A romantic getaway trip away from home to a city you've only seen in K-dramas lands you in Busan, South Korea, where you embark on a journey of self-discovery only to find all the answers you have been searching for from self-worth, love, trust, har...
The next couple of days went by in a whirlwind of activities. It almost seemed as if I were desperately trying to run away from the ghost of him. I saw Ezra everywhere. In shopping malls, in my mirror selfies, in the entwined hands of a couple, every single thing I laid my eyes on, I saw him. It was sickening and it sucked the remaining bit of energy I had in me but me being the relentless me did not stop. I followed my itinerary religiously trying my best to push him away from my thoughts.
I wanted to go with the flow and let myself discover every nook and cranny of Busan on my own. But spontaneity was never my thing. So, I did what I do best. I made lists and stuck to them for dear life.
The first place I visited was Gamcheon Cultural Village. A vibrant, artsy village located at the foot of a mountain, it exuded brightness, color, and life. The sky was painted a warm blue with fluffy clouds slowly running their course. With my EOS DSLR hung around my neck, I stopped every two seconds to capture the beauty ahead of me. With seafood restaurants, cafes, and lighthouses lining the village, the sight was breathtaking and picturesque. The rainbow-colored houses were stacked one after the other in a seemingly endless trail. A sight straight out of a fantasy book.
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It looked crowded but there was nothing about the village that made you feel suffocated. It was peaceful there. A place where no one knew your name or face. You might even end up in a stranger's dream appearing as an extra, with them pondering where they saw you or who you were.
I then proceeded to Songdo Beach. I took my sandals off and walked along the edge of the shore with little waves leaving inconspicuous kisses on my feet. It was a bright sunny day but there were still some dark clouds looming in some corners indicating an unwelcomed downpour.
For lunch, I stopped by Yong Ggum, also known as The Cave Bar, a hippy restaurant housed in an old World War II bomb shelter, carved into the side of a hill. I ordered some traditional Korean seafood along with the must-needed dongdongju, traditional Korean rice wine, which was highly recommended. Being Korean American, it wasn't difficult to find my way or communicate with others but the Gyeongsang dialect threw me off at times. I struggled to understand what was being said before casually smiling and nodding my head. My dad is Korean, born and brought up in Daegu. He lived there with his parents until middle school before moving to America and settling there. Much of his childhood was spent in the Apple City, as Daegu is commonly referred to as. Dad wasn't a huge fan of culture but I am grateful to him for sharing some aspects of the traditions with me which I hold dear to my heart. It was in college where he met mom and immediately clicked. After two and a half years they got married and a year later they had me. Being half Korean, half American, I was either gregariously welcomed, or, seen as an outcast. There was no in-between. It wasn't easy but wasn't a living hell either.
Hours later I find myself in Oryukdo Skywalk. As I absentmindedly walk the cantilevered walkway, I snap my attention back to the gentle waves crashing beneath my feet against the horseshoe-shaped bridge and far in the distance. At first, I was wary of walking on the clear bridge completely made of glass but something inside me pushed me to take a step after another. Baby steps helped. It was an exhilarating experience. Almost freeing... until my thoughts ran back to Ezra and our memories. I breathe in the salty air trying to free my mind of him and snap more pictures making a mental note to write about this experience in my bullet journal.
