We purchased a rail package for Busan but the only available tickets for the day of our travel was at 6 am. Thinking we had no options we booked it. Later that day Kingman put on his thinking cap, or as he put it “my Covid brain fog lifted” and he found an alternate rail system to check for a later booking. We got a 10:20 booking but we’re unable to get a refund for our original $40 tickets but it was a price we were happy to pay for a few extra hours of sleep.
The Louie’s, Janet, in particular, have had some sleep deprivation beginning with the first night in Seattle where sleep never came due to noises from nearby elevator and their refrigerator. One night in Korea, after imbibing some Dr. Pepper, Janet didn’t nod off until 3 am. The metro has shops and eateries and I notice several framed paintings of the beautiful Korean landscape, among them a few of the golden Ginkgo tree. 
I love that we are seeing Korea in the fall with the stunningly beautiful fall foliage. The Gingko’s fan shaped leaves and yellow color makes it one of my favorite trees. We reach Busan in 2 hours. Our hotel is adjacent to the Busan station making for a quick check in. 
We leave our luggage in the Ma’s suite as our rooms aren’t ready and head out to look for food. 
One street is all it takes to separate the good side of town from the bad side. “Texas Street” and “Vegas Street” in the red light district are adjacent to Chinatown, all are located across from the Busan Station and our Asti hotel.
Kingman commented on how he almost booked a hotel in the seedy side of town before learning more about the city. (Texas Street and Vegas Street got their names from the US soldiers, many of them from Texas, who visited South Korea after the Korean War). Adjacent Chinatown saw an influx of Chinese to this area during the Japanese occupation of China. Going through the ornate archway that was erected to honor the sister relationship between Busan and Shanghai we walk along the street of Chinatown, also known as Shanghai Street. 
Overhead the street are exotic red lanterns. 
Along the street are murals of famous scenes from the ancient Chinese historical novel, "The Records of the Three Kingdom". 
As with most Chinatowns we've visited in our travels, this Chinatown is very small. There were long lines to the more popular Chinese restaurants so we chose one that didn't have a line in front. 
Kingman orders his favorite Korean dish, Jjajanmyeon, noodles smothered with Korean black bean paste. 
The food was decent but not memorable enough to make note of the restaurant's name. After lunch we take the metro to shop for more glasses. We find Davich Optical. 
Doug and I are looking for prescription sunglasses while Janet and Trina want reading glasses. Tyler gets another pair and by the time Janet and Trina order their readers Kingman decides that for the price he might as well get a reading pair as well. I love the Korean pupillometer. 
I think it’s like an IPad that takes a digital image to provide the pupil distance. A “holder” is placed on the frame before the glasses are put on your face for the measurement . A digital photo is taken and you are shown where the center of the pupil is in relationship to your frame. The X's mark the center of the pupil. 
You can watch them edge your lenses because the lens edger is on an open counter in the middle of the optical store.
Next to the optical is a lounge for customers to sit and enjoy complimentary drinks. 
Product information about progressive lenses are posted on the walls.
My preferred progressive brand, Hoya, is the most expensive option, but it's much less costly in South Korea than in the U.S. The glasses are all done within the hour. Adjustments were performed by a young lady who heats up the temples with heated glass beads. 
You get a case and some anti fog wipes that are good for 200 wipes. 
There is no way to compete with the price or amenities of Davich Optical in the states. Now if they could only do Doug’s high rx in an hour! His glasses are going to take longer than our stay in Busan. His lenses are never in stock. We head over to the large Lotte store for dinner and take in the water fountain and light show in the entrance of the store.
This featured blog entry was written by Helen K. from the blog Singapore and South Korea 2022.
Read comments or Subscribe
Share
Tweet