Living Abroad in Busan, South Korea

There is something to be said about not just traveling to a foreign country but actually living and being immersed in the culture and customs. Living the every day life as almost a true Korean begins to feel eerily natural after residing here for a short two months. My second month into living and working in Busan, I ventured to my very first tourist attraction. Beomeo-sa Temple, the beautifully constructed Buddhist temple of Busan. It was by far the most fascinating thing I had ever seen. Beomeo-sa Temple is one of the largest temples in South Korea with sculptures and statues dating back to the 9th century. It is unknown as to when the main gates were built however it has been recorded that they were reconstructed around 1619. The intricately detailed carvings on each temple and gate, colorful flowers adorning the trails, and the remains of Buddhist sermons and doctrines were a rare sight to be seen. The site casts such a powerful and serene vibe with Buddhist monks chanting prayers in the temples, gongs echoing in the distance, and the unbelievable view at the top of the Beomeo-sa Mountain in the centre of the temple. The hike to the top of the mountain was unforgettable and truly an epic experience. To put it as eloquently as possible Busan looked glorious from up above filled with vast greenery, traditional Korean architecture, and wrapped in a sheet of clouds. It was so fitting to be present at the temple as Buddhist’s birthday is quickly approaching. In celebration, all the streets are draped with colorful paper lanterns to welcome the celebratory day. The beauty of Busan, even tourist attractions that can be mundane seem to never get tiresome here. It is far too beautiful to not appreciate the sites and sounds of this city. The beaches are filling up with vengeance. I find myself lying on Haeundae beach, the most popular beach in the country with already 28-degree weather in May, surrounded by heaps of locals and foreigners from all over the world. The exotic sailboats and small islands off in a distance are incredible over a dark blue glistening backdrop of the ocean. This and so much more I have to look forward to over the next four months of South Korea’s scorching hot summer.