget hotel, Breakfast is also included in the room rate. Their restaurant is located on the second floor, which still gives you the upper view of the side street outside the hotel. 

Breakfast by the window

The breakfast includes Rice, sausage, bread with jam, togue, and most importantly Kimchi!!!! 

I LOVE KIMCHI!

It's basically the same breakfast everyday, but I don't mind, as long as there's kimchi im good with it!

LoL!

Clean and deserted hallway.

Outside the hotel, you can have a short walk and do "people-watching" in front of Busan KTX station. It's a mini park in the heart of the city.

If you're bored doing nothing, you can cross the street and do some shopping. On the other side have all the Russian controlled restaurant and girly bars. In fairness madaming Russo sa Busan, maybe because of it's close proximity with Vladivostok. 

I mentioned on my previous post that I took the Busan City tour bus, well the start and finish stop-over of the bus is located just outside the hotel. Super conveniently! 

And of course, if there's a hotel near the area, for sure there's a lot of restaurant in the vicinity. I had my lunch and dinner on different restaurant near Toyoko-Inn and all of them didn't disappoint me.  Tip: food cost around 5000- 10000 Won, and super busog na yun!.

And the fun didn't stop when the sun sets. They have this water and light show on the mini park which last for 30 minutes. Ang tagal nia ha!!


The songs that was played includes song form Big Bang (Fantastic), Rihanna, LMFAO, 2NE1, and some mozart inspired classical songs.


Since it was a first time for me to watch it shempre napa-wow ako sa lighting effects! Pang mayaman talaga at free (unlike the one in Ocean park, may entrance ata dun!).

After the show, you can walk around the area and play casino, hang out and drink coffee at Angel-in-us, CBTL, Starbucks, shopping again, people watch at the subway station. Feeling turista level ang peg.

Kape Muna sa malamig na gabi!

Oh and since many guest in Toyoko-Inn surely asked on how to go to the airport, where is the limousine bus stops and what time it arrives, the staff posted this info for all those airport-related query. Para hindi paulit-ulit! LoL!

After spending 3 days at Busan, It's time to travel to the capital Seoul. And since nagmayaman ako for this trip, i took the First class trip of KTX going to Seoul. 

Very impressive train station, mas maganda pa ito compare to NAIA!

I had fun staying in Toyoko-Inn Busan station 1. Will surely be going back here next time!