Trains, Buses and a Beach somewhere in between

My best friend in Korea had his parents visiting the past two weeks (lucky devil), and I decided to join them on the east coast of Korea this past Saturday and Sunday.

They headed out on Friday, but because of my stupid work hours I wouldn't be able to catch the last bus so had to leave early Saturday morning. Went out for a couple drinks on Friday but dragged myself away around midnight. Shower, pack, in bed around 1:00. My alarm rings at 4:55 and I silently curse my decision to try and catch the 6:50 bus, but away I go. A subway ride into Seoul that lasted well over an hour, the purchasing of a bus ticket and snacks and I had made it just in time.

View from Jeff and my hotel room. Because it was peak season rates were jacked. Our standard room cost 120,000won... regular 50,000. 

Jeff had told me the bus should take about 3 hours, mine took 4. Yikes. It was long and I was tired, but upon arrival my mood immediately uplifted. I was at the beach and the weather was perfect. Meet up with Jeff and his parents, change and head down to the beach. The beach was insane. I had heard and seen pictures of Korean beaches but it's different experiencing it first hand. Rows and rows of umbrellas all lined up inches apart as far as the eye could see. We managed to snag a spot near the edge of one section, only to go swimming and come back to people moved in basically on top of us. A guy was sitting so close to me that his foot was actually on my towel. I will never get used to this lack of personal space thing.

Once the sun started to set we headed in to shower and find some food. Unfortunately Korean seafood doesn't really float my boat, neither did it the other three so finding something to eat on the boardwalk was tricky. We eventually found a place with this clam noodle soup that I've had before and we knew would be delicious. Besides, we had spent most of the day finding (and then throwing back) clams in the ocean, we might as well be rewarded for our hard work.

Many restaurants let you choose your food before you eat it. These guys freak me out. 

A lovely stroll along the boardwalk was a great way to work off our meal. There were Koreans all over the place lighting off fireworks so we grabbed some ice cream and sat down and enjoyed the show. A couple drinks back on the patio and it was getting late so we decided to get some rest, wanted to hit the beach nice and early in the morning.

Dried Ray

And by nice and early I mean neither Jeff or I set an alarm and we slept in until 11:30. Shit. We missed the best part of the day. It had been blue skies for hours, and by the time we got down there the clouds we rolling in. We did manage to get a few hours on on the beach though. I could only enjoy the beach until about 3:00 because I knew that I would have a hard time getting a bus ticket back to the city and wanted to get there early to give me some time.

This guy saw foreigners and knew he was in for an easy sale. I didn't even have a chance, Jeff and his mom were all over this. 

I got to the bus station just before 4:00 and all the tickets were sold out for the day for the majority of the buses headed anywhere in my direction. I managed to grab a spot on a 7:15 bus to east Seoul. That's all fine and dandy but if it was going to take 4 hours again I wouldn't be able to get a subway home. It was going to make for a hell of an expensive cab ride or some begging and pleading to sleep at a friend's place.

We hit major traffic but my bus driver was a rockstar and went on some backroads to get around it. Got in to Seoul about 10:40 and literally ran to the subway... these Koeans have pushed me around enough, I felt no regret nudging them outta my way to get to the subway. Caught it... now just had to hope I would catch my transfer. I did. Hopped on the train that was sitting at the platform that goes to Incheon. Wait, what's that? The train just turned and headed south instead of west? Eff. Apparently late at night multiple trains use that platform. I knew what time the last train was and with having to jump off the wrong train and grab another one back.... I was gonna be cutting it tight.

All worked out in the end and I made it home. But let me put it this way, I got to the bus depot at 4:00pm, I walked in to my apartment around 1:00am... Now that's a looooooong day. Good thing that the time at the beach relaxing and picking seashells was worth it.

note: Jeff and his parents caught a bus back on Monday morning directly to Incheon... it took them 3 1/2 hours. Typical