Yonggungsa Temple: Busan

Happy Tuesday Y'all! 

It's time for another Travel Tuesday. Today I'll take you guys back to Busan. 

On our quick trip to Busan we were able to stop off at Yonggungsa aka the Temple by the Sea. Unlike most temples that are in the mountains- Yonggungsa is right on the ocean. This temple was originally built in 1376 and then reconstructed in 1970. 

Matt and I didn't have any plans for Busan other than seeing the beach, so we added this temple to our list. And if you are ever in the area- I would recommend making a stop here. It was really one of the most beautiful temples I've been to so far. I think the ocean just added to how amazing it was. We actually visited at the perfect time because the cherry blossoms were in bloom, so it made the temple grounds all that more beautiful. 

Be prepared for a ton of pictures- I couldn't help myself. 

 {I feel like all the taxi drivers in Korea need to be praying to this pagoda} 

{This walkway was filled with beautiful statues} 

All through the temple there are buddhas that represent different things. Buddha for the birth of a son. For academic achievement. Good marriage. It was interesting to see all the different buddhas. 

 Do you love this place or what?!? 

Yay for spur of the moment adventures. I am so glad we were able to make it to this temple. It was so worth it. We took a taxi from Haeundae beach and it was about 8,000 Won. You can also get there by subway or bus. 

For more information click here. 

{Linking up for Travel Tuesday} 

Haeundae Beach: Busan

While we were on our weekend getaway down South, we were able to stop off in Busan for about 5 hours. The top thing on my list of to-dos was see Haeundae Beach. 

Haeundae Beach is one of the most popular beaches in South Korea. In the summer, the beach is jam packed with people. The whole beach is lined with umbrellas. Since I am not one to enjoy a beach so packed you are literally sitting on your neighbors, I thought going in the Spring would be perfect. 

We had the beach basically to ourselves. It was too cold to get in the water or lay out for a bit, but I really enjoyed walking up and down the beach with my feet in the water. 

I miss Hawaii so much, and being back on the beach was like being back home. I wish we could have spent more time there but I guess we will just have to go back before the crowds take over. 

Overall, the water and the beach were in pretty great condition. I thought it would be a lot trashier because of how busy it gets (maybe it's different in the summer), but it was a pleasant beach to walk around. 

Matt and I walked along the pier and continued snapping pictures of the  ocean. There is a nice wooden walkway that wraps around the ocean that I would recommend walking through. 

 I love the old ladies in the background. They were having a blast on this suspension bridge. 

Gwangandaegyo Bridge- This was another check off my list of to-dos. I really wanted to see this bridge, so check and check. I wish we could have stayed and seen it at night, but this was a pretty amazing view as well. 

We only had a short time walking around Busan for the day, but I know we will be back. It reminded us a lot of Miami (well- at least CSI Miami) because of the glass buildings that were surrounding the beach. 

If you are visiting Korea, I would recommend a train ride down to Busan for the day or weekend. It's a pretty amazing city to explore. The KTX train takes about 4 hours and the ticket price is about $36. 

{Linking up for Travel Tuesday}