For the first excursion of the 10th Student Council, we had the opportunity to travel to Busan the second largest city in South Korea. Busan is known for its mountains, beaches and most importantly seafood. The trip took approximately three and a half hours, which was worth the journey. 

First, we visited the Buddhist temple ‘Haedong Yonggungsa,' located on the rocky shoreline facing the mountains. Although surprisingly cold and windy, it was interesting to experience the historical aspect of Korea through nature. We walked through a Korean market and saw all of the beautiful hand-made trinkets they had to offer. Shrines and statues filled the imposing grounds, and there was a feeling of serenity that embodied the temple.

The people were amicable and were always ready to tell the fascinating stories of the temple. One thing we were not expecting was the number of tourists walking around the temple. Apparently, it is one of the best locations for tourists because of its unusual location along the shores. On the way back to the bus, we decided to stop and enjoy the calming sounds and view of the horizon. The photography spots were perfect since the view was stunning. We had freshly squeezed drinks and continued our journey into the city.

The second and last stop of the excursion was the famous Haeundae Beach located in the Eastern part of Busan. The 1.5km long beach filled with white sand was surprisingly clean. We took group photos with different views and decided to use this opportunity and explore more of the city.  We traveled to the Shinsegae Centum City Department Store- the world’s largest department store. Not only does the store have an ice rink, but also four food courts, a cinema, a water bar, an art gallery and a ‘Spa Land.’ We stopped by the enormous food court and settled for the delicious Korean food.

Even though we had an astounding experience, four hours was not enough for a picturesque city such as Busan.