After weeks in Japan we jumped to Busan, South Korea for a day. Seems that Japan has a rule or law similar to the US’s “Jones Act“, where if a ship only visits Japanese ports it must be owned and crewed by Japanese. So, we had to go thru Japan customs and immigration leaving Fukuoka and do it again when we re-enter Japan tomorrow. Laws are strange.

My tour started in Busan by visiting the UN Memorial Cemetery. Korea really pushes the “United Nations” part of the Korean war, and here over 2000 graves representing fourteen countries are buried. Different countries have different regulations and traditions dealing with military casualties in other countries.

This place is immaculately kept, from the grounds to the various “Halls of Remembrances”.

Seems even Korea has cherry blossoms.

When then went to the Busan Museum, which deal with the history around the Busan area. Most of the exhibits had signs translated into multiple languages, such as this lovely screen.

However, the 1987 protests against the military dictatorship was not translated with the exception of the title. How odd.

After the museum we returned downtown and saw the fish market. We started indoors where dry good were sold. How can so many shops that sell 90% the same stuff survive?

The open market outside seemingly never ends. However, I did see a rodent dash under the tables. I don’t think I’ll have seafood tonight.

We finished our tour by walking thru the wet market – at least 50 stalls selling live product. Small octopus, anyone?

It was very busy downtown; lots of buses. Turns out there are three cruise ships in port at the same time, and the other two were much larger than the Silver Whisper. Busan is very much a business city – it had that “we’re here to make money” vibe.

---

I’ve been adding magnets to my cabin door collection during this cruise.

Roughly from the top:

• “Good Luck” charm from the Golden Pavilion
• “Christ the Redeemer” from Rio de Janeiro
• Six surrounding the middle are from my 2019 World Cruise
• Tokyo Tower
• Falkland Island penguins
• Paper Japanese family and origami crane
• Kagoshima airplane

If this keeps up I may run out of door. Maybe I need to rent a second cabin?