One Of The Most Awaited Festival In Busan

One thing that I like about South Korea is it has many festivals around the year. Most of it is an annual festival, which means it’s held once a year (of course, you know about it, right). I always spent the time to fit what is the current festival when I visit South Korea.

The Festival Introduction

In 2017, from 26th – 29th of May, there was a 2017 Haeundae Annual Sand Festival. Haeundae Cultural Tourism Committee is the sponsor of the festival. This festival took place at Busan’s beautiful Haeundae Beach, a trendy summer holiday spot. The festival’s program is always full of events inspired by the beach’s beautiful white sand. One of the festival highlights is the hot sand bath (beneficial for health and beauty), where visitors were buried in the sand from head to toe. Other events include a beach volleyball competition, an exhibition of different sand types worldwide, and a marathon race.

The festival continued into the night with spectacular fireworks displays, concerts, and other entertainment events. There are popular tourist destinations such as the Jagalchi Market, Gwangalli, and Taejongdae near the festival. Visitors could also stop by one of the many restaurants along the coast to sample the sushi for which Busan is famous.

A Very Late Visitor

Though the admission was free, I missed the dates as I was still strolling around in another part of South Korea; I arrived in Busan right one day after the festival’s final day. Initially, I hesitated to go to Haeundae beach. I thought that there would be nothing more to see there, but I encouraged myself to simply give a short visit because I was already in Busan. As I check out from nearby guesthouse before heading to the beach. I thank God because I pushed myself to go there. Though there was no competition or other entertainment events, there were remaining sand sculptures left in the heart of the beach. I considered myself blessed for that. Sometimes we just need to believe and keep walking, aren’t we?

Of course, art is one of my things, so I grabbed my camera and started to capture everything that my eyes could catch.

The Sand Sculptures

The keyword for the sculpture was a happy word. Each artist tried to share what happiness is all about through their sculpture.

Title: Couple. This is a happy old couple. This couple feels comfortable and understands each other.

Artist: Karen Jean Fralich / Canada

Title: Family. Happy family moment of Simpson animation. Even if it’s an ordinary day, but it’s a happy time.

Artist: Bruce L Phillps / USA

Title: Friend. A happy moment with friends. Feel the sea and friendship.

Artist: Nikolay Torkhov / Russia

Title: Love. Happy through God’s love in Greek mythology.

Artist: Choi, Ji Hoon / Korea

Title: Nature. The tree gives a lot of things at play. This is happiness with a tree.

Artist: Kim, Gil Man / Korea

Title: Passion. A boy wants to be a guitarist. It’s his dream, passion, and happiness.

Artist: Ji, Das Young / Korea

Title: Rest. The princess leisurely and fell sleep, even the sky, the clouds are asleep, maybe she did get a happy dream.

Artist: Chen, Kun-Tien / Taiwan

Title: Romance. It’s the best scene of the Titanic movie, a happy moment of a romantic couple.

Artist: Guy-Olivier Deveau / Canada

Title: Smile. It’s happy, laughing faces. Smiling and laughing face make a wonderful world.

Artist: Jooheng Tan / Singapore

Title: Travel. Travel being happy. Two people having fun and enjoying the new sites.

Artist: Sue Mcgrew / USA

Come Again Next Year

Since it is an annual sand festival, which means it always happens every year. Make sure to spare your time and visit the festival. There are a bunch of activity you may enjoy with some fees, of course, such as;

• I’m a Sand Sculptor 10,000 won
• Sand golf 7,000 won
• Drone experience 5,000 won
• Sand tour 4,000 won
• Sandboarding 3,000 won

If you are not counting on the activity, don’t worry, there are always performers to entertain the people. There is no age limit because it’s open to visitors of all ages.

Transportation

[Airport Bus] From Gimhae International Airport, take bus 307 or Airport Limousine Bus. Get off at Haeundae.

[Bus] From Busan Station, take bus 1003. Get off at Haeundae Beach Bus Stop.

[Subway] Haeundae Station (Busan Subway Line 2), Exit 3 or 5. Take a walk around 5-10 minutes from the station.

The Musings

Nothing would be as that excited when I was able to witness the unique sculptures. If the plan doesn’t work. Change the plan, not the goal, just like what I did in Busan.