Late deals
by Unesco as a City of Film. I began my stay with a visit to the United Nations Memorial Cemetery – an oasis of calm in the heart of the city, devoted to soldiers from 21 countries killed in the Korean War from 1950 to 1953. With 2300 graves – many belonging to Brits – it is the only UN cemetery in the world.
It may seem a sombre start to a beach holiday but shows how Busan has more to offer than sunshine.
That theory was soon tested, as within hours of arriving, the weather turned. A good way to judge a beach resort’s quality is to be stranded there in a typhoon.
We were hit by 120mph winds, torrential rain and landslides for 48 hours. But it did not dampen my enthusiam. After checking into the fabulous Paradise Hotel on Haeundae Beach, I spent an hour playing with my electronic toilet.
Driven by a fierce work ethic – locals only get one week’s holiday a year – South Korea is one of the world’s most technologically advanced countries.
It boasts the fastest internet speeds on the planet, second best healthcare system, 11th biggest economy and has been named most innovative country on Earth six years running.
Nowhere was this better illustrated than in my hotel room, which had an electronic everything. At the touch of a button my loo heated up, cooled down, provided a water massage and even played “modesty music” to drown out the noise of ablutions.
The hotel is on the beach, boasts a gym, spa and casino and serves breakfasts from at least 11 countries.
Defying the elements, I headed to restaurant Geodae Galbi for a traditional Korean barbecue. It was a mouthwatering mix of beef, pickles, chilli, garlic and dozens of unknown vegetables cooked at the table.
Waking to more rain, I decided divine intervention was required to bring back the sunshine and headed to the spectacular Haedong Yonggungsa Buddhist temple.
It dates back to 1376 and is carved out of a cliff face, from which a giant Buddha stares at the ocean providing comfort to all at sea.
Whether Buddha intervened or I just struck lucky, the typhoon ♦ Flying from Edinburgh on January 21, seven nights half-board at the 3* Be Live Tenerife, Tenerife, from £400pp. ♦ Flying from Edinburgh on January 28, four nights room-only at the 4* Hotel Bellini, Venice, from £229pp. ♦ For these deals and more visit www. barrheadtravel.co.uk or call 0141 222 2223. ♦ Flying from Glasgow on January 5, seven nights all-inclusive at the 3* Grand Park Lara, Lara Beach, Antaly, Turkey, from £377pp. ♦ Flying from Glasgow on January 10, seven nights B&B at the 4* Girassol All Inclusive Suites, Funchal, Portugal, from £297pp. ♦ Flying from Glasgow on January 25, seven nights self-catering at the 3* Avenida Apartments, Benidorm, from £215pp. ♦ For info, visit www. holidayandflight centre.com or call 01698 425 444. ♦ Flying from Glasgow or Edinburgh on January 16 and 23, seven nights halfboard at the 5* H10 Rubicon Palace, Playa Blanca, Lanzarote, from £529pp. ♦ For these deals and more, visit www. stewarttravel. co.uk or call 0800 091
2757
◆ Finnair will fly from Heathrow to Busan, South Korea, via Helsinki, three times a week from March 30. Fares start at £730 return – finnair.com. Rooms at the Paradise Hotel, Busan start at £170 a night. busanparadise hotel.co.kr. ◆ Tourist info: gokorea. co.uk. blew out and I was soon basking in 27C heat – perfect to visit Busan’s two other main beaches.
Gwangalli is known for its water quality and array of bars and cafes, while dragon-shaped Songdo is a main tourist attractions.
The Songdo Skywalk is a platform for visitors to stroll out over the East Sea, while glass-floored cable cars offer nerve-shredding rides above the waves.
After a sensational meal of sea urchin, rice, seaweed and sesame oil at the Boksoondoga restaurant, I decided to sample the nightlife.
To my joy, I found local Max beer at less than £3 a pint in the trendy underground U2 bar, and Indian restaurant Bombay served up an excellent IPA home-brew for £2.
Tempted as I was to hit one of the catalogue of trendy nightclubs – which include celebrity haunts Run To You and Club Kudeta – I settled for a modest 2am finish ahead of the next day’s adventures. Fish markets are not for the faint-hearted and Busan’s feature creatures the like of which I haven’t seen before. Sea slugs turned my stomach but – hailing from Grimsby – I tried abalone (a large shellfish) and a flatfish killed, de-boned and served up raw in 90 seconds. I skipped lunch and headed to the Gamcheon Culture Village – a Rio-style hillside favela which has been transformed into a vibrant art and culture centre of pastel-coloured houses along steep stairs and alleys. Before long, it was time to board the train back to Seoul, where I had just enough time to stock up on bargain K-beauty gifts. As I tucked into a sizzlingly-spicy final chicken dinner, I decided Mr Cowell had the right idea about cloning. I longed to take some of South Korea’s DNA and bring it back here. afraid of human interaction. If the unique wildlife in Churchill isn’t enough reason to visit, we have another: Churchill is one of the top three places on the planet to see the Northern Lights. At their most visible from January until March, book a trip on a tundra buggy or a stay in a wilderness lodge for your best opportunity to watch the Aurora Borealis circle above you.
Reaching Churchill is an adventure in itself, and you’ll pass through other areas of Canada on your way. You’ll need to pass through Winnipeg, the capital of Manitoba, a Canadian city located off the beaten path but which still boasts all the essential elements for a fun city break. Most notable is the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, which opened in 2008 and is home to 10 permanent galleries that explore what human rights means.
To book your adventure in Churchill and wider Manitoba, call Barrhead Travel’s Canada Team on 0141 250 7920.