Kaleidoscopes Of Busan...

Our trip to Busan for Holi draws to a close. We are leaving early tomorrow morning but we will leave Busan with a lot of memories, hopes to visit again soon and reassurances that yes, India is indeed on the right track, with its peaceful rise contributing to positivity in the world, which is indeed a great feeling... 

After the Holi celebrations at Haeundae Beach and a quick shower, we headed to the nearest restaurant for a quick meal - our table had a wonderful view of the cherry blossoms on the street below... 

The restaurant - just like Gyeongju, this "Indian" place was run by a Pakistani, who displayed the Indian national flag (!!!!) - I wonder if there will be religious edict against him soon? The food - quite unremarkable...

Despite this, the restaurant was attracting hordes of Holi revelers (mostly whites) to sample Indian cuisine, another example of India's treasure trove of its incredible soft power...

Another "Indian" restaurant... 

Sun 'n' Fun at Haeundae...

The beef tartare looks so yummy, I nearly had it a month back at Songdo when a Korean friend alerted me about what it truly was...

Cherry blossoms on the street below the restaurant...

A lovely display of flowers in the hotel lobby...

Window shopping...

There is always a unique elegance in black & whites...

And Busan city prepares for the week ahead...

...as the Sunday draws to a close!

So long, Busan!

Infectious Colours Of India!

And finally we are at Haeundae Beach in Busan to celebrate the Indian festival of spring, the festival of colours and the unique vibrance that India has given the world for millenia.

We landed up at the beach pretty early and we were shocked - we had expected to find only the Indian diaspora here. But just 30 percent of all the people present here were Indians. The rest of them were Koreans and other foreigners - people of all ethnicities - whites, Africans and Orientals.

If this isn't an example of India's soft power, then what is?

Getting together a 1000 plus people, all on this little beach, to celebrate a Hindu festival, to dance on Bollywood tunes is indeed an incredible feat and it speaks a lot about the positivity that emanates from Indian culture...

Stepping aside from the festivities to walk around the beach for a while....

The colours of India are colouring the world...

Very few cultures would generate such emotions...

Indeed the atmosphere was full of positivity, infectious, electric and festive...

And India, as a nation, can leverage on this positivity, in its reemergence as a world power... 

Yey yey! Let's rock it...

Walking back to the hotel for a shower...

Vibrant Busan...

Walking along Gunam Ro after returning from United Nations Memorial Cemetery gave us an opportunity to see Busan from another perspective - the vibrant and colourful streets...

At 9 PM, people were out having a good time...

And the cherry blossoms looked pretty too...

This looks like a scene straight out of a fairy tale...

It is indeed a busy evening here...

A sculpture of a mother and her kids...

Honoring War Veterans In Busan...

Besides its long mercantile history, Busan today is also known for the legacy of sacrifice that was left behind by the United Nations force that fought to defend South Korea from the invading communist forces.

The United Nations Memorial Cemetery is located at Tanggok. The cemetery covers over 14 hectares and contains 2,300 graves. This place is unique as it is the only United Nations cemetery in the world. 

Cherry blossoms in bloom in the adjoining park...

Lovely cherry blossoms...

This is the magic of spring...

The memorial at the cemetery...

India had helped South Korea in the war efforts by sending the 60th Parachute Field Ambulance unit to provide medical assistance...

Sunset at the memorial...